Ultimate Attic Find Reveals Baseball History

Well now…this certainly trumps my finding a copy of the 1953 Pillsbury Cookbook…even though it has Art Linkletter and Artur Godfrey on the cover!

Among the dusty relics was an old photograph of well-dressed men. Luckily, they were identified by name on the back. The photograph, still housed in its original frame measuring 22 x 27 inches, was an original large format salt print display photo taken in December 1862. The man who’s name appeared on some of the papers found in the attic matched one on the back of the photo. Walter T. Avery.

The following day the new homeowner and his wife brought the framed photograph, along with various miscellaneous paper items and correspondence relating to Walter Avery, to REA’s New Jersey offices. What they had was truly remarkable. Dated December of 1862, the photo pictured a veritable All-Star team of great early New York Knickerbockers, including Avery. All were key members of the club from 1845 to 1850 who had apparently gathered for a farewell party honoring one of their own. Avery was the last surviving original Knickerbocker at the time.

...Renowned baseball historian John Thorn has suggested that this photograph may have been taken in honor of Knickerbockers Adams’ departure from the club. Late in 1862 Adams had announced his plans to leave New York, move to Connecticut and get married. This is, in fact, exactly what he did. It is very likely that this historic assemblage of early original Knickerbockers was gathered to pay tribute to Adams, a founding club member. The photograph, a very rare artist-enhanced solar-enlarged salt print, was likely taken to create a special keepsake for Adams and the other key early team members pictured.