1878 ca. Game in Action CDV - Pitcher? (large pic)

[molenick]

First of all, that's another nice cdv from Leon. The photographer is J. A. French of Keene, NH which, according to https://www.langdonroad.com/fo-to-fy, is a later incarnation of French & Sawyer (also of Keene) who took the photo on another cdv Leon once owned.

As a total guess, I am thinking this is kind of a "school photo" where the photographer told the girls to all look out the windows, told some boys to pose as if they were playing ball, and told the rest of the boys to stand around. The batter is kind of in the middle of the infield and, as Leon said, there doesn't seem to be a pitcher. So I would still call it "in action" but I don't think they are actually playing a game. They also seem to be in their "Sunday best" which they may not have been wearing for an actual game (I am guessing they would have at least taken their jackets off).

All conjecture, of course.

And a great image!

Edited to add: what I thought were infield lines may just be walking paths. Also, I do see pitcher candidates, but they all seem kind of distant for a game of this time period and age of players.

[Jason19th]

If the photo is really that earlier it could be a game called trap ball where there was no pitcher and you would basically launch the ball with a small lever or trap and then hit it and run to base. It was sort of like t-ball and is thought off as an early form of baseball. I have owned many woodcut showing the game but have never seen a photo on

[D. Bergin]

Yeah, a blow up of the right side would be nice, but it does look like there's a guy just beyond the outline of the dirt path, facing the batter with his arm cocked back as if he's about to deliver an underhand pitch to the batter.

Also, is it possible that's a cricket pose? Hard to tell, but the batter looks like he may be holding a paddle, rather then a bat.

[molenick]

As for the dating of the photo, it could not be earlier than 1876 based on the link John posted to an article about the building which says it "....saw major renovations in 1876 with parlors added in the basement and the central steeple replaced by two steeples."

[Leon]

Originally Posted by molenick

As for the dating of the photo, it could not be earlier than 1876 based on the link John posted to an article about the building which says it "....saw major renovations in 1876 with parlors added in the basement and the central steeple replaced by two steeples."

I will try to get an enlarged right side of the cdv. It certainly looks earlier than than the 1870s to me....but maybe not.
.

[molenick]

Well, I was just going by the article saying the building did not have two steeples until 1876. Also by https://www.langdonroad.com/fo-to-fy having the earliest public reference to French, J. A. being 1874. I guess the article could be wrong and maybe there are earlier references to be discovered. But those are two clues pointing to the mid-1870s as the earliest.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by molenick

Well, I was just going by the article saying the building did not have two steeples until 1876. Also by https://www.langdonroad.com/fo-to-fy having the earliest public reference to French, J. A. being 1874. I guess the article could be wrong and maybe there are earlier references to be discovered. But those are two clues pointing to the mid-1870s as the earliest.

I don't disagree on the findings but have you ever seen players in the 1870s dressed and playing like that?
It reminds me of this one..

[molenick]

Well, I am not sure if we have determined if they are playing or posing yet. All we know for sure is that someone is swinging a bat and everyone except the batter is wearing jackets.