Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-24 11:00:00 2026-06-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-23574
Our June 2026 auction presents a focused and exceptional selection of historical photographs spanning the 1840s through the early twentieth century, with unusual depth in named subjects, rare formats, and documented provenance anchored by strong vernacular material that rewards close looking.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 550

Photograph, Integrated NAD Baseball Team, Hastings, Nebraska

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $5,000
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Thirteen members of the Naval Ammunition Depot intra-base baseball team pose in two rows outside a depot building in this gelatin silver print, identified on the reverse as the NAD team at Hastings, Nebraska. The racially integrated roster is among the most historically notable aspects of the image, documenting a Black player and an Asian American player alongside white teammates on a military base team during the postwar era of American desegregation. No photographer's imprint appears on the print.

The back row of seven stands before a brick building, most wearing two-tone NAD uniforms with a stylized thunderbird or eagle emblem on the chest, one man in a knit sweater and one in a jersey lettered "Naval Ammunition Depot." The front row of six kneels on the pavement, with a man in civilian clothes at far left identified as the manager. Player positions and surnames are recorded in a period hand on the reverse: kneeling are Pringle (manager), Stoddard (3B), Boone (LF), Verano (utility outfield), Lenas (utility infield), and Ihatson (RF); back row are King (CF), Lilly (P), Arnold (P), Kightlinger (1B), Brawns (C), Florea (2B), and Lyman (SS).

The Naval Ammunition Depot at Hastings, Nebraska was a major military installation active from 1942 through the postwar period, employing thousands of civilian and military personnel. Intra-base athletic programs were common at such installations and provided one of the earlier contexts in which racially integrated team competition occurred in the American Midwest during this era.

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