Player Identification??

[slidekellyslide]

Cyrus Campbell? Looks well dressed, the photograph was touched up by the photographer, I would guess a minor leaguer, but there are so many Campbell's in the database and "Cyrus" could very well be a nickname. Postmarked in St Joseph, Missouri in 1910, he states that he will be in Kansas City on the 3rd of July.

[pariah1107]

Here's what I could find:

Cyrus Whittington Campbell (1887 - 1948?). Son of Cyrus W. Campbell and Effie Campbell (not the same Effie in PC, his mother passed 1888). His father had a long career as an electrician according to the 1893 & 1920 Kansas City Directory. Not much else on his family, my suspicion is the correspondence is with his sister.

Cyrus Campbell II married Blanche Colvin June 4, 1913 in Kansas City. According to the 1913 Kansas City Directory he was a salesman. In his World War I draft registration, signed June 5, 1917; he has one child, and is the "manager of the Douglas Shoe Company". Under previous military experience he indicates he attended 2 years at Wentworth Military Academy where he was a Private . The description on his physical is : medium height, stout build, with dark brown hair, and blue eyes. A Cyrus W. Campbell passed away in Kansas City November 1948, an article in the Leavenworth Times covers that but I can't find it to confirm it's him.

Just to make things confusing Cyrus & Blanche had a boy named Cyrus W. Campbell III. He was a student in Kansas City according to the 1933 Directory.

Good luck, and great pose!!!

[Bpm0014]

Was not aware that they used pitching toes back then. Interesting!

[slidekellyslide]

Thanks for digging Ty, you are amazing with the stuff you are able to dig up. Much appreciated. :)

[pariah1107]

My pleasure Dan.

Found one more thing that may interest you. Someone posted the 1906 Wentworth Military Academy Yearbook on-line. Man, I wish every school did that! Cyrus Campbell (Missouri) is listed on the Roster of Cadets on page 18. A photo of noncommissioned officers is below it, but poor quality. The baseball team photo is on page 34. The football team, "Prep Champions of the Southwest"?, is pictured on page 42. Many others photos of clubs to look through. He may be pictured:

http://www.wma.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/Yearbooks/WMA-1906.pdf

[slidekellyslide]

Too bad they didn't put the names next to the faces like most yearbooks...thanks for the link.

[pariah1107]

The Kansas City Star reported two games by a team named the Lexington Merchants, from Lexington, Missouri in 1907. No lineups. Campbell was at Wentworth Military Academy, based in Lexington, Missouri, in 1906. Might be the "L" on the uniform.

Sad to report both games were losses: April 23, 1907 to the Ballentine Athletics & July 5, 1907 to the Wellington Merchants. The fact he went into shoe sales & attended WMA leans me towards believing this is a PC from a Lexington Merchants team. Just a theory.

I love this stuff, but don't take it as gospel.

[slidekellyslide]

You are tenacious! Thanks. :D