From the Eddie Rommel collection comes this outstanding photograph collection. Rarely does one ever find such a detailed and impressive grouping of baseball focus photography that features so many significant teams and players. Collection includes: 1) Trio of mounted photos (11x14") of circa 1929 Philadelphia A's being celebrated in "Milford." Wonderful team photograph on the lawn. 2)1920s-30s Philadelphia A's photos (3x5" to 4x6") annotated on verso and recto (59). Some partial teams, 1927 Spring Training, Native Americans, Eddie Collins, Hornsby, Mack/Cobb, Cobb, Mack, Gleason and Jimmie Foxx at banana farm. 3) Thomas Edison: At the home of Thomas Edison with the A's (8). 4) The youngest Jimmie Foxx ever (4x6"), most likely rookie Spring Training. 5) Real Photo Post Card of Rommel. 6) Two by George Burke as umpire. 7) 1919 New York Giants Spring Training, one with tour patch. 8) 1918-19 Newark Bears team photo (4x6"). 9) 1919 New York Giants team photo (4x6") with McGraw, Matty and Jim Thorpe! Horizontal crease with perfect contrast and annotated on verso. Slightly trimmed. 10) Babe Ruth with Old Timers including Tris Speaker (8x10"). 11) 1921 Philadelphia A's Spring Training mini panorama (6.5x10"). 12) 1920s series of approximately 8x10" photos with a few Connie Mack and other A's (16). 13) 1919-21 Philadelphia A's images by Bob Dorman (8) and Charles Conlon's (7) with no major players.

Ed Rommel had the unusual distinction of being a top-flight Major League pitcher, for the Philadelphia A’s (1920-1932), and then becoming a successful American League umpire (1938-1959). What a baseball life! What a great situation for him as a collector! Rommel, regarded as the father of the modern knuckleball, won 171 games, twice led the American League in wins, and pitched in a World Series. As an umpire, he took part in two World series, becoming only the third man to both play and umpire in the World Series. In between his long stints as a Big League pitcher and umpire, Rommel spent several years as a major league coach, a season as a minor league manager, and two years as a minor league umpire. Thus, Rommel was around baseball almost continually for forty years, and his long playing and umpiring careers gave him tremendous access to players and managers. As a collector, Rommel knew baseball personages from the early days of baseball through players who debuted in the 1950s and played into the 1970s. Thus, Rommel’s likeable personality and baseball connections meant that he could obtain practically any autograph or photo he desired. Thus, from Cobb and Hornsby and Home Run Baker; from Connie Mack, Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx; from Mantle, Ted Williams, and Jackie Robinson, Ed Rommel obtained great autographs on baseballs and photos from players and managers who were only too happy to oblige their friend. A wonderful, unique find.