garryherrmann

LOC -- your date in brackets below the photo [1912] is incorrect. The negative bears the date 1913.

Wystan, The [1912] date does appear to be incorrect, and not just because of the date on the negative! Mr. Flanner on the far right is reading a 1913 souvenir score book issued by the Athletics for the World Series, so that further confirms the date. The full date is likely 10/8/13 despite the 10/9/13 on the negative. Game 2 of the 1913 World Series took place at Shibe Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 8, while Game 3 took place the next day in Brooklyn at the Polo Grounds. Thanks for the heads up!

Cincinnati Reds owner Garry Herrmann holding a 1914 World Series "Souvenir Score Book" at Philadelphia's Shibe Park. See:

@TVL1970: Thanks for sending the score book image; it sure looks like a match to the pages in Herrmann's hands! Why elephants? -- Helena

The Library of Congress As per Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Athletics#Elephant_mascot Elephant mascot After New York Giants' manager John McGraw told reporters that Philadelphia manufacturer Benjamin Shibe, who owned the controlling interest in the new team, had a "white elephant on his hands," Mack defiantly adopted the white elephant as the team mascot, and presented McGraw with a stuffed toy elephant at the start of the 1905 World Series. McGraw and Mack had known each other for years, and McGraw accepted it graciously. By 1909, the A's were wearing an elephant logo on their sweaters, and in 1918 it turned up on the regular uniform jersey for the first time. Over the years the elephant has appeared in several different colors. It is currently forest green. The A’s are still sometimes, though infrequently, referred to as the "Elephants" or "White Elephants." The elephant was retired as team mascot in 1963 by then-owner Charles O. Finley in favor of a Missouri mule (it was also rumored to have been done by Finley in order to attract fans from the then heavily Democratic constituents of Missouri by replacing the traditional Republican mascot to one associated with Democrats). In 1988, the elephant was restored as the symbol of the Athletics and currently adorns the left sleeve of home and road uniforms. The Elephant Mascot returned briefly in the mid-'80s, under the name Harry Elephante. In 1997, the elephant returned, taking its current form: Stomper.

Another Bain photo of Garry Herrmann:

From Wikipedia: "The National Commission was the ruling body of professional baseball starting with the National Agreement of 1903, which made peace between the National League and the American League ... It consisted of three members: the two League presidents and a Commission chairman, whose primary responsibilities were to preside at meetings and to mediate disputes." The commissioners in 1913 were: August "Garry" Herrmann, owner of the Cincinnati Reds (president), American League president B. Bancroft "Ban" Johnson, and National League president Thomas J. Lynch.

"ah ha! yes very pleasant old chap!"