.
Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer (1876-1919), one of the most entertaining characters in baseball history, trying out the other side of the camera during the Washington club's visit to play the New York Highlanders in April 1911. Germany Schaefer, a versatile infielder and quick baserunner, played most of his career with the Detroit and Washington clubs. The camera pictured is a 5x7 Press Graflex with a modification to accommodate the large lens, produced by the Folmer & Schwing Division of Eastman Kodak Co.: photo by Bain News Serice, 1912 (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress)
Casey Stengel, full-length portrait, wearing sunglasses, while playing outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers: photo by Bain News Service, c. 1915 (George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress)
Eugene Franklin "Bubbles" Hargrave Chicago, National League: photo by Bain News Service, 1914 (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress)
Roger Bresnahan, St. Louis, National League: photo by Bain News Service, 1911 (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress)
Harry Franklin "Slim" Sallee, St. Louis, National League: photo by Bain News Service, 1914 (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress)
Germany Schaefer, Washington, American League: photo by Bain News Service, 1912 (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress)
Washington pitcher Al Schacht: photo by National Photo Company, 1920 (National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress)
Nick Altrock, Washington, American League: photo by National Photo Company, 1919 (National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress)
Girls baseball. Washington fans are strong for "Uncle Nick Altrock" and therefore the War Risks have Dot Meloy in training as a side line entertainer. Nick is teaching her a few of his stunts: photo by National Photo Company, 10 June 1920 (National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress)
Women dancing and two Washington baseball players, Al Schacht and Nick Altrock, clowning on baseball field: photo by National Photo Company, 1924 (National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress)
African American baseball players from Morris Brown College, with boy and another man standing at door, Atlanta, Georgia: photographer unknown, 1899 or 1900, from unbound album: Negro life in Georgia, U.S.A., compiled and prepared by W.E.B. Du Bois, v. 4 (Daniel Murray Collection, Library of Congress)
Baseball team, Eymard Seminary, Suffern, New York: photographer unknown, between 1890 and 1900 (Wittemann Collection, Library of Congress)
Three baseball players (boys) wearing Cleveland uniforms: photographer unknown, 22 July 1922 (Library of Congress)
Fourth of July, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Rural filling stations become community centers and general loafing grounds. The men in the baseball suits are on a local team which will play a game nearby. They are called the Cedargrove Team: photo by Dorothea Lange, 4 July 1939 (Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection, Library of Congress)
Baseball game, Manzanar Relocation Center, California: photo by Ansel Adams, 1943 (Library of Congress)
ok ok
ReplyDeletemy grandfather played b-ball in Baltimore
with Ruth but broke his leg shagging fly balls
which ended his career as a ball-player after just being signed up with Ruth to play for the Baltimore team..
so he ended up moving to D.C. like about 1939 to so and was still huge into The Senators (and B-all) so
when I was about 6, 7, 8 he'd take me to see the 50's Senators play ESPECIALLY when the Damn Yankees were here..
I recall sitting in the du-out with Altrock who was part of the Senator's staff then... I also met Schacht at his restaurant up in NYC...
this new Washington team ? UGH.... a damn National League team...
Tom,
ReplyDeleteOh my O my, what great photos (!) the pastime lives on still here (and here and here and here) -- Giants about to play the Padres down there in San Diego, maybe they can still win a few games . . .
9.7
grey whiteness of fog against invisible
ridge, sparrow landing on redwood fence
in foreground, wave sounding in channel
something else when that is
what is, to disappear
even here, its passing seen
in actual fact, other
grey white of fog against top of ridge,
2 pelicans gliding across toward point
These are SO WONDERFUL. And such a LIFT.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, fellows. Curtis, I think this would be a case of the ghosts of the past lifting us up by the bootstraps (sanitary sox?). A bit of laughter, a bit of fun, a bit of sadness in remembering what has been lost -- the commonalty of the social experience of "the national pastime"... then still a game, now strictly a business.
ReplyDeleteSteve, checking last night's boxscore, I fear the the Year of the Thong and the Beard may be receding before our eyes into the great Cracker Barrel of Diamond Archaeology.
Edster, always aiming to please, serving up for you a Bambino Breakfast Special (spiked with a dash of Schacht and Altrock) this morning, here.
Lots of great stuff here, with more pictures of the revered baseball clowns. Thanks, Tom.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteYes, so indeed it seems -- can't get that hit when they need it, bullpen couldn't hold it (trailing 1-0 early, then 2-1 then in the bottom of the 8th and suddenly it's 3-1 and they went quietly after that. . . .
On the other hand, to go quietly, always a mercy.
ReplyDeleteAs virtuous men passe mildly away,
And whisper to their soules, to goe,
Whilst some of their sad friends doe say,
The breath goes now, and some say, no...
Pablo Sandoval: A Valediction
Tom,
ReplyDeleteWell (said), well (said), (well writ) . . . . Johnny's got his first soccer game today, followed by the Giants game tonight - - maybe they won't go so gently into that good night, as they did last again last night (Timmy gave up 3 hits, 1 run in 8 strong innings, got a "no decision" -- Casilla gave up game winning hit in top of ninth, after which they did indeed "pass mildly away" . . .