Archive for the ‘Baltimore Baseball History’ Category

 

1868

After being organized in the Maryland Convention, a slew of state clubs joined the NABBP, which swelled to an unwieldy 300+ clubs. Maryland clubs in NABBP in 1868:

• Active of Baltimore
• Alert of Cumberland
• Arctic of Baltimore
• Associate of Baltimore
• Chesterfield of Queen Anne County
• Claybourne of St. Michael’s
• Dexter of Baltimore
• Enterprise of Baltimore[i]
• Eureka of Baltimore
• Govans of Govanstown
• Havre de Grace of Havre de Grace
• Kent Island of Kent Island
• Lake of Baltimore
• Maryland of Baltimore[ii]
• Mutual of Baltimore
• Paragon of Baltimore
• Pastime of Baltimore
• Patapsco of Westminster
• Prince George of Prince George County
• Resolute of Baltimore
• Towson of Towsontown

Selected games from 1868:

Date	Opponents	Winner	Location	Score
June 2	Maryland v National (DC)	Maryland	Washington	28-27
June 15	Maryland v Olympic (DC)	Maryland		19-16
June 27	Enterprise v Olympic (DC)	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	19-18
July 4	Maryland v Olympc (DC)	Olympic	Madison Avenue	35-29
July 4	Enterprise v Union (DC)	Enterprise	Washington	31-24
July 4	Pastime v Keystone (PHI)	Keystone	Madison Avenue	31-29
July 25	Enterprise v Union (DC)	Union		21-14
August 1	Enterprise v Union (DC)	Union		21-13
August 5	Pastime v Olympic (DC)	Olympic		28-10
August 13	Enterprise v Jefferson (DC)	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	33-10
August 14	Maryland v Pastime	Maryland	Madison Avenue	26-15
August 17	Maryland v Pastime (Richmond)	Maryland	Hermitage Park, Richmond, VA	57-11
August 18	Enterprise v Union (DC)	Enterprise		34-16
August 20	Maryland v Creighton (Fort Monroe)	Maryland	Fort Monroe, VA	87-10
August 20	Enterprise v Pastime	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	35-27
August 22	Maryland v Old Point (Fort Monroe)	Maryland	Fort Monroe, VA	60-15
August 26	Maryland v Pastime	Maryland	Madison Avenue	31-29
August 28	Enterprise v Jefferson (DC)	Enterprise		60-23
September 1	Maryland v Enterprise	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	35-15
September 8	Maryland v Olympic (DC)	Maryland	Madison Avenue	25-13
September 10	Maryland v Enterprise	Maryland	Madison Avenue	17-15
September 15	Maryland v Enterprise	Maryland	Madison Avenue	42-18
September 26	Enterprise v Red Stockings (Cincinnati)	Red Stockings	Madison Avenue	24-3
October	Maryland v Union (DC)	Maryland		38-11
October 2	Maryland v National (DC)	Maryland	Madison Avenue	13-12
October 21	Maryland v Olympic (PHI)	Olympic	Philadelphia	20-11
October 23	Maryland v Eckford (Brooklyn)	Eckford	Union Grounds, Brooklyn	14-10
October 23	Maryland v Atlantics (Brooklyn)	Atlantics	Brooklyn	14-11
October 24	Maryland v Mutual (NY)	Mutual	New York	27-14

 

On June 27, Enterprise took on the Olympics of D.C. at Madison Avenue. The game was tied 17-17 after nine innings; then, Enterprise scored two in the tenth to take a one-run victory. By 1868, the Pastimes took on an also-ran status behind the Maryland and Enterprise clubs. On August 14, Maryland led the Pastimes 20-0 after four innings, finally defeating them 26-15. Maryland then headed on a barnstorming trip in Virginia. They were welcomed heartily. “The Creighton boys received then with a grand display of fireworks, and had several tar barrels burning from the depot up to the hotel, thus giving their guests a brilliant reception.”[iii]

Maryland defeated Enterprise two out of three games in September to take the silver ball and claiming the championship of the city. The Red Stockings of Cincinnati, who were on the verge of transforming the sport into the age of professionalism, stopped by Madison Avenue on September 26 to take on Enterprise. The game ended after seven and a half innings due to rain, the Reds up 24-3. On October 2, Maryland topped the Nationals of D.C. at home in the second one-run game of the season, 13-12. The first game, held in Washington, was also won by the Baltimore club, 28-27 on June 2. The two victories unofficially anointed them Champions of the South.

In late October, the Maryland club took a northern trip, losing all four games to top Philadelphia and New York clubs. “The Maryland club of Baltimore, which arrived in this city [New York] on Wednesday, left for home last night. During their stay here they played games with [three] clubs in Brooklyn and were defeated. In the Eckford game they lost by a score of 14 to 10 in a game of six innings, and in the Atlantic game they were defeated by a score of 14 to 11 in a full game of nine innings. Their last game was with the Mutuals, and this they also lost, the score being 27 to 14 in a game of seven innings. Their best play was shown in their Atlantic match. They, however, undertook too much in playing three games in two days, as they found to their cost in yesterday’s game.”[iv]

Overall, the Marylands were 12-6 in NABBP competition in 1868, Enterprise 7-5.

