A.J. Shumann Co. Chicago Cubs West Side Grounds RPPC set circa 1908

[T206Jim]

I wanted to share this Real Photo Post Card ("RPPC") of the main entrance/ticket window of the Chicago Cubs West Side Grounds ballpark circa 1909.

West-Side-Grounds-ticket-office-fron-resized-watermrkedt.jpg

It one of only images I can find of the exterior of the West Side Grounds which was the Cubs home during their 1907 - 1908 championship run. Note the statues on top of the ticket office secured by wires. Also note the sculpted Cubbies holding up the oriel window above the ticket windows and the 75 cent ticket price posted on the shuttered window. The iconic "Chicago National Leauge Baseball Club" lettering is apparent on the chain link fence at the top.

West-Side-Grounds-ticket-office-fron-resized-cropt.jpg

West-Side-Grounds-ticket-office-fron-resizedt-window.jpg

Here is the postcard back showing it was mailed to Maine in August of an indecipherable year.

West-Side-Grounds-ticket-office-back.jpg

I found this RPPC image that is in the same glossy sepia tone and same printed handwriting showing a Cubs/Giants game at the West Side Grounds in 1909 also mailed to Maine in August 1909. They are almost assuredly taken by the same person and mine is probably 1909 as well.

1909 front.jpg

The only other similar photos I can find look similar to this and have the 1908 championship banner hung on the structure.

1908 banner.jpg

Here is another photo I have of the park interior from that era and an enlargement of the "Baseball" lettering that appears to show at least one of the statues with the support wires evident. This orients us to where the front entrance booth was relative to the field of play.

1908-West-Side-Park-Chicago-BW-photo.jpg

West_Side-Grounds-photo-statue-wire.jpg

Does anyone else have images of the Front Entrance/Ticket window to share? I love to see another image of the statues. For me, this rivals the Wilkerson NY stadium RPPCs for one of the best images of a Deadball Era exterior view of a stadium. To me the architectural details just seem to perfectly capture the spirit of the Deadball Era.