Let's see some postcards

[molenick]

Wow, Cobb with the Colonial club is cool. Here are some unidentified youngsters.

[ThomasL]

Posted this a while back in a thread asking for help securing the year of the postcards production, but thought I'd post it here as well.

Amarillo baseball team 1901-07 era...think their first team was in 1905 or 06

Chic Gandil played with Amarillo for a few months in 1906 and it is possible he's in this photo, but impossible to confirm without finding the same photo with a definitive date to it or better yet with players labeled.

Have included a 1907 comp photo of Gandil with the player that I think might be him on the postcard

[molenick]

Saw this at a postcard show years ago and thought it was cool. I have no information about it except what is on the back of the card (I believe what is handwritten is "Made in Hungary"). Quick Google and eBay searches did not turn up much...I saw one golf player for sale on a site based in India. I think this comes under the heading of "rare but not valuable".

[AstroJake09]

Hi all,

A while back I had seen an image/scan depicting the stadium dedication game against Utah for Folsom Field (then Colorado Stadium) on November 1, 1924. This was only the fourth game ever played at what was then the "new" campus stadium which was a huge step forward from the small confines of the wooden bleachers of Gamble Field. CU was stepping onto the stage of big time college football. Originally I had reached out to some sources and was told that it was a colorized photo and had only been seen in reproduction format until that point. I however, recognized it as a postcard.

Well... I’m excited to share with you that I’ve tracked down an original copy of the postcard!

I was doing a little browsing on eBay and just happened across it as it was listed as being Gamble Field. Of course, I knew better! I was able to put in a bid on it and won! As of now I have only confirmed two copies. This is one of the neatest pieces of Buffs history depicting the greatest home field setting in college football nearly 100 years ago.

It seems that each copy was hand colored individually and was most likely done with watercolor or pastel. After a bit of searching I'm excited to finally confirm the existence of this image and thought I'd share it to be enjoyed with everyone else!

The second postcard shows the stadium and gymnasium circa 1920s-early 1930s.

Stay safe all and Sko Buffs!

[rickalaska]

Jesse Haines (HOF) on a baseball team at a July 4th (circa 1911) Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) event. The player's uniform logo that reads "WUHS" stands for "West Union High School" - about 8 miles from where Jesse grew up in Ohio. Note that the WUHS player's cap and uniform pants are similar to Jesse's. Haines dropped out of school after the 8th grade. Born in 1893, I would guess he was about 18 years old in this photo.

[rickalaska]

At age 17 in 1907, Smoky Joe Wood was 18-11 as a pitcher with the Hutchinson Salt Packers of the Western Association. He is pictured on the top row, third from the right.

When Walter Johnson was asked by a reporter, "Can you throw harder than Joe Wood?" Johnson said, "Listen mister, no man alive can throw any harder than Smokey Joe Wood."

[rickalaska]

1907 G.W. Hull - Ed Walsh (HOF) with the original mailing envelope. The 1906 World's Champion Chicago White Sox were known as the "Hitless Wonders" because the team's batting average for the year was only .230, worst in the American League and second-worst in the majors.

Ed Walsh went on to win 40 games (40-15) in 1908. He finished his career with a 1.82 ERA - the lowest of any major league pitcher in history.

[rickalaska]

Prior to joining the Chicago White Sox in 1904, Ed Walsh (HOF) was a coal miner in his hometown of Plains, PA. Here he is pictured in the back row with an unidentified team. Is that "coal dust" on his face...having just come from the mine? It's documented he played on the company team, as well as teams from Wilkes-Barre; Mount Carmel; Newark, NJ; and Meriden, CT.

I've seen photos of him with the Mount Carmel, Newark, and Meriden teams, so I know it's not any of them. I suspect this is either the company team, or the Plains (Black Diamonds), or Wilkes-Barre (Barons) team as the RPPC was found near that area.

Note the similar flip in the bangs on both the 1904 Carl Horner rookie photo and this RPPC. The man standing at the far right, may be owner Ernest Landgraf.

[VintageBen]

1906 V.O. Hammon Chicago Cubs PC PSA 3


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rickalaska]

One of the coolest cards in the hobby, this is Buck Weaver's true Rookie Card - he entered major league baseball in 1912 and this card is clearly stamped "1912" right on the front.

Buck is shown schmoozing with the ladies... Who wouldn't want this as their Rookie Card...

[rickalaska]

Two images of George Weiss (HOF) - the one at the right is the well-known "rookie" image of him with the New Haven Colonials in 1914. The one on the left (holding the bat), I would guess pre-dates the other by 3 or 4 years - born in 1894, and based on the ages of the other players, I would guess he was about 16-years old (Circa 1910).

George Weiss built and managed the New York Yankee's farm system (1932-1947) and served as General Manager of the team (1947-1960). During his 28-year affiliation with the Yankees, the team won 15 of 19 world championships.

He retired with the New York Mets in 1966, having put together a large part of the team that would go on to win the 1969 World Series (The "Amazin' Mets).

[rickalaska]

Postcards of the 1910 Superior Red Sox written by 3rd baseman Lute Chase (.230 batting) and by pitcher Andy Clausen (9-15 record) during the 1910 season. Dave Bancroft (HOF) was the shortstop of the team.

[rickalaska]

1910 Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana with 16-year old, Bill Wambsganss - the first and only major league baseball player to complete an unassisted Triple Play in the World Series (game 5, 1920 World Series). There have only been 15 unassisted Triple Plays in major league history. This feat is rarer then a "perfect game" of which there have been 23 in major league history.

Bill Wambsganss played 13 seasons in the majors, most of it with Cleveland.

[rickalaska]

A rare Heimer postcard of the 1907 Detroit Tigers. PSA and SGC have a combined total population of 11 cards graded. This RPPC is postmarked 8 Oct 1907 from Detroit, Michigan. There are three Hall of Famers on the card - Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and Hughie Jennings.

[Bicem]

Not seeing the Walsh photo id connection.

Cool Heimer, although not a real-photo postcard. I've wondered if the RPPC that uses the same image was produced by Heimer as well (the cabinet photo using the same image was copywrited by them).

[rickalaska]

RPPC of Robert Harwood Quayle (Vice President Dan Quayle's grandfather) - 1910, University of Illinois - Robert attended the school from 1905-1910. His grandson, Dan Quayle was the Vice President of the United States under President George H.W. Bush (41) from 1989-1993.

[rickalaska]

Rabbit Maranville (HOF) made his major league debut on 10 Sept 1912 with the Boston Braves. This postcard was issued by the Boston American newspaper that same year. To date, it is the only graded example in the hobby - population 1.

His earliest mainstream card did not come out until 1914.

[rickalaska]

1907-09 Novelty Cutlery postcards of Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson - the first two pitchers inducted into major league baseball's Hall of Fame - enshrined with the 1936 inaugural class alongside Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner. Johnson and Mathewson had a combined 790 lifetime wins. PSA & SGC have graded a combined total of 10 Walter Johnson and eight Christy Mathewson Novelty Cutlery postcards.

WALTER JOHNSON:
In 1911, sportswriter Grantland Rice popularized the nickname “The Big Train” in referring to Johnson - at a time when trains were the fastest things known to man. Ty Cobb recalled Johnson’s fastball as “Just speed, raw speed, blinding speed, too much speed.”. “The Big Train” put together a string of 10 straight 20-win seasons. During his career, he amassed 10 full seasons with a sub 2.00 ERA, completed 531 of his 666 career starts, had 110 shutouts, 12 strikeout titles, five ERA titles, and 417 lifetime wins.

CHRISTY MATHEWSON:
In the 1905 World Series, Mathewson pitched three shutouts in three starts. “He could pitch into a tin cup,” said Hall of Fame second baseman Johnny Evers. Mathewson won 20 or more games 13 times, and won 30 or more games four times, topping out at 37 wins in 1908. He led the NL in ERA five times, won five strikeout titles, and had 373 lifetime wins.

In 1918, he enlisted in the Army during World War I. While serving as a captain in France, he was accidentally exposed to mustard gas during a training exercise. He spent the next seven years battling tuberculosis and passed away on Oct. 7, 1925.

[Exhibitman]

Those are beautiful, Rick.

