Team cabinet card capturing seventeen members of the 1888 Cleveland Blues, a member of the American Association. All the players, with the exception of manager Jimmy Williams, are pictured in uniform as they pose together in a formal studio setting. Team cabinet cards from this era are scarce, and this is no exception. This is the only example of this 1888 Cleveland Blues team cabinet we have ever offered, and we know of just one other. The photographer's credit, "Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus, Ohio," appears in the left margin.

Although none of the players are listed by name, our consignor, in collaboration with renowned facial recognition expert Mark Fimoff, appears to have successfully identified each individual. Based upon their research, the players standing in the back row, left to right, are believed to be Ed McKean, Mike Morrison, Chief Zimmer, Pop Snyder, Jay Faatz, Bill Stemmyer, John McGlone, Jersey Blakely, and Mike Goodfellow. The players seated in the front row (including manager Jimmy Williams), left to right, are believed to be Gus Alberts, Pete Hotaling, Billy Crowell, Jimmy Williams, Cub Striker (seated on the ground), Bob Gilks, Doc Oberlander, and Mortimer Hogan. That roster conclusively dates the photo to 1888. What makes this cabinet even more appealing, especially for tobacco card collectors, is that fifteen of the seventeen individuals pictured here are featured in the iconic Old Judge N172 set (Mike Morrison and Pop Snyder are the two exceptions).

Chief Zimmer and Ed McKean are the two most notable players on the club, which finished sixth in the American Association that year. Zimmer, who was considered one of the finest defensive catchers of his era, was Cy Young's longtime battery mate, and also the man behind the plate during Young's first Major League start with the Cleveland Spiders in 1890. McKean played thirteen seasons, twelve of which were spent with either the Cleveland Blues or Cleveland Spiders, and finished his career with a .302 lifetime average. The photo (5.5x3.75"), which displays outstanding clarity, is in Near Mint condition, while the mount (6.5x4.25") remains in Excellent to Mint condition.