Bedford and Sullivan Podcast: "The Father of Baseball" A Biography on Henry Chadwick with Author Andrew J. Schiff

Friend and fellow baseball fan Sam Maxwell was kind enough to offer his Bedford and Sullivan Podcast for Monday's commemoration of Henry Chadwick whom passed away in 1908, 112 years ago today.  Our guest was Andrew J. Schiff author of "The Father of Baseball" A Biography of Henry Chadwick.  While the book indeed chronicles Chadwick's life and career, this work also serves as an education into 19th century America and its still burgeoning post-war sensibilities.  One is left wondering how is it that an Englishman in New York City one day decides he will transform a little known game of baseball into America's National Pastime.

thirty-six minutes

ICYMI:

Remembering the Father of Baseball: Henry Chadwick

Remembering The Father of Baseball: Henry Chadwick

HENRY CHADWICK

1824 ~ 1908

GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

BROOKLYN

Commemorating Henry Chadwick, the Father of Baseball, Whom Passed Away on This Day 112 Years Ago.

How is it that a transplanted Englishman in New York City one day decides he will transform a little known game of baseball into America's National Pastime?

His pen is truly mightier than the sword, or in this case a baseball bat.  As the game's ultimate propagandist Henry Chadwick's journalistic endeavors influence an entire nation.  The Washington Nationals great tour of the mid 1860's prove his efforts invaluable with respect to growing the game.  Since base-ball's earliest days he wields great influence; serves as its moral compass and greatest proponent; the first dedicated chronicler; the game's first historian; inventor of statistical analysis and the scoring system; and is an esteemed member of the Rules Committee.  In a match between the Atlantics and Red Stockings (1869), Chadwick even authorizes the first ever extra inning contest.

Chadwick believes in science and is agreeable to a certain level of baseball Darwinism.  Once considered in its earliest days the primary allure of baseball matches, DEFENSE as a consideration takes a back seat to the pitcher vs. batter confrontation instigated by the likes of James Creighton, and is again brushed aside in the boxscore in favor of more offensive related information.  But there are more drastic upheavals to come.  A baseball loyalist at heart Henry always seems at first resistive regarding changes, be it due to encroaching  professionalism, the National Association, the American Association, Players League, and even the National League, but ultimately comes around and praises their respective merits.

After spending decades nurturing the game, Chadwick's prestige in the age of baseball as a business comes into conflict with new western powers.  And by the turn of the century Chadwick's prominence is under heavy siege.  Henry Wright and William Hulbert among others, some being his long-time friends, postulate Chadwick is inflicting harm to baseball due to his cries denouncing gambling and alcoholism at games.  

Were they correct?  

The ultimate showdown features Henry Chadwick versus Albert Spalding and the Mills Commission tasked with researching the origins of baseball, plus the underlying matter of American nationalism and strong anti-English sentiment.  Chadwick believes baseball is evolved from the old English game of Rounders.  The well respected John Montgomery Ward theorizes baseball evolved from Old Cat.  His case is sound.  But is Ward right?

In the end, it seems Chadwick's detractors all acknowledged he was indubitably correct and righteous in his historical analysis, admitting as much upon his passing at 84-years of age.

Does Chadwick die a vindicated man?

Author Andrew Schiff discusses it all in his biography of Henry Chadwick, the Father of Baseball.

Remembering Base Ball's First Superstar: Jim Creighton

b. April 15, 1841

d. October 18, 1862

Jim Creighton: third from left.

Jim Creighton at 18-years of age began his career in 1859 playing for the Brooklyn Niagaras and the Brooklyn Star Club.  From 1860 until his untimely death on Oct. 18, 1862, Crieghton most famously pitched for the Brooklyn Excelsiors.  He was the star attraction during the Excelsiors famous barnstorming tour of 1860 through western New York, Canada, and the mid-Atlantic states.  He was an instigator of the pitcher versus batter confrontation.  Rather than assist and serve the batter he challenged the opposition with an unaccommodating speed pitch, thus helping change the whole dynamic of the game.  Tragically a match on Oct. 14, 1862, against the Unions of Morrisania (Bronx) turned out being his last.  It is during this match that he is believed to have sustained fatal internal injuries.  He passed away four days later.  Born on April 15, 1841, he was a mere 21-years old.  So respected was Creighton that his team mates and members from throughout the circuit mourned and buried him at Green-Wood Cemetery with a granite pillar topped by a marble baseball dedicated in his honor.  It also serves as one of the first ever monuments commemorating baseball.

