Hooks Wiltse “Pitching” – Drum (PSA 2 [MC])

Description

PLAYER: Hooks Wilste

VARIATION: Pitching

TEAM: New York Giants

LEAGUE: National

BACK: Drum (5/39)

GRADE: PSA 2 G (MC) – (2281-4486)

SOLD

THE CARD

A well loved but pleasing example of New York Giants southpaw Hooks Wiltse. The card features the Drum advertising reverse (Ranked 5 of 39 in terms of scarcity according to T206 Resource). One of the great treasures of the Monster, the Drum.

“HOOKS” WILTSE

George Leroy Wiltse

Born: September 7, 1879 – Hamilton, NY

Died: January 21, 1959 – Long Beach, NY

Batted: RH

Threw: LH

Position: P

MLB Pitching Record: 139–90

ERA: 2.47

Teams:

New York Giants NL (1904–1914)

Brooklyn Tip-Tops FL (1915)

While playing for the Giants, George “Hooks” Wiltse and future Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson became one of the greatest “righty-lefty” pitching duos of all time. A solid pitcher, Wiltse won 20 or more games two times. In 1908, he pitched a 10-inning no-hitter, just missing out on a perfect game. Hooks had a sparkling 2.47 lifetime ERA, which ranks him in the top 50 in MLB history. His brother Lewis “Snake” Wiltse also played in the majors. After the Federal League, he spent 11 seasons playing and managing in the International League, mostly for the Buffalo Bisons and the Reading Pretzels, retiring in 1926. He also coached the Yankees in 1925. Wiltse retired to Syracuse, where he worked in real estate sales, was an alderman in the early 1930s, and served as deputy assessor from 1934 to 1944. He was elected to the International League Hall of Fame in 1952.

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