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Merkle923 · 09-10-2016, 11:19 PM

Team pictures of the New York Giants of the 1890's are anything but scarce, yet there's so much going on here that it's worth the post.

This is from the July 4, 1897 edition of The New York Times Sunday Magazine. In the back row, fourth from the right, is Dave Zearfoss, who had broken in the year before as a 28-year old rookie catcher, and would still be on a major league roster at age 37 with the 1905 Cardinals. I don't know of a lot of images of him - there he is.

There's also a pair of Hall of Famers, George Stacey Davis and Amos Rusie, and a few guys who deserve consideration (player-manager Bill Joyce, Mike Tiernan, Cy Seymour and George Van Haltren). Seymour led National League pitchers in strikeouts and walks that season (and again in 1898) and won 25, burned his arm out in 1900 and came back as an outfielder. In 1905 he had one of the most underrated offensive seasons ever, missing a triple crown by one homer (he had 8, the leader had 9) and leading the National League in hits, doubles, triples, extra base hits, total bases, batting average and slugging average. Later research would indicate he also led in RBI, OPS, OPS+, Runs Created, Adjusted Runs, Adjusted Batting Wins and Offensive Win Percentage. Seymour finished second in four other categories.

In the back, it's Ducky Holmes (who after a trade to Baltimore came back and shouted into the stands at his ex-boss, infamous Giants' owner Andrew Freedman, using a heritage epithet as he did). And to Holmes' is right is none other than second baseman Kid Gleason who 22 years later would have the misfortune to manage the Chicago "Black Sox."

Bill Joyce is manager number six among the thirteen employed by Freedman between 1894 and mid-season 1902, when the franchise was finally wrested from him and John McGraw came over from the American League to hold the post for three decades.

But maybe the most fascinating part of this is the Giants' motley attire. There are at least five different uniform shirts and lord knows what Meekin and Sullivan have under those sweaters. Plus, three of the guys in just the front row are wearing mismatched shirts and pants.

09-10-2016, 11:19 PM	#29079
Merkle923 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,210	Dave Zearfoss 1896 Team pictures of the New York Giants of the 1890's are anything but scarce, yet there's so much going on here that it's worth the post. This is from the July 4, 1897 edition of The New York Times Sunday Magazine. In the back row, fourth from the right, is Dave Zearfoss, who had broken in the year before as a 28-year old rookie catcher, and would still be on a major league roster at age 37 with the 1905 Cardinals. I don't know of a lot of images of him - there he is. There's also a pair of Hall of Famers, George Stacey Davis and Amos Rusie, and a few guys who deserve consideration (player-manager Bill Joyce, Mike Tiernan, Cy Seymour and George Van Haltren). Seymour led National League pitchers in strikeouts and walks that season (and again in 1898) and won 25, burned his arm out in 1900 and came back as an outfielder. In 1905 he had one of the most underrated offensive seasons ever, missing a triple crown by one homer (he had 8, the leader had 9) and leading the National League in hits, doubles, triples, extra base hits, total bases, batting average and slugging average. Later research would indicate he also led in RBI, OPS, OPS+, Runs Created, Adjusted Runs, Adjusted Batting Wins and Offensive Win Percentage. Seymour finished second in four other categories. In the back, it's Ducky Holmes (who after a trade to Baltimore came back and shouted into the stands at his ex-boss, infamous Giants' owner Andrew Freedman, using a heritage epithet as he did). And to Holmes' is right is none other than second baseman Kid Gleason who 22 years later would have the misfortune to manage the Chicago "Black Sox." Bill Joyce is manager number six among the thirteen employed by Freedman between 1894 and mid-season 1902, when the franchise was finally wrested from him and John McGraw came over from the American League to hold the post for three decades. But maybe the most fascinating part of this is the Giants' motley attire. There are at least five different uniform shirts and lord knows what Meekin and Sullivan have under those sweaters. Plus, three of the guys in just the front row are wearing mismatched shirts and pants. Last edited by Merkle923; 08-05-2017 at 12:17 AM.