Auction Item Details
Lot 1128
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Lot Number: 1128
Description: Important Page Fence Giants team cabinet photograph c.1897-98. Mounted 7 1/2"x9 1/2" studio image of the Page Fence Giants African American baseball team. The team was started by African American baseball pioneers Bud Fowler (considered to be the first true Afr. Amer. professional baseball player) and Grant "Home Run" Johnson in 1894. The team was sponsored by J.Wallace Page who founded and owned the "Page Woven Wire Fence Co.". Page was interested in using the team as a promotional vehicle and as such had players ride to the games on bicycles through the various towns wearing fire hats and the like. Despite the drone of such promotions on the players the Giants evolved into the finest African American team of the period winning the 1896 championship series by defeating the Cuban Giants. Among the players pictured are Grant Johnson, manager A.S. Parsons, George Taylor, Joe Miller, Pete Burns, William Binga, and John Patterson. Also pictured at the top row second from the left is Charlie Grant. Grant was one of the first true star players in early African American baseball and was highly touted by Major League officials. In 1901, John McGraw, who was the manager of the Balt. Orioles, attempted to pass Grant off as a Native American Indian named "Chief Tokahoma". He had light skin and straight hair giving credence to McGraw's plan. Grant had been working as a bellboy at a hotel where spring training was taking place and was discovered by McGraw when he played for the hotel baseball team. Upon being alerted by African American fans, Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey exposed McGraw's plan and Grant was prevented from playing in the Major Leagues. Photo itself remains very clean with only minor age wear. Mount has been trimmed to the edges of the photo and is stamped, "C.A. Buss Photographer Jefferson, Wis." on the reverse. One of the most significant African American related baseball images to be offered publicly: EX
Estimated Price: ($5,000.00-$7,500.00)
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