Anybody know what this pin is?

[quinnsryche]

It's 1 1/4" in diameter. It says Buttons made by Whitehead & Hoag patent 1896. It certainly looks like a gondola and the stadium right on the water.
No clue otherwise, very odd. Why would an American company make a button of a foreign stadium and not mark it? Is it possibly a World's Fair piece?

[perezfan]

It's an early prototype of AT&T Park. That's McCovey Cove in the foreground, and a depiction of an early kayak (not a gondola )

[quinnsryche]

hahahahahahahahahaha!!! I like it. Too bad the Giants are out, probably won't sell now!

[Butch7999]

Tony makes an excellent guess. Not sure there's any view here specifically of the "stadium," but plenty of shots
of the buildings, waterways, and gondolas at the 1896 Columbian Exposition (world's fair) fairgrounds begin here:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...um&FORM=HDRSC2

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Butch7999

Tony makes an excellent guess. Not sure there's any view here specifically of the "stadium," but plenty of shots
of the buildings, waterways, and gondolas at the 1896 Columbian Exposition (world's fair) fairgrounds begin here:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...um&FORM=HDRSC2

The Columbian Worlds Fair was held in 1893-94. The pinback was first patented in 1896 by Whitehead & Hoag. I think it is likely a 1904 St Louis World's Fair pin.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

The Columbian Worlds Fair was held in 1893-94. The pinback was first patented in 1896 by Whitehead & Hoag. I think it is likely a 1904 St Louis World's Fair pin.

Why are you guys thinking "World's Fair"? Were pins something commonly produced for World Fairs?

[quinnsryche]

I saw a postcard on ebay of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair "Grand Lagoon" with a palace or stadium in the background and gondolas on the water around it. I think it's about as close a match as possible. I don't know how to post a link to it though, sorry.