Just throwing this out there. Probably not baseball.

[butchie_t]

Dad??????? Is that you??????

[RL]

looks like a railroad conductor

[bnorth]

A old timey picture of Tanner with a different stache?

[Fred]

And how can you tell it's a railroad conductor? By looking at the ears?

[RL]

Originally Posted by Fred

And how can you tell it's a railroad conductor? By looking at the ears?

look at his vest, he got the chain attached to his pocket watch

[Rhotchkiss]

Why are they always looking off to one side? Nobody ever looked at the camera back then.

I mean, I thought a railroad conductor would have the decency to look at the camera

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by RL

look at his vest, he got the chain attached to his pocket watch

Anyone who wore a suit and had a pocket watch in that era had a chain with a fob. He looks like a bit of a fop. Wearing a cravat rather than a bowtie or regular tie. May also be autistic; think of the story of Lewis Carroll in the movie 'The Accountant'.

This also looks like any random photo you find in one of those $2-3 'instant relatives' at any antique show or Brimfield Flea Market.