help identifying two old baseball pictures

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Posted By: PC

As noted above, the second photo appears to be a WWI era military team, probably taken in France (but not necessarily). Since the banner says 1919, the earliest that picture was probably taken was at the start of the 1919 "season", which would have been the spring or summer of 1919. But it could have been taken at any time during or after the 1919 season, or even in 1920 if the team pitcured were the 1919 "champs". Since WWI hostilities officially ended in June 1919, it is a good guess that organized baseball on the continent in the U.S. AEF -- with uniforms and a league -- probaby did not come into existence before then. But that's just a guess.

Regardless, Mathewson is not in that photo. Mathewson was back in the U.S. in February 1919, most likely long before that picture was taken. In any event, Matty had little time for baseball during his short time in France. He went into the chemical warfare division of the Army in August 1918, was sick with the flu when he landed in France, went to training after that, got grievously injured in a poison gas training accident, and was sent back to to the U.S. in early 1919 when he was well enough to make the trip.

Still, two interesting photos.