OTD in Base Ball 10/4/1866: First Championship Match Between Athletics of Philadelphia and Atlantic BBC of Brooklyn Called Due to Unruly Crowd

From the desk: NO ROUNDERS!

Chicago Tribune, Friday, October 5, 1866

On Thursday, October 4, 1866, upwards of 25,000 cranks, the largest crowd of people ever assembled in this country to witness a base ball match, arrive at the Fifteenth Avenue and Columbia Avenue grounds to see the local Athletics of Philadelphia take on the visiting Atlantic Base Ball of Brooklyn in the first match this season for the championship of America.

More than 10,000 fans fill the enclosure a full hour before the game, with seating accommodations for only 4,000 to 5,000 persons.  

Another 4,000 people pass through the gates over the next hour.  Every inch of standing room is packed with people.  There are as many fans in the stands as there are on the grounds.  Meanwhile, the crowd outside the grounds was equally, if not more numerous than the one inside, with a great many arrivals from New York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington, and other cities present to witness the game.

"The two clubs appeared on the grounds in their full strength, the Athletics dressed in blue pants, white shirts, and caps;  the Atlantics in gray pants, white shirts, and red caps.  Both nines looked remarkably well and were apparently in most excellent trim for fine play." - Chicago Tribune

After a fifteen-minute delay, Brooklyn finally takes the field.  Facing Atlantic pitcher Thomas Pratt, Philadelphia's Dan Kleinfelder is retired by second baseman Fred Crane.  Next up, Dick McBride reaches safely when Charles Smith fails to cleanly handle a liner to third.  Al Reach then singles up the middle putting runners at the corners.  Ike Wilkins grounds to second, corralled by Crane; McBride scores from third on the fielder's choice.  Thomas Pratt then strikes out Nate Berkenstock, but not before Al Reach crosses home on a passed ball for a 2-0 Athletic lead.

Leading off for the Atlantic, Dickey Pearce singles through the left side.  Charlie Smith follows with a bouncer to second; Pearce is forced at second base, Reach to Wilkins.  Joe Start then doubles to deep center field advancing Smith to third base.  With Fred Crane at the bat ...

... a disturbance flares up within the crowd on the eastern side of the field.  With police trying to push back fans, many protested that as long as they paid their admission, they were entitled to see the match and enjoy all the privileges that any other person enjoyed.  

One particularly unruly customer sustained wounds to his head when he misguidingly assaulted police officers.

By that point, fans from all directions infiltrated the field.  A portion of fencing along Columbia Avenue gave way, and hundreds of more cranks entered the field.  Police and grounds committee efforts went for naught.

The clubs deliberated for roughly one half-hour, and the game was ultimately called.

OTD in Brooklyn 9/21/1865: Atlantic Base Ball Club Defeats Eckford Club at Capitoline Grounds

From the desk: NO ROUNDERS!

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 

Friday, September 22, 1865

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. 

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 

Friday, September 22, 1865

OTD in the New York Game 8/23/1860: Championship Match Between Atlantic and Excelsior Base Ball Clubs Suspended in Sixth Due to Disorderly Crowd

From the desk: NO ROUNDERS!

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Wednesday, August 22, 1860

On Thursday, August 23, 1860, an estimated 20,000 uproarious spectators converged upon the grounds at Gates and Lafayette Avenues, home of the Putnam Base Ball Club, for a decisive third match between the first nines of the Atlantic and Excelsior base ball clubs.  The previous two meetings were split, the first taken by the Excelsiors, the second by the Atlantics.

With umpire Henry Thorn's call to play, a tightly contested affair unfolds with young Jim Creighton pitching for Excelsior and Martin O'Brien for the Atlantics.

In the opening frame, the Excelsiors promptly push across five runs.  The Atlantic nine respond with one in the bottom half of the first and two in the second.  A tally by each club is then traded in the third.  Two more aces are posted in the fourth at the expense of the Atlantics, who then tally one of their own in the bottom half of the fifth for an 8-6 advantage in favor of Excelsior.

Brooklyn Evening Star, Friday, August 24, 1860

In the sixth inning, at third, Atlantic center fielder Archie McMahon is called out by umpire Henry Thorn on a curiously close baserunning play.  A riled McMahon, instead of respectfully surrendering the base, stands his ground in vociferous protest.  

The dispute between player versus umpire fast devolves into crowd disorder as comportment and decorum fall victim to a more tenacious gambling element who disruptively pounce onto the player's grounds with the interests of the Atlantics and their pockets in mind.  Despite over 100 police officers on-site and the joined pleas of Excelsior catcher Joe Leggett and members of the Atlantic, the match is delayed and ultimately suspended when Captain Leggett orders his team to gather their belongings and disperse from the field.

Left fielder George Flanley and center fielder Henry Polhemus each lead the Excelsiors with two runs. The Atlantics are led by catcher Dickey Pearce and third baseman Charlie Smith also with two runs apiece.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Wednesday, August 22, 1860

"... the real or fancied injustice to McMahon of the Atlantics, by a decision made, and the last inning was made amid the hootings and yells of those who were apparently friends of the Atlantics.  Mr. Leggett of the Excelsior was supported by the Atlantic nine in his efforts to secure order but failing, the Excelsiors withdrew, and immediately left the field, followed by a crowd of roughs, alternately groaning the Excelsiors and cheering the Atlantics.  The game is drawn, and, if ever played out, will take place in comparative privacy, on some inclosed grounds.  The determination shown by the Excelsior Club on this occasion is worthy of great praise, and meets the approval of the vast majority of the respectable portion of the base ball community." - Brooklyn (N.Y.) Evening Star, Friday, August 24, 1860

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, August 24, 1860

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, August 24, 1860

In a related item ...

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, August 23, 1860

JIM CREIGHTON ~ ASA BRAINARD ~ CHARLES WHITING

Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn 6/14/1870: Atlantics Bring Cincinnati Red Stockings Historic Win Streak to an End

From the desk of: WHEN BEDFORD WAS THE WORLD

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?

BROOKLYN

• 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.

• John Thorn/SABRvideos
• SABR/1870/Atlantics/Red Stockings