Quote:
Originally Posted by tnfoto
This was the image I noted in the Missing Player List description. When I added the comment, I had located box scores that included multiple players named Quinlan playing in the area, including, ironically enough, another Frank Quinlan. Because I couldn't definitively identify the Lovell Arms player at the time, I didn't accept the image as the major leaguer. To be honest, I haven't focused on Quinlan for some time and would love to find some proof that this Quinlan is or is not our major leaguer.
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Regarding Kane's ID, earlier this year, Kane's great-granddaughter got in touch with the Biographical Committee to clarify that the William Jeremiah Kane was not the ballplayer, rather it was Jerry Jeremiah Kane. That prompted us to do some digging and I found an obituary for Jerry J. Kane that confirms he was the ballplayer.
That is why the ID got changed. Reading the New York Clipper bio that Cusick mentioned, he is clearly mentioned as William Kane, but all contemporary St. Louis papers call the catcher Jerry Kane and later notes call the playery Jerry J. Kane. Based on the obit, the player would appear to be Jerry J. Kane not William J. Kane. That is probably where the wires got crossed.
I would agree with Cusick, that the woodcut is the ballplayer, hopefully we can track down another image for comparison at some point. On a plus side, Jerry J. Kane was a popular figure in St. Louis/East St. Louis, so would not be surprised to see his photo in one of the St. Louis papers.
Regarding the Quinlan image, I spent a lot of time on that one in the past. It's a confusing case in the least, as there are multiple Quinlans playing in the Boston area at the time. Most damningly on May 10, 1890, the Marlboro club played the Lovell Arms club and each side featured a Quinlan. Since multiple notes have Quinlan being from Marlboro, I am hesitant to definitively ID the Lovell Arms player as Quinlan. There is a Quinlan who regularly plays the outfield for Lovell Arms in 1890 and a Quinlan for the Marlboros all year as well.
So not ruling it out, but I don't think the Lovell Arms woodcut as lovely as it is, features our guy. On the plus side, Frank Quinlan did play in the minors in New England for a few years, including a full season with Pawtucket in 1892, so he wasn't just just some scrub emergency replacement, but an actual prospect. He may yet be in a team photo.