Unique original photo from the late 1910’s or early 1920’s featuring professional African American players. On the back of the photo, it is written “couch runner Crush”. Crush may actually refers to the Indianapolis ABC star player Christopher Holloway best known as Crush Holloway.

Crush Holloway and Biz Mackey (HOF) joined the Indianapolis ABC’s in 1921. During the previous two seasons, they were playing together in Texas for the San Antonio Black Aces.

According to the baseball historian Paul Debono: “Holloway was well known to be a terror on the basepath. He “sharpened his spikes” to intimidate infielders. (…..) Photographs of the ABC’s from Holloway’s personal collection were passed on to baseball historians and remain among the most important artifacts of Indianapolis ABC baseball history”. This might actually be a photo from that collection.

If the player sliding is Crush Holloway, then it is very likely that the catcher in uniform is either Biz Mackey or Russel Powell. 1921 was the last season of Powell with the ABC’s, and the first season of Biz Mackey in Indianapolis.

The letter « I » on the jersey of the catcher tend to confirm the idea that the catcher is playing for the Indianapolis ABC’s. In other word, the catcher would be a teammate of the runner if he is Crush Holloway. Then the photo was probably taken during a practice or a photo session, which would explain why there is no crowd on the stands. Finally, an other indication that it could be a photo of the ABC’s is the fact that the ABC’s were one of the very rare Negro League teams to own their stadium in the 1920’s.

Amazing early Negro League photo possibly featuring Crush Holloway and Biz Mackey or Russel Powell while playing for one of the most legendary baseball team ever: the Indianapolis ABC’s.