Undetermined As To Their Future Course

The fact that less than 500 people attended the three games of base ball at Indianapolis last week, would seem to indicate that the Hoosier Club is an expensive institution to its backers. That it should be, is indicated by the manner in which the officers have acted recently. The team was transferred to this city, and, in spite of the intense heat, and the fact that the Blues played a game which the local amateurs could discount, the attendance was fair. Supt. Solari had gone to a great deal of expense in fitting up the park, but the moment the club found that they could not draw large crowds until they demonstrated their ability to play ball, they skipped back to Indianapolis, and, if the reports in the Pittsburg papers are true, will ignore their St. Louis engagements and play in that city. Last night the Indianapolis correspondent of the Globe-Democrat was informed by President Pettitt that the report as to Pittsburg was without foundation, and that, as stated heretofore, the club would alternate between St. Louis and Indianapolis, coming here when the weather was cooler. On the heels of the above telegram, a message was sent to John Clapp, the manager of the club, stating that the weather was cooler, and asking whether the club intended keeping its engagements here, to which the following reply was received:

"No. We are due in Chicago next week; can not tell about week after next. (Signed) John E. Clapp."

The above shows that the directors of the club are undetermined as to their future course. If they think it will pay they will come here; if not-not...For the benefit of the jealous scribes in League cities who misrepresented the numbers in attendance at the three games played here, it may be stated that St. Louisians are educated up to the fine points in base ball, and that they have no use for a club which can neither bat nor run bases. Lovers of the national game who saw a club made up of six of the present Chicago team, with three of the strongest men in the Providence nine-the Hartfords of '76-whitewashed in three straight games in one week by the St. Louis Brown Stockings, are not willing to patronize any except a strictly first-class organization.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 21, 1878

Happy Independence Day

I hope you enjoy your Fourth of July. On to the videos (patriotic edition).

It doesn't get any better than this. Kate Smith-God Bless America:




You should really watch this. It's silly and chuckle-inducing. The Muppets-Stars and Stripes Forever:




Not patriotic, but definitely silly. Beaker doing Ode to Joy:




More Muppet silliness. I'm pretty sure this is the Blue Danube Waltz:

This I Can Understand

Owing to the intensely hot weather, the Indianapolis Club will play the Providence team at Indianapolis on Tuesday, returning here for the contests Thursday and Saturday.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 14, 1878

So much for playing the rest of their home games in St. Louis. While I like hot weather, things can get rather uncomfortable in St. Louis during the summer and I wouldn't blame anybody for not wanting to play baseball at the height of a warm spell here. St. Louis, as Casey said about Busch Stadium II, holds the heat well.

The Third Game

The attendance at Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon was not what it should have been, in view of the fact that the Boston and Indianapolis clubs were to meet in this city for the last time this season. The game was virtually lost to the Blues in the first two innings, the Reds batting "the only Nolan" all over the field, and to add to the misfortunes of the Hoosiers, Flint was hit by a fierce foul tip, which necessitated his being relieved by Clapp, who supported McKelvey magnificently. The Blues were outplayed at every point, and the game was lost and won on its merits, nothing brilliant, except the batting of Leonard, being achieved on either side.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 14, 1878

Boston jumped out to an eight run lead and cruised to a 12-4 victory. The game report didn't state when exactly McKelvey replaced Nolan on the mound.

No Season Tickets

The matter of season tickets for the series of base ball games to be played by the Indianapolis Club in (St. Louis) has given rise to considerable question. On the arrival in St. Louis of Mr. Scott, on Tuesday last, it was announced that the sale of season tickets was a fixed fact. But as none have been offered for sale, the inquiry has naturally been made as to the reason for their being withheld. Mr. Scott explains the matter very satisfactorily, as follows: After canvassing the ground thoroughly on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, he arrived at the conclusion that it would be far better to rely upon the direct gate patronage of the patrons of the game than to sell tickets in advance. This conclusion he reported to Mr. Pettit on his arrival, and that gentleman at once indorsed his decision. The friends of base ball will understand this straightforward policy of the managers, and will show their appreciation of fair dealing by a liberal patronage on each day of play.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 13, 1878

I'm intrigued by the statement that the decision regarding ticket sales was made after "canvassing the ground thoroughly..." It's possible that the Indianapolis Club had made a decision to play their remaining home games in St. Louis (although that's far from certain) but after an inspection of the Grand Avenue Grounds, which was operating under a smaller configuration than it had in previous seasons, decided that the ballpark did not meet their expectations or needs. While speculative, it's possible that the state of the ballpark combined with what Al Spink described as poor attendance for the series against Boston convinced Pettit that St. Louis would not be an improvement over the situation in Indianapolis.

