Gary Cooper Did NOT Wear A Backwards Yankee Uniform
In what is easily the best piece of baseball research – and possibly motion picture research – this year, Senior Curator Tom Shieber of the Baseball Hall of Fame dispels one of the most enduring myths of both fields: That the right-handed Gary Cooper donned a backwards-lettered Yankees uniform and ran the wrong way around the bases to enable filmmakers to flip the negative and make him look like the left-handed Lou Gehrig in “The Pride Of The Yankees”:
I’ll let Tom Shieber take you step-by-step, with a kind of gentle meticulousness that even I could understand, through the evidence that:
A) Proves the shot of Cooper above is not a reversed image and he didn’t hit the ball and then run down the third base line;
B) Proves that such movie-making sleight-of-hand would not have been necessary;
C) Proves the one instance – in a pre-Yankee scene from the Gehrig biopic – in which they really did let Cooper do things righty and then flipped the image to make him look lefty;
D) Nails the explanation of how this one instance was blown out of all proportion and turned in to the backward film legend by a very venerated but very overrated sportswriter;
E) Proves the involvement in the making of the film by two of the game’s great characters, Babe Herman and Lefty O’Doul.
F) Notes and explains why the rightfielder in some of the shots appears to be playing about 20 feet behind the first baseman.
Gary Cooper, real
It is, as I say, terrific research terrifically explained.
I can add only one detail to it – something that had always bothered me about the ‘then he ran down the third base line’ legend. The human face is not symmetrical. We know this so intuitively that we don’t usually even think about it. But you know when a picture of you has been reversed, or you’re looking in a double mirror.
On the top is Gary Cooper as Gehrig, in a still frame that Shieber has determined is an original, unflipped image. Below is Gary Cooper as Gehrig, in a still frame that Shieber can prove has been flipped. Look carefully at the features of his face – they’re not in the same places in each shot. It takes a little work, but it’s worth it.
This is not as exact a science as Shieber’s analysis of stadium backgrounds and fly buttons and all the rest, but it’s of supportive value. And except in this one scene, Gary Cooper looks like one Gary Cooper all the way through the film. As
Gary Cooper, reversed
‘another’ Gary, Garry Shandling, used to say, ‘no flipping.’
Then in this one scene at first base comes this bizarre image of a guy who looks enough like the Cooper we’ve seen throughout the flick to be his twin – but it is not an exact match. The nose breaks in the opposite direction (just a little bit). The veins on one side of the neck now match the ones on the other side of the neck. It’s all subtle, but it’s all the photographic equivalent of circumstantial evidence.
And it puts a little P.S. on some superb detective work. Bravo, Tom Shieber
mlblogskeitholbermann1
The character actor Pat Flaherty was in that movie. He was also in “The Babe Ruth Story,” “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” “The Stratton Story,” “The Jackie Robinson Story,” “Angels in the Outfield,” “The Pride of St. Louis,” “The Winning Team,” and– going back to 1934 from 1942– my favorite, “Death on the Diamond” (Walter Brennan is in that too). Why do I mention this? Because Flaherty actually played for John McGraw’s New York Giants. Character actor Matt McHugh (brother of more famous Frank) looks kind of like Babe Ruth but the best thing about that movie is … Babe Ruth. And the song “Always” by Irving Berlin. It’s nice to know Billy (Gene Collins), the goofy looking kid in the hospital who is promised all those home runs, is still alive (80 years old). I’m actually not a big fan of that movie– I prefer “Django Kill … If You Live, Shoot!” (1968) starring Tomas Milian (with Gene Collins in an uncredited role). Samuel Goldwyn made a baseball movie for people who don’t know much about baseball– which I guess includes most of them, and that’s why I don’t like baseball movies as a rule. Give me “Experiment in Terror” (1962) or “That Touch of Mink”– all with cameos by Giants or Dodgers or Yankees. Also, look for Vin Scully in the Bob Hope/Lana Turner classic “Bachelor in Paradise.”
Pingback: Gary Cooper Did NOT Wear A Backwards Yankee Uniform - Unofficial Network
KO great article as usual. You really are a great writer as long as being this generations Murrow. Love that you are on to bigger and better things and sorry that you got treated like crap at Current, hope you get the justice that you deserve.
