Checklist of 1869-70 Cincinnati Red Stockings images

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Kevin- The Gould image looks to be different entirely.

I think that you are right. It was hard for to tell with the image reversed.

Do you think that the small and large images of Harry Wright in the Ellard book are the same?

[GaryPassamonte]

That one is a little tougher to tell, but I think they are slightly different.

[WillowGrove]

Bruce - thanks for this research! So I have a question about the Huff photo. I had no idea of the date the photo was taken but you seem to be certain and it makes sense it was while they were in Irvington (just an 18 minute bike ride away from Newark today according to google).

But do you have any thoughts as to why? Did they set a record of any kind by that date? ( I don't think so). Were they highly touted by then so it was a no brainer that a photographer would ask or be asked to capture their image?

And why this particular photographer in New Jersey to take the important team photo instead of a photographer in Cincinnati back in April/May before they left town?

Sorry if any of these answers have been covered- I own a reprint of the Ellard book as well as 'The First Boys of Summer' but haven't gotten into them yet.

Thanks again for the research!

peter

[bgar3]

Hi Peter, I sent you a email before I saw this post, but the short answer is it appears Huff was the photographer Harper's wanted to use for their woodcut. I suspect it the timing was based upon their being in the New York area and having success against those established teams, while drawing decent crowds. The original purpose of the photo was the woodcut, any other uses were secondary. I found First Boys of Summer to be fascinating.

[bgar3]

Peter, an update on your question of why the interest by Harper's which ultimately resulted in the famous Peck and Snyder photo card: I found further evidence to support the speculation that it was because they were in the New York area and having success against those established teams. Henry Chadwick, in an obscure publication called Walden's monthly from 1894, noted that it was the 4 to 2 close win over the Mutuels on June 16 th that "proved to be the turning point in their career of 1869 and it was the basis of their financial success during the remainder of season." ( I believe the team portrait was done a few days later before or after the Irvington game as noted above.). Chadwick emphasized that " the score of the game was the talk of the whole fraternity at the time."
Not conclusive, but enough for me to believe that this game n particular, was the deciding factor to interest Harper's.

[WillowGrove]

And there we have it.

Bruce, thank you for the follow up. The fact that you found this nugget is really amazing.

So I'm not a Cincinnati guy but I own a Peck & Snyder and certainly enjoy research - I'm also interested in figuring out when the sporting good store began using the image on their trade card. I don't know if this has been discussed.

I know P&S also had trade cards with other teams - and that the years may drift into 1870 and 1871. I apologize, I don't have my ducks in a row for this post. But it would be interesting to find the earliest date of that print ad where one could order the card(s) in quantities.

But that is just for the one use of the image you initially posted about. May i ask, are there any other outstanding questions that YOU have Bruce about the images?

Thank you again for the follow up!

peter

[bgar3]

Peter, glad you found it interesting also. I think one question I have is not about the team images, but whether or not there are individual images of the Cincinnati players in uniform? I know of two, but there has to be more.