They Play A Rattling Good Game

The St. Louis Reds. - This club is in better playing form now than ever.  Recently they secured the services of Tom Sullivan, a St. Louis amateur, to play centre field and change catcher.  He played behind the bat so well that the managers of the club intend keeping him there, and the regular catcher, Dolan, will play at centre hereafter.  The Reds are composed entirely of St. Louis players, and their team as now fixed upon is as follows: Morgan, p. and captain; Sullivan, c.; Croft, 1st b.; Dillon, 2d b.; Redmon, s.s.; Collins, 3d b. and change pitcher; Magner, l.f.; Dolan, c.f. and change catcher; Loftus, r.f., with Oran as tenth man.  The Reds have been trying to get clubs to visit them, but so far only the Stars of Covington have called on them.  The Reds have got a first-class park, and, as they play a rattling good game, they draw better than ever.  The two games they played with the Browns proves that they play well, and when they get a chance at other League clubs they intend to show what they can do.  The Reds are all strong batters, and by practicing regularly every day they are fast becoming good fielders.  All clubs wishing to play them should address the secretary, Mr. L.C. Waite, No. 3,001 Olive street, St. Louis, Mo.

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907


This report on the 1876 Red Stockings comes from late May or earlier June.  It appears right under a piece (from the Clipper) about the death of Tom Miller, who passed away on May 29, 1876.  The Globe picked up the piece and ran it on June 8.  So this probably originally ran in the Clipper in early June.

Two things stood out to me.  First, Packy Dillon was playing second base for the club.  I probably already knew this and had forgotten it but I'm used to thinking of Dillon as a catcher.  Second, Tom Oran wasn't good enough to crack the starting nine.  One of the best players in the history of pioneer-era, St. Louis baseball, he was only 28 years old and couldn't start for a minor, independent, professional club.         

He Needs Practice, And A Great Deal Of It.

A practice gem of base ball was played last Saturday afternoon between the St. Louis Reds (professionals) and the Nationals (amateurs), at the Red Stocking Park, which resulted in a victory to the professionals by a score of 35 to 14 - report of which was crowded out of columns yesterday.  The weather was very disagreeable for playing ball, being entirely too cold and windy.  The attendance was small, not more than 200 spectators being on the grounds.  The game was not a brilliant one by any means, both sides indulging in muffing at a great rate, although there were at times some fine plays made.  The game was the first one the Nationals have played this season.  Bobb, their [pitcher], sent in the balls fearfully wild; the three players that attempted to catch him allowed twenty two balls to pass them.  He had no less than sixteen wild pitches charged to him during the game.  Fact is, Bobb never ought to pitch unless he can control the ball much better than he did.  He needs practice, and a great deal of it.  Boles, the catcher of the Nationals, is a good player and did well, he having made three fine base hits.  Lee, at short, did splendidly.  As for the Reds, they could have done much better, but, they did not seem to try.  Packey Dillon caught during most of the game, but his sore hand prevented him from doing his best.  Morgan put on a full head of steam and pitched well.  Old "Sweez," who, by the way, is a young man, only twenty-six years of age, played his base in good style, but did nothing with the stick.  Charley Houtz batted well...Indian Tommy (Oran) did nobly in the eighth inning; he and Houtz made a double play.  Joe Blong had nothing to do while in the field; he made a couple of fine base hits, and got in three runs for his side.  Litttle Croft and Redmond got in three base hits apiece.  

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 5


Sixteen wild pitches.  I just want you to know how difficult it is to refrain from making Rick Ankiel jokes here.

The most interesting thing here is the reference to Tom Oran, the first Native-American to play in the major leagues, as "Indian Tom."  I've seen the reference in secondary sources but I believe that this is the first time I've seen it in contemporary accounts.

And like yesterday's game account, this appears to come from the St. Louis Democrat of April 20, 1875.     

The Western Team

The St. Louis Reds and Niagaras played a pretty game of base ball yesterday afternoon, on the grounds of the former club, which was witnessed by about 1,000 spectators.  The Niagaras gave the Reds a good close rub, and the game was therefore interesting from the beginning to the close, and was greatly enjoyed by all in attendance.  Both teams had on their new uniforms, which looked so much alike that it was hard to tell at times a Niagara player from a Red Stocking man.

Packy Dillon, the catcher of the Red Stockings, having a sore hand, could not play, so their substitute was put on, Redmond being placed behind the bat, Oran at third, and McSorley in short field.  "Old Swees" took a hand in the game, and played at second base, which position he filled right up to the handle...

The game was the best one that has been played here all season.  The Reds did not "show up" very well because some of their men did not play in their home positions.  The playing yesterday allows that they have got it in them to play a good, rattling game, and in a week or two, under old "Sweez's" coaching they will be able to do much better.

The Niagaras are no "slouches" in handling the ball, and should they improve in batting they will play a first-class game this season and give the Empires all they can do to get away with them.  

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 5

It appears that this account of the game comes from the St. Louis Democrat of April 20, 1875.

The most interesting thing about this account, other than finding a Reds/Niagara game in the Mears scrapbook, is the appearance of the elusive John Dillon in the game.  Packy's brother played left field.  Also of note is that Pud Galvin pitched for the Niagaras. 

A New Picture Of Packy Dillon

Patrick Henry Dillon

Well, it's not exactly new.  The above photo is the head shot from the photo that the Dillon family provided me, cropped and lightened by Scott Brandon and sent to me by Paul Batesal.  Pretty awesome, isn't it?    

A Photo Of Packy Dillon

Anybody who is a regular reader of this blog knows that I have a thing for Patrick Henry Dillon. He's absolutely one of my favorite players from the 19th century, on a list with Fred Dunlap, Asa Smith, Bad Dickey Pearce, Lave Cross, Jack Gleason and Dillon's Red Stockings teammate Joe Blong.

One of the reasons I started researching 19th century St. Louis baseball was to try and figure out who Packy Dillon was. That quest was greatly aided by the assistance of the Dillon family, specifically Lynn Dillon. Recently, Lynn sent me the above photo.

Lynn told me that the picture was labeled P.H. Dillon and found taped in a book belonging to Dillon's daughter, Mary (who was also known as Marie). This is not incontrovertible evidence that this is a photo of Packy Dillon but I can't think of too many P.H. Dillons whose photo would be saved by Packy Dillon's niece. Let's just say that the odds are pretty good that the P.H. Dillon in the above photo is our boy Packy.

I do have a few problems with the picture. First, look at the hands. One would think that a guy who caught without a glove and then was a farmer would have rougher, more mangled hands. However, it's possible that the picture was taken prior to Dillon's baseball career. I find it difficult to say how old Dillon is in this picture, so I don't know. It'd be nice to have a date for the picture. Also, something about the clothes worn in the picture bothers me. While I'm not an expert on the subject, the clothing (as well as the hair) doesn't seem right for the era. It seems more antebellum than postbellum. But like I said, I'm no expert.

Lynn believes that the evidence supports the idea that this is Packy Dillon and, even with the reservations I've expressed, I tend to agree.

Browns! Reds! Part Two! Packy Dillon Hits A Triple Off Bradley! Reds Still Lose!

One of the most stubbornly contested ball games of the year was that played at Compton Avenue Park yesterday afternoon, between the rival home organizations-the Brown and Red Stockings. It was witnessed by about 800 spectators. The little Reds made the best batting display against Bradley that has been seen in St. Louis this year, every man making a base hit except Magner. Redmon and Dillon got in three-baggers, Croft a double, and Dolan two singles. The Reds maintained the lead until the eighth inning, when several costly errors offset their splendid batting, and enabled their older and more experienced opponents to score a victory. The professionals could do very little with Galvin's effective pitching, but their magnificent fielding more than made up for their weakness at the bat. Only two errors were charged to them-one each by Clapp and Battin. The game was marked by several splendid bits of fielding, notable among them being Billy Gleason's catch in the ninth inning; McGeary's double play when three men were on bases, and splendid stops by the in-fielders on both sides. The result would in all probability have been different had it not been for Dolan's numerous errors, that plucky and usually reliable catcher being completely used up by the hard work which he had to perform daily in facing Galvin's pitching during the recent extensive tour of the Reds.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 28, 1876

Dillon Injured (Again)

Packie Dillon, of the Stars, was so seriously hurt on Tuesday, that he had to be taken home in a carriage.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 17, 1875

Dillon had a tough season. To add insult to injury (literally), Dillon was hurt in the game against his old teammates on the Reds.

And, yes, I'm really going to get to the Browns/Philadelphia game in Ludlow on September 22 but I want to build up a bit of dramatic tension first.

Whiskey And Flattery

Since the last issue of our paper, events have been transpiring of an interesting character, particularly to the friends of the Stars. Last Saturday the "exhibition game" between the Stars and Ludlows, for the benefit of the players, came off. The result of the game was-Stars five, Ludlows seven; and the conduct of Blong, captain and regular pitcher of the club was such that Capt. Hawes, president, and acting manager of the club in the absence of Mr. Bostwick, felt it his duty to reprimand him during the progress of the game, and to suspend him immediately after it, making Mr. Dennis McGee, who plays ball under the name of "Mack," captain of the nine.

On Monday the Stars played the Hartfords an interesting game, the score standing eight to three. Strief tried to play, but had to give up at the end of the second inning, his not being able to run for a fly costing the Stars three runs. Dennison, the new acquisition from New Orleans, made five passed balls behind the bat in the first two innings, and Dillon was put there afterwards, making only one passed ball. The new man went to center, and caught flies well. Our boys batted very well, making eight base hits. Mack and Dillon led the score.

Last evening the Board of Trustees of the Star club met and, after a hearing from Mr. Blong and a full statement of his case, unanimously passed the following resolution:

"Resolved, That, for conduct unbecoming a player, and gross neglect of duty as captain of our nine, Mr. Joseph Blong be, and is hereby, expelled from the Star base-ball club."

The evidence against Mr. Blong was very strong. There can be no doubt that he was under the influence of liquor on the grounds, Saturday, nor but little that he purposely threw the game. In fact, he acknowledged as much to one directors, saying he thought it would make the clubs draw at the next game. Whiskey and flattery have made Blong of no use to the Star club.

The contemptible and false articles on this subject in the Enquirer are, it is hardly necessary to state, from the pen of Henry Hallam, a man who was kicked out of the Star club last spring, and has tried to injure it ever since.

Blong claims to have a contract with the St. Louis Browns to play next season for $1,500.

-The Ticket, September 21, 1875

Just when you think we've covered Blong's Covington escapade from every conceivable angle...

I was going to write that, even given everything that we know (or think we know), the quote about Blong admitting to being drunk and throwing the game to drive up the gate for the next game was rather damning. But, thinking about it, that really isn't anything we haven't heard already. At first glance it seems solid but in the end it's hearsay. If the club director was named and quoted directly, I would certainly take it seriously. Unless the club director had bet on the game and was looking to punish Blong for his role in the loss.

This particular item was passed on to me by Cam Miller who is working on some projects involving baseball in Northern Kentucky. Over the next few days I'm going to post some of the other stuff Cam sent me and I want to take this opportunity to once again thank him for sending it along.

Also, I was going to name this post "Conduct Unbecoming And Gross Neglect Of Duty" but I went with "Whiskey And Flattery" because it reminded me of one of my favorite albums, Fear and Whiskey by the Mekons. I'm easily the worst headline writer of all-time.

