Description
PLAYER: Ed Abbaticchio
VARIATION: Blue Sleeves
TEAM: Pittsburg Pirates
LEAGUE: National
BACK: Black Lenox (8/39)
GRADE: SGC 4 VG/EX (122) 8185-002
SOLD
THE CARD
A high end example of Pittsburgh Pirates middle infielder Ed Abbaticchio. The card features the Black Lenox advertising reverse (Ranked 8 of 39 in terms of scarcity according to T206 Resource. A very pleasing example of one of the prized T206 treasures, the Black Lenox.
ED ABBATICCHIO
Edward James Abbaticchio
Born: Edoardo Giacomo Abbaticchio
Born: April 15, 1877 – Latrobe, PA
Died: January 6, 1957 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Batted: RH
Threw: RH
Position: 2B/SS
Career BA: .254
Teams:
Philadelphia Phillies NL (1897–1898)
Boston Beaneaters/Doves NL (1903–1905, 1910)
Pittsburgh Pirates NL (1907–1910)
Ed “Batty” Abbaticchio was the first major leaguer of Italian heritage. He was a good fielder with a mediocre bat. In 1908 his fielding percentage was .969, good for first in the league. His best year offensively was with Boston in 1905, when he hit .279 with 30 stolen bases and 170 hits in 610 at bats. Known mostly for his speed on the base paths, he swiped 20 or more bases three times and 30 or more bases twice. Abbaticchio left baseball for a year in 1906 to open a hotel, but was convinced to get back into the game, and later appeared in the 1909 World Series. In 1895, before his MLB days, he was one of the first professional football players, and is said to have developed the spiral punt. After his tour with the Doves in 1910, he went back to running his hotel until he retired in 1932.
An excerpt from the hit book “The T206 Collection – The Players & Their Stories” by Tom & Ellen Zappala. Click HERE to order the SECOND EDITION
