1927 PHILADELPHIA ROYAL GIANTS ORIGINAL TEAM PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPH WITH HOF'ERS WILLIE FOSTER, TURKEY STEARNES AND BULLET ROGAN.
Item Description
Presented here and fresh to the hobby is an exceptionally rare image depicting roughly one half of the greatest Negro League team in California Winter League baseball history, the 1926-27 Philadelphia Royal Giants ball club. No less than six future National Baseball Hall of Famers adorned the roster of that powerhouse team over the course of the entire winter league season, including the three all-time greats pictured here: Willie "Bill" Foster (standing at far left), Norman "Turkey" Stearnes (standing next to Foster) and "Bullet" Joe Rogan (standing fifth from right). In addition to these three rarely seen Negro Leaguers, we have also been able to identify several other prominent stars of the day: George Harney, "Crush" Holloway, Dink Mothel, Lou Dials and Newt Joseph.
As previously mentioned, the photograph presented here pictures only half of this historic club. The remaining half of the team would tour Japan in early 1927 and included future Cooperstown enshrines, Andy Cooper and Biz Mackey. Willie Wells was the sixth HOFer but did not make the Japanese tour. As one would expect, the Royal Giants won the California Winter League pennant in 1926-27 with a 26-11-1 record against three white teams composed mostly of a mix of major and minor leaguers, along with a handful of semi-pros. Providing further evidence of their dominance, their fourth-best pitcher, George Harney (a decent, but not great knuckleballer from the Chicago American Giants) lead the team with 116 innings pitched (Cooper had 71, Rogan 68, and Foster 55). After the end of the California season, the Royal Giants' owner/promoter, Lonnie Goodwin took about half the squad to Japan, including Mackey, Cooper, Rap Dixon and Frank Duncan. The rest of the club, including Rogan and several of his other Monarch teammates (Newt Allen, Dink Mothel and Newt Joseph), barnstormed their way back east to Kansas City in time for opening day.
Willie Foster, in addition to being the half-brother of Negro National League founder, Rube Foster, was also widely regarded as the top left-handed pitcher in Negro League baseball during the late 1920s-early 1930s. Starring primarily for the Chicago American Giants, Willie spent time with a couple of other all-time great Negro League clubs, the 1931 Homestead Grays and 1936 Pittsburgh Crawfords. "Bullet Joe" Rogan was a dominant two-way player for the championship winning Kansas City Monarchs ball clubs of the 1920s as well as a star member of the world famous All Nations team of the late 1910s. Turkey Stearnes was regarded by many as the second-best power hitter in black baseball during the 1920s-30s, trailing only the immortal Josh Gibson in that category. Turkey spent many of his best years with the Detroit Stars and Kansas City Monarchs.
In addition to picturing one of the all-time great Negro League ball clubs, the significance of this amazing relic cannot be overstated as it offers the opportunity to acquire an original, career contemporary image of three of the toughest Negro League Hall of Famers for those collectors seeking to own a piece of memorabilia depicting every National Baseball Hall of Fame member. Neither "Bullet Joe" Rogan nor Turkey Stearnes ever appeared on any vintage baseball cards and Willie Foster's only card appearance remains as part of an uncut sheet from the exceedingly rare 1927-28 Mallorquina Cuban card set.
This original photo is 4x9.75" and on nice quality pearl finish photographic paper w/embossed border. Printed text below the team reads "Philadelphia Royal Giants/Champions Los Angeles Winter League Of San Jose March '27." Photographer's mark at lower right. Inked on bottom white margin is "Played The Beavers In Sodality Park." Written on the back in pencil is a list of player names along with notations of numbers, check marks and "Pd" apparently indicating players pay scale and standing (some names crossed off). Lt. aging and margin/corner tip wear. Image remains clean with high contrast and clarity. VF.
Back in November 2012, Hake's sold a panoramic photo depicting the full 1926 Philadelphia Royal Giants squad for $20,872. Don't pass up this opportunity to own another historic piece of Negro League memorabilia while filling three of the toughest holes in anyone's National Baseball Hall of Fame collection.