Happy Independence Day 2019

Battle Path

Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn

April Remembrance: Jim Creighton, Charles Ebbets, and The Fathers of Baseball

April 15, 1841 ~ October 14, 1862

Picture Credit Below

Jim Creighton is well considered base ball's first superstar.  His documented exploits far transcend those of his predecessors.  In both style and substance during the mid 1850s through the early 1860s Jim effectively pioneered the pitcher/batter confrontation.  By the advent of the called strike in 1858 Creighton was pitching less to satisfy a batter's preference, electing instead to challenge opposing batters with an underhand (speedball) fastball featuring both speed and spin previously unseen by the competition and spectators alike.  Over-matched batters naturally accused him to no avail of an illegal delivery.  However, there was simply no denying his elevated skills and craftsmanship.  Creighton not only set a new standard for all future hurlers and indeed created the adversarial relationship between pitcher versus striker, but was equally renown for wielding the era's most productive bat.

Born April 15, 1841 on the island of Manhattan, Jim's family moved when he was 17-years old to Brooklyn where in 1859 he played for the local Niagaras club.  He then joined the Excelsior Base Ball Club of Brooklyn in 1860, whom he led during their historic first ever barnstorming tour through various northeastern cities and Canada.

Jim Creighton SABR 

Against the Morrisania (Bronx) Unions on October 14, 1862, Creighton in his final at-bat struck a mighty blow for a potential home run, but in the course of his swing is said to have sustained a life-threatening internal injury and subsequently collapsed while rounding third base.  Jim passed away suddenly four days later.  He was only 21-years old at the time of his death, but by then had already earned the respect and admiration of all his base ball contemporaries.

The Excelsiors marked their fallen team mate's final resting place at Greenwood Cemetery with an ornate marble obelisk.  What is essentially the first ever monument dedicated to baseball, Creighton's extraordinary marker suffered significant weathering over the ensuing 150-plus years since its dedication.  The original baseball crowning the obelisk eroded away some time ago.

However, Jim Creighton's obelisk has since been restored 

and on April 15, 2014, baseball's first ever monument was rededicated.

The Excelsior Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was formed in 1854, and would feature another standout, (future) Hall of Fame member Candy Cummings.  They went undefeated during their barnstorming tour (which includes victory over the rival Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn), through cities in upstate New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, to name a few.

Picture Credit Below

EXCELSIOR BBC of BROOKLYN

1854 ~ 1870

Claim to the 1860 baseball championship is somewhat in dispute.  An overly rambunctious crowd assembled at Court Street's south end grounds grew too disruptive thus causing a decisive contest between the Excelsiors and Atlantics ending in a draw.  After which, both teams naturally claimed the crown.

The Excelsiors clubhouse is located downtown at 133 Clinton Street at Livingston Street in Brooklyn Heights.  Built in 1851, the corner building first served as clubhouse for the Jolly Young Bachelors, whom would evolve to become the Excelsiors.  Along with Jim Creighton's obelisk, the Excelsior clubhouse is one of base ball's oldest existing historical landmarks.

Brooklyn's Excelsior BBC played at Carroll Park (1854-1859) bounded by Carroll Street; President Street; Smith Street; Court Street. The land was purchased in 1858 by New York City and formalized as recreational space.  The club relocated further down Court Street at Bay Street in Red Hook where they continued playing through the 1870 season.

HENRY CHADWICK

FATHER of BASEBALL

October 5, 1824 ~ April 20, 1908

April 20th marks 110 years since the passing of Hall of Fame member and one of the Fathers of Base Ball, Henry Chadwick.  As writer for the New York Times, the Herald, the Clipper, the Evening Telegram, and the Brooklyn Eagle (... to name only a few), by 1857 he was fully committed to covering, cataloging, and promoting the game.  Mr. Chadwick would publish the first comprehensive rule book, create the first scorecard, assign each position a numerical identifier (i.e. first base is three), invent the box score, and thereby introduce and compile the game's first statistics, effectively making him baseball's first historian.

