1876 Cabinet Question

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Posted By: Donald Johnson

I picked up what was purported to be a 1876 Cabinet of a baseball player. The seller dated the piece to around 1876 due to the word Centennial on the player's chest. Does this hat and uniform appear typical of that worn by player's in this era? Also, this isn't your typical N173 sized cabinet but is closer to the size of a large Gypsy Queen ~ 2" by 4". Does anyone have material in that size? Comments welcome.

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Posted By: Jimmy Leiderman

It's a Carte de Visite (CdV)
The seller is a well known 19th century baseball photographica collector and the date is about right considering some of the carte's attributes.

You can check other baseball CdV examples here:

http://www.baseballiconography.com/cdvproject.htm

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Posted By: barrysloate

I feel there is not enough information to determine if the man pictured is a baseball player. It is possible that he is, but it is unclear. "Centennial" was a name used by baseball teams, so I guess that is one positive.

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Posted By: Steve M.

I suspect it may be a jockey. Generically Jockey hats are described as "cloth cap with close-fitting 6-panel crown and wide brim at the front". Can't say as I've ever seen a 6 paneled baseball cap.

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

I would think it has something to do with the Centennial Exposition that took place in Philadephia that year. That wouldn't explain why the photographer is in Missouri, though.

Judging by the hat, he may have later been the founder of Hot-Dog-On-A-Stick!

Actually, what I find interesting is that he almost looks too much like a baseball player, if that makes any sense. Usually, baseball images from that time period never look that much like the prototypical post-19th century baseball player most of us see if someone asked us to close our eyes and picture a baseball player.

From the uniforms to the guys wearing them, ballplayers from 1876 just looked different. It seems like the ones that look the most like baseball players in uniform usually wind up being either fireman, soldiers, or sailors. Maybe bicyclists, too. I've also seen period uniforms that were exactly like baseball, including caps, worn by farmers at state fairs, I guess to look good showing off their pig or something.

-Ryan

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Posted By: Donald Johnson

I guess another reason the seller said the individual was a baseball player is that he is wearing a "bib"?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330060759592&rd=1&rd=1

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Posted By: Clint

Here's one I picked up on ebay a few years ago. Same kind of hat and bib jersey, except you get to see the pants in this one. This is a cdv from San Antonio, Texas.

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Posted By: Jimmy Leiderman

Cap styles...

"Jockey" Style, bowler hat... you name it

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Posted By: davidcycleback

These types of mounted photos come in a variety of sizes. The N173 size is the
best known, but there's nothing wrong with a photo that looks like a cabinet
card but is different size, whether bigger or smaller. One will find genuine
mini and jumbo sized versions of the baseball cabinet card.

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Posted By: Donald Johnson

Jimmy,

Great images and great website. I didn't realize that so much pre-1880's stuff was still around.