These postcards depict members of the St. Louis Cardinals following the July 11, 1911 derailment of a train on which they were traveling. Fourteen were killed and 47 were injured. The players assisted in the rescue and are shown on a wrecked car. They were taken moments apart (note the left hand of the player seated at the far left).
The postcards belonged to two players involved in the incident, the top coming from Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan's collection, and the bottom having been mailed by Grover Lowdermilk to his wife 11 days after the wreck. (Both are identified in the key below.) Lowdermilk's message was stark: "After the wreck. I will get off if we come through Odin. Don't know yet whether we will come over the B&O or not. We were a fine looking bunch after that wreck."
More details and real photo postcards of the wreck are at
http://www.sportingoregon.com/p479278548
Standing: team secretary Herman Seekamp (unverified); Wally Smith; Ivy Wingo; Jack Bliss;
Grover Lowdermilk; Bob Harmon; Ed Konetchy; Rebel Oakes.
Seated: Arnold Hauser; Rube Ellis; Lee Magee; Steve Evans;
Roger Bresnahan.