Grover Cleveland Alexander was one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball during the 1910s and early 1920s. Known by the nickname “Old Pete”, Alexander had a remarkable career playing primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs across 15 seasons. His on-field accomplishments have made Alexander one of the most sought after and collectible players from the early 20th century baseball card hobby.
Alexander made his MLB debut in 1911 with the Phillies at the age of 22. That season, he went 13-13 with a 2.51 ERA in 35 games, showing early promise. It was in 1915 when Alexander began establishing himself as an elite pitcher. He led the National League that season with a 1.22 ERA and 28 complete games in 41 starts, going 25-10 for a weak Phillies team. Alexander’s standout 1915 campaign helped make him one of the top players featured on baseball cards during that early era.
Cards featuring Alexander from the 1915 season through the late 1910s/early 1920s have remained extremely popular with collectors over the decades. This includes his prominent rookie card from 1911 with the Phillies, as well as several of his starring issues from 1915 onward depicting him in Phillies and Cubs uniforms. Generally considered the peak of Alexander’s career was 1917, when he led the NL with a 0.94 ERA and won 30 games while losing only 9, bringing him considerable fame and putting up arguably the best single-season pitching performance in MLB history up to that point. Naturally, his cards from this titanic campaign are among the most coveted.
In 1919, Alexander was traded to the Cubs midseason and helped lead them to the World Series title that year over the Cincinnati Reds. He went 9-7 with a 2.71 ERA after the swap and contributed two complete game victories to the Cubs’ championship run. Cards showing Alexander as a member of the pennant-winning 1919 Cubs squad remain very nostalgic for collectors who appreciate that historic team. Over the next two seasons with Chicago, he continued displaying his dominance on the mound, including photos used on some of his popular post-1919 issue baseball cards.
Tragically, Alexander’s career and life were derailed in the early 1920s due to personal problems evolving from alcoholism. After slipping to a 13-13 record in 1921, he was sold back to the Phillies and struggled over parts of two more seasons before retiring at age 34 in 1926. Alexander’s decline was a stark contrast to the amazing pitching success he enjoyed earlier in his career. The memories of his peak years and legendary stats with Philadelphia and Chicago are what continue to captivate collectors seeking his classic baseball cards nearly a century later.
Amazingly, Alexander spent his entire 15-year MLB career before salaries ballooned, making him relatively unknown to younger generations compared to superstars from later eras. Dedicated fans and researchers appreciate his place among history’s all-time great pitchers based on stats, impact, and achievements alone. With a career record of 373-208 and an unbelievable ERA title season in 1917, Alexander was indeed one of the first true “aces” in the modern starting pitcher role. His impressive individual numbers and contributions to championship Phillies and Cubs clubs secured his place in the early baseball card hobby.
Cards featuring Grover Cleveland Alexander remain some of the most sought after and valuable from the entire 1910s/1920s era over 100 years later. Especially prized are his prominent rookie and starring issues while with the Phillies from 1911-1919, as well as his top cards as a member of the 1919 Cubs championship team. Condition is critical, as high grade Alexander cards from this formative decade of the pastime are exceedingly rare finds today. Understanding Alexander’s historic career accomplishments helps collectors appreciate finding any card highlighting this first-ballot Hall of Fame hurler who dominated his sport during the game’s transition to modern form. The mystique around Alexander as both a player and collectible endures, ensuring his legendary status for generations of baseball fans and memorabilia enthusiasts to come.
