1953-1954 Caguas Puerto Rican League Team-Composite Photo with Hank Aaron

Sold For:

$960

Year:

1953

Auction:

2019 Spring

Lot #:

2105

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

This rare Caguas-Guayama team composite photo, produced in the spring of 1954, features portrait images of 25 team members, including Hank Aaron. All the players are identified in print (last name) next to their respective images, including Aaron (misspelled "Aroon"), Own (mgr.), Buhl, P. Alomar, A. Alomar, Encarnacion, Zavala, Mantilla, and Olmo. A "Lama Foto" credit stamp appears on the reverse. Caguas won the Puerto Rican League championship that season. This photo dates from an era when integration was still in its infancy. At the time no one had any idea that Hank Aaron, who was then just twenty-years old, was at the beginning of one of the most extraordinary careers in the history of American sport. Actually, Aaron's 1953-1954 season of winter ball in Puerto Rico marked a major turning point in his career. Aaron had been an infielder his entire career, but during the 1953/1954 winter season he made the transition to outfield. Through manager Mickey Owen's tutelage, he also learned how to hit to all fields. The skills he acquired that winter served him well the following spring. Aaron had expected to spend the season with either the Braves' AAA club in Toledo or their AA affiliate in Atlanta. Those plans changed drastically when outfielder Bobby Thomson (of the "Shot Heard Round the World" fame) broke his leg in spring training. Aaron was called up to the Braves to replace him, where he earned a permanent place on the Braves' roster. The rest is history. This is one of the earliest Hank Aaron items we have seen and the first example of this particular Caguas team composite we have ever offered. The photo (5 x 4 inches) displays a number of flaws, including tears, tack holes, creases, light staining, and paper loss to three of the four corners. Though technically in Fair condition, most of the defects are in the perimeter areas and do not significantly affect the player images. This is a rare piece dating just prior to Aaron's 1954 rookie season. Reserve $200. Estimate (open).