Cuban X-Giants pickup

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Posted By: ramram

I just wanted to share a recent purchase and see if anybody had information to help identify this player. This ballplayer is from the Cuban X-Giants team which was the best negro league team from the turn of the century. With the lace-up jersey and quilted pants, I would date this image from the late 1890's (the Cuban X-Giants were around from 1896 to 1907). It appears to be a trimmed cabinet card. What appears to be scratches at the top of the image are actually wires running through the photographer's low-rent studio. Shower curtain type backdrops are hanging from the wires.

I've gotten nowhere on the ID so far since my current resources only have some team images of the Cuban X-Giants after the turn of the century. I took a copy over to the Negro League Museum, here in Kansas City, and I'm hoping they come up with something. I also need to send a copy to SABR for their input. Any thoughts from this board?

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

I tried to identify him while it still on ebay and contacted several other collectors and historians who might know, but to no avail.

I think he's going to remain anonymous, at least for the moment.

Still a great early Negro League photo of a player in uniform. A true rarity.

-Ryan

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Posted By: runscott

Was that one of the ones Lexibell auctioned on ebay recently? If not, I must have seen it in one of the non-ebay auctions.

Here's a list of resources, including a book with photos of the 1905 Cuban Giants: http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=273838&messageid=1095099676&lp=1099589645

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Posted By: ramram

I just ordered the Phil Dixon book. I actually browsed through this book recently and it is a great resource. 1905 might be a little too late for this guy but it's worth a try if he stayed on the team.

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Posted By: ramram

Did you already try the guys at SABR? If you did then I don't want to waste their time again by resending it to them.