This is a 1915 American Press Association composite photo that appeared in the Police Gazette. Stars of the American League, National League and Federal League are depicted. The backdrop is of Fenway Park in Boston during the eighth game of the 1912 World Series as established below.
Eight Hall of Famers; Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, Johnny Evers, Christy Mathewson, Rabbit Maranville, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins and Honus Wagner plus Shoeless Joe Jackson.
How do we know the backdrop is Fenway Park during the 1912 World Series? Read on.
Here is the 1912 World Series in the Collection, the backdrop is a perfect match.
SABR’s outstanding book Opening Fenway Park with Style, The World Champion 1912 Red Sox provides the evidence. As always, SABR came through in a pinch, even if Matty didn’t.
The key is The Wall (as it was known before the Green Monster). In particular the Thomas W Lawson and Everybody’s Magazine ad. The captions tell the whole story below, but in sum these were only up during the 1912 World Series as they covered the out of town portion of the scoreboard which obviously wasn’t needed for the World Series.
Now look at the closeup of the subject photo. Most of the content on The Wall and outfield fence has been artistically obscured by the photographer, the brushstrokes are clearly visibily. The outline of all the ad boards is the same as shown on the 1912 RPPC. But the bottom of the line of the Lawson and Everybody’s ads are still faintly visible “Who Smashes” and “The System’s Slate”. So, the photo is from the 1912 World Series at Fenway. The uniforms depicted match the 1912 Red Sox and Giants.
But now look again at the closeup of the Wall, notice the empty bleachers near the left field line in front of the Wall. The Royal Rooters, Boston’s original rabid fan group, several hundred strong had sat there during the Series, but as shown in the photo and caption below their seats were sold out from under them in Game 7 so they boycotted Game 8, thus the empty seats. So, I would posit it is possible and perhaps likely this photo is from Game 8 when the Royal Rooters were boycotting. If so, Matty is on the mound and hidden behind the baseball, covered in part by superimposed Matty. Note the baserunner’s leg emerging from the baseball at bottom right.
The temporary seats were removed after the Series and inclined Duffy’s Cliff, as shown in the circa 1913 photo below, was cleared for game use.
