First All-Star Game, July 24, 1911
Source: Unknown, but widely available on the Internet.
Photographer: Y L Vandelven of Cleveland, Ohio
Photo Subject: Team portrait of the “Galaxy of Stars” team playing against the Cleveland Naps in a benefit game for the widow of the Naps pitcher Addie Joss. It is often referred to as the first All-Star game.
Back Row (Left to Right): Bobby Wallace (ss), Frank ‘Home Run’ Baker (3b), ‘Smoky’ Joe Wood (p), Walter Johnson (p), Hal Chase (1b), Clyde Milan (cf), Russ Ford (p) Eddie Collins (2b).
Front Row (Left to Right): Germany Schaefer, Tris Speaker (cf), Sam Crawford (lf), Jimmy McAleer (manager), Ty Cobb (rf), Gabby Street (c), Paddy Livingston (c)
Fun Facts: The Galaxy of Stars lineup was very impressive with seven future Hall of Famer members: Baker, Wood, Johnson, Collins, Speaker, Crawford and Cobb. The Cleveland team was no pushover and included Napoleon Lajoie, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Cy Young.
The game was a benefit for the widow and family of Addie Joss, an incredibly popular Cleveland pitcher who, at the age of 31, died from tubercular meningitis. The benefit raised just short of $13,000 (1911 dollars), with Ty Cobb as the largest private contributor who anonymously gave $100. Notice that Ty Cobb is wearing a Cleveland away uniform as his Detroit Tiger uniform was lost in transit.
Painting Detail: Printed on 13” x 19” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details, like uniform piping, were made using Prismacolor pencils.