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[i] The 1868 Enterprise club included: Wachtel; Wally Goldsmith; Bass; Braden; Chenowith; Ed Mincher; Gorman; Galliker; R.J. Fitzsimmons. Marshall Wright, The National Association of Base Ball Players, page 208

[ii] The 1868 Maryland club included: Wilson; Hazlehurst; Lucas; G. Lilly; Tully Worthington; Mike Hooper; San Armstrong; Keerle; Rorke; Annan; Doyle; Wally Goldsmith; Ed Mincher. Marshall Wright, The National Association of Base Ball Players, page 199

[iii] Norfolk Jour, 20 August 1868, page 4

[iv] New York Times, 25 October 1868, page 6

 

MARYLAND STATE BASE BALL CONVENTION

The formation of the Maryland State Base Ball Convention was naturally sparked in Baltimore. In December 1866 the NABBP met. Three of the strongest city clubs joined: Pastimes; Marylands; Enterprise. With over 200 clubs represented at the meeting, it was easy to see that the sport was exploding. The Baltimore men wanted a state collection that promoted the welfare of the sport in Maryland that matched the enthusiasm and organization seen in New York.

They also met “for the purpose of adopting a uniform system of rules for the government of the game,”[i] that is, instilling the New York rules. Thus, games could be played in every corner of the state under a common understanding of rules and decorum.

These three Baltimore clubs along with George Gratton, a New Yorker, formulated and carried out the statewide initiative.[ii] They met at Gratton’s store on January 14, 1867 to discuss plans for the new organization. On February 20, over thirty Maryland clubs met at Sanderson’s Opera House on North Gay Street. They included:

• Active of Baltimore
• Alert of Cumberland
• Allegheny of Cumberland
• Antietam of Cumberland
• Annapolis of Annapolis
• Associate of Baltimore
• Arctic of Baltimore
• Calvert of Baltimore
• Carroll of Uniontown
• Chesapeake of West River
• Chesterfield of Queen Anne County
• Church Hill of Carroll County
• Continental of Carroll County
• Dorchester of Milton
• Enterprise of Baltimore[iii]
• Excelsior of Frederick
• Excelsior of Sudlersville
• Friendship of Anne Arundel County
• Independent of West River
• Maryland of Baltimore
• Mechanics of Frederick
• Mountain City of Frederick
• Mount Washington of Baltimore County
• Monumental of Baltimore
• Mutual of Baltimore
• Nameless of Frederick
• Olympian of West River
• Patapsco of Westminster
• Pastime of Baltimore
• Recreation of Millersville
• Severn of Annapolis
• South River of Davidsonville
• Star of Friendship of Anne Arundel County
• Towson of Towsontown
• United of West River

Al Reach and a Philadelphia reporter were honored guests at the meeting. A constitution and bylaws were adopted and officers named: William Griffith, president; F.L. Griffith of Anne Arundel County, first vice president; J.H. Keedy of Hagerstown, second vice president; W.P. Vaughan of Baltimore, recording secretary; Gratton, corresponding secretary; T.R. Bayly of Baltimore, treasurer.

The MSBBC met again on October 16 at the same location. As so often happened during club meetings, new officers were elected. More importantly, ten new clubs were added to the roster:

• Claybourne of St. Michael’s
• Dexter of Baltimore County
• Eureka of Baltimore
• Govans of Govanstown
• Havre de Grace of Havre de Grace
• Kent Island of Kent Island
• Lake of Baltimore County
• Oakland of West River
• Paragon of Baltimore
• Prince George of prince George County

Many of the MSBBC clubs joined the NABBP in 1868. The convention would meet again on October 21, 1868.

FRANK SELLMAN

Charles Francis Sellman was born on January 21, 1851[iv] in Baltimore to James C. and Mary, nee Fonerden, Sellman. James was a merchant. Charles was known as Frank from his early childhood.[v] By 1867, he was playing with the first nine of the Pastime club. Two years later, he joined the Maryland club, a team which had recently declared its intent to field a professional nine.

In 1871, Sellman ended up with the Fort Wayne club with several other members of the Maryland team. In all, he appeared in 37 games in the National Association over each of its five seasons, playing for a different club each year mainly at catcher and third base. Between these stints, he played ball locally in Baltimore. For example, he also played for the Pastimes in 1871.

Throughout his time in professional ball, Sellman played under the name “Frank C. Williams.” It was no secret in baseball circles that he was playing under an assumed name, suggesting that it may have been done for personal/family reasons. An interesting box score appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle on August 4, 1870. It shows Williams and Livingston listed in quotes, which demonstrates that even New York writers knew that Sellman was playing under an alias.

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[i] Baltimore Sun, 8 February 1867, page 1

[ii] This is clear in two classified ads published prior to the first Maryland State Base Ball Convention, Baltimore Sun 14 January 1867, page 1 and 30 January 1867, page 2

[iii] A box score from 1867 lists the Enterprise nine as: Gorman; Welsh; Ofley; Wachtel; Houghey; Goldsmith; Taylor; Braden; Gould.

[iv] Familysearch.com

[v] Per the 1860 U.S. Census

 

GEORGE KEERL

George Henry Keerl was born in April 1847 in Baltimore, the son of Henry and Eliza Ann, nee Crook, Keerl. The family suffered some tragedies, losing two sons during the 1850s. Henry, in turn, passed away before George was a teenager.

George joined the Maryland club of Baltimore in 1866 at age 19, playing with them into 1869. During that summer, he jumped to the Pastime club. In 1870, he uprooted as professionalism took hold and joined the Chicago White Stockings, a team that was specifically formed to compete with the Cincinnati Red Stockings for supremacy in the west. Chicago’s business manager Tom Foley had headed east the previous winter and raided the rosters of several of the strongest eastern clubs including Brooklyn Eckfords, Troy Haymakers[i] and Philadelphia Athletics.

Keerl remained in Chicago, even after the Great Fire of October 1871, through much of the 1870s.[ii] He played for local clubs, as the White Stockings fell dormant for two seasons after the fire. In 1875, he joined the White Stockings for six games in the National Association beginning in May.

