Help identifying RPPC postcard

[obcbeatle]

Baseball team photo. Perhaps high school or college? It appears to be from the around 1900-1920, "MTM" is on the uniform front, "H" is on the uniform arm, the guy near the middle NOT in uniform looks a little like Alfred E. Newman , the back has writing which I can't decipher (Google translate couldn't either, perhaps a type of shorthand?). Is that perhaps a bat case in front of the child/mascot? Is that a large mitt in front of the hypothetical bat case? Just curious. No stamp. I understand that some/many of these RPPC postcards can't be definitively identified. But it is fun trying Any help appreciated. I'm trying to organize some baseball related RPPC's I own. Thank you!

[Leon]

Those are so hard to identify. I have seen thousands and thousands of rppc's like this. I love them but don't usually try to totally identify them....Good luck on the ID...

Some other RPPC's, just for the heck of it...Lady in the first pic is about to have a sore nose..

[JollyElm]

Whoa!!!
Is the lady at far right in the last picture some sort of ball playing centaur???!!!

[FromVAtoLA]

Good luck finding the needle in the haystack. Here's a RPCC dating guide. Looks like you can narrow it down to 1904-1918.

Quick Reference Real Photo Old Postcard Dating Guide
PAPER Dates Notes
AGFA/ANSCO 1930-1940s
ANSCO 1940-1960 2 Stars at top & bottom
ARGO 1905-1920
ARTURA 1910-1924
AZO 1926-1940s Squares in corners
AZO 1904-1918 4 triangles pointed up
AZO 1918-1930 Triangles 2 up, 2 down
AZO 1907-1909 DIAMONDS in corners
AZO 1922-1926 Empty Corners
CYKO 1904-1920s
DEFENDER 1910-1920 Diamond above & below
DEFENDER 1920-1945 Diamond inside
Devolite Peerless 1950-
DOPS 1925-1942
Du Pont 1945-1950s
EKC 1939-1950
EKKP 1904-1950
EKO 1942-1970
KODAK 1950-NOW
KRUXO 1907-1920s
KRUXO 1910-1920s Xs in corners
MULTISCOPE & FILM CO-WISC. Pre-1909 BADGER
NOKO 1907-1920s
PMO 1907-1915
SAILBOAT 1905-1908 Sailboat in circle
SOLIO 1903-1920s Diamonds in corners
VELOX 1907-1914 Diamonds in corners
VELOX 1901-1914 Squares in corners
VELOX 1909-1914 Triangles: 4 pointed Up
VITAVA 1925-1934

[obcbeatle]

Thanks for the replies , and for sharing those cool RPPC's! Indeed , looks like AZO 1904-1918. I wondered too if teams / players had bat cases back then? Of course it could be a billiard cue for all I know

[cubman1941]

The writing on the back does appear to be shorthand. Maybe someone on here knows shorthand and can decipher it for you.

[Lucas00]

I'll ask for translation on the back and report back when I get something.

[Lucas00]

Back translation that I got:


“[Dooper]: How are you today. I don’t suppose you can read this. If you can you are a [oner]. There is something very important
I want to see you about.

The [Mass/Map] Business [School] [meeting] time’s next Friday and I want you to go with me. [Agree] [you're] coming down [skating]. If you can read this I will [admit] that you are some [?]. Try me out.

Yours very truly, [Shay] [Maloney/Melanie/Mallory].

Right side

This is a [last] [year’s] [team/term]. at an early [time]. [I am set]. [Shay/Jay].”

[obcbeatle]

Thank you! Some years ago I saw a textbook like book from the 1920's/30's, I think, that taught shorthand. I took a peek at some of the inner pages and kept thinking to myself, why would anybody want to learn all this gibberish? It looked really complicated. I don't remember if the book was for a secretarial school, or what. But it was very complicated to my eyes. Anyway, not sure why someone would write shorthand on a postcard unless they were trying to conceal something from USPS...

[obcbeatle]

Thanks Lucas! It sounds a bit like a gag. How were you able to translate?

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by obcbeatle

Thanks Lucas! It sounds a bit like a gag. How were you able to translate?

I posted it in a shorthand group. And you're welcome 👍