Auction Item Details
Lot 883
LOADING IMAGES
Lot Number: 883
Description: Important 1871 Cleveland Forest City Base Ball Club team photograph. On St. Patrick's Day in 1871, the National Association was formed by ten representatives in a bar in New York. The result was the first true professional baseball league, the National Association. The two top draws in the league were slated to play the inaugural game in Washington, but were rained out. As a result, on May 4, 1871 the Cleveland Forest City club played the Fort Wayne Kekiongas in the first "Major League Baseball" game at Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne won the coin toss and elected to have Forest City bat first. The first hit was a double collected by catcher James "Deacon" White in the first inning. The period accounts of the game detail an exceptionally well played match with Fort Wayne winning by a score of 2-0. Offered is an incredible early albumen photograph in uncommon large format size measuring 13"x16" matted and framed picturing the Forest City Club of Cleveland who took part in that inaugural professional baseball game. The team is wearing very fine uniforms of the period including bib front jerseys with interlocking "FC" script lettering. Players and the team are identified in the bottom margin including J.White, Sutton, Carleton, E.White, Allison, and Kimball. Two early baseball bats are visible along with an early baseball. Original images of this quality from this formative period in baseball history are virtually non existent. The offered exemplar is the first that we have encountered. Includes letter of provenance from the White family: EX-MT
Estimated Price: ($10,000.00-$15,000.00)
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