Keerl married a woman from Michigan and moved to Marinette, Wisconsin where he worked as a plumber. He died in Menominee, Michigan in September 1923.

WALLY GOLDSMITH

Warren[iii] M. Goldsmith was born in October 1848[iv] in Baltimore. He was the son of Lewis A. and Mary Ann, nee Sibery, Goldsmith.[v] Lewis was a boatman and hostler. In 1866, George joined the first nine of the Enterprise club at age 17. He remained with the club into 1868 when he jumped to the Maryland club, the state’s soon-to-be first professional nine. Goldsmith played with Maryland through 1870 when he jumped to Fort Wayne. He appeared in 42 games in the National Association over four years with four different clubs, mainly playing on the left side of the infield.

Goldsmith eventually moved to Washington D.C. where he worked as a hotel clerk.[vi] He died in that city in September 1915.

1867

In D.C. on July 4, 1867, the Marylands topped the local Jefferson club 61-50. On the 26^th, the Arctic club of Philadelphia bested the Marylands 24-23.

On August 3, the Pastimes arrived in Richmond for a game with the Pastimes of that city. The game was delayed until the 5^th because of inclement weather. “In the presence of the largest assemblage that ever met to witness the national game in the city of Richmond,”[vii] the Baltimore club topped the locals 53-9. “At night the visiting club was entertained at the Spotswood Hotel by the Richmond Pastimes. A splendid supper was spread, and enjoyed by all, the party leaving with mutual good feelings, and wishing many a return. The Maryland club left for Petersburg early next morning, where they will test the skill of one of the Cockade City clubs.”[viii]

A long-running silver ball tournament kicked off on June 19 at Madison Avenue; the Pastimes defeated Enterprise 37-35, before 2000 fans. The second game took place on July 11. “The first game, played some weeks ago, had, been won by the Pastimes, after a close contest, and much interest was excited in the second game, from the belief among many that the Enterprise would prove successful. This, however, proved fallacious, the Pastime winning in a score of 46 runs, to 27.”[ix]

On July 30, the Pastimes played Maryland, defeating them. The second game between the clubs was held on August 14. “Despite the intense heat, there was quite a large attendance, and considerable interest manifested in the game, which resulted in a victory for the Maryland – the score at the close standing Maryland 50 runs, Pastime 25.”[x] Nearly 2000 fans headed to Madison Avenue on the 20^th for the rubber match between the clubs. Maryland beat the Pastimes 47-15. Maryland then took on the local Mutual club.

“The third and last of a series of three match games for the championship of the state, between the Maryland and Mutual Base Ball Clubs, was played yesterday afternoon [September 27], on the grounds on Madison Avenue, in the presence of a large crowd. The play on both sides was good, but the superior metal of the Maryland resulted in a victory for them by a score of 27 to 14 runs. The silver ball of championship, therefore, remains with the Maryland, its present possessors.”[xi]

On August 27, the Mutuals of New York arrived in Baltimore to much fanfare. The Madison Avenue Grounds was packed; spectators rimmed the outfield, pushing back to Linden Avenue. Shockwaves were felt all the way to New York as the Pastimes took the victory.

“At least four thousand people were estimated to be present, the Madison Avenue front as well as the portion of the grounds bounding on Linden Avenue being crowded with people. Behind the crowds on either avenue, vehicles of various descriptions presented a long line of spectators, all eagerly interested in the game. Shortly after two the contest began, and continued for more than three hours, ending in a result totally unlooked for, a victory for the Pastime club by a majority of 16 runs, the score of the Pastime being 47 runs to the Mutuals’ 31. The play throughout was excellent, that of the Pastime surpassing by far any of the preceding efforts of the club. The New Yorkers changed their men on their post several times in order to better their play, but all in vain, the excellent batting and extraordinary successful fielding of the Pastime winning the game. At the close hearty cheers were given for the Mutual and the Pastime. Some of the members of the Mutual stated that the defeat served them right as, confident of victory, they had left four of their best players off and substituted others.”[xii]

“To the surprise of the ball playing community, the Mutuals sustained a defeat at the hands of the Pastimes, of Baltimore. The fact of the matter is, the Mutuals underrated the Pastimes, and instead of bringing a strong nine out, they put four second nine men in places of Peters, [John] Hatfield, [Billy] McMahon and [Tom] Devyr, whereupon they were defeated by the large score of 47 to 31. Of course Baltimore is crazy with joy,”[xiii] remarked the Brooklyn Eagle.

“The Mutuals, looking upon the Pastimes as a second-rate club, left out of their nine four of their best players. As substitutes, [Dick] Thorn and [Nat] Jewett went in to pitch and catch, While [Dan] Patterson and [James] Reed, neither of whom have [sic] engaged in a game this season, played in the field. The Pastimes batted Thorn very heavily in the second inning, at the end of which the score stood 14 to 7. Acting under advice, Thorn changed his tactics, and commenced to pitch slow.”[xiv]

On September 12, Enterprise lost to the Athletics of Philadelphia 77-12. The games weren’t all serious. “At the amusing game of base ball, on Friday afternoon [September 13], on the grounds of the Pastime club, Madison Avenue, where the players all weighed 225 pounds or more, nearly $90 [was] collected for the Galveston yellow fever sufferers. We learn that those who played then are challenged to play again by the Gilmore club, comprised of youths under fifteen years of age, and none exceeding 112 ½ pounds in weight – the game to come off next Friday, and the receipts to be for the benefit of the Galveston fund.”[xv]

On the 18^th, the Irvingtons of New Jersey stopped in Baltimore on their way to D.C. They topped the Pastimes 55-17. The Nationals of Washington, fresh from their successful western tour, were the next club to visit Baltimore. The defeated the Marylands 36-8 on the 20^th and the Pastimes the following day 57-17.

