The Sport
October 1857
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Around The Association
ATLANTIC - 23; CONTINENTAL - 11
On Thursday, October 1st, the Atlantic baseball machine continued to roll with a 23-11 victory over Continental. The contest was back-and-forth in the beginning, as the teams traded the lead five times during the first three innings.
A significant turning point in the game occurred during the top of the fourth inning. Trailing 7-8, Atlantic's 2B John Holder skied a ball that landed neatly in a quagmire of brambles in right field. This fair hit was ruled in-play and no effort short of an act of congress was able to retrieve the ball in time to prevent the bases from being cleared by the Atlantic nine. After scoring five aces, Atlantic's Mattie O’Brien whitewashed the Continental strikers during the bottom half of the inning. After this, Atlantic took control of the match, scoring 11 aces over the next five innings and allowing Continental only three additional tallies.
Code:
R H E
ATLANTIC 223 513 322 - 23 31 7
CONTINENTAL 323 010 110 - 11 24 9
ATLANTIC - 28; CONTINENTAL - 17
On Tuesday, October 6th, Atlantic downed Continental for the second time in consecutive weeks, 28-17. Continental led Atlantic after 3 innings, 10-8, but Atlantic scored 5 in the 4th, 7 in the 5th, and 5 more in the 6th to come away with a 28-17 victory. John Price (2 doubles) and Dicky Pearce each had 4 hits and 3 runs scored for Atlantic. Pete O’Brien (double, 5 aces), L.M. Bergen (5 aces), Mattie O‘Brien, and S.V. Millard had 3 hits each.
Code:
R H E
CONTINENTAL 352 221 101 - 17 25 10
ATLANTIC 242 575 12X - 28 35 8
GOTHAM - 22; EAGLE - 12
On Friday, October 9th, the Gotham club downed Eagle 22-12. After a largely disappointing ‘57 campaign, everything seemed to gel for Gotham as they took advantage of a depleted Eagle squad. T.G. Van Cott took the box for the Gothams while Mssr. Bixby hurled for the Eagle.
The game remained close for the initial three and one half innings with Gotham holding a slight 5 to 2 advantage on the strength of key hitting, excellent hurling by Van Cott and excellent fielding at all corners of the field. Bixby maintained pace with Van Cott limiting the Gotham to only a single base hit until, in the process of delivering a pitch in the bottom of the fourth, he crumbled to ground clutching his right arm in pain. After a significant delay, to tend to the fallen hurler, the determined Eagles designated a reliever and returned to their positions. The Gothams immediately took advantage of the impromptu relief effort by Mssr. Winslow as well as a diminished roster of eight ballists by manufacturing a dozen plus aces with the seemingly nonstop hit and run production of Cudlipp, Sheridan, and McCosker.
Code:
R H E
GOTHAM 122 324 332 - 22 28 8
EAGLE 101 122 212 - 12 24 14
EMPIRE - 19; ECKFORD -7
On Friday, October 9th, the Empire club defeated the Eckfords of Brooklyn 19-7 behind a fine performance by pitcher Dick Thorn, who allowed only 15 hits.
Code:
R H E
EMPIRE 102 324 331 - 19 28 5
ECKFORD 001 212 010 - 7 15 7
NASSAU - 18; HARLEM - 15
On Friday, October 9th, the Nassau base ball club defeated the Harlem base ball club 18-15.
Code:
R H E
HARLEM 310 132 131 - 15 21 8
NASSAU 221 125 32X - 18 29 11
ATLANTIC - 20; PUTNAM - 15
On Tuesday, October 20th, the grey clouds of recent days departed, and the players returned to the ball grounds in Brooklyn. Along with the sun and pleasant temperatures, the nice weather brought many spectators to witness a match between the Atlantics and Putnams.
The match led off with the Atlantics winning the coin toss, and choosing to strike first. It proved to be a wise decision, as the Brooklyn gentlemen struck gold in the first innings. The first five strikers in the Atlantic nine reached base safely before nary a hand was lost, and when the innings ended the Atlantics found themselves up by 4 aces. The Atlantics were led by the fine striking of their captain Dicky Pearce and their fine fielding center fielder, Pete O‘Brien. Not to be outdone the Putnams struck for 4 tallies as well in their half of the first innings.
In their half of the second innings the Atlantics took the lead again thanks to some deep striking by John Price. When the rally was over the score now stood 6-4. The Putnams would not be put down quietly, as they too sent many howitzers to the long field and took a 7-6 lead heading into the third innings.
The Atlantics made effective use of the lumber in the top of the third innings, scoring four runs before the first hand was lost. After white-washing the Putnams in the third innings the score now stood at 10-7.
