1927 EASTERN COLORED LEAGUE OPENING DAY PANORAMA (HILLDALES VS CUBAN STARS) W/DIHIGO, POMPEZ & OMS.
Item Description
Presented here is the only known example depicting two of the all-time great Negro League baseball teams, the Philadelphia Hilldales and the Newark Cuban Stars, just before their opening day game of the 1927 Eastern Colored League season. Amongst the many stars pictured are some of the biggest names in Negro and Cuban baseball history: Martin Dihigo (HOF), Alex Pompez (HOF), Alejandro Oms, Ed Bolden & Nip Winters. With some new Negro League baseball candidates expected to become eligible for Hall of Fame selection in the near future, this piece could easily boast four future Cooperstown members.
As the man given most of the credit for founding the Eastern Colored League prior to the 1923 baseball season, Ed Bolden assembled one of the great Negro baseball dynasties of all-time. With a stable of Hall of Fame stars including Louis Santop, Judy Johnson and Biz Mackey, the Hilldales would go on to dominate the Eastern Colored League for their first three years of its existence. The Hilldales also played extremely well during their fourth season of 1926 but ended up finishing in second place behind a very tough Atlantic City Bacharach Giants ball club.
The Cuban Stars were also a charter member of the Eastern Colored League and began play during the 1923 season, having originally been assembled by owner, Alex Pompez during the late 1910s. After their initial success, finishing in second place during the league's inaugural season, the Stars became a second division ball club despite the presence of their two-way superstar, Martin Dihigo and flamboyant owner, Pompez. Although the supporting crew seemed fairly strong, the club was never able to sustain a good run of quality baseball for an entire season.
As the 1927 season rolled around, both the Hilldales & Cuban Stars entered the season with renewed optimism that this would be their year for success. Prior to the opening day ball game which took place at Mayo Island Park located in Richmond, Virginia on May 9, 1927, both the Philadelphia and Newark teams lined up on their respective baselines for an opening ceremony, from which this quintessential image was taken. Pictured are ten ballplayers from the Hilldales team, followed by league and team executives for both ball clubs and finally a total of fourteen Cuban Stars players. Here are all of the known player identifications:
Hilldale (Left to Right): Namon Washington, Script Lee, Frank Warfield, Phil Cockrell, William Campbell, Joe Lewis, Red Ryan, George Carr, Otto Briggs, Nip Winters, Ed Bolden (Owner).
Cuban Stars (Left to Right): Alex Pompez (Owner-HOF), Oscar Levis, Bernardo Baro, Pelayo Chacon, Raul Alvarez, Isidro Fabre, Unidentified, Alejandro Oms, Rogelio Crespo, Juanelo Mirabel, Pedro San, Martin Dihigo (HOF), Jose Maria Fernandez, Pablo Mesa, Julio Rojo.
Text below images reads "Opening Game Eastern Colored League- Mayo Island Park - Richmond-
Va.- May- 9 - 1927." Photographers mark at lower right reads "The Browys Rich. Va."
This original panoramic photo is 6x19". It has been archivally matted to overall size of 12x25". Archival tape to reverse margins holds it in place. Lower left corner is missing a small .25x.5" tip but this has color strip added to inside surface of the mat so only noticeable upon close inspection and photo itself has not been altered. Bottom margin at the feet of Chacon and extending downward, there is a 2.5" vertical tear that has been stabilized on the reverse. There are two other 2" long vertical hairline creases that just break the emulsion but not extending the full length of the crease, one on image of Washington at far left and the other to the right of Oms. Photo has additional moderate edge and handling wear and moderate aging but remains totally glossy w/nice contrast and strong images. Overall VG.
To the best of our knowledge this is the only known surviving photo depicting TWO Eastern Colored League ball clubs within the same image. This same photo has sold twice in the past at auction, in 2009 for $9,600 and again in 2016 for $6,875 (where it was woefully presented with missing and incorrect player identifications). Don't miss out on the opportunity to pick up this likely unique beauty, as you may not get another chance.
