Category: 1867 - This Game Of Games

Der Union Base Ball Club

8/20/2015

The above ad comes from the Hermanner Volksblatt of July 13, 1867. I didn't bother to translate the entire thing but what we have here is an ad for a ball held by the Union Club of Hermann, Missouri in the summer of 1867. Hermann was a town founded by German immigrants in 1837 and is located on the Missouri River, a little more than halfway between St. Louis and Jefferson City.

The significance of this piece is that it speaks to the popularity and spread of the game during the post-war era but, more importantly, it speaks to the popularity of the game among the German immigrant community. I'm of the opinion that the game was very popular among the German immigrant community but the problem that I have in proving this is that there is a language barrier with regards to the contemporary source material. My German is terrible and I don't have the language skills necessary to go through the German papers of the era. But I know that there are plenty of references to baseball in those papers, even though I don't know the specifics of those references. This little ad from the Hermann paper gives a little support to my thinking with regards to the popularity of the game among the German immigrant community in Missouri. But there is much, much more research that needs to be done on the subject.

The Troy Base Ball Club

8/19/2015

The young men of Troy favorable to the formation of a Base Ball Club, are requested to meet at Mr. Brown's Hotel, next Saturday evening at early candle light. Come one come all.

-Lincoln County Herald, March 22, 1867

The permanent officers of the Troy Base Ball Club, were elected last Monday evening:

E.L. Wells, President.
C. Ward, Vice President.
R. Wellott, Secretary & Treasurer.
Wm. Bennett, Field Capt. & [Umpire.]

The first opening of their exercises will begin Saturday evening next.

-Lincoln County Herald, April 5, 1867

Troy, Missouri, is about thirty or forty miles northwest of St. Louis and the formation of a baseball club in Troy in 1867 is an example of how the game was spreading in the post-war era. Troy, according to census data, had about six hundred residents in 1860 and about seven hundred in 1870. It was a small town out in the middle of nowhere and located a dozen miles from the Mississippi. But the game was so popular at this time and spreading so fast that even towns like Troy were putting together teams.

Not sure who they were playing, however. Maybe Olney.

The Union Triumphant: In Exuberant Spirit

11/3/2014

The great victory which crowned the Union Club...naturally enough caused no small elation and enthusiasm among the members of the organization. Their joy, however, was not manifested in any unseemly or intemperate manner towards their conquered foes, but in an unoffensive, harmless way. In one respect it assumed a most agreeable development.

Between eleven and twelve o'clock last night a large party of the victorious knights assembled in front of the Republican office, having a fine band of music in attendance, and we were soon apprised of their presence by the sweet strains of music floating up through the still air of night in most agreeable melody. The music was continued ten minutes or so, and formed quite a pleasant episode in our editorial labors, and we heartily thank the young gentlemen of the Union for the treat afforded.

There were some calls for a speech, and we were just preparing to "address the assembly," when the boss, anticipating our purpose, wisely left in time and escaped the infliction.

The party were in exuberant spirits, and full of fun and frolic, and somewhat inclined to be a little boisterous, which, however, under the circumstances, might be expected. As the party dispersed, three cheers were given for the Republican office, and then, with generous spirit, for the Empire Club.

-Missouri Republican, July 11, 1867

What I take away from this is that the celebration of the Union Club went on into the wee hours of the morning.

The Union Triumphant: Game Two

10/31/2014

The Great Base Ball Match Between The Empire And Union Clubs, Second Game - The Union Victorious. - In accordance with the published announcement, the second game in the contest between the Empire and Union Base Ball Clubs for the State championship came off at the grounds of the latter yesterday afternoon. The weather was highly favorable, and quite a large and respectable concourse of spectators assembled to witness the game. The play on both sides was good, and the interest sustained throughout. The contest was unusually close. The terrible defeat they experienced at the first had evidently stirred up the Empire men to their metal, and they played their best, but without avail, for victory again perched on the banners of the Union, the score, at the close, standing for the Union 34 and for the Empire 32. This, however, is a noble defeat, of which there is no cause to be ashamed, and although the triumph of the Union is now complete, the contest was as close almost as it was possible to be...

The game occupied three hours and thirty-five minutes. The Union has thus won the championship, and the boys are confident they can keep it for many a long day.

-Missouri Republican, July 11, 1867

While the series itself wasn't that great, this game looks to have a darn good one. The lead changed hands several times early and the Empires keep coming at the Union. The big blow was the eight runs that the Union put up in the seventh inning, which pretty much sealed the game. That ninth inning must have been something, with the Empires' comeback just falling short.

