1890 Players League Sam Thompson Cabinet RARE

[Schwertfeger1007]

*Edit* Possibly a PHI NL Cabinet. But still cool. PM me if interested.

[Schwertfeger1007]

I guess photos would help.

[edhans]

Great Piece, Brian. Just curious what makes it a Player's League cabinet.

[insidethewrapper]

Good question. Slab states 1880's cabinet, and the BST listing states 1890 Players League. I don't believe he ever played in the Players League and the slab description doesn't state that.

[Keith H. Thompson]

this Thompson cabinet card was made for the Philadelphia Players League entry for several reasons. I own two copies of this same pose, and I know of no examples other than the one offered in this thread.

1. One of my cards came to the market via Terry Knouse (Tic & Tac) in a collection of genuine Player's League cabinets. Terry showed them to me at a
Reading, PA show. I say genuine because many were of obscure players who may not have played for a National League Team. When I first saw the "Thompson" neither of us was sure it was Sam Thompson. He is not in a uniform, and the card is identified only by the cursive script "Thompson" on the front and the cursive script "Malarial Thompson" on the back. The identification came later. (for which I take full credit)

2. Thompson did jump to the Player's League in the spring of 1890, and at Spring Training games on the East Coast Sam and his wife were shunned and mocked by National League Players. Sam, of course, jumped back, possibly at the personal request of Harry Wright.

3. The cabinet card is published by MacIntire Bros, Philadelphia. Sam and Ida never had a residence in Philadelphia, even though he played for the
Quakers for ten years. It is my theory that Sam had this cabinet done at the request of the Philadelhia Players League entry for publicity purposes, but I have never seen it published anywhere in a newspaper or periodical. Which is understandable since he never played for the team.

I'm always interested in all the evidence that can be brought to bear on the matter.

[edhans]

Thank you for the explanation, Keith. Entirely plausible, though not exactly definitive. Terrific piece either way.

BTW, Terry and his son go by TIK & TIK-their initials, I believe.