When is this from?

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Posted By: Bill Todd

Been going through some old boxes, and forgot I had this. It appears to be a poster that was stuck onto a phone pole--about 3 inches by 11, on what feels like newsprint. Any thoughts as to history? Is the "Orange" Orange, NJ? My best guess, figuring that at least some of the players were former big-leaguers, is that it's about 1885.

Thanks,

Bill

[Suggestions for cutting the image size?]



pole poster

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Posted By: barrysloate

It has an 1880's or so look and feel to it, but there were so many teams called the Nationals that it is hard to tell. Maybe some research on the Franklins would yield some information. This is probably a local game between two town teams; there was a Gerhardt in the majors who was born in Washington, D.C. in 1855, but it is not necessarily him. If it is the same Gerhardt, perhaps late 1870's would be right. There was a famous Washington Nationals team that played in the late 1860's, but the roster doesn't match up.

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Posted By: J Levine

The poster talks about the Nationals residing in Springfield, Mass. There is a town called Orange, MA not too far from there in the county of Franklin, MA. It would stand to reason that they are playing a town team there. The Franklins were most likely named after the county which in turn was named after Benjamin Franklin. That is where I might start a search for a local newspaper.

Joshua

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

Joe Gerhardt played 2B for 12 years, 1873-1891. Bill McClellan played 1878-1888, leaving the majors at SS. Pop Snyder was a catcher, 1873-1891.

I'd guess that the Nationals were a group of players who'd retired from the major leagues, and formed a team that barnstormed across the country. If they started this a year or so after they're out, then I figure a year or two later they'd have won all those games as mentioned.

A very neat item. More research needed. I'd guess it is from about 1894 or 1895. You might try searching newspapers at a library near the "home field".

Good luck.

Frank.