Huzzah!

Most of us have witnessed the scene of re-enacting base ball players, playing the old style game, ending their play with a celebratory cheer, the most common version I have heard, being 'Huzzah!'  This practice has been copied from the sporting reports of the 1860s, from news reports in the papers, and discussions of the day about how to organize your ball club.But here it is!  It was true!The boys on the right - probably about 16 years of age - are raising their hats as they shout, while their opponents look on.  The two teams are of the same age, and appear to be dressed similarly.  They wear a very traditional hot weather ensemble - white shirts, long dark pants, and a variety of hats.This carte-de-visite still keeps me guessing.  As one of the few outdoor baseball photos from the 1860s, this one contained mixed information.  Rural scene, city photographer, base ball players - but not at play nor posed.  It is also a very early carte, since its two gold stripes around the carte's perimeter are the same size.  About 1865 the 'standard' CdV was distributed with the outer stripe being a bit wider.  Thus - our carte here is quite early, probably made between 1860 and 1864, during the Civil War.So, what's going on?  Here's my guess.  These lads are in the Manhattan countryside, in the fields of a fancy estate, with the stately home in the background.  The photographer from D. Appleton & Company, a large and venerable firm with a fancy address on Broadway, has its imprint on the card's verso. Perhaps these are wealthy private school boys, who are cheering on the campus, or perhaps they are an organized club, with nines playing each other at this location on a regular basis. There may have been more photographs taken on that day, not just the game's aftermath.  But we will very likely never know.