1902 Team Photograph - Bud Fowler?

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

I'm originally from a very small town in upstate, NY - Fort Plain - which is about 20 miles from Cooperstown. Today at the Fort Washington show, I found a dealer selling the team photo pictured below. Overall, the size is rough 11*14 and has an original studio stamp on the back. As you all could imagine, finding an early team photo from your own small town was quite exciting. However, besides the team photo itself, there was an interesting thing I noticed. In the back row, there is a somewhat young African-American pictured. The photo is dated 1902, so I feel that the man looks too young to be Bud Fowler. However, Bud Fowler was born in Fort Plain, NY - and spent the better part of his life living here. He is buried a short distance from Fort Plain... Just wanted to get all of your opinions...

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Posted By: Andy Baran

Jon,

I don't think that's Bud Fowler. Below is a picture of Fowler from 1894. He is the person on the right side of the photo with the mustache. Grant "Homerun" Johnson is seated on the other side.

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

He looks way too young too be Bud Fowler, but do we know anything about Fowler's children or other relatives? It definitely seems possible that it's a Fowler. Not Bud, though. Any image I've ever seen of Bud Fowler always had that huge moustache. Still a great team photo.

-Ryan

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

I agree completely - just wanted everyone's opinion. I believe Bud would have been 43 or 44 in 1902 - and the person depicted looks much younger than that. Interesting though - the man is holding a baseball in his gloce. Also, the team manager in the center has a Spaldings score guide and Spalding baseball box in his hand...