Who's on First?

fmclaug11

I've had this film for a few years now and had been told it was Mantle at first base. After recently looking at it closer, it appears the batter has the New York uniform (the Giants had already moved by the time Mantle went to first right?) and while the first baseman looks alot like Mantle and is number 7, he's fielding left handed. Mantle couldn't also field with both hands could he? So, I must ask...Who's on First?

Dboneesq

Edited to state:

When I read the OP I THOUGHT he knew that the fielding team was the Yankees. I re-read the OP and that was not stated. ANYWAY, I checked the players I originally listed that wore #7 for The Yanks and NONE of them were a left handed first baseman for them.

SOOOOOOO, I will guess that the fielding team in the above photo is NOT The Yanks!

Bosox1976

Looks like Wrigley Field, and the stirrup sock stripes don't look right for the Yankees (?)

edit: stirrup socks refers to the first baseman - maybe orange & blue?

HeritageAddict

Is it possible that the person told you that it was Mantle was actually talking about the runner? I don't think the first baseman is Mantle, doesn't look like him at all imo.

Ironmanfan

Doug...It would be the opposing team wearing # 7 (not the Yankees; definately not Yankee Stadium)

It not only looks like it predated Mantle playing first, it looks to predate his entire career

I thinking the other team may be the Senators

bking

It appears to be the Yankees in road gray, any chance those are the White Sox in the field?

EchoCanyon

Kinda, had to, if you know what I mean

Who's on first

Dboneesq

IMF ... you are correct! WOW! Now even the edit to my post makes no sense! LOL

When I read "I was told that it was Mantle playing first" I took it to mean it was the Yanks in the field ... guess I should have looked at the pic! LOL

AND ... I'm not even drinking!!!!!!

72skywalker

Mickey Mantle wore #6 in 1951 and I think Tommy Hendrich or Cliff Mapes wore #7 then. Also, if the batting team is the Giants the other team probably had to be another National League team and not the Yankees since they are in the American league. (Unless they met for some other reason)

MithrilMan

From Team Uniforms

I've looked at every AL team and there is only two that sported no logos on the front from 1930 thru 1960. The Browns in the early 30s and the Senators (latest 1940). I wouldn't have guessed that this was that early but those pants are fairly baggy. Is it possible this quite a bit earlier than Mantle? American flags flying everywhere supporting war? The curve around first is very distinctive like Fenway but I've seen some similar layouts for Griffith. Jimmy Bloodworth? Neither looks like Mantle to me.

Edit: Looked at all the NL teams and couldn't find a uniform that looked like First Baseman's.

MithrilMan

Catcher running to backup first. That's some cool footage. Packed stands - maybe it's a WS. (In fact dodging cameramen in field of play...wonder when they stopped allowing that... First baseman flipping the ball to the catcher to start around the horn. Routine play...pitcher cleaning his spikes or something. Other first baseman's glove laying on ground to the left of the bag.)

OckhamsRazor

I think the light towers on the roof exclude Wrigley Field as an option. I think you can also rule out Comiskey Park. These towers are too closely spaced and Comiskey had arches looking out of the park not rectangles.

Bosox1976

Good point on the light towers - columns and ramp are a dead ringer for Wrigley otherwise

Bosox1976

I think it may be Joe Kuhel, who wore #7 for the senators in 1936 on the 4th of July doubleheader against the Yanks. The dirt cutouts around first and the light towers were definitely griffith stadium.

Piggs

I think your right Mike.

fmclaug11

Yes, does look like the same field. Guess I was only about 30 years off as well. Great detective work. Thanks!