[Jobu]

1907 Manitowoc Wisconsin RPPC with George Wilson.

[rickalaska]

Ty Cobb - one of my favorites. Memory Lane just auctioned off an SGC 4 last night (20 Mar 21) that did really well (With B/P almost $25K).

[rickalaska]

Five color variations I have found on this 4 on 1 post card with a Mel Ott rookie - not sure if there are other colors... If you have a different color - please post.

[rickalaska]

Color variations of Lefty Grove's 1926-29 Exhibits card - I don't know if there are others...

[robertsmithnocure]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

Rabbit Maranville (HOF) made his major league debut on 10 Sept 1912 with the Boston Braves. This postcard was issued by the Boston American newspaper that same year. To date, it is the only graded example in the hobby - population 1.

His earliest mainstream card did not come out until 1914.

Awesome Maranville postcard. Great pose.

How are you and SGC able to date it to 1912? It seems odd that Boston American Souvenir would produce a postcard at the end of 1912 featuring a little know shortstop from a last place team who was not called up until the end of that season. I could not imagine there being much of a demand for a postcard like this in 1912.

Whatever the date, that is one of the best Maranville cards out there.

Also, is he the only known Boston National player known in the set?

It would make more sense that the postcard was issued in 1914 after the Boston Nationals swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series and Maranville came in second in the MVP voting to teammate Johnny Evers.

[rickalaska]

Originally Posted by robertsmithnocure

Awesome Maranville postcard. Great pose.

How are you and SGC able to date it to 1912? It seems odd that Boston American Souvenir would produce a postcard at the end of 1912 featuring a little know shortstop from a last place team who was not called up until the end of that season. I could not imagine there being much of a demand for a postcard like this in 1912.

Whatever the date, that is one of the best Maranville cards out there.

Also, is he the only known Boston National player known in the set?

It would make more sense that the postcard was issued in 1914 after the Boston Nationals swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series and Maranville came in second in the MVP voting to teammate Johnny Evers.

On the surface, I agree with you.

An important thing to consider is that this was a "local" issue and not a "national" issue - a town gets excited with what they have and then hopes for next year (Go Vikings).

PSA also settled on 1912 - they list Forest "Hick" Cady as a part of the same issue. Hick Cady made his debut in 1912 for the Boston Red Sox as a catcher, playing 47 games.

Looking at this from strictly a "statistic" point of view, it makes little sense the cards were issued in 1912, however, the tangibles some players bring don't always show up in the stats - Bernie Williams, Ozzie Smith, etc... Seeing them play in person is completely different then what the stat lines show - It would not be shocking that 5'5" Rabbit Maranville generated a lot of excitement and hope for a last place team.

I don't know if there are other players from the Boston Braves in the set - If this set was issued in 1914, I would expect to have seen Johnny Evers (HOF), Dick Rudolph (26-10), and Bill James (26-7) by now.

Thanks for your post

[robertsmithnocure]

I would not trust either PSA or SGC with their dating, especially on something as rare as your Maranville postcard. They generally just copy their info from the different guides and do not change it unless someone can provide proof otherwise. For example, I think that they still refer to 1949 Leaf cards as being from 1948. LOL.

Do you have an image of the Hick Cady postcard? If so, I would love to see it.

[rickalaska]

The Cady card was listed in an REA auction. This one wasn't graded, and PSA has only graded one (I assume the same card image). I don't own the card.

[Baseball Rarities]

Great postcards. Thanks for posting them.

[rickalaska]

The checklists I found, showed these eight players - of course, there could be others. I found an image of all except Hub Perdue.

The four cards in the top row are all in the same format and are all listed as a "Boston Daily American Souvenir" on the bottom. The Tris Speaker and Jake Stahl cards (at the bottom left) are both issued as "Boston American Series" and are in different formats then the cards above.

In dating the cards, it is important to note, Manager Jake Stahl was released from the team in July 1913. The player-manager of any baseball team of the time also functioned as the captain of the team, but this was not the way the Red Sox were organized in 1912. Jake Stahl managed the team and played first base, but Heinie Wagner was the Red Sox captain. Jake Stahl only managed the Boston Red Sox from 1912 to July 1913. They won the World Series in 1912.

Boston Braves: Of the eight players shown, only Hub Perdue and Rabbit Maranville played for the Boston Braves at the time.

