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Merkle923 · 02-01-2016, 04:04 PM

There are a few problems with the supposed 1958 date on the Duane Pillette/Al Rosen photo. Firstly, Rosen's broken finger occurred in 1955, and thus had healed by spring training 1956. Secondly, Rosen retired after the 1956 season (though he attended most Cleveland camps thereafter as a batting instructor). Thirdly, Pillette joined the PCL Seattle Rainiers - a Reds affiliate - in midseason 1957 and remained with them into 1958, making his appearance in the 1958 Cleveland camp unlikely at best. We know he was a free agent in the spring trainings of 1956 and 1957 - we can't be sure he was in 1958.

The uniforms are no help - Cleveland wore those "insignia enclosed by a C" cap from 1951 through spring training of 1958.

The safest bet is to identify the photo as 1956-58 with 1956 the likeliest because of the gesture about Rosen's finger.

02-01-2016, 04:04 PM	#26994
Merkle923 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,185	Pillette There are a few problems with the supposed 1958 date on the Duane Pillette/Al Rosen photo. Firstly, Rosen's broken finger occurred in 1955, and thus had healed by spring training 1956. Secondly, Rosen retired after the 1956 season (though he attended most Cleveland camps thereafter as a batting instructor). Thirdly, Pillette joined the PCL Seattle Rainiers - a Reds affiliate - in midseason 1957 and remained with them into 1958, making his appearance in the 1958 Cleveland camp unlikely at best. We know he was a free agent in the spring trainings of 1956 and 1957 - we can't be sure he was in 1958. The uniforms are no help - Cleveland wore those "insignia enclosed by a C" cap from 1951 through spring training of 1958. The safest bet is to identify the photo as 1956-58 with 1956 the likeliest because of the gesture about Rosen's finger.