Assignments of the players in the 1887 Des Moines Team Photo

The assignments were based on the spring roster for the club, as given in the Des Moines Register. An article in mid-April indicates that a team photo was taken around that time.


According to the Topkea State Journal, Maurice Bresnahan, who played in several early preseason games, was released for punching Manager Bryan in the head. (April 5, 1874, pg. 4).


Sam Bittle was a professional boxer in the 1880s. According to Cyber Boxing Zone, he retired from boxing in
December 1886 to pitch professionally for Des Moines.