Frederick Winthrop "Fred" Thayer captained the Harvard Nine baseball squads of 1876, 1877, and 1888, famously cementing his place in baseball history by modifying a fencing mask to create the first iteration of the modern catcher's mask. First used in 1877 by Harvard catcher James Tyng, the catcher's mask has become an indispensable piece of standard equipment synonymous with professional and amateur baseball since it's invention. Though it has greatly evolved over time, perhaps no other piece of equipment has revolutionized a position on the field to such a degree before or since.

The presented 4x6 cabinet photograph has been removed from an album of the period where it sat loosely in a paper sleeve with a window for viewing. Undoubtedly, this has helped to preserve both the photo and mount as the clarity of the image, condition of the photograph, and condition of the mount are all exceptional. Mount exhibits a hint of toning, with studio photographer G.W. Pach's logo applied to verso, along with a few pencil notations.