A New Look at the Men of Baseball’s Past
Charles Conlon’s classic photographs of baseball players from the early 20th century offer a glimpse into a familiar sport at an otherworldly time
- By David Davis
- Smithsonian.com, September 01, 2011
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(© Sporting News)
Charles Albert Bender
Along with Jim Thorpe and John Meyers, Charles Albert Bender was one of the few Native American baseball players to achieve mainstream success. (Bender and Meyers were saddled with the sobriquet of "Chief.") Bender’s baseball salary never topped $5,000 a year—and he was one of the American League’s top pitchers. “The athletes back then didn’t have bodyguards or PR guys surrounding them,” says Fred Conrad of the New York Times. “The players didn’t make astronomical salaries. And Conlon was there every day. He just lived for baseball at a time when no other sport could compete with it for fan interest.”
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Comments (6)
I was one of those older players through the 50's. There wasn't much money to be had, but we gave it all just the same. It was for the love of the game, not the out of sight pay checks of today. I felt very fortunate to be able to participate and meet some of those older heroes, like Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg, Dizzy Dean, Bobby Doerr, Duke Snider,. I was even fortunate to play against Willy Mays, Steve Bilko of the LA Angels in the PCL, and many more. I might add that it wasn't an easy life as some people think. Those long bus rides after a night game, much unhealthy food, cheap hotels, play when hurting because of smaller rosters, old wooden ballparks with poor lighting, and one of the toughest challenges was the greater amount of teams with clasifications starting with "D" Leagues.Some major league teams had over twenty minor teams, so if a player had a decent "D" year, he might go to "C" ball the next. I played in every classification except majors for ten years! Call me stupid? No way. It still was better than the "lunch pail league" and I'd do it all over again! Last note; I have a Master's degree today despite it all.
Posted by Carl Hutzler on March 30,2012 | 04:09 AM
I certainly enjoyed these pics.
I grew up in San Francisco in the 1950's when the Pacific Coast League Seals reigned supreme as our baseball heroes. I watched the team sweep to a pennant in their final year of 1957 and then be followed by the transplanted Giants. I lived in the shadow of minor league baseball's most famous ballyards--Seal Stadium. I saw many great sights there including the first major league baseball game on the west coast in 1958. I sold papers in front of the still operating Double Play Bar at 16th and Bryant Streets. I eventually went to work at Candlestick Park as a vendor and recently completed 50 years at that job. Seeing these pictures followed my reading of the baseball obits for 2010 which included many players I remembered as not having been so spectacular but who nonetheless were major leagurs who got a taste of that magical life. Two names stood out, Ken Walters and Herman Reich. Both of these men played in the Coast League and Walters later with the Phillies but they were Major Leaguers. Thanks for resurrecting these pics.
Posted by william Graff on October 27,2011 | 01:41 PM
It's a fascinating look at the faces of the men who didn't have Hall of Fame careers, but have their names etched forever in the Baseball Encyclopedia. Their faces will now live forever as well as some impersonal name in the record books.
Posted by George FIGUEROA on October 21,2011 | 10:43 PM
take me back to that old ballgame
Posted by robert lane on September 23,2011 | 05:26 PM
i have always wondered what happened to the thousands of photos taken during this time period of baseballs legends. it is comforting to know that they aren't rotting away in a dump heap in south jersey. now that these have surfaced, why just print one picture of any given player? whoever owns the rights could easily put together books featuring multiples of these great men. the books could be about only one player, by team, or by decade. i certainly would buy one about DiMaggio if it ever became published. here's hoping that descendants of photographers start looking through their attics for possible unknown treasures of the past such as Conlon's. thanks go out to the family of Charles Conlon - i hope to see more photos soon.
Posted by Patricia Leonhardt on September 23,2011 | 05:17 PM
I beg to differ...no baseball career, no matter how short or less than 'stellar' is "forgettable" I'd give my pinkie to have played just one game in the 'Bigs'...
Posted by David Mastry on September 4,2011 | 02:47 AM