Sam
Great replay too, you are putting movies out that sound very intersting. I know that one of the movies that I want to see is one that I think is going to be out about Jackie Robbison.
KO keep being yourself and you will always have a fan in me, love you faults and all.
“…hope you get the justice that you deserve.”
He did. By getting fired.
EVERY.
SINGLE.
TIME.
-
Keith,
I read this article from top to bottom and it really blew me away. I was so intrigued by it. It showed some of the wonders of Hollywood, quite ingenious. I would never have expected they would flip part of the film (Hartford scenes). The other reporter, Shirley Povich, may have rushed to meet a deadline and reported inaccurately. This shows that journalism is a very exacting field. If you report it, try making it the truth and add some facts for fun. Nice reinforcement of Tom Sheiber’s excellent investigative article. This was a fun read. I‘ll always enjoy Hollywood’s portrayal of baseball.
Wow
Keep posting your igorance for all the world to see, that By is what is known as a hate video. Only people that are igorant about what a liberal is would beleive that BS video. You show how tolerant KO and yes liberal’s are and that you love to support people that have zero idea what liberalism and tolerance are. Keep embarrassing yourself with your igorance about liberals, hate and facts in general. Sorry this is a made up hate video and always will be.
Now get off the blog and let people talk baseball.
Totally (kinda) off the topic, but I noticed the other day that Greg “Goose” Goossen appeared in 15 films that either starred or featured Gene Hackman. If memory serves I believe Casey Stengel once said of the Goose, we got this guy here, this Goossen fella, who is 20 years old, and in ten years has a chance to be 30. Will dig out my well worn Ball Four copy, I think that is where I read that quote. Greg was a Seattle Pilot, and he passed in 2011, RIP.
Genius is the ability to make connections. Yaay!
Powerful evidence that baseball is such a grand metaphor for life! What is real and what is not so real. What seems. The great Lou Gerhig could have run those bases backwards and in high heels! Gary Cooper, not so much…only with the help of Ginger Rogers perhaps. Thanks, Mr. O, for constant illumination. Your love for the intricate and the accurate enlightens both sports and politics for all who read and follow you! Here’s to what’s true!
I forgot to mention that it is truly difficult to put one’s shoes on backwards. Trust me. I have tried it!
All three posts are great Patrica, and you along with the others here are adding to the conversation and are teaching me alot about baseball and movies. As is KO, this why I would love for KO to have a baseball show.
Keep up the good work all of you, KO again keep being yourself and you will always have a fan in me.
Thanks, history! You and Keith will always have a fan in me. No matter what.
Thanks, you will always have a fan in me, along with KO. So I should say back at you. Hope you are doing well today. Also you are more than welcome.
Trust me KO will always have a fan in me, no matter what happens also, you two.
Baseball hugs. Backwards.
-//
Wow By once again shows that BY does not know what hate and intolerance are. If By says different than BY will once again be lying and showing that BY only cares about protecting people that love to bash like By does. Anyone By with a brain knows that nothing in this video is true or honest. You really show that liberals and even KO do not know how to lie, and that you do not know what honesty is and facts are.
Now get off this blog and let people talk baseball.
You two, keep up listenting and informing about what going on in the sport. Again KO needs a baseball show, I would be watching it for sure, KO keep infoming and making the sport fun, and also showing why you are this generations Murrow and why you will around for years to come. Love you faults and all.
As I said, I’m not a big fan of baseball movies– I like to watch the real thing and then watch a non-baseball movie after Frank sings “New York, New York” or Gary Cohen says “And the ballgame is OV-er!” But I am curious about the movie “The Kid from Cleveland”– not because Lynn Bari is so beautiful (George Brent is handsome too), but because it includes actual Cleveland Indians players from their 1948 team. The great Edward G. Robinson is in a movie called “Big Leaguer” (1953) depicting the Giants’ training camp with a few real players. Their manager Leo Durocher was married to the very beautiful actress Laraine Day. Speaking of Day, one of the few Doris Day movies I don’t own is the aforementioned “The Winning Team” with Ronald Reagan doing a lousy job (what’s new?) depicting Grover Cleveland Alexander. Grover Norquist is more his territory.
