Influential pre-1920 card?

[Zan]

I have a unique opportunity to write about a baseball artifact and how it influenced 19th century baseball and the US. Here is the description of the assignment:


On your own, find a primary source having to do with baseball before 1920. The source may be a visual source (an advertisement, print, early baseball card, etc) or a textual source (an article, letter, novel, diary entry, etc). You must find your own source; you cannot use one of the sources provided on Blackboard. In order to do this independent research, you might want to talk to GMU’s research librarians. You also might want to consider a trip to the Library of Congress or, if you’re looking for an excuse to go, to the Baseball Hall of Fame Research Library.

Write a paper analyzing what the source and its context reveal about baseball and the 19th century. Be sure to make observations about both the game of baseball and the broader culture. In order to avoid simply providing a collection of observations, you should provide a thesis that says something like: “this document reveals three primary truths….”

I really want to write about a card, but my specialty is 1930's and 40's. Any help here?

Brian

 

[TBTwinsFan]

Could you do t206?

 

[Zan]

Could you do t206?

I was thinking that. I also have to relate it to three articles we read for the class, and there really isn't mention of T206 cards or even cards in general. A lot of the articles refer to rule changes, the reserve clause, etc.

 

[Liberate Baltimore]

Could you do t206?

I was thinking that. I also have to relate it to three articles we read for the class, and there really isn't mention of T206 cards or even cards in general. A lot of the articles refer to rule changes, the reserve clause, etc.

Research Moses Fleetwood Walker as the first true African-American professional baseball player. I would research the photos and teams that he played on and analyze them from both a socialogical and biographical standpoint. T206 has nothing to do with the 19th century. Heck, it's not even the first major set of the 20th century.

Edit to add: You could even tie-in Cap Anson and his role in instituting the ban of African-Americans from baseball.

 

[JoshHamilton]

Harper's Woodcuts

1. Harper's Weekly and their importance and influence in the publication world in the 1870's
2. Woodcuts - the influence in printmaking
3. Baseball in the 1870's. And what lead to the formation of the AL and NL

 

[DeliciousBacon]

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/auc ... iew/8.html

First professional team, the team that would eventually turn baseball into America's Game.

 

[gracecollector]

1869 Peck and Snyder Cincinnati Reds team card...

First paid professional team - legitimizing athletes as professionals, rise of baseball as national game - echoing America forming its own identity separate from Europe, urbanization of the game - reflecting urbanization of American society during industrial revolution.

"The card was issued in 1869 and is one of the first Baseball Cards issued and also the beginning of Baseball as we know it today. The card itself was issued in multiple sizes as well as different backs. This card is the large version and most desirable and is 1 of 4 graded authentic by PSA. The card has special historical importance as it features Baseballs First Major League Team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings led by Hall of Famers Harry and George Wright as well as having the advertising Peck & Snyder logo on the back, who were a leading sports retailer at that time. This card has all of the players listed on the front with a red Peck & Snyder logo on the back. Condition of this incredible find is as follows: The card is centered nicely with upper right and lower right creases. Pin hole in the top middle, with normal brown toning across the card. A small white paper loss mark on the front middle players arm. The red writing is clear as well as the players on the front, which is very Rare as the other examples known to exist are slightly fuzzy. The back of the card has the same normal brown toning with no other issues. This examples condition is one of the best known to exist. "This card is extremely important because many hobbyists consider it to be one of the very first baseball cards ever produced. In addition, the sepia image featured on the front of the card captures the game of baseball in its infancy," said Joe Orlando, President of PSA. Keep in mind this card is 140 years old, which is the same decade Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated and 4 years after the Civil War ended as well as 16 years prior to the first Gas powered vehicle and the birth of Babe Ruth."

EDIT = me and Bacon think alike!

 

[Liberate Baltimore]

Harper's Woodcuts

1. Harper's Weekly and their importance and influence in the publication world in the 1870's
2. Woodcuts - the influence in printmaking
3. Baseball in the 1870's. And what lead to the formation of the AL and NL

I really like that idea too!

 

[gracecollector]

Could you do t206?

I was thinking that. I also have to relate it to three articles we read for the class, and there really isn't mention of T206 cards or even cards in general. A lot of the articles refer to rule changes, the reserve clause, etc.

Research Moses Fleetwood Walker as the first true African-American professional baseball player. I would research the photos and teams that he played on and analyze them from both a socialogical and biographical standpoint. T206 has nothing to do with the 19th century. Heck, it's not even the first major set of the 20th century.

Edit to add: You could even tie-in Cap Anson and his role in instituting the ban of African-Americans from baseball.

Moses wasn't the first. He was the last paid professional before the color line. Bud Fowler is recognized as first. Moses is frequently cited as the first major league (Toledo of the American Association), but even that has come under recent debate. SABR now cites William Edward "Bill" White," who played first base for the Providence Grays on June 21, 1879.

