Anyone else collect snapshots of ballplayers?

[thekingofclout]

Signed or not. At the ballpark or with their family. Show 'em if you've got 'em.


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The three following snapshots are all from the 1934 Tour of Japan trip...

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[jcmtiger]

Here are some Detroit Players.

Joe

[slidekellyslide]

I used to have thousands until I pared down my focus to Nebraska only...however I did keep a few.

Nellie Fox in 1948 with the Lincoln Athletics


Bobby Shantz - 1948 Lincoln A's


Wahoo Sam circa 1906-07


Clarence Mitchell


Dazzy Vance in New Orleans

[slidekellyslide]

Easily my favorite snapshot in my collection...Eddie Collins in 1910 reportedly this is right before a World Series game...I do believe that is Connie Mack behind him.



And here are some of my Dick Stuart minor league snapshots -These were given to me by Mark and Andy Bowers and come from Dick Stuart's estate.

[thekingofclout]

Many thanks again Dan.

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[Chris Counts]

These are just a few signed snapshots I picked in a lot of about 30 that were reportedly taken by a Forbes Field usher. These are all from 1937. I really like collecting old snapshots. They seem to capture a unique perspective on the game and the era ...

[perezfan]

These are all so interesting-thanks to all for posting... Great stuff and much more honest and candid than the professional photos you always see.

In addition to being a great hitter, Foxx was sure a handsome fellow... I bet he would be very popular, with lots of endorsements if he were playing today.

[HRBAKER]

The Strunk is dated Aug. of '72 so I am guessing it was a favorite photo of his that he may have had printed to use for auto requests. Purely speculation of course.

[yanks12025]

Love that Gehrig photo from the Japan tour.

Also when ever i see a photo of Jimmie Foxx, he reminds me of a ball player from today's game and not one from the 1930's and 40's.

[Rob D.]

Couple of Indians Hall of Famers:

[perezfan]

Another somewhat random Jimmie Foxx observation... it looks like he beat Big Klu to the punch, when it comes to cutting the sleeves short (to expose the biceps). Did Klu copy that idea from Foxx?

Perhaps this is common knowledge, and I just never noticed that before...

[abroome]

I picked up this snapshot of Philly's Mack, Bender and probably Collins in center. I haven't had time to really go over it.
Sorry for the poor image. Lighting isn't so great here in the hotel.

Andy

[thekingofclout]

But I've been itching to share these original snapshots...

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[docpatlv]

Some of my favorites...

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

That Drysdale is a classic. You should try to do something with that if you retain the rights.

I have a bunch of original snapshots (all signed), including a couple of real toughies from the same collection that Chris C. posted. That usher was one of the most admirable autograph collectors of that era. He managed to snap photos of many one-year (1939) players and subsequently had the guys sign the pics.

[docpatlv]

Jodi,

Here's one of Drysdale w/ Uncle Milty (Milton Berle) from the same group...



Mike

[Kawika]

Picked up a passel of Hawaii related snapshots from Robert Klevens at last year's National.
Joseph Cabrinha, Honolulu Braves

Honolulu Braves dugout

Brick Williamson, U. of California catcher (on Japan tour)

Prince Oana

Prince Oana, Utility Man, 1931

Honolulu Stadium

[drc]

1940s snapshot of Joe Louis trying to be friends with a dog. From the estate of his trainer Mannie Seamon.






Perhaps not a snapshot, this is a 1994 Polaroid of model Bridget Hall by famed French photographer Gilles Bensimon. As they self develop on the spot, Polaroids are used at photo shoots to test the lighting and color and that's what this is.

[thekingofclout]

Walter Iooss, legendary photographer who has over 300 covers for SI alone and has shot the swimsuit issue for decades, has a book entitled: SPORTING LIFE: THE JOURNALS
which is basically a daily Polaroid Journal from 1981-2002. He has also stated that many times the Polaroid ended up being the best shot taken in the shoot.

Also, I forgot to post this one with my last post of O/T Pop Icon snapshots.

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[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

David,

Nice to see Jakucki was sober enough to sign that photo! He was quite the lush.

[drc]

The Connie Mack/Bender is from the 1940s-50s, as the snapshots with deckled edges like that are from that time period. Notice the other 1940s-50s snapshots in this thread with the deckle edges. The photo is definitely 50+ years also, but not circa 1910.

I've seen a few deckle edge snapshots of big stars like Cobb and Joe Jackson, so there may have been a professional photographer like Jim Rowe or George Brace selling them commercially. I know for a fact that Rowe commercially sold straight-edge snapshot size photos of Pre-War baseball stars circa 1950s. As they were sold commercially, I assume meant to be collected and are trading card size, one could classify the just mentioned Rowe photos as baseball cards.

I'm not an appraiser, but I've only seen a handful at most of the deckle edge snapshots of Pre-War players. Perhaps not valuable, but they are uncommon. In fact, I've only seen (and owned) one collection of about 100 of the straight edge Rowe snapshot photos containing Pre-War stars (Ruth, Gehrig, Young, Cobb et al). The photos didn't have Rowe's name anywhere on them, but came in the original mailing box with the original typed receipt/note to customer from Rowe-- which is why I can vouch for who made them and that they were commercial items.

