Lot # 2238: Circa 1886 Yale Baseball Imperial Team Cabinet with Amos Alonzo Stagg

Imperial team cabinet photo featuring 12 members of the circa 1886 Yale baseball team posing together in a formal studio setting, including Amos Alonzo Stagg. Each player is pictured in uniform, with some players also wearing their striped jackets. Equipment shown includes an early catcher's mask and a pair of bats. Produced by the noted New York photography studio Pach Bros., as noted in gold print along the base of the mount. Stagg, who is best known today as the "Grand Old Man of Football" for his many contributions to the game as a coach, was the star pitcher on the Yale baseball team between the years 1884-1888 (college rules at the time allowed players to participate in sports during their postgraduate year). Stagg is pictured in the far left, gripping a bat. Stagg's presence notwithstanding, this is an extraordinary 19th century baseball image. In addition to his talent on the mound, Stagg was also an outstanding football player and was chosen as a member of Walter Camp's first All-America Team in 1889. In 1890, Stagg turned down numerous offers from professional baseball clubs, including the New York Giants, and opted instead to become a college football coach at Springfield College. Two years later, he became the head football coach at the University of Chicago, where he remained for the next 41 years. During his tenure at Chicago, Stagg also coached the basketball team (he was a colleague of Dr. James Naismith at Springfield), the baseball team, and the track and field team. In 1951, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and seven years later, he was also elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. The photo (8-7/8 x 7-1/8 inches) is in Near Mint condition overall. The mount (9-7/8 x 7-7/8 inches) displays chipping along the border areas and a tack hole along the top edge. Pencil notations appear on the reverse. In Excellent condition overall.