We thought this image from our Free Studio of Photography Collection (1998-28) was a perfect fit for the month of May. Taken by the Hostetler Studio in Davenport, this outdoor photo of the St. Ambrose College (now St. Ambrose University) baseball team was thought to have been taken around 1910.
St. Ambrose College originally had two intramural teams, the Collegians and the Metropolitans, that started around 1884. The first official school team, the Collegians, were formed in 1892.
When researching the history of St. Ambrose baseball, we came across a photo of the school’s baseball team in May 1912 from The Daily Times. The uniforms and young boy look the same as our Hostetler photo as does the placement of bats and equipment in the foreground of the picture. The wonderful part of the newspaper photo is the players, coach, and “mascot” are all named.
St. Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and still has a baseball team 133 years later. We wish all the local baseball teams a great season!
(posted by Amy D.)