After their third innings rally, the Atlantics would fall upon hard times and only tallied two aces in the following 4 innings. The Putnams would strike for four aces in as many innings and now trailed the Atlantics by a lone run at 12-11.
The Atlantics would attempt to widen the gap in the eighth innings when John Price opened the inning with a howitzer shot over the railroad tracks in right field. Price's loud strike aroused the sleeping giants and the Atlantics placed four more aces on the board. The Putnams would not be done away with easily, as they too struck for four aces and made the game a tight scratch again. Heading into the ninth innings the score now stood Atlantic 16 and Putnam 15.
In their last opportunity to strike the Atlantics put the game out of doubt and into the victory column by finding 4 more aces in their bag of tricks. The Putnams had no more vim left, and though they showed a great deal of sand in their play in their half of the ninth innings, they failed to score and finished the match skunked.
Code:
R H E
ATLANTIC 424 020 044 - 20 28 5
PUTNAM 430 400 040 - 15 29 9
ATLANTIC - 18; ECKFORD - 13
On Thursday, October 22, an estimated crowd in the tens of thousands watched the two best clubs in base ball go at it. The Atlantic and Eckford clubs didn't disappoint the spectators. The game was a lively affair in which the Eckford boys drew close in the late innings, but lost 18-13. A difficult second inning in which they surrendered 10 aces to the Atlantics certainly put the Eckfords in a bad spot early. The Eckford defense was shaky as well. They committed seven muffs in the first three innings and finished the match with ten. The Atlantics hit the ball often, hard and deep during the early stage of the match. However, as the innings progressed, their hot bats cooled and only some good pitching by Mattie O'Brien and an acrobatic catch in the field by brother Pete for the third hand lost during the bottom half of the ninth inning gave Atlantic the day.
Code:
R H E
ATLANTIC 1102 201 110 - 18 27 5
ECKFORD 1 21 020 214 - 13 19 10
ATLANTIC - 22; GOTHAM - 5
On Tuesday, October 27th, Atlantic closed its 1857 season with a victory over the Gothams at the Elysian Field in Hoboken, N.J. Atlantic broke out offensively while playing stellar defense, taking a 22-5 decision from the Gotham men. Dicky Pearce had 4 hits with a double and 4 aces, while Pete O’Brien also had 4 hits, with 2 aces. John Price and Polkert Boerum contributed 3 hits apiece. Defensively on the day, Archie McMahon, Pete O’Brien and Tice Hamilton made a number of spectacular one-handed grabs of balls that looked like they were hits for sure. The victory left Atlantic with an incredible 9-0 record and recognition as the best base-ball team in the land.
Code:
R H E
ATLANTIC 434 232 121 - 22 37 7
GOTHAM 201 110 000 - 5 15 4
ASSOCIATION TABLE
Code:
W L PCT GB R RA
ATLANTIC 9 0 1.000 --- 227 115
KNICKS 3 1 .750 3.5 69 60
EMPIRE 5 3 .625 3.5 171 135
NASSAU 1 0 1.000 3.5 18 15
HARLEM 2 1 .667 4.0 77 43
GOTHAM 2 3 .400 5.0 78 100
UNION 2 3 .400 5.0 87 107
EXCELSIOR 1 2 .333 5.0 40 59
PUTNAM 1 2 .333 5.0 44 42
ADRIATIC 0 1 .000 5.0 19 24
BALTIC 0 1 .000 5.0 10 25
EAGLE 3 6 .333 6.0 154 158
ECKFORD 2 5 .286 6.0 90 145
CONTINENTAL 0 4 .000 6.5 65 116
Casey at the Bat
Our National Game*
By Sport Columnist Finn Casey
Our young men are rushing out to the fields and playing base-ball. The game has attracted our boys and young men from taverns and billiard saloons and counting-rooms, from Broadway and Wall-Street, to the lawns beyond the river. Perhaps it is a mania, and will soon pass away, very much as the chess mania introduced by Mr. Morphy, or the billiard mania of M. Berger. Still we like the manias that set our young people wild after fresh air and romping.
Cricket remains popular but does not seem to nationalize. We have several clubs; but they are mostly patronized by English citizens. Our American game seems to be base-ball. We had an illustration of its popularity over the river Thursday, when twenty thousand men and women assembled to witness the contest between the Atlantic and the Eckford, the two best clubs, I believe, in America. Gentlemen who claim to be familiar with the mysteries of these games, give cricket much prominence over base-ball, like those adepts who regard chess as fashionable and checkers as vulgar. Chess is the more fascinating, but at the same time more tedious and time-exhausting. Beyond the mental exhilaration of the moment, chess is no better than an hour or two spent over books or ledgers. The clerk who goes from his desk to the chess-club and spends the evening over a table, moving small pieces of wood or ivory, may have a great deal enjoyment, but he will probably return to his desk next morning stupid and dull.
The prominence of base-ball over cricket lies in its simplicity, just as the skipping-rope and the hoop hold their own against the pleasant game of croquet. Where a game has intricacies and laws, and is so much progressive that to one class of men it will be a science as absolute as engineering or navigation, while to another class it will be a mystery, it can never become popular. We are too busy in America to make chess or cricket a profession, and therefore so many give their leisure evening hours to checkers and their play hours during the day to base ball.
With all its simplicity, however, base-ball has many elements of science and skill. In latter years, its friends have organized and systematized it, and written its laws, and formed local and national associations.
Base-ball comes home to the American, as its characteristics are eminently American. The main requisites are strength and precision in “batting;” activity in “fielding,” quickness and energy in throwing and catching. In cricket, the requisites are skill and swiftness in “bowling,” and watchfulness in “batting.”
A good game of base-ball presents few “runs,” while a good game of cricket has many. While cricket is full of interest and has many points of admiration, the professional quality of a few expert cricketers is apt to centralize and narrow the interest of the game. In base-ball, no such danger exists. The difference between a good player and a bad one is not much more than that between a school girl expert with the skipping-rope and the Miss who steps daintily over it for fear of tripping.
Any clerk may go into the field with his ball and bat, and, if his muscles are strong enough for him to run and jump, and his fingers are supple enough to keep the ball from striking them, he may in a little time become a player as good as the members of our Atlantic and Eckford. The easy method of learning base-ball makes it popular, and in results it is as good as cricket.
Whether it is cricket or base-ball, boating or running, foot-ball or “shinny;” whatever sort of amusement or sensation, take our pale-faced, sodden-eyed, stoop-shouldered, flacid young men out into the open air and make them run, jump and pull, is a blessing.
Leave prize-fighting to the rowdies, horse-racing to the gamblers and jockeys, and bird and beast-slaying to the butchers—let our field sports be more innocent and useful. In the end, we shall be a better people, and our children will bless us that the blood coursing in their veins is free from typhus and scrofula and the wasting taint of consumption.
*Based on an article from an 1857 issue of the Clipper.
MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION
Tri-Mountains Claim Massachusetts Crown
The Tri-Mountain base ball club beat Boston's Olympic base ball club in a best-of-three game series played during October to claim the championship of the Massachusetts Association. The Olympics, last year's champion, opened defense of their crown on Wednesday, October 7th against Tri-Mountain at the Common. Olympic fell behind early and never challenged the Tri-Mountain boys' lead, losing 100-55 in a 33-innings, six hour match.
A more lively ball seems to have been used for the second match on the 14th, as both teams tallied multiple aces during the early innings and traded the lead back and forth on a regular basis. While holding a slim 59-51 edge, Olympic whitewashed Tri-Mountain in the top half of the 17th innings and then proceeded to tally 12 aces when it was their turn to strike. The outcome was never in doubt afterwards as Olympic went on to win the match 100-80.
In the third and deciding match on the 28th, Tri-Mountain raced out to an early lead and looked to have an easy time of it. Heading into the 22nd innings, the Tri-Mountain boys held a commanding 61-28 lead. However the Olympic strikers seemed to find new vigor at that point and as the match progressed they began to close the gap. At the close of the 32nd innings, the Tri-Mountain's lead had been reduced to a slim four aces, 94-90. In the top half of the 33rd, the Tri-Mountains exploded for 12 aces, putting them past the century mark. Chasing 16, the Olympics only were able to tally four aces, giving Tri-Mountain the match and the championship.
