Can someone tell me what is going on in this photo?
 

Hi Gang:

Saw this photo on ebay. Supposedly a game between the Phillies and Giants in the Polo Grounds in 1952.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30317720020...0AAOSwc95c9kfA

Ever see a game with 7 umpires and two first basemen? And other odd assorted people on the field while there is a batter in box.

That batter appears to be the Phillies Del Ennis

According to Baseball Reference those two teams did play a day game on this date before 5,391 fans.

Any ideas on what is happening?

Well it appears that one of the umpires is pitching. He must have a wicked fastball because the infield is in a reverse shift for a right handed batter, perhaps the team in the field has successfully stolen the hit and run sign.
The extra players in foul territory outside the first base line are just that, extra players. The attendance reported looks a bit high, but folks may have left early.
Other than that it just looks like fun at the old ballpark (or polo field).

How on earth can you tell that little dot is Del Ennis, and yes I blew up the picture but to me it was unrevealing.

Peter,

The ears???

David

It appears to be a composite of perhaps three separate photos. Two of the photos are between-innings shots of the teams changing positiions.

If you go to https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/283446, you'll see several photos taken that day by Walker Evans, for Sports Illustrated. I saw three photos that appear to match up with sections of the 8"x12" photo you posted.

Steve

:D

Also, in the image you posted from ebay, you can see little blurred spots/smudges where players were removed (those spots match where players appeared in the original images).


Steve

Being a 60+ year Phillies fan you get to know different player batting stances. Del had a very distictive one especially in the way he held his bat.

The batter is not Del Ennis, as he was a Phillie.

In the original image, you can clearly tell that the batter is a Giant, as the catcher has a red hat on.

Steve

OK, #10 is in the on-deck circle. According to the box score of that game on baseball-reference.com, #10 was Davey Williams. He hit immediately after Wes Westrum in that game; meaning the batter is Wes Westrum.

Steve

Who in their right mind would put three pictures together in this manner?

which begs the question

Who in their right mind would try to figure out what was going on in the composite result?

and

Would anyone who started this thread be considered guilty of taunting?

GREAT work Steve! I stand corrected .

But, another question or two.

Why would 20+ people have bought this photo as the listing shows?

I am not familiar with the Polo Grounds, but is that a bullpen against the left field wall in fair territory? Or is that more photo magic?

I saw a comment with one of the originals, indicating that it is indeed the bullpen in fair territory in left field.

Here's where they mention the bullpen (last line in the article):

https://www.baseballhistorycomesaliv...n-and-hartung/


Steve

Frank:

I resemble those last two remarks! :)

To answer the first question: "for fun"

and on your taunting question, I am too thick to understand your reference. Sorry

I tend to confuse him with Del Ennis myself, so I don't blame Fred.:eek::cool: