A recent pickup, this photo of Al Carson of the 1911 PCL Vernon Tigers is amazing in its size. The photograph is fully 16" x 9.25", and the board mount is 19.5" x 12.5". HUGE (the mind boggles) for a photo this early, on thin paper and almost certainly printed in 1911 or very soon after. I can't recall ever having seen another 1910's or earlier single-player photo as large as this one.
Anyone else have anything like this?
Carson was, btw, an interesting player. Pro career 1908-1913, mostly in the PCL with Tacoma, Portland, and Vernon. One year in the major leagues with the 1910 Chicago Cubs. He pitched the PCL's 14th no-hitter in 1909 with Portland (vs the LA Angels). He was a teammate of Walter Johnson's with the 1907 San Diego Pickwicks. Retiring from baseball, he lived the rest of his life in San Diego, working as a police sergeant. The photo in question was found in San Diego and it seems possible/likely that it may have come from Carson's estate at some point. Many of you will know Carson via his inclusion in Obak and Zeenut card issues.