On October 9, the Nationals of D.C. hosted the Maryland club, winning 53-12. On November 28 at Madison Avenue, the Olympics of D.C. knocked off the Marylands 34-14. In all, the Pastimes were 7-4 in NABBP competition in 1867, Maryland 4-4.

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[i] Then known as the Unions of Lansingburgh, New York (Troy)

[ii] His mother and some siblings had uprooted as well, moving to Philadelphia by 1870.

[iii] Per the 1850 U.S. Census, his name was Warren not Wallace

[iv] Per the 1900 U.S. Census

[v] They were married on March 2, 1842.

[vi] Per the 1900 U.S. Census

[vii] Baltimore Sun, 6 August 1867

[viii] Richmond Examiner, 6 August 1867

[ix] Baltimore Sun, July 12, 1867, page 1

[x] Baltimore Sun, 15 August 1867, page 1

[xi] Baltimore Sun, 28 September 1867

[xii] Baltimore Sun, 28 August 1867, page 1

[xiii] Brooklyn Eagle, 28 August 1867

[xiv] Baltimore Sun, 31 August 1867

[xv] Baltimore Sun, 16 September 1867, page 1

 

1866

No Baltimore clubs joined the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1866, but the Alerts of Cumberland, Maryland did. With the ending of open hostilities between the North and South, baseball was able to pop to the forefront again. Some clubs picked up where they left off in 1861; new clubs arose as well. Eighteen Sixty-Six also saw the arrival of the first baseball-devoted column in Baltimore newspapers, in the Sunday Telegram.

The Pastimes laid out some money to upgrade and enclose their grounds. The effort was made for a multitude of reason: to showcase the status of Baltimore baseball and the club; to attract clubs from outside the city; for the comfort of the audience, especially women; to charge a fee at the gate; for rentals in order to enhance the club. “The base ball clubs of the city, having enjoyed a long resting spell during the winter, are now preparing for the spring campaign. The Pastime club has decided to expend five hundred dollars in improving and putting in order its grounds on Madison Avenue, near Boundary Avenue, and it is expected that several clubs from adjacent cities will be invited during the coming months of May and June to exhibit their skill. The Maryland and Enterprise clubs will also practice on the grounds.”[i] The admission for games versus local clubs was 15 cents; it was raised to 25 cents by the end of the season when top traveling clubs visited the city.

All three of the main Washington D.C. clubs – Jefferson, National and Union – made the trip to Baltimore, as did the Excelsiors of Brooklyn and the Keystones of Philadelphia. Baltimore clubs, for their part, departed in all directions during the season for contests throughout Baltimore County, Frederick, Annapolis, Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia.

The following is a list of games in 1866. It is by far a partial list and is meant to demonstrate that the sport picked up once again after the war, to 1861 standards, and to show the teams which continued/began.

Date	Opponents	Winner	Location	Score
May 30	Pastime[ii] v Ivanhoe[iii]	Pastime	Madison Avenue	47-21
June 16	Excelsior[iv] v Etna	Excelsior		64-15
June 18	Enterprise[v] v Maryland[vi]	Enterprise		40-28
June 23	Pastime v Maryland	Pastime	Madison Avenue	43-33
July 4	Ivanhoe v Antietam (Frederick)	Ivanhoe	In Frederick
July 6	Pastime v Maryland	Pastime	Madison Avenue	47-30
August 6	Quickstep v Franklin	Quickstep		64-52
August 7	Madison v Potomac	Madison	Aisquith Street	39-20
August 7	Maryland v Ivanhoe	Maryland	Madison Avenue	37-29
August 9	Sunrise v Severn (of Annapolis	Severn	In Annapolis
August 15	Enterprise v Ashland	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	93-25
August 17	Nationals (DC) v Annapolis (of Annapolis)	Nationals	In Annapolis	89-7
August 21	Maryland v Enterprise	Maryland	Madison Avenue	88-32
August 22	Pastimes v Ivanhoe	Pastime	Madison Avenue	92-16
August 22	Mutuals v Sunrise	Sunrise	Madison Avenue	41-36
August 24	Calvert (2nd) v Enterprise (2nd)	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	66-36
August 27	Maryland (2nd) v Pastime (2nd)	Maryland	Madison Avenue
September 3	Maryland (2nd)v Enterprise (2nd)	Maryland	Madison Avenue	35-19
September 4	Mutuals v Maryland	Mutuals	Madison Avenue	25-16
September 5	Erie v Veto	Erie	Greenwood Park	35-34
September 6	Severn (Annapolis) v Sunrise	Sunrise	Charles Street	22-16
September 8	Nationals (DC) v Pastime	Nationals	Madison Avenue	46-37
September 12	Mutual v Arctic	Mutual		41-32
September 12	Maryland v Jefferson (DC)	Maryland	Madison Avenue	53-29
September 19	Young Excelsior v Alert	Young Excel	Jefferson Street	15-14
September 20	Excelsior (BKN) v Pastimes	Excelsiors	Madison Avenue	28-19
September 25	Arctic (Jr) v Mutual (Jr)	Arctic		20-12
September 25	Enterprise v Union (DC)	Enterprise	In DC	34-21
September 25	Lake v Towson (Towsontown)	Lake	In Towsontown	52-27
September 26	Union (DC) v Enterprise	Union	In DC	34-24
October 6	Union (DC) v Enterprise	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	44-35
October 15	Mystic (2nd) v Eclipse	Mystic		51-39
October 17	Alert v Arlington	Alert	Jefferson Street	25-20
October 19	Keystone (PHI) v Maryland	Keystone	Madison Avenue	33-13
October 20	Keystone (PHI) v Pastime	Keystone	Madison Avenue	24-12
November 1	Pastime v Towson (of Towsontown)	Pastime	Govanstown
November 8	Maryland v Pastime (of Richmond)	Maryland	In Richmond	51-26
November 29	Enterprise v Pastime	Enterprise	Madison Avenue	40-31
November 29	Maryland v Mt. Washington (Mt. Wash)	Mt. Washington	In Mt. Washington	32-25