In trying to determine why a light hitting 5'5" rookie shortstop like Rabbit Maranville on a last place team would have been included in this set in 1912, I point to his own words in 1912:

“The fall of 1912 my fielding was above the average, but my hitting was not so good,” I was the talk of the town because of my peculiar way of catching a fly ball. They later named it the Vest-Pocket Catch. Boston wasn’t drawing any too good, but it seemed like everyone that came out to the park, came to see me make my peculiar catch or get hit on the head.”

[Baseball Rarities]

Rick, those are absolutely awesome postcards.

I think that the top 4 postcards are all from the same set - PC742-2 Boston Daily American. They all use the exact same font which lists the player's full name, "Red Sox" and their position. They also have "Boston Daily American Souvenir" printed on the bottom left and have what I assume is a Union logo and the number 96 in the bottom right. They all have a very consistent look to them. They were definitely issued in 1912, the year that the Red Sox won the World Series.

I think that the three postcards at the bottom come from three different "sets." They are have a much different look from each other and look nothing like the 1912 PC742-2 Boston Daily American Souvenir postcards to me.

[robertsmithnocure]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

The Cady card was listed in an REA auction. This one wasn't graded, and PSA has only graded one (I assume the same card image). I don't own the card.

Thanks for sharing that image. I do not remember seeing that one before. I do not think that the Cady and the Maranville postcards are from the same set though.

Cady was with the Boston Red Sox for the entire year and was the starting catcher for six of their eight World Series games.

[Timeless Cardboard]

Originally Posted by FourStrikes

.

Do you know what year the los angels card is?

[Jobu]

1923-24 Brooklyn Robins, from the estate of Gene Bailey. Featuring a dog smoking a pipe.

[rickalaska]

1926-29 Exhibits Mickey Cochrane (HOF) color variations. Two-time MVP with a .320 lifetime batting average - the great Mickey Mantle was named after him.

[rickalaska]

Circa 1909 RPPC of John "Doc" Lavan pictured with the Bridge Street Merchants of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His major league career spanned from 1913 to 1924. The St. Louis Cardinals acquired veteran shortstop Doc Lavan in 1919 - forcing a move by manager Branch Rickey, of young Rogers Hornsby (HOF) from shortstop to second base, where Hornsby would one day be named to the "All Century Team"

Doc Lavan was a graduate of the University of Michigan and served as a surgeon in the US Navy during World War I

[rickalaska]

1907 Morgan Red Belts post card - Miller Huggins (HOF) - future manager of Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees (1918-1929) - It was Huggins who urged Yankee owner Jacob Rupert to acquire Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox after the 1919 season. As Manager, Miller Huggins led the New York Yankees to six Pennants and three World Series championships 1923, 1927, and 1928. He died in 1929 at age 51.

[GeoPoto]

The 1906 Washington baseball team lost 95 games and finished next-to-last in the American League. The team was led by player-manager Jake Stahl. Stahl's managerial record across two seasons in Washington and another two in Boston is not impressive. And though he was a World Series champion in 1912 and led the American League in home runs in 1910, he is best remembered as the acknowledged eponym of the term "jaking it", a baseball phrase for faking an injury to stay out of the lineup, or otherwise loafing.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1617719936

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

The 1906 Washington baseball team lost 95 games and finished next-to-last in the American League. The team was led by player-manager Jake Stahl. Stahl's managerial record across two seasons in Washington and another two in Boston is not impressive. And though he was a World Series champion in 1912 and led the American League in home runs in 1910, he is best remembered as the acknowledged eponym of the term "jaking it", a baseball phrase for faking an injury to stay out of the lineup, or otherwise loafing.

Washington's prospects took a decided turn for the better the next year with the arrival of a 19 year-old pitcher out of the bush leagues of Idaho named Walter Johnson. He got there too late for the 1907 Sporting Life premium, but he is in the 1908 version, which might be his first appearance on a card or premium.

[RUKen]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

Jake Stahl...is best remembered as the acknowledged eponym of the term "jaking it", a baseball phrase for faking an injury to stay out of the lineup, or otherwise loafing.

