Hypothetical Old Judge cards

[prewinter]

I've been meaning to look at the Old Judge set and the Western Association teams from 1888 more closely, and after you all were kind enough to answer my recent questions, I finally got around to it. What I did was take the rosters from the clubs from about March 1, 1888 through the start of the season, and I compared those players with the cards in the Old Judge sets (N172 and N173). From this comparison, you can see some possible cards that might be out there, as well as some of the strangeness about when photos were taken and cards released. I'm going to do one post per team (to keep them shorter), but I will use this one to explain the tables (using my favorite team - the St. Louis Whites). (And of course the table doesn't paste cleanly... poop. Paste into Excel, I guess)

Player - Self Explanitory
March 1 - On club roster before March 1, 1888
Card # - Card number if in Old Judge N172
Old Judge Club - Team for card in 1888
Cabinet - X if included on checklist for Old Judge Cabinets for 1888
Notes - Dates for signing, release, etc.
First game - First game for club in Western Association (if played)
Last game - Last game for club if before July 1

For the St. Louis Whites, the only player on the roster as of March 1 who was not included in the Old Judge set was Frank Weikart, who was released around April 3. Tug Arundel did not join the club until late April, after the photo shoot for the team. Tom Dolan is photographed in a Whites uniform, but identified with the St. Louis Browns. He spent two or so weeks with the Browns in Spring Training on a road trip through Memphis and New Orleans, which may be why Old Judge identified him with the Browns. On the other hand, Pete Somers spent those same two weeks in St. Louis with the Whites.

Take home: No likely unidentified Whites out there (nor Browns either, for that matter).


Player March 1 Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Charles Alcott X 2 St. Louis (WA) X Released May 6 May 3, 1888 May 6, 1888
Tug Arundel 13 Indianapolis (NL) X Signed April 24 May 8, 1888 June 20, 1888
Jake Beckley X 25 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888
Ernie Burch X 51 St. Louis (WA) X Signed February 2 April 28, 1888 June 20, 1888
Bart Cantz X 64 St. Louis (WA) X May 1, 1888 June 20, 1888
Jack Crooks X 99 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888 June 20, 1888
Tom Dolan X 126 St. Louis (AA) StL-AA Actually with the Whites April 28, 1888 June 20, 1888
Joseph Herr X 225 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888 June 8, 1888
Hunkey Hines X 226 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888 June 20, 1888
Jack Kenyon X 260 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888 June 20, 1888
Tom Loftus X 277 St. Louis (WA) X Manager
Jerry McCormack X 305 St. Louis (WA) X Released May 3
Parson Nicholson X 345 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888 June 20, 1888
Fred Nyce X 347 St. Louis (WA) X May 1, 1888 June 17, 1888
Pete Somers X 428 St. Louis (AA) StL-AA Released May 6
Ed Sproat X 434 St. Louis (WA) X May 1, 1888 May 7, 1888
Harry Staley X 435 St. Louis (WA) X April 28, 1888 June 19, 1888
Frank Weikart X Released April 3

[prewinter]

Chicago Maroons

Hypothticals:
Gene Moriarity was signed by the club in 1887, and was with them well into the season. He would be my top choice for missing Old Judge card from the Maroons.
Arthur "Dad" Clarkson was the brother of John Clarkson. He was signed relative late - March 25 - but much earlier than many other players seen with the Maroons.
Charlie Ingraham - Possibly the Dugrahm listed on the Cabinet checklist?


