Heritage Auction/SGC - I must have scared 'em
 

The current Heritage auction includes the photo below left. (lot 81003) The description says:
"Offered is a very scarce circa 1887 cabinet card of a Philadelphia Athletics player identified as "Bauer" and "2nd base" on the reverse. To the best of our research we have been unable to find a "Bauer" from that team but we did find "Louis Bierbauer" who played 2nd base for the Athletics that season. based on the few photos we have been able to find we are confident this is Bierbauer but can not confirm to 100% certainty. It is because of the lack of 100% identification that SGC would not slab the card."

Geez - they sure are being really careful these days. So - here's a freebee, SGC should have slabbed the card because it could not be more obvious that this is Bierbauer. But, maybe SGC did offer a thorough evaluation and Heritage didn't want to pay for it - that I don't know. (BTW - Peter C., that's a nice Duke Farrell you've got there - you're sure that's him, right?)

However, there is lot 82117 - the 1918 Chicago Cubs. It says:
Ironically, we find Fred Merkle among the casually posed players, the very man whose "boner" was responsible for breathing new life into the club during the Cubs' last World Championship season in 1908. He stands beside Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander,

I don't know which side of Alexander they mean, but the section in question is cropped out below center. That is Pete Alexander in the middle, but left of him is mgr Fred Mitchell (compare with Mitchell photo far left), and right of him is Roy Walker (compare with Walker photo far right). No Merkle next to ol' Pete - looks like another Merkle boner here.

So is Merkle anywhere in this team photo? (I guess that's important) I'll let y'all know after the auction closes. (If you know, don't tell them. :))

And, there is lot 81021 - a real photo post card of the West Side Grounds (shown below). It really is a nice item. The description says:
a packed <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.net54baseball.com/ /><st1:PlaceName w:st=</st1:PlaceName>West Side <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park </st1:PlaceType></ST1:pbetween the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers from the 1907 or 1908 World Series. .... and "27,000 people." Our research shows the attendance closest to that number (assuming it is close to accurate) was the 24,000+ who saw Game 1 of the 1907 Series possibly setting the scene as being from that game.

The configuration of West Side Grounds as shown, with the upper deck extending all the way down both foul lines, was contructed during the 1908 season - so it can't be 1907 (see the cover of Deadball Stars of the AL). So can we be confident it is the 1908 WS? - I'll post when the auction closes.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...908claimed.jpg

LOL--Great job Mark!

"....Game 1 of the 1907 Series possibly setting the scene as being from that game."

One wonders how long Heritage will persist in saying something that is clearly not true. It cannot possibly be 1907. Just below is the well-known library of congress photo of the 1907 WS in Chicago. The upper deck clearly does not extend very far down the third base line (there are quite a few 1907 WS photos that show this). In the Heritage photo the upper deck extends all the way to the outfield bleachers.

At least the wind is blowing in the same direction in both photos. :D

...and never let a few facts get in the way of a good story. Aside from the acuuracy issue, is there a great deal of historically relevant difference between the two series?

Jeff,

You are assuming the photo is from the 1908 WS - I know the answer, but I won't post that until after the auction closes.

If it's a pic the 1908 World Series I think I know the answer too

I don't think the pic is from 1908 World Series; is it a given that the opposing team was actually the Tigers?

Nothing is "given" except the image itself.

As to the 1918 Cubs photo - yes Merkle is there. That's him on the far right. The ID's are:

Chuck Wortman, Pete Kilduff, ?, Bill McCabe, Les Mann, Paul Carter, Harry Weaver, Turner Barber, Claude Hendrix, Fred Mitchell (Mgr.),
Pete Alexander, Roy Walker, Bob O'Farrell, Tom Daly, Bill Killefer, Charlie Hollocher, Hippo Vaughn, Dode Paskert , Charlie Deal , <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Lefty Tyler, Fred Merkle

As to the claimed 1907/8 WS photo:

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...08H_Page_1.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...08H_Page_2.jpg

Mark - as always, good stuff.

thanks!