Pacific Coast League Question

[SacSolons33]

This is my first time posting and though it is not specifically about cards it is about vintage baseball and I see there are a lot of knowledgeable individuals who post on this forum. What I am trying to find out is when did the players in the PCL start wearing numbers on their uniforms? If anyone out there knows I would love to hear about it.
I plan on posting more in the future with card related queries especially Zee-Nuts. For now though, I hope someone has an answer to my question.

[Leon]

First of all welcome to Net54. I hope you enjoy your stay here. It's usually a pretty fun place. I am sure someone will come up with the answer, and if they don't, I know a few folks to call to ask. I am always glad to try to help. Take care!!

[Vintagecatcher]

According to the "Dressed to the Nines" website:

"The earliest photographic evidence of the use of uniform numbers comes from a 1909 Chicago Daily News picture of pitching great José Mendez. A legendary Cuban ballplayer, Mendez was a member of the inaugural class of the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006".

With regards to the PCL, I believe 1912 was the first year teams added numbers on their sleeves. None of my 11 1911 Zeenut catchers show numbers on their Zeenut cards. Both the 1912 Home Run Kisses and 1912 Zeenuts show numbers.


Patrick

[Solons42]

However, from 1913 thru 1933 player jerseys did not have numbers--at least not the Solons. The PCL proscribed the wearing of numbers in 1934 and jerseys from that year on had numbers. Alan

[SacSolons33]

Solons 42 and all thanks for the information. My motive behind asking is my grandfather pitched in the PCL from 1924-1935 and I was trying to find out if he ever had a number. My daughter plays fastpitch softball and was asking me. I guess she wants to carry on the legacy if there is one. My grandfather was Edwin Bryan, played with Vernon, SF Missions and Sacramento mainly. Always looking for history about his time in the PCL. Heard a lot of stories as a kid unfortunately never wrote any of it down. If only I was smarter back then.

[Anthony S.]

There's a fellow on here who put together a website dedicated to his great-grandfather, Spider Baum, who pitched for the Sacramento Salons among others during a long career in the PCL. Some great photos on the site.

http://www.spiderbaum.com/