Need Help ID-ing 1926 Yankees-Tigers Players

[jacksons]

Tim -

Your point is that it cannot be first base, since the reversed original image shows the lettering on the Yankee player's uniform short as backwards, correct?

I still don't understand the photographic process enough to make sense of that, but if that's accurate, then it's third base.

Isn't this fun?!

[jacksons]

OK Tim - I'm going to get back to work real soon, but before I do, had to leave you with one more hint...

I got to thinking, if this was third base, then it could be the shortstop in the image, should the third baseman have been behind the bag covering a throw, or charged a bunt, fielded to first which was then relayed to the SS at third to get Dugan racing to the corner bag.

If it was the SS, then it would be Jackie Tavener, who played the bulk of games at SS in 1926.

Here's an image of Jackie - sure looks like him to me.

[Jaybird]

I see your point on the third base and agree with you on that. Thanks for the illustration and clarification.

I agree with Jacksons and think the player does look like the SS Jackie Tavener . Broad nose at the tip, deep set eyes, longish ears. bit of a protruding or defined chin.

[timzcardz]

Writing at top of negative reads . . .


"Play at Navin Field 1926"


.

[Kawika]

My non-scientific first impression of this picture and some random thoughts: Yankee baserunner advanced (sacrifice fly maybe) to third. Throw late and off, no need slide. Maybe a triple. Who knows? Dugan had five in '26. Either way ump had time to position himself clear of the play. Is it Dugan? Looks like a burn victim to me or the guy from The Scream. Guy just to the right of runner's left knee has gotta be the pitcher; you can even make out the mound. Either that or the first sacker is eleven feet tall. First I thought he was a lefty based on the black blob at his right knee - that would have made it either Whitehill, Wells or reliever Johns. Then I considered that if it were his glove he'd have had to have had Marfan's Syndrome - arms would be abnormally long. Probably just a patch of dark background and so much for the "lefty" theory. The Detroiter making the play at third? Tavener is listed as having been 5'5". Our guy looks taller. Warner is listed as 5'9". Can you make this thumbnail of Warner equate? Nose looks more like Tavener. Mark F. would accuse me of hallucinatory wishful science if I said I thought it was one or the other. Jacksons got one thing right: This is fun!

Jack Warner per Baseball-Reference.com

[timzcardz]

David,

Thanks for the input, and I'm glad that you are finding this to be fun.

The left handed pitcher theory is something that I hadn't thought of and would certainly narrow the potential number of games. I'll have to go back to the negative for a better look, or the original scan that I did at 600dpi that even picked up fingerprints on the negative that I didn't realize were there.

I am actually on the train on my way home from work with the box scores from all 11 Yankee games at Navin Field in 1926.

Interstingly, one lists the attendance at one of the games at 40,000 vs. the 30,000 seating capacity, so I think that I can safely eliminate that game based on the apparent emptiness of the stands.

As for the umpire positioning discussed previously, depending on which game it is the umpiring crew consisted of either 2 or 3 umpires.

As for a Dugan triple, he didn't hit any in Detroit that year. Triples were hit though by Collins, Lazzeri, and Meusel, but according to the NY Times writeup, Meusel's was a ground rules triple into the centerield seats. (I don't know the 1926 rules so I assume that is what would be a ground rule double today?)

Thanks again, and I certainly welcome any and all ideas.

[Kawika]

I think the runner advancing on a sac fly is more likely than a stand-up triple. This crude blow-up neither supports or debunks the lefty theory. If a solution is to be had for this photo often the answer is hiding in plain sight. My guess is that would be to try to put a positive ID on the Detroit infielder, and for that I'd defer to the ear, nose and throat men. If you need the New York Times sports page accounts let me know and I can look them up. Just need the game dates (and hopefully not all 11 as I am kind of swamped for time right now, which is why I am posting so much lately in order to procrastinate more pressing urgencies).