In the late 1880s, Philadelphia's baseball players posed for a series of photographs. Without the advantages of high-speed cameras to take action shots, the results were a little... awkward. Here, Philadelphia Athletics third baseman Denny Lyons mimes tagging out Philadelphia Quakers player Charlie Bastian.
Philadelphia Quakers catcher Jack Clements seems to be levitating the ball. (A close look reveals that it's dangling from a wire.)
Could Philadelphia Quaker play Arthur Irwin look any more bored?
Go for it, Jim Fogarty of the Philly Quakers.
Athletics player Bill Gleason gets style points for the jaunty cap.
Quakers player Sid Farrar gives us the opportunity to contemplate the photography studio's carpets.
Arthur Irwin still doesn't seem that into this.
Robert Ferguson was a player who became president of the league. And he had some really fabulous footwear.
Tim Murnane, looking dapper.
Don't blink first, Joe Mulvey.
If a levitating baseball was floating toward you, you'd be scared too.
Intense, Ben Sanders. Intense.
The Quaker's Deacon McGuire has gusto, and is apparently playing baseball in a rainforest.
But even Deacon McGuire can't sell the idea that this ball is moving.
George Pinkney played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1888. Apparently the studio lacked a baseball field backdrop.
George Pinkney, making studio baseball photos look convincing. Nice hit, George!
