There are three different Hooks Wiltse cards included in the T206 set. This version is the only action shot of the three, showing Wiltse at the end of his left-handed throwing motion. This pose is the most common of his three entries in the set, but most of the "Pitching" run features either a Piedmont back or a Sweet Caporal back, while this offering is an Old Mill. Wiltse's chiseled jawline cuts into the gorgeous blue sky background, which adds a needed pop of color in a card otherwise dominated by his white pants, uniform, undershirt, cap, and the card's borders.
The edges are wonderfully sharp, and the card overall is very clean and nicely centered. The back is remarkable, as well. The corners are mostly sharp, but seem to be the only thing keep this gorgeous offering from grading even higher than it already has. PSA has
only ever graded 21 total examples of this Old Mill back version of the
Wiltse, with
only TWO receiving a
higher grade than the EX 5 offered here.
George Leroy "Hooks" Wiltse went 139-90 in his career over the span of 12 seasons in the Major Leagues. His first 11 were all spent with the New York Giants, for whom he won 20+ games in back-to-back years in 1908 and 1909. He jumped to the Federal League in 1915, where he spent the last year of his career with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops.