Description

1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal 150/30 Nap Lajoie (Portrait) PSA VG 3 - Centered Here is a chance to own a stellar Napoleon Lajoie T206 card that reigns supreme for this brand/series/factory of the American League's first superstar. Starting in 1886, the second sacker played his first five seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, and after a contract dispute, in 1901 signed with the cross-town Philadelphia Athletics. In court action, the Phillies alleged the Athletics' contract violated the reserve clause. In the American League's inaugural season, Lajoie won the Triple Crown, hitting .426, with 14 homers and 125 RBI. Lajoie's .426 average remains modern era record. The next year, to avoid a Pennsylvania Court awarding Lajoie back to the Phillies, AL President Ban Johnson arranged for Lajoie to go to Cleveland. Lajoie continued excelling, and in 1905 was named Cleveland's player/manager. To honor him, the team's nickname was changed from Bronchos to Naps. The most controversial incident of Lajoie's career was the 1910 batting race, at stake a new Chalmers auto.Ty Cobb and Lajoie came down to the season's final day, a double-header for each. Protecting a seven-point lead, Cobb sat out. The Naps' opposing St. Louis manager ordered his third baseman to play deep, almost in the outfield, and Lajoie bunted successfully six times towards third and took the title. Scandal followed, a few hits were "found" in the statistics, and Cobb was awarded the title. Lajoie finished his Major League career with four batting titles, four slugging crowns, and a lifetime average of .338, and a 1937 induction trip to the Hall of Fame.