If I had a time machine I would spend most of my time at the ballpark. But unfortunately, the only time machine available to me is Photoshop, research, patience, and the dedication to create these images that appear to have been taken yesterday.
No laws of time and space were violated in the productions.
Photo restoration is a hobby that began over 35 years ago, long before the digital tools were available to make anything approaching the quality that can be produced today.
A single portrait in good condition may be completed in a day, while a large team photo in poor condition may take several weeks to a month to complete.
I present to you here with the finished images below the originals. If your favorite team is not represented, it's probably because they didn't exist 100 years ago!
More info: mancavepictures.com
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"Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Chicago White Sox, In Their Championship Year Of 1917
We're so used to seeing the past in black and white that when we do see the old photos in color we think it's a recreation. You've done an incredible job on all of these and you can see how you've progressed your talent with time. You've done a fine job.
"Smokey" Joe Wood. Boston Red Sox, 1915
I didnt know that you could renew and colorize old photos, and the look in his face makes this one my fav ☺
The Stars Of The Chicago White Sox In Their Championship Year Of 1917
Alva "Rip" Williams. Washington Nationals, 1912
Branch Rickey. St. Louis Browns, 1914. Rickey Was No Great Player, But He Lives In Baseball History For His Work In Breaking The Segregation Of The Major Leagues, When He Signed Jackie Robinson To The Dodgers In 1947
Grover Cleveland Alexander. Philadelphia Phillies, 1914
The First Champions Of The New American League. Chicago White Sox, With Owner Charles Comiskey, 1901
"Chief" Meyers. Brooklyn, 1916
I like the added dirt to his uniform. You can somewhat see that in the original, but I probably wouldn't have made an emphasis out of it like this artist did.
Honus Wagner. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1917
Jim Thorpe. New York Giants, 1913, One Year After Winning The Decathlon And Pentathlon Gold Medals In The Stockholm Olympics
That is some face. Maybe it's a rougher upbringing but a lot of the faces you see in these picture are very different to how people look now
Babe Ruth. Boston Red Sox, 1919
Johnny Evers. Chicago Cubs, 1913
Connie Mack. Manager Philadelphia Athletics, 1913
"Rube" Foster. Boston Red Sox, 1914
Eddie Collins. Philadelphia Athletics, 1910
New York Giants Manager John Mcgraw With Chicago Cubs Star Johnny Evers, 1912
Pitching Great Christy Mathewson At His Last Appearance As A Player With The Cincinnati Reds, 1916
Casey Stengel. Brooklyn, 1915
He had the hipster look sewn up before it was cool. He is the ultimate hipster!!
I have seen a lot of old photo restore jobs but I have never seen it done this good!
Nice work amazing recreation it definitely brings the photo back to life but I can't believe they had to try play in those cloths I'm rofl at this
Players come to life, blood running through their veins again. Not a baseball enthusiast, but would hang every pic on my wall! Amazing work!
Wow! The original pics were great, but the restored look like stills from a well-done period piece movie! I hope you can turn this hobby into a money maker, maybe branching out into other aspects of history or putting some pop in old family photos?
Oh, I actually started with family photos and some historic cityscapes. But my passion is baseball.
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Phenomenal job ! I would never have thought I would approve of this, but you proved me very wrong.. amazing!
These are really cool. I'm curious: do you do research to figure out what colours unimportant details might have been (common fashions at the time, what flower might have been growing in that spot, etc) or do you go with what looks best?
Yes, I do lots and lots of research on all aspects. And as for the flowers...yes! For that White Sox team photo I looked up the color of that ground cover in Arizona where they were having their spring training. If I can't find anything, I will go with what looks best, but I strive for accuracy above all.
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great article on jim thorpe http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-are-jim-thorpes-olympic-records-still-not-recognized-130986336/
These are absolutely fantastic, but I have one question/comment - Picture #5 of Alva "Rip" Williams. Shouldn't that be of Washington SENATORS?
They were called both the "Nationals" and the "Senators" in the old days. Many teams were called "Americans" or "Nationals" depending on their league. "Chicago Nationals" for instance, before the "Cubs" nickname stuck.
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Nice. I'm wondering what Shoeless Joe is doing with the Tools of Ignorance, though.
I have many, many more, but limited this bunch to those 100 years old or older. (Except for the Babe Ruth at 98)
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As humans have evolved from working mostly outdoors, and traveling without a roof over our heads (horseback), to working inside to where the sun isn't beating down on you, turning your skin into leather. It's amazing to see how old a lot of these guys look for their respective young ages... Or am I way off and these guys were in their mid to late 30's playing ball? C**p, then I kinda answered my own question, Baseball was invented like 20 years before some of these pictures were taken. Good 'ol Abner...Doubleday...Civil War guy.. invented baseball...google it.
