And Here's The Suspension

At a meeting of the Directors of the St. Louis Base Ball Club last evening Messrs. Von der Ahe, Walker, Williams and Reid were present.  It was decided to suspend Fred Lewis for the season of 1884, which disbars him from playing with any club under the tripartite agreement.  Jim O'Neill claims that he had no connection with the trouble on Tuesday night, and that the reports regarding him were unfounded.  Tom Deasley was also fined heavily for insubordination and enthusiasm.  Mr. Von der Ahe gave the other men a quiet sensible talk and desired them to do their best and work in harmony and keep up their present good record.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 3, 1884


This is so good that I'm going to have to go with the bullet points to cover it all quickly:

-Well, of course, Lewis gets suspended.  You can't get all drunk and tear up a whorehouse and not expect to get suspended.

-I imagine Tip O'Neill standing with his hands up and saying "It wasn't me."

-Was Tom Deasley involved in all of this or was his fine a separate incident.  And how does one get fined for "enthusiasm"?  Have to assume they meant a lack of enthusiasm, or a general piss-poor attitude.

-I laughed out loud when I read that VdA gave the players "a quiet sensible talk."  Compare this treatment of VdA with the coverage from the 1890s.  If this was being reported in 1895, we'd get a made up quote from VdA's speech.  Something along the lines of "Now boys youse canks goes to de horse's house und mistreats de horse.  Dats bad far de horse's bisniss und de baseball bissniss."  

David Reid Was A Better Writer Than Shakespeare

David Lytton Reid

"Chris Von der Ahe's old secretary, Dave Reed, was a valuable assistant to the boss, and being popular among the newspaper men, he settled many of the disputes that arose between the boss and the reporters," says Tom Brown.  "Dave wielded a facile pen and knocked off many clever articles for the papers that advertised the German band far and wide.  Dave was a genial soul, and often indulged in kite flying expeditions and red paint soirees.  These periodicals of Dave's started Chris' temper, and he discharged the genial Dave as often as six times a month.  He went to Comiskey once and said: 'Say, Commie, dot tem Dafe Reet is out again bainting der down.  He can't keep sober two days in a bunch alreatty.'  Comiskey said he knew a steady, temperate fellow out of a job, who would write better articles than Dave.  'Vot's his name?' said Chris.  'Shakespeare,' said Comiskey, 'and he is in a class by himself.  Dave ain't in it with him.  He wrote a great play, called "As You Like It.'  Now Chris always held that Dave Reed was the most brilliant writer in America, and sure, though, he was on Dave, he wouldn't believe that any one was capable of spinning out the gems of thought that trickled from Dave's pen.  'Dot Shagespear you shpeak of, Commie, may be a good writer, but I don't gif a dem if he wrote "As You Like It," as 'Catch-as-catch-can,' or 'Vere You Tem Please,' he can't write such good stories as Dafe Reet.  If Dave ain't sober tomorrow you can send Shagespear arount to der office, and I vill gif him a trial.'"

-Washington Post, September 7, 1896


Putting aside the Von der Ahe nonsense, this little story does tell us quite a bit about David Reid.  He was popular among newspaper men.  He was genial and a bit eccentric.  He liked to drink and his drinking interfered with his work.  He was respected by Von der Ahe.

I think it's a bit rare to find this kind of information about the personality of someone who's a rather obscure 19th century baseball figure.

The Cincinnati Meeting

This morning those interested in the formation of the new 25-cent League meet at Cincinnati to form a permanent organization. The cities of New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Louisville, Cincinnati and St. Louis will be represented, the latter by Christ Von der Ahe and David L. Reed, of the Sportsman's Association. That all will go well, and that the League will be formed, there can be no doubt.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 2, 1881

It seems to me that Von der Ahe does not get much credit for his role in the formation of the American Association. If we were making a Hall of Fame argument for Von der Ahe, doesn't that go pretty much at the top of the list?

A Small Digression On The Weather In St. Louis

The snow storm of yesterday and the day before kept the ball tossers within doors, greatly to their disgust.

Dave Reed, the official scorer of the Browns, will take his benefit next Saturday, weather permitting.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 21, 1876

There are two things here that I thought I should point out. First, the benefit for David Reid was scheduled for March 11 but wasn't held until April 5. Obviously, the weather was the reason for the delay.

