Boston Doves Team Mystery Postcard

[Jaybird]

Picked up this really cool RPPC of what I believe to be the Boston Doves. I've identified some of the players on the team and noted what their ages would have been in 1908 which is when these guys were together on the Boston Doves (precursor to Boston Braves).

The weird thing is the uniforms. The block letter O's on the uniform is nothing I've seen before. Also, some of the guys have different hats. The guy I think is George Browne (maybe not) has what looks like a Sacramento Solons hat on. And the guy to the right of Dahlen has what looks like a different letter on his jersey.

I read a newspaper account that had them playing a Kentucky team (barnstorming?) in July of 1907. I dunno.

I have representative photos and have an idea on most of the other members on the team as well.

Bowerman was the guy that tipped me off on this. I show his picture from Baseball reference in this post. He last played with the Boston Doves in 1909. And Kelley was out of Boston by 1909. So, I thought this seemed like 1908.

[slidekellyslide]

You definitely have a group of Boston NL players there....just speculation, but they may be using a local team's uniforms at Spring Training because theirs hadn't arrived yet??

[Jacklitsch]

Here's my copy of your PC together with a companion piece for a team with a "G" on the uniform. Photos taken at the same time.

Hard to read but in the bottom PC the player on the far right appears to have "1915" on his sweater.

Neither of mine were postally used so I have no date identifier.

[nolemmings]

it looks like Herbie Moran poking his head in the back row and maybe Beals Becker far right top. Don't know about the team logo though.

[Jaybird]

They were spring training in Augusta, Georgia that year but I looked up Augusta baseball and didn't come up with any O teams. I didn't look that hard though.

[nolemmings]

if it is Herbie Moran, then it is not a 1908 Spring training photo, as he joined the team late in the year (Becker too, although not as late). That would make a post-season barnstorming photo more likely, assuming it's Moran and and you've got the year right.

[Jacklitsch]

Jason asked that I post scans of the backs to my PC's. Happy to oblige:

Back of the "O" team:


Back of the "G" team:

[Jaybird]

Moran looks right but I don't think that's Becker. Looks more like this guy to me Jake Boultes. You decide Boultes or Becker.

BECKER...............PHOTO FROM PC..............BOULTES


Maybe neither?

[Bicem]

great postcards! Didn't know you had those Steve, you've been holding out on me.

[Jacklitsch]

Originally Posted by Bicem

great postcards! Didn't know you had those Steve, you've been holding out on me.

[buckyball1]

Far from my collecting interests and i bring no help/expertise, but i truly enjoy threads like this--thanks to all

Jim