Description: This picture shows the 1939 National League champion, the Cincinnati Reds team. Managed by Bill McKechnie, the Reds finished the regular season with a record of 97 wins and 57 loses, 4.5 games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. The 1939 team lost the World Series to the New York Yankees but came back in 1940 to win the world championship by defeating the Detroit Tigers. Professional baseball originated in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first game played by a team where all players were professionals and received pay for playing occurred on June 1, 1869, when the Cincinnati Red Stockings defeated the Mansfield Independents, an amateur club. The Red Stockings won by a score of 48-14. The salary for the entire Cincinnati team during the 1869 season was eleven thousand dollars. The Red Stockings went on to win 130 consecutive games during 1869 and early 1870, not losing a game until June 14, 1870. Baseball historians challenge the number of games because a majority of them involved amateur clubs losing to the Red Stockings. Nevertheless, the club had fifty-seven straight victories against other highly-ranked and professional or semi-professional teams. The Reds proved to be a leading contender during its first several decades of existence. In 1876, the team was one of the original members of the National League, but this organization expelled the club in 1880 for selling beer at the team's games. The Reds returned to the National League after a decade's absence. In 1919 the Cincinnati Reds won its first World Series, defeating the Chicago White Sox five games to three in a best of nine series. Several White Sox players eventually admitted to throwing the series to the Reds, but Reds outfielder Edd Roush claimed, "One thing that's always overlooked in this whole mess is that we could have beaten them no matter the circumstances. The 1919 Cincinnati Reds were better!" During the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, the Reds continued to be playoff contenders. The club won National League pennant and the World Series in 1940. The Cincinnati Reds also participated in the first televised baseball game in 1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06024
Subjects: Cincinnati Reds (Baseball team); Baseball--Ohio--Cincinnati--History; Baseball--History; Cincinnati Red Stockings (Baseball team); Cultural Ohio--Ohio Sports
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cincinnati Red Stockings, 1869 team photograph. This photomontage consists of ten oval-shaped portraits of individual team members. Nine captioned photos of players are arranged around a larger portrait of team captain Harry Wright. The men are dressed in business or formal attire. The date "1869" is printed at center bottom; below it is the credit line "From original photos taken at the time in Cincinnati, Ohio." The 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings made history not only as the most dominant baseball club of its time but also as the first band of professional ballplayers. Professional baseball originated in Cincinnati. The first game played by a team in which all players were professionals and received pay occurred on June 1, 1869, when the Cincinnati Red Stockings defeated the Mansfield Independents, an amateur club. The Red Stockings won by a score of 48-14. The salary for the entire Cincinnati team during the 1869 season was eleven thousand dollars. The Red Stockings went on to win 130 consecutive games during 1869 and early 1870, not losing a game until June 14, 1870. Baseball historians challenge the number of games because a majority of them involved amateur clubs losing to the Red Stockings. Nevertheless, the club had fifty-seven straight victories against other highly-ranked and professional or semi-professional teams. Cincinnati's decision to pay players proved to be a success, and other cities soon began establishing professional clubs throughout America. The Red Stockings team was a leading contender during its first several decades of existence. In 1876 the team, now known as the Cincinnati Reds, became one of the original members of the newly formed National League, but this organization expelled the club in 1880 for selling beer at the team's games. The Reds returned to the National League after a decade's absence. Baseball became one of Cincinnati's most popular entertainment venues, aided in part by the team's World Series titles in 1919 and 1940. Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine," featuring players such as Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose, dominated baseball in the 1970s, picking up additional titles in 1975 and 1976. A surprise wire-to-wire title again in 1990 strengthened the Reds' legacy and helped ensure future generations of Reds fans. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06023
Subjects: Cincinnati Red Stockings (Baseball team); Cincinnati Reds (Baseball team); Baseball--Ohio--Cincinnati--History; Baseball--History; Cultural Ohio--Ohio Sports
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Group portrait of the Ohio School for the Deaf baseball club, the Independents, in 1879. The seated man in the suit is Parley P. Pratt, the team's coach and a teacher of shoemaking at the school. Pratt is credited with introducing baseball to the Ohio School for the Deaf, and was manager for the team during their successful 1879 tour around the country. The Independents covered more than 3,500 miles during the tour, competing against professional and semi-professional teams and ending with a 44-7 record. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Independents1879
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Parley Pratt from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Pratt. His biographical sketch states that Pratt was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, and lost his hearing due to illness at the age of 3. His family moved to Cincinnati in 1848, and Pratt was enrolled in the Ohio School for the Deaf around age 10. After graduating, he was appointed foreman of the school's shoe shop, a trade which he continued to follow throughout his career. He was recognized for introducing baseball to the Ohio School for the Deaf, and was manager for the school baseball club the Independents during their successful 1879 tour around the country. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Pratt
