what do you guys think about this tintype?

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Posted By: packs

just picked up this tintype and was looking for some opinions or guesses from experts. there isn't anything printed on the back identifying what state or town the photo is from. the image is very bold and the original paper frame is fully intact. really cool piece. what i was hoping to get some opinions on was whether or not you guys think these are perhaps organized league players. not quite professional but maybe some sort of traveling team? the equipment they have, from what i can see, looks to be of high quality. the bat looks professionally made and not home fashioned, and the ball the other gentlemen is holding appears to be of quality too. i was thinking maybe they're on opposing teams? they kind of looks like uniforms to me and not just clothes. to me the men look like ball players and not the village butcher or doctor. what do you guys think? any date approximations? my guess is early 1870s.

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Posted By: barrysloate

It's a very nice image, well posed with equipment showing and spiffy uniforms, but the chance of identifying the players without any corroborating information is slim and none. Even trying to guess what level they are is almost impossible. Enjoy it as an exceptional early baseball image.

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Posted By: Jimmy

1870s, but very hard as Barry stated to id the players without info on shirts.

nice clear photo

Jimmy

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Posted By: davidcycleback

A refreshing thing about tintypes is the names and team are rarely ever known, so you judge and valuate them on things other than star power.

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Posted By: packs

i definitely don't expect to ID the players. but what do you guys think about the equipment and uniforms? i'm just looking for guesses so feel free to speculate. do the clothes they're wearing look like uniforms to you? or just some fancy get ups? it looks like they're both wearing those customary belts that the early teams like the Excelsiors and the like used to wear. maybe they're part of fireman teams?

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Posted By: barrysloate

Fireman and baseball uniforms can be hard to differentiate as so many fire companies fielded baseball teams. The bat of course clinches it as baseball. The uniforms are ornate but those ties are pretty common in the 1870's. I always wondered if they actually played wearing those things.

Just wanted to add that ballplayers likely dressed up a bit for photographs. Going to a studio and having your picture taken was kind of a big thing back then (and still can be today).

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Won't speculate on teams, but it's a nice example as it's 1870s and shows bat and ball.

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Posted By: packs

thanks for the input guys. my favorite aspect of the tintype is that the original frame is fully intact. makes for a very nice presentation.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

I agree that the paper holder is nice, plus uncommon for baseball tintypes. The holder was used to give the image a frame and make the tintype resemble a CDV, and you could refer to yours as a CDV tintype if you wish.