Hi everyone!
Thought I'd take a moment to introduce you all to Louis Alpern, Pittsburgh alderman and police magistrate.
Alpern was part of a group of nine people that included Tommy Leach and Barney Dreyfus, who headed down to Hot Springs, Arkansas in March of 1911 to join the Pirates at Spring Training.
An article in the March 14, 1911 issue of the Pittsburgh
Gazette not only makes reference to Alpern's being at Spring Training, but in a single paragraph, refers to A) how Alpern got a Pirates uniform, B) the 14-pound medicine ball in the background of the photo, and C) the players having fun at the non-players' expense!
You can read the whole story
here.
Needless to say, I'm thrilled to extend a $200 auction credit to Todd, who's "wild theory" turned out to be completely accurate! Todd's research also puts a date on the cabinet photo that is Lot #3 in the current auction, which we had dated to 1910, but is actually 1911.
Congrats, Todd!
Catalogs mailed to active bidders yesterday, and anyone who tried digging into this puzzle is sure to love the cover!
-Al