Four members of the 1892 Cleveland Spiders have signed this historic album page. The first signature belongs to George Rettger, a mysterious pitcher who hurled in six games for the Spiders. Rettger compiled a record of 1-3, with a 4.26 ERA, for the Spiders before his July 5th, 1892 release from the ballclub. The twirler joined the Cincinnati Reds, starting and finishing one game with the Cincinnati ballclub before his Major League career ended. He signed this cut, which has been taped to the album page, in black fountain pen, inscribing “Cleveland / B.B.C.” below his signature. “Pitcher” is written on the album page in an unknown hand above his signature. Rettger shares the front side of this album page with John O’Connor, a catcher on the Spiders who enjoyed a much longer, and more successful, career than the erstwhile Rettger. O’Connor caught in the Majors for 21 seasons, retiring after a one-game cameo with the St. Louis Browns in 1910 as a 44-year old. “Rowdy Jack” picked up 738 RBI in his pro career, which began with the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association in 1887. O’Connor signed this cut in black fountain pen, inscribing “Cleveland B.B.C.” below his signature. A small rip runs through the cut, which has been taped to the album page, although it is in otherwise tremendous condition. “Catcher” is written in black fountain pen by an unknown hand on the album page beneath his cut.

     The reverse side has been signed by two more catchers from the 1892 Spiders, Jack Doyle and Chief Zimmer. Doyle played 17 seasons in the Majors as one of baseballs true rarities: a base stealing catcher. The fleet Irishman had his best season in 1896, when he drove in 101 RBI, hit .339, and stole 73 bases for the dynastic Baltimore Orioles of Ned Hanlon. Doyle signed this cut, which has been attached to the album page, in black fountain pen, inscribing “Cleveland B.B.C.” beneath his signature. “Catcher” is written in black fountain pen beneath his cut. The final signature on this album page belongs to Charles “Chief” Zimmer, the backstop for Cy Young’s Major League debut. Zimmer caught Young frequently, and the Hall of Famer referred to Zimmer as the “finest man that God had ever created”. An incredibly durable catcher, Zimmer was one of the most like and well respected ballplayers of his day. His career spanned 19 seasons, starting in 1884 with the Detroit Wolverines and ending in 1903 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Zimmer has signed this cut as “Chas. L. Zimmer” in black fountain pen. He inscribed “Cleveland B.B.C.” beneath his signature. His cut has been affixed to the album page, and “Catcher” is written above it in black fountain pen. This album page has been encapsulated and authenticated by PSA/DNA (84043043).

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