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John FitzGerald

John FitzGerald club

Posted: 12 Nov 2019

Taken: 11 Nov 2019

9 favorites     15 comments    306 visits

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ontario •
baseball •
london tecumsehs •

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London Tecumsehs, 1877

London Tecumsehs, 1877
The London (Ontario) Tecumsehs of the International Association for Professional Baseball Players in 1877, the year they won the league's first championship.

The team is named for the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, who fought the Americans in Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812, dying at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario. Despite fighting against the Americans, he remains highly regarded by Americans, Canadians, and First Nations/Native Americans alike.

Fred Goldsmith, on the far left, is one of three pitchers (the others being Candy Cummings and Phonney Martin) credited with inventing the curveball.

Uploaded for the sports team category at the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Marco F. Delminho, kiiti, Simon Downham, Diana Australis and 5 other people have particularly liked this photo

15 comments - The latest ones
 tiabunna
tiabunna club
An interesting image and background information, John. I'd heard of Tecumseh engines, but had never heard the origin of the name previously.
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to tiabunna club
Unfortunately, when I was a boy we were never taught the history of our own region, George. Tecumseh was an iconic figure, of course, so I knew he was a First Nations leader who fought on our side against the Americans, but he was never mentioned in school. For that matter, we of course learned about the War of 1812 but the local battles were never mentioned.
5 years ago.
 Puzzler4879
Puzzler4879
Great shot, fascinating history, and thanks for both, John!!
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Puzzler4879
You're welcome, John.
5 years ago.
 Keith Burton
Keith Burton club
An interesting photo and narrative.

It seems the Baseball "uniform" has hardly changed at all over the years!
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Keith Burton club
From the 1950s to to the 70s there were some changes in the uniforms, Keith. The sleeveless uniform was introduced first, then the pyjama-style uniform later. Both have disappeared, though.

On the whole baseball seems unduly traditionalist to me. So a ballpark (Fenway Park in Boston) with an 11-metre high left field wall is revered because it's old.
5 years ago.
 Alan Mays
Alan Mays club
Quite nice! I like the design of the letter T on the uniforms.
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Alan Mays club
The Victorians had some unique ideas about lettering. They were much more adventurous than we are.
5 years ago.
 Diana Australis
Diana Australis club
This is fascinating....and an intriguing photo, John.
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Diana Australis club
Thanks, Diana.
5 years ago.
 Esther
Esther club
Quite a different look from today's ball players.
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Esther club
Yes, those bib fronts have probably not been since, Esther. I'm pretty certain they had disappeared by the twentieth century, anyway.
5 years ago.
 Steve Bucknell
Steve Bucknell club
Their heads look weirdly separate from their bodies to me, as though they’d put them through holes in a stage set up. ( I may be under the influence of drink.)
5 years ago.
John FitzGerald club has replied to Steve Bucknell club
I see your point, Steve, especially in the front row. They did like to monkey around with negatives in those days.
5 years ago.
Diane Putnam club has replied to Steve Bucknell club
I think they wanted them to have longer necks, although that's not proven to improve one's skill at baseball.
5 years ago.

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