Let's see some postcards

[bbpostcards]

Image 1: Game action real photo postcards of Ty Cobb taken by spectators are exceedingly scarce (I know of just one other). Image 2: I don't recall ever seeing a real photo postcard of Cy Young from during his playing days, and this one is noteworthy as it is among his last photos as a major leaguer.

In the first image, Ty Cobb is shown at bat in an outstanding photo snapped by a spectator who wrote on the back of the postcard, "I may not be able to Ty Cobb but I can snap him. Taken at the Wilkes Barre and Detroit game Sunday, Sept. 24-11." Just before the end of the 1911 season, at about the time the Detroit Tigers were eliminated from the pennant race, the Tigers visited Boulevard Park for a game with the home town Wilkes Barre Barons, champions of the New York State League. The Tigers prevailed 3-2, according to a box score of the game. Cobb went 0-3, so this image probably shows him recording an out. His teammate Sam Crawford was 4-4. Behind the plate that day for the Barons (and behind Cobb in this image) was Joe Briger, whose minor league career spanned 1907-1925.

In the second image, Cy Young stands wearing a Boston Braves uniform in 1912. His statistics show his last year as 1911, but he was a member of the 1912 team until he effectively retired after arm trouble prevented him from making his first appearance on May 23 at Pittsburgh. That makes this image among the last taken of him as a major leaguer. The year 1912 can be isolated by the word Boston appearing across the uniform front and an Indian head logo on the left shoulder. The team surrounding him is unidentified. If you have any information on their identity please let me know.

For more rare postcards and other early baseball items visit http://www.sportingoregon.com . Always buying!

[clydepepper]

Those are AWESOME!!!

What great pieces of history!

[seablaster]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Those are AWESOME!!!

What great pieces of history!

Not an understatement. Beautiful pieces.

[ValKehl]

IMHO, this is one of the all-time-great threads - hope it never dies!
Val

[ValKehl]

This photo of WaJo dates to the late summer of 1912, when the Senators players wore black arm bands following the death of team co-owner and president Thomas C. Noyes. A 3'+ tall rendition of this photo hung inside Griffith Stadium for many years, and it was auctioned by Legendary in November 2010 - http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...ntoryid=111077

A WaJo fan has written of the back of this PC, "pitched his first World Series game on the below date" - the date this fan wrote, October 3, 1924, is incorrect - WaJo pitched the first game, which took place on October 4th. But, the fan did correctly note that WaJo lost 2 games and won 1 game (the 7th game) of the Series.

Despite its pathetic condition, I really like this PC. Unless my "CRS" memory is failing me again, I have never seen another example of this PC. Has anyone else ever seen one?
Val

[Bicem]

Mine was was mailed by former New York Yankees catcher Pius "Pie" Schwert during the 1925 World Series.

[ValKehl]

First in War, First in Peace, and (very infrequently!) FIRST in the American League!

[ValKehl]

Jeff, many thanks for showing your very-nice example of this striking WaJo PC.
Best,
Val