Known as an excellent spitball pitcher Stan Coveleski was the youngest of five baseball playing brothers who broke in with the Lancaster Red Roses of the Tri-State League in 1908 with his brother John. He won 127 games against a 2.48 ERA in seven minor league seasons but it was his 14-year major league career that attracted more attention. Winning 20 games five times with four teams and posting a 2.89 lifetime ERA he was known as a great control pitcher once throwing seven innings of a game where every pitch was either a hit or a strike. He was elected into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans' Committee in 1969. The 1909 Red Roses included a number of players who would eventually make the majors. Team captain Snake Deal played one season with the Cincinnati Reds in 1906. Ed Fitzpatrick was a utility player for three seasons with the Boston Braves from 1915-17. Butch Rementer played one game behind the plate with the 1904 Phillies. Shortstop Roxey Roach played parts of four seasons with the Highlanders Senators and Buffalo Blues of the Federal League. Manager Marty Hogan played two seasons in the majors with the 1894 Reds and the 1894-95 Browns. But it was Coveleski (who Anglicized his name to "Coveleskie" during his playing days) that had the longest and most successful career. The card is in outstanding condition postally unused with rounded corners and and light age-related staining due to fingerprints and overall wear. The card's technical grade is lightly the result of a slight vintage trim which doesn't interfere with the card's eye appeal. An outstanding example of a very scarce "pre-rookie" card.