SLU vs. CBC

A match game of the most interesting and exciting character came off on the Veto Grounds, on the 13th inst., between the two clubs, the former, students of the Christian Brothers' Academy, the latter of the St. Louis University, which resulted in the defeat of the Academic.  Both nines exhibited in a proficiency at the "bat" and in the field not to be expected in the initial game of the season.

The excellent play, together with the favorableness of the weather, rendered the game all that could be desired.  The conduct of the defeated nine merits unqualified approbation from members of the Pickwick, nevertheless, we would suggest to the non-combatants who cheered so vociferously, and whose sympathies appeared to be enlisted on the side of the Academic, that attempts to disconcert opponents are by no means manly, nor are they exactly in good taste.  We hope the gentlemen of the Academic will not take offence at these remarks, as they are not intended for them.  On the contrary, we repeat that they accepted their defeat gracefully, and as becomes a nine beaten, were not dishonored.

The score at the end of the ninth inning was: Academic 38; Pickwick 48.

-Missouri Republican, May 15, 1869

A Busy Day

April 6, 1884 was a busy baseball day in St. Louis.

Besides the Maroons' first game, the Browns played their reserve club at Sportsman's Park, the Western Brass Manufacturing Company club played an amateur club from East St. Louis, the East St. Louis Club played the Belleville Standards at National Park in East St. Louis, the Papins played the Eclipse, the Ely-Walker's Packing-room nine played the Ely-Walker's Porters, the Kemper Grocery nine played the Southerns, the Prickly Ash played the St. Gothards, the Jolly Knights played the Martin Neiser "Ice-water nine," the CBC club played a club made up of college students at the Compton Avenue Grounds, and the Western Railroad nine played the Missouri Pacific Railroad nine, also at Compton Avenue.

The Globe-Democrat noted that the Browns had 5,000 people at their game and the doubleheader at the Compton Avenue Grounds drew 500 fans.  They also mentioned, of course, that the Maroons had around 10,000 people at the Union Grounds.  The Cleveland Herald, on April 9, stated that "[in] St. Louis last Sunday 20,000 people took part in base ball either as players or spectators of the many games played on that day."  They also noted the attendance at the Maroons' game, which must have truly galled them.

The 1884 St. Louis baseball season was in full swing.

SLU Vs. CBC

A game was played on Thursday last between the Champions of the College of the Christian Brothers, and the Nationals, of the St. Louis University. This game was well contested, and resulted in favor of the former by a score of 18 to 14.

-New York Herald, June 23, 1868

A Quick Reference To A College Game In 1886

The Resolutes, of the Christian Brothers' college, defeated the Monarchs, of the St. Louis university, on last Thursday, by a score of twenty to three. The heavy batting of C. Jenks and J. Shockey were the features of the game.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 16, 1886


I'm absolutely not an expert on 19th century college baseball so I'm not really sure that this game represents an actual college baseball game or just a game between clubs made up of college students. In fact, I don't know enough to state that that's even a distinction that should be made.

There were clubs in St. Louis made up of college students going back to the mid-1860's when both SLU and Washington University fielded clubs that, at least unofficially, represented their respective schools. The Union Club, of course, was made up largely of students from those two schools and was established in 1859 or early 1860. So college students were forming clubs and playing games twenty years before this particular game.