1897 Elmer Chickering Boston Beaneaters National League Champions Cabinet Card with Frank Selee, Hugh Duffy, Kid Nichols, Billy Hamilton, and Jimmy Collins

Sold For:

$4,080

Year:

1897

Auction:

2024 Spring

Lot #:

134

Category:

Pre-1900 Baseball Cards (1830-1899)

Formal studio cabinet photograph capturing the 1897 National League Champion Boston Beaneaters in a classic team pose produced by extremely prominent Boston studio photographer Elmer Chickering. Chickering was responsible for virtually all quality images of the Boston Nationals in the 1890s. Seventeen team members are pictured here, including manager Frank Selee, who is nattily attired in a suit, Hugh Duffy, Kid Nichols, Billy Hamilton, Jimmy Collins, Bobby Lowe, Fred Tenney, Marty Bergen, Chick Stahl, Herman Long, Ted Lewis, and Jack Stivetts. The copyright notice, "Photo by E. Chickering," appears in tiny white lettering near the lower right edge. The text printed along the base reads "Boston Base Ball Club, 1897." Chickering's credit stamp appears along the base of the mount. The Boston Beaneaters narrowly defeated the Baltimore Orioles by two games to capture the National League pennant in 1897. The Beaneaters roster boasts four future Hall of Famers (Duffy, Hamilton, Nichols, and Collins) as well as a number of star players (Bobby Lowe was the first player to hit four home runs in one game). Imperial team photographs from the 1880s, of course, are extremely rare, but those dating from the 1890s are even scarcer, almost to the point of being nonexistent. We do not recall ever offering another example of this rare cabinet team photograph. The photo remains in Very Good to Excellent condition, while the mount (7-1/8 x 5-1/8 inches) has moderate edge and corner wear as well as a clipped corner on the lower right. The blank reverse has light toning, along with a tape stain. Fair condition overall. Opening Bid $1,000.