O/T Identification help - Football

[hcv123]

This is an 8 3/4 X 10 3/4 photo. Can anyone identify the player? Thanks.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

If the note on the bottom is to be trusted I would think Wild Bill Kelly. However he died in 1931 at only 26 years old.

[Chris Counts]

That's a great photo. Out of curiosity, I googled "Wild Bill" and "football," and I was surprised by how many different players I found. Unfortunately, none matched the player in your photo, either because they weren't the right age, or didn't look like him. But there were at least three "Wild Bills" playing college or pro football in 1933, and likely more. Are there any clues on the back of the photo?

[Leon]

He doesn't look like a baseball player.

At least put O/T in the subject title. Per the written rules, which no one reads, longstanding members are permitted a few off topics. I haven't a clue on the player but good luck..
.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

That's a great photo. Out of curiosity, I googled "Wild Bill" and "football," and I was surprised by how many different players I found. Unfortunately, none matched the player in your photo, either because they weren't the right age, or didn't look like him. But there were at least three "Wild Bills" playing college or pro football in 1933, and likely more. Are there any clues on the back of the photo?

See pic - "Cream (can't make out 2nd word), Black Edge, 129, Sep "

Just noticed - could be a number "31" on the front of his jersey. At least part of the photograph is hand colored - including whatever number is on his jersey.

Originally Posted by Leon

He doesn't look like a baseball player.

At least put O/T in the subject title. Per the written rules, which no one reads, longstanding members are permitted a few off topics. I haven't a clue on the player but good luck..
.

Sorry Leon - edited to add O/T

[JustinD]

I think you might already have his name right there on the back. You just need to decipher it.

The uniform does not match any professional team at the time so it’s a rule out. It’s likely high school or college.

During the 30s almost all teams of the era would play two way, offense and defense. Even the kicker would play defense when in rotation. It was why players were all basically of uniform size. Specialists would come later in the 40s.

I believe the the text under the name is likely Rback edge, his two positions. If he was running back and an edge on defense it would explain the rb pose.

[JollyElm]

A guess, but the back might be directions to the framer, matter, or whatever:
Cream Mat
Black Edge

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

If the note on the bottom is to be trusted I would think Wild Bill Kelly. However he died in 1931 at only 26 years old.

I believe that’s who it is ,
Wild Bill Kelly was already a big deal in high school .. and that’s where I think this photograph is from ..
Or maybe not 😐

[Steve D]

Based on the picture of Wild Bill Kelly in his 1923 high school yearbook, I don't believe it is him.

https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/63126 Go to page 74 of the yearbook

Steve

[sb1]

I think the name is Blackledge...