One of the features of the fair held last week under the auspices of the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association was a ball tourney, for which liberal prizes were offered for competition by clubs from all sections.  Much disappointment, however, was experienced fro the fact that but two outside clubs entered, viz.: - the Excelsior, of Chicago, and the Olympic, of Carondelet, a circumstance which had the effect of detracting greatly from the interest evinced in the matches.

-New York Clipper, October 24, 1868

The Base Ball Tournament during the week of the great exhibition is expected to be an interesting affair.  Several good clubs from abroad have given assurances of their purpose to be here.  The committee has arranged the order of the playing and have named the Dirigo vs. Etna to begin the games on the morning of the first day.  On Monday evening, the Empires vs. Resolute; Tuesday, A.M., Olympic, of Carondelet, vs. Atlantic; Tuesday, P.M., Union, Jr., vs. St. Louis; Wednesday, A.M., the winning club of Monday A.M., vs. the winning club of Tuesday A.M.; Wednesday, P.M., Excelsior, of Chicago, vs. the Unions; Thursday, A.M., winning club of Wednesday, A.M., vs. winning club of Thursday, P.M.  Thursday, P.M., winning club of Monday, P.M., vs winning club of Wednesday P.M.; Friday, the winning club of Thursday.  The games will commence at 10 o'clock A.M. and 2 o'clock P.M., each day, and any club failing to appear at the time designated the club on the ground will be declared the winning club.   

Col. A.R. Easton, Jno. Young, H.G. Smith, Walter Carr and W.B. Edgar were appointed by the Fair Association to arrange matters connected with the contests.  It is to be regretted that the prizes offered were not published sooner.  Had they been placed in the prize list of the Fair, there would have been many clubs from the East to engage in these games.  It seems that only four or five days ago the news of the proposed tournament found its way to New York, for the papers of that city last Friday had a notice of them for the first time.  It will be quite an interesting time for the clubs near St. Louis, and will afford a rare treat to many visitors of the Fair.


-Missouri Republican, October 2, 1868

We have already mentioned that on Saturday next a grand contest at base ball will take place on the grounds of the Union Club, the proceeds to be devoted to the aid of the Fireman's Fund Association.  The players for the occasion have been selected from the senior clubs of the city, and are all skillful adepts at the exiting game.  The following are the selections:

First Nine.
Chambers, captain and pitcher, Resolute.
Duffy, catcher, Empire.
Welsh, first base, Baltic.
Hunt, second base, Union.
Rerning, third base, Olympic.
Barron, short stop, Empire.
Kearns, long field, Baltic.
Freeman, centre field, Union.
Foster, right field, Hope.

Second Nine.
Wirth, captain and first base, Empire.
Orem, catcher, Olympic.
Hazard, pitcher, Olympic.
Grace, second base, Resolute.
Riley, third base, Baltic.
Duncan, short stop, Union.
Reed, long field, Hope.
Ruble, centre field, Hope.
Willard, right field, Resolute.

The best player in any of the above positions will receive a prize not exceeding $10.

The Awarding Committee will consist of the President of each of the competing clubs, and D.N. Burgoyne, Esq., President of the Relief Association.  Two Prizes of equal value are also to be offered - one to the fastest runner of the bases, and one to the player throwing the ball the longest distance.  The prizes are therefore open to competition from all the senior base ball clubs of the city.

The match promises to be highly interesting and there is every inducement for a large attendance. The object of the tournament is praiseworthy and the entertainment will be good.

-Missouri Republican, October 22, 1867

By reference to the advertisement in another column, it will be seen that the Olympic and Magnolia Base Ball Clubs will meet in a friendly match on the grounds of the Veto Club this afternoon.  The Olympic - one of the best clubs in the city - has played more than a score of matches, and suffered but one defeat, since its organization.  The brave but more prudent Union Club, after being beaten by the Olympics last year, has carefully avoided a trial of skill with them this season.  We advise all of our friends desirous of witnessing some fine playing to be on the Veto grounds by 2 1/2 o'clock this afternoon.

-Missouri Republican, August 13, 1867