Adventures With Seraphim

Leon Abner Quillen was born in 1882 in North Branch, MN.

In 1898 as a 16 year old, he played baseball for North Branch and during the season stabbed himself in the leg with a knife.

After he recovered from his self-inflicted wound, he resumed playing for North Branch, but accepted an offer to play for Superior in 1900. News reports said “that the good-looking new shortshop has made good, he is quick on his feet and covers much territory.”

A year later he played for the Stillwater Wolfs and “made a great showing in the warming up and did phenomenal work in the game. He is a great batter, superb fielder and runs the bases like lightning.”

Quillen signed with the Minneapolis Millers in 1902, but struggled with some early season injuries. He played through the injuries and had a successful season.

Jumping between several minor league teams, he finally landed with the Chicago White Sox in 1906, when he recorded his first major league hit off of future hall of famer Addie Joss. He didn’t receive a lot of play time and did stints for the Lincoln minor league team.

In 1908 he was sold to the Minneapolis Millers and never again played in the majors. He retired in 1915 and went on to become an umpire.

Lee’s T206 card is featured with several tobacco brands, including American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear, Sweet Caporal and seen here with the Sovereign Cigarettes back.

Quillen died in 1965 at the age of 82 in St. Paul, MN.