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In a hurry? Save or print these Collection Connections as a single
file.
Go directly to the collection, Baseball
Cards, 1887-1914, in American Memory, or view a Summary
of Resources related to the collection.
Baseball Cards, 1887-1914 provides a creative opportunity for students to practice their language arts skills. With inspiration from the images, students
can develop plots, characters, and themes based in historic events. With a little research, students can write a biography or news story based on the collection. Finally, they may also use the cards to learn about vernacular, how to determine meaning from context, and practice using vernacular to enhance their writing.
1) News Story
Brooklyn Dodgers, 1913,
Fatima Team Cards.
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Students can research an event in baseball history, such as the famous double-play alluded to in "Tinker to Evers to Chance!", and write a newspaper article reporting on the event
as if they were there. What facts need to be included? For this exercise they can make educated guesses
about the aspects they cannot find in their research. Have students read and analyze current newspapers
to learn the
writing style particular to newspaper reports.
Students can search the collection on names of players or teams
involved in the historic event. They can use the images they find to illustrate their articles.
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2) Point-of-view
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By creating a play about a baseball game, students can practice considering things from multiple perspectives and writing from different points-of-view.
How would a 12-year-old boy react to a home run by his favorite player? What would the manager of the
opposing team say? What is the hitter thinking about?
Students can search the collection on position name - pitcher, catcher, etc. - or
on manager. The baseball players they find on the cards can become the characters in their story. Is the pitcher a young player? Is he trying to prove himself
to his team mates? Or is he older and seeing his baseball career come to an end? Students can portray these issues in their plays.
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Kennedy, 1887,
Buchner Gold Coin.
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3) Biography
[Connie Mack], 1887-90,
Old Judge.
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After searching
the collection on the names of famous ball players of the era, students can choose a player
to research. From their research they can write a biography of the player and illustrate it
with images from the collection. Some players may have cards in the collection from more than one team.
Students may find that there are early baseball players about
whom we know very little.
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4) Vernacular
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Each profession has words particular to it. In addition to the unique names for the various positions
on the ballfield, baseball has unique ways of describing its players. Browse the collection by player,
team, league, city, or card set.
By reading the back of the baseball cards, students will see how these terms have changed and remained the same over time. Students will learn to infer
the meaning of words from their context. For example, what does it mean for a player to be "tied to the bag" as stated on the card to the right? Students can choose different professions and list words
particular to each. Using those words, they can write a story relating to that profession.
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R. Hoblitzel/Richard J. Egan, 1912,
Hassan Triple Folders.
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