This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/31/2011
Baltimore has been a big league fixture since baseball's humble beginnings in the latter portion of the 1880s.
Year in and year out, baseball is played at the highest level in Baltimore. In 1885, Baltimore's best didn't quite match up with the competition. A 41-68 record left the Orioles looking up at each team in the American Association.
Despite their failings on the field, one of their players is a footnote in baseball history. Rostered on that team was one Dennis Patrick Casey. It was Casey who later become renowned for Casey At The Bat. Mighty Casey hit at a .288 clip in 1885 but his magic couldn't help the O's compete with the likes of St. Louis and Cincinnati.
Fifteen players are expertly captured on this 9 1/2" x 7 1/2" original Cummins cabinet photo. "Baltimore B.B. Club, 1885" is expressed across the front and each player's name is visible on the bottom portion. The photo itself has been professionally restored. A crease runs through the middle portion.
Overall, the earliest cabinet photo we have encountered with historical significance. Mighty Casey is at the bat in this early baseball offering.
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