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Patrick W. (PW) Costello - Baseball

Master Penman, Designer, Engrosser & Illustrator

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Mr. Costello loved baseball. In 1899, he was part owner of the city’s minor league team, the Scranton Miners, and was a season ticket holder for most of his life.  When one of his friends opened a new restaurant or hotel in Scranton, he would give him a large number of framed drawings, including, future Hall of Fame baseball players, to hang on the walls. ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHTED! They may not be used for any purpose without permission

Steve O’Neill Engrossing, 1920

In November 1920, following a World Series that was won by his Cleveland Indians team, catcher Steve O’Neill returned to a hero’s welcome at St. Joseph’s Church Hall in Minooka. O’Neill’s townspeople presented him with handsomely engrossed resolutions, the work of renowned local penman, P. W. Costello.  The testimonial was engrossed on vellum and framed. It read:

Whereas, the people of Minooka in the County of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have learned with deep satisfaction and pride, that our fellow citizen, Stephen F. O’Neill, has acquired the distinction and honor of being the Super Catcher of Base Ball and has by his ability at the bat – his superior throwing – the handling of the pitchers – and directing the play of the Cleveland American League Base Ball Club brought the World’s Base Ball Championship Honors to the city of his adoption; and 

Whereas, We have known him in his childhood; Watched him in his youth develop as the Star Catcher of the Minooka Blues; followed his career as a major league catcher – until today he stands at the very zenith of his chosen profession, thereby reflecting great credit upon the town of his birth.

Resolved, That we express our deepest respect and admiration of his exemplary habits as a boy - his manliness as a youth – his affection for his parents – his love and devotion to his wife and family – his loyalty as a citizen – his integrity as a ball player – his regard for his fellow man and his good fellowship with the people of his native Town.

We earnestly commend the exemplary habits and manly characteristics of this distinguished scion who has so crowned the Town of Minooka with fame and glory.

Image source: Robert Webb, grandson of Steve O’Neill

Left: Eddie Murphy, ca. 1912-1915

Pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of Eddie Murphy (1891-1969),  a native of Hancock, NY,  and an outfielder with the Philadelphia Athletics. He was a career .286 hitter who played in three World Series. Murphy was called "Honest Eddie" because he was part of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox team, but didn't take money from mob gamblers who fixed the Series. He also played with the Pirates (1926). After baseball, Murphy’s home was in Dunmore, PA, where he died in Feb. 1969 at age 77. He is buried in Hawley, PA.  Dimensions: 10 x 16 in.


Right: Bill Coughlin, ca. 1912, 1913

Pen and ink portrait of "Scranton" Bill Coughlin (1878-1943) in an Allentown uniform. After playing in the major leagues for 7 years as a third baseman with Washington and Detroit, Coughlin managed Allentown’s minor league team in 1912 and 1913.  Allentown was in the Tri-State League.  Coughlin was a master of the hidden ball trick.  He had a career .252 batting average with 972 hits, 380 RBI’s and 159 stolen bases. He also managed Lafayette College’s baseball team for 23 years, with only one losing season. In 1977, he was inducted into Lafayette College’s Hall of Fame. Coughlin was born in Scranton. He was 64 in 1943 when he died at his home at 315 Gibson St. in East Scranton. He is buried in Cathedral Cemetery.  Dimensions: 7 x 17 in.
Left: Ty Cobb,  ca. 1912

Pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of Tyrus "Ty" Raymond Cobb (1886-1961),  Hall of Fame outfielder who played for the Detroit Tigers for 22 years,, the last six as the team's player-manager.  He set ninety major league records, several of which remain unbroken: career batting average (.367), career batting titles (11) and career record for stealing home (54).  

Cobb was known for his aggressive, combative style of play, which often provoked arguments when he slid into a base 'spikes high.' According to Nicholas E. Petula, author of 'A History of Scranton Professional Baseball - 1865-1953', Cobb played several exhibition games in Scranton (Pa.), including one at Minooka Park, where he got into a fistfight with an opposing player. The drawing is undated; however, based on the uniform style and team logo, it was drawn in about 1912.  Dimensions:  10 x 16 in.


Right: John J. McGraw, N.Y. Giants, ca. 1912         

Pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of John McGraw (1873-1934), a Hall of Fame player and manager of the New York Giants. He stood 5 feet 7 inches and weighed 155 pounds and was nicknamed, “Little Napoleon.” McGraw was a key player on the pennant-winning 1890s Baltimore Orioles.  McGraw is second only to Connie Mack for the most managerial wins in baseball history (2,763). 

