The three 4 x 5 snapshot photos shown in this post were taken during the August 13, 1908 Cy Young Day benefit game played at Boston’s Huntington Grounds.
At a glance, the ballpark, Huntington Grounds, is instantly recognizable in the three photos which for reference shorthand I will label as “Presentation” “Delivery” and “Groundout”. The snapshots are obviously taken by a fan seated on the first base line. Which year are our photos? We know the left field bleachers depicted were added and extended in 1906 and we know the Opera House, which is missing from our photos, was constructed in 1909, so the window of possibility is 1906 to 1909 on those facts alone. The key clue to pinpoint the exact year is the Groundout photo. Look closely at the pitcher’s jersey.
That particular jersey, with a literal “red sock” on the torso, was only worn in 1908 by Boston. So, our photos must be from 1908, but which game? The size and dimension of the crowd, the presentation with the floral horseshoe at home plate and the mixed player uniforms in the field in the Delivery photo provide the answer: Cy Young Day on August 13, 1908.
To honor Cy Young the Red Sox held a benefit game at Huntington Grounds with the proceeds going to Young. Other American League teams took the day off and many sent players to Boston to compete as an “All Star” team to play against Cy and the Red Sox. Notable players who appeared for the “All Stars” were Jack Chesbro, Willie Keeler, Jimmy Collins and Hal Chase. The All Stars appeared in their regular team uniforms. On the next page is the boxscore from the game and the 1908 uniforms for all the American League teams.
The All Stars who appeared in the game and their teams were: Fred Parent and Fielder Jones for the Chicago White Sox. George Winter, George Suggs, George Mullins, Davey Jones and Red Killifer from the Detroit Tigers. Jack Chesbro, Willie Keeler and Hal Chase from the New York Highlanders. Jack Coombs, Harry Davis, Jimmy Collins and Ossee Schreck from the Philadelphia Athletics. Deacon McGuire managed the All Stars and also caught during the game.
The Boston Globe and Boston Post carried extensive reporting of the game in their August 13 and14, 1908 editions and these source as well as other contemporary newspaper accounts will be used to verify the details of our photos and to establish what is depicted.
Presentation Photo
Let’s turn to the “Presentation” photo first.
The August 13, 1908 evening edition of The Boston Globe contains this description of the crowd.
In our photo we can see the extra seats in front of the third base bleachers and the crowd beyond the ropes in the left field corner. Also note the fans outside the stadium perched on the tall wall in front of the Boston Warehouse! Clearly the game described in the Globe is our game.
Now consider this part of the story in the August 14, 1908 edition of the Boston Globe regarding the presentation and the cartoon depiction of floral horseshoe.
Our photo shows the massive floral horseshoe with the players gathered around homeplate. This was likely one of the gatherings in the first and second innings when Young was pitching as described in the Globe.
The portly Young can be seen as the first player to the upper right of the horseshoe who is facing us. His receding hairline and the “red sock” on his jersey are readily apparent as he listens with bowed head to the accolades being bestowed on him.
Further proof is provided by photos and stories that appeared in the Boston Post on August 14, 1908. Here are several images of the presentations made that day that show Lt. Gov. Draper.
Compare the Post pictures with our pictures. The same horseshoe is visible in broad Post photo and in our image. The dark base of the trophy that is on the ground in the Post is just visible through the legs of the second and third players on our image. Lt. Gov. Draper, in the distinctive light-colored suit, is visible in our photo two persons to the right of Cy Young.
The Post also contains this narrative of the presentation proceedings.
The Post images show Draper presenting Cy the trophy. Our photo must depict the time just after the Boston Post cup and floral horseshoe were delivered. It is possible the trunk mentioned in the article is seen just left of the beam and is waiting to be given to Cy. It is also interesting to note that the Post images were taken by the gaggle of photographers that we can see standing well behind home plate in our image. Clearly our images are of Cy Young Day.
Delivery Photo
Let’s turn now to the second photo, the “Delivery”.
Take a close look at the players in the infield.
The team in the field is in different uniforms and the batter is in a Red Sox uniform. Collins of Philadelphia is at third. Parent of Chicago is at short, and Chase of the Highlanders is at second. Checking the MLB Dressed to the Nines chart, the uniforms all fit, with Parent’s dark White Sox uniform with the white socks glaringly sticking out. But who is the pitcher? The MLB Dressed To The Nines uniform database helps when we examine the pitcher closely.
The white uniform, white cap with dark brim and the dark socks match up with the 1908 New York Highlander road uniform. Jack Chesbro, a righthander, pitched the first two innings. No other All Star pitcher’s uniform matches our image. This must be Chesbro on the mound, which coincides in time the presentation photo taken between these innings. But who is the batter?
Chesbro pitched two innings and the bases are clear in our photo. The Boston Globe describes the Red Sox first two innings at bat as follows:
As the bases are clear in the 1st, Thoney is the only option there as there were runners on the rest of the inning. Young led off in the 2nd and the Red Sox went out in order, so Young, Wagner and Criger are the possibilities there.
Look closely at the body type and stance of the batter. Next to it is a photo of Young holding a bat which appeared in a newspaper the day after the game, so a direct likely same day comp.
The batter in our photo looks awkward, like a pitcher at bat. My guess is this portly batter is the older Young at bat against Chesbro. The poses are similar, with the same awkward sense of readiness and choking up on the bat grip in each image. It would make sense that our photographer would focus on Young for his photos, after all it was Cy Young Day!
Groundout photo
Let’s turn now to the Groundout photo.
Once again, take a close look at the players in the infield.
It is a clear match for Parent grounding out to Wagner at SS. Note Young’s bulk, Parent’s White Sox uniform as he runs down the baseline, and Wagner in his follow through (with the ball visible in flight) on the throw to first. Once again, it would be logical for our photographer to be focused on Young on his special day.
Together, these three photos capture the essence of a historically significant Deadball game. You can sense the palpable sense of excitement and celebration when the entire vista is taken in.
