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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
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
"Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Chicago White Sox, In Their Championship Year Of 1917
Final score:
25points
Mary Shimkus 7 years ago
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.
#2
"Smokey" Joe Wood. Boston Red Sox, 1915
Final score:
25points
Marzo Florida 7 years ago
I didnt know that you could renew and colorize old photos, and the look in his face makes this one my fav ☺
#3
The Stars Of The Chicago White Sox In Their Championship Year Of 1917
Final score:
24points
#4
Alva "Rip" Williams. Washington Nationals, 1912
Final score:
21points
#5
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
Final score:
19points
#7
Grover Cleveland Alexander. Philadelphia Phillies, 1914
Final score:
18points
#8
The First Champions Of The New American League. Chicago White Sox, With Owner Charles Comiskey, 1901
Final score:
18points
#9
"Chief" Meyers. Brooklyn, 1916
Final score:
17points
OdangaUsagi 7 years ago
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.
#11
Honus Wagner. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1917
Final score:
14points
#12
Jim Thorpe. New York Giants, 1913, One Year After Winning The Decathlon And Pentathlon Gold Medals In The Stockholm Olympics
Final score:
13points
Andrew Keane 7 years ago
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
#13
Babe Ruth. Boston Red Sox, 1919
Final score:
13points
#15
Johnny Evers. Chicago Cubs, 1913
Final score:
11points
#16
Connie Mack. Manager Philadelphia Athletics, 1913
Final score:
10points
#19
"Rube" Foster. Boston Red Sox, 1914
Final score:
9points
#20
Eddie Collins. Philadelphia Athletics, 1910
Final score:
8points
#21
New York Giants Manager John Mcgraw With Chicago Cubs Star Johnny Evers, 1912
Final score:
8points
#23
Pitching Great Christy Mathewson At His Last Appearance As A Player With The Cincinnati Reds, 1916
Final score:
7points
#24
Casey Stengel. Brooklyn, 1915
Final score:
6points
Barry Nolan 7 years ago
He had the hipster look sewn up before it was cool. He is the ultimate hipster!!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Jeroen van Rossum 7 years ago
I have seen a lot of old photo restore jobs but I have never seen it done this good!
Andrew Cas 7 years ago
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
Diana Di Giacopo-Robinson 7 years ago
Players come to life, blood running through their veins again. Not a baseball enthusiast, but would hang every pic on my wall! Amazing work!
Aaaa Bbbb 7 years ago
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?
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
Oh, I actually started with family photos and some historic cityscapes. But my passion is baseball.
Load More Replies...
Scott Rasmussen 7 years ago
Phenomenal job ! I would never have thought I would approve of this, but you proved me very wrong.. amazing!
Parmeisan 7 years ago
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?
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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...
Danika Strong 7 years ago
great article on jim thorpe http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-are-jim-thorpes-olympic-records-still-not-recognized-130986336/
Asher Zeiger 7 years ago
These are absolutely fantastic, but I have one question/comment - Picture #5 of Alva "Rip" Williams. Shouldn't that be of Washington SENATORS?
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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...
Michael Smith 7 years ago
Nice. I'm wondering what Shoeless Joe is doing with the Tools of Ignorance, though.
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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...
Cody Eriksen 7 years ago
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.
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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...
Marc Weiss 5 years ago
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.
Neeraj Kumar 7 years ago
Hello Brother I want to see how you edit these video. Have you created any video in this project.
Chris Whitehouse 7 years ago
Not yet, but I'm working on a project now. Although I won't be giving away all my secrets!
Load More Replies...
Pi... 7 years ago
Beautiful work, no doubt. But black and white pictures hold a timeless magic of their own... Like time machines...
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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...
Trevin Wilson 7 years ago
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.
Gary Clodfelder 7 years ago
There was a "white" Rube Foster who DID pitch for the Red Sox
Load More Replies... Jeroen van Rossum 7 years ago
I have seen a lot of old photo restore jobs but I have never seen it done this good!
Andrew Cas 7 years ago
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
Diana Di Giacopo-Robinson 7 years ago
Players come to life, blood running through their veins again. Not a baseball enthusiast, but would hang every pic on my wall! Amazing work!
Aaaa Bbbb 7 years ago
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?
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
Oh, I actually started with family photos and some historic cityscapes. But my passion is baseball.
Load More Replies... Scott Rasmussen 7 years ago
Phenomenal job ! I would never have thought I would approve of this, but you proved me very wrong.. amazing!
Parmeisan 7 years ago
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?
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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... Danika Strong 7 years ago
great article on jim thorpe http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-are-jim-thorpes-olympic-records-still-not-recognized-130986336/
Asher Zeiger 7 years ago
These are absolutely fantastic, but I have one question/comment - Picture #5 of Alva "Rip" Williams. Shouldn't that be of Washington SENATORS?
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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... Michael Smith 7 years ago
Nice. I'm wondering what Shoeless Joe is doing with the Tools of Ignorance, though.
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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... Cody Eriksen 7 years ago
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.
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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... Marc Weiss 5 years ago
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.
Neeraj Kumar 7 years ago
Hello Brother I want to see how you edit these video. Have you created any video in this project.
Chris Whitehouse 7 years ago
Not yet, but I'm working on a project now. Although I won't be giving away all my secrets!
Load More Replies... Pi... 7 years ago
Beautiful work, no doubt. But black and white pictures hold a timeless magic of their own... Like time machines...
Mancave Pictures (Post author) 7 years ago
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... Trevin Wilson 7 years ago
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.
Gary Clodfelder 7 years ago
There was a "white" Rube Foster who DID pitch for the Red Sox
Load More Replies...
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