1874 Cheyenne Baseball Composite - Champions of the WY Territory (NOW @ LOTG)

[TedWill1939]

The Capt. E.C. Bent, could be a relation to one of the Bent brothers. They were early traders on the frontier.

[Leon]

Very neat. Congrats. Cool item,.

[Jobu]

Thanks guys!

To be open, I have had this for a while and it was just sitting around, so I sent it to an AH so that someone else could enjoy it. The AH couldn't find out enough about it to be comfortable listing it, which is fair and the right call IMO, so it came back to me.

Normally I do a deep dive on research on things right away, but for some reason it took a long time and then having this one return home for me to really dive in (lots of other research projects on the burners too). So I figured I would post what I have and cross my fingers that someone else might be able to add some more details.

[Michael Peich]

That's a great piece, Bryan, and thanks for sharing it. It's another addition to the history of 19c baseball.

Cheers,
Mike

[drcy]

It's not from the 1800s, but is from early 1900s and is antique. And, from all evidence, it is very rare.

In the early 1900s and 1800s they sometimes made "re-printed" images like this. There are those 1927 Old Judge large display pieces, for example (Different than the vermon find), and they made late 1800s and early 1900s cabinet cards of, say, Civil War generals.

Due to its large size and perhaps being unique, it appears to have been made for some exhibit. Perhaps the team or town anniversary or some town festival or something. That's a matter or speculation, but a bif photo like this was for display. For a public display, it makes sense they would make just one

So it is a nice, rare and unusual (in the good way) photograph.

Bryan asked me about after he originally bought it, and I examined the photo in person. So I'm talking about having seen the actual photo in person.

I'm surprised the auction house didn't offer it for sale, and my guess another one might. Not being able to pinpoint the exact year is nothing unusual for a rare and esoteric piece like that. You just want to be sure it's antique, which it is.

[Jobu]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. And a special thanks to David for his continued willingness to share his vast knowledge - it is greatly appreciated!

[kkkkandp]

Great images of old-time baseball players with some serious facial hair!

Nice item!