CIRCA 1900 FRAMED BASEBALL PICTURE

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

"Play Ball"

I went to a swap meet recently and purchased an old, framed baseball player photo that I paid $10.00 for. I have already done quite a bit of research on it that can best be summed up with the following which is how I came up with a date of circa 1900 ... (Also see pictures).

1. The seller said he found it in a box of other junk and didn't know anything about it.
2. The frame is made of tin ~ Appears Victorian ~ Hand painted floral ~ Fold-out standee on back.
3. The frame is oval and measures 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"
4. The photo is sepa colored (brownish) and was developed in an oval shape then cut to fit.

5. Regarding the uniform ...

Uniform Parts:
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Dressed to the Nines - Parts of the Uniform

Caps - 1888 - Spalding:
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Dressed to the Nines - Parts of the Uniform

Shoes - 1883 - Spalding: National Baseball Hall of Fame - Dressed to the Nines - Parts of the Uniform

Uniform/Collar - Last Used 1906
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Dressed to the Nines - Parts of the Uniform

Uniform/Beltless - First Used circa 1910
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Dressed to the Nines - Parts of the Uniform

Earliest Numbering of Jerseys - 1907-09
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Dressed to the Nines - Parts of the Uniform

Baseball History - First Major Leagues 1871 thru 1875
History of baseball in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grain Elevators: Grain Elevators -- History

Pictures, etc ...


1. Framed Photo.

2. Photo Only.

3. Frame and Back. (Glass Not Shown).

4. Cropped Photo. I cannot read the words on the grain elevator.

Shoes from above link ~ He appears to be wearing #1 ~ Solid black high top. Ad is from 1883 Spalding catalog.

Cap ~ Appears to be either #11 or #19 ~ Mulit-sectioned top part. Ad is from 1888 Spalding catalog. I can't tell in my photo if the player is wearing a short or a long bill cap.

Uniform Pants/Beltless ~ Player in my photo is wearing a belt. Belts were last used on uniforms around 1910. This picture is the earliest known example that shows a beltless player and is dated 1913. It is said that prior to 1913 most players wore belts until they were discouraged and possibly even banned because defensive players would sometimes grab hold of the belt to stop an advancing runner.


Footnotes:

1. The Major Leagues were first introduced around 1871 to 1875.
2. Uniform numbering was first introduced in Major Leagues around 1907-1909. (My player has no visible number on his jersey.
3. Uniform "Collars" were last used around 1906. My player's jersey appears to have a collar.

Bottom Line Questions ...

1. Can you think of anything I missed?
2. do you agree with the circa 1900 date?
3. Do you think the player is ... Hometown Team ~ Farm/Minor League ~ Major League?
4. Can you think of any way to identify the location?
5. And what about the grain elevetor? Any clues there? Midwest?

6. And most important of all, do you happen to recognize The Player?

Thanks in advance for your time and interest. I realize I am asking some tough questions that may be impossible to answer, but I thought it would be fun anyway because Baseball season is upon us and I know there are a lot of fans out there like myself.

Sodabottlebob

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Remember, I said I'd be back from time to time with a tid-bit or two. Well, this is the "tid." The "bit" will come later. (Lol)

I just know something is going to come along and shoot holes in my Saskatchewan discovery, but, what the heck, I guess I'll just have some fun with until that happens. Speaking of which, check out this Google Earth image that I rotated where north is now on the bottom.

1. The long, red line with arrows indicates the distance from the pitcher's mound (from what I believe is a baseball field) to the front of the elevator. The distance is approximately 175 yards / 500 feet.

2. The green arrows point to a line of trees between the supposed baseball field and the elevator.

3. The short, red arrow points to a building that is situated appx 100 feet from the short stop position, and is in between left field and the grain elevator. Is that our mystery building with "Grain" written on it?


"Some" of the pieces to the puzzle fit, but not all of them. The only thing about the elevator itself that I don't particularly like, is the headhouse seems a little tall. But since I'm not 100% sure how tall the headhouse is in my photo, then I can live with that for the time being. As far as the layout of the landscape is concerned (trees vs no trees in certain places), its hard to say how things might have changed over the years.

I really don't know what to make of this, other than to repeat what I said earlier in that I/we might not be able to recognize the place if we saw it. And as far as Canadian baseball goes, they definitely had leagues that I am still researching.

Bob

4. The large, red arrow at the bottom indicates a possible camera angle for the shot in my photo.


No doubt some of you are asking, "Where's the river?" To which my reply is, "Maybe it's not a river in my photo. Perhaps it's Reed Lake in the background."

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I'm reading through this website regarding Western Canada Baseball, which Saskatchewan was a part of. The site is fairly extensive, but hopefully will shine some light on things and be able to answer some of my questions. I already did a search but did not find a team listed for Morse, Saskatchewan.

Link: Home Page Western Canada Baseball

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

What if? ...

I realize I said I was calling it quits on this, (which I have for the most part) but when something catches my eye (loupe) that there might be a plausable explaination for, I just gotta report it. You may recall my earlier quandry regarding the horizonal line on the center/left side of my photo and how I thought it might be the roof of another structure. Well, upon closer inspection it appears that it might be the distant shoreline of a lake. And please don't think I'm trying to make something out of nothing here because, as most of you should know by now, I am my own worst critic and will debunk something whenever necessary. By the way, I also discovered a super thin horizonal line just below the player's arm that I previously thought was a portion of his jersey.

