1888 New York Giants, National League Baseball Champions Team
The page from the 1923 Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide features a team photograph of the 1888 New York Giants, National League Champions. The players are identified by numbers with their names listed below the image. Tim Keefe, a Hall of Fame pitcher, is marked as number 1, while Roger Connor, another Hall of Famer known for his powerful hitting, is number 3. Team captain William B. Ewing is labeled as number 4, widely recognized as one of the era’s top catchers. Other notable players include outfielder Mike Slattery (8), pitcher Mickey Welch (19), and versatile infielder John M. Ward (13). The team's manager, James Mutrie, appears as number 15. This image encapsulates an era of baseball where the New York Giants, based in a city that was a burgeoning center for baseball excellence, displayed dominance.