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Circa 1913 Philadelphia Athletics "Racist Parade" Mounted Photograph
Either the best or the worst time in our history to sell such a piece (11x14", mounted at 15.75x19.75"). When all eyes are turned towards us, we present a rare image of an entire baseball team, and the champions of an era, joining in the "fun." Posed on the field is a celebration of sorts in Jacksonville, Florida are seventeen members of the mighty Athletics. Each is represented as some sort of stereotype, the majority of which are racial. The team's best pitcher, Eddie Plank, is dressed as a Southern Hillbilly, replete with unkempt beard (strangely reminiscent of streak paranoid players of today). Eddie Collins (perhaps the team's best position player) is heavily disguised in heavy blackface and even boasts a frilly skirt, reminiscent of blackface stereotypes which turn black men in females, presumably to feminize the presumed threat of the African-American male. Later, Hollywood actor Stepin Fetchit was often female in his roles. About half the team is in some version of blackface, from the Reconstruction carpetbagger grinning in top hat, an African savage, to the traditional pickaninny. Jack Barry is dressed as the Buster Brown schoolboy, holding hands with an older Daddy Warbucks type, and the whole parade (which this may have in fact been) is buttressed by Uncle Sam most prominently at far left, putting his American seal of approval on all the nasty business. Most telling, and most interesting over all is the only minority hee, the great Chief Bender. He could not have been overjoyed by all of this. Looking stoic, he chose to flip this all around. This Native American stands tall and proud, wearing the uniform of a Buffalo Bill type Wild West cowboy of the time. Rather than bathe in his own stereotype, he chooses to target the perpetrator of his people's own offender. One of the most interesting baseball images we have offered. It is not only relevant historically, but in today's civil disobedience as well, and ieces that transcend the hobby (Jackie Robinson, for example) are on the level of the untouchable and somewhat priceless. This is of a quality that is rarely seen on a much thicker than the norm heavy mount. This is of a presentation type, meant to be presented to players or VIP's. There are only two of these known to exist reportedly, and this is the only one we have seen. It is interesting to note that this game took place in the deep South, whereas it is unlikely you would have seen this elsewhere. At least, it would be "under the table." EX-MT.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
Circa 1908 Cuban Giants Negro League Baseball Real Photo Team Postcard
1860s General Abner Doubleday CdV by Mathew Brady
Rare 1850s Baseball Award of Merit
Rare 1870s Baseball Stereocard From Morrisville, Vermont
1880s "First Innings" Victorian Woven Silk Stevensgraph - Only One Known, In Original Frame
Civil War Baseball "Muffins" Scorecard - One of the Earliest Known
19th Century "Our Nine" Cigar Box Inner Label
