Joe Tinker
| Birthdate | 7/27/1880 |
| Death Date | 7/27/1948 |
| Debut Year | 1902 |
| Year of Induction | 1946 |
| Teams | Cubs |
| Position | Shortstop |
Joe Tinker was the starting shortstop for the Cubs most successful run in franchise history – 4 NL pennants and two World Series championships.
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Joe Tinker's career statistics - 1,690 hits, 774 runs, 785 RBI - don't appear Cooperstown-worthy
Joe Tinker's career statistics - 1,690 hits, 774 runs, 785 RBI - don't appear Cooperstown-worthy
Shortstop Joe Tinker broke in with the Chicago Cubs in 1902. That same season Johnny Evers also made his debut at second base. They joined five-year veteran Frank Chance and stayed together for ten years.
By 1906, the trio helped push the Cubs to their first pennant since 1886. Behind the pitching of Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, Ed Reulbach, and Jack Pfiester, the Cubs were the champions of the National League in 1906, ’07, ’08, and ’10. The Chicago squad came away with back-to-back World Series titles in ’07 and ’08.
In 1910 Tinker, Evers, and Chance were immortalized by Franklin P. Adams’ poem, Baseball’s Sad Lexicon. Many believe the words below helped the trio reach Cooperstown.
These are the saddest of possible words:
“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”
Trio of bear Cubs and fleeter than birds,
Tinker and Evers and Chance.
Thoughtlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,
Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:
“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”
After 15 big league season, Tinker retired in 1916. His career numbers hardly seem Cooperstown-worthy – 1,690 hits, 774 runs, 785 RBI, and a .262 average. Nevertheless, Tinker was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946.
He passed away two years later at age 68.
In the collection is a Joe Tinker autograph signed in 1948.
The postmark's date and location stamped on the postcard help authenticate a signature
The postmark's date and location stamped on the postcard help authenticate a signature
By virtue of their postmark, government postcards give context to the time and place it was signed. Autograph collector Ross Wetzsteon received this in the mail with the autograph of Joe Tinker on the back. A fixture in the Orlando community for decades, Tinker was honored by the construction and naming of Tinker Field in 1914.
Here is the back of the government postcard. Notice the postmark from Tinker’s hometown of Orlando, Florida dated 6/21/48. Tinker passed away 36 days later in Orlando. The postmark also aids in determining the authenticity of the signature.
Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker calls Tuxedo tobacco, "restful" in this original 1916 advertisement
Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker calls Tuxedo tobacco, "restful" in this original 1916 advertisement
Tuxedo Tobacco pulled together the greatest baseball players of the day for this advertisement. Hailing itself as, “The Perfect Pipe Tobacco”, Tuxedo secured the services of “Joe Tinker, Famous Shortstop and Manager Chicago National B.B. Team.
According to the advertisement, Tinker says, “A pipe full of Tuxedo after a game is the most restful smoke I can find.”
Also featured in the ad are Hughie Jennings, Christy Mathewson, Wilbert Robinson, Tyrus R. Cobb, and G.C. Alexander.
Tinker Field in Orlando is named after him.