 

The first big game of the year took place on June 23, before a large crowd at Madison Avenue. The Pastimes took on the Marylands for the “championship of the state.” After four hours in the “extreme heat,” the Pastimes won 43-33.[vii] On July 6, the teams met again. Maryland scored 12 in the ninth but lost again, 47-30.

A silk flag tournament was held in August. In the first round Maryland defeated Ivanhoe and Enterprise beat Ashland. The final contest took place on August 21 “for possession of the silk flag presented by the ladies of Baltimore to the winning club. The flag, a handsome red silk burgee, with a proper inscription, was flung to the breeze at the outset of the game, and attracted much attention. The audience was composed of at least one third ladies, who occupied raised seats under the covered shed, where an excellent view of the field could be obtained. The Blues’ Band under Prof. Holland, was present, and between the innings discoursed animating music. Shortly after 3 o’clock the game was called [begun], the Maryland at the bat. The play lasted nearly four hours, and some excellent play was made by both clubs.”[viii] With several thousand on hand, Maryland topped Enterprise.

The Nationals of D.C. headed to Annapolis on August 17 and played the Annapolis club. “Several hundred persons were present” to see the Nationals dominate 89-7.[ix] On August 22, the Pastimes topped the Ivanhoe club in a silver ball championship game, 92-16. Soon thereafter, the two clubs consolidated, Ivanhoe being absorbed into the Pastime club.[x] Post and Lewis of the Ivanhoe joined the first nine of the revamped Pastimes.

In late August, a tournament began for nine silver-mounted bats presented by the men of Baltimore. The second nines of the Calvert, Enterprise, Maryland and Pastime clubs participated. In the first round Enterprise defeated Calvert and Maryland topped the Pastimes. In a seeming repeat of the previous tournament Maryland bested Enterprise 35-19 on September 3.

On a pleasant Saturday, September 8, a large crowd at Madison Avenue witnessed the Nationals of D.C. defeat the Pastimes, 46-37. On the 12^th, the Jeffersons of D.C. lost to the Marylands at the same site 53-29. The junior championship of the city took place five days later, Arctic beating Mutual 20-12.

In September a series of games took place, starting in Washington D.C. “The Excelsior Base Ball Club, of Brooklyn, N.Y., are here [D.C.], the guests of the National club, of this city. They will play a match game tomorrow. The Knickerbocker and Gotham of New York, Keystone of Philadelphia, [and] the Pastime, [Maryland] and Enterprise of Baltimore, [are] also coming, and in view of this the National and Union clubs have fitted up their grounds with the intention of having a surfeit of base ball playing.”[xi] The Jeffersons also took part in the contests. President Andrew Johnson saw the first contest between the Nationals and Excelsiors. He sat in a carriage in deep right field.

On September 20, 1200 fans saw the Pastimes host the Excelsiors of Brooklyn at Madison Avenue. “There was excellent play shown on both sides, which was received with considerable applause by the spectators. The score at the close stood, Excelsior 28, Pastime 19.”[xii] On the 26^th, the Unions of D.C. defeated Enterprise 34-24 in Washington. [xiii] In turn on October 6, the Enterprise bested the Unions at Madison Avenue, 44-35.

The Keystones of Philadelphia visited Baltimore for two contests in mid October. On Friday the 19th, they beat the Marylands 33-13 in a game shortened by darkness. The next day, the visitors defeated the Pastimes 24-12 with 1200 in attendance.

The Maryland club headed to Richmond, Virginia on November 8. Over 2000 watched the contest from carriages. Maryland defeated the local Pastimes 51-26. “After the close of the game the players repaired to the Ballad House, where a grand supper was given in honor of the victors.” The Maryland players wore blue caps with white visors, blue pants, white shirts and red belts. They played two more games in Richmond, defeating local clubs – Spotswood 45-8 and Union 36-24.[xiv]

On Thanksgiving Day in the morning, Enterprise beat the Pastimes 40-31 and in Mt. Washington Maryland beat the local club 32-25. “A young man named Gorman, belonging to the Enterprise club, was seriously injured by being accidentally struck in the abdomen with a bat in the hands of a member of his own club.”[xv]

The National Association of Base ball Players met on December 12 in New York. In an explosion in membership 202 clubs were represented. Five clubs from Maryland joined for the upcoming year: Pastime; Maryland; Enterprise; Alert of Cumberland; Antietam of Hagerstown. The New York Clipper had been pushing for the NABBP to select a Southern president to help united the baseball community by negating “sectionalism” in the wake of the most derisive era in American history.[xvi] The association heeded the advice and installed future United States Senator Arthur Gorman from the Nationals of D.C. in the seat.

The organized game was about to change, spreading westward to the Pacific Ocean and moving towards full-blown professionalism. For now though, the association “decided that all clubs playing for money, or allowing any person paid for playing to be a member of their club, shall be considered as out of the National Association.”[xvii] Regardless of the declaration, many ballplayers were already being paid; bidding wars, such in the case of Al Reach of Philadelphia, were common knowledge.

