Not Really Truman Capote's Father

I have been quite deficient in keeping this blog updated.  I look over at the stack of cards requiring scanning, some storm-related, some pre-storm, and think, "Maybe I should scan some cards in.  I've bought some interesting items recently and they released Leaf Wrestling Originals.  Who doesn't like Goudey-sized cards containing mediocre artwork of wrestlers you aren't familiar with."  I then realize that is most people and more importantly, I realize I have to hook the scanner back up and quit while behind.  Of course, when I do scan cards, I tend to scan in many at a time, since the backlog tends to be quite large when I get there.  So, today I went through the photo archives and found this beauty.  

To put your minds to rest, Truman Capote's father was also named Arch Persons.  I say also, because while not much is known about Arch Persons outfielder, we are all pretty comfortable in the knowledge he wasn't 11 when playing for Montgomery in 1908.  And if he was, his career would be both more remarkable due to his precocious age and less remarkable for squandering his talent and not making the big leagues if he could play minor league ball when 11.  Also, look at that image, that is not the face of an 11 year old. 

In terms of what we do know about Arch, he played four seasons in the minors where records can be obtained, likely playing both before 1908, during 1910 and possibly after 1912, since I'm not sure where you go after washing out of the Western Canada League.  He did spend some time in Montgomery, which gave him greater fame as part of an iconic baseball card set, time in Little Rock, moving down to San Antonio and Oklahoma City in 1911 and finally, 100 years ago, he spent the year in Bassano, Alberta, Canada, just over the border.

As to his card, the Persons card is considered by some to be the most difficult of the 48 Southern Leaguers to acquire.  As such, I paid more for the above card than I did for any of the other 43 Southern Leaguers in my collection, as I only have a meager four more to obtain.  Considering I needed nearly 20 of these elusive cards as recently as July, I would mark that as progress. 

Realistically, I was left with two main paths towards completion, pushing through the few remaining Hall of Famers or the large lot of Southern Leaguers.  Surprisingly, I've been unable to pull the trigger on a Cy Young (Glove Showing) or a Johnson (Portrait), but continually have found acceptably priced Southern Leaguers to fill in the gaps.  Well, with 39 to go, it is getting slower going in just finding cards I don't own, but I do have my eye on Southern Leaguer 45 tonight.