[Cusick]

Originally Posted by cinemaodyssey

There are two Michael McDermott's, both pitchers, in baseball history and both from the 19th century. Coincidentally, both pitched for Louisville and also strange is that Baseball-Reference features the same photo for both of them.

I am of the belief that the Facepack image for Mike J. McDermott actually pictures Michael McDermott, who pitched briefly for Louisville in 1889 and was from Fall River. I've attached that image, plus a confirmed image of Mike J. McDermott (from the 1896 Louisville team photo) for comparison.

Of the two images you posted, cinemaodyssey, the photo below will confirm that your image on the left is of Michael J. McDermott. The photo below comes from the book, Baseball Treasures, by Douglas Congdon-Martin and John Kashmanian, published in 1992. The caption for this photo was "Michael McDermott, pitcher. Mike played for Louisville (American Association, 1889 and National League, 18995-6), and for Cleveland and St. Louis, 1897. From the Kashmanian Collection."

The photo which appears for both McDermott's on Baseball-Reference.com comes from a team collage of the 1886 Poughkeepsies. That team collage appears in the book, The Beer and Whisky League, by David Nemec, published in 1994. The Baseball-Reference record for Michael H. McDermott does not show him playing for any minor league team in 1886, but the timing of this photo makes it much more likely that it's Michael H. than Michael J.,whose pro career didn't start until 1895. So it's a pretty safe bet that the Baseball-Reference photo is Michael H.