Kansas City Monarch's - J. Robinson?

[h2oya311]

Anyone else see Jackie, third player closest to the cameraman? Or am I simply up too late tonight?

[bcbgcbrcb]

Sorry, Derek. The Monarchs jerseys in that photo do not match the style worn during Jackie's one season there in 1945.

[h2oya311]

Are the stripes wider or something? The two look pretty similar to me.

One difference I see is that the pants don't have a number on your photo, but they do on mine. I suppose the lettering of "Monarchs" is a bit smaller in your photo vs. mine, but otherwise, I'm not seeing any other difference in uniforms. You can see the same stripe pattern on the folks in the back of the dugout as your photo (at least in my opinion). But then again, I'm biased, since I picked up this card recently. If not 1945, then what year would you (or others) date this photo that I shared?

By the way, Phil, that pic you shared is probably the most awesome pre-MLB debut J. Robinson "card/photo" I've ever seen!

[h2oya311]

Phil - is it possible that the 1945 Monarch's team had many different uniforms? Check out this photo from Wikipedia:

It is quite different from yours!! Note that this photo also shows a uniform number on the pants, so the use of uniform numbers on the pants was at least era-specific.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Derek:

I have a book of numerous KC Monarchs team and individual photos, that uniform style dates to 1950 or 1951. There is some good news, I am quite certain that the first uniformed individual on the right is Buck O'Neill, who has a HOF award named after him and now has a sort of plaque in Cooperstown. Also, look for Willard Brown, he was still on the Monarchs at that time, not sure if he is there or not.

[jerseygary]

I agree with what Phil said, those jerseys are from at least 4-5 years after Robinson played with the Monarchs. By the time this picture was taken they weren't a top-level team anymore. The jersey with the large "K" and "C" were the home and the one with "MONARCHS" was the road grays in 1945 when Robinson played for them. Neat picture even without Jackie in it, though.

[h2oya311]

I'll defer to you both w/r/t the jerseys. Still looks a lot like Jackie - even after some much needed sleep.

I suppose I should sleep better since I possibly have an image of the back of Buck O'Neill!

[jerseygary]

And if it is indeed Buck O'Neill in the photo, it definitely can't be Jackie Robinson since Buck was in the Navy the year Robinson played with the Monarchs. Like I said, it's still a great photograph to have!

[jerseygary]

Now if you really want to go nuts, you can look closely and see if a young Ernie Banks is in that dugout. The cap style is the same as when Banks played for Kansas City in 1950...

[ctownboy]

I know it cant be but when I look at the picture, the player fifth from the right, the guy looking right at the camera, he reminds me of Roberto Clemente....

David

[bcbgcbrcb]

Good point, Gary. I forgot that Banks was there from 1950-53, I have seen him in a '53 Monarchs photo but none earlier than that.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Willard Brown is a good candidate for the player standing next to O'Neill with Buck's hand on his shoulder.

[jerseygary]

I don't have my books with me, but I'm pretty sure Banks was with the Monarchs as a teenager in '50 then was drafted and returned in '53 for a spell before the Cubs got him.

[timber63401]

8th down almost does look like Banks.