Baseball has been a favorite sport for a long time, even in the 1800s. Back then, people wanted to see pictures of their favorite players. In the 1880s, companies started making cards with baseball players on them. These were often part of cigarette packs, and some showed just the player’s head and shoulders. But fans wanted more—they wanted to see the players in action.
Taking real action photos was hard back then. Cameras weren’t fast enough to capture movement clearly. So instead, photographers had players pose in studios. These posed portraits are from the New York Public Library’s Spalding Collection. It’s a group of over 500 images donated by A. G. Spalding, a famous early baseball player and businessman. His name is still printed on every ball used in the National League today.
The photos show players from teams in New York and Philadelphia. Most of them were taken in the 1870s and 1880s. In these portraits, you can see how players dressed and held their equipment. They wear uniforms that look different from what we’re used to now. Their bats and gloves also seem simpler compared to modern gear.
The collection shows how important baseball was even back then. Fans loved seeing images of their heroes, even if they weren’t actual game photos. These posed portraits became a way to celebrate the sport and its stars. They remind us that baseball has always been more than just a game—it’s a piece of history.
