Quote:
Originally Posted by Chickazoola
After much deliberation with my colleagues on the SABR Biographical Research Committee, we've confirmed that John Sterling, a Philadelphia minor leaguer was in fact the man who appeared for the Athletics on October 12, 1890. It was long suspected that he was the guy, but there was still some debate.
Anyway, John Sterling appears on five Old Judge cards during his brief stint with Minneapolis in spring 1888. He was released before appearing in a game. I was able to find images of three of his cards.
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Articles from spring of 1888 identify the player with Minnesota as James O. Stirling, a pitcher from the Cass club of Detroit (see the Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 17, 1888). After being released by Minneapolis, he signed with Jackson (Detroit Free Press, May 27, 1888). He died in August of 1893, per the Detroit Free Press August 26, 1893.
So the Old Judge player is not John Sterling. The spelling on the card is wrong, as best I can tell.