Back to the Future of Baseball

Do you like a mystery? A reader, Shawn England, recently sent me some pictures and asked if I had any information on the depicted event:

I believe the picture was taken in the Chicago area due to the fact that the Policeman has CCP on his belt buckle. I have found photos of Chicago police with the same buckle and attire. I am hoping someone may be able to identify the exact location or the guys pictured. I have exhausted all of my go to locations in trying to pin down the names that are written on the back, with no success.

My take on the photos representation, is that it is some sort of parody on baseball. Perhaps showing the future of baseball in (a hundred years from now" in "1999" as the game was fairly rough in the days of which this picture was taken. Anyway, any help or direction you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Here are the pictures:







Fascinating shots! Shawn also posed the question on the Net54Baseball Forum so there are a few additional clues over there. There is what appears to be a rifle on the ground and one forum member noted, "this was a very rough period in baseball...lots of fighting and problems...lots of drinkers and high livers...actually what led to the founding of the American League...perhaps this was a clever play on the idea that by 1999 baseball would be played by thugs with guns...much like the NBA of modern day." OK, that last comment was tongue-in-cheek, but I think the forum members have some great observations. It certainly sounds/appears to be a Chicago event, but is it? If anyone has some additional information on these "Marty McFlyball pics," please post in the comments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Received from a reader: My take on the baseball mystery is that it was a promotional advertisement scheme for one of the teams playing that day. I was able to magnify the scoreboard and although it is not crystal clear, it appears that the name of the visiting team was the Criminals. I can definitely make out a CRIM. This would account for all the criminal related dress of the various individuals. A clown act perhaps designed to promote the team and playfully intimidate the opposing team or fan base.