1909 Dwight Eisenhower Baseball Postcard - Presidential/Baseball Items

[Andrew1975]

I saw this RPPC on eBay a few weeks ago, being sold by an antique dealer/picker in Kansas. It was advertised as Dwight Eisenhower’s high school baseball team. I was able to contact the seller, and he said he had found it in an album of postcards in a larger collection of stuff he had bought in Kansas (not far from Abilene). I did some research and determined that it was, in fact, Ike as a senior at Abilene High School in 1909 (the same image is posted on the Eisenhower Presidential Library official website). I purchased the postcard and submitted it (with all the documentation) to SGC. Ike is front row in the middle and his brother Edgar is front row on the right (the image is much more clear in hand). I would love to see any other presidential/baseball items any of you have!





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[ValKehl]

Very interesting and nice PC, Andrew. I'm hoping to see it up close at next month's Net54 get together.

[Rhotchkiss]

Amazing piece Andrew, congrats! Can’t wait to see it at our trade show in Chantilly in two weeks!

[ValKehl]

On September 2, 1924, the Washington Senators were invited to visit the White House by POTUS "Silent Cal" Coolidge. IIRC, the Senators has just returned home from a successful road trip which landed them in first place in the A.L., and Washington's baseball fans were super excited. I'm not sure why Coolidge is wearing a black arm band, but it might be because one of his sons died of blood poisoning less than two months earlier. I find it interesting that flanking the POTUS are Manager Bucky Harris and WaJo, with team owner Clark Griffith on the other side of WaJo (rather than next to the POTUS).

[ksfarmboy]

Seen that postcard, nice clarity. I have one as well and a later press photo of it.

[Andrew1975]

That’s a great photo, Val. I wonder who the two lucky kids were that got to attend.

[h2oya311]

Photo of President George H.W. Bush at Andover Phillips Academy (1942) prior to joining the Navy. He was the first baseman and captain of the squad (go figure).

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

Photo of President George H.W. Bush at Andover Phillips Academy (1942) prior to joining the Navy. He was the first baseman and captain of the squad (go figure).

He was also Yale’s captain.

[GeoPoto]

Here's a couple of Ike pitching and one of his reliever:

(Edited to point out that the second photo (1955 Opening Day in Washington) was Clark Griffith's last.)

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1706440580
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1706440592
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1706440597

[Andrew1975]

Clint, very cool to see the full image on your postcard. I love that is says "Baseball Team" and "AHS '09". Can you make out what it says under the bats?

Derek, the Andover Academy photo is amazing. Thanks for posting.

George, some great photos there as well.

[Vintagedeputy]

Presidential? Check!
Baseball? Check!

[calvindog]

Ok, maybe not Presidential, but how about the former Queen and present King of England?

[ksfarmboy]

Originally Posted by Andrew1975

Clint, very cool to see the full image on your postcard. I love that is says "Baseball Team" and "AHS '09". Can you make out what it says under the bats?

Derek, the Andover Academy photo is amazing. Thanks for posting.

George, some great photos there as well.

Andrew, the postcard is in my safety deposit box and I can’t remember the photographer. That’s what is written beneath, photo by ?.

[rjackson44]

Very coool

[Andrew1975]

Jeff, the signed baseballs are fantastic. Can't be too many of those floating around...

[FromVAtoLA]

Correct, it's less common now but it's a way letting others know you are in mourning/honoring the death of someone close to you. In some sports like soccer the team would wear them if a teammate passed.

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I'm not sure why Coolidge is wearing a black arm band, but it might be because one of his sons died of blood poisoning less than two months earlier.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Andrew1975

Jeff, the signed baseballs are fantastic. Can't be too many of those floating around...

I'm guessing they're 1/1s. The Queen didn't like her first signature and asked for a second ball. 0_o.

Here's Prince William and Kate:



Prince Andrew:



Princess Beatrice:

[Hankphenom]

Here's a link to the amazing saga of the Walter Johnson collection of signed Opening Day tosses from the first five Presidents to do so starting with Taft in 1910, which were donated to the Hall of Fame by Johnson's son Eddie in 1968, brazenly stolen from a display case there four years later, broken up and passed around the hobby like hot potatoes for years, and eventually all five recovered by the FBI and returned to the Hall 30 years later.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...2004Oct20.html