Hardcover reproduction of Henry Chadwick's scoring ledger;

(Courtesy Flemington Neshanock Vintage Base Ball Club)

Fine Print: Entered according (in) Act of Congress in the year 1868 by Henry Chadwick 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

Greenwood Cemetery

This monument dedicated to Henry Chadwick was paid for by A.G. Spalding and Charles Ebbets.  Chadwick attended his last game on Opening Day 1908, as the New York Giants hosted his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. He was elected in 1938 to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Henry Chadwick attended his last game on Opening Day 1908, as the New York Giants hosted his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds.  Chadwick was elected in 1938 to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

DUNCAN CURRY

FATHER of BASEBALL

Born: NYC, Nov. 28, 1812

Died: Brooklyn, April 1894

Duncan Curry participated in the first committee tasked in 1853 with standardizing the "New York Game" into a set of written rules whereby the game of Base Ball would hence forth be played.  By 1845, the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York was formed, with Curry being named its first president.  The Gothams and Eagles clubs were the Knickerbockers primary competition.

CHARLES EBBETS

Born: Oct. 29, 1859

Died: Apr. 18, 1925

Owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers

1897 ~ 1925

* 150 Years of Baseball; Beekman House; 1989; Library of Congress CC#89-61429
* Greenwood Cemetery

Happy Birthday Brooklyn Base Ball Legend, Jim Creighton

Jim Creighton

Born: April 15, 1841, Manhattan

Died: October 18, 1862, Brooklyn

Before there ever existed a Hall of Fame museum in Cooperstown, there was GreenWood Cemetery in Brooklyn - a national landmark - where the fathers of baseball (Henry Chadwick, Duncan Curry) along with many of base ball's earliest players from the mid-to-late 19th century rest eternally.

Among the era's most celebrated players was New York City native Jim Creighton Jr. - better described as the best player of his time.  In fact, he is historically considered to be base ball's first superstar.

A distinguished striker (batter) by age 16, Creighton initially played second base for the 1859 Niagaras of Brooklyn.  After the Niagara club folded later that season, Creighton switched to the Brooklyn Stars.

Over the winter, Jim Creighton joined the Excelsior Base Ball Club of Brooklyn (also known as the Jolly Young Bachelors Base Ball Club), for whom he pitched from 1860 through the 1862 season.   En route to leading the Excelsiors to a national championship during his first season with the club, he also set about revolutionizing the game itself.

SABR -

• "...something new was seen in base ball - a low, swift delivery, the ball rising from the ground past the shoulder to the catcher."

Other sources are quoted, saying:

• "Why that man was not bowling, he is throwing underhand.  It the best disguised underhand throwing I ever saw, and might readily be taken as a fair delivery."

• "...his pitch "as if it was shot out of a cannon." 

• "...had wonderful speed, and, with it, splendid command.  He was fairly unhittable."

Outcries abounded regarding illegal pitches and unsportsmanlike conduct.  Accused of failing to keep a stiff arm on the back swing of his delivery then snapping his wrist, Jim was generally cleared of such transgressions when a Brooklyn Eagles reporter determined Creighton threw a fair square pitch, rather than a jerk, or an illegal underhand throw.

Jim Creighton was injured on October, 14, 1862, during a game against Bronx competitors, Union BBC of Morrisania.  Four days later, he died suddenly in his home due to internal hemorrhaging.  Jim was just 21-years/six months of age.

SABR -

• His death was not only a loss to his club but to the whole base ball community.  Which needed such as he as a standard of honorable play and ability.

Jim Creighton is credited for being among the very first players to be paid (professionally); credited for throwing a speed ball - a precursor of the fastball; is said to have invented the curveball; and above all else, is believed to have been first to propagate the pitcher batter confrontation.

In his honor, members of the Excelsiors Base Ball Club of Brooklyn erected this monument at his grave sight in GreenWood cemetery.  It is believed to be the very first baseball monument ever erected.

In its original condition, the monument featured a baseball adorning the very top which through the past century had been compromised by erosion.

In 2014, the monument was restored to its original state thanks to the efforts of Tom Gilbert and Richard Moylan, along with help from baseball historian Eric Miklich of 19cBaseball.com ...   otherwise known as, Express, pitcher for the present day Eckfords vintage BBC of Brooklyn (featured here wearing Brooklyn Excelsior attire).

photo/article, Jeff Richman

133 Clinton Street

Brooklyn

Former Home of the Brooklyn Excelsiors Base Ball Club

Champions of the United States - 1860

Club Founded 1854

Last Season     1870

Home Field

Carroll Park (Carroll St. at Court St.) 1854-1859

Red Hook Grounds (Court St. at Bay St.) 1859-1870

!!.Happy 176th Birthday.!!