Captain Jack Glasscock

Jack Glasscock was captain of the Indianapolis Hoosiers, the Circle City's one time major-league baseball team, for three years during the peak of his career, 1886 - 1889. The 1889 season was Glasscock's finest. Some believe he was the major league player of the year that season. The Hoosiers lost their franchise in 1890 and haven't had a major league baseball team again. Glasscock was relocated to the St. Louis team.

Although he was a very popular player, Captain Jack had a reputation as a hot-head with a temper and unrefined language. At one time, he was the subject of a boycott by a women's group, who were offended by his cursing on the playing field. That's one of the reasons why we like him. Also, he has a great mustache. And of course, the name.

The Baseball Card

One of the very first sports card sets ever issued was the Allen and Ginters set of world champions in 1887. This was issued as a premium with tobacco products (as were just about all baseball cards until the 1920's). This card of Jack Glasscock in his Indianapolis playing days is extremely rare.

The set included 50 different cards and featured boxers, wrestlers, oarsmen, sharpshooters, and pool players along with baseball players, including other fairly notable personalities such as boxers Jack Dempsey and John L. Sullivan, and sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill.