Vintage Photos

Throwback Thursday: 20 Colorized Photos from the Early Days of the MLB (1900s-1960s)

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Seven baseball players in vintage uniforms from the Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers stand in a row on a baseball field, each holding a bat, with a stadium and spectators in the background.

The early days of the MLB carry a charm that feels very familiar. Long before modern stadiums and advanced analytics, the game was played in simpler conditions, yet it already had the same rhythm and traditions that define it today. The early years of Major League Baseball were filled with iconic players, teams, and ballparks that looked very different than they do now.

The color added to these photos brings new life to those early MLB moments. Players, uniforms, and stadium scenes gain a striking sense of immediacy, making the past feel more real. Together, they offer a closer look at the origins of pro baseball in America and the era that helped shape the modern game. Let’s take a look at 20 colorized photos from the early days of the MLB.

1. Teddy Williams and Joe DiMaggio, 1941

Two MLB players in vintage uniforms stand and talk on the field. One wears a pinstriped uniform and cap, the other a "Boston" jersey and cap. Both are smiling, one holding a baseball bat. Stadium stands are visible in the background.
givingcouour2history

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

A man in an early 20th-century baseball uniform stands with a serious expression. He wears a cap and a gray jersey with "BOSTON" in blue letters. The uniform is laced at the collar. The background is dimly lit.
photoresto

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

A baseball player in a Giants uniform is eating a hot dog near a chain-link fence. The sky is clear blue with some clouds. A baseball field is visible in the background.
agent64

Murakami was the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball (MLB).

4. Jackie Robinson, 1947

A baseball player in a vintage uniform is about to swing a bat during practice. Spectators are visible in the background, seated in a stadium. Text indicates this is the player's practice before a major league debut.
givingcolour2history

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

Baseball player in vintage uniform and catcher's gear crouches on a field. He wears a cap with a "B" and a protective vest. The background has a fence, trees, and players practicing. The sky is clear.
morganmonroe81

Campanella played for the Baltimore Elite Giants at just 19 years old.

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6. Lou Gehrig with The Babe, 1927

Two baseball players in vintage New York Yankees uniforms sit on a bench holding bats. A practice net is behind them, and they're on a dirt field. Both are wearing caps and smiling slightly.
givingcolour2history

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

A baseball player wearing a striped uniform with the number 9 follows through on a swing as the catcher and umpire observe. The stadium is filled with spectators seated in green stands.
morganmonroe81

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

Two baseball players wearing vintage Boston uniforms stand side by side in front of a mesh fence. Both are wearing baseball caps, with one holding a glove. The setting appears to be a baseball stadium.
morganmonroe81

The Braves had a long list of nicknames, including “The Red Stockings,” “The Red Caps,” “The Rustlers,” and “The Bees.”

9. Napoleon Lajoie, 1907

Two side-by-side images of a vintage baseball player in uniform. The left is a black-and-white photo, and the right is a colorized version. The player wears a cap and jersey with a stylized "C" logo, standing against a wooden background.
ickychris

He played for the Cleveland Naps, which later became the Cleveland Indians, and then the Cleveland Guardians.

10. The ’27 Yankees Murderer’s Row

Four baseball players in vintage New York Yankees uniforms stand in a row, each holding a bat. They pose in front of a stadium's stands and railing, wearing caps with the Yankees logo and sporting high socks and black shoes.
morganmonroe81

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

A baseball player stands poised with a bat, wearing a white uniform and a cap with an interlocking NY logo. The stadium in the background features U.S. flags and bunting, suggesting a celebratory event.
atomicbolt

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

Two baseball players sit on a bench in a stadium. The player on the left, wearing a "New York" uniform, holds a baseball bat and chats with the player on the right, wearing a uniform with a "C" on it. The background shows empty seats.
atomicbolt

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

Two baseball players in vintage uniforms, one in a Yankees pinstripe jersey and cap holding a bat, the other in a light-colored jersey and cap also holding a bat. They stand side by side in Yankee Stadium with blurry spectators in the background.
givingcolour2history

These two were posing with each other at Yankee Stadium before a game.

14. Jackie Robinson alongside his teammates in 1947

Four baseball players in Brooklyn Dodgers uniforms sit on a bench in a dugout. They are wearing white uniforms with blue caps and are positioned closely together, smiling. A crowd is partially visible in the background.
atomicbolt

The teammates he’s pictured with are John Jorgensen, Pee Wee Reese, and Ed Stanky.

15. Ted Williams at bat, 1949

A vintage baseball scene with a player wearing jersey number 9 swinging a bat. A catcher crouches behind the batter, and an umpire stands nearby. The game is set in an open stadium with spectators in the stands.
morganmonroe81

This photo was taken during his MVP season in 1949.

16. Bucky Harris in action, 1925

A baseball player in a white uniform slides into a base as an opposing player in a gray and red uniform tries to tag him, with a packed stadium in the background.
zahulie

Harris was a player, manager, and executive in the MLB. Talk about a jack of all trades.

17. The Legends of 1937

A group of seven baseball players stand in a row on a baseball field, wearing vintage uniforms from teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers. They hold bats and smile. A stadium with spectators is visible in the background.
mentalaustrian

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

A vintage baseball scene showing a player at bat, a catcher, and an umpire. The image is split in half, with one side in black and white and the other in color. Trees and an audience are in the background.
atomicbolt

This photo was taken in Pasadena, California.

19. Lou Gehrig, 1939

A baseball player in a Yankees uniform stands at a collection of microphones on a baseball field. Several men in suits stand behind him, watching. The scene is historic, possibly a press conference or public statement event at a stadium.
morganmonroe81

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

A baseball player in a vintage gray pinstripe uniform with a "W" on the cap pitches on a dirt field. He wears high socks and a leather glove. The empty stands and stadium seats are visible in the background.
baseballincolor

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 from the era swore it looked like a blur.

Want to see more colorized content?

Check out 20 Colorized Images from the Early 1920s, or take a look at 25 Colorized Photos From The Early Days In The Coal Mines. Finally, if you want to see colorized photos of the beginning of the 20th century, check out 25 Vintage Colorized Photos of the Beginning of the 20th Century (1900-1905).

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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