Game Results
Code:
Wednesday, October 7th
OLYMPIC 201 102 020 323 030 006 234 070 025 000 007 - 55
TRI-MOUNTAIN 352 380 025 205 556 190 137 225 001 814 023 - 100
Friday, October 9th
WINTHROP 104 435 3410 243 248 323 420 343 263 326 - 101
BUNKER HILL 102 112 06 3 140 641 142 144 203 302 333 - 68
Saturday, October 10th
ELM TREE 443 313 5311 433 433 633 333 463 - 91
WASSAPOAG 826 343 94 3 1202 233 325 823 571 - 100
Wednesday October 14th
TRI-MOUNTAIN 4111 0 24 822 171 22 2 11 0 503 101 110 271 322 - 80
OLYMPIC 3 38 2100 088 202 1011 0112 318 051 301 210 031 - 100
Wednesday October 21st
WINTHROP 213 2 - 8
TRI-MOUNTAIN 288 3 - 21
Friday October 23rd
OLYMPIC 416 38 3 1298 034 1 21 759 011 - 88
WINTHROP 322 2410 806 282 8128 442 931 - 100
Friday, October 24th
BAY STATE 236 132 132 1102 1100 6811 331 423 77 - 102
ROUGH-N-READY 110 300 1101 1 00 1 73 02 1 036 006 00 - 47
Wednesday October 28th
TRI-MOUNTAIN 225 400 631 800 6010 053 042 341 734 20 0 3 612 - 106
OLYMPIC 030 200 272 101 10 3 030 120 1228 802 0611 211 4 - 94
ASSOCIATION STANDINGS
W L PCT GB R RA
TRI-MOUNTAIN 6 1 1.000 -- 614 511
WINTHROP 4 1 1.000 1.0 405 333
WASSAPOAG 2 1 .500 2.0 247 235
OLYMPIC 5 4 .800 2.0 841 799
BUNKER HILL 2 2 .667 2.5 365 344
GREEN MOUNTAIN 2 2 .500 2.5 367 331
BAY STATE 1 2 .000 3.0 346 262
ELM TREE 1 2 .500 3.0 290 299
UNION 0 2 .000 3.5 104 200
AMERICAN 0 3 .000 4.0 237 301
ROUGH-N-READY 0 3 .000 4.0 156 302
FOOTBALL
Sheffield Cricketers Form Football Club
Sheffield, England -- Last May, two keen cricket lovers, William Prest and Nathaniel Creswick, chatted late into the night about the need for an organized sport to keep their fitness levels up during winter. They decided football was the perfect choice.
Now, five months later, the two have formed the Sheffield Football Club. Officers of the club were elected at its first meeting. Creswick was named as Secretary and Captain. The club’s headquarters have been established in a potting shed and green house at the bottom of East Bank Road.
“The first thing we did,“ Creswick said, “was to study the existing sets of rules.”
Instead of adopting an existing set of laws, Creswick and Prest have drawn up their own rules of play. The rules are distinctive. First, there is no offside rule, opposing players can be pushed and a player catching the ball gets a free kick.
The Sheffield Club has attracted a lot of interest. Club members plan to organize themselves into teams so they can play matches. Planned events over the next several weeks include matches between the club’s married and unmarried men and between club members in professional occupations and the trades.
Listed below are the Sheffield Club’s official rules.
1. The kick from the middle must be a place kick.
2. Kick Out must not be more than 25 yards out of goal.
3. A Fair Catch is a catch from any player provided the ball has not touched the ground or has not been thrown from touch and is entitled to a free-kick.
4. Charging is fair in case of a place kick (with the exception of a kick off as soon as a player offers to kick) but he may always draw back unless he has actually touched the ball with his foot.
5. Pushing with the hands is allowed but no hacking or tripping up is fair under any circumstances whatever.
6. No player may be held or pulled over.
7. It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose whatever.
8. The ball may be pushed or hit with the hand, but holding the ball except in the case of a free kick is altogether disallowed.
9. A goal must be kicked but not from touch nor by a free kick from a catch.
10. A ball in touch is dead, consequently the side that touches it down must bring it to the edge of the touch and throw it straight out from touch.
11. Each player must provide himself with a red and dark blue flannel cap, one color to be worn by each side.
EXTRA
This Month in Sport History
Oct 6, 1845
The first recorded baseball game using Cartwright's rules is played between members of the Knickerbocker Club. Only 14 players participate as Duncan Curry's team defeats Alex Cartwright's team 11-8 in a shortened game of only 3 innings. The Knickerbocker Club will play at least 14 recorded games during the fall of 1845.
October 12, 1853
John Morrissey wins the Heavyweight Championship of America with a controversial victory over “Yankee” Sullivan. During the 37 round bout, Sullivan beats Morrissey badly but leaves the ring and while grappling with Morrissey's second, ignores the call of "time". The referee gives the bout to Morrissey.
Oct 24, 1854
The Gothams defeat the Eagle club 21-14 at Hoboken. The first attempt at publishing a play-by-play scorecard is presented in the Clipper and shows outs by inning and total runs scored by each player.
Oct 26, 1854
The first match that results in a tie takes place between the Knicks and Gothams. The game is called at 12-12.
Oct 11, 1856
For a game between the Atlantics and Athletics in Brooklyn, scorecards are printed for the first time. The attendance is said to be 30,000.