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[i] Baltimore Sun, 13 April 1866

[ii] A box score from 1866 lists the Pastime nine as: Van Ness; McDonald; Joe Popplein; Mitchell; George Popplein; Mallinckrodt; Brown; Sears; Keilholtz.

[iii] A box score from 1866 lists the Ivanhoe nine as: Lewis; Post; Shannon; Harrison; Orendorf; Gatchell; Gambrill; Groverman; Harrison.

[iv] New Excelsior of Baltimore club, unrelated to the earlier one

[v] A box score from 1866 lists the Enterprise nine as: Gorman; Kinsley; Goldsmith; Ford; Gildea; Wachtel; Ellinger; price; Harrison.

[vi] A box score from 1866 lists the Maryland nine as: Hooper; Miller; Lilly; Armstrong; Annan; Gwynn; LeFebore; Keerl; Young.

[vii] Baltimore Sunday Telegram, 25 June 1866

[viii] Baltimore Sun, 22 August 1866

[ix] Baltimore Sun, 20 August 1866, page 4

[x] Baltimore Sunday Telegram, 9 September 1866

[xi] Baltimore Sun, 18 September 1866

[xii] Baltimore Sun, 21 September 1866

[xiii] Among the other contests: Excelsiors over Nationals 33-28; Excelsiors over Unions 40-23; Excelsiors and Keystones tied 18-18.

[xiv] Baltimore Sun, 12 November 1866, page 4

[xv] Baltimore Sun, 1 December 1866

[xvi] George B. Kirsch, The Creation of American Team Sports, page 210

[xvii] Baltimore Sun, 19 December 1866

 

GEORGE POPPLEIN

George J. Popplein was born in August 1840 in Baltimore. His father, Nicholas, was a druggist who owned a drug and chemical company with his brother George. The family also had real estate holdings throughout the city. Nicholas was an original member of the Waverly club. George, the younger, had three brothers who participated in local baseball in the 1860s with the top clubs: Andrew, born circa 1838; Nicholas, born circa 1842; Joseph, born circa 1849.

George was a member, and secretary, of the Maryland club as early as 1861. Later that year, he joined the Pastimes and became a starter for the first nine in 1863. He remained with the club through 1871 as the club transitioned into the professional era. On July 11, 1873, Popplein appeared in a game for the Baltimore Marylands in the professional National Association. The Marylands only played six games in the league over a three-month period, losing each. He went hitless that day versus Asa Brainard.

Popplein worked as a paint manufacturer during his baseball days, later managing and working as a chemist at Popplein Silicated Phosphate Company, a fertilizing manufacturer, in Canton. The facility was destroyed by fire in December 1884. At the time W. Morris Orem, also a former Pastime, was president of the company.[i] The company continued on but eventually fell into bankruptcy. Popplein died of kidney disease in Baltimore on March 31, 1901.[ii]

1865

On Wednesday July 19, the Nationals of D.C. topped the Pastimes. It was the Pastimes first loss.[iii] Three days later, the Maryland club defeated the Jeffersons of Washington. The Pastimes hosted the Athletics of Philadelphia in August. “Those charged with the arrangements of the national base ball contest, to take place on the [29^th], are making ample preparations to accommodate visitors. A canopy is being erected, and elevated seats prepared for their accommodation.”[iv] “Seats will be erected on the grounds for the accommodation of visitors, and refreshments will be furnished to the strangers and ladies.”[v]

The Madison Avenue facility was, in essence, inadequate for large-scale entertainment; it needed an overhaul. The Pastimes would enclose the grounds and build a permanent grandstand in 1866, creating more comfortable surroundings and a worthy atmosphere for traveling New York clubs, among others. Even though there were only “at the present time six senior and several junior clubs [in Baltimore],”[vi] there was hope that the game would flourish once again with the war at an end.

The Athletics crushed the Nationals of D.C. on August 28, 87-12, before an estimated 10,000 viewers. The Athletics smacked 19 home runs.[vii] The next day, they arrived in Baltimore amid the biggest fanfare since the Brooklyn Excelsiors’ visit in 1860. At 10 a.m. the Philadelphians disembarked at the Camden Street Station from D.C. They were greeted by the Pastimes,[viii] shown around the city and provided lunch.

At 1 p.m., the carriages departed for Madison Avenue. Five thousand anxious fans, including the mayor and more than a few military commanders, awaited their arrival. After four hours of play, the Athletics proved victorious. The Pastimes scored twelve times in the ninth to close the gap to 39-27. After an elegant dinner at the Eutaw House, the Athletics departed for Philly on the 9:25 p.m. train.

On October 2, the Pastimes returned the favor and headed to Philly. “The Athletics, of Philadelphia, beat the Pastimes, of Baltimore, today, by a score of 56 to 10. Only seven innings were played, for want of daylight. The game was witnessed by over 10,000 people, of whom 500 were ladies.”[ix]

The Excelsiors of Brooklyn stopped by Baltimore in October during a southern trip that saw them lose to the Athletics of Philadelphia and Nationals of D.C. On the 10^th, the Excelsiors defeated the Pastimes in Baltimore 51-22, scoring 27 runs in one inning alone, in six innings.[x]

GEORGE GRATTON

George Gratton, a New Yorker, moved to Baltimore in the early 1860s. He had been a member of the Putnam club of Brooklyn.[xi] In 1863, he opened Gratton’s Gift Book Store at 73 Baltimore Street at the corner of Holliday Street. His store became a hub of baseball activity. He became a local baseball benefactor and organizer and was at the center of the sport’s interest and enthusiasm in the city.

