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Posted By: davidcycleback

The easiest way to distinguish between an American Indian swastika and the Nazi swastika is that the American Indian is counterclockwise (faces left) and not titled, while the Nazi is clockwise (faces right) and tilted (The Nazi swastika is tilted to resemble a cross). Before the Nazis adopted the symbol in 1920, swastikas were used by many cultures and for many uses, including as good luck charms. The Greeks, Romans, Celtics, Buddhists and Hindus used swastikas, both clockwise and counterclockwise, but usually not tilted like the Nazis. Any swastika in a 1911 women's baseball photo would have no Nazi connotation. The swastikas on your card mostly likely are simply good luck symbols, comparable to four leaf clovers.

You can see Pre-1920 American Indian players with swasticas on the uniforms. You will occasionally see Pre-1920 white male teams with swasticas on their uniforms. This Bloomer team doesn't appear American Indian, and I'm unaware of any American Indian Bloomer teams.