Help with 1955 Salem Rebels Photo - Orlando Cepeda pictured?

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by bobw

I think the bottom player is Manuel Valdez

Do you have any other pictures of Manuel Valdez to compare to (or is this just a hunch based on his last name)?

I tend to agree with other posters that it’s not Cepeda. I hate that I was willing to accept it as him when I purchased this photo years ago without inspecting it more closely.

[bobw]

He played with the Decatur Commodores in 1953 and the Rebels in 1955

[bnorth]

The 59 Topps card was the closest I could find to the same angle on his face. With the age difference it could easily be the same person. The "mole" seen on the old BW photo could be anything, there several stray dark spots on the photo.

[ooo-ribay]

The nose is somilar but the eyes of the Salem guy have a bit of an Asian look...

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by bobw

He played with the Decatur Commodores in 1953 and the Rebels in 1955

Awesome! We have a winner! Thanks for ending the debate! Manuel Valdez is who is pictured in the Salem picture, not Orlando Cepeda. While there is a resemblance (per Ben's post), it is pretty obvious that this is Valdez.

I will update my "rookie" checklist accordingly and will make sure that this mis-identification does not persist (at least on my clock).

Thanks!