Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Jersey City Skeeters in Training

I grew up in New Jersey and I love this state. So when I first started learning about Prewar cards, I was thrilled to find that Jersey City had a minor league team that was represented in the T206 set. In fact, the first Prewar card I ever bought was a T206 Hannifan, Jersey City.

I am always looking to add to my Jersey City collection and was very excited to have found this original cabinet photo of a couple of players (or at least one player) from the Jersey City Skeeters in Bermuda. The mount is in terrible shape, but as you can see, the photo itself is mostly intact with just the top right corner affected by the damage.



I was fortunate enough to have added this item to my collection a while ago and wanted to share it with you all. It is one my favorite items in my collection to this point. If you can help me identify the people in the photo I would very much appreciate it.


Also, written on the mount is "Burmuda" which is why I said the photo was taken there. Did teams, and specifically minor league teams, travel to the islands for games or training back then? I need to put some time into researching this a bit.

Enjoy the hobby all, it's a great one...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

My grandfather, Otto Scheck played for a Jersey City team, and I believe it was the Skeeters from a NY Times article dated 9/4/1921. He also drew baseball portraits for the Jersey City newspaper. I have some of his originals- would you like me to scan them and show them to you?

Dave said...

I'm in Jersey City, have been researching the Jersey City Skeeters for a while, and am resurrecting the team for play vs. modern and throwback teams in 2009. Let me know if you are interested in that project, it should be a blast (see http://jcskeeters.weebly.com) (site decent but not yet complete).
As regards the photo, it looks like a long-sleeve jersey, which was not common already by 1910, judging from photos in the Jersey Journal and the Hudson Reporter. My first guess is something like 1905-10, but it is only a guess. At any rate, the cap, shirt, logo, and socks all match the uniform of that period precisely. I have read through the newspaper record for some preseason periods, but never saw any mention of a Bermuda trip... Let me know if you want to compare notes.

Anonymous said...

where exactly was the ballpark?

Scheck girl said...

In response to B. Jones, my great uncle is Otto Scheck who played baseball in New Jersey and drew for Baseball magazine and other periodicals. We must be related. I would love to see any of the portraits Otto drew. I have the original pen and ink drawing he did of his father..our great grandfather. please respond.

Sarah Connors said...

Hi there! Otto Scheck was my great great uncle, and honestly the only exciting bit of family history I've found. I love baseball, so naturally, his story fascinates me. I have not, however, been able to find any of his artwork besides the drawing of his father as mentioned above (by my mother, actually) and would love to see some if at all possible. If you have any pictures of Otto himself, those would also be great to see. Thanks so much for posting this! It's nice to see someone else who still enjoys not only baseball, but the history behind the game, as well.

Anonymous said...

Hi, sorry I never noticed the post from last December. I'd be happy to see a drawing or two he did for the newspaper (Jersey Journal, I assume?). Scheck did play for Jersey City (one website has his stats for 1922), so the Jersey Journal must have mentioned him, at least in passing. There is some chance they published a headshot of him too. I'll try to take a look at the microfilm for 1922 next time I'm at the library, which should be this week. -Dave Kerans

Royalvj said...

To Scheck Girl: Otto Scheck was my grandfather (we must be related-how exciting). I have some of the magazines in which his artwork appeared. I could scan in some of his work and send them to you, if you would like.

Scheck girl said...

To Royalvj: Are you kidding??? I didn't think I would ever hear from you. Of course I would love to see any and everything you have. I have looked for years for any of the magazinses and pictures and have had no success. I am also trying to find the coat of arms that Otto did. It was presented in plaque form at the family reunion in 1940. Any ideas on that one? my email is 1957princess@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you again.