Two Postcards That Aren't Babe Ruth...and two that are.

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The Red Sox at Fenway Park postcard shows a batter that some think is Babe Ruth. The postmark on this one -- from Boston on July 11, 1914 at 5:30 p.m. -- disproves it is Ruth because at 10 a.m. that morning Babe Ruth arrived in Boston and pitched that afternoon in his first major league game.

In the St. Mary's band image, the tuba player on the left in the front resembles him, Babe's obituary mentions he played in the band, and there's a famous picture of Ruth holding a tuba in 1920 with the St. Mary's band. However, the picture below accompanied a 1957 newspaper article by one of the band members. He came to the school in 1918. Ruth was long gone then.

The last two are included just for fun. No doubt about the identity of him in the group shot. Taken at Laconia, New Hampshire after the 1916 season, Mayor Munsey is shown presenting a seven foot gold key to the city to Red Sox players pitcher Babe Ruth (identified as "Mr. Ruth"), second baseman Mike McNally, outfielder Chris Shorten, catcher Pinch Thomas, first baseman Dick Hoblitzell, outfielder Tillie Walker, and second baseman Jack Barry. Also shown are J.E. Maynard of Draper & Maynard sporting goods and on the far right an umpire.

The other is visually quite interesting for its study in contrasts, two men at the top of very different games. The Seminole Indian Village was located in St. Petersburg, Florida and was open in only 1928-1929. The reverse of this postcard reads in pencil, "Babe Ruth with the 'Medicine Man' of the Seminole Indians," along with notes about Seminole attire. (Note that the circular spot in the upper left is in the original negative). For more early postcards, visit www.sportingoregon.com .