Gratton helped organize tournaments and donated silver balls to the winners. Meetings were often held at his establishment and many classified ads directed baseball clubs throughout the state to remit their inquiries to 73 Baltimore Street. Gratton became a leading organizer for and secretary of the Maryland Base Ball Convention that was formed in 1867. In fact, the MBBC may very well have originated with Gratton in the hopes of building the market for his sporting goods’ business.

In 1866, Gratton opened the Baltimore Base Ball Emporium, one of the first baseball-dedicated sporting good companies, on Baltimore Street, east of Calvert Street. A surviving ad boasts the emporium carrying, “bases, batts [sic], spikes, scores [scorebooks], shoes, shirts, caps, books.”[xii]

It wasn’t long before Gratton hired several salesmen that he send throughout the state, promoting his wares. As a byproduct, he helped proliferate the acceptance of the New York game to even the tiniest towns in Maryland. “Gratton and his salesmen radically changed what was still an informal game in these areas. They took it out of the pastures and into small towns of a few hundred to four thousand people.”[xiii]

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[i] Baltimore Sun, 27 December 1884, page 1

[ii] Baltimore Sun, 2 April 1901, page 7

[iii] Baltimore Sunday Telegram, 27 August 1865

[iv] Baltimore Sun, 25 August 1865

[v] Baltimore Sun, 28 August 1865, page 1

[vi] Baltimore Sun, 28 August 1865, page 1

[vii] Baltimore Sun, 29 August 1865, page 1

[viii] The Pastimes roster that day included: Louis Mallinckrodt, pitcher; Van Ness, catcher; S. Brown, first base; Mitchell, second base; Weidner, third base; O’Connor, shortstop; McDowell, left field; Remington, center field; Winas, right field.

[ix] New York Times, 3 October 1865

[x] New York Times, 13 October 1865, the Pastimes’ roster that day included: Barrall?; Mitchell; Weidner; Allen; Vannen?; Rogers; Popplein; Brown; Mallinckrodt

[xi] Baltimore Sun, 30 August 1865, page 1 (Curiously, Peter Morris in an article, “Syracuse Base Ball Club,” at his website Pertermorrisbooks.com lists a George Gratton whose departure from Syracuse lines up perfectly with the Baltimore George Gratton)

[xii] On the back of a Currier and Ives lithograph, an 1866 baseball card, featured at Robertedwardauctions.com

[xiii] Marty Payne, “The Business of Baseball in Small Towns: The Eastern Shore of Maryland”

Excerpt from William Ridgely Griffith’s The Early History of Amateur Base Ball in the State of Maryland:

 

1862-1864

“The advent of pleasant weather has had the effect to renew these healthful sports [baseball and cricket], and on Saturday last parties of young men and boys visited the suburbs in every direction to participate in the pleasures which they afford. The exercise is invigorating and tends to the development of the physical strength, and at the same time cannot interfere with mental improvement. And, besides, the effect is not immoral, as while so engaged they cannot participate in the baleful pleasures which so abundantly abound in all populous communities.”[i]

And so the 1862 season kicked off in early May. Unfortunately, baseball research hits a wall in 1862 and throughout the war. Games were still played but it’s obvious that the frequency diminished compared to the previous year. It may be that the main contemporary newspapers, the Sun and American, just didn’t cover the sport with zeal. The war was the pressing topic. “With so many sportsmen marching off to war, and with civilian anxieties focused on battlefield news, interest in playful contests naturally waned.”[ii] Or it may be that families were busier; the war proved a financial boon for the city.

Baltimore would soon be down to about a half dozen clubs. No Maryland clubs were a part of the National Association of Base Ball Players from 1862-1866. A perusal of Marshall Wright’s National Association of Base Ball Players shows that most teams stayed close to home form much of the war, which is probably to be expected.

The Baltimore Base Ball Association met in April and purchased a nice ‘silver ball’ to be presented at the end of the year to the city’s champion, the member club that proved itself above the others that season. Silver ball series would be played throughout the 1860s.

Two games draw attention from 1862. On June 14, the Maryland club headed to D.C. and played the Nationals. Maryland eked out a close one, 33-31. “Subsequently the Maryland boys were handsomely entertained.”[iii] On July 19 on Madison Avenue, the Pastimes topped Maryland 30-21 before a large crowd of men and women.

On July 4, 1863, the Pastimes played an intra-squad game at their grounds on Madison Avenue. Their first nine had changed slightly. Louis Mallinckrodt took over in the box for the departed Fred Henry. Hervey Shriver took over third base as Weidner moved to center. Other changes include George Popplein at shortstop and John Sears in fight field. Charley Lewis moved to left field and Dr. Thomas Brown was a substitute, playing where needed.

On Saturday August 8, the Pastimes hosted the Nationals of D.C. The visitors arrived in the early morning and were entertained until game time. The Pastimes won 35-15 and then played the perfect host. “After a ride to the country the two clubs dined at Mr. Haffcke’s saloon. The bill of fare embraced many delicacies of the season, and was served up in a style equal to any first class hotel. The company did not rise until the evening had far advanced, having devoted much time to sentiments, cheering table talk and brief speeches. The base-ball clubs are composed of our best young men in the city, and conducted with strict regard to morality and decorum.”[iv]

On Saturday September 12, the Nationals returned the favor, hosting the Pastimes at the Ellipse. The game wasn’t decided until the eighth inning when Baltimore scored seven to claim a 25-20 victory. “The spectators then dispersed, feeling satisfied that it was one of the best contested games ever witnessed in Washington. These clubs are the champions of their respective cities, the Pastime now being Champions of the South.”[v] It was the Nationals’ turn to honor their guests. “The Baltimoreans were sumptuously entertained, and returned home much pleased with their trip.”[vi]

Ball clubs played during the work week or on Saturdays; Blue Laws prevented the activity on Sundays, and they were enforced. For example, a February 1864 account in the Baltimore Sun described, “Policemen…made a descent upon a crowd of boys playing base ball within the city limits, and arrested twenty-one of them. Justice Johnson fined each of them $1 and costs, which their parents were compelled to pay to prevent the boys from going to jail.”[vii] Pertaining to another case in March, “[Three] young men were arrested yesterday morning by policemen…, charged with pitching cents and playing base ball on Sunday.”[viii]

In May the season opened. “It is gratifying to notice that several of the base-ball clubs of Baltimore are reorganizing for the approaching summer and fall seasons, and several will hereafter play regularly on the green sward.”[ix] On June 18, the Maryland club headed to D.C. for a contest at the Ellipse with the local Jefferson club. Maryland won handily 54-34.

