1920 INDIANAPOLIS ABC'S TEAM PHOTO WITH HOF'ERS OSCAR CHARLESTON, BEN TAYLOR AND BIZ MACKEY.
Item Description
Presented here is the only known example of this fascinating image depicting the Indianapolis ABC's baseball club during the Negro National League's inaugural season of 1920. Photographer's notation at bottom, lower right "S.E. Keller/KC". This amazing photo is highlighted by the inclusion of three National Baseball Hall of Fame players, Oscar Charleston (front row, second from left), Ben Taylor (back row, third from left) & Biz Mackey (back row, second from right). Other stars of the day whom we have also been able to identify are: Dizzy Dismukes (back row, far right), C. I. Taylor (middle row, center), Russ Powell (front row, center), Bob McClure (back row, center), George Shively (back row, second from left), Ralph Jefferson (front row, far right), Robert Hudspeth (back row, third from right), Dicta Johnson (front row, far left), Morris Williams (back row, far left) and Henry Blackman (front row, second from right).
Officially established in 1913, the Indianapolis ABC's began as an independent semi-pro team but quickly ramped up their personnel in 1914, becoming a professional ball club that season. Led by owner, Thomas Bowser and managed by C.I. Taylor, the ABC's would challenge Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants for black baseball supremacy for the remainder of the decade. In 1920, with the formation of the first Negro National League, Indianapolis became a charter member and finished that season in fourth place with a winning record of 44-38-4.
Oscar Charleston 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 to the Pittsburgh Crawfords by Gus 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, including those with Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell. Charleston was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.
Ben Taylor was one of four baseball playing Taylor brothers who would play a prominent role in black baseball during the early part of the 20th Century. Taylor would begin his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Giants in 1911 before joining Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants for two years through the 1914 season. In 1915, Ben would join the ABC's, where he would spend the majority of his remaining playing days. Taylor was the best first baseman in black baseball until the arrival of Buck Leonard during the mid-1930s. Taylor was selected to Cooperstown in 2006.
The final cog to the Hall of Fame trio, Biz Mackey began his professional baseball career in 1920 with Indianapolis, where he would remain for three seasons before joining the Hilldale ball club and remaining there throughout the remainder of the decade. Prior to Josh Gibson coming along, Mackey and Louis Santop were widely considered to be the two best catchers in black baseball history. Biz was always in demand for postseason traveling squads, including the famous Negro League stars Tour of Japan in 1928. Mackey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Original 5x7" glossy silver gelatin photo. Reverse has some ink text regarding the photo but this was done many years later. Slightest hint of this shows through at just the top left corner. Trace of margin/corner tip wear.The image remains bold and sharp with great clarity. Glossy and VF.
Don't pass up this opportunity to own one of the most significant team photos amongst all Negro League baseball collectibles. Any original images of Ben Taylor are exceedingly rare, besides this one, there are only a couple of others known to exist, making this a must-have for the Baseball Hall of Fame completist. In addition, this image of Mackey is his only known rookie year photo, making this piece even more prominent and desirable. This was originally offered as part of the Richard Merkin Collection in our July 2012 auction where it realized $8,538. The Black Ball Collection.
