Boston Bloomers - male player

Boston Bloomers Felt Pennant

RPPC Red Sox VS Boston Bloomer Girls (Shelby MI)

1914 All American Ladies Base Ball Club Postcard

Though known primarily for his Negro League contributions, the Hall of Fame executive J.L. Wilkinson also made history--or shall we say, herstory--by establishing the first notable barnstorming team of "Bloomer Girls." (So named for the bloomer-style pants that allowed suffrage-era women more freedom of movement.) As noted in Wilkinson's SABR biography by Charles F. Faber, "He recruited the best female baseball players he could find, including a superstar from the Boston Bloomer Girls, who played under the name Carrie Nation." Indeed, Nation (née Mae Arbaugh and assuredly not the hatchet-wielding temperance icon!) is featured prominently here, along with Marie Dierl, Harriet Murphy, Elizabeth Pull, Marguerite Cunningham, Mae Fay, Anna McCann, Selma Walbaun and Mable Bohle.

Oregon vs. Boston Bloomer Girls postcard

Oregon vs. Boston Bloomer Girls In-Game Postcard

c.1900 Boston Bloomer Girls" Promo Card

Miss Maud Nelson Postcard

Boston Bloomer Girl - Champion 1st Baseman

RPPC of champion Lady 1st Baseman of the World. Woman pictured is Ruth Egan.

Miss Maud Nelson

c.1900s Greetings from the Boston Bloomers postcard

Image of nine member team in uniform in photo studio with large "BB" initials on front of jerseys. Two players in front row include one with catchers mitt and the other with catchers mask with bats and gloves in foreground along with Bloomers pennant and three Boston Bloomers pennants on wall in bkg.

c.1913 RPPC Boston Bloomer Girls - Carrie Nation in action

Nice action photo of female baseball player (Carrie Nation) with foot on bag about to catch ball as men look on. Caption refers to member of the Temperance movement. Text at bottom includes “Shelby. Aug. 5-13.”

c. 1912 Champion Original Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club Postcared

"Champion Original Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club" indeed-as the address side of one of these postcard proclaims, with 28 Games won in 27 days. The team "claimed" the Amateur Championship of the United States. One example is dated Aug 4 1912.

c.1910 Champion Original Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club Postcard

The Original Bloomer Girls Baseball Club get the royal hand tint treatment here on a striking postcard. One example was mailed in 1911. (This card has often been offered by unscrupulous sellers claiming the figure at the bottom left is Hall of Famer Addie Joss, but that the player is not Joss.) Matte postcard features nine team members in full uniform along w/period baseball equipment in foreground. "Champion Original Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club, J. L. Galbreath, Owner" text along bottom. This postcard image has caused a great deal of controversy over the years as many baseball historians believe that the male player seated at the far right in front is none other than future Boston Red Sox star pitcher, Smokey Joe Wood. Additionally, the male player seated at far left bears an uncanny resemblance to HOF pitcher Addie Joss. Although there is documented evidence that Wood did play for Galbreath's Bloomer Girls team, there is no such supporting evidence that Joss ever played for such a club. To this day, many collectors still believe that at least Wood is pictured here and historical sales prices would support such an assumption.

c1910 Boston National Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club Postcard

Postcard depicting nine ballplayers in full uniform including seven female players and two males along with a gentleman, likely the owner, J.L. Galbreath, dressed in formal attire. Front text reads "Boston National Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club. L.J. Galbreath, Originator and Owner". The Boston National Bloomer Girls Club was founded in the early 1900s by L.J. Galbreath, who was best known for bringing in Boston Red Sox star pitcher, Smokey Joe Wood to play with his Boston Bloomer Girls team at one point.

c.1910 Boston National Bloomers Postcard

"Boston National Bloomer Girl's Base Ball Club, L.J. Galbreath, Originator and Owner". The team appears to be lined up in descending order of height and is pictured in front of a very weathered building.

c.1912 Original Bloomer Girls Postcard

"Champion Original Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club" indeed-as the address side of this postcard proclaims, with 28 Games won in 27 days. The team "claimed" the Amateur Championship of the United States so that seals it! One example has a 1912 postmark.

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.