19th Century Photo HELP!

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Posted By: Bert Wright

Hey everybody. I've been reading the posts for awhile but this is my first time diving in. I've tried to attach a photo of a large charcoal portrait I've had for quite a while. I had never known who he was until the Halper Auction catalog came out and there was a small cabinet photo (same image as mine) that came with the big John McGraw presentation piece on page 179. Anyway, the descrip says that it is Bert Kenney who originally signed McGraw to the Ocean team (should it be Olean?) as a 15 year old in 1888. I was delighted to find this much out but figured this is the place to possibly find out more. Does anyone have any info on Bert Kenney and what team/year this portrait represents? Possibly McGraw's biography holds some answers but I don't own it. Thanks! Bert Wright

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Posted By: leon

Thanks for chiming in. If you can't quite get the picture thing yet you can shoot me a scan, via email, and I will do it for you....take care

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Posted By: leon

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Posted By: barrysloate

I've never seen anything like that before. That's really beautiful.

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Posted By: Greg Theberge

That is beautiful. Is it signed?

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Posted By: Clint

Awesome Bert! Love those old charcoal drawings. Rare to see a baseball image.

Clint

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Posted By: Joann

Wow. That is gorgeous. I apologize, but I'm not sure from the description what exactly it is (or who) - just that it's a charcoal drawing.

How absolutely cool though.

Joann

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

According to a McGraw bio I have by Charles Alexander Kenney was a Truxton, NY native and was a local town team legend. He bought into a professional team in Olean and signed John McGraw to his first professional contract. McGraw had also played for Kenney in Truxton prior to that. It was apparent that very few of the guys Kenney signed to play in Olean were ready for the NY/Penn League and McGraw was cut and Kenney was soon bought out. Both McGraw and Kenney ended up in Wellsville in the Western New York League. Kenney was player/manager playing centerfield.

edited to add: It's good to see you here Bert.

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Posted By: Bert Wright

Thank goodness for a diversion to watching my Red Sox get slaughtered in the 5th. Dan, thanks for the info...I knew this was the place for answers. Hopefully the info will keep coming and I can learn team and year. Did you find a good spot for the Denver/Lincoln panorama? To answer another question, it is not signed. Bert

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A04E4DB113CE633A25757C1A9669D94 6296D6CF

Interesting New York Times article from 1913 that mentions Kenney.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Bert, the panorama is right up on my living room wall. I'll never be able to thank you enough for that photo.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I'm wondering if the 'C' stands for 'Captain'?

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Posted By: Keith

Beautiful photo/portrait. Plus the condition looks amazing. I picked up a similar sized Charcoal portrait in estate auction for 5 bucks just because I like the look of it, but unfortunately it was not sports related. Yours is awesome.

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Posted By: Bert Wright

Thanks for the great article, Bob and for posting my pic, Leon. This used to belong to Mark Rucker...he sold or traded to two collectors...and I got it from them in early 90s when we all used to live in and around Boulder, Colo. I've never seen his name on the board but if you're out there, Mark perhaps you have more info.

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

Congrats on a marvelous pick-up, Bert!

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Posted By: Max Weder

Wonderful piece

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Bert, check your email.

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Posted By: Vincent

two words ...

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

[TonyK]

This is one of the clearest photos of a ballplayer of the 19th Century that I've seen. Here is what I know about Albert "Old Reliable" Kenney who was born in Truxton, NY in 1861:

His first professional season was probably with the Norwich club in the Central NY League in 1886. His salary was $500 plus all expenses paid and made him a wealthy man. In 1887, he played RF for Danbury of the Eastern League. One manager felt he was the best right fielder in the minors. He left Danbury and then played for Elmira. In 1888, he played for Elmira in the Central League, and then Waterloo and Seneca Falls in the Central NY League. In 1889, he played for Canandaigua of the NY State League. In 1890, he was the player-manager for Olean in the NY-Penn League.

My notes indicate he also played in 1891 for Olean, but I can't verify that. Kenney let John McGraw watch and participate in Elmira practices whenever he could. After his pro career was over he managed the Truxton town team for many years. McGraw took him on the 1913/1914 World Tour as his guest.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by TonyK

This is one of the clearest photos of a ballplayer of the 19th Century that I've seen.

Don't know about the rest of you but there is no photo in this thread, wonderful stunning or otherwise, that I can see. Anybody have a link?

[TonyK]

"Don't know about the rest of you but there is no photo in this thread, wonderful stunning or otherwise, that I can see. Anybody have a link?"

I was responding to someone's question about Bert Kenney, the player pictured. Thought he might want some career information. I had to look on another thread to see the actual picture.