Stuffy McInnis Memorabilia Fetches Over $46,000 at Auction

A collection of memorabilia once owned by John "Stuffy" McInnis sold for $46,800 via Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, MA last week. With bidding from the floor, phones and Internet, a West Coast collector won out with the final bid of $40,00 plus 17% buyer’s premium. The auction house chose to sell all of the items at once rather than separate them into individual lots.

McInnis' grandson, who consigned the collection was in the audience. “ I am so happy with the results. It was so exciting and as the bids went up, it really blew my mind. Everyone in my home town tells me what a kind and nice man my grandfather was, I try every day to live up to his amazing reputation.”

McInnis, who played for several different big league teams, had an impressive career that included four World Series titles with several teams. Overall, he held a .307 batting average and drove in more than 1,000 runs in 2,128 games.

McInnis began his career as a short stop for the Philadelphia Athletics. In the 1911 season he was moved to first base, and thus became a member of Connie Mack's famous "$100,000 Infield." Playing alongside Eddie Collins at second base, Frank Baker at third base and Jack Barry at shortstop, together the team won the World Series in 1911 and 1913.

He was traded to the Boston Red Sox and played with them from 1918 to 1921. In 644 plate appearances with the Red Sox, he struck out only nine times. In addition to being on the team when they won the infamous 1918 World Series, he also set an important record in his final season with the team: by 1921, Stuffy played 119 consecutive games at first base without an error. It was not until June 25, 2007 that Red Sox player Kevin Youkilis would break that 86 -year old record.

McInnis finished his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1927, then took the job as coach of the Harvard baseball team from 1949-1954.

Included in the lot were many significant memorabilia items: a 14K gold E. Howard pocket watch with a 10K watch fob and a gold filled pen knife, all inscribed with World Series logo 1910-1911-1913 (McInnis was on the Philadelphia Athletics roster when they won their 1910 title); a sterling silver presentation trophy by Gloucester friends, October 1910, made by Newbury Crafters; a 10K gold ring inscribed with name, Baseball Centennial 1839-1939, diamond chip; four photographs from New York Giants vs. Chicago White Sox game in Liverpool, England, photos of King George V and Edward Prince of Wales, circa 1914; and a collection of vintage programs, photographs and newspaper clippings as well as a passport for McInnis issued in 1914.

“Imagine my excitement, when this gentleman came in with his grandfather Stuffy Mc Innis’s World Series memorabilia, on our Free Appraisal Day," said Mary Westcott, Senior Appraiser for Kaminski Auctions. "I explained the auction process and encouraged him to consign the collection to Kaminski Auctions. A multi media advertising and marketing campaign created a great deal of local and national interest. Needless to say, he was delighted with the results . I enjoyed watching him during the auction process. His excitement was infectious. “