Cap Anson / Fred Pfeffer photo controversy HELP!

[gracecollector]

Hello all, as some of you know, I'm a Cap Anson fan and run the website www.capanson.com.

I saw that in 2014 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions, UD once again used this image on a Cap Anson card:



They've done so in the past as well:



Panini has also created cards with the image:



The original image comes from the Otis Bettmann Archive, which is now managed by Corbis Images.


http://www.corbisimages.com/Search#p=1&q=cap+anson

The Bettmann Archive is a compilation of Dr. Otto Bettmann’s life’s collection and the United Press International Photo Archive — more than 11 million photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. One of the most significant historical collections of images in the world, this international treasure is housed in the state-of-the-art Film Preservation Facility (FPF) in Pennsylvania.

Here's the thing though, I (and other Anson experts), don't think it's Anson. We believe it's a Chicago teammate of Anson, second baseman Fred Pfeffer. The Corbis/Bettmann image just doesn't look like Anson, and the chin, eyes and eyebrows, nose and ears all seem a much better match to Pfeffer.

The experts I'm referring to are Anson biographers David Fleitz and Howard Rosenberg. Fleitz had his book publisher change the photo after receiving the first edition using the photo in question (first and second edition shown below).



If you compare the image in question to the 1887 Old Judge Cabinet of Pfeffer below, it's a very good match.



Even his 1895 Mayo's matches better than Anson.



Here's a side by side of Anson and Pfeffer for reference (Middle)



My goal is to get UD and Panini to stop using this photo for Anson cards, and to get the photo properly identified in Corbis. I am looking for any help that the board could provide, including other hi-res images of Pfeffer, or knowledge of the original source of the Corbis/Bettmann image.

This photo has been cited as Anson in books I have seen as far back as 1979, so convincing Corbis is a challenge. Any supporting evidence would really help. I've reached out to the baseball HOF and Mark Rucker for assistance, any other experts someone might know I would appreciate their contact info.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[barrysloate]

It's clearly not Anson and does look like Pfeffer. We have other photo experts on the board who will surely chime in.

[ZachS]

Looks like a dead ringer for Pfeffer in my opinion. The cheekbones, eyes, chin... everything looks the same.

[MW1]

I'm with Barry. It's Pfeffer, not Anson.

[gracecollector]

Originally Posted by ZachS

Looks like a dead ringer for Pfeffer in my opinion. The cheekbones, eyes, chin... everything looks the same.

I am of the same opinion. The eyebrows and "notch" on the top of the ear can be added to the list.

Hoping some hard proof surfaces, or at least more Pfeffer images. I do have his Old Judge pose too.



Anyone know why Pfeffer's nickname was "Dandelion?"

[npa589]

I don't know, but that's a heck of a moustache.

Edited to add that it definitely looks like Pfeffer. "I don't know" just sounds a lot better...

[buchner]

Its been known for a long time that its Pfeffer

[gracecollector]

Originally Posted by buchner

Its been known for a long time that its Pfeffer

Not by the right people, apparently. I'm trying to fix that. If it has been known for a long time, as you state, is there further evidence than what I have shown?

[buchner]

I agree with you 100%, its just that if your familiar with Anson and Pfeffer, its easy to tell them apart.

[bmarlowe1]

It's Pfeffer - good ear match among other things. Ear mis-match eliminates Anson with certainty.

[drcy]