Albumen photo June 6, 1860-Potomac BBC/Excelsior BBC of Baltimore

[bgar3]

Ryan, I will attach a reference from Peverelly and refer you to an extensive write up in Baseball Pioneers pages 253 to 261. You may already seen that since it references a game played near the White House on June 6 and cites a June 7 article in the Baltimore Sun. There is also a list of players to check to see if there is anything close to the signature on the back.
Again, exciting piece.
Having difficulty uploading Peverelly page, will try later.

[bgar3]

Peverelly pages on Potomac club.

[GaryPassamonte]

The 1866 Nationals and Brooklyn Excelsiors image. There was a game between the Washington Potomacs and Baltimore Excelsiors on 6/6/1860. The reverse should help us determine which game and which teams we have here.

[bgar3]

Agree Gary, the back is critical.

[Michael B]

I played with the image and here is what I could read:

….the Potomac Base Ball Club of Washington -- Excelsior Club of Balt. in which the latter were successful H W. F Clay(ton)

[tennisguy]

Here is the back! Hopefully comes through legible. The corner is a little rat chewed, but the writing is period ink no doubt.

“taken after June sixth (rat chewed) , but can make out xth for sixth, between the Potomac Baseball club of Washington and the Excelsior baseball club of Baltimore, in which the latter were successful “

Signature appears to me as Wm. F. Clayton

These two teams only played one time and that was in Washington. Both teams were mostly made up of government workers and with the Potomac club shutting down and closing up shop a year or two after this photo if I can recall. The National club took the herald in Washington. The Excelsior club was founded by George Beam a businessman who had business connections with the Excelsiors of Brooklyn. He was so excited about the Brooklyn club, he came back to Baltimore and financed the Excelsior club of Baltimore. As with the Potomacs mostly made up of government workers. Beam was player/coach/executive.


This was found with four other similar albumen photos of the Washington D.C. area. One was of the Capital, Asian people, building’s and this gem! My uncle said that they all had the same persons hand writing with writing relating to each individual photo.

My uncle a kind soul who lives in Alabama, new how much I liked collecting cards as a kid in my youth, sent it to me. Surprise, he didn’t even know my love for 19th century.

[aelefson]

I don't have anything useful to add but I did want to say amazing item and thank you for posting it!

Alan

[tennisguy]

I appreciate it Alan! It actually displays more detail in hand. Amazing to be able to have and hold one of the earliest images of the game.

Thanks again for the kind words Alan!

All my Best,
Ryan

[Hankphenom]

Amazing, historical piece. Shows what kind of stuff is still out there waiting to be discovered!