Before the crack of the bat echoed through massive stadiums and before the bright lights of television broadcasts, Major League Baseball was a gritty, passionate, and often black-and-white world. But thanks to the power of photo colorization, we can now witness the early days of America’s pastime in clear detail.
These 20 colorized photos from the early days of Major League Baseball bring to life the legends, the moments, and the raw emotion of the game’s formative years, offering a rare, intimate glimpse at baseball history as if it were happening today.
1. Teddy Williams and Joe DiMaggio, 1941
Williams and DiMaggio chat before a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on July 2, 1941. I wonder how their teammates felt about them chatting like this before the games.
2. Cy Young, 1910
Cy Young was a talented pitcher for the Boston Americans, now known as the Red Sox. He won 511 games throughout his career from 1890 to 1911.
3. Masanori Murakami, 1964
Murakami was the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball (MLB).
4. Jackie Robinson, 1947
Jackie was famously the first African American to be signed to a Major League Baseball team. In this photo, he’s taking some practice swings at Ebbets Field.
5. Roy Campanella, 1940
Campanella played for the Baltimore Elite Giants at just 19 years old.
6. Lou Gehrig with The Babe, 1927
This photo was taken before the 1927 World Series, where the Yankees would win in a four-game sweep.
7. Roger Maris hitting his 61st home run, 1961
23,000 fans gathered at this game, hoping to snag the 61st home run ball and get $5,000 (over $50,000 today) that would be offered to whoever caught the ball.
8. Boston Braves Babe Dahlgren and Red Sox Jimmie Foxx, 1941
The Braves had a long list of nicknames, including “The Red Stockings,” “The Red Caps,” “The Rustlers,” and “The Bees.”
9. Napoleon Lajoie, 1907
He played for the Cleveland Naps, which later became the Cleveland Indians, and then the Cleveland Guardians.
10. The ’27 Yankees Murderer’s Row
The ’27 Yankees would go on to be known as one of the greatest teams ever.
11. Monte Irvin of the New York Giants, 1949
Irvin wasn’t just a baseball star; he was also an incredible football player in college. He played at Lincoln University and was offered a tryout with the New York Giants.
12. Babe Ruth with Shoeless Joe Jackson, 1920
Babe Ruth is discussing the fine points of hitting with Jackson, who was on an opposing team. Sportsmanship peaked in the early 1900s.
13. Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, 1941
These two were posing with each other at Yankee Stadium before a game.
14. Jackie Robinson alongside his teammates in 1947
The teammates he’s pictured with are John Jorgensen, Pee Wee Reese, and Ed Stanky.
15. Ted Williams at bat, 1949
This photo was taken during his MVP season in 1949.
16. Bucky Harris in action, 1925
Harris was a player, manager, and executive in the MLB. Talk about a jack of all trades.
17. The Legends of 1937
From left to right: Lou Gehrig, Joe Cronin, Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Charley Gehringer, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg.
18. Baseball players wearing masks during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19
This photo was taken in Pasadena, California.
19. Lou Gehrig, 1939
He was sadly diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This photo was taken while he was delivering his farewell speech at Yankee Stadium.
20. Walter Johnson, 1924
Johnson was famous for his insane fastball, which was almost mythical in its day. Modern estimates place his fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s, which was unheard of back then. Players swore it looked like a blur.
