Ending April 30, 2024
The Detroit Stars are one of the most storied teams in Negro League baseball. The Helmar series has four subjects, two of which are members of the Hall of Fame. Andy Cooper, card #457, pitched for nineteen years in the Negro Leagues. Nine of those years were with the Stars and he led them in every career pitching category. The second hall of famer is the legendary Pete Hill (card #62). The majority of Pete's career was during the dead ball era (he started in 1899) but he did play with Detroit between 1919 and 1921. The remaining two players are also notable. Bill "Speed" Holland (#458), a pitcher, was a Stars teammate of Hill's. After 1922 he left Detroit to continue his career in the East. The final Star, and a very attractive card, is catcher Bruce Petway (#49), known for throwing out Ty Cobb three times in Cuba. Petway played for the Stars between 1919 through 1925.