1911 Addie Joss Day??? RPPC at Mile High

[Dardevl]

Facial matching is definitely a challenging craft, and is NOT in my particular skillset, with any confidence; I appreciate the persons that can decipher those subtleties.

I lifted the RPPC image from the SGC website (which was not easy to find), and cropped the face of "the slider". Aside from a high-res pre-slabbed image, this may currently be the best/only option to review the Cleveland uniformed player. That, and an in-hand review.

I will let other board members weigh in on a Cobb confirmation or opposition or a possible 1910-11 Cleveland player- This range is determined by the lack of advertisement space in the same location from the confirmed 1909 Cobb "spikes" Baker photo and the 1909 Cobb sliding comparison image, in which a Washington player is manning 3rd base, as well as 1907 and 1909 World Series images at Bennett Park; And a 1912 Navin Field opening.

[calvindog]

It's not Cobb. Nice catch, Deron.

[Dardevl]

Thanks for your input, Jeffrey!

[RCMcKenzie]

There were some famous players on the 1911 Naps. If you search on Baseball Reference under "1911 Cleveland" or "1910 Cleveland", the site includes portrait photos of many of the players on the roster. Look at the top of the page for the row of photos.

I looked around a little last night. It doesn't really look like Joe Jackson or Nap Lajoie. It's a dark photo of a player with his hat down, so it's hard to see his facial features. Would they make a postcard of Terry Turner, Neal Ball, Jack Graney. etc...?

[Dardevl]

I reviewed the faces as well, and for the reasons you mentioned, a positive ID would be challenging, unless a match was blatantly obvious. I think that Neal Ball has a similar facial structure (of the players pictured), but as I stated earlier, I am not good with faces. And in this scenario, ultimately the question is: Is it Cobb?

This can be accomplished in two ways; By positively IDing the player who is sliding, or by finding enough within the available image to confidently say that it is NOT Cobb.

I think that with the context of the location confirmed to be Bennett Park combined with the fact that the 3rd baseman's uniform matches a Tigers' uniform of the era, the likelihood of it being Cobb are diminishing. And the ultimate conclusion is that it's not from Addie Joss Day, a heavy multiplier in the potential price realized.

I do appreciate your input and engagement.

[Dardevl]

A continued search of an accurate setting and uniform combination reveal what SHOULD be present for any Addie Joss Day image.

Compare the baseman's uniform to that of the subject RPPC. Also the stadium features, from what is visible in this example photo (courtesy of REA), we can see that the stadium layout, structure and paint scheme match that of League Park (image from Leland's). This Addie Joss Day photo catches the end of the 3rd baseline grandstands, in the background. Also note, that there are no stands along the flat outfield wall.

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[WillowGrove]

Good catch Deron.

I like puzzles like this and thought I'd add some possible dates the photo could have been taken.

Judging by the stands in the photo being filled I am assuming a large crowd. I chose 9,000+ when searching retro sheet. Also, based on Dressed to the Nines, the uniforms could only be 1909-1911. 1912 Home Tigers uni's had pinstripes and I don't see pinstripes. That said below are the games with large crowds AT Detroit vs. Cleveland from 1909-1911.

I know it's not definitive and based on a large crowd and no pinstripes but - each piece of info can help solve...

Also - Moriarty was the 3rd baseman in every game below. (That is 3rd base yes?)

1909:
Sat 4-17 - 12,649
Sun 4-18 - 18,478
Fri 9-10 (2) - 10.398
Sat 9-11 - 9.279

1910:
Opening Day 4-14- 14,063

1911:
Sun 4-16 - 14,063
Sun 4-30 - 14,156
Sun 9-10 - 9,756

Last thing - I would guess it was opening day because that would be reason to send a photographer to cover the game rather than a random Sunday. But just a thought.