I do not know I always thought that the Field of Dreams was a pretty good movie. I do understand that seeing the real thing is better than a movie.
Being into history I personally love seeing any movie weither it baseball or any other sport that talks about the history or a charater like the Dam Yankee’s about the historiacal figures of the game, but they have to be pretty acurate for them to be really enjoyable for me. That one of the things I have always be picky about in history movies, does not matter what the subject is.
history, I don’t like contemporary movies (1980s-present) or baseball movies– so that really sinks “Field of Dreams” in my book. Though “Major League” was kind of funny. Watching “The Pride of the Yankees” actually kind of made me a Yankee fan in 1993. I was a Giant fan at the time. I find “The Stratton Story” with Jimmy Stewart (my favorite Republican– along with Barry Zito and Bob Hope) more enjoyable. And there’s a movie called “Rhubarb” with Ray Milland where a cat inherits a baseball team. If Keith reads these comments, maybe he can tell me (or someone can) whether the rule changed about walk off hits. Because Rhubarb’s team scores something like 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th, whereas I always thought the rule was only 1 run counts, unless it’s a multi-run walk off home run. I just bought the movie “It Happens Every Spring” (also with Ray Milland) which shows cheating in a positive light, making some of the anti-Bonds/Clemens/A-Rod preaching we hear these days sound holier-than-thou.
Sam
That is prefectly understandable, I think as a fan who loves going to games and watching them on TV like you do, the movies are not just as fun. I think that I feel that way about Tennis, even though I have never been to a professional match, watching a movie like Wimbledon while it nice, is not as fun as seeing Andy Murry or the Williams sisters playing. So year that is pretty resonable. The other movies sound pretty cool in themselves. Thanks for the info.
Trust me I would not go for ‘It Happens Every Spring” I do not like movies that make people think that is okay to cheat it not and never will be.
Thanks for the info.
Just gotta say am really enjoying all your comments; lots of fun. And Hooray, no trolls. Sweet.
Hope it stays this way.
6 signs to be aware of before committing to an immature relationship
Relationships
July 28, 2010
By: Frances Childress
You have been dating this certain person for months now, and all seems well! Your date is charming, clean, responsible, and can recite all the historical events that happened in Nashville. Then something happens while dining out; your date appears indifferent because the waitress mixed up the order. You have seen this before….in your 9 year old niece! It is the same childish ‘pout’ she has when she does not get her way!
There are certain red flags to look for before committing to a relationship, to avoid problems down the road. The tell-tale signs are indicators the potential partner may not be emotionally mature for a healthy relationship. These 6 signs of childish behavior in adults (emotionally delayed) are used by immature people as their way to avoid making positive changes in their lives.
Usually, the emotionally delayed people will be so busy looking for flaws in you; they cannot, or refuse to see the flaws in themselves. When confrontations arise, the person will act in childish ways instead of implementing problem solving techniques (conflict resolution).
Behavioral signs of being emotionally delayed include:
1.Doing spiteful things – giving the silent treatment, doing things to irritate, ignore when conversations are initiated, omit routine courtesies (will not do an errand that s/he normally does)
(BB to a tee).
2.Making excuses – playing the pity card, blaming others, was in a hurry, claims their feelings are hurt (any excuse to avoid accepting blame)
(BB to a tee).
3.Selfishness – disregard to others’ feelings and needs, places desires first (will turn off AC in the house if s/he is not home)
(BB to a tee).
4.Twisting the truth – manipulating truths of an argument by leaving facts out (telling only part of the story to make others look guilty)
(BB to a tee).
5.Hypersensitive – throwing a temper tantrum, showing anger, insulting, able to physically make themselves become emotionally upset, (over-acting to trivial matters)
(BB to a tee).
6.Refusing to accept logic – denying their actions/behaviors are contradictory, purposely finding fault or exaggerating others’ faults (shifting blame or changing conversation subject)
(BB to a tee).
It may appear these behaviors resemble manipulation tactics. Distinguishing manipulators from emotionally delayed people is when the manipulator’s focus is to control you, whereas the emotionally delayed focus is self-centered (spoiled).
Mature people are able to self-reflect objectionably, able to see when change is needed, and have the motivation to make positive, productive improvements in their lives and in their relationships.
If only Miss Tur had read this beforehand. She could have saved herself a TON of headaches.
