Photography: Greatest photographs not taken

[lumberjack]

I'm not sure of the number of batters who were hit by pitched balls in those days, but as there were no protective helmets, anybody who was hit was in a life threatening situation. Remember, Walter Johnson, unintentionally wild, was always afraid he would kill a hitter.
The first game I ever attended was in Detroit in 1956. A Tigers pitcher sent Vic Power flying. Power left the field for a moment and returned wearing a plastic helmet, which wasn't mandatory until 1957. The crowd thought the entire episode was greatly amusing. I remember that well.
Oh, pitchers hit by batted balls. Bubba Church was hit in the face/head in 1950, I believe. I doubt if he was the first. This was shortly before my time; I don't know how the press covered the event, but I do remember Herb Score. The photo of Score, flat on the ground with blood running down his face, was
impossible to avoid. That happened with Tony C., too, didn't it.
The old local television adage, "If it bleeds, it leads."
lumberjack

[steve B]

Well, an unexpected result. Looking for info on something I got today I came across this.

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=...-txIN--------1


hopefully the link works. While it's not baseball it is an important sports event. It's a photo and short article about a fatality during an Army football game in 1909. The photo taken just before the player was killed during a play. That prompted the rest of the season for Army to be cancelled.

[T206Jim]

You are much more likely to find game moments prior to 1920 depicted in RPPCs taken by fans than professional photographers. Cameras for the common man were all the rage during the Deadball Era. Here is a link to a thread providing the details about a game action RPPC depicting the key moment in the 9th inning of Game 3 of the 1912 World Series at Fenway.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=241403

1912 World Series postcard.jpg

[sphere and ash]

Originally Posted by T206Jim

You are much more likely to find game moments prior to 1920 depicted in RPPCs taken by fans than professional photographers. Cameras for the common man were all the rage during the Deadball Era. Here is a link to a thread providing the details about a game action RPPC depicting the key moment in the 9th inning of Game 3 of the 1912 World Series at Fenway.

It’s a great real photo postcard, and its presence underscores the absence of any image of Fred Snodgrass’ muff in game 8.

[T206Jim]

Paul, about the closest I can come to Snodgrass muff is a same game 8 photo by the American Press Association as shown in the thread linked:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=227925

1912-World-Series-600-dpi-web.jpg

It at least demonstrates that the major press services were taking game action photos at those games.

[bgar3]

Amount about 100 game action photos and lantern slides of the 1912 world series, I had the result of Snodgrasses muff, that is Yerkes scoring the winning run.

[sphere and ash]

Originally Posted by bgar3

Amount about 100 game action photos and lantern slides of the 1912 world series, I had the result of Snodgrasses muff, that is Yerkes scoring the winning run.

I didn’t know that existed, Bruce. That’s as close as I’ve ever heard to a memorable moment being captured prior to October 1920.

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by T206Jim

You are much more likely to find game moments prior to 1920 depicted in RPPCs taken by fans than professional photographers. Cameras for the common man were all the rage during the Deadball Era. Here is a link to a thread providing the details about a game action RPPC depicting the key moment in the 9th inning of Game 3 of the 1912 World Series at Fenway.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=241403

Attachment 329315

Cool thread and great sleuthing, Jim. Thanks for posting that. Awesome RPPC.

[bgar3]

Paul, it is pictured in Burns’ book, he is scoring standing up. I may have posted it here sometime a long time ago, I think there was a relative of Yerkes who posted for info. And, yes, I realize I should still have them. If you would like I could photograph the page in Burns’ book.
NOT in Burns’ book, or at least I couldnt find it. Sorry.

[sphere and ash]

I just found some of the items I was going to post before. They are:

—The last known photograph of Ray Chapman, pictured with his new bride, taken in Cleveland. It is dated August 16.

—The front page of the New York Daily News for the 1920 World Series. Note that it says—in handwriting—“something new in baseball.” They were well aware that, by covering an entire game photographically, they were breaking new ground.

[bgar3]

Yerkes scoring the winning run, 1912 World Series, alluded to above. Was once part of about 100 1912 World Series photos, many mounted with photographer descriptions.