Secondly, for those who don't know much about the weather in St. Louis, this is an example of the nonsense we have to put up with climate-wise. The winter of 1875/1876 was mild enough for baseball to be played on Christmas and New Years Day and there were numerous games played among the top clubs during January and February. However, in late March when the season should have been gearing up, it was snowing.

Right now, here at the end of September, it's nice and cool with highs in the low sixties. But it wouldn't surprise me if within the next two weeks, the high in St. Louis hit ninety degrees. Of course, it also wouldn't surprise me if there was a foot of snow on the ground by Halloween. The weather here is ridiculous.

Here's what I don't understand: Let's say you're a pioneer in the mid-18th century and you decide to establish a little fur-trading outpost somewhere on the Mississippi. You find a really nice location at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri, right in the heart of giant, beautiful river valley. Perfect. But the winters are as bad as anything in Canada and the summers are as bad as anything in Panama. And the spring and fall is nothing more than a battle between these two extremes. Also, there are tornadoes and floods and horrible humidity. From a weather standpoint, this is about as bad a place to settle as you could possibly find on God's green earth. Wouldn't you, after you figured out the weather patterns, pack it up and head somewhere else? The fact that they didn't do this and the fact that St. Louis exists makes me question the wisdom of our pioneer ancesters.

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.

A Sketch Of David Reid

The subject of our illustration and biographical sketch is David L. Reid, who is widely and favorably known to the fraternity, having been during the past decade thoroughly identified with professional baseball in Philadelphia and St. Louis as a manager, secretary and journalist. He was born May 14, 1848, in Nashville, Tenn., and came to this city with his parents when but a child. He gained a practical knowledge of the national game while playing with amateur clubs at Hamilton square in the palmy days of the old Manhattan, Metropolitan, Champion, Young America and Active Clubs. He early adopted journalism as his profession, and about 1868-69 contributed numerous articles to The Clipper over the signatures of "Diogenes" and "Oscar Bruce." Removing to Philadelphia, he helped to organize the Philadelphia Club, and the able manner in which he discharged the then onerous duties of secretary and manager tended much to the success of that club in 1873 and 1874-its initial seasons. Very much of the remarkable success-financial and otherwise-secured by the Philadelphia Club in those two seasons was mainly due to his executive tact and ability. In 1875 he migrated to St. Louis, where he has since resided and has displayed his usual zeal and assiduity in promoting baseball. It is hardly possible to say how much he has done towards furthering the national game in the Mound City, where his well-earned reputation as a journalist and his genial deportment have made him exceedingly popular. His connection with the St. Louis press proved a great power in stamping out dishonest play on the ballfield, and has helped to revive baseball in its pristine purity during the past two seasons. He is the secretary of the Sportsman's Park Association, the directors of which recently paid him a deserved compliment and substantially testified their appreciation of his efficient services by presenting him with a handsome gold watch and $200 in cash.

-The New York Clipper, December 2, 1882

I want to thank Bill Burgess for sending me the above article. Bill's research on Reid can be viewed here.

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.

David Reid's Obituary

David L. Reed, who has been Secretary of the St. Louis "Browns" Baseball Club for several years, died very suddenly at 10 o'clock Saturday night of heart disease. Mr. Reed was a well-known sporting and dramatic writer and had been connected at different times with several leading journals both East and West. His relatives live in this city and his body will probably be brought here for interment.

-The New York Times, May 4, 1885

I posted another obituary of Reid, from the Missouri Republican, last year that gives much more information about his life and death.

A Little Spring Cleaning

I have a few notes laying around that I need to do something with and I thought I'd just throw them up on the blog, Joe Falls style:

-I got an email from Bill Burgess the other day sharing some information about David Reid and George Munson. Bill said that after ten years of searching he has finally discovered that Reid was born on May 14, 1848 in Nashville, TN. Ten years of searching-that's dedication. You have to hand it to Bill. Great work. He also discovered that Munson was born on August 15, 1858-not in 1860, as it was previously believed.

-Richard Malatzky has found the elusive death certificate for Packy Dillon. Dillon died on July 27, 1902 in Mehlville, Missouri. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis on July 29, 1902. Thanks to the fantastic work of Richard and others, we now know that Packy Dillon was Patrick Henry Dillon (b. January 2, 1853, St. Louis; d. July 27, 1902, Mehlville).