Wow
I really laugh because all those points do not describe KO.
Let’s see point one making excuses wow I did not know having a doctor say that you have throat infection was making an excuse wow, I guess you were in those appointments, By do you live in alternate reality, in KO’s business having thorat infections are career dangerous if you do not get them treated. Wow trying to get what in his contract like control of the news department, wow I did not know that was makng excuses, I did not know that trying to get his studio to work and his set to work was making excuses. So sorry that first one does not describe KO.
What despitful behavior has KO done, wow I love how you show how igorant you are on KO, Ko has never given anyone the silent treatment and do not put out debunk articles that only show that one to be false. Also again love how you show that you are igorant about not being couties or the other. Again you put out made up crap trying to show that KO is something that he not.
So you have shown that KO is neither number one or number two, but those two describe you and Current.
Wow I did not know that wanting your set to work and your studio to work was being selfish, wow I did not know that wanting what was in your contract was being selish. Please keep lying about who KO is and showing that you not KO are the imature one. Also thanks again for describing Current.
Wow again I did not know your set not working your studio falling apart and Current ignoring it was called being hypersentive, wow thanks again for showing that you do not know what those traits look like. You keep showing how mature kO is and how imature Hyatt and Gibson and you are.
Wow were has KO twisted the truth, I did not know that wanting again to have what in your contract, to make sure that your brand is not hurt aka Current making KO do a commerical for AT&T was what twisting truth is. Thanks again for showing that Current, you and Gibson are immature ones.
Wow sorry again that does not describe KO, where has KO defied logic. Wanting to rest your voice so you can give more years to your employer is showing that you are being unlogical and unreasonable, again trying to get your studio to work and your set to work, that is what being unlogical is. Wow you show that you have no idea what logic is.
Also keep showing that BY has no idea what being human is,
here again is who Gibson is KO is not BB, thier is no such thing as bath tub boy that is something that was made up by John Gibson because KO was not allowed to call him worst person. Also anyone that uses that name shows that they have zero clue what being human is. John Gibson thought it was funny to make fun of Stewart’s pain on 911, he thought it was funny to make fun of Lugar’s suicude by his I could never quit you quto, UPDATE: John Gibson has “apologized” for his distasteful comments on Heath Ledger’s death. Though he first defended his statements on his radio show yesterday — there is “no point in passing up a good joke,” he said, and repeated his “Brokeback Mountain” joke saying, “I’m not giving that up” — he eventually caved to pressure to apologize and did so on his television show.
Still, his apology seemed forced, and relatively half-hearted:
Those who knew him say he was a good actor and a loving dad. And what happened to him was terrible, but was evidently an accident. Once again, to anyone offended by my comments, I’m sorry. But I’m also sorry that Heath Ledger is no longer alive and with us.
ThinkProgress has the audio of Gibson’s defense of his comments, and MediaMatters has the video of his “apology.”
–
ORIGINAL ITEM: Fox News’ John Gibson found a way to outdo MSNBC’s Courtney Hazlett for the most inappropriate comment on Heath Ledger’s death. ThinkProgress reports that, on his radio show yesterday (which opened with funeral music), Gibson called Ledger a “weirdo” with a “serious drug problem.” Making fun of the famous “I wish I knew how to quit you” line from “Brokeback Mountain,” Gibson said of his death, “Well, he found out how to quit you.”
This is not Gibson’s first time making inappropriate comments in the wake of tragedy. In July 2005, just one day before the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London, Gibson said that “the International Olympic Committee missed a golden opportunity….If they had picked France instead of London to hold the Olympics, it would have been the one time we could look forward to where we didn’t worry about terrorism. They’d blow up Paris, and who cares?” The next day, after the London bombings, Gibson.
Also only people that live in alterante universes think that this is Obama’s Monica lewsinsky. Excuse me, were was the cover up, were was Obama lying, wow were was Obama having a affair with a intern. You really show that you have no idea what you talk about.
Also I love how you put out a made up Special Comment that KO never gave. Showing that you do not know what pardoy is. This story has nothing to do with KO, so keep showing how igonrant you are on KO and that you have zero clue what make believe aka pardoy sketch and reality are.
KO is not BB that is a made up story and anyone that uses it shows that they have zero idea what being human is.
