1890s 1st MT MLB Steamboat Williams JP Ball African American Cabinet Card Studio

1890's Rees "Steamboat" Williams published by James Presley Ball and Son of Helena Montana. The mount on this cabinet is the same style used by Ball to document the Biggerstaff execution in 1896. Rees was the first MLB player born n Montana. Rees was living in the Helena area at the time of this image in the late 1890's from info I found(his mother relocated to Helena in 1897 according to SABR). Rees is definitely young in the image but there are some distinct features to his face that are pretty unmistakable.

Rees appears to have the same non symmetric eyes in the comparisons. Rees also has a bit of a pug nose in both. Facial feature placement and skull shape are appropriate and pretty exact when scaled in the side by sides. Rees pitched 2 seasons MLB. 1914 and 1916 for the Cardinals.

He began his pro career in Great Falls Montana. He also played minor league ball in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Cabinet is a little less than 5 by 7 inch in size. Feel free to ask questions.