A meeting of the judiciary committee of the State Base Ball association was called for last night, in order to take action on an appeal made by the Union club against the Empires.  The former state that the Empires played illegally at a recent contest.  In consequence of the absence of Mr Hantz and Mr. Stith, two members of the committee, it was decided to adjourn until a full meeting could be had.

​-Missouri Republican, July 9, 1870

A large crowd of spectators assembled yesterday afternoon at the base ball park to witness a game of base ball between the Garden City club of Chicago, and the Empire club of this city.  On the part of the Empires the play throughout was very indifferent.  All of the players except Murray on the third base, who played well up to his standard, batted and fielded poorly, and muffed a great many balls.

The Garden City club from the start led their opponents.  Their batting was exceedingly heavy and safe and their fielding was good.  Kerre, at the second base, being very active, and also Pullem, at the first.  Their playing was particularly noticeable.  

Mr. Kennon was the umpire and gave good satisfaction.

​-Missouri Republican, July 4, 1870

The game of base ball for the championship of this state which, as has been advertised, would be played yesterday between the Empire club, the preset champions, and the Union club, came off at the appointed time and place and resulted in the defeat of the Unions.  Notwithstanding the extreme severity of the heat yesterday afternoon, some 800 to 1,000 people assembled at the park to witness the contest between these rival clubs.

The game on the whole was not particularly brilliant.  There were some exhibition of fine and heavy batting and some beautiful catches and good fielding on both sides...Mr. F.A. Kennon was chosen umpire, and acquitted himself creditably - delivering his decisions in a quick, strict and impartial manner...

​-Missouri Republican, June 24, 1870

These old rival clubs of St. Louis entered the arena for the championship of Missouri for 1870, on the 23d of June, the game being played at the base ball park at St. Louis, in the presence of a large crowd of spectators...The ball played with was a lively one, and hence there was no less than 39 fielding errors in the game, heavy hitting deciding the contest...

​-New York Clipper, July 2, 1870

The challenge which the Union base ball club of this city some time ago sent to the Empire club to play a match game of ball for the championship of the state, has been accepted by the Empire.  The game will be played at the base ball park on Thursday the twenty-third day of this month.

​-Missouri Republican, June 9, 1870

Another respectable crowd of people assembled yesterday afternoon at the park, to witness the match game of base ball between the Chicago club, and the Empires.  The weather was pleasant, and the ground in a better condition than on Friday.  A great deal of interest was manifested in the game by the spectators, especially in the first part of it, where the Empires played in a fine manner, making a number of runs, and fielding admirably.  The Chicagos played as well if not better than in the match with the Unions, and particularly, an improvement in their fielding was noticeable.  A number of muffs however were made, but we will not here particularize them.  Mr. Harris was selected as umpire and gave general satisfaction.  

The game was called at 3:15 o'clock.  Below we give a sketch of the game.

The first innings opened with the Empires to the bat, Wirth being first striker, and by a good strike reached his base; Barron and Murray followed, each with safe hits, and Wirth came home, making the first tally.  Barron and Murray succeeded in reaching home before the side was out; making a total of three runs.  King commenced the game for the Chicagos, and was put out by the fielding of Barron and Welsh.  Hodes knocked a high one to Spaulding, who held it, and Cuthbert met the same fate by being caught out by Barron.  Side out with a whitewash, amidst enthusiastic cheering.  

In the second innings Little secured a run by an easy strike and bat throwing of Myerly, and a safe hit by Welsh, but the side were put out before any more runs were made.  

The first striker, Tracey, knocked a fly to Barron, which he caught.  Craven and Myerly made runs, Flynn was fielded out by Barron and Walsh, and Hoges at second base by Oran and Spalding, 2 runs; score 4 to 4.

Pinkham, at the third innings took his regular position (he had been playing third) and Barron struck him safely to left, making his third base, and was brought home by Murray, who struck a high one to Tracey, which he muffed.  Hodes put Fitzgibbons out, and Murray reached the third by a bad throw of Pinkham's, but was put out there by Pinkham and Myerly.  One run.

The Chicagos by fine batting succeeded in making five runs which placed them four ahead of the Empires.

Fitzgibbons in the fourth innings made a base; reached third on passed ball of Craver, and was sent in by Oran, who got around to third, and came home on another passed ball of Craven.  The other two men were caught out by Wood and Myerly.  Two runs.  The Chicagos then went in, and gave a splendid exhibition of their batting qualities making eleven runs.  The Empires fielded badly in this innings.  The score now stood twenty to seven.  In the fifth innings the Empires made but one run by Wirth.

In the sixth and seventh innings the Empires, by fine fielding, kept the Chicagos scorer down allowing them but one run in each, but the latter in the eighth innings, again got their work in turn up their scorer to thrity-six.  The last innings, by poor batting of the Chicagos, and good playing of the Empires, credited another whitewash for the former, which was as vociferously applauded as the first.  And the game was ended.

Chicago again batted heavily.  Myerly made the first and only home-run by a tremendous knock to the left field, sending the ball over the fence.  They secured eight runs placing the score twenty-eight to eight.

From this time until the end of the game the Empires failed to add another run to their score and the interest in the game began to drag.  They were unable to make much impression on Pinkham's pitching, and the fine, sharp fielding of their competitors whitewashed every innings.  

​-Missouri Republican, May 1, 1870 

The Empire Club was organized in 1860 at a meeting held in the office of Justice Hequemberg on the south side of Vine, between Second and Third streets.

