Star BB Club CdV

[oldjudge]

I just picked up this CdV from my friend Gary (thanks Gary). The card is identified on the back as the Star BB Club. However, in the mid to late 1860s (when I think this is from) there were five teams with the exact name of the Star BB Club (from Brooklyn, New Brunswick, NJ, Sunbury, PA, Wakefield, RI, and Virden, IL). There are also several teams named Stars, Southern Stars, etc. Can anyone shed some light as to who the team might be? It is a unique image, as the team seems to be posing on their playing field, as opposed to the typical indoor shot. They also seem to be a serious team as they are posed with eight bats (a lot for a team at that time to own) and all the uniforms are exact matches. The big building in the back looks like some type of factory. Perhaps this is a clue. Thanks for any help that can be offered!

[Leon]

I have no information and can't offer help I just want to say I love that image.

[judsonhamlin]

Great image. I can rule out New Brunswick, NJ, if that helps.

[Econteachert205]

Very unlikely to be Wakefield ri

[trdcrdkid]

Jay --

This photo appears on page 30 of the Spring 1984 issue of the SABR publication "The National Pastime", a pictorial issue on Baseball in the Nineteenth Century. There it is identified as "two Brooklyn Stars, ca. 1870, of whom the one on the right is Candy Cummings". The uniforms look almost identical to the ones in your picture, albeit with black pants rather than white, though I don't know how common such elements might have been for clubs with the "Star" name. But that's my best guess. The 2013 book "Base Ball Founders" has a 23-page history of the Star Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, but without any pictures, alas.

[oldjudge]

Thanks guys! The geography reminds me of my drives through Pennsylvania so I will take a shot with the local historical society. I'll let you know if I make any progress.

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by trdcrdkid

Jay --

This photo appears on page 30 of the Spring 1984 issue of the SABR publication "The National Pastime", a pictorial issue on Baseball in the Nineteenth Century. There it is identified as "two Brooklyn Stars, ca. 1870, of whom the one on the right is Candy Cummings". The uniforms look almost identical to the ones in your picture, albeit with black pants rather than white, though I don't know how common such elements might have been for clubs with the "Star" name. But that's my best guess. The 2013 book "Base Ball Founders" has a 23-page history of the Star Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, but without any pictures, alas.

FWIW, It is well known that this guy is absolutely not Candy Cummings. That issue of "The National Pastime" has quite a few ID errors, all from the same source.

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[cozmokramer]

I don't have anything about identification to add but MUST say that once again the knowledge, helpfulness and investigative work by the members of net54 simply continues to amaze me.

Jay... Did the board by any chance share back photos of the old railroad roundhouse for comparison?

[oldjudge]

Eric--they did not, but I have asked for it.