That’s Rabbit Maranville, circa 1915, and Bruce says the cap was worn to commemorate the sinking of the Lusitania. I know the swastika has a lengthy pre-Nazi history, so let’s not rehash all of that, but I didn’t know about this Lusitania connection. Anyone know more?

At the time of the disaster, the Braves were in the midst of a nearly month-long homestand that stretched from May 6 to June 3. Assuming the club wore the special caps soon after the ship's sinking, why would they don road uniforms at home?

Alternatively, if the photo was taken after the Braves' homestand, why bother? The incident was a month in the past.

And why wear the "swasti-cap?" What does a swastika have to do with calling attention to the tragedy? Why not wear an armband or special pin?

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-22441

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-22473

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-22484

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-15794

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-15793

New York Times

Manager Harry Wolverton of the Yankees says that the day of the superstitious ballplayer is over. He doesn't believe in jinxes, good or bad omens, rabbits' feet, swastika signs, or all that ancient baseball lore.