Help with 1892 baseball team photo

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Posted By: Keith

Hello group,

I am a vintage football collector, mostly team photos, but come across the occassional baseball photo.

I recently purchased this photo which is dated 1892 on the back, along with a couple of names. It actually looks like it lists a second date under the 1892 date but I can't make it out (either 03 or 13) and under that second date it has noted: John Gadden (or cadden) was dead
and ________ (the underline is actually written) Williams was dead.

I like the vintage bats and equipment in the photo. Some pretty good looks at some ringbats, and old catchers mask, etc.
The photo was original purchased at an estate auction in the York PA area.

My question for the forum is what type of team do you think this is? The players have MSD on their jersey. Have any of you ever seen something like a city name and School District refer to baseball teams of that time frame.
The ages of the players look likes it varies greatly, but maybe I'm wrong. School team, Town team? The players look too young to be a company team, right?

thanks
KJ

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Posted By: barrysloate

What makes this photo unusual is the disparity in age among the players. Some look like adults, others are children, although they could be mascots. Obviously a lower level town or school team, but a very attractive image. That's about the largest number of bats I've ever seen in one photo.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I don't think it's a school team because of the age disparity as Barry mentioned. Probably a town or factory team. It is a very cool photo. The equipment is what makes this photo.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Dan- I counted eleven bats, including one barely showing at the extreme left.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Is the kid in the top row holding up home plate?

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Posted By: barrysloate

It looks like a plaque of some kind, since it's two-toned. Home plate would be uniform in color.

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Posted By: Mike

I Like their gloves. Very cool.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

HAHA...I count 12 bats...can you find them all? I also count three baseballs.

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Posted By: barrysloate

You're correct! The guy sitting at the top left has one too. That's the one I missed. Good eye

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Posted By: Max Weder

Cool photo.

I can only identify Oliver Twist, Fagin and the Artful Dodger

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Posted By: J Levine

Could be the Maryland School for the Deaf.

Joshua

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Posted By: Keith

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

I really appreciate the Maryland school for the deaf possibility. I previously hadn't heard of the school, but am doing some research.

The school was founded in the 1860s, and it is a preschool to 12th grade school, so it could possibly explain the varied ages of the players.


thanks again guys.

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Posted By: Keith

Joshua --> You are the man -you nailed it.
The photo is the 1892 Maryland School for the Deaf baseball team. The school's archivist just got back to me, and she somehow recognized a couple of the players right away. She also gave me links to a school newsletter that have matching images of one of the young men. Pretty neat. Gotta love this forum.

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Posted By: Jason L

but anyone can see that the color of the soil was a dead giveaway! it rather obviously depicts the narrow spectrum of colors present only in the clays surrounding the Chesapeake Bay's silt loams!



honestly, though, very impressive contribution.

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Posted By: Chris Ahart

The guy in the second row on the far right is freaking me out. Reminds me of Beeker from The Muppets.

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Posted By: Jason L

in the very top right....tell me I'm wrong!
and maybe the bat boy is that Haley Joel Osment kid?

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Posted By: Joe D.

LOL - that was funy.

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

Haley Joel Osment indeed. I see deaf people.

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Posted By: Jason L

still laughing.....I can just hear him in my head, ya know (no pun intended)