Terry Turner Photo Question

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Posted By: Joe Jones

I BIN'ed this photo and the two cards of Terry Turner on ebay this summer. The seller claimed they came from his family. Is there a company or person who can authenticate the photo and possibly its history? The writing on the back says Terrence L. Turner at 8 months old. His name matches up with the L (Lamont) for his middle name. Also he was born in Sandy Lake PA. which is also on the front of the photo.

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Posted By: RC McKenzie

My unscientific opinion is that it looks like him. Las Vegas has those security companies that use computer programs to match faces.

I saw a t.v. program where a lady who claimed her late-husband was D.B. Cooper brought a photo of him to Vegas and the security people matched it up with an eyewitness sketch.


edited to add- Her husband had told her that he was 'Dan Cooper' on his deathbed. She didn't know what he was talking about until after his passing and she was hoping to disprove that he was the culprit.. If Vegas confirms it, it's real. Regards

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I'd say that it's him....not for sure if you can find someone who will authenticate it though, but the facial features and ears along with the location matching up pretty much seal the deal.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

The photo is a carte de visite, aka CDV, which was a smaller version of the cabinet card. The image looks like him and it was was shot in his home town. Sandy Lake PA is a small town (current pop: 743). I would assume the writing on back came from a close relative. Who but a close relative, like his mom or dad or grandmother, would know Terry is 8 monthes in the photo? All this is strong evidence that it's a genuine baby photo of baseballer Terry Turner. You lucked out that Sandy Lake is so small, where he may be the only Terry L. Turner in the city's history. If he was born in Cleveland or Baltimore, identification would be tougher.

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Posted By: Joe Jones

Thanks for the help guys! I wish I would have saved the auction info so I can ask the seller a few more questions. Is there a way to find an old auction that is six months old? It does not show up in my won items on my ebay page anymore. The seller said the cards were Turners himself.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If you paid via PayPal, you can go back for more than 6 monthes.

A baby photo like this would be made for the baby's family. If it's Terry (and I've seen no reason to beleive it isn't), the photo would have belonged to Terry's family. And if it belonged to Terry's family (and it appears likely it did), it's plausable that it later belonged to Terry. Family photos are usually passed onto the kids.

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Posted By: Steve M.

If the seller gave you feedback you may be able to track him/her down that way.

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Posted By: joe brennan

His right ear didn't change much in 20 some years. I'd have to say it's almost a dead ringer.

In Rememberance of James W. Brennan Sr. 1924-1982. Dad, thanks for everything you did for me.

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Posted By: Joe Jones

I paid through paypal! I went and checked it this morning and found the auction. Thanks again! I will have to do more research now.

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Posted By: anthony

you might be able to get it authenticated by the correct amount of hair alone.

great find!

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Posted By: Joe Jones

Just thought I would show the back of the CDV.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Joe, that appears to be old time writing and ink on back. I don't think you need much more
research on this. It appears you have Terry Turner's family baby photo. I've seen no reason
to beleive that it is anything but.

It's the only 1800s baby photo of a future Major Leaguer I recall seeing.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I've seen 1800's baby photos of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Joe, if you get a Turner signed cut or 3x5 card, which shouldn't be too expensive,
you could make a one-of-a-kind T206 player framed/matted display piece.

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Posted By: Joe Jones

That is a great idea. I should do something nice to hang in my office! I just wrote the seller of the items, so I will post what they say about where they came from. At this point I am confident that they are legit. Thanks again for all of the helpful comments.