A rather odd assemblage of players. As for Smalley, allow my imagination to run wild. Since McAleer was from Youngstown, maybe Smalley was staying with McAleer briefly after the 1890 season and they went to the photographer together (he was only 19)? According to at least one press account from Oct 1890, Smalley, McAleer and Tebeau were slated to play in California next season. McAleer’s brother was a bigwig out there, so perhaps Smalley was just hanging with him after the 1890 season ended (although Smalley was a California native so likely would have not problem with the move). Many of the cabinets show the subjects to be dressed in colder weather clothing, which would make sense if they sat for the photos during the off-season. Even though none of the three would play in California in 1891, their futures were abit uncertain, since McAleer and Tebeau were both leaving the failed Player’s League after 1890 and the teenage Smalley could have been homesick.
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If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other. - Ulysses S. Grant, military commander, 18th US President.
Last edited by nolemmings; 02-19-2023 at 10:40 AM.
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