Monday, January 20, 2014

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats #46 Miller Huggins



Miller Huggins is featured on card # 46 of the 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats set. Huggins may be best known as the manager of the New York Yankees of the 1920’s. The teams of the late 1920’s were also known as Murderer’s Row featuring the hitting of Earl Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri.

But, Huggins was also a quality second baseman during his playing career with the Cincinnati Reds (1904-1909) and the St Louis Cardinals (1910-1916).

Huggins also earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. However, he realized he could make more money as a baseball player. So even though, Huggins was admitted to the bar, he never practiced law.

While, he was in the minor leagues, Huggins pulled off the first recorded delayed steal in baseball history. In 1910, as a Cardinal, Huggins set a MLB record with six plate appearance but no official at bats (4 walks and 2 sacrifice flies).

Huggins ended his playing career in 1917 as Rogers Hornsby took over second base for the Cardinals.

Huggins managed the Yankees from 1918 to 1929. During his time as manager, the Yankees won three World Series (1923, 1927 and 1928). Huggins fell ill late in the 1929 season and died shortly thereafter.

Huggins was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1964.