Tris Speaker and the 1915 Susini card mystery solved

[T206Jim]

Over the years there has been debate about the 1915 Susini baseball card depicting a batter in mid-swing. The consensus has developed that it is Tris Speaker and PSA has identified the same image used for the 1934 RJ Hill card as Speaker on its flip. The dark uniform has always thrown people for a loop.

I can now positively identify the Susini and Hill cards with photographic proof. Below is a PSA Type 1 photo of Tris Speaker by Paul Thompson on February 26, 1914 at Chelsea Field in London during the White Sox / Giants game that was played there during the World Tour. Speaker played for the White Sox on the tour and donned their dark uniform. While not the exact card image it was clearly taken during the same game. Close examination shows the same marks and stains on the uniform on each image. Note the white spot on the waistline, the stain on the socks and the grey hair just below the cap edge.

Speaker batting.jpg

Speaker Susini.jpg

IMG_2026 1.jpg

[Republicaninmass]

Thanks for posting this! Mystery solved 100 years later

[NiceDocter]

I agree that Speaker looks the same in both photos but where did the white chalk batters box lines go??? Maybe not the same game? Or maybe they had a practice field? still a mystery.........

[sgbernard]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

I agree that Speaker looks the same in both photos but where did the white chalk batters box lines go??? Maybe not the same game? Or maybe they had a practice field? still a mystery.........

Agree, uniforms look like a match. But the stadium views also look different, not only the chalk lines.

[T206Jim]

Not much of a mystery there. Stadium views are taken at a 90 degree angle from each other, same wall with white cap in each. One pre-game, one later in the game when the chalk has been obliterated. Only one game played in London, and London stamping on back of photo.

[TCMA]

Jim, stadium is know as Stamford Bridge, which is the current home of Chelsea football club. Good info here:

https://www.southsidesox.com/2014/2/...ur-feb-26-1914


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[Exhibitman]

This is great stuff!

[shameless plug] I've consigned a PSA 4 Susini Speaker to the next REA. Bid hard, bid often, bid large.

[DaveW]

Nice job! Now that is a lot of foul territory!

[gonzo]

Nice!

And is that John McGraw hitting fungos in the background on the postcard.

[Schlesinj]

Saw this listed in an eBay listing for the other card. Has anyone mentioned this or knew this?

IMG_6475.jpg

[Gorditadogg]

White Sox in Ceylon, January 1914. Speaker is probably in there somewhere. Signed by Mr. Lipton Tea.

[Leon]

Nice work, Jim. Great sleuthing as usual.

Originally Posted by T206Jim

Over the years there has been debate about the 1915 Susini baseball card depicting a batter in mid-swing. The consensus has developed that it is Tris Speaker and PSA has identified the same image used for the 1934 RJ Hill card as Speaker on its flip. The dark uniform has always thrown people for a loop.

I can now positively identify the Susini and Hill cards with photographic proof. Below is a PSA Type 1 photo of Tris Speaker by Paul Thompson on February 26, 1914 at Chelsea Field in London during the White Sox / Giants game that was played there during the World Tour. Speaker played for the White Sox on the tour and donned their dark uniform. While not the exact card image it was clearly taken during the same game. Close examination shows the same marks and stains on the uniform on each image. Note the white spot on the waistline, the stain on the socks and the grey hair just below the cap edge.

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