[UKBaseballfan]

Find attached 2 versions of the same image identified as the 1921 St. Louis Cardinals during Spring Training 1921 at Orange Texas. The second image has numbers added indicating a key to the players depicted. Does anyone know the identifications of the players numbered?

Roswell Higginbotham is featured in Gary Bedingfield's book described below and is the player sixth from left in the middle row, which would equate to player numbered 23 wearing a dark cap in the second image.

Austin McHenry would appear to be player number 8 and Rogers Hornsby number 13 both in the top row. Doc Lavan maybe number 11. Regular players are likely to be wearing the uniforms with St. Louis written on them. Player numbered 7 would appear to be a veteran catcher and possibly Verne Clemons is number 6, Ferdie Schupp number 5 and Milt Stock number 4. Specs Toporcer is probably next to Hornsby and numbered 12. It is suggested that Pickles Dillhoefer is number 20, third from left in the middle row, Les Mann number 19 and Lew McCarty 18. Player number 16 has a resemblance and a height consistent with Herb Hunter. Jack Smith at 5'8" could be player 14 and player 1 is suggested to be Hal Janvrin and player 2 as Joe Schultz. Bill Doak possibly can be found as player 33, fourth from left on the ground, and player 32 as Heinie Mueller. Cliff Heathcote is proposed as player 22 and Burt Shotton 21. Bill Sherdel is suggested as 37.

The image appears in Gary Bedingfield's book entitled 'Baseball's dead of World War II" which additionally identifies Branch Rickey in civvies as number 9, Jesse Haines as number 3 and Jack Fournier as number 10. The author credits Scott Higginbotham with the identifications.

Identifications Provided by Gary Bedingfield

Top Row (l-r)

Hal Janvrin, Joe Schultz, Jesse Haines, Lew McCarty, Ferdie Schupp, Verne Clemons, Joe Sugden, Austin McHenry, Branch Rickey, Jack Fournier, Doc Lavan, Specs Toporcer, Rogers Hornsby, Bill Pertica, Earl Brown, Epp Sell, John Sheridan (Sports Writer)

Middle Row

Paul Eiffert, Pickles Dillhoefer, Lou North, Burt Shotton, Roy Walker, Ad Pierotti, Walt Schulz, Frank Gerlach, Roswell Higginbotham, Tim Griesenbeck, Bunny Madden (Syracuse Manager), Keener (Sports Writer)

Bottom Row

Jesse James, Tink Riviere, Heinie Mueller, Jakie May, Sparky Adams, George Gilham, Walt Irwin, Cliff Heathcote, Mike Kircher, Frank Dodson

Initially confidence in these preliminary suggestions ranged from cast-on certainties to highly problematic. For example it appears that Milt Stock was a holdout for maybe all of Spring Training. In that context an alternate proposal for player number 4, fourth from left in the top row would be welcome. The apparent veteran catcher in position 7 could be Paul Eiffert but I have no image of him to make an assessment. Other attendees in Spring Training 1921 but not included in the suggestions were Earl Brown (pitcher), Frank Dodson (pitcher) and Adolfo Pierotti (pitcher). Could Pierotti be the same person known as Al Pierotti or his brother? Who is the mystery person at the right of the top row, a player, a coach, a trainer of an official?

If anyone has alternate suggestions or confirmations I would be grateful for their opinions. The squad travelled down to Orange on Feb 28 1921. Information on who actually attended Spring Training will be most helpful in moving forward. Attached is a third image in respect of the player (?) top right who has been cut off.