[thekingofclout]

The Cobb photo is still glued to a scrapbook page (with two photos of the family that owned it playing football in dress clothes on the back). His uniform dates this to 1916-17.

The Wagner snapshot is circa 1910's and comes from his estate (check out the size of Wagner's hands!).

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[tkd7]

[thekingofclout]

My only signed snapshots. A couple of pretty fair righties. Nolan Ryan in front of Shea 1968. And Ole Diz as a Cubby in 1939.

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[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I love that Ryan. I've picked up a few early signed items. Nobody seems to care about vintage Ryan yet, but figure that will change one day. He was the greatest pitcher of his era.

[smokelessjoe]

I collect baseball snapshots, but not necessarily of anyone in particular... I like home-town shots and the like. Not sure what is going on in this photo, but it cracks me up every time I look at it. I like the "Weber's Bread" ad in the back ground!

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

I love that Ryan. I've picked up a few early signed items. Nobody seems to care about vintage Ryan yet, but figure that will change one day. He was the greatest pitcher of his era.

I think you're spot-on about early Ryan pieces Jodi. Other then cards, it's pretty slim pickings.

Best, Jimmy

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I've actually picked up a couple of pre-rookie Ryan 3X5s. I doubt anyone would buy them at a premium right now, but that's fine by me. People will appreciate them in the future. Vintage Billy Williams will never carry any weight, but it seems impossible that the opposite won't someday be said of Ryan-signed material. Vintage Brett does well already; why not Nolan?

[Oldtix]

[QUOTE=smokelessjoe;742940]I collect baseball snapshots, but not necessarily of anyone in particular... I like home-town shots and the like. Not sure what is going on in this photo, but it cracks me up every time I look at it. I like the "Weber's Bread" ad in the back ground!


Shawn, that should be hanging in Cooperstown (assuming no steroids are involved).

[smokelessjoe]

Ha! That would be great I would love to know the "Who, What, Where, and Why" on that photo... It kinda looks like the photo was taken outside a baseball field, but who knows???

[thekingofclout]

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[GKreindler]

I know I'm a little late here, but I've been in the Poconos all weekend!

Dan, that Collins shot is TOP NOTCH.

[GKreindler]

Oh, and Jimmy, that Wagner shot is absolutely priceless. His hands were just friggin' monstrous!!

[smokelessjoe]

Here are a few more...

[David Atkatz]

Three of mine (The first is signed):

[GKreindler]

Shawn and David, those shots are beyond heartwarming. I feel like old shots of players with fans are terribly underrated...

[andypcl]

Hey Dan,
Glad to see those...Here's a shot of Ned Garver getting a ride on "Ned Garver Day"
-A

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

Shawn and David, those shots are beyond heartwarming. I feel like old shots of players with fans are terribly underrated...

Couldn't agree more strongly, Graig. To me, shots like that--especially with kids--are what baseball should be about. (And it's part of the reason I love Babe and Lou.)

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

A few:

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

A few more:

[smtjoy]

Paul Waner

[GKreindler]

Great shot of Waner, Scott. Is that from '35? Man, I love seeing the Polo Grounds with all of those adverts on the side walls...

[GKreindler]

Oh, and David, you're completely right. I feel like those kinds of photos turn into wonderful paintings too, as the whole baseball/kid sentiment is beyond powerful, and in my opinion, NEVER trite.

[thekingofclout]

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[smokelessjoe]

Here are a few more Home-town shots... I agree as stated above, that these snapshots (especially with kids) are quite heart warming. To me they reflect a time in baseballs history that is hard to find anymore.... Friends, family and fun.

I love the kid sitting on his bat in the first photo, and I would love to have that "broken" home-plate in my collection.

[slidekellyslide]

The kid on the right here named the Lincoln Chiefs in 1953...I was fortunate enough to obtain most all of his Lincoln baseball memorabilia at an auction a few years back. I photoshopped a snapshot together with a blurb from a Lincoln Chiefs "Chatter" newsletter.

[thekingofclout]

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[thekingofclout]

Clearly my favorite snapshot in my collection.

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[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

It's interesting to note how Babe positioned the ball when signing the sweet spot.

[Oldtix]

Back in the summer of '67, my dad took me to St. Louis to see the Cards play a night game against the Giants and Juan Marichal. My uncle (a long-time Nebraska sportscaster) told my Dad to take me down to the Cardinal dugout during batting practice and mention his name to the usher.

To my utter amazement, Bob Gibson popped out of the dugout...shook my hand and introduced himself...and gave me a Tim McCarver bat and a baseball autographed by the whole team. He was very friendly and told me he'd heard I was a good third baseman.

After Dad took this photo, we went back to our seats...where I caught an Orlando Cepeda foul ball. From a baseball point of view, it's never been better than that amazing day 42 years ago.