Need Help On A Vintage Photo Update

[perezfan]

Because of the Pillbox Hats, Lace-front Jerseys, Emboidered Cuffs and Quilted Pants, I would say pre-1900. I would guess early - mid 1890s, based on the Equipment, style of pose, ornate backdrop and overall appearance. Look at the length of the crotch area (ok, not too closely) and how low it goes... almost to the knees on the shorter guy!

Terrific piece with tremendous clarity for a photo of that vintage. Normally these are faded, out of focus, and/or washed out. This one was obviously well cared for.

[Runscott]

Clearer pics, especially of the entire mount, will help a lot. I would not be surprised at all to find out it's late 1890's.

The photo shown below was taken in 1922. You could still get pillbox hats then, but they were not common.

A little more digging on this.... The town patriarch of Cotati was a man named Dr. Thomas Stokes Page (1815-1872). He had 13 children, seven boys. In his will, Dr. Page stipulated his ranch could not be subdivided until his youngest son, William Delano (born 1867) was 25 years old. When William turned 25 the Rancho Cotate was subdivided into parcels to establish the town of Cotati in 1893.

Looking at Dr. Page's image and your photo side-by-side might help but I think the catcher bears a possible family resemblance. William Delano Page would have been 25 to 32 years old in the time frame (1893-1900). The next youngest male in the Page family, George Thomas Page would have been about 35 to 42. Awesome photo, well worth adding to any collection.

Dr. Page's story is pretty amazing....
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-...516223&id=I325

[batsballsbases]

Mark,Scott, Ty
Thanks for all the input on the photo. Ty keep digging my friend maybe it will turn out to be one of his children in the photo!

Theory based on supporting evidence: The photo is not William Delano Page (1867-1955) as he was described in his 1896 California Voter registration as 5 foot 10, Medium build, Green eyes, Light Brown hair.

As pointed out before the town of Cotati was not known as such, until October 1894. Looked up pre-1894 Page's Station Baseball but no info. So the photo is probably not before the spring of 1895.

Economic hardships brought on by the Panic of 1893 and an embezzlement scandal perpetrated by the ex-superintendent of the Cotati Land Company, William A. Chapman, probably hurt the availability of funds for a team. Chapman was arrested Nov. 1897 and convicted in March 1898 of stealing nearly $1,000 from the Page Brothers over the previous two years. He was ordered to pay restitution.

I have found two articles that reference the Cotati baseball team. Both losses to the Tomales baseball team, a 29 to 22 loss, May 20, 1899 & a 17 to 8 loss, June 16, 1900 (both articles from the Sausalito Press). The game in 1900 was played on the baseball grounds in Cotati. No batteries listed, just scores.

By the spring of 1902 talk of a six team league began in Marin County which was to include teams from:"Santa Rosa, Petaluma, San Rafael, Sausalito, Friscos, and Alameda." (April 26, 1902, Sausalito News). No mention of Cotati. The team must have been a very small town team. Not worthy of mentioning in 1902; these leagues always tried to get six teams but would settle for four so every team possible was mentioned to drum up support. There may not have been a team in Cotati after 1901 (no available records indicate one). The Petaluma Courier would be helpful, and is quoted a lot, but unfortunately not in the California Archives.

By 1900 many of the Page brothers had left Cotati for San Francisco, including William Delano & his older brother Wilfred (who co-owned Bennet & Page Grain/Wool in San Francisco).

It may still be a Page in the photo, my guess is, more than likely some relative as many of the brothers had six, seven children. With the above info, my guess is the photo is from 1898-1901.

That was a blast! Great stuff. If I run across something concrete will let you know.