ATLANTIC BASE BALL CLUB of BROOKLYN
150 Years Ago Today
BROOKLYN ATLANTICS PREVAIL IN EXTRA INNINGS; CINCINNATI RED STOCKINGS HISTORIC WINNING STREAK ENDS AT CAPITOLINE GROUNDS
Among the greatest battles ever waged pitting amateurism and eastern idealism versus professionalism and western aspirations erupts in 1870 in the Bedford section of Brooklyn where the Atlantics host the openly professional Cincinnati Red Stockings at Capitoline Grounds. Established in 1866, the Red Stockings finish the 1869 season undefeated, including a commanding 32-10 victory against the Atlantics. Picking up where they left off, Cincinnati to date remains undefeated and is in the midst of an 84-game winning streak upon their arrival at Brooklyn. The afternoon's respective competitors are by no means strangers. The lure of play-for-pay inspires many an eastern player into moving west. Lest we forget, Asa Brainard is the former feature hurler of the Brooklyn Excelsiors; Harry Wright once a member of the old Knickerbockers and Gothams; and his brother George Wright also a one-time member of the Gothams. Otherwise, each of the nines enters this match virtually intact from the 1869 season, making them quite familiar with one another.
On June 14, 1870, upwards of 15,000 fans from Bedford and beyond are treated to an extraordinary contest - a terrific back and forth affair - in which the underdog Atlantics overcome the mighty Red Stockings by an 8-7 final score in eleven innings, and thus bring to an end Cincinnati's historic undefeated run dating back to the 1868 season.
CINCINNATI
- George Wright-ss
- Charlie Gould-1b
- Fred Waterman-3b
- Doug Allison-c
- Capt. Harry Wright-cf
- Andy Leonard-lf
- Asa Brainard-p
- Charlie Sweasy-2b
- Cal McVey-rf
Cincinnati's Harry Wright promptly opens the scoring with a first inning double plating George Wright and Doug Allison. The Red Stockings tally another in the third for a 3-0 lead. Brooklyn strikes back for a pair of runs in their half of the fourth on Joe Start's base hit scoring Dickey Pearce, and Bob Ferguson's double scoring Start. After which a series of infield gaffes committed by Cincinnati's Charlie Gould, Charlie Sweasy, and Fred Waterman, clear the way for a 4-3 Brooklyn lead after six. But the pendulum again swings Cincinnati's way when George Wright drives in two runs in the top half of the seventh giving the Red Stockings a 5-4 lead. Undeterred the Atlantics forge a tie in the eighth. The clubs remain deadlocked at five apiece through the ninth. Brooklyn seemingly resigned to a draw begins walking off the field while a dismayed crowd begins overrunning the playing field. However Cincinnati captain Harry Wright insists on a continuance of play. After much on-field deliberation team captain Bob Ferguson and the Atlantics agree to play on. A scoreless tenth ensues, the Red Stockings then tally two runs in the top half of frame eleven. Though faced with a 5-7 deficit the Atlantics temerity would not be denied. Charlie Smith leads off the bottom half of the frame with a hit and immediately scores on Joe Start's triple. Two batters later Joe Ferguson drives in the game tying run with a base hit scoring Start. George Zettlein then reaches safely on first baseman Charlie Gould's error, placing runners on the corners. When George Hall follows with a sharp grounder to the right side, base runner Bob Ferguson makes his break down the third base line, second baseman Charlie Sweasy fields it and throws home. The umpire declares Ferguson, SAFE! Brooklyn wins! Amateurism seizes the day ... or does it?
- Dickey Pearce-ss
- Charlie Smith-3b
- Joe Start-1b
- Jack Chapman-lf
- Capt. Bob Ferguson-c
- George Zettlein-p
- George Hall-cf
- Lipman Pike-2b
- Dan McDonald-rf
Scribes and fans alike resoundingly hail the game as the finest ever played. But rather than reinvigorate the noble notion of amateurism and reinforce traditional sensibilities rooted deeply in the old New York Game long promulgated so eloquently by Henry Chadwick, baseball itself comes under the sway of western entrepreneurs set on deriding the "Father of Baseball" and forging headlong into the world of business and capitalism. In 1871 the newly formed National Association of Professional Base Ball Players launched their inaugural season. But the great Brooklyn Atlantics of former 1860's glory, baseball's first dynasty, elect not to join. They soon reverse course and in 1872 join baseball's professional circuit albeit shells of their former selves. The Atlantics complete four sub-par seasons through 1875, never finishing better than sixth. The National Association is dissolved, and in 1876 the Atlantics are excluded from the newly founded National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. This brings to an effective end the twenty-year existence of the original pioneering Atlantics Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, one of the most fiercely competitive and highly successful 19th-century ball clubs to ever take the field.
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