Here's Tobias' account of the match:

The second game of the series took place July 10 on the new grounds of the Union Club, on Grand near Franklin ave., and drew a very large attendance, the price of admission being placed at 25 cents, ladies free, and this was the beginning of admission fees to the games. The fact that the Empire Club had lost the former game of this series enhanced the interest of all lovers of the sport and particularly were the friends and supporters of the two clubs stirred up over the probable result. The arrangements for the convenience of the public were quite superior to anything heretofore furnished though not sufficiently strong as was demonstrated during the game. On the East side of the grounds near the Grand avenue entrance were located covered seats for ladies and their escorts, while on the south side were those designed for men and boys who had no objection to a sun bath. It was this latter portion of the amphitheatre that proved to be a weak brother by suddenly giving way and tumbling the occupants in a confused mass to the ground. Fortunately no serious injury was sustained by anyone. The playing of both nines was not equal to expectations, being marked by weak batting and faulty catching. The Empire suffered by the absence of two of its best men, Barrett and Hazleton. Wirth, Murphy, Barron and Duffy, the wiry little catcher who always was ready with his tongue as his hands, carried the honors of the day for the Empires, as did Cabanne, R. Duncan, Meacham and McCorkle for the Union nine. The Duncan brothers proved valuable acquisitions to their new love, both being quick, active fielders, handy with the willow and tenacious ball-takers. The result of this game crowned the Union Club with the long coveted hard fought for and fairly won honor of “champions” by the score of 34 to 32...

This game, having wrested from the Empires the championship title for the year, two days thereafter Capt. Jerry Fruin promptly presented Capt. E.C. Meacham the championship trophies held by the Empire Club, viz. a ball that had been won in 1866 and the belt which Martin Collins, Esq., an honorary member of the Empires, had presented to it as a prize to be played for and awarded to whatever club should wrest it from the Empires. After a few explanatory remarks regarding these trophies, Capt. Fruin gracefully surrendered them in behalf of his team.

Of interest in Tobias' account is the contention that this was the first time that admission had been charged for a baseball game in St. Louis. This is possible, as there is some hint in the Republican of July 10, 1867, that the Union Grounds were new and had just been "fitted up." It's an interesting idea, especially given the fact that the Nationals of Washington had some complaints about the field when they played the Unions later in the month

The Union Triumphant: Enclosed Grounds

10/30/2014

The Base Ball Championship. - The second championship game between the Empires and Unions will take place this afternoon at 3 o'clock, on the grounds of the Union Club.

We hope to see a huge attendance, as the Union Club deserves great credit for the manner in which they have fitted up their grounds. It is the first attempt in this city to establish enclosed grounds, and we wish them success.

-Missouri Republican, July 10, 1867

This is extremely significant. We've always known that the Union Grounds, which opened in 1867, were the first enclosed grounds in St. Louis but the evidence for that had always been found in the secondary source material. Here, we have primary source evidence stating that the Union Grounds were the first enclosed grounds in the city.

What's the big deal about enclosed grounds? With enclosed grounds, you're charging for admission and, when a club is making money, that money is usually going, at least in part, to the players. With the advent of enclosed grounds, you begin to see the beginnings of professional baseball. From this point forward, I would argue that the best clubs in St. Louis were compensating their players in some form. Professional baseball in St. Louis traces its beginnings to the construction of the Union Grounds in 1867.

Prior to this, you really didn't see players jumping from club to club but you begin to see it in 1867. Tobias mentioned the Duncan brothers, who had jumped from the Empires to the Unions and most likely changed the balance of power among the top St. Louis clubs in 1867. Tom Oran would jump from the Unions to the Empires to the Reds. I would argue that these guys were jumping clubs for money.

These clubs wanted to compete for the national championship and the championship of Missouri and they needed the best players they could find. The St. Louis clubs were not the first to pay their players and there is evidence of player compensation in the antebellum era so I think that the St. Louis clubs saw this and adopted the tactics of the Eastern clubs. If the big Eastern clubs were building enclosed grounds, charging for admission, and using that revenue to buy players, the St. Louis clubs, if they wanted to compete with the big clubs, had adopt the same tactics.

I always argue that this was Asa Smith's plan. He wanted the Union Club to compete for the national championship and to do that, he needed to take steps to bring his club and St. Louis baseball generally into what I have always called "the baseball mainstream." By that, I mean that St. Louis baseball was a little bit behind the times and that they needed to adapt to the newest baseball trends being adopted by the Eastern clubs. Missouri needed a state association. The clubs needed to join the NABBP. There had to be a state championship. There had to be enclosed grounds. There had to be road trips. There had to be games played against the highest level of competition. There had to be compensation for players so that you could put together the best possible nine. And Smith advocated for all of that and, I think, achieved it. The only thing that was really missing from his plan was the recruitment of players from outside St. Louis and a tour of the East.

