Help to identify baseball team from old photo & rppc

[MENAHAN319]

Hi there- I found a photo and photo postcard featuring a baseball team from around 1910-1915 or so. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there could help me identify the team's logo. It looks to be a wagon wheel, with a fancy "f" in it. The postcard does not list any info on it, both the photo of the player and the postcard have a metallic sheen to them.

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to offer!

[Leon]

Someone might know the id of that photo and postcard but it's a long shot. I have approximately 100 similar type, early 1900s postcards, and probably 10% are where the team names are known. Most are not able to be identified. That being said there is a chance someone will know the insignia...

[MENAHAN319]

Thanks, Leon, I do hope someone might know the name of the team. It's sad that they did not indicate the team on the postcard. I tried researching teams w/ a name that included "f". There were a lot! I thought that maybe these were the Flint Vehicles, since I'm in Michigan.
Thanks!

[Jaybird]

Here's my guess, and I agree I think it's a long shot that someone will know.

I've seen this design for autoworks around 1910-20. I think it's a team from the company. So, auto manufacturing company beginning with F. Unfortunately, there were many, many autoworks around that time but that's where I would be searching if I were a betting man...

[MENAHAN319]

Thanks, Jason, maybe I'll do some searching within auto manufacturing. thanks for the suggestion. the wheel looks to be very similar.So, might it be a company team? I was thinking that they might be a minor league team, but I'm not very baseball savvy. thanks, Tara

[MENAHAN319]

mystery solved, I did more searching on the internet. I found that the Azo post card dates between 1904-1918. I had my suspicion that it may be a Flint Michigan team. I found a website that has the same photo, different post card, but it identifies them as them as "Flint Base Ball Team" they played at Athletic Park in Flint, Mi. I'm going to do a little more digging, maybe I can identify the individual player in the photo.

thanks for all of your help!! It's much appreciated

http://mmm.lib.msu.edu/record.php?id=1513

[slidekellyslide]

The Flint Vehicles of the Southern Michigan League. You found the needle in the haystack.

[MENAHAN319]

Thanks, Dan!! I may be pushing my luck to identify the player in the photo. I did find a roster for the 1908 team on baseball-reference.com That player may be listed there, I'm trying a web search to find photos of the players listed. wish me luck!
thanks again, Tara

[Jaybird]

Nice work, Tara. Congrats on finding the team. YOu could also try searching local papers archives for box scores, etc. The guy is in a pitching pose, so I would assume pitcher. At least that's the research angle I would try first. Then take all of the pitchers from that roster and try to put a face with the names.

[MENAHAN319]

Thanks, Jason, I'm kicking myself for not even thinking about this player being a pitcher!!! It seems so obvious now. lol Anyway, that narrowed down the field of choices to about 6 according to baseball-reference.com. I think that it might be Gene "Rubber Arm" Krapp. I included a Wiki pic of his baseball card when he played with the Portland Beavers. thanks for the suggestion!

[Jaybird]

Holy Krapp! I don't normally say this but that looks like a match to me. See if you can find any photos of Krapp. to match with your photo.

[MENAHAN319]

Ha ha!! holy Krapp...that's awesome! I see a lot of similarities in the mouth.. especially the area between the nose and mouth. yeah, I'm looking to find actual photos of him online, no luck so far... thanks

[Jaybird]

Here he is with Buffalo Feds... It's him.

[MENAHAN319]

omg, it is him! thanks so much for finding that photo. Where did you find that one? That is so great! I never did look into the Buffalo team for more photos. wow, I wasn't 100 percent, sometimes those colorized cards change the look of the person. wow, thanks

[Jaybird]

Just Gene Krapp in Google Images. Came right up. Nice find. Cool piece.

Where did you find them? Is the individual player a postcard or a photo in a mount? Is he present in the team picture?

[MENAHAN319]

cool, I just Googled it, too.. I found the pics in a box of my Mom's, she collected old photos at antique shops, garage sale, etc..

The photo of Krapp is a photo mounted/ cabinet card. He is in the group shot, too. Seated on left end of the front row wearing a sweater (maybe it was a game day and he was keeping his arm warm!). Funny thing, he was listed as one of the 5 shortest pitchers in MLB history.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...history/page/5

[bmarlowe1]

I am curious to know if Red Bowser in the photo. Can you post it in higher res?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

I am curious to know if Red Bowser in the photo. Can you post it in higher res?

I can help facilitate hosting a larger image, if need be? Send to leonl@flash.net..

..good detective work on this one too.
I have to say I am often amazed at what our board members sleuth.

[MENAHAN319]

I believe Red Bowser is in the back row, second from right. I took another pic of the group photo, with a close up on the man I think is Red Bowser. He should be there, I recall reading that it was his first season playing. In a reference photo, he has really predominant lower eye lids, like he has here. Plus, his mouth is a good match, too..

I'll also send the same image to Leon, since I might be not able to post a high resolution picture here.

thanks

[Leon]

a larger scan

[bmarlowe1]

My reference is not good, but that is very likely him.

[MENAHAN319]

Yeah, I wasn't able to find any other photo of Red Bowser, besides the one you have. It helps to look at them side by side, like you have. I really do think that is him.
Thanks, Tara

[Dto7]

Maybe this will help. 1908 Flint Vehicles


Don

[MENAHAN319]

Thanks so much, don!! That is amazing! Now i can put names to all of the faces! Wow, i can't thank you enough for digging that up!
Tara :d

[smokelessjoe]

Don,

That is interesting... Looks like someone did some "cut n pasting"! It is the same image.

[Dto7]

Originally Posted by MENAHAN319

Thanks so much, don!! That is amazing! Now i can put names to all of the faces! Wow, i can't thank you enough for digging that up!
Tara :d

You're welcome...glad it worked out for you.

[Dto7]

Originally Posted by smokelessjoe

Don,

That is interesting... Looks like someone did some "cut n pasting"!

smokelessjoe, Seems like the common thing to do back in those days.


Don