1961 Fleer Autograph Project - Part 51

 My last post was a reaction to hearing about the death of Bernie Parent, a star hockey player of my youth.  I guess it was a bit of foreshadowing as my mother passed away less than two weeks later.  She was 88 and was independent and active up until earlier this year. She continued to live on her own terms even as her health issues mounted and it was only over the last few months that it became obvious that she needed a higher level of support than my sister could provide. We had moved her into an assisted living facility in August and, even then, it seemed clear that her time was short.  I didn't expect it to be quite that short, but we don't get to choose these things, do we? 

I haven't done anything hobby related in a while, though that has been a familiar refrain. I did have a nice little hobby exclusive arrive that I ordered quite a while back. I'll try to post on that next.  But my plans to go to an October show were obviously set aside and with the holidays ahead I don't expect to go to another show until after New Years. Since the last time I did anything at all with my main collection was March, I am starting to wonder if I really am collecting anymore.  

I mean, I am still a collector. Just on an extended hiatus, I guess.  

Our next subject in my signed 1961 Fleer set is Hall of Famer Jessie Haines.

What  can we learn about Jesse:

1. Jesse was born in 1893 outside Dayton, OH.  He quit school after the 8th grade to take work as a well driller and played ball on town teams.  Raised by religious parents, he had to hide his uniform in a neighbor's corncrib in order to play on Sundays.
2. He graduated to industrial leagues as he grew older and was eventually invited to pitch a game for the Class B Dayton Veterans. Twirling a 10-inning complete game loss was the start of his professional career. He had a typical minor league career from 1914 to 1918, punctuated by a one game, 5 inning appearance for Cincinnati. He was on the Detroit Tigers roster for two months in 1915 but never appeared in a game.
3. He finally graduated to the majors in 1920 after then Cardinals manager and team president Branch Rickey borrowed $10,000 from a local bank to sign him.
4. He developed a knuckleball early in his career as a way to stay in the league as his fastball, and his effectiveness, began to degrade.
5. Throughout his career, Haines was effective if not spectacular. Today, he would make a solid 3rd or 4th starter.
6. His best season was 1927, when he pitched to a 24-10 record and a 2.72 ERA, which was good enough for 8th in the MVP voting.
7. He was one of the stars of the Cardinals improbable 1926 World Series victory over the Yankees. He made 2 starts and 1 relief appearance, notching a 2-0 win-loss record and a 1.08 ERA. Taking the start in Game 3, he pitched a 5 hit complete game shutout and contributed 2 of the Cards 4 runs with a two-run home run in the bottom of the 4th inning of Dutch Ruether.
8. His advancing age began to get notice in 1930 when the 36-year-old Haines only had a 13-10 record with an astronomical 5.71 ERA.  He bounced back the following year with a 12-3 and 3.02 performance in an injury shortened season.
9. 1932 saw him shift to a spot starter/relief pitcher role.  Through the end of his career, he was a solid contributor with modern sabermetrics showing him contributing between 1.0 and 2.0 WAR in 4 of his 6 remaining seasons.
10. In his final season (1937), in the 10 days after his 44th birthday, he pitched two complete game victories, though the remaining 6 appearances that season were less noteworthy.
11. For his first and only post playing days season, he was the pitching coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers under manager Burleigh Grimes. Incidentally, Grimes was the very first signed 1961 Fleer card in my collection.
12. After that single season as a coach, he returned home to Phillipsburg, OH and served as the Montgomery County Auditor for 28 years before retiring for good.
13. Elected to Cooperstown by the Veteran's Committee in 1970, his enshrinement is now somewhat controversial. Chaired by Frankie Frisch at the time, it is known that Frisch used his influence to have former teammates, like Haines, Dave Bancroft, and Chick Hafey elected despite an otherwise lackluster case.
14. He died in 1978 at the age of 85 and is buried in his hometown of Phillipsburg outside Dayton.

What I am listening to: The Sound of Silence by Disturbed