Historic & Vintage Photography
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Lot # 56: 1905 "Black Oberlin Catcher Plays on Old Timers Day", Action Photo with Possible Moses Walker Connection

Starting Bid: $25.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Collectors Auction 2018",
which ran from 3/31/2018 11:00 PM to
4/14/2018 8:00 PM



When this photograph was discovered in an Oberlin College scrapbook, not much was thought of it at first. It dates to about 1905-1910 and shows a scene in which alumni from the school were playing a game on their old stomping grounds. The batter is an elderly (about 55 year old) man and it is assumed the catcher is about the same age. The interesting thing about this image is the catcher is Black! There was a black alumni who was about the right age to be participating in this game, and his name was Moses Fleetwood Walker! While there is no identification of the players, it is more likely that the black catcher in this photo is Walker than another man as the age, ethnicity, position, school and stature all match up perfectly. More research is needed but there is a high likelihood that this is only image of Moses Fleetwood Walker in action that exists. An exciting project with tremendous upside in great shape.

Size: 2x3
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 1/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 6/10

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