Baseball Team /Player Identification Assistance Needed

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

I recently picked up a photo on EBAY which was identified as 1900 Large Baseball Team Picture. I immediately recognized one of the catchers that I collect, George Gibson, front row (right). The player next to him looks like Tommie Leach. Behind George, I believe, is another catcher from the Pittsburg Pirates, Paddy O'Connor. In addition, I am pretty sure the player second from the left is pitcher, Babe Adams.

I am still working on identifying the others. My guess is this is a Spring Training photo of the Pittsburg Pirates circa 1910, possibly 1912, at the latest, wearing their period warmup jackets. Identification is a bit difficult with the caps pulled down low.

If anyone has a scan of the Pirates team from 1910-1912, I would love a scan. I will also send a scan to anyone interested in seeing if they can identify any of the players.

The EBAY photo follows: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2750833801&category=204&rd=1

Thanks, Patrick

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Posted By: Rob M (ramram)

Even if you can't fully identify the faces then at least someone should be able to identify the guy at front row left. Geez....look at the size of the hands on that guy (check out the close-up of him). That's got to be the most unique feature on a ballplayer that I've seen since Three-finger Brown!

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Posted By: Hankron

My opinion is that the photograph is a bit (though not much) younger than the period you give.

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

I have tentatively identified a majority of the players in the Pittsburg Pirates photograph.

Front row (left to right) Honus Wagner, TBD, Tommie Leach, and George Gibson.

Back row (left to right) Mike Simon, Babe Adams, Tallest Player (TBD), John Flynn, Howie Camnitz, and Paddy O'Connor.

If anyone has a resourse which provides player's height, that information would be extremely helpful. How tall was Fred Clarke?

Thanks, Patrick

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Posted By: Rob M (ramram)

5 - 10 1/2"

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

Thanks, Rob!

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

As I have continued my research regarding this photo, I found a quote in Lawrence Ritter's The Glory of Their Times, which answers something that troubled me regarding the photo. If the player with the huge hands is indeed Honus Wagner, how likely is it that he would have a first baseman's mitt which is seen in the photo at his feet?

Although most people regarded Honus as the greatest shortstop, he was much more versatile. As Tommy Leach mentions on page 23 of The Glory of Their Times, "And it also turned out that Honus was the best third baseball in the league, he was also the best first baseman, the best second baseman, the best shortstop, and the best outfielder."

Leach then on page 24 states, "So Fred put me in at third base, with Honus moving over to first. That reminds me, did you know that when Honus played third he played it with a first baseman's mitt? I don't know why, but he did."