On Thursday, September 21, 1865, the Atlantic Base Ball Club and Eckford Club met for the first time in nearly two years at the Capitoline Grounds in Bedford, Brooklyn. A challenge was sent by the former champion Eckfords and was accepted by the reigning champion Atlantics.
Defensive shortcomings nearly compromised the Atlantic's heavy batting. The battery of pitcher Thomas Pratt and catcher Lipman Pike did not last. After permitting five passed balls, Pike was moved to shortstop, with Dickey Pearce taking up position behind home. But while the Atlantics gained better proficiency behind the plate, Lipman Pike fared no better at short. John Chapman's play in left was also brought into question. The whereabouts of Charlie Smith were unknown to the Atlantics as well, but in his place, Fred Crane handled third base without flaw. Sidney Smith also performed admirably in right field.
"The play of the Eckfords was very good. Their fielding was excellent, their pitching and catching very nice, and their batting strong, though not so heavy as the Atlantics. The champions have grown a little careless in their play, of late, and it is not at all creditable to them. Many go and witness these games, not that they anticipate a close thing, but because they want to see the Atlantics play, and to play poorly and carelessly is to do discredit to club and friends." Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thomas Pratt is opposed by George Zettlein for Eckford. The Atlantics open the scoring with three runs in the first inning. Eckford recovers one in the second then surges ahead with eight runs in the third. Undeterred, the Atlantics retake the lead with seven tallies in the fourth frame. Eckford manages one in return, but the Atlantics then score ten more runs in the fifth for a 20-10 lead through five. Not yet done, the Atlantics continue adding to their lead two in the sixth, two in the seventh, and pairs of runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Afterwhich, it's a matter of making plays and holding on. Eckford posts three runs in the sixth then rallies for seven runs in the seventh. Their ninth-inning rally is cut short at three as the Atlantics close out a tightly contested 28-25 victory over Eckford.
Lipman Pike's performance at the plate was commensurate with his fielding, recording a game-high six outs with just one run. First baseman Joe Start and John Chapman score a team-high five runs, while Fred Crane and Thomas Pratt follow with four each.
Eckford left fielder Henry Manolt and third baseman George Fox lead with four runs scored, three others score three apiece.