Wow once again you show that you not KO are the immature one, and do not say different because that would be a lie. Only people that are igorant about who KO is and what immature behavior like you would believe those made up talking points, that again are debunked like everything that you say, and again I am someone who would care crap if Ko was that, that is how I know that KO is opposite of immature and that those talking points describe you to a tee.
Keep showing that you do not know what being human means, only people in alternate unvierses would believe the made up lie by Gibson that get’s debunked.
Also thanks for describing Current to a tee, and showing me how mature kO is, and if you say different it would only be a another debunnked lie by a blogger that has zero clue who KO is and only bashes him because KO is not allowed to tell the truth about Fox and republicans, get off the blog and let people talk baseball, all you show is that KO is this generations Murrow and always will be, along with showing how mature he is and how imature you are.
Also moderator’s thier is a igorant about who KO is troll on the loose, if you would get rid of them and my posts to him, It would be very much a appericated.
Wow
That does not apply to KO, KO BY is not immature and do not put that debunked garbage that like how he is with employees. That By has been debunked. You put out a post that discribes you not kO. Also why is Turr and KO still friends if she thought that he was so imature.
BY KO has never played the victim that like all the other six made up crap points that you put out have been debunked.
In By’s world it fine that mangement can make people that are broadcasters with thorat infections that can ruin thier careers that is how made up your posts is. Sorry By these points do not descirbe KO and never will and if you sa diffeent you will be lying. Only people By that live in alternate realitees would believe this made up post. Thanks for showing how mature KO is and how unmatuer you are.
KO BY never plays the vicitm that has been debunked. By thier is no evidence of that, CUrrent by broke the contract not KO, so please continue to show that KO is nothing what you want him to be and that you are the imature person. Keep showing that you are so igonrant about who KO is it not even funny. By get off with your six made points that show that By not KO is the imaatuer one.
Talking about baseball and old movies– it was fun while it lasted. If this had been a story about baseball cards I wouldn’t have commented. But any time Keith talks about Coop *and* baseball, then he really gets my attention. So here’s another non-baseball movie that has some baseball-related scenes in it– “Love Is Better Than Ever” (1952) with Elizabeth Taylor and the sadly soon-to-be blacklisted Larry Parks (conservative b astards). After watching that lousy infield fly rule call in the Cardinals-Braves playoff game last year, it was amusing to see the infield fly rule explained at length in this 1952 movie, where Liz’s dad (gruff Tom Tully, more famous for the “Caine Mutiny” where Bogie does his best impression of a contemporary paranoid Republican) is a Yankee fan but Larry Parks loves the Giants. The Yanks-Giants rivalry plays a big part in the plot of that movie. But back to Coop– Gary Cooper was not ideal to portray a man with a New York accent, and his simpleton act that he perfected in “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” and other classics seems like the wrong fit for Lou Gehrig. What’s interesting about the movie “High Noon” (greatest Western of all time) is that conservatives and liberals have used it as a metaphor for their beliefs.
Love the list that you put up there, thanks for the interesting movie suggestions.
Sam they were talking about baseball cards at least one on twitter. I well show the tweets
BOSTON (Reuters) – A rare 1865 photograph of the Brooklyn Atlantics baseball team, discovered at a Maine yard sale and considered one of the first baseball cards ever, sold for $92,000 at an auction on Wednesday.
A Massachusetts man offered the winning sum in cash after a brief round of bidding at Saco River Auction Co., said Troy Thibodeau, manager and auctioneer at the company in Biddeford, Maine. Thibodeau declined to name the buyer.
The photograph mounted on a card, known as a carte de viste, is the only one of its kind known to exist, though the Library of Congress has a similar image made from a different negative, Thibodeau said before the auction.
“It’s rarer than rare.”
The card shows nine members of the Brooklyn Atlantics, known as the first champions of baseball, and their coach. The team was a founding club of the National Association of Base Ball Players, a forerunner of today’s National League, Thibodeau said.
“It’s more of a piece of photography than a baseball card, but it’s considered by many to be the first baseball card just by the fact that it was distributed by the team,” he said. “It kind of set the stage for baseball cards after that.”