-Al Spink, The National Game, p. 39

Empire Base Ball Club.-At the regular monthly meeting of this Club, held at their hall, corner of Third and Vine streets, on the 3d day of July, the following officers were duly elected: B.J. Higgins, President; Peter Naylor, Vice-President; John F. Walton, Secretary; Patrick Cooney, Treasurer.  The following preamble and resolution was also adopted:

Whereas, the Slycome (sic) and Morning Star Clubs are matched for a game on the 9th inst; therefore

Resolved, that the Empire Base Ball Club challenge the winning party.  If not accepted by them, then this challenge be extended to any Ball club in Missouri.

-St. Louis Daily Bulletin, July 7, 1860

Base Ball. - We are glad to see that this noble national game is fast gaining ground in popularity in our city.  There are several fine clubs in St. Louis, and our readers will not have forgotten that the championship of the West is held by the Empire B.B. Club, having wrested that proud title from the Empire Club of Freeport, Ill., last 4th of July, in commemoration of which event our well-known citizen, Martin Collins, Esq., has presented the club with a magnificent belt, gotten up in the most artistic manner.  The presentation was accompanied by an eloquent and interesting speech, delivered in our friend Martin's most happy manner, and was appropriately responded to by Messrs. J. Fruin, B. Higgins, and other members of the club, all of whom expressed the sentiment that the club would give a "hard fight" to whatever club may endeavor to take it from the Empire.

-Missouri Republican, September 7, 1865

On September 6th, 1865, the Empire Club was presented with an elegantly devised belt as “champions of the West.” The presentation speech was made by Martin Collins, Esq., on behalf of citizens who were interested in base ball and who desired that all Western clubs should take a whack at winning it, whenever they felt able to tackle the holders. As president of the club the late Judge John F. Walton accepted the belt in one of his most graceful speeches and it was placed in a...receptacle of the club room on Third street.

-E.H. Tobias, writing in The Sporting News, November 9, 1865

This prominent Mason and insurance expert is upwards of sixty years of age, having been born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1826. [Martin Collins] is, however, a man of excellent preservation, and is very frequently mistaken for a much younger man. His excellent physique and his genial manner make him conspicuous among his co-workers, and during his long connection with this city he has earned and maintained the respect of all with whom he has come in contact, and more especially of members of the Masonic fraternity.

His early education was received in his native country drug store, where he combined the offices of clerk, book-keeper and salesman, and generally superintended the business. All the work which devolved upon him was well carried out, but the utter absence of any prospect of advancement induced him to go west in search of a more promising field of labor, although his friends tried to dissuade him on account of the difficulties in the way.

Hence it was that just half a century ago he found himself in St. Louis, after a tedious journey from Philadelphia, which occupied nearly three weeks, during which time he had to ride on canal-boats and stages, and short sections of railroad. For nine years Mr. Collins worked in a fancy dry goods store in this city, and in 1852 he had saved enough money from his earnings to start in business for himself. Associating himself with a friend, the firm of Rosenheim & Collins was formed, and for six years it conducted a prosperous business. It was then dissolved, and Mr. Collins was appointed, by Mayor Daniel G. Taylor, register of water rates. He proved the right man in the right place, and was reappointed by two successive mayors, an honor to which few men have attained in municipal affairs.

About thirty years ago Mr. Collins turned his attention to fire insurance business, and was appointed agent for some of the largest companies on the continent. His business gradually increased, until he is now the head of the firm of Martin Collins, Son & Company, which ranks among the most important firms in the country.

He is a Mason of good standing, and has given to the affairs of the order his most careful and conspicuous attention, having held a large number of offices in it, and having earned the reputation of being exceptionally loyal, even among such a traditionally loyal class as the Masons.

He married, during the days of his comparative poverty, a daughter of Captain Crab, of the United States Marine Service.

Mr. and Mrs. Collins have had seven children, of whom three are now living and beyond the stage of childhood.

-From Old and new St. Louis

Mr. John Shockey, Assistant chief of the Fire Department, and nephew of Chief Sexton, who was severely injured at the fire at 113 and 115 Bremen avenue just one week ago yesterday, died at his residence, No. 1711 North Eighth street, at 2:30 a.m. yesterday. The details of the accident which caused him to lose his life have previously been given in the Globe-Democrat. The injuries were considered fatal at the time, but many of his friends hoped that his strong constitution would enable him to successfully combat them. The funeral will take place from the residence to Bellefontaine Cemetery at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The funeral discourse will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Vincil, of the M.E. Church, South. chief Sexton, with two representatives of the department from each engine-house, will participate in the obsequies, as also will the Knights Templar, of which organization deceased was a member. No man in the department was better liked than Shockey-a brave and competent fireman-whose death is universally regretted.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 3, 1881

The funeral of the late Assistant Fire Chief, John W. Shockey, will take place at 10 o'clock this morning...Each engine house will send two of its force, and the Salvage Corps will also be represented on the occasion. As yet no successor has been appointed for the lamented deceased. It was thought that there would be two vacancies to fill, as the resignation of Assistant Bame was known to have been tendered, as stated in these columns yesterday. But it is now understood that he has withdrawn his resignation until such time as an investigation can be had. As for Chief Sexton himself, the death of his nephew, Shockey, is just now what concerns him most, and he says he has made no plans as yet.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 4, 1881