Help Identifying Photo

[rand1com]

My belief is that this is a circa 1916 Boston Red Sox original photo picturing Dick Hoblitzell and team mates standing beside/behind a wreath that has a ribbon with "Success" on it.

I assume this is opening day in Boston in 1916 and the wreath was to honor the 1915 World Series Champion Red Sox. The photo is affixed to a cardboard backing so no way to see the back and I am not going to try and remove it.

I am pretty certain it is a Type l as the photographer, Richard W. Sears Boston is imprinted on the left and right sides of the photo in raised letters. I know that Sears was a famous photographer in this time period but his specialty was more historical than sports related. He passed away in 1955.

Any help identifying the celebration event other than my supposition would be appreciated.

[D. Bergin]

Is there any way to see exactly what it says on all those posters, the players are holding?

[rand1com]

Unfortunately, even with a loupe I cannot make it out. It has "Today" on it but cannot tell anything else.

Also, I have not yet been able to identify the two men in suits. I assume maybe AL President and Boston owner who may have been Harry Frazee at this time but I have not found pictures to match up yet.

[Southpaw85]

Just a guess, though a quick google search suggests WW1 bonds didn't begin until 1917...

"Buy To-Day at (army/every) ????"

Edit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303343422534
"buy to-day at any bank (buy liberty bonds)"

Edit 2: Try 4/6/1918 - Exhibition game in NO, LA @ Pelican Stadium

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Southpaw85

Just a guess, though a quick google search suggests WW1 bonds didn't begin until 1917...

"Buy To-Day at (army/every) ????"

Edit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303343422534
"buy to-day at any bank (buy liberty bonds)"

Edit 2: Try 4/6/1918 - Exhibition game in NO, LA @ Pelican Stadium

Yeah, that definitely looks like the same signage.

[D. Bergin]

Babe probably hidden behind the big floral arrangement.

[bgar3]

Sears did other Red Sox photos, at least as early as 1912.

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by Southpaw85

Just a guess, though a quick google search suggests WW1 bonds didn't begin until 1917...

"Buy To-Day at (army/every) ????"

Edit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303343422534
"buy to-day at any bank (buy liberty bonds)"

Edit 2: Try 4/6/1918 - Exhibition game in NO, LA @ Pelican Stadium

Thanks. Seems to match up with the Buy Liberty Bonds parade held that day but the game was rained out so not sure about the ceremony on the field.

Maybe the rain started after the ceremony. I am pretty sure that is Harry Frazee on the left shaking hands but I have not figured out the other man's identity yet.

If anyone knows who it is, please let me know.

[D. Bergin]

Am I the only one wondering what the deal is with that half sweater Hoblitzell is wearing?

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Am I the only one wondering what the deal is with that half sweater Hoblitzell is wearing?

No, I wondered the same thing. Looks ridiculous at best.

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by rand1com

Unfortunately, even with a loupe I cannot make it out. It has "Today" on it but cannot tell anything else.

Also, I have not yet been able to identify the two men in suits. I assume maybe AL President and Boston owner who may have been Harry Frazee at this time but I have not found pictures to match up yet.

The AL President was Ban Johnson. But I don’t think that is him.

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Am I the only one wondering what the deal is with that half sweater Hoblitzell is wearing?

Maybe his left arm is injured?

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by EddieP

The AL President was Ban Johnson. But I don’t think that is him.

I agree. It is not Johnson. May be the governor of Louisiana or mayor of New Orleans since the parade and game was being held there.

[Southpaw85]

A 1916 Fenway photo, note 'Cadillac Service Station'
https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/new...raditions.html

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Southpaw85

A 1916 Fenway photo, note 'Cadillac Service Station'
https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/new...raditions.html

Yeah, that certainly looks like the same park to me.

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Yeah, that certainly looks like the same park to me.

I think the guy to the right was Andrew James Peters. He was Boston’s Mayor from 1918-1922. Before that he was the Asst Secy of the Treasury from 1914-1917.

[Southpaw85]

And my last contribution - thanks for helping tickle the puzzle parts of my brain during some down time last 24hrs.... Looking forward to learning exact story behind photo.

Mayor Andrew Peters - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_James_Peters
Opening Day 1918, with interesting illustration included (and both a Win and single for Ruth) - https://fenwayparkdiaries.com/1918%2...04-15-1918.htm

[D. Bergin]

Wow, great job guys. I think that just about wraps it up.

[nolemmings]

Kind of interesting that Hoblitzell was just named captain that year and less than two months after this picture was taken would be off to serve his country, never to return to the Big Leagues.

[nolemmings]

seems the Boston Globe was generous in taking attendance (another report had the crowd at 7200)

[EddieP]

Nice newspaper clipping. It explains the entire photo.

[rand1com]

Yes. If a question cannot be answered by the members of this forum, it is likely an unanswerable question. I'm still a little confused as the article says Tommy Connolly gave the ball to the mayor after the first pitch of the game but that clearly is not Tommy Connolly shaking hands with the mayor. It clearly looks to be Frazee to me. The mayor is holding a baseball in the photo so still a little confusing but much more clarity than I originally had. At least I opined it was an opening day ceremony. I was just two years early.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by rand1com

Yes. If a question cannot be answered by the members of this forum, it is likely an unanswerable question. I'm still a little confused as the article says Tommy Connolly gave the ball to the mayor after the first pitch of the game but that clearly is not Tommy Connolly shaking hands with the mayor. It clearly looks to be Frazee to me. The mayor is holding a baseball in the photo so still a little confusing but much more clarity than I originally had. At least I opined it was an opening day ceremony. I was just two years early.

It makes sense to me. Umpire hands the Mayor the ball, walks away and hand shakes and posing begins. Maybe there was also a picture taken of Connolly handing over the ball, but we may never know unless it's residing in another collection somewhere, or the photographer didn't get the timing right, or it just never survived.

[nolemmings]

The way I interpreted it was all of this celebrating took place prior to the game. Frazee hands the ball to the mayor so that he can throw out the first pitch right before play ball, mayor throws out ceremonial pitch and the ump then hands it to the mayor, who is now in the stands.

Seems the whole production was handled differently than in today's game, because the account says the mayor served up the pitch to Rube Oldring, who would have been the lead-off hitter for the visiting Athletics. Obviously he was required to take the pitch and it did not actually go against the count. Now of course there is no batter in the box.

[rand1com]

Thanks. Your sequence of events makes sense.