1920 Kansas City Monarchs...
 

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if any of you photo collectors (or anyone else for that matter) might be able to help me. I'm looking for a high-res scan of the below photo:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psw0zqc1ow.jpg

The team is the 1920 Kansas City Monarchs, and I'm using it as reference for a color study of Hurley McNair (bottom right) for the Negro Leagues Centennial celebration that my work is to be a part of.

The big problem I'm having is with the caps. While at a first glance, it looks like there might be nothing there, I can help but think I'm seeing some sort of logo or letter combination. Most of the copies I've seen of the image are rather blown out, so that detail gets a bit lost. But there's no doubt in my mind that there's something there.

In the blow image of Méndez (also from the same photo), which is the clearest of any of them I can find, it looks like whatever is there is covered up by some sort of coin or button, but it looks like he's the only one who has it.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psxhlo3svh.jpg

Though looking at the fella next to him (Arumi?), I feel like I can make out a letter...I imagine it's an 'M' for Monarchs? Or a 'KC'? Or just a 'K'?

Also, here's a crop of what the McNair study will be. Even though it's pixelated, you can make out two little shadow lines just above the brim, but seems to be all.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psq1bg4gur.jpg

I just can't tell.

I've gone through the usual channels (Hall of Fame, Negro Leagues Hall of Fame, and some other collectors), but haven't had the luck I need. Might any of you have an idea? Or maybe even some other reference photos of the Monarchs from 1920 that could prove useful?

Thanks for any information or lead you can provide, and I appreciate you reading!

Graig

My guess would be that you are looking at the bottom of an 'A' from the Almendares team he played for prior to Kansas City. The button might be to cover up most of the logo.

Not sure how much research went into these hats (I actually own one) but fwiw;

Rob M

Attachment 314700

Thanks for the response, guys.

I saw that hat too, Rob. I kinda feel like it's not based too heavily on some existing design, but I could be wrong. The problem is that with the Negro League stuff, I just have such a hard time feeling 100% right about the research.

Scott, I like that idea about having the Almendares' 'A' covered up - that theoretically could be the case for Méndez, but I guess not so much for Hurley.