photo
 

Early photo from a town nearby where I live....Freeport, Il....I am guessing around 1885 or so....but feel free to correct me....if anyone can determine the year closer to when this might have been taken....I especially like the fact that one of the players has a uniform with Captain on it and not the towns name...

Great photos everyone, this is a fun thread. I have two, the 1886 Philadelphia Quakers featuring Harry Wright and a lot of well-known players (I think this is a very early 1900s print) and a local team photo that has a lot of bells and whistles - ties, mustaches, catcher's mask & chest protector, gloves, ring bats, factory in the window, train, and a pug to top it off.

Mercer county potters league 1887 (nj)
 

My first 19th century pickup in 1980 or so.
Not sure what the trophy is, but always wished it was somehow associated the amazing Parian Base Ball piece. If anyone knows anything about the team or trophy, please let me know.

My favorite

Michael,

Are you sure that isn’t Laura Ingalls batting? Looks like a scene from Little House on the Prarie. Incredible piece of early baseball history Michael! Thanks for sharing.

Ryan

This is such a great thread. I tried to keep some notes on my favorites but it became most every photo. Mikesglove is that glove on the catcher's left hand something that you've seen elsewhere? It seems so unique. I'm not a glove guy just an interested party.

Right now this is my favorite in my collection. It caught my eye because I thought maybe the guy in the middle with the moustache was Mike Kelly, but I have ruled that out. I loved the boater hats which i assume makes it roughly 1875-1883? And i thought the size was big for its age - it's 7 x 9.5. But maybe the size is common for the era?

Any feedback welcome. Thank you. -peter

The hats were available as early as 1876, but as late as 1892.

Ah, I see 1892. So photo is closer to ca. 1885 probably. Thanks Paul!

The catcher's mask also suggests mid-1880s or later.

Haha.....Heritage called it the earliest California baseball action photo

Only a handful of 19th Century images exist picturing key African American ballplayers. This one has to rank near the top of the list, 1894 Findlay team cabinet. Grant "Home Run" Johnson appears seated in the middle row on the far left and Bud Fowler appears seated in the middle row, far right.

I would kill for that image.

There are not many original 19th century baseball related photographs from Japan. This photo taken in 1891 includes Japanese Hall of Famer Kanoe Chuma (3rd from right), the man who in 1894 coined the term Yakyu, meaning baseball in Japanese.

That's a great cabinet card Phil. I actually picked up that cabinet you have back in 2004 on ebay for $30. Man did ebay have some bargains back in the early days. I ended up flipping it to somebody else on Net54.

Rob M

Wow. you're killing me, Rob. Let's just say that adding a couple of zeros to what you paid wouldn't even come close to what it cost me......

So glad I ran into this thread. :):):)

1866 cabinet featuring the Brooklyn Excelsiors visiting the Washington Nationals. Shown in the from row is Henry Chadwick who accompanied Brooklyn on their tour. Also shown is Arthur Gorman, the Nationals President, who later became a senator from Maryland and is featured in the 1888 Duke Presidential Possibilities set.

Awesome photograph!


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2" x 4" cdv
 

In the collection presently though definitely not my focus.

http://luckeycards.com/cdv1.jpg

Yep still love it Leon:)

1892 Cleveland Soiders

Post Civil War....
 

New Orleans Southern BBC - Photo signed & taken by W.W. Washburn at 118 Canal Street - Pictured is Pitcher & First Baseman/2nd Nine - Circa 1870 :

https://www.neworleansbaseball.com/a...ugust-1869.pdf

https://www.neworleansbaseball.com/a...8-29-1869).pdf

1895 George Stallings
 

1895 George Stallings :