With Hall of Famer Harry Wright as their manager, the Boston Red Stockings faced the Troy Trojans on 9/29/1881 with Hall of Fame pitcher Tim Keefe on the hill. In the collection is Wright’s scorecard from that day filled out entirely in his hand and initialed “HW” in the space provided to identify the scorekeeper. Along with Keefe who batted eighth in the Troy lineup is Roger Connor.
In 1881 Connor hit the first grand slam in big league history. Interestingly the hit was of the walk-off variety as Connor’s Troy Trojans beat the Worcester Ruby Legs 8-7. In 1895 Connor hit his 123rd homer to pass Harry Stovey and set a new career home run record. Connor would hold this mark for more than a quarter century until Babe Ruth passed him in 1921.
With a debut year of 1880 and having died in 1931, Roger Connor remains elusive for even the most advanced autograph collectors. Roger Connor’s autograph is not in the collection at this time.