Californie

1936 · 49961 — N.P. California: Standard Oil of California Sept. 9 1936. Large panoramic photograph 36 x 8.5 in. w/ date noted in lower margin of image very slight creasing in a few spots from when the photo was originally rolled very slight lightening to image at ends still a very sharp crisp photo in contemporary frame old glass with new archival backing. This very scarce panoramic photo provides an excellent historical snapshot of the heyday of Standard Oil Company semi-pro baseball teams in California. Of particular note in this photograph is the presence of the RPM Motor Oil baseball team because 1936 was the year that Standard Oil introduced the brand. To offset the dramatic drop in earnings during the Great Depression Standard Oil pushed heavily researched new products including RPM Motor Oil Standard Gasoline DELO Diesel Engine Lubricating Oil and others. Standard Oil and other large oil companies promoted company-sponsored baseball teams as diversions for oil families to entertain themselves and to incorporate the values of aggressiveness and toughness symbolized by the oil roughnecks. In this photo the RPM team is fielding 15 players in uniform while the opponents Standard Oil are fielding 13 players including one in catcher’s gear. See: Chevron Corporation A History in War and Peace 1927-1946 2015; Standard Oil Bulletin. Standard Oil of California, unknown