Was this really an 1890 Players League player cabinet?

[joeadcock]

The back of the Cabinet identified as 1890 Chicago Pirates. It appears to be mislabeled as you state.

The player appears to be TOM DALY.
He played for the Chicago White Stockings before 1890. The Chicago White Stockings ended in 1888.

The first cabinet pictured shows him right lower(from 1887)
Second cabinet shows him again right lower corner(he has a mustache), from 1888.

Steven Art Studios Cabinets are listed in the Standard Card Catalog, as either Chicago White Stockings or Chicago Pirates from 1890. He was not a member of either team in 1890. So, therefore, the penciled in caption on back of cabinet is incorrect.

Therefore, it appears the Steven Art Studios made Cabinets prior to 1890, assuming all their subjects were Chicago(he played for them in 1887 and 1888). If this is further confirmed, perhaps it can be corrected in future editions of Standard Catalog.

Of further interest, Heritage Auctions sold a Steven Arts Studios Cabinet clearly labeled 1888(see cabinet at very bottom on the right), in the April 2010 auction. The player is Duke Farrell. He played for the Chicago White Stockings. The difference between the 1888 cabinet and the one just sold today on Ebay is that this one does not show the date of 1888, in fact the only date is the incorrect penciled in 1890 on the back side. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.

Interesting stuff.