Anyhoo, here's what I came up with that might explain what the mysterous horizonal lines are ...

Please examine both pictures closely for comparison. The one I painted should be self explanatory.

Thanks.

Bob

Do the last/first clicking for best results.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

If my last entry didn't convince you I'm crazy, then I'm sure this one will. Below is another rotated Google Earth image of the supposed Morse, Canada baseball field, with the following painted in ...

1. The yellow box indicates the approximate location of the baselines which average the official 88' feet each. (Google Earth has a measuring feature for this purpose).

2. The red lines suggest a possible camera angle that would allow for proper exposure of the coner of the grain elevator.

3. The blue stars suggest two general locations on the field where the player in my photo could have been standing if the photo was taken there. The distance from the two stars to the grain elevator is approximately 500' feet.

And it's okay to start calling me "Crazy Bob." It applies and I don't mind. (Lol)

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Well a while back I mentioned that I had a photo in a similar frame, I kept meaning to post it here but kept forgetting. So here it is...... Also on my Tumblr page there is a set of photos of a guy in an early looking baseball uniform, if anyone has any ideas.....

 

[RafterRat]

The fact you can make out the word GRAIN will help you. Depending on how/where it is oriented on the wall of the elevator will help you determine what company's elevator it is, and maybe narrow your search down. Elevators are disappearing from the Prairies very quickly these days, and most of their locations are mostly vacant railway lots now....so if the elevator was razed before Google Maps' image was taken, it may not be of direct help. Here is a search of Saskatchewan elevator images to get you started.

https://www.google.ca/search?q="pat...87,d.b2I&fp=73f26dfa903cb8f3&biw=1400&bih=859

 

[Mackaydon]

Looks like an outfielder since I see no bat, no baselines, batting box, nor shadow of a catcher or umpire.
His stance is as if he just threw the ball, but not, necessarily, at the catcher.
Don.......

 

[66MM1000]

Another old baseball photo ...

Hi! I know this thread is old, but I have a related piece that i was hoping you all could weigh in on. I was wondering if anyone knew the history of the attached? I assume it is a local team from Herndon, Virginia around 1900, but I have not been able to validate that. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Mackaydon]

66MM1000,
Welcome to Treasure Net,
Ebay had the same pic for sale but all I can get is the pic (on yellow border); no information.
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...w%3D1930%2Bbaseball%2Bteam%26_frs%3D1;225;169
Don......

 

[66MM1000]

Thanks, Don! Yes - that's actually mine. :-) I bought it on ebay but it really didn't come with any info (it was found in an attic that was being cleaned out). I was hoping I would learn more when I popped it out of the frame, but the photo was glued to an old piece of black paper. The closest thing that I have found to a lead is an old "Herndon Day" ad from the 20s that talked about all sorts of activities/events, including baseball games ... one of which was Herndon against another town. But I have not been able to find anything else about a Herndon baseball team. Thanks again - have a great weekend!

 

[Mackaydon]

66mm,
Suggestion: Contact the Herndon Fortnightly Library here: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/he/manager_comments.htm
[h=1] ask your Q and request the Email address of the local historian OR call the library and ask for the Reference Desk; then ask your Q. Telephone: 703-437-8855[/h]Don......

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

66

Are you certain the photo is from Herndon, Virginia and not Herndon, Kansas?

 

[Mackaydon]

Herndon, KS population 126 + or -.
Herndon, Va population over 24,000.
I think the odds favor Virginia
Don......

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I assume it is a local team from Herndon, Virginia around 1900,

Thanks, Don

The reason I ask is because of 66's use of the word "assume." I'm just curious who it was that first came up with Virginia and where they got that from?

 

[Ant]

I haven't gone through all the replies but I notice his throwing position is staged. I can tell his position is at the follow through of the throw. At that point of the throw his right foot would be off the ground, knee bent foot cocked to the side following through with the throw. Even if he was just tossing the ball at the least he would be on the ball of his foot.

I also notice the old farm building or water tower in the babk is being braced up by a long stilt.

 

[Mackaydon]

The tower is not being braced, that is part of the mechanics of a grain elevator; as here:
File:Nanton Grain Elevator 1 (8008174975).jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Don.....

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

This vintage photo is described as being from Herndon, Kansas and dated 1909 ..

.

 

[Mackaydon]

Here's another suggestion:
Contact the public lib. in Herndon, KS.
Talk to Ann at 785-322-5280 and ask her about the team picture.
Don....

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

The population of Herndon, Kansas might be less now, but this vintage photo (exact date unknown) suggest it had more than 126 residents back in the day. Notice the photographer's name is the same as the one on the Herndon baseball team ...

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I don't want to get too far into the possible Kansas connection until we here from 66 and see where the Virginia connection came from, but in the meantime this link shows the population of Herndon, Kansas from various years, including ...


1910 = 273

1920 = 411


But not sure a low population counts necessarily means they couldn't support a baseball team.


Link:

http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/2pop33.pdf