Catcher Fred Carroll, just 18 years old in 1883, is pictured here with the San Francisco Haverly's, an upstart baseball club in the newly-formed California League. Sponsored by Haverly's California Theater, the team was dominant in the new league, but with what appeared to be a regularly-evolving roster, supplemented by players from "picked nine" games where the Haverlys would play against teams comprised of players from various leagues - including players returning home for the fall from other teams.

Teammates with Patsy Cahill on the 1884 Columbus (Ohio) Buckeyes of the American Association, Carroll appears to have played in the California Leagues beginning at just 16 years of age, before moving to the American Association in 1884. He spent four seasons with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, ultimately compiling a .284 lifetime average in eight major leauge seasons but frequently returning to California to play in league games. This cabinet photo pictures him in a bib-style jersey with "Haverly" superimposed over the chest, as is the case with the others featured in this auction. Wear and paper loss (and paper remnants) along the mount, some writing on the front and back of the cabinet (the player's name and position included), and areas of foxing are evident. POOR condition, though the image quality remains strong. An outstanding, historically significant cabinet photo from the early days of the California League.