Bloomer girls and Smokey Joe Wood postcard

[Hankphenom]

Not him. On the Glory Of Their Times audio, Wood says of the team he signed with, "This was not the Boston Bloomer Girls, but the Western Bloomer Girls out of Kansas City." Both teams were owned by Logan Galbreath. It also doesn't really look all that much like Joe Wood, either, IMO. But that other guy sure is a dead ringer for Addie Joss.

[Bicem]

Agreed with Hank on Wood.

I've always thought he looked like Joss too on that pc, but could find absolutely nothing on Joss' affiliation with any Bloomer teams.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Not him. On the Glory Of Their Times audio, Wood says of the team he signed with, "This was not the Boston Bloomer Girls, but the Western Bloomer Girls out of Kansas City." Both teams were owned by Logan Galbreath. It also doesn't really look all that much like Joe Wood, either, IMO. But that other guy sure is a dead ringer for Addie Joss.

I would agree - on the enlargement, neither of the guys on the front row look too much like Wood.

I didn't realize that Galbreath owned both teams.

[bmarlowe1]

The quality is not great - but seems just good enough to see that the ear is not right. That combined with no known connection to the team says that it isn't Joss.

[Leon]

I only have a little vested interest, as the card will be in our next auction, and have to just disagree with ya'll. To me, they both look like Wood and Joss. We certainly don't want to sell anything that is not what it is purported to be so will make sure the description isn't definitive, unless someone comes up with some definitive proof. Given that Wood did play for the Bloomers I think there is a good chance it is him. I also think it looks like Joss too. Would love to get more opinions and am appreciative and respectful of those given so far.

[packs]

Wood played for the Kansas City team. This is a photo of the Boston team. He would not have been in a Boston photo.

Here is a link to Goodwin's postcard that they auctioned featuring Wood. He is said to be 5th from the left. I don't think he resembles the guy in your postcard. This postcard also features an undivided back. Postcards had undivided backs until 1907. Wood played for the team in 1906. Your postcard has to be from 1907 or later since it is divided. I could be wrong though.

http://www.goodwinandco.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=18811

[Leon]

another tidbit of research. I think there is a chance this is an earlier photo of him on a 5 yrs later card......

In 1905 John Wood took his family back to his wife's hometown of Ness City, Kansas, where he practiced law. By the following summer, Joe Wood, 16 years old and the youngest player to suit up, was pitching and playing infield for the Ness City town team against teams from Ellis, Ransom, Wakeeney, and Scott City. These games were big events, often associated with weekend festivals and parades. In Ness City no game was more eagerly anticipated than a game advertised in the Ness County News to be played August 27, 1906, at 3:00 p.m. sharp between the Ness City nine and the barnstorming Kansas City Bloomer Girls. Owned and managed by Logan Galbreath, the Bloomer Girls team would travel from town to town playing men's teams while unbeknownst to most, the Bloomer Girls would have three or four young men dressed in wigs playing on their side. With Joe pitching, the Ness City team won 23-3 before the largest crowd anyone could remember. After the game Galbreath approached Joe and his father and asked if he would like to join the team for the last three weeks of the season for $20.00. So began the professional career of Joe Wood, playing with the likes of Lady Waddell and Dolly Madison, two of the “dressed up” girls and four or five actual girls in places like Ellinwood and Haven. In later years, Joe would somewhat sheepishly admit that he discovered while playing for the Bloomer Girls, but would point out that the great Carl Hubbell was discouraged some years later from playing for a similar type traveling team.

[packs]

It has a divided back though. That would make it from 1907 or later. Wood played for the team in 1906. Also your postcard is of the Boston team. Wood played for the Western team.

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by Leon

I only have a little vested interest, as the card will be in our next auction, and have to just disagree with ya'll. To me, they both look like Wood and Joss.

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I can only say that the main massage I have tried to convey over several years of posts here is that what you have said above (he subjectively looks like a famous guy to me) has very little probative value (not just for you, Leon, I mean in general). It has near zero probative value when the person wasn't on that team and zero probative value when the ear doesn't match.

Having written about this subject, here's an excerpt, FWIW:
Unless the subject is a person we know quite well, either personally or via a vast number of images (like Bill Clinton or Babe Ruth), the sense of subjective facial recognition can be fooled by even slight facial similarity. This effect varies greatly with the beholder, hence heated disagreements do arise as to who is depicted in an old photo. Some of those who are frequently confused are unaware of this problem. An opinion that two photos depict the same person can be very strongly and sincerely felt, yet still be wrong.

[Jaybird]

Agree with others. Doesn't look like a match to me on either guy.

This might be the same guy bottom row far right...

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I can only say that the main massage I have tried to convey over several years of posts here is that what you have said above (he subjectively looks like a famous guy to me) has very little probative value (not just for you, Leon, I mean in general). It has near zero probative value when the person wasn't on that team and zero probative value when the ear doesn't match.

I respectfully disagree. I guess folks don't think this is him in this very similar postcard either? Looks like the same guy to me but ..... same hat slant, same facial features...all more probative than not, to me

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by Leon

I respectfully disagree. I guess folks don't think this is him in this very similar postcard either? Looks like the same guy to me but ..... same hat slant, same facial features...all more probative than not, to me

I am sure that for you (and probably others) he does look like the same guy - I don't doubt it. Potential bidders need of be aware that it doesn't mean much. This is an excellent example of confirmation bias.

[Jaybird]

Everything I've ever heard is him playing for BLoomer Girls in Kansas. I think the two cards have the same guy but I wouldn't make the leap that it is also Joe Wood. Especially since he isn't known to have played on the Boston Bloomers. I actually don't even think they look all that much like Wood.

That being said, I've seen cards at other auction houses and on ebay where the claim of the person being on the card is not the case. Take this for example...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1907-Carlisl...00875663359%26