1890s Shirley President Suspender Girls advertisement

Dating from the height of the "Bloomer Girl" craze in the 1890s, this colorful advertising display pictures a lovely young woman ballplayer in promotion of President Suspenders. The woman is pictured standing at the plate in full uniform; a pair of President Suspenders prominently displayed on her back. The caption above reads "Shirley President Suspenders 50 Cents" while the merits of the product are described below: "Easy On The Shoulders - The Back Slides." In the 1890s, scores of "Bloomer Girls" baseball teams were formed all over the country. Many of these teams eventually abandoned bloomers in favor of more standard baseball uniforms, as illustrated in this rare advertising display. This rare advertising piece is actually one of a series of six magnificent displays produced by Shirley President Suspenders. The reverse reads in part: "The Shirley President Suspender Girls will attract much attention if displayed in your window" and provides a checklist of the six pictures in the set (Golfing Girl, Ball Playing Girl, Tennis Girl, Bowling Girl, Fishing Girl, and Billiard Girl). "If you haven't all six of the pictures, write for those which are missing and we will promptly mail them to you. If you want men to stop at your window in greater numbers than ever before, display all six pictures in your window. Don't give these pictures away - sell them at 25 cents each and keep the money. You will find one picture in every half dozen box of Shirley President Suspenders. This is one of them." This is the first example we have ever seen. The exceptionally bright and colorful graphics, combined with its unique subject matter, combine to make this one of the most striking and interesting baseball-related advertising pieces from the era. Printed on cardboard stock by the American Lithographic Company of New York. A tiny edge tear is evident along the left border and there is an extremely light surface wrinkle in the lower left. These extremely minor condition flaws do not in the least detract from the display's overall Excellent to Mint appearance. The piece measures 8.5 x 13.5 inches

1890s Lizzie Arlington photo

the only photograph picturing Lizzie Arlington in uniform. Arlington, of course, holds the distinction of being the first woman to appear in a professional minor-league game, with her debut occurring on July 5, 1898, as a member of the Reading Coal Heavers. The cabinet photo pictures Arlington striking a throwing pose, dressed in a uniform consisting of a long-sleeved jersey, matching skirt, cap, black stockings, and cleats. A ball is in her right hand and she is wearing a webless "workman's" style glove on her left hand. A large "A" appears on the left breast of her jersey. The photographer's credit, "Gilbert & Bacon" of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is printed along the base of the mount. Arlington, whose real name was Lizzie Stride, was born in 1877 in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. Even at an early age she was recognized as an accomplished athlete, known in her town as the first girl to ride a bicycle. Additionally, she was an accomplished roller skater, a skilled rider on horseback (she competed in polo matches with men), and a crack shot with a rifle. It was in the sport of baseball, however, that her talents reached their zenith. As word of her abilities on the diamond spread, she was signed to a professional contract in early July 1898, by Philadelphia promoter Captain William J. Connor for $100 per week to play with his baseball team, the Philadelphia Reserves. It was at that time that Stride began using the name Arlington, believing that a more English-sounding name would be better for promotional purposes. Connor signed Arlington on the belief that the novelty of a woman playing on a men's team would lead to a dramatic increase in attendance. Unfortunately, Arlington's debut with the club, in an exhibition game against Richmond on July 2, 1898, drew only 500 fans. Disappointed in the turnout, Connor immediately released her from her contract, but she was quickly signed to an Atlantic League contract by League president, and future Hall of Famer Ed Barrow. Barrow, too, saw Arlington as a novelty draw and she made her official professional debut in a regular-season game on July 5, 1898, as a member of the Reading Coal Barons. Arlington pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Reading's 5-0 victory over the hometown Allentown Peaches, with her appearance documented in the box score from the game published in the July 16, 1898, issue of The Sporting News . (That box score is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.) Her appearance was also reported in the Reading Eagle the following day. Interestingly, the paper described Arlington as "a plump young woman with an attractive face and rosy cheeks. She wore a gray uniform with skirt coming to the knees, black stockings and a jaunty cap. Her hair was not cropped, but done up in the latest fashion." That description of her uniform is basically identical to the one worn by her in the offered cabinet. That she was signed to a contract by the Atlantic League, and was not specifically a member of any particular team, probably explains the "A" (for Atlantic League) on her jersey. Although Barrow liked the publicity of a woman on the field, other teams did not share his enthusiasm, The Hartford Co-Operatives refused to let her pitch for them the next day because they were concerned that her talents were not equal to that of the player she would be replacing. They felt winning took precedence over attendance. Other teams also followed suit and voiced their opposition. While there are no other surviving official reports or box scores of Arlington appearing in any other Atlantic League games that season, Ed Barrow was later quoted as stating that she did make appearances with Newark, Patterson, and Wilmington. Regardless, her professional career in organized baseball ended in 1898. She did continue to play baseball though, headlining barnstorming tours with the Bloomer Girls as "Miss Lizzie Arlington, The Famous Lady Pitcher, " for a number of years afterwards. Arlington died in 1919 as a result of complications following surgery.