-Peter Morris sent me the following piece from the July 29, 1868 issue of the Cincinnati Daily Times:

"Base Ball has not a good foot-hold in St. Louis. There is a great spirit of hostility between the two clubs (the Empires and the Unions), and this hurts both. Neither has much chance for practice, except with each other, which they will not do...We should judge the Empires to be a club of workingmen, unable to bear much expense, and with small opportunity to bear much practice..."

This is rather interesting because it illustrates a point that I don't think I've ever made here at TGOG. St. Louis is seen as one of the country's great baseball cities and it is. But it hasn't always been. While it appears that baseball was popular in the city from the beginning, the game's popularity has waxed and waned in St. Louis over the years. The story of baseball in St. Louis is not one of constant growth from 1859 to the present. There was been set-backs and desperate moments when the very survival of the game in St. Louis was in question.

-I should also take this opportunity to thank the friends and readers of this site. I get a tremendous amount of support and encouragement from a variety of people who take time out of their busy day to help me. It's an amazing thing, I'm truly blessed, and I thank them all.

Person George Munson

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David Reid

In a post about George Munson, I mentioned the death of David Reid, a prominent 19th century sportswriter. Al Spinks wrote that there "were few newspaper men, if any, who were more prominently and actively identified with the National Game from the inception of professionalism up to his retirement..."

At Baseball Fever, Bill Burgess has a great thread about baseball writers. One of the more than three hundred writers that Bill chronicles is David Reid. Bill dug up Reid's obituary in The St. Louis Republican and posted it in his thread. The obituary was published in the May 3, 1885 issue of the Republican and I'm presenting it in full below.


Dave Reid Dead; Sudden demise of a Well-Known Sporting Editor.

David Lytton Reid, one of the best known sporting writers and base ball enthusiasts, died at the residence of his friend and chum, George Munson, 1321 Pine street, very unexpectedly last evening at 9:40. His death was a very unexpected after a very brief illness. Late Friday afternoon, while at Grand and Easton avenue, he was suddenly taken with a congestion chill, resulting in severe cramping of the stomach and the pain became violent after he arrived at Mr. Munson's room on Pine street. He laid down on the lounge for a while and his wants were administered to by Mrs. Brothers, who at his suggestion called in Dr. Rutledge and after a short while relief was afforded and he passed an easy night, relieving to a great extent the anxiety and fears which the symptoms first aroused. In the morning he woke up early about 6 o'clock, and seemed greatly refreshed over his night's rest. He spoke cheerfully of his condition, and in response to inquiries stated that he was very greatly relieved. During the day, however, he became worse, and toward evening the hand of death became visible over his cold body. Surrounded by a large number of friends, he quietly passed away at 9:10 P. M., being conscious to the last. His death will be a severe blow to his legion of friends throughout the country, his many excellent qualities of heart and mind endearing him to all with whom he came in contact. He was best known by his remarkable knowledge of national game affairs, his writings on base ball having been recognized everywhere as authoritative and thoroughly reliable. Dave Reid was a name familiar to all baseball men, managers, players, and all those associated with the national game, and his untimely death will be all the more mourned, because of the loss of one whose versatile talents and fine abilities as a writer and grand characteristics as a man made him a prominent figure in the everyday walks of life. He was born in Nashville, Tenn., nearly thirty-seven years ago. His parents soon removed to New York city, where he was reared and received his education. He began life in the dry goods business, but his remarkable natural bent for newspaper work soon found cultivation in the large range of the metropolitan press. He wrote largely for the New York Clipper, Herald, Sunday Dispatch, New York Times, Sunday Mercury and other noted New York papers. Early in the seventies he moved to Philadelphia and became one of the managing editors of the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch, devoting the greater portion of his time and talents to the base ball department, which was recognized as the leading authority on the national game, and established for the paper a grand reputation.

He was secretary of the Athletic club of Philadelphia in its palmiest days - 1872-73. He came to St. Louis, about ten years ago. He was the official scorer of the original Brown stockings club, and for several years did most of the base ball writing for the St. Louis Times. During the base ball season of 1883, and for some years afterwards he was sporting editor of the Republic and afterwards held the same position on the Post-Dispatch and at the time of his death was running the baseball department of that paper. He has also done a great deal of work for the Critic, Sunday Sayings and other weekly local papers. He was also for more than a year amusement editor of the Post-Dispatch. He was unmarried, but leaves a mother and two brothers in New York city.