View of an 1886 Baseball Game

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

Ever wonder what a baseball game was like in the mid-1880s. This fantastic cabinet presents an image of the 1886 "record breaking" game between Detroit and Chicago. It came from the estate of Hardy Richardson, a star left fielder of Detroit and later Boston. The amazing thing to me is the number of horse carriages in the outfield. To my knowledge this is one of the few in-game baseball views from this period in existence.

Note that Hardy's family wrote a biography of him on the back. The fountain pen writing probably was done around the turn of the century and a later pencil note mentions his death in the mid-1930s.

[Archive]

Posted By: dennis

what a great image. i also noticed that there were 2 ladies(i think) in the carriage in back of the crowd.did not see any others.safe to assume a lady would not venture into the standing area? what is the dimensions of the actual picture? thanks for posting.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jim Clarke

That is a very nice Cabinet. Who won the game? JC

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

Dennis--The cabinet is roughly 10"x7"

[Archive]

Posted By: Max Weder

Chicago, 5-4, courtesy of http://www.retrosheet.org

Max

[Archive]

Posted By: Joe_G.

It looks much better than the thumbnail size copy you sent me a long while back. That's also the first time I've seen the back. Should I sell the Stealth tomorrow?

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

Joe--Maybe we can swap

[Archive]

Posted By: Julie Vognar

--Chicago?

I don;'t see ay other women either, but you can't really tell about the bleachers or gandstand.

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Evanov

Really gives you a sense of playing in the 19th Century. Fans lined up in the outfield, the pitcher's mound only 50 feet from the plate.

Frank

[Archive]

Posted By: Joe_G.

Oh boy . . .

:confused:

followed by

:alcoholic:

followed by more

:confused:

editted to say, darn, not all Smilies work here but they still get the idea across.

[Archive]

Posted By: jay behrens

great picture. I saw a similar picture on a post card for a game played in Sioux Falls, SD around 1900. There were carriages in the outfield and even a car. The photographer was from my Alexamdria, MN and I grab any real picture post cards when I can. Sadly, this one eluded me as the finally price was well over $500.

Jay

My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.

[Archive]

Posted By: john/z28jd

Wouldnt you like to have a Camaro Jay rather than a Stealth? Remember Camaros always come in first and Stealth is just an anagram for "the last"

[Archive]

Posted By: Joe_G.

But my Stealth eats Slo-maros for lunch.

Here it is snaking on a tasty 6 speed '98 Corvette (video link near bottom).

http://joeg.mi3si.org/102701_MI3S_Gathering_at_Lapeer_Dragway.html

[Archive]

Posted By: ramram

Can we ask how you came into the cabinet card? Also, I could't read the handwriting on the back but, does it explain what the "recored breaking game" was refering to?

Rob M.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

The writing on the back only details the history of Hardy Richardson. There is no mention as to what was noteworthy about the game, although by the size of the crowd I would guess that it was something special.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

In response to questions raised in the thread and via email I have done a little research. In 1886 Chicago and Detroit were involved in a heated pennant race. Chicago eventually won with a 90-34 record, edging out the Wolverines who sported a not too shabby 87-36 mark. Most of the league leaders came from these two teams. King Kelly led the league in batting at .388, followed closely by Cap Anson at .371, Dan Brouthers at .370 and Hardy Richardson at .351. Hardy Richardson ended up leading the league in HRs at 11(tied with Brouthers) and in hits at 189. Therefore, it is easy to see why this would have been a popular game.

[Archive]

Posted By: mike mullins

See, skyboxes aren't that new of a concept.

I wonder who got to sit up there.

Great photo! Thanks for sharing,

mm

[Archive]

Posted By: john/z28jd

Just noticed this item was up for sale on Mastro.I forgot all about this till i saw a postcard of an old game at ft washington that reminded me of this then was surprised to find it in mastro this morning.Price seems cheap(out of my price range tho),wonder if that pen mark on front turns some people off? I cant see that Cal Lg OJ going for over 100k the other day and then something which is just as rare but much more unique going so cheap.

Theres some great players in that pic somewhere,just look at the rosters! Luckily, the original owner didnt fell the need to highlight them too

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot%20Information&LotIndex=53893&CurrentRow=1

[Archive]

Posted By: identify7

To me the rarity of these cards has nothing to do with their desireability. The nostalgic portrayals do. If forced to choose between the two, Id prefer the OJ which shows a close up of a player with mask and glove apparently photographed in a western town. However, the panoramic view of the game in progress with the complimenting spectators of the period does seem to me to be a close second.

T206 Wagners and t210 Jacksons do not compare favorably with either of these, in my mind. And that the CA league OJ went in the low six figures results in me agreeing with Jim Clarke: that soon the price realized will seem like a bargain.

It is for cards like these two that I sometimes wish that money had less meaning to me. Because it is not as simple as diverting funds from one (or more)investment into the purchase of one of these cards. Because these cards are really never going to have investment potential for me. Because to be an investment, you eventually have to sell the item; and I could not envision ever being able to sell either card.

But I agree John, both cards have similar value.

[Archive]

Posted By: john/z28jd

It would be tough to me to choose between the Cal Lg OJ and this cabinet because eventho i do mainly collect OJs you just dont see a game in action shot,a real photograph that is.If was offered both for the same price and obviously had the money it would be a tough choice for me.I think because the fact i could never own all the Cal Lg players anyway i might just go for the cabinet but then again i saw the Dailey this past weekend in person 2 different days and it sure was something to behold!

Luckily,or unluckily i dont have the dinero to make that decision.Im sure there would be moments of buyers remorse,not taking resale value into any consideration if i did have to choose.

Going back to the Cal lg card and your comment about future value.It should be interesting to see how the next one does(who knows when that could be) in a public auction.There might be someone out there sitting on one of these cards(not literally i hope) who is thinking now might be a good time to sell,so it might not be long before we see one.

Edited twice for spelling,time to change the batteries in the wireless keyboard

[Archive]

Posted By: david

with the way prices have been going, even for low grade cards, i wonder if the market is due for a correction. there seems to be a number of buyers with more money then sense lately. i know some cards are scarce and rare but not rare enough to justify some of the prices lately. and many times the prices are being driven by one or two bidders, what happens when these types of bidders leave the market and those of us with sense or less money are the only bidders left?

[Archive]

Posted By: Bruce Babcock

[Archive]

Posted By: identify7

My guess David, is in that situation: the cards go away.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

Just in case anyone was interested I reinserted the scans.