Help Identifying Issue

[Bridwell]

I bought this cabinet photo recently. It measures 5.5 x 8.25, and came in a fancy glassine sleeve with an embossed paper cover. Looks like a Detroit player? Any help most appreciated.

[FrankWakefield]

I'd guess Heinie Beckendorf... but I lack the photographic expertise, and the ear analysis, both of which are necessary to say for sure. In a while the ear experts will chime in. Nice cabinet.

[Leon]

I am sure you would have said but I have to ask, is there any company name on the embossing or the back of the cabinet? From the scan it just looks like a very nice generic cabinet. Great photo too...

[Jacklitsch]

While Beckendorf was a catcher I don't think it's him.

Compare:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...eckehe01.shtml

Don't think this Beckendorf Dietsche adds anything to the question but...

[Bridwell]

Thanks for the input thus far. I couldn't find any writing on the back or the cover. The embossing is a generic-looking coat of arms on the cover.

I found one other photo of Beckendorf:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...eckehe01.shtml

Anybody else think it is him? He played a few games for Detroit in 1909-1910.

[bmarlowe1]

It for sure is not Beckendorf - see comparison to 3 photos of Beckendorf below on right. Also - the Det AL uniform for his time period should have a dark collar. Also - the "D" is actually a bit different than the one in the Dietsche photo that Steve Murray posted.

[Shoeless Moe]

3rd photo in looks like Jim Thome.

[FrankWakefield]

I agree, that's not Beckendorf. It was just a guess... The face looks familiar, as in I think I've seen that on a card. Maybe it is someone who had the catcher's mitt that day, but we'd think of him as playing a different position.

[bmarlowe1]

Frank - I really don't think it's a Det AL uniform - the collar is wrong and the D isn't quite right. The D from the cabinet is below left, the D from a 1909 Det AL uniform is below right. The curve at the bottom of the letter is different.

[Bridwell]

Thanks for the input, especially you Mark. You're the best at this.

Here's a photo of Cobb from 1913. In 1912-13 the Tigers had the light collars. Looking at the Fatima 1913 card and some other photos, it looks like the bottom of the old english 'D' is a bit flatter on some players. So perhaps the player is from 1912-13.

[Bridwell]

Any chance it could be a young Wally Pipp? He played 12 games as a rookie for Detroit in 1913.

[bmarlowe1]

It's true that the TIgers had white collars in 1912-1913, but the D in your photo is still not quite right. For sure he is not Wally Pipp, nor is he any rostered player who caught for Det in those years.