An antiques enthusiast bought the card at a yard sale last year in eastern Maine, Thibodeau said. It was in a photo album the buyer purchased along with old Coke bottles and oak chairs for about $100.
The owner mailed the card to Saco River after the auction house set a state record in August by selling an 1888 baseball card of Michael “King” Kelly for about $72,000, Thibodeau said.
It was unclear how many of the cards like the one of the Brooklyn Atlantics team were produced. The ball club had them printed and handed them out to fans and players, even those from opposing teams, because the Atlantics were so good at the time, Thibodeau said.
“It was kind of a sign of bravado,” he said.
Before the auction, Thibodeau said he found it difficult to place a value on the card because it was so unique but estimated bids might range from $40,000 or $50,000 on the low end to as much as $500,000.
“The key piece of this is not only that it’s a baseball card, but that it’s a wonderful piece of Americana,” he said.
(Reporting by Daniel Lovering; Editing by Daniel Trotta, Leslie Adler and Paul Simao)
The argument was weither is was a legit card of not being a real card which KO said it was not Not really a baseball card, even went as far as saying that card collectors do not think that The most prominent 19th Century card collectors don’t also here Brooklyn photo is a Carte de Visite: form of business card.Baseball cards are items produced to be sold usually w/a product
So it really intersting conversation overall.
Wow
Talk about a disgusting video that is bashing liberals. Wow By keep showing how igorant you are about KO and liberals. BY go to we are igorant about life blogs and let people talk baseball.
This has nothing to do with baseball or KO, all this is a bashing video about liberals.
Keep embarrassing yourself with your igorance that is all you do.
BY
I love how you put out posts that descrbe you. I have to laugh that you think those six points describe KO, because when I read those I see that none of those points describe him. Love how you think that KO is playing when he was working with a throat infection that one of his guest myosnned could see, and his fans could see and even his thorat and nose and ear doctor, but Current could not, a professional channel does not make broadcasters work with stuff like that. So truth those six points describe Hyatt not KO and show that you would not know what maturity looks like if it bit you.
No wonder you think a made up story and made up name by a guy that makes fun of people’s pain and death aka Gibson is okay, wow keep showing that you By are everything that you claim KO is and that you are immature on. You really make me love and respect KO more with your made six points about maturity that do even remtotely describe KO and would still make me a fan even if they did.
By get off the blog and go to the we are igorant about KO and want to bash him blogs, this is a baseball blog.
I should say thier is a immature troll on the loose, who only wants to bash KO and others, and for that troll do not say different of it will be a lie, please get rid of them again much apperciated.
Wow
Talk about a disgusting video that is bashing liberals. Wow By keep showing how igorant you are about KO and liberals. BY go to we are igorant about life blogs and let people talk baseball.
This has nothing to do with baseball or KO, all this is a bashing video about liberals.
Keep embarrassing yourself with your igorance that is all you do.
Also
I that person who wrote that is someone that loves to lie and be a bully, but why am I not suprised, you love to show that By has zero clue what being human means and support’s people that also do not know what the term human is and if you say different By you will be lying, now get off this site and stay off, go to we love to show how subhuman we are blogs or I say igorant about liberals and life blogs.
Let people talk baseball.
Wow live how SooperMecican once again making a video showing how igorant they are. This is not what being a liberal is, this is what someone lying about liberalism is. Liberal’s By are not lazy they do not live in thier parents basement, they are not always on facebook and sorry they are not the ones saying vival things.
If you and Soopermixcan want to hear vival things than go to Limbuagh that thinks that it okay to say that brack is the magic N word. Soopermeican put out a hate video that will always By be a hate video. I have to laugh with how BS and untrue this video is, also I seen this person’s tweets they are showing just how much of a hypocrite they are, I only see this person name call people that disagree with them and protect like you do bullies and people that hate on twitter, and BY do not say different because that would be a lie.
Love how you show that liberals are tolerant and you and you cannot tell a hate video when it stares at you in the face. BY only people that live in alternate universes would believe that this is honest video.
You once again show that you have no idea what honesty is and that you are igorant when it comes to facts, and do not say different By because that would be another lie.
This is and always will be By what is know has a hate video showing that Soopermexican is excatly what they think liberals and are showing how igorant they are on liberals.
Now get off the blog and let people talk baseball.
/
//