Help with Victoria Bees RPPC

[Jobu]

Here is a bigger scan of the area with the identifiable stuff.

I uploaded a copy to Flickr too as that has a zoom feature:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132359...7672452361010/

It looks like the guy is holding a wire garbage can filled with paper. Maybe they were taking collections for someone? Or there was a raffle or contest?

[seattlerainiers]

Hi fellas,

Definitely Victoria and Vancouver players, and I peg it as 1913. I believe that the pinstriped Vancouver uniform with that style V is from that year only. Below is an RPPC image of pitcher Bob Ingersoll in this uniform. It indicates 1913 in period ink on the reverse, and Ingersoll only played for Vancouver in 1913.

I'd agree with Dave that it is likely the Vancouver ballpark, but will dig through other RPPCs and other images to nail it down. I'll also be able to ID some of the players as I spend more time with it, but can immediately recognize Charles Brooks (back row, 4th from right with his head tilted). He was with Victoria 1912-1914. Also, Chief Chouneau, front row, 2nd from left. He was only with Vancouver in 1913.

Also below are a few RPPCs of 1913 Opening Day action at the Victoria ballpark, and one of Northwestern League legend and 1913 Victoria manager Mike Lynch, infamous for "passing" on a young Walter Johnson in Tacoma in 1906.

Dave, I think that your team RPPC is 1915, not 1914, and ol' Highpockets is not present in Bryan's PC. His pro debut was in 1914.

Fun stuff!

[Jobu]

Awesome, info! Thank you for helping to pin this down. I love turning unknowns into knowns.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by seattlerainiers

Fun stuff!

Indeed!

Neat to see anything related to Victoria baseball. The current Royal Athletic Park is oddly configured to accommodate baseball and other sports like soccer and rugby. I have no idea how the grandstands and ballfield were sited back in the day, whether they were in the same location or perhaps more to the east toward Cook Street. Very few old houses left around the immediate perimeter now and the few I found look nothing like the ones shown in your photos. In the case of Bryan's postcard there is one house with an arrow-like shape that also appears in the colorized 1935 photo. Along with the V's on the uniforms it's what made me think it was Vancouver. As for the year of my postcard you are correct. Saw in my notes that it was in fact 1915, just slipped my brain. Old age will do that to a person. A perusal of the 1913 Van and Vic teams at bbref.com indicates a number of Obak subjects. Don't have the time myself to try to make photo matches but hope you are able to ID some of the players.

Cheers -

DMcD