Help needed identifying c. 1915 baseball team patch

[Archive]

Posted By: runscott 

I just got a wonderful 1915-ish Wright & Ditson uniform in the mail today - now I'm trying to i.d. the team based on this shoulder patch. Anyone recognize this letter combination from old team photos, etc.? (MBC,BMC,MCB,BCM,CMB,CBM) Thanks!

[Archive]

Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

Mt. Clemens Bathers? Border League and Eastern Michigan League.

I don't really have much of a clue, but am glad I got to reference the Mt. Clemens Bathers. The first and probably last time I'll ever get to make such reference. Those old minor league team names simply rock!!!

[Archive]

Posted By: runscott

I spoke with the seller this morning and he said it's likely that it's from the New England area, but there were so many non-professional teams back then that the odds of id'ing it are about nil. It was manufactured by Wright & Ditson (Boston) and although they were well known, most sales were likely in New England.

Boy, did it feel awesome to put this uni on! It fit perfectly, and was as heavy as a light jacket. It still has dirt and dried blood on it. The workmanship on these things is simply amazing. I wanted the 1890's uni (including cap) that Bob McCann auctioned Saturday night, but it went for over $2 grand!

Like most of you, I am a card collector, but sometimes I just have to buy other vintage baseball items, just to see what they look like up close. I have bought loads of bats, a few 1910's gloves, baseballs, caps, even a vintage baseball sweater. Basically, anything related to baseball I've bought, held, thought about, then usually traded or re-sold - I am a "renter" and really don't like owning stuff, but I sure like to look. But this uni is here to stay. I only wish I could have afforded this similar-era Spalding cap, which would have been almost a perfect match:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3630795338&category=16023&rd=1

Do any of the rest of you have the same weakness for other non-card/photo vintage baseball stuff?

[Archive]

Posted By: Anthony Nex

Scott-
You might try Coopertown Cap Co, they have a large selection of vintage caps, and thus I presume a decent research department.
www.ballcap.com

[Archive]

Posted By: Adam J. Baxter

That this could be a uniform from the Manchester (New Hampshire) Baseball Club of the now defunct New England League. The NEL which was around from about 1886 to 1949 was a Class-B league during the 1902-1915 period and was one of the older and more established baseball leagues in the New England area. Manchester had an unnamed team from 1901 thru 1904. They were then known as the Manchester Textiles during the 1914 & 1915 seasons. I'm no expert on vintage uniforms, but if it's from New England, Manchester, NH is one possibility. Hope this info helps.

Regards,
Adam