1932 HARRISON STUDIOS PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS TEAM PHOTO WITH HOF'ERS SATCHEL PAIGE, JOSH GIBSON AND OSCAR CHARLESTON.
Item Description
Presented here is the only known surviving presentation photograph depicting the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords, a ball club that many historians consider to be the best of all-time, in a classic team pose during their second year of existence in the Negro National League. All 16 active Crawfords ballplayers are pictured in full uniform along with their colorful owner, Gus Greenlee, dressed in formal attire and standing at far left. "Photo by Harrison of Hot Springs, Ark." appears in lower right. Printed text at bottom reads "Crawfords of 1932," along with the date "3-18-32". Player identifications are as follows: (Back Row L-R) - Benny Jones, L.D. Livingston, Satchel Paige (HOF), Josh Gibson (HOF), Ray Williams, Rev. Cannady, Cy Perkins and Oscar Charleston (HOF). (Front Row L- R) - Sam Streeter, Chester Williams, Harry Williams, Harry Kincannon, Henry Spearman, Jimmie Crutchfield, Bobby Williams and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe.
Equally as important as the stature of this amazing ball club is the prominence of the photography studio responsible for providing us with this ever-lasting image. Amongst Negro League baseball collectibles enthusiasts, just the mention of Harrison Studios evokes visions of the 1930 and 1931 Homestead Grays real photo postcards, both individual and team, as well as the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords team postcard, of which, only a single team example is known to exist. Back in 2018, the 1932 Crawfords (same image as this photo but not including owner, Gus Greenlee) brought a record price of $36,000 at auction while the 1931 Grays postcard sold for $22,800. In addition, a number of years back, a single known example picturing only Josh Gibson, again credited to Harrison Studios, and double signed by Gibson brought an astounding $88,000 at auction.
Established in 1931 by Gus Greenlee, the Pittsburgh Crawfords were named after the Crawford Grill, a club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. It became one of black Pittsburgh's favorite night spots, routinely drawing entertainers such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Lena Horne. Playing as an independent ball club in 1932, the Crawfords are credited with a season record of 99-36, and claimed an unofficial championship that year. Gus Greenlee was the top numbers racketeer in Pittsburgh, and in 1932, began the process of raiding the Homestead Grays roster, signing both Josh Gibson and Oscar Charleston. He later also signed Jud Wilson and Judy Johnson among others, literally taking the heart of the Gray's team to provide all of the necessary firepower for his own ball club. However, Gus' biggest score was luring Satchel Paige to his ball club, offering more cash than anyone else at the time. Prior to the 1933 season, Gus would have his own ballpark built, named Greenlee Field, which was almost unheard of for a black baseball club of the era. During that season, the Crawfords would join the new Negro National League with Oscar Charleston at the helm as player/manager and the Crawfords would win championships through the 1936 season.
Satchel Paige would be the first of the Hall of Fame trio to join the Crawfords in 1931, remaining there on and off through the 1937 season when he would bolt to the Dominican Republic to play for Rafael Trujillo's club, Ciudad Trujillo later that season. During the late 1930s, Satchel would go on to star for the Kansas City Monarchs, making up one half of the greatest pitching duo in Negro League history along with Hilton Smith. Paige would eventually make it all the way to the Major Leagues in 1948 with Bill Veeck's Cleveland Indians and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
Josh Gibson's first exposure to baseball came in 1927, when he joined a Pittsburgh sandlot team called the Pleasant Valley Red Sox before joining the Pittsburgh Crawfords, a boys semi-pro ball club later that season. Josh was starring for the Crawfords when he first attracted the attention of the local Homestead Grays. Late in the 1930 season, Gibson would sign his first professional baseball contract with the Grays. Josh would immediately transform a good team into a great team and Homestead would go on to beat the New York Lincoln Giants for that season's championship. After one more season with the Grays in 1931, Gibson would be bought away and joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords beginning in 1932 and remaining there through the 1936 season. Subsequently, Josh would rejoin the Grays beginning in mid-season of 1937 and remain there through his final season of 1946. Gibson would be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Oscar Charleston would be the third and final piece to the 1932 Crawfords puzzle. Oscar was widely regarded as the best five-tool player ever to play Negro League baseball. Beginning his professional career with the Indianapolis ABC's in 1915, Charleston would go on to star for Harrisburg and Hilldale throughout the 1920s before being lured in by Greenlee's big bucks in 1932. Oscar would stick around through the 1938 season, playing on some of the greatest black teams of all-time. Charleston was elected to Cooperstown in 1976.
This extraordinary photo originates from the estate of Pittsburgh Crawfords outfielder Jimmy Crutchfield. It is very likely that each player on the team was presented with a copy of this display photo as a keepsake, though to the best of our knowledge this is the only surviving example known. This is the very photograph which is pictured in Phil Dixon's book, "The Illustrated History of the Negro Leagues" (Amereon Publishing, 1992). The notation "Streeter" is neatly written in pencil on pitcher Sam Streeter's image.
This original glossy photo was once 8x10" but trimmed to 7.5x9.5, however no impact whatsoever to the team image which remains complete. Back of photo has entire team identified in period ink and obviously done by someone close to, or associated with, the team. They even added the location "Hot Springs, Ark." Entire photo has surface issues as originally printed which are spots and streaks where the gloss did not adhere to the photographic paper surface. This in only seen in reflected light, not even up close under normal viewing. In no way is image impacted or affected at all for display. There is a lt. vertical crease line running just right of center (at Ray Williams), but again, really only seen in reflected light. Margin does have other wear of note: a pair of .25x2" tape residue stains at top left and top right corner areas, a .25x2" long streak of missing surface paper where tape was removed along the right center edge but just missing the image of Clark and 1" tear w/clear tape repair to right of Clark. Tiny tip off both left corners. "Skeeter" name ink notation is written on his image. Technically Good but displays much better than the assigned grade. Photo comes with an attractive double matte that hides all margin defects, all that is needed is a frame for display.
Don't pass up this opportunity to own this outstanding and extremely rare museum-quality team presentation photograph of the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords, one of the greatest teams of all time, including Paige, Gibson and Charleston. The Black Ball Collection.