McGraw had ties to Scranton (Pa.). He played with close friend and local Hall of Famer, Hughie Jennings, on the great Baltimore teams of the 1890s. McGraw hired Jennings as a coach with the Giants during the pennant years of 1921-24. McGraw attended Jennings' funeral at St. Peter's Cathedral in Scranton in Feb. 1928.  Dimensions:  10 x 17 in. 
Left: Hans (Honus) Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates, ca. 1908-09

Pen and watercolor portrait of Johannes (Honus) Wagner (1874-1955), Hall of Fame shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wagner was nicknamed 'The Flying Dutchman' for his speed on the bases. He won eight batting titles during his twenty years in the National League. Artist P. W. Costello's portrait of Wagner was drawn in 1908 or 1909, as the drawing matches the Pirates’ uniform during those years. Dimensions:  7 x 15 in.  Owners: Dan, Nancy, and William Costello.


Right: Steve O'Neill, Cleveland Indians, ca. 1920

Pen and ink drawing portrait, with watercolor background, of Steve O'Neill (1891-1962) former Major League catcher and manager and a native of the Minooka section of Scranton, PA.  O'Neill caught all seven games for the Cleveland Indians when they won the 1920 World Series. He batted .333. In 1945, he managed the Detroit Tigers to a world championship. The drawing was done in black ink and brushed in watercolor.  Dimensions:  7 x 13 in.  Owner:  Margaret McHale.


Left: Ed Walsh, 1911 

Pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of “Big Ed” Walsh (1881-1959), a Hall of Fame pitcher and manager who was born in Plains Township, Pa, one of 13 children, the son of an Irish-born shoemaker. At age 12, he worked as a breaker boy in the Anthracite coal mines.  Walsh was 6’1”, 193 lbs., the reason for his nickname.  He was one of the best pitchers in baseball from 1906 to 1912.  Despite a career  shortened by injuries, Walsh set a record for lowest career earned run average, 1.82; was a World Series champion in 1906; MLB wins leader in 1908;  strikeout leader in 1908 and 1911;  and pitched a no-hitter on August 27, 1911.  He managed the Chicago White Sox in 1924.  Ed Walsh died in Pompano Beach, FL at the age of 78.   Dimensions:  7 x 16 in. 


Right: Johnny Evers,  ca. 1914-17

Pen and ink portrait of Johnny Evers (1881-1947),  a second baseman for the Boston Braves. When he played with the Chicago Cubs, he was part of the famous "Tinker to Evers to Chance" double-play combination.  He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox.  Evers played on a World Series champion three times, and was National League MVP in 1914. Evers was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946, via the Veterans Committee.  Dimensions:  8 x 15 in

Left: Eddie Collins, undated 

Pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of Eddie Collins (1887-1951), a second baseman for the Chicago White Sox who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.  In 1925, Collins became just the sixth player to join the 3,000 hit club. He was part of the notorious "Black Sox" team that threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. However, Collins was not accused of being part of the conspiracy and was considered to have played honestly, despite only hitting .226 in the Series.  In 1932,  Collins was hired by Tom Yawkey as the general manager of the Boston Red Sox.   Dimensions:  8 x 16 in.


Right: Richard Rube Marquard, 1912 

Pen and ink portrait, with watercolor background, of Richard William “Rube” Marquard (1886-1980), who was born in Cleveland, OH,  and a Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher whose greatest success came with the New York Giants, leading them to three straight pennants. In 1912,  Marquard won 26 games, 19 in a row, a first in baseball history.  His career ended in 1925 with a 201-177 record, 3.08 ERA and 1,593 strikeouts. Marquard is ranked in the top five among left-handers in major league history.  He died in Baltimore in 1980 at the age of 93.  Dimensions:  8 x 15 in.


William E. “Wild Bill”  Donovan, ca. 1915-17 

Pen and ink drawing, with watercolor background, of “Wild Bill” Donovan (1876-1923), a right-handed pitcher who played for the Washington Senators (1898), Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1902), and Detroit Tigers (1903–1912).  Donovan earned his nickname early in his career when he had trouble controlling his pitches, a problem he overcame. As a pitcher, Donovan compiled a career 186-139 win-loss record with a 2.69 ERA and 1,552 strikeouts.  Later, as player-manager of the Providence Grays, he led his team to the International League pennant in 1914, with help from a rookie pitcher named Babe Ruth.  As portrayed in this drawing,  Donovan was also player-manager for the New York Yankees (“Americans”) from 1915 to 1917.  

On December 9, 1923, Donovan died in a train crash in Forsyth, NY, while traveling to Chicago for baseball's winter meetings. At the time, he was player manager of the New Haven (CT) minor league team. He was 47.  Dimensions: 10 x 16 in.




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Images and information contributed by: Thomas W. Costello, November 2020
P.W. Costello produced hundreds of engrossings and portraits throughout his 45-year career in Scranton. If you happen to have any of them in your family, Tom Costello, the artist's great-grandson, would appreciate the opportunity to photograph or scan them in support of his research. Tom can be reached at this e-mail address: 

These documents and images are made available free to the public for non-commercial purposes by the Lackawanna County, PAGenWeb Project.