Rare photographs of Providence Grays 1879 championship team sell for $30,000

A rare set of photographs depicting members of the Providence Grays from their 1879 National League Championship season fetched $30,000 in a recent auction.

According to Robert Edwards Auctions, the “team cabinet” drew 60 bids and may be the only survivor.

The cabinet features 10 members of the championship team. Player-manager George Wright is at the center, and nine position players surround him.

The team's name is above Wright's image, while the year is below it.

The 10 players are in their uniforms.

The auction group said the cabinet was also significant as three of the pictured players went on to have Hall of Fame careers, including Wright.

Two notable markings appear on the reverse of the cabinet. One marking is the label to George Wright’s sporting goods store on Dorrance Street in Providence, while the other is a stamp of a photography company based out of Westminster Street.

The auction group believes that indicates the cabinets were either sold or issued as a promotional giveaway.