In the end, the Union Club was not good enough to compete for the national championship and this failure was a serious setback for baseball in St. Louis. By the end of the 1869 season, it was obvious to all that the best St. Louis clubs could not compete with the best Eastern clubs and, as a result, there was a bit of a decline in the popularity of the game in the city that wouldn't be overcome until 1874. A St. Louis club wouldn't serious attempt to compete for the national title again until 1875.

But this failure in the second half of the 1860s shouldn't be seen negatively. Smith had a vision for what St. Louis baseball could be and that vision was, in the end, proved correct. He did everything he thought was necessary, improved the quality and nature of baseball in St. Louis, and should be remembered as one of the great pioneers of the game. Smith, in the end, was right. St. Louis baseball clubs could compete for a national title. They could compete with the best clubs in the nation. To do that, they just had to go out and buy the best players they could find. Smith's failure was that he didn't see the need to go outside of St. Louis to get players. If he had done that, the history of baseball would have been very different.

The Union Triumphant: Game One

10/29/2014

Base Ball Match For The Championship Between The Union and Empire Clubs Of This City - The "Union" Triumphant In The First Encounter. - Base ball is now generally conceded to be our national game, although it is of comparatively recent origin. From the infant of a few years ago it has risen to the proportions of a giant, and strides through the country gathering new followers at every point. That which in the earlier days of many of us was deemed a childish pastime has become a game that requires skill, manliness and strength.

A few gentlemen, whom we need not particularize, have within the last two or three years devoted almost their entire time and energies to the advancement of the base ball game in St. Louis, and their success has been most cheering. Numerous clubs have sprung up here, some of which might not hesitate to throw down the gauntlet to any in the Northwest.

A few weeks ago a challenge was given by the Union and accepted by the Empire Club to meet in friendly contest for the championship - the game to be two best in three. A meeting occurred last week, as our readers will remember, on the grounds of the old Veto Club, but was interrupted by the rain, and the many visitors present were deprived of the pleasure of witnessing the anticipated match. Yesterday the elements were more propitious, and the first trial was completed, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the Union Club, which, in nine innings, scored 59, while the Empire scored but 29. The almost insufferable state of the weather, and the unfortunate state of health in which two or three players were said to be, doubtless caused the game to be played with less brilliance than it otherwise would have been. Still, however, there were some very fine exhibitions of skill on both sides, as the score will show. There was some splendid batting by both nines, particularly the Union; while the members of the Empire seemed to be more expert in fielding. A number of plays were made by the members of either club which have rarely been surpassed.

Apparently about two thousand spectators were on the grounds, including quite a large number of ladies. For the most part excellent order prevailed. Young America, as is usual on such occasions, manifested his displeasure at intervals, by hoots and groans when something transpired that did not exactly meet his...favor...We learn that large sums of money changed hands among the outsiders on the issue of the contest...

At the conclusion of the encounter the clubs gave each other three times three, and sport was declared at an end. The next meeting will occur on the 10th.

-Missouri Republican, July 3, 1867

Tobias wrote the following about the first match of the 1867 championship:

Pursuant to this postponement the two clubs again met on July 2, at the same grounds before 2,000 spectators. The day was an extremely hot one telling against the players quite noticeably and resulting in the defeat of the Empires by the score of 59 to 29. This was the most substantial victory achieved by the Union Club in all its years of rivalry with the Empires. The marked feature of the game was the strong batting of the Union team and while the Empire’s fielding was superior they showed weakness with the willow as is demonstrated by the score of Leftfielder Johnson who got no run to his credit while in general he could be safely depended upon to materially enlarge the score. He and two other Empire players were suffering from the heat so severely as to be quite sick men. The Duncan brothers appeared in this game, opposing their old comrades of the Empires, with whom they had played several seasons with marked ability and their defections proved a loss of no mean proportions. Wirth, of the Empire’s, put out twelve men in this game.

The really interesting thing about the article from the Republican is the preface, which gives us a good indication of how the Base Ball Fever was viewed in St. Louis. The "few gentlemen" that the paper mentions must include Asa Smith and Jeremiah Fruin, both of whom played in this match. Smith, specifically, had a very good game, making only one out and scoring seven runs. But the point is that Smith and Fruin had labored, since the end of the war, to build their clubs and to create championship nines. Both clubs were building new grounds, playing outside opponents, and inviting Eastern clubs to come to St. Louis. The Empires had already made a name for themselves nationally and the Unions were trying to do the same.