No, the Abner Doubleday story is a myth. "Base Ball" was originally an English game, cousin to cricket and rounders. After reaching America it further evolved into what we see today.
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These are amazing colorizations. I've been colorizing baseball photos in Photoshop for close to a decade and after seeing your work I need to quit right now or get a tutorial from you. The facial tones that you get is simply amazing.
Hello Brother I want to see how you edit these video. Have you created any video in this project.
Not yet, but I'm working on a project now. Although I won't be giving away all my secrets!
Load More Replies...
Beautiful work, no doubt. But black and white pictures hold a timeless magic of their own... Like time machines...
Yes they do. And luckily, they still exist! But I think it is pretty nice to see them as a photographer would have taken them if the technology was available. (I never color artistic black and white photos that were meant to be taken that way)
Load More Replies...
I think that your "Rube" Foster image is miss labeled. Pretty sure that is "Rube" Waddle, he never played for the Red Sox so not sure what team that is. Foster played in the Negro Leagues and is not white for sure.
There was a "white" Rube Foster who DID pitch for the Red Sox
Load More Replies... I have seen a lot of old photo restore jobs but I have never seen it done this good!
Nice work amazing recreation it definitely brings the photo back to life but I can't believe they had to try play in those cloths I'm rofl at this
Players come to life, blood running through their veins again. Not a baseball enthusiast, but would hang every pic on my wall! Amazing work!
Wow! The original pics were great, but the restored look like stills from a well-done period piece movie! I hope you can turn this hobby into a money maker, maybe branching out into other aspects of history or putting some pop in old family photos?
Oh, I actually started with family photos and some historic cityscapes. But my passion is baseball.
Load More Replies... Phenomenal job ! I would never have thought I would approve of this, but you proved me very wrong.. amazing!
These are really cool. I'm curious: do you do research to figure out what colours unimportant details might have been (common fashions at the time, what flower might have been growing in that spot, etc) or do you go with what looks best?
Yes, I do lots and lots of research on all aspects. And as for the flowers...yes! For that White Sox team photo I looked up the color of that ground cover in Arizona where they were having their spring training. If I can't find anything, I will go with what looks best, but I strive for accuracy above all.
Load More Replies... great article on jim thorpe http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-are-jim-thorpes-olympic-records-still-not-recognized-130986336/
These are absolutely fantastic, but I have one question/comment - Picture #5 of Alva "Rip" Williams. Shouldn't that be of Washington SENATORS?
They were called both the "Nationals" and the "Senators" in the old days. Many teams were called "Americans" or "Nationals" depending on their league. "Chicago Nationals" for instance, before the "Cubs" nickname stuck.
Load More Replies... Nice. I'm wondering what Shoeless Joe is doing with the Tools of Ignorance, though.
I have many, many more, but limited this bunch to those 100 years old or older. (Except for the Babe Ruth at 98)
Load More Replies... As humans have evolved from working mostly outdoors, and traveling without a roof over our heads (horseback), to working inside to where the sun isn't beating down on you, turning your skin into leather. It's amazing to see how old a lot of these guys look for their respective young ages... Or am I way off and these guys were in their mid to late 30's playing ball? C**p, then I kinda answered my own question, Baseball was invented like 20 years before some of these pictures were taken. Good 'ol Abner...Doubleday...Civil War guy.. invented baseball...google it.
No, the Abner Doubleday story is a myth. "Base Ball" was originally an English game, cousin to cricket and rounders. After reaching America it further evolved into what we see today.
Load More Replies... These are amazing colorizations. I've been colorizing baseball photos in Photoshop for close to a decade and after seeing your work I need to quit right now or get a tutorial from you. The facial tones that you get is simply amazing.
Hello Brother I want to see how you edit these video. Have you created any video in this project.
Not yet, but I'm working on a project now. Although I won't be giving away all my secrets!
Load More Replies... Beautiful work, no doubt. But black and white pictures hold a timeless magic of their own... Like time machines...
Yes they do. And luckily, they still exist! But I think it is pretty nice to see them as a photographer would have taken them if the technology was available. (I never color artistic black and white photos that were meant to be taken that way)
Load More Replies... I think that your "Rube" Foster image is miss labeled. Pretty sure that is "Rube" Waddle, he never played for the Red Sox so not sure what team that is. Foster played in the Negro Leagues and is not white for sure.
There was a "white" Rube Foster who DID pitch for the Red Sox
Load More Replies...