Amby McConnell – Boston Red Sox Turkey Reds Cabinet Card

Description

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Ambrose Moses McConnell

Born: April 29th, 1883 North Pownal, Vermont
Died: May 20th, 1942 (aged 59) Utica, New York
Position: Second Baseman
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5’ 7”
Weight: 150 lb.

Played for:

Boston Red Sox (1908–1910)
Chicago White Sox (1910–1911)

Biography:

McConnell would take advantage of any chance to play the game on a small diamond nearby. Nicknamed “Midget,” the speedy 5’5″ infielder soon became well known in the region for his defensive prowess. Teams in neighboring towns would offer him his expenses to play on weekends. On one such occasion, Amby caught the attention of a team from Dalton, Massachusetts. Their manager offered him $7.50 a week to join the squad. McConnell jumped at the chance to make a $1.50 raise to play the sport he loved, not knowing that some players on the team made twice his salary. Thus was born a trend of financial misadventure that would dog his professional career.

Throughout his career, McConnell was known to have the odd hobby of collecting pins. When he was in the middle of a batting slump, he would scavenge the streets and pick up any pin he found, believing this was a sign he would break out of the slump.
 
More info: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amby_McConnell
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcconam01.shtml