The available sources for this seem to be 21st century internet sites, which lack citations of any publications from Stahl's era that use the term "jaking it" with a clear reference to Stahl. This seems apocryphal to me, but perhaps somebody on this board has found it in the archives of the Boston Post or some other likely source.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Washington's prospects took a decided turn for the better the next year with the arrival of a 19 year-old pitcher out of the bush leagues of Idaho named Walter Johnson. He got there too late for the 1907 Sporting Life premium, but he is in the 1908 version, which might be his first appearance on a card or premium.

Hank - Do you have an image of the 1908 Sporting Life Supplement of Washington? I would like to see which image they used of Johnson.

Here is Johnson's PC760 Rose Co. postcard which was also issued in 1908.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Baseball Rarities

Hank - Do you have an image of the 1908 Sporting Life Supplement of Washington? I would like to see which image they used of Johnson. Here is Johnson's PC760 Rose Co. postcard which was also issued in 1908.

I think it was the Horner photo, but since I can't remember where I saw it or when, now I'm not even positive that I've seen a 1908 Washington version. I do have a picture of a 1909 I once owned, and that is the Horner image. Since I can't find reference to a 1908 online, I'm wondering now if it exists. Is there a checklist of them somewhere?

[rickalaska]

This is the 1908 Sporting Life - Walter Johnson - he is in the upper left corner

This looks like a "reverse image" of the 1908 Rose Co. postcard

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

This is the 1908 Sporting Life - Walter Johnson - he is in the upper left corner. This looks like a "reverse image" of the 1908 Rose Co. postcard

It looks like they didn't worry about which side of the negatives they used. In this 1909, Cantillon and Milan are reversed from the 1908.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

This is the 1908 Sporting Life - Walter Johnson - he is in the upper left corner

This looks like a "reverse image" of the 1908 Rose Co. postcard

Thanks for posting that image from the Sporting Life Newspapers. It definitely looks like they used the same Horner image that the Rose Co. used, except that they reversed it.

Not to get too far off subject, but does anyone know if The Sporting Life actually issued a W601 Supplement of Washington in 1908 or was this image just used in the January 30, 1909 edition of their newspaper?

I know that The Sporting Life issued W601 supplements between 1902 and 1911, but it seems as though they issued all teams in some years (1903, 04, 05, 06 and 09) and only a few teams in others (1902, 07, 08, 10 and 11)

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

It looks like they didn't worry about which side of the negatives they used. In this 1909, Cantillon and Milan are reversed from the 1908.

In the case of Milan and Johnson, it looks like they reversed the image so that all of the players are looking towards the center of the image. I am sure that they did this with other players as well. No idea why they reversed the image of Cantillon.

[rickalaska]

1910 PC796 Sepia Postcard of Harry Lord - PSA 6 is the highest grade of any card in the set - total pop. of all PSA 6 cards in the set - 3

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Jobu

1923-24 Brooklyn Robins, from the estate of Gene Bailey. Featuring a dog smoking a pipe.

That is one amazing piece! LOVE IT!

All the one to one (we've been posing too long) conversations ; multiple equipment checks ; levitation ; and, of course,
the Dog with a Pipe!!

.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

1907 Morgan Red Belts post card - Miller Huggins (HOF) - future manager of Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees (1918-1929) - It was Huggins who urged Yankee owner Jacob Rupert to acquire Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox after the 1919 season. As Manager, Miller Huggins led the New York Yankees to six Pennants and three World Series championships 1923, 1927, and 1928. He died in 1929 at age 51.

Rick- Love the Lavans and the Huggins!! AWESOME!

[rickalaska]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Rick- Love the Lavans and the Huggins!! AWESOME!

Thanks - for gee whiz, I have that Doc Lavan RPPC listed on EBay

[rickalaska]

Some pretty good pitchers named Ed - Ed Walsh (HOF) had four seasons of 24 or more wins, including two with 27 and one with 40 wins. He had a lifetime 1.82 ERA - lowest in major league history. Ed Plank Plank (HOF) had 326 wins and a lifetime 2.35 ERA. He had 10 seasons of 19 or more wins.

Novelty Cutlery Postcards - PSA has graded a total of just five Eddie Plank cards and only two Ed Walsh cards.