Help with dating yet another old photo

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Got this yesterday and was wondering what the experts may think about this photo. The photo itself measures 8 1/4" x 6" and was originally mounted on a cream colored backer and then cut off and mounted onto a greyish brown backer. When would you estimate this photo to be from. Do you think the African American fella in the photo was a player/mascot or other? Any help appreciated.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If I had to guess I would say circa 1880s. Though the color was used later, cream colored mounts
were standard 1880s and before. The print appears to be an albumen print, which
which would mean 1800s. I also notice that players are wearing black shoes, which would
date them to post 1870s, as 1860s-70s baseball shoes were usually white. This would all
appear to date the photo to circa 1880s.

I don't know if the black man is a mascot, player or general helper. The black mascot
was usually a kid, while this guy is old enough to play.

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Posted By: barrysloate

David hit the nail on the head. My guess was 1880 too, give or take.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

It's unlikely that the black guy is a mascott, so it's whether he is a player
or team helper. I think there's a good chance he was a player. Realize, the team would
be more likely to include him in the pic if he was a player than if he was the
clubhouse attendant.

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Posted By: barrysloate

His position in the photo and his body language- he is not even looking at the camera- suggests he is an outsider and not a team member.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Thanks for the replies guys. I doubt we'll ever know for sure whether he was a player or not, but I tend to agree with Barry that his body language suggests that he is not....however it's interesting to see in old photos of integrated teams how the others sit in relation to the black players -oftentimes you will see photos where nearly everyone on the team has a hand or arm on one of the other players except for the black player(s).

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Just Curious Dan, did you other photo dump you and you are looking for new dating advice to keep this onw longer? It doesn't make a difference whether it is a woman or photo, huh.


Cool photos though,

Lee

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

My wife knows about my extramarital affair with baseball memorabilia and she's fine with it as long as I'm discreet. I guess I shouldn't have gone so public looking for advice in the chatroom.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

It's better than dating a cigarette pack. If you have trouble picking one
up at the book store or grocery store, GAI offers a cigarette pack dating
service. They even have loose tobacco.

I once simultaneously dated a carton of Sweet Caporal packs, though I was
much much younger.