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball teams; Sports--Ohio--History;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of William Ellsworth Hoy from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Hoy. Hoy was born in rural Hancock County near the village of Houcktown in 1862. After losing his hearing at age 6, he was enrolled in the Ohio School for the Deaf in 1872. He graduated as valedictorian in 1879, and worked as a shoemaker back in Hancock County before entering the field of professional baseball in 1886. His career, recognized as the most accomplished for a deaf player in major league baseball history, included seasons as a center fielder with the Northwestern League in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the Washington National League, the Buffalo Players' National League, the St. Louis American Association, and the Cincinnati National League, among others. He left baseball in 1903, and operated a dairy farm outside of Cincinnati with his family, but was active in support of the deaf community and the field of baseball. He died following a stroke in 1961, at the age of 99. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Hoy
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History;
Places: Hancock County (Ohio); Mount Healthy (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Collins Stone Sawhill from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Sawhill. His biographical sketch states that Sawhill was born in Pennsylvania in 1857, and moved to Columbus to attend the Ohio School for the Deaf in 1871. He worked in the school's book bindery as a student, and also played as a left fielder for the school's baseball club the Independents for three years. Sawhill went on to work in the steel industry in Pennsylvania, but remained active with the Ohio School for the Deaf alumni organization. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Sawhill_CS
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History; Steel industry;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Edward Dundon, from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Dundon. His biographical sketch states that Dundon was born in Columbus in 1858 (though other sources list 1859), and after losing his hearing at an early age, enrolled in the Ohio School for the Deaf at age 10. He was an active athlete, playing for the school's baseball team the Independents. He was drafted to the American Association for the Columbus Buckeyes in 1884, becoming the first deaf player in the major leagues. He continued playing professional baseball for various teams around the country until 1889, when his health forced him to retire. Dundon died several years later in 1893. According to the volume, "Since his day other deaf ball players have won distinction on the diamond, but he was practically the first one to enjoy a national reputation along this line. In the athletic annals of the Institution his name and memory will always remain illustrious." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Dundon
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Isaac ("Ike") H. Sawhill from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Sawhill. His biographical sketch states that Sawhill was born in Pennsylvania, and first moved to Columbus to attend the Ohio School for the Deaf in 1872. He graduated as valedictorian, and was also an active athlete, playing catcher for the school's baseball club the Independents. Sawhill went on to work in hog farming and later dry goods after a brief professional baseball career. At the time this volume was written, Sawhill lived in Seville, Ohio, and was "known as one of the best amateur cyclists of Northern Ohio, having held the county championship for the past two years." His wife, Sadie, is also noted as a skilled cyclist. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Sawhill_I
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History; Bicycles and bicycling;
Places: Seville (Ohio); Medina County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of William Sawhill from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Sawhill. His biographical sketch states that Sawhill was born in Pennsylvania in 1865, and after his family moved to Guernsey County, he began attending the Ohio School for the Deaf in 1873. As a young man, he worked as a laborer before joining the Ohio and Inter-State League as a professional baseball player in the spring of 1885. After several years, he found a career in the oil industry, and married another Ohio School for the Deaf alumni, Emma Kob, with whom he had four children. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Sawhill_W
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History;
Places: Washington (Ohio); Guernsey County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photographic collage of the members of a Columbus, Ohio, baseball team, 1890. Head shots of the eighteen men are overlaid on a bisected baseball. Only the players' last names are provided. The team is believed to be the Columbus Solons based on the team's roster for the 1890 season. The Solons were a team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891 who played their home games at Columbus's Recreation Park. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07839
Subjects: Sports--Ohio--History; Baseball teams; Athletes
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912, this photograph shows a baseball game as seen from the outfield. On the left are benches filled with spectators, many holding umbrellas. Like most of Ewing's work, it was likely taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_b15_f893
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; Baseball; Sports
Places: Ohio; West Virginia
 

Description: Taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912, this photograph shows members of the Cairo baseball team, likely taken near Cairo, West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_b15_f894
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; Baseball; Sports
Places: Cairo (West Virginia)