The Boston Red Sox and the history of giving the Middle Finger

[Rock Strongo]

The earliest known photo of someone giving the finger was taken in Boston in 1886. Because of course it was.

https://twentytwowords.com/first-known-photograph-of-someone-giving-the-finger-1886-3-pictures/

 

[Rock Strongo]

Some commenters have suggested that it looks like a cigar. It does, that’s true. However it seems relatively well-documented that it’s him flipping the bird. And, it turns out, this isn’t the only time he did it.

Here’s the story of the two incidents as told by Edward Achorn in his book Fifty-nine in ’84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had…

Charlie dutifully rested his right hand on the shoulder of the teammate sitting in front of him. But at the last minute, wearing a straight face…he lifted his left hand above his teammate’s other shoulder, firmly thrust out his middle finger, and held it rock steady so that it would remain sharp and clear in the captured image….

Charlie was seemingly the first man in history whose use of the obscene gesture was preserved on film. He may well have been the second, too. The following year, posing for his photograph on an Old Judge Tobacco baseball card, Radbourn placed his hands on his hips and, wearing a bland expression, subtly extended the middle finger on his left hand. Click.

 

[Carnzo]

I'm so proud to be a Red Sox fan!

 

[BigKen]

That's Fingers O'Rourke. He broke his finger and could never bend it again. The joke was that his finger was so stiff that nothing else could get that way.......

 

[nynasty]

You'd be pissed too, if the best name your ownership could come up with for your franchise was the Beaneaters.

WTF

 

[Rock Strongo]

fore the record, radbourn died at age 42. 6 years after he retired.

Charles Radbourn

he won 60 games in 1884. 60. 108-37 over a 2 year span. insane.

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

Interesting historical nugget. Also I think the Red Sox have received the middle finger more than anyone else so it's a push

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

You'd be pissed too, if the best name your ownership could come up with for your franchise was the Beaneaters.

WTF

Could be worse.... for instance the 1889 Detroit Night Soil Haulers isn't great

 

[Rock Strongo]

Could be worse.... for instance the 1889 Detroit Night Soil Haulers isn't great

or...the worcester...worcesters. or the no names, as they were also known.

they had no name.

Worcester Worcesters - Wikipedia

 

[Cedrique]

or...the worcester...worcesters. or the no names, as they were also known.

they had no name.

Worcester Worcesters - Wikipedia

this is an off topic question - If you live in that area and are sending someone a text message involving Worcester do you type out the whole word or do you just type "wuster" or something?

 

[Rock Strongo]

this is an off topic question - If you live in that area and are sending someone a text message involving Worcester do you type out the whole word or do you just type "wuster" or something?

i type worcester and it autofills. its a real city. a friend lives near the plaque commemorating the first perfect game in MLB history, which in fact happened in worcester.

 

[Cedrique]

i type worcester and it autofills. its a real city. a friend lives near the plaque commemorating the first perfect game in MLB history, which in fact happened in worcester.

Actually I heard about that. Here is his hall of fame bust

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

or...the worcester...worcesters. or the no names, as they were also known.

they had no name.

Worcester Worcesters - Wikipedia

That is simply lazy. Sounds like something @Used 2 B Hu would do

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

i type worcester and it autofills. its a real city. a friend lives near the plaque commemorating the first perfect game in MLB history, which in fact happened in worcester.

Can you get your hands on some sauce? I would like some

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Interesting historical nugget. Also I think the Red Sox have received the middle finger more than anyone else so it's a push

The White Sox don’t lack class like those New England assholes.

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

The White Sox don’t lack class like those New England assholes.

For once, little to no expectations serve your fans well

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

This thread has inspired me so I have been vigorously researching.

1887 Toledo Dick Eaters

 

[ChiSoxFan]

For once, little to no expectations serve your fans well

I’m apathetic. If they win, that’s good or whatever.

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

I’m apathetic. If they win, that’s good or whatever.

I do miss those halcyon days of Ozzie Guillen

 

[ChiSoxFan]

I do miss those halcyon days of Ozzie Guillen

That crazy bastard knew how to run a bullpen.