1880s cabinet photo id

[Leon]

With the collection this came from I do have a strong feeling it's a baseball player. Whether it is ever positively id'd or not, who knows. I don't get in the habit of calling everything I see, and don't know what it is, the best possible thing it could possibly be. If I did I would be saying this just could be Joe Jackson's father!!

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Leon

With the collection this came from I do have a strong feeling it's a baseball player. Whether it is ever positively id'd or not, who knows. I don't get in the habit of calling everything I see, and don't know what it is, the best possible thing it could possibly be. If I did I would be saying this just could be Joe Jackson's father!!

Possibly, but I would have thought the same thing if I bought Barry Halper's collection. Unless it can be identified, without any provenance it's just another 19th century dude. And yes I realize that this post is trying to identify him...for your sake I hope it can be identified as a ballplayer.

[barrysloate]

It looks a whole lot like Jimmy Ryan to me. I wonder if Mark F. has any exemplars he can use to possibly confirm. As far as the date of 1881, the cabinet is likely late 1880's which would coincide with his career.

However, he was neither born in or ever played at Lancaster, so that's a problem. Either Ryan or a close look alike.

[bmarlowe1]

Similar to be sure, but not the same. Even the ears are somewhat alike, but differently shaped towards the bottom.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

Similar to be sure, but not the same. Even the ears are somewhat alike, but differently shaped towards the bottom.

Thanks Mark (and others)....nice photo comparison too.

[Ease]

Those are some great mustaches, rare to see folks with staches that solid nowadays.

[Runscott]

I looked through all of my 19th century books, and couldn't find any matches.

[barrysloate]

Side by side you can see the difference. Thanks Mark.