In his book William Griffith described an event in 1864.[x] It was routine for groups of soldiers to watch local games and even to participate at times. During one of the Pastimes’ intra-squad games, Griffith was approached by some Pennsylvania soldiers who wanted to join in. Griffith assented and the soldiers promised to return shortly with a makeshift nine to take on the Pastimes. Griffith, amusingly, says he was duped; he later realized he was approached by Al Reach[xi] and Dick McBride, a pair of big-time ballplayers.[xii]

On September 12, Maryland took on Jefferson again in D.C. However, Jefferson took the victory this time. “After the game the Baltimoreans were handsomely entertained by the Jefferson.”[xiii]

LEW CARL

Over 30 boys/men grew up playing baseball in Baltimore in the 1860s that eventually made the majors, including the National Association. Thirteen have known birthdates that make them at least 17 years old by the end of the decade, which puts at least part of their achievements in the era examined here. They are: Lew Carl, born in 1832; George Popplein, 1840; George Keerl, 1847; Wally Goldsmith, 1848; Robert Armstrong, 1850;[xiv] Mike Hooper, 1850; Ed Mincher, 1851; Tommy Johns, 1851; Bobby Mathews, 1851; Ed Atkinson, 1851; Frank Sellman, 1851; Henry Kohler, 1852; Jim Gilmore, 1853. The two oldest, by far, were Carl and Popplein. Mathews was clearly the best Baltimore-born player of the 19^th century; in fact, he was the best until Babe Ruth.

Lewis Adolph Carl was born on February 25, 1832, four years before the reference sites place his birth date. Plus, he was actually born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, not Baltimore as suggested again by the sites.[xv] By age 18, he was working as a shoemaker.[xvi] It appears that he had quite a few run-ins with the law during his 20s, mainly for fighting, assault; his favorite weapon was a brick.[xvii] He was also arrested twice for attempted murder, in 1858 and 1879.

In 1862, he enlisted in the Maryland 4^th Infantry, on the Union’s side. He mustered out as a captain in May 1865.[xviii] Carl returned to Baltimore after the war and became involved in Republican politics and baseball and worked as a clerk in a custom house. In 1867, he’s listed as an officer with the Enterprise club of Baltimore and continued to play ball through the 1870s into his late thirties.[xix] He appeared in one game at catcher in the National Association on September 9, 1874 to help fill out the Baltimore Canaries roster. Hometown boy Bobby Mathews pitched that day in Baltimore for his New York Mutuals.

Carl later worked as a government clerk in Washington D.C. before moving to Newark, New Jersey in the early 1880s. In poor health in 1884, he applied for an invalid pension as a Civil War veteran.[xx] He died the following May at age 53.

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[i] Baltimore Sun, 5 May 1862, page 1

[ii] George B. Kirsch, The Creation of American Team Sports, page 81

[iii] Baltimore Sun, 16 June 1862, page 4

[iv] Baltimore American and Commercial Advertiser, 10 August 1863

[v] William Ridgely Griffith, The Early History of Amateur Base Ball in the State of Maryland, 1858-1871, page 35

[vi] Baltimore American and Commercial Advertiser, 17 September 1863

[vii] Baltimore Sun, 29 February 1864

[viii] Baltimore Sun, 21 March 1864, page 1

[ix] Baltimore Sun, 28 May 1864

[x] Griffith couldn’t place the exact year of the event. He thought it was either 1863 or ’64 but Dick McBride enlisted in July 1864 so that places the event in that year. “Civil War Veterans who played Major League Baseball Research Project,” Society for American Baseball Research, Sabr.org, ongoing

[xi] It seems Griffith was incorrect in identifying Reach. He was still a New Yorker in 1864 and no record of him serving during the war was found. In all likelihood, it was a different ballplayer that Griffith misidentified years later as Reach.

[xii] William Ridgely Griffith, The Early History of Amateur Base Ball in the State of Maryland, 1858-1871, page 36-37

[xiii] Baltimore Sun, 15 September 1864

[xiv] Nailing down the correct Robert Armstrong has proved difficult; even Retrosheet.org gives little assistance. It may be a good bet that he was a clerk for the firm Armstrong, Cater and Company. However, this is based on nothing other than the fact that that company had a strong amateur baseball club in Baltimore during the 1870s and ‘80s.

[xv] Data taken from Familysearch.com which also jives with the 1850 U.S. Census and other Censuses, christened 3/14/1832, son of Joseph and Charlotte Carl

[xvi] 1850 U.S. Census, when he enlisted his occupation was listed as shipping clerk

[xvii] He was arrested multiple times for assault, at least twice for using a brick to hit someone.

[xviii] His obituary lists him as a Lieutenant-Colonel, a rank he attained in the Maryland National Guard.

[xix] In 1877, Carl is listed on the roster of the Wilmington Quicksteps.

[xx] SABR Civil War Veterans