Player 1-Mar Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Charles Boyd X 34 Chicago (WA) X Signed February 8; last listing April 11
Roscoe Coughlin 95.1 Chicago (WA) X Signed May 26 June 2, 1888
Jack Crogan X 98 Chicago (WA) X May 1, 1888 June 2, 1888
Dan Dugdale X 136 Chicago (WA) X May 2, 1888
John Dunn X 139 Chicago (WA) X May 2, 1888 June 7, 1888
Frank Dwyer 141 Chicago (WA) X Signed April 24 May 1, 1888
Fischer 161 Chicago (WA) X Unknown player
William Hanrahan 213 Chicago (WA) X Signed April 24 May 1, 1888
Moxie Hengel X 223 Chicago (WA) X May 1, 1888
Charlie Hoover 232 Chicago (NL) Chi NL/ Signed May 16 May 20, 1888
Chi WA
Fred Lange X 272 Chicago (WA) X May 1, 1888
Herman Long X 278 Chicago (WA) X May 1, 1888
Jim McCauley X 303 Chicago (WA) X May 1, 1888
Joseph M. Nicholson X 344 Chicago (WA) X Released May 16
George Rooks X 391 Chicago (WA) X Released May 16 May 1, 1888 May 15, 1888
Jumbo Schoeneck X 404 Chicago (WA) X May 17, 1888
Charlie Sprague 433 Chicago (NL)/ Chi NL Signed May 4 May 6, 1888
Chicago (WA)
Gene Moriarty X May 1, 1888
Dad Clarkson Signed March 25; released May 16 May 3, 1888 May 3, 1888
Charlie Ingraham X? Joined club May 5; Dugrahm? May 5, 1888 May 26, 1888

[prewinter]

Des Moines

Hypotheticals:
Ed Cushman and Frank Wells - Both players have cards with later teams that look like they are in Des Moines uniforms.
Guerdon Whitely (or Whiteley?) - He played with Des Moines in 1887, and was signed to come back for 1888 until the club signed Shafer. He signed with Hutchinson around April 12, so most likely Old Judge never released a card for him


Player 1-Mar Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Billy Alvord X 6 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Ed Cushman X 107 X May 2, 1888
Bug Holliday X 231 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Ted Kennedy X 259 Des Moines X May 10, 1888
Jimmy Macullar X 287 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Joe Quinn X 376 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Harry Sage X 397 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Luke Schildknecht 402 Des Moines X Signed April 18; released to Sioux City late June June 1, 1888 June 1, 1888
George Shafer 409 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Fred Smith X 424 Des Moines X May 4, 1888
Dan Stearns X 436 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Ed Swartwood 449 Des Moines X Reports between March 23 and March 31
Bill Traffley X 462 Des Moines X May 2, 1888
Bill Van Dyke X 470 Des Moines X April 28, 1888
Frank Wells X 488 X April 28, 1888 June 13, 1888
Guerdon Whiteley X Signed by Hutchinson April 12

[prewinter]

Kansas City

Hypothetical:
J.B. Freeman was a "phenomenon" from Missouri who signed with Kansas City for the 1888 season. He was cut on May 3, which means he should have been around when the team shoot was occurring. He got a card the following year in the 1889 set, pictured with the Browns (whom he was with in ST) but identified with Milwaukee (to whom he was sold before the season started).

Player 1-Mar Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Joe Ardner X 12 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
Michael Bradley X 37 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
Count Campau X 62 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888 June 28, 1888
Ed Cartwright X 70 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
Jim Conway X 91 Kansas City (WA) X May 5, 1888
J.B. Freeman X 171 Released May 3
Joe Gunson X 205 Kansas City (WA) X May 5, 1888
Bill Hassamaer X 216 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
Ralph (Spud) Johnson X 247 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
Jim Manning X 292 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
John McCarty X 302 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888
Charlie Reynolds X 383 Kansas City (WA) X May 2, 1888
Park Swartzel X 450 Kansas City (WA) X May 2, 1888
Jake Wells X 487 Kansas City (WA) X May 1, 1888

[prewinter]

Milwaukee:

Hypotheticals:
Alex Ferson jumps out. He was identified with Milwaukee as early as January 8, and he was with the club through the spring. He was released relatively early (May 16), so maybe that is why there is no (known) card of him.
John Quincy Adams Struck was another pitcher with the club all through spring. He shows up on the Cabinet Checklist.
Hart on the Cabinet Checklist is probably Jim Hart, the manager.
And looking at the Old Judge Book, I'm not sure who they think "Keas" is. I haven't found anyone by that name associated with the club.