The Second Game

Notwithstanding the intensely warm weather there was a fair attendance at the Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the second contest between the Boston and Indianapolis Base Ball Clubs. McCormick replaced Nolan in the latter team, and his pitching was eagerly watched by the crowd, very few of whom had ever seen him play. The game was one of the best ever witnessed in this city, and was only won by a combination of good luck, dashing base running and nervy work on the part of the champions...

There should be a rousing attendance at the Grand Avenue Park Saturday afternoon, when the Reds and Blues again meet. Such a contest as that of yesterday, though only seen once in a lifetime, may be duplicated to-morrow.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 12, 1878

So the once in a lifetime game will be duplicated tomorrow? Really? Wouldn't that then not make this game a once in a lifetime experience? I'm just asking.

This once in a lifetime experience was nothing more than Boston coming back to win the game after they were down 4-1 going into the eighth inning and anybody who's a fan of a team with a bad bullpen sees something like that a dozen times a year. Boston scored four in the eighth and three in the ninth after Nolan replaced McCormick, who broke "one of the small bones in his fore arm," and won 8-4. The Only Nolan really had a poor series and was lit up rather good by Boston in this series.

I just took a look at Nolan's stats over at B-Ref and I guess I never looked at them before because I never realized that The Only Nolan wasn't all that good. I know that B-Ref doesn't have his full record, missing seasons when he wasn't pitching in the major leagues, but still...I assumed that he was a great pitcher. The guy was a star; he was The Only Nolan. But Ed Nolan was a bit of a bum and a headcase. It's as if my entire world has changed; black is white, day is night, The Only Nolan was not a good pitcher. So I guess that the only reason we remember Nolan is the nickname and a couple of non-League seasons he had as a teenager with Indianapolis.

The First Game

Grand Avenue Park presented a decidedly animated appearance yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the opening base ball game of the season, between the red-legged champions of Boston, who, owing to their skillful play and gentlemanly deportment, were always prime favorites in St. Louis, and the Indianapolis Club, which has decided to make its home here for the remainder of the year. The crowd reminded one of old times, when the enthusiasm manifested for the National game was unbounded. While the park is not as large as in previous years, it is still amply sufficient for all practical purposes, and the "diamond," thanks to Superintendent Solari, is in perfect condition. Nothing is lacking to make the visitor comfortable, and the seating capacity is equal to anything but an extraordinary emergency. That great interest is still taken in the game was manifested by the presence of so many spectators from all branches of life, and the demonstrative manner in which they received the rival athletes...Clapp, Croft and Flint were quickly recognized, and each was accorded an ovation...The Reds won the toss, and after the third inning had everything their own way, having all the luck and the best of the umpiring...It was evidently an off day for the Hoosiers, six of whom could do nothing with the stick, while all except Croft, Flint, Shaefer and Williamson were shaky in the field...No brilliant play was exhibited on either side outside of the pitching and catching, which was a model display, and a fine catch each by Leonard and Warner. While a majority of the spectators would have preferred seeing the Bostons beaten, the applause was distributed in an impartial manner.

The disagreeable feature of the contest was the boorish conduct of Burdock, who, as usual, had more to say than all others pub together, and who, by his idiotic shouting, endeavored to disconcert the opposing players at critical points of the struggle. His appeals to the umpire were based on the most childish pretexts imaginable, and the respectable people present were surprised that Harry Wright did not sit down on him.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 10, 1878

Boston won the first game of the series, 6-3.

Blogger Has Gone All Wonky

For some reason, my scheduled posts have not been published as scheduled the last three days. No idea why except that Blogger is a touchy little application that I've grow tired of. Don't be surprised if one day I move this whole operation over to WordPress. But in the meantime, I have to start paying attention to things a little more closely than I usually do.

Bottom line: Google is evil.

The St. Louis Club

How St. Louis Thumped Cincinnati

[From the Cincinnati Enquirer.]

The first League series of twelve games to be finished this season is the Cincinnati-Indianapolis (or St. Louis) series, which ended last Saturday. The result was eight games won by the St. Louis Club to four by the Cincinnatis.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 9, 1878

The implication is that the Cincinnati paper was referring to the Indianapolis club as "the St. Louis Club." Of course, this could have been creative editing by the Globe.