1890s Cabinet card (OH)

This 1890's vintage original sepia-toned cabinet photo reveals the distaff squad. Several of the nine women look anything but lady-like, adopting slouching or indifferent postures, and a couple of others emulate their male counterparts of the day by affecting intimidating or determined expressions. Unlike their Gay Nineties contemporaries whose uniforms typically employed pants or bloomers, this stocking-clad nine wore striped dresses—suggesting, perhaps, that the photo's origin may be even earlier than the 1890s. Regardless, it is certainly early in the history of women's baseball, and more than that, it is limitlessly charming. Cabinet photo measures 4-1/4 x 6-1/2 inches. Noted photographer: Dillon's Imperial Photo Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.

1890s Bloomer Girls NY Illustrated News paper (Flushing, NY)

Rare 1890 BLOOMER GIRLS Women's Baseball Game FLUSHING QUEENS NY-All American NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED NEWS illustrated newspaper, dated May 31, 1890. COMPLETE in 16 pgs, folio (15 1/4" x 11").Featured in this issue is an original 6 1/2" X 9" wood engraving "OUR GIDDY AND GUSHING GIRLS ARE TAKING TO THE GREAT NATIONAL GAME--FAIR MAIDS OF FLUSHING (L.I.) DOT THE DIAMOND AND TACKLE A NINE OF YOUNG MEN, AND MAKE THEM HUSTLE, TOO".A sample of the accompanying 1/4 column-length article "FEMININE BASEBALLISTS" reads, "Until one Saturday morning recently it was very generally believed that the maids of Flushing were too demure and the matrons too staid to countenance such an innovation as a game of baseball, in which seven girls took one side and nine wiry boys the other, but the innovation was made, and, ungallant as it may have been, the young women were beaten. The contest had been� on the tapis for a week or more, and when it was at last decided that the game should take place...". The article contains the roster for both teams.Also featured in this issue is the FULL PAGE wood engraving "THREE EXCITING PRIZE FIGHTS--A DECIDEDLY LIVELY PUGULISTIC WEEK" featuring action illustrations of "PETER JACKSON AND ED. SMITH", "ANDY BOWEN AND BILLY MYER", and "DENNY KELLEHER AND JOE ELLINGSWORTH". Additional illustrated sporting articles in this issue include: "ANGELEIC ATHLETES--HOW OUR DEAR GIRLS ARE MAKING THEMSELVES ABLE-BODIED AND MUSCULAR", "(John L.) SULLIVAN AND (Joe) LANNON BOXING IN FULL DRESS" ("The Paymaster" Play), "BRILLIANT BOY BOXERS--THE WONDERFUL COLORED MASCOTS OF THE SCOTTISH-AMERICAN ATHLETIC CLUB OF JERSEY CITY (NJ), and MORE

1890s Baseball Team cabinet photo

old Women's Baseball team from around 1880-1905. This is based on the style photo on the cardboard backing, but also that these girls teams existed from 1890's thru 1935. These teams were considered Bloomer Girls teams. These teams would "Barnstorm" around the U.S. playing men's teams, etc. at expositions and fairs. You can see members of a band on the left side of the photo. Also the girl 4th from the right is holding a bat, and the girl third from the right is clutching a ball! Also, it shows 8 players in the picture.

1890s Bloomer Girls Cabinet Photo (Oxford, ME)

Baseball Cabinet Photo Oxford Maine Bloomer Girls in horse-drawn wagon Photographer - H.L. Robinson, Oxford Maine Date - 1880-90 Size - 8 x 10" (entire piece) Rare 19th century albumen imperial cabinet photo featuring a Bloomer Girls team from Oxford Maine (cart reads 'Oxford Baseball Team'). 9 women are in the cart, holding their bats and gloves, many with ties and hats as well. There are also two suited men, one with a 'manager' sash.

Al. P. Gibbs' Ladies' Base Ball Club cabinet card

Cabinet Card of "Al. P. Gibbs' Ladies' Base Ball Club.

1895 Bloomer Girls vs. Seaside Maidens parade albumen photo

1895 albumen photo mounted on heavy stock, showing a parade of participants of an August 16, 1895 Baseball game between the Bloomer Girls and Seaside Maidens. All of this info penciled on the back, presumably by the Photographer G. W. Morgan who was apparently photographing local events and selling photo. At the top of the back is printed Views Harriman & Vicinity. This would be George W. Morgan who was a Photographer in Harriman, Tennessee at the turn of the last century. At this time there were many Bloomer Girls Baseball teams across the country, however upon close examination, these participants are all young men in skirts and bloomers! One holds a bat, while another has his glove in view. Also seen in the picture is the Harriman Cornet Band and a fine view of Mrs. Watkins Millinery.

1890s National Bloomers Cabinet Card

1890s? Underneath the photo on the black paper is printed "Ackermann-Quigley Photos Kansas City " identifying the well-known photo and lithography studio. The photo depicts the "National" Bloomer Girls team likely from Kansas City which is the team for which Smoky Joe Wood eventually played.

1890s Boston Bloomers Cabinet Card

Boston Bloomers team photo on a late 19th Century Cabinet featuring the barnstorming nine wearing some very interesting headgear. This photograph is a familiar one; often used in articles and research pieces describing the Bloomer Girls teams, one of the earliest-known such images.