Many baseball photos show readily recognizable stars, but this shot's a mystery beyond the teams at play (Red Sox hosting Tigers). Archive notes for the larger original photo labeled everyone in this shot as "unknown," a level of intellectual rigor I'm unsatisfied with. Can we do any better? I think there's enough context to pin it down.
I started with an assist from SABR, who corrected the archive's "August 1955" date based the presence of Detroit coach #36.
"[D]ate from information provided by Leslie Jones or the Boston Public Library on the negative or negative sleeve...research by the Society for American Baseball Research in 2010-2012 disputes the date of this image. They suggest that, because the opposing team is the Detroit Tigers who had a coach wearing #36 from 1950 to 1954, the image was more likely created sometime during those years."
ID work continues with these basic facts.
- Tigers visiting for midday game at Fenway Park (sun near-direct overhead)
- Red Sox third baseman wearing #1
- Tigers 3rd base coach wearing #36
- Slide and tag at third base (probably no force)
- Third baseman received throw from infield side (not outfield side)
- Base coach positioned "inside" third (not coaching in line with a throw from RF)
If we assume SABR's accurate with that 1950-54 time range, let's check Boston players to wear #1 between 1950 and 1954.
- Bobby Doerr (1950-51): no games at 3B
- Fred Hatfield (Apr-Jun 1952): regular 3B
- George Kell (Jun 1952-May 1954): regular 3B
- Grady Hatton (May-Oct 1954): regular 3B
That narrows us down to 1952-54; SABR already knew that Detroit #36 went to coaches Rick Ferrell (1952-53) and Johnny Hopp (1954).
How many 1952-54 games have a Boston #1 making a tag play at third?
- Apr 30, 1952 (no likely plays)
- June 6, 1952 (candidate, as slow-footed Joe Ginsberg thrown out at 3B by SS on infield grounder; 3B umpire would be Hank Soar)
- June 7, 1952 (no likely plays)
- June 8, 1952 (no likely plays)
- June 8, 1952 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- June 9, 1952 (no likely plays)
- July 11, 1952 (no likely plays)
- July 11, 1952 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- July 12, 1952 (no likely plays)
- August 26, 1952 (Kell doesn't play)
- August 27, 1952 (Kell doesn't play)
- May 18, 1953 (no likely plays)
- May 18, 1953 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- June 16, 1953 (Kell doesn't play)
- June 17, 1953 (Kell doesn't play 3B)
- June 18, 1953 (no likely plays)
- July 31, 1953 (Kell doesn't play)
- August 1, 1953 (Kell doesn't play)
- August 2, 1953 (Kell doesn't play)
- August 2, 1953 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- September 16, 1953 (Kell doesn't play 3B)
- September 17, 1953 (no likely plays)
- June 5, 1954 (Hatton doesn't play 3B)
- June 5, 1954 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- June 6, 1954 (no likely plays)
- June 7, 1954 (no likely plays)
- June 7, 1954 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- July 15, 1954 (candidate, Steve Soucock caught stealing C-3B in 8th; 3B umpire would be Ed Runge)
- July 15, 1954 (second game, late for noon shadows)
- July 16, 1954 (no likely plays)
- July 17, 1954 (no likely plays)
- August 24, 1954 (no likely plays)
- August 25, 1954 (candidate, Harvey Kuenn caught stealing C-3B in 3rd; 3B umpire would be Eddie Rommel, who also appeared as my 1923 W515 #5 type profile.)
Only three potential plays in three full seasons! Guess we've learned that people don't get tagged out at third very often.
So which of those four is it? The sharp eyes of avid Detroit fans at OldBaseball.com threw their weight of opinion behind Harvey Kuenn, 10-time All-Star and future manager of Milwaukee's only World Series team. That makes our game the last candidate, August 25, 1954. Here's an updated caption for the photo itself.
"Third base coach Johnny Hopp (#36) looks on as Grady Hatton (#1) tags out larceny-minded Tiger shortstop Harvey Kuenn (#7), completing a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double-play and squelching Detroit's 3rd-inning threat. At left, umpire Eddie Rommel prepares to make the call. The Red Sox tallied 5 in the 5th and tamed the Bengals 5-3."
I like the (reverse) scripted note on Leslie's photo, too: "A perfect tag out."
I like the (reverse) scripted note on Leslie's photo, too: "A perfect tag out."
Mystery solved! Check out the archive and let me know if you find other images worth diving into.
3 comments:
I covered three of the Leslie Jones photos last year. 1, 2, and 3. I need to visit the site and give it another go.
Oh, and good job.
Thanks and good to be reminded of your earlier Leslie Jones investigative posts--surprised to see that I already commented on one back at its original posting. :-)
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