 

[Zan]

Harper's Woodcuts

1. Harper's Weekly and their importance and influence in the publication world in the 1870's
2. Woodcuts - the influence in printmaking
3. Baseball in the 1870's. And what lead to the formation of the AL and NL

I think I will use this. Solid solid stuff

 

[JoshHamilton]

Harper's Woodcuts

1. Harper's Weekly and their importance and influence in the publication world in the 1870's
2. Woodcuts - the influence in printmaking
3. Baseball in the 1870's. And what lead to the formation of the AL and NL

I think I will use this. Solid solid stuff

Cool. You can buy a page from Harper's for like $40-$50. It would be an awesome presentation piece and it'd gaurantee you an A.

Plus, you could buy a $10 frame at a craft store and create a kickass 19th century baseball piece to hang on your wall afterward

 

[gracecollector]

Harper's Woodcuts

1. Harper's Weekly and their importance and influence in the publication world in the 1870's
2. Woodcuts - the influence in printmaking
3. Baseball in the 1870's. And what lead to the formation of the AL and NL

I think I will use this. Solid solid stuff

Harper's Woodcuts are an interesting idea. #1 I agree with. #2 Woodcuts have been around for centuries, and used extensively in printing and print making before Harpers. Didn't get the connection in terms of assignment's objective. #3 Kind of broad in scope. Wouldn't any 1870's baseball item do that? Harper's timeframe was the American Association and the beginning of the National League. AL came in 1901.

Think you could also look at how Harper's was one of the first publications to report on professional baseball, giving rise to sports journalism phenomena.

 

[ronfromfresno]

Why not the song "Take Me Out to The Ball Game" or the poem "Casey at the Bat"

 

[aminors]

I actually just read a chapter from a book called "City People" entitled "Ball Park" and wrote a nine-page paper about it. Fantastic stuff. I'll send you the paper if you're interested. It's written by some guy whose last name is Barth.

 

[smapdi]

I'd also suggest Christy Mathewson, specifically his book, Pitching In A Pinch. It was apparently quite a hit with boys at the time (1912), and Mathewson stood out as a figure fit to be idolized by children in a game that was increasingly notorious for rough play and bad morals, which, of course, culminated in the Black Sox scandal. A supreme talent, and a fairly tragic figure considering his fate in World War I. He was, after all, of one the HOF's inaugural class. Considering they had 50+ years of players to choose from, that speaks as loudly as anything can about his reputation and esteem.

Card-wise, Mathewson's stuff sells about as well as anyone. He doesn't really have one iconic card like Wagner, but his T206s are sought after in all variations, and his T205 is probably the nicest image of him in the hobby.

 

[hofmichael]

I would use the Spalding report on the birth place of baseball.For years it was believed that a man who likely never played the game invented it.The Hall Of Fame was built in the birth place of baseball.We now know it was built in the wrong place.

 

[WoundedDuck]

Zan if you do this let me know. I've got a ton of Harper's Weekly woodcuts as well as the issue of VCBC discussing them. Some of mine have been framed. I actually recently picked up another copy of the 1859 first baseball Harper's Weekly wookcut that shows a baseball match played at the Elysian Fields. I got it for a good price and planned to sell for a profit, but if you want I'll let you have it for what I paid for it. It's a large, 2 page, gorgeous piece worth framing.

 

[JoshHamilton]

Zan if you do this let me know. I've got a ton of Harper's Weekly woodcuts as well as the issue of VCBC discussing them. Some of mine have been framed. I actually recently picked up another copy of the 1859 first baseball Harper's Weekly wookcut that shows a baseball match played at the Elysian Fields. I got it for a good price and planned to sell for a profit, but if you want I'll let you have it for what I paid for it. It's a large, 2 page, gorgeous piece worth framing.

Is VCBC still around?

 

[WoundedDuck]

Zan if you do this let me know. I've got a ton of Harper's Weekly woodcuts as well as the issue of VCBC discussing them. Some of mine have been framed. I actually recently picked up another copy of the 1859 first baseball Harper's Weekly wookcut that shows a baseball match played at the Elysian Fields. I got it for a good price and planned to sell for a profit, but if you want I'll let you have it for what I paid for it. It's a large, 2 page, gorgeous piece worth framing.

Is VCBC still around?

No but I have the old issue

 

[Zan]

Zan if you do this let me know. I've got a ton of Harper's Weekly woodcuts as well as the issue of VCBC discussing them. Some of mine have been framed. I actually recently picked up another copy of the 1859 first baseball Harper's Weekly wookcut that shows a baseball match played at the Elysian Fields. I got it for a good price and planned to sell for a profit, but if you want I'll let you have it for what I paid for it. It's a large, 2 page, gorgeous piece worth framing.

Is VCBC still around?

No but I have the old issue

I'm doing the topic, but the paper is due in about 9 hours, so I am continuing without a "visual aid", but I really thank you for the thought.