For The Benefit Of Mr. Reid

Mr. Dave Reed, who reported the Brown Stocking games for local and foreign journals last season, and who knows as much about the merits of ball-tossers and the pastime itself as any man in the country, has, as a slight token of his appreciation by the ball-players of the city, been tendered a complimentary benefit, which comes off to-morrow afternoon at the Grand Avenue Park, a game having been arranged between the Grand Avenue nine, aided by three of the strongest Brown Stocking men, and a picked nine consisting principally of professionals. Mr. Reed has done more than his share to make the national game popular, in the East as well as in the West, has befriended many a player, and is richly deserving of this testimonial at their hands, as well as liberal patronage from the public. The nines will be selected with a view to making the contest unusually close and exciting, and habitues of the ball field should turn out en masse.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 10, 1876

I've written about the Reid benefit before and you'll find details about the game itself if you follow the link. But I'm still not certain why they had a benefit game for Reid even though the Globe states that it was held as a token of appreciation. Maybe that's true and Reid was such a wonderful guy and was so beloved by the ballplayers that they decided to throw him a party/benefit.