"The Greatest Game Ever Played In St. Louis"

From Al Spink's The National Game:

"It was the St. Louis Browns and the Stars of Syracuse, New York, that played a game on the Grand avenue grounds, now Sportsman's Park, that must take rank with the best in the history of the national sport. It took place on Tuesday, May 1, 1877. Fifteen innings were played and not a run had been scored on either side when darkness compelled the umpire to call the game. During the progress of this remarkable contest only one man reached first base."

"The Brown's batting list on this occasion was headed by Dorgan and he was followed by Clapp, McGeary, Batten, Force, Remsen, Croft, Blong, and Nichols."

"The Stars' list had Higham at the top with Geer, McKinnon, Mansell, Clinton, Hotaling, Farrell, McCormick and Carpenter, following in the order named. The batteries were Clapp, catcher, and Nichols, pitcher, for St. Louis, and Higham, catcher, and McCormick, pitcher, for Syracuse."

"The score made in this game was a wonderful one for many reasons. First of all the game was played with a lively ball and while the hitting was terrific, the fielding was simply magnificent."

How would you like to sit through a 15 inning, 0-0 game only to have the game called on account of darkness?

While Spink wrote that only one man reached first base, I believe he meant to say that only one man advanced past first. St. Louis had eight hits in the game and Syracuse had two. Higham, of the Stars, was the only one to make any real noise with the bat when he hit a double.