Player 1-Mar Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Andy Cusick X 108 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
David Davin X 118.5 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888 June 7, 1888
Alex Ferson X 158 Signed before January 8; released May 16 May 2, 1888 May 15, 1888
Tom Forster X 167 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Billy Fuller X 173 Milwaukee X May 2, 1888
Jack Horner X 234 Milwaukee X May 1, 1888
Bobby Lowe X 281 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Leech Maskrey X 295 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Lynn Mills X 326 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Pat Pettee X 365 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
William Shenkel X 401 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Ben Stephens 438 Milwaukee X Signed May 16 May 22, 1888
Joe Strauss X 442 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Edward Warner X 479 Milwaukee X May 1, 1888
John Q A Struck X X May 24, 1888 June 10, 1888
Jim Hart (Manager) X X Manager

[prewinter]

Minneapolis

Hypotheticals:
Cal Broughton was signed in May, but has a card in the set with St. Paul (for whom he played after August 16, and then in 1889), and he shows up as a Cabinet option.
Joe Walsh joined the club before Broughton, and he has a card from his time with Omaha prior to going to Minneapolis. Is it weird that they added players after that point but did not change the team for him?
Michael Lynch was released very early in the spring.
Podge Weihe was signed right as Shaw was released. He didn't last long, so maybe Old Judge never bothered to put him on a card.


Player 1-Mar Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Timothy Brosnan X 41 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888
Cal Broughton 42 X Joined club on May 19 May 19, 1888
Frank Graves X 197 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888 May 15, 1888
Bill Hawes X 237 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888
Fred Jevne X 246 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888
W.F. Jordon X 249 Minneapolis X Released May 2
Gus Klopf X 264 Minneapolis X May 1, 1888
Bill Krieg X 269 Minneapolis X May 1, 1888
Thomas McCullom X 308 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888
Charlie Parsons X 361 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888 April 30, 1888
Owen Patton X 362 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888
Fred Rehse 380 Minneapolis X Signed March 3 May 15, 1888
Myers Robinson X 389 Minneapolis X April 30, 1888 May 6, 1888
John Shaw X 414 Minneapolis X Released May 2 April 30, 1888 May 1, 1888
J.C. Sterling X 439 Minneapolis X Released in late May
Joe Walsh 477 Omaha Purchased May 1 from Omaha May 2, 1888
George Winkelman X 505 Minneapolis X May 2, 1888
Michael Lynch X Released April 1; back for one game May 13, 1888 May 13, 1888
Podge Weihe Signed May 2; with Lima by May 19 May 2, 1888 May 7, 1888

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by prewinter

Milwaukee:

Hypotheticals:
Alex Ferson jumps out. He was identified with Milwaukee as early as January 8, and he was with the club through the spring. He was released relatively early (May 16), so maybe that is why there is no (known) card of him.
John Quincy Adams Struck was another pitcher with the club all through spring. He shows up on the Cabinet Checklist.
Hart on the Cabinet Checklist is probably Jim Hart, the manager.
And looking at the Old Judge Book, I'm not sure who they think "Keas" is. I haven't found anyone by that name associated with the club.


Player 1-Mar Card # Old Judge Club Cabinet Notes First Game Last Game
Andy Cusick X 108 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
David Davin X 118.5 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888 June 7, 1888
Alex Ferson X 158 Signed before January 8; released May 16 May 2, 1888 May 15, 1888
Tom Forster X 167 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Billy Fuller X 173 Milwaukee X May 2, 1888
Jack Horner X 234 Milwaukee X May 1, 1888
Bobby Lowe X 281 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Leech Maskrey X 295 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Lynn Mills X 326 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Pat Pettee X 365 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
William Shenkel X 401 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Ben Stephens 438 Milwaukee X Signed May 16 May 22, 1888
Joe Strauss X 442 Milwaukee X April 28, 1888
Edward Warner X 479 Milwaukee X May 1, 1888
John Q A Struck X X May 24, 1888 June 10, 1888
Jim Hart (Manager) X X Manager

Paul-The only card in the set which contains a misidentification of an image with a name of a player not otherwise known in the set is Struck. There is an image of Strauss known with the name Struck listed below. The convention for identifying Old Judge cards that was adopted by the British Cartophilic Society and also subscribed to by Joe and myself is for the image to determine whose card it is. Therefore, in the book we call the card with the Strauss image and the Struck name a misidentified Strauss card. Having said that, based on the previously mentioned uniqueness of this combination, I would not be surprised to see a true Struck card turn up some day.

[chlankf]

Great information and thanks. As an OJ Des Moines collector I have wondered if there could probably be any missing names. Fingers crossed. You are diving down a deep hole of research. You are going to get so much personal frustration, I mean enjoyment. I have done some research on the photographs in DM and have found some interesting things. Happy to share if interested.