Minor League photos and postcards from 1914-1917 Cedar Rapids Rabbits

[drc]

I know you weren't criticizing me, you were just giving your price estimate. I was just after the fact offering a bit more detail to my estimation. Besides, my estimates and auction final price guesses have been off before, so I'm the first to know my appraisals aren't beyond critiquing.

[KNH]

Dan,
Bill Wambsganss is not one of them. The following info is on the photos and postcards. They don't give the first names on the photos. I included the ones I knew in the info below using the Cedar Rapids roster from 1917. Some of the positions are written out and some are abbreviated.The ones that are signed are:

photo of Cedar Rapids baseball park 1917.
photo of Simmons catching Mellinger at McGrais? park. (It says "This is Simmons catching one of my wide ones. Keefront? batting".)
Photo taken somewhere in PA. It mentions someone striking out 14 men.
photo of Reese.
photo of Bruner,Reese,Mellinger and Sheam.(Cedar Rapids roster lists as Shean.)
photo of Mellinger pitching in 14 inning game. (It says "This is me pitching in the 14 inning game".)
photo of Severeid 1st base.
photo of Harmon 2nd base.
photo of Bruner and Sheam.
photo of Sheam 3rd base.
photo of Bert Carlton pitcher.
photo of Bruner pitcher.
photo of Sutton shortstop.
photo of Ray French shortstop.
photo of Mellinger pitcher.
photo of William "Bill" Collins manager.

The 4 postcards have all the info I show below. They are in great shape. If they were baseball cards they would be ex-ex/mt.
Elmer Boose 1913 Brookville
Andy Hastings 1913 Brookville
Buck Carpenter 1913 Brookville
John Fulton 1913 Brookville







A couple have 4 digit numbers stamped on the back. 2685,4012,4130

[slidekellyslide]

The postcards appear to be town team -Brookville, PA - looks like both Fulton and Mellinger must have started playing in Brookville and were picked up by Cedar Rapids in 1914.

A very nice lot...where'd you run across them?

[KNH]

A friend's parents used to be good friends with Mellinger and took care of him in his old age. He left them some things he collected from his playing days. The Town Souvenir pennants I had listed was part of it.

Dan,
When I mentioned the name Wambsganss to my friend, he finished the name before I said it. He remembers hearing Mellinger talk about him and thinks he might have something about him. Could be a photo,newspaper articles or who knows what. I'll keep you posted.

Would newspaper articles and photos of these players have any value?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by KNH

Would newspaper articles and photos of these players have any value?

Very minimal unless you find a family member to sell to. Thanks for the info!

[KNH]

11 more photos found from Cedar Rapids. They are from before 1917. When I get more info I'll share it. At this point, no Wambsganss.

[KNH]

We have come across quite a few more items including 11 photos or cards. I'm not sure what they are but they measure 3 1/2"x 2 1/2" and are about 1/16" thick. All 11 are from the 1914 Cedar Rapids roster. Their names are printed on the photos. Here is a list. Any thoughts on what they are or possible value? Thanks.

Curtis-3B (2 of these)
Henseling-SS
Mellinger-P
Lingle-C (Photo below)
Spencer-P
Brown-P Scoring after driving ball over CF fence.
Lapham-C (his name is listed "Lappin" on baseball-reference.com)
Hill-MGR.
Buttle-P
Fulton-1B