Whose Hat Is Lew Wearing?

[thecatspajamas]

1938 Anniston (AL) Rams? Though I have no kind of photo reference to compare it to. Fonseca wasn't the manager, but possibly a coach?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...=CHW&year=1938

[jerseygary]

What a tough one! Looks like Lew spent '35 and '36 with the Ray Doan baseball school. They trained at Hot Springs, Arkansas and there is a March 5, 1936 article in the Sporting News that shows him wearing the same Sox jersey but different stirrups. Can't make out the cap. He then became promotions manager of the American League where he was described as a "baseball missionary". In this capacity he traveled the country showing baseball films he shot himself and also had something to do with the National Semi-Pro tourney in Kansas. He also became the mentor of high school baseball in Chicago, too. I guess what I am saying is that it could be any team across the nation at this point since he wasn't tied to any team, but had strong ties to the A.L., high school and semi-pro ball clubs.

Like I said before, it looks like the same style as used by the 1930's LA Angels and Atlanta Crackers. I will also see if I can find what the Arkansas Travelers wore in the '30's, since the baseball school was in the same state, it could be possible...

[Wite3]

The field behind him might be a clue too...maybe he was trying out for the angels...could be wrigley los angeles.

Joshua

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by Wite3

The field behind him might be a clue too...maybe he was trying out for the angels...could be wrigley los angeles.

Joshua

That field is without a doubt old Comisky Park. I loved that place and wince everytime I see an old photo of a player in that ballpark and think that that place should still be standing today.

[Wite3]

I knew I had seen that picture somewhere before!!



1976 Grand Slam...

After a bit of research...Lew was in Los Angeles playing winter ball with the Angels when he was in Slide, Kelly Slide! during the winter of 1926/7.

I think these pictures are either from that time or closely after it.

He was also instrumental in bringing film to the major leagues.

Joshua

[jerseygary]

Ok, so the Angels cap might still be in the mix, but the above card and the other pictures have to be from 1936 to 1938 because of the SOX style jersey. The White Sox wore white sox (imagine that!) with their official uniform but Fonseca has on dark stirrups. Maybe he was there in Chi for some kind of old-timers game or the baseball school he taught at had a game there.

[Wite3]

More...
Lew Fonseca is the father of film study in baseball...in the late 30s he produced many films including "how to" type films...I cannot find any concrete evidence but I have a feeling that these pictures could be from those films or practice for those films.

Joshua