Very early image of the Polo Grounds in New York circa 1901. It appears the New York Giants and taking on the Chicago Orphans, not the sign near home plate advertising the next game between New York and Chicago. Also note the sheets used to block the view on the back wall of the right field bleachers.

The three Chicago Orphans players seen clustered together have been tentatively identified as Jack Taylor at right and Cupid Childs in the middle. It is fascinating to think who is the New York righthander throwing in the background. Could it be Matty, we’ll likely never know.

There is also a possibility that this image with the Brown Brothers stamp was taken by John C. Hemment, but this is pure speculation based upon comparison of known Hemment images look and feel to this one.