A Benefit For David Reid

The game advertised to come off yesterday afternoon at the Grand Avenue Park, between the St. Louis Browns and a picked nine, for the benefit of Mr. David Reed, was played notwithstanding the cold weather. About 500 spectators witnessed the contest. The errors committed on both sides were numerous, owing to want of practice. Clapp caught Bradley's pacers in the highest style of the art, and his throwing to bases was first-class. When he learns Brad's tricks, he will, no doubt, improve even on his good play of yesterday. Ned Cuthbert played his part without an error, as did also Pike and Loftus, the other two fielders. Loftus, of the Reds, played the Browns' side and got in two good base hits off Joe Blong. McGeary made some fine plays. Pearce and Battin were decidedly off, and did not play up to their usual standard.

On the picked nine side, Collins, Dolan, Croft and Redmon of the St. Louis Reds, who were kindly allowed to play by the manager of said club, did all they could, but having strange bats to handle, and no regular uniform, they could not do themselves justice. Collins covered himself with glory, and, with the exception of one error, played his base right up to the handle. Joe Blong was "some" at the stick, and seemed to have no trouble in knocking Bradley all over the field. Harry Little, of the Grand Avenue Nine, made a couple of fine base hits off the old man. It will be seen by looking at the score that the picked nine outbatted the Browns. It so happened that the errors committed by the "picks" were costly, while those committed by the Browns did not amount to much. Both sides made a double play during the game.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 6, 1876


One has to assume that the benefit was for David L. Reid but I couldn't begin to tell you why the Brown Stockings would have a benefit game for him.

This game is essentially the Brown Stockings versus the Reds and, once again, the Reds got it handed to them by a score of 13-4. It's interesting to note that Joe Blong, scallywag, was pitching for a team that included several of his old teammates from the 1875 Reds and that Reds' management, meaning Thomas McNeary, approved of this.