1914 Babe Ruth 2nd Game RPPC, only known original 1914 image

[T206Jim]

I wanted to share this story, and a significant piece of baseball history, with the Net54 community. For the last several months I have done extensive research regarding a Real Photo Postcard in my collection. Today, the results of that research are revealed in an article published in the SABR Pictorial History Committee's June 2017 newsletter. Here is the link:

http://sabr.org/research/pictorial-history-research-committee-newsletters

Here is the postcard:

276390

It depicts Babe Ruth on the mound during his second major league start against the Detroit Tigers on July 16, 1914. It is the only known surviving original photo of Babe Ruth in the Majors in 1914. The only other confirmed images are a glass negative in the Museum of Chicago and a microfilm copy from the archives of a Boston publication, neither of which are known to exist in their original 1914 printed state.

I owe a debt of gratitude to many members here who contributed to my research, your help was essential to my efforts. I would like to single out Jeff Prizner, "Bicem" on Net54, in particular for his help. The "Photo 1" in the article came from him and another photo from later in the game which was not used in article. I'd also like to thank Mark Fimoff for the opportunity to collaborate with him on the article, his ability to tell and explain a story of a photo is unmatched!

It was a series on incredible coincidences, and reaching out to the right people, which allowed me to connect the dots. It was a challenging mystery to solve, but I sure have enjoyed it. If anyone has any further information, or if you'd just like to visit about the piece, drop me a line as it is a subject upon which I never tire! The article is just a condensed version of the research, there is so much more to tell.

Finally, if you are not a member of SABR, you should be. They have a vast treasure trove of research information that every serious collector should take advantage of and it is worthy of your support.

[Jobu]

Woah! Jim, and everyone who helped research that, that is extremely impressive and a great image. Thank you for sharing. If you don't mind my asking, where did you find the RPPC?

[btcarfagno]

That is beyond awesome.

Tom C

[Fistner10]

Very cool! Glad you shared

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Love the research that went into this! I've got a type II photo that looks to be same uniform. Would love to find out what year this was taken.

[Bicem]

Thanks Jim, was fun!

Baseball Hall of Fame worthy piece! Great find and research.

[Baseball Rarities]

Great research. What a special postcard. Congratulations Jim.

[tjb1952tjb]

Who is the first base coach with leg and arm raised?

[pherbener]

Great stuff Jim! Thanks for sharing!

[pherbener]

Love the research that went into this! I've got a type II photo that looks to be same uniform. Would love to find out what year this was taken.

That is an awesome photo AJ!!

[RUKen]

Who is the first base coach with leg and arm raised?

That could be Manager Hughey Jennings. He was often photographed in his "Ee-Yah" pose.

[T206Jim]

Thanks guys! In answer to your questions. I believe the postcard was in the collection of longtime collector Elias Dudash, it was sold at least once before coming to me simply as a 1914 RPPC of Fenway Park. The HOF was a big help, they provided me with a copy of the program from Ruth's 1st game, and yes they made it clear they would be interested if I would ever be in position to consider a donation of the postcard to them. Based on my research, game accounts from Boston newspapers, I believe the first base coach that day would be Jimmy Burke rather than Hughie Jennings.

[jb217676]

Super cool Jim! It pays to do research, took that postcard to a whole other level!
Jeff

[h2oya311]

That could be Manager Hughey Jennings. He was often photographed in his "Ee-Yah" pose.

My thoughts exactly....if that's Jennings doing his famous Ee-Yah pose, then you've got yourself a gem (not that it wasn't already)!

[Bicem]

Not Jennings as Jim has said, but who cares, Ruth in second ever game!!

[sox1903wschamp]

Awesome work Jim, Prizner and Mark F. Great detail provided.

[Topnotchsy]

Absolutely incredible. Thanks for sharing!

[Snapolit1]

Enjoyed reading. Thanks. Great work.

[tjb1952tjb]

That could be Manager Hughey Jennings. He was often photographed in his "Ee-Yah" pose.


Thanks...........I thought that may be him. Very cool the photograph happened to catch him in this pose.
Note: However, I always thought Hughie Jennings was a third base coach, but could be wrong (or, perhaps he was a first base coach on occasion?).

[bmarlowe1]

Love the research that went into this! I've got a type II photo that looks to be same uniform. Would love to find out what year this was taken.

Your photo is not 1914 - the bill of the cap is wrong. 1914 cap shown below.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

hmm looks like same hat?

[bmarlowe1]

hmm looks like same hat?

hmm not even close. Look at the bill. Red Sox cap style changed in 1915.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Would be cool to see a lineup of the different caps by year!

[clydepepper]

Jim - That's a truly amazing piece of history you uncovered. Where else but Net54 would so many of us undeserving be granted such a detailed and accurate glimpse into history? - and who else but a SABR member could see such research through to the end?

Thanks to you and to all who assisted in your journey!

-Raymond

[T206Jim]

Thanks guys! If anyone has a game program from this July 1914 Boston/Detroit series I'd really love to find a copy, original or digital, of the complete program.

[GKreindler]

AJ, the image you have dates from the Polo Grounds in 1917. Can't speak for the Type of the photo of course.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

AJ, the image you have dates from the Polo Grounds in 1917. Can't speak for the Type of the photo of course.

Graig thanks for the info! You probably took one look at it and knew off the top of your head. I purchased the photo at last year's national and the seller said he'd never seen another one like it. I've done a bunch of digging and haven't come across one either. Here's the back. It's an International news from the 30's or 40's?

[Kris19]

If you haven’t already seen it, I thought you all would be interested in reading the latest chapter in the story of this AMAZING real photo postcard. Published by Forbes today:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2018/07/02/collectors-detective-work-lifts-300-ebay-postcard-to-50000-babe-ruth-auction-gem/

[timn1]

already covered by previous posters-

[slidekellyslide]

I dug out my 1914 Boston Braves photo album (The Braves played the 1914 season in Fenway) and the pic of Honus Wagner shows the same "Business Boomers" sign.

[T206Jim]

Well, after two years of searching I finally acquired a program from this game. It is the only one I have ever seen. The program from the Cleveland series, for his first game, does not have him listed on the scorecard (The link to where a 1st game program sold at Lelands is just below). The program is the first time Ruth's name appeared in a program. This completes the project for me.

https://auction.lelands.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=83318

345392 345393

[philliesphan]

That is a spectacular addition to complete an absolutely incredible project, Jim.

Congrats!

[scooter729]

I was watching that program on eBay and figured you might be the winner of that - happy to hear it!

[TUM301]

Jim awesome addition to your collection sir. As a fan of historical memorabilia this is right up my alley, enjoy these Ruth items for years to come !!

[T206Jim]

I did a brief interview regarding the RPPC with Brian Cataquet on the Card King Sports Variety Show on KMET NYC. Here is a link to the podcast in case anyone is interested.

https://soundcloud.com/kmet-1490-am/sets/the-card-king-sports-variety

[Leon]

Nice interview, Jim. Brian C. is an interesting guy. I like him and like his energy. There might be a bit of hyperbole in his delivery but he seems like a good (and kind of crazy :)) guy to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrLxi8gy67o



I did a brief interview regarding the RPPC with Brian Cataquet on the Card King Sports Variety Show on KMET NYC. Here is a link to the podcast in case anyone is interested.

https://soundcloud.com/kmet-1490-am/sets/the-card-king-sports-variety

[Bicem]

Enjoyed it Jim!