These activities, I think, go beyond the normal upbuilding that you see during the Fever era and were attempts to compete on the national level. I believe that these two clubs thought that they could compete with the best clubs in the East and they believed that they were as good as anyone in the United States. Now, the Nationals of Washington were, at the time this game was being played, making their way to St. Louis and about to disprove that notion. But the fact that the Union and Empire Clubs were not as good as the Eastern clubs should not take away from the fact that they were attempting to compete nationally. That, in and of itself, said something about baseball in St. Louis. I think it speaks to the level of maturation that the game had reached in the city in the second half of the 1860s and to the vision of the men who were running the top clubs in St. Louis.

The Union Triumphant: Feverish

10/28/2014

The match game for the championship will again be renewed, this afternoon, between the Empire and Union Base Ball Clubs, on the old Veto grounds in the rear of the Pacific Railroad machine shops. The contest commences at 2 o'clock, and will draw out a crowd of spectators to the spot. The interest manifested in the result of the game is feverish, not to say intense.

-Missouri Republican, July 2, 1867

As we learned from Tobias yesterday, the first game was rained out and postponed until July 3.

I love that line about interest in the game being feverish and intense because I believe that's one of the reasons that this championship series was so significant. In 1867, St. Louis, Missouri, and the nation was in the grips of the great, post-war Base Ball Fever and the game was being played everywhere. It's in 1867 that we see the spread of the game throughout Missouri. Obviously, the game was in St. Louis prior to the war but we don't see it spreading elsewhere in the state until 1866 and then, in 1867, we see an explosion in the number of new clubs and new cities with clubs.

This series, I believe, certainly fueled the Base Ball Fever in St. Louis. Interest in the game in St. Louis had always been high, going back to 1859 and 1860, and the victories of the Empire Club in 1865 and 1866 were celebrated. But I think that the fact that baseball in St. Louis, at the highest levels, was competitive and that the Empire Club wasn't just going to walk over everyone raised the level of interest in the game in the city. Competition is always more interesting than dominance and the rivalry between the Union and Empire Clubs was healthy for the game in St. Louis. It raised interest. It brought in new fans. It gave the papers something to write about. While the two teams had been playing each other since 1860, this series was really the first great, dramatic moment in that rivalry and it created feverish interest in St. Louis.

To this day, you can't talk about the early history of baseball in St. Louis without discussing the Union/Empire rivalry and pretty much all of the significant moments in St. Louis baseball history in the second half of the 1860s involved one of these two clubs. This series was really the first great moment in the rivalry and that is one of the reasons it is remembered.

The Union Triumphant: The Challenge

10/27/2014

An Exciting Match At Base Ball To Come Off Soon. - The Empire Base Ball Club, of St. Louis, one of the strongest in the West, has challenged the Union club, also of this city, to a grand trial of strength for the championship of Missouri. The challenge has been accepted and the match will come off on the 26th inst., on the grounds of the Empire club, near the machine shop of the Pacific Railroad.

-Missouri Republican, June 13, 1867

As promised, we are going to go over the 1867 championship series between the Union and Empire Clubs. The Empire Club had been the best club in the West in 1865 and, arguably, 1866 and were certainly the best club in St. Louis and Missouri during those years. The Union Club had formed in 1860 and competed throughout the war years. They had started as a young club made up of high school students and had been one of the top clubs in St. Louis since their formation, although I would say that they were a notch below clubs like the Empire and Commercials. By 1867, they were ready to prove that they were the best baseball club in St. Louis and to do that, they had to defeat the mighty Empire Club.

E.H. Tobias, of course, has a great deal to say about this series:

The Union having challenged the Empire for a championship series of three games, the first was scheduled for June 26, on the Veto grounds, afterward known as the Compton Avenue Park, and located immediately adjoining the Pacific R.R. Machine Shops. Owing to a heavy fall of rain the game was called at the end of the fourth inning and, by mutual agreement, deferred until July 2, the score being 12 runs for the Empires and 10 for the Unions.

-The Sporting News, November 16, 1895

So the first game was rained out but the interesting thing here is the discrepancy between the Republican and Tobias regarding who challenged whom. The Republican states that the Empires challenged the Unions and Tobias states that it was the Unions who issued the challenge. On July 3, the Republican stated that "[a] few weeks ago a challenge was given by the Union and accepted by the Empire Club..." I believe that the Republican, on June 13, simply made a mistake about the challenging party and that they and Tobias were correct in identifying the Union Club as the one who challenged the Empires.

And that just makes sense, given how championships worked during this period. The Empires were the champions and if you wanted that championship, you had to challenge them to a series. They could accept the challenge or not. It was up to them. But it was the Union Club that needed to challenge the championship Empire Club and we have multiple sources that say that they did just.