favorite, and the Athletics finished first in the American Association with a 61-37 record. It was customary during the era for players to be presented with keepsakes and awards during games, with play sometimes stopping for presentation ceremonies. Such was the case during a game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 4, 1883, when Stovey was presented with this handsome pendnant in the first inning. The presentation was documented in the Philadelphia newspapers, as well as in the pages of Sporting Life magazine. It is also chronicled in the book “The Summer of Beer and Whiskey: How Brewers, Barkeeps, Immigrants, and a Wild Pennant Fight Made Baseball America’s Game” by Edward Achorn. The pendant measures 1 1/2” x 2 1/2” and is elaborately designed, a banner notating the season, noting “Home Runs” along with the number 21. The banner sits atop a pair of crossed, golden baseball bats, which are attached to a baseball diamond with a green infield and ivory bases. The ornate engraving on the reverse reads “Presented to Captain Harry Stovey by the Wistar Club Aug 4, 1883.” Stovey’s home run prowess was well-documented in Philadelphia newspapers during his time with the Athletics, and he set a career mark in 1889 with an astonishing 19 home runs. Twice more he reached double digits before his seasonal numbers began to decline, but he remained atop the lifetime home runs list until being bested by Roger Connor in 1895. Stovey remained in the Top 10 until 1927. After receiving this award, it remained in the possession
of Stovey’s family well into the 1980s, when a large grouping of Stovey’s material, including his personal scrapbook and some rare cabinets, were purchased by noted collector and dealer Lew Lipset. Many of the remaining items were purchased directly from the family by another collector, where they have remained until now. We are pleased to offer this important piece, one of the earliest awards presented to a player
26 Harry Stovey’s 1883 Home Run Award Pendant Harry Stovey’s 1883 season was a breakthrough. After the dissolution of the Worcester National League team in 1882, Stovey joined the Philadelphia Athletics as a first baseman. At 26 years old, Stovey had made his way onto the all-time home runs list the prior year, having hit 13 in his first three seasons. But the 1883 season saw him more than double that number, breaking the single-season record by hitting 14 in that season alone. His 110 runs scored and 31 doubles also led the league, as did his 213 total bases. Stovey was a beloved fan
that we have encountered. MINIMUM BID: $1,000.00
www.LoveOfTheGameAuctions.com
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