Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings was what you call a baseball lifer, and his obsession with the game likely led to his demise and early death in 1928 at the age of 58. Jennings began his career in 1891 with the National League's Louisville Colonels before tenures with the Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas and Philadelphia Phillies. In 1907, he took control of Ty Cobb's Detroit Tigers where he served as player-manager until 1920 and became known for colorful antics and notorious "Ee-Yah!" shouts of from the third base coaching box. He would go on to win back-to-back World Series titles in 1921 and 1922 as a coach with the New York Giants under his good buddy John McGraw before filling in as the club's skipper in 1924 and '25.

A fixture at shortstop early in his career before moving to first base due to arm fatigue, Jennings was always a fiery, hard-nosed ballplayer who would get on base any way possible. In 1896, he was plunked 51 times -- still an MLB record. In fact, he holds the all-tiime record for most career hit by pitches with 287 (two more than recent HOF inductee Craig Biggio). During his five-year prime (1994-98) with the Orioles, Jennings batted .361 with 686 runs, 521 RBI and 248 steals including a .401 average in 1896, which didn't even lead the league. Following his coaching/managerial stint with the Giants, Jennings suffered a nervous breakdown in 1925 that forced him to leave the game he loved. He died a few years later.

Offered here is a 4" by 5.75" portrait of the gritty Hugh Jennings in his Tigers uniform taken by legendary baseball photographer Paul Thompson during the 1910s. The original photo has worn over the past century from age with a small piece missing from the top right corner and some minor paper loss, yet it remains a perfect snapshot of the man's feisty personality and animated demeanor which are quite evident in his rather unsettling facial expression. The proper Paul Thompson stamp appears on the reverse. Encapsulated and authenticated PSA/DNA Type I.