Hisses Of Disappointment And Indignation

In the game between the Red Stockings, of St. Louis, and the Westerns, of this city, this afternoon, the former went off in a tangent, and brought the game unceremoniously to a close before it had fairly begun. In the last half of the second inning the Captain of the Reds excepted to a decision of the umpire that put one of their men out on third, and, without entering a formal protest or waiting for any offers of compromise, commenced to gather up the bats preparatory to leaving. A large crowd had assembled to witness the game, and, rather than have it stop, the Westerns proposed to have another umpire chosen, notwithstanding the game stood 4 to 2 in favor of the Reds, but the latter declined to accede to any terms of compromise, and took a hasty departure. The crowd of spectators unanimously sustained the action of the Westerns, and the Reds were followed off the grounds with hisses of disappointment and indignation. At least half of the Reds disapproved of the action of their captain, and it is stated that two of them threaten to withdraw from the nine. The umpire gave the game to the Westerns by a score of 9 to 0.

-Chicago Daily, August 21, 1874


It was always something with that Reds club. Less than a month previous to this game, Packy Dillon threw a fit and refused to catch anymore after Billy Redmon made a throwing error. On this particular road trip, Redmon was ill with "cholera morbus" and wasn't playing. After returning from the trip, Andy Blong (who was, I believe, the captain of the club), Joe Blong, and Dillon missed several games for unknown reasons.

This was a club that was supposed to win the Missouri championship and probably would have if they hadn't used an illegal player in a game against the Empires and eventually forced to forfeit the game. They were a divided club, full of cliques and prima donnas. The addition of Charlie Sweasy, an outsider, as field captain in 1875 could not have helped the situation. In light of all of this, the implosion of the club in late June/early July of 1875 is really not all that surprising.

Dillon Almost Signs With The Brown Stockings

It will be a sore disappointment for the patrons of the game in St. Louis when they learn that McGeary will be unable to take part in the contest. His collision with Sutton in Tuesday's game has proved more serious than was anticipated, and the clear-headed Captain of the Browns, who can perform as much work as two ordinary men at second, will of necessity nurse his leg, and participate in the amusement as a spectator only. Mike's aid in the field and at the bat will be badly missed. In order that the players may be shifted about as little as possible, the officials of the St. Louis club last night talked of securing the services of Packie Dillon, who during the past three years guarded second so brillantly for the little Red Stockings. Packie handles ground balls very cleanly, is a sure catch of fly balls, a superb thrower, a reliable batsman, and a good runner. He would be perfectly at home at second base...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 12, 1877

Sadly, there is no evidence that Dillon ever signed with the Brown Stockings but that's a nice description of his ball-playing abilities.

An 1875 Season Preview: The Red Stockings of St. Louis

The Red Sox, as they are familiarly called, have not yet filled their nine.  They are the pick of last year's Empires and Red Stockings, and are "natives" with the exception of Charley Sweazy, the veteran second baseman of the Cincinnati Red Stockings and other clubs.

Sweazy arrived in (St. Louis) on Tuesday last and, I expect, will at once proceed to place the players in position and training, he having been engaged to Captain and steady them.  They have two pitchers-Morgan, medium paced, with legitimate delivery, and plenty of endurance and pluck, while J. Blong is change and centre fielder.  He is a good player in almost any position, and throws a very swift underhand ball.  Hously, from the Empire, will play first base, and in him they have an excellent player.  He is of the steady, sure, and quiet order.  Sweazy will of course play second, and if he only approaches to his old-time play will do better than many that other clubs boast of.  McSorley, a brilliant player at times, and Tommy Oran, also a fitful fielder, will fill the short-field and third-base positions. 

In the outfield, Joe Blong, Redmond, and Croft will look after the high flies, the former being also the change pitcher, while Redmond is change catcher, and Croft is an excellent first baseman and one of the most promising players in their corps.  Packey Dillon is the regular catcher, and there are very few better as long as he keeps his temper: the want of control in this respect is the only fault Pack's best friends find with him...

The Red Sox will have a neat gray cap, shirts, and pants, red hose, and name in letters of same color on the breast.

-Chicago Tribune, April 18, 1875 

Packy Dillon Had A Temper

Packey Dillon is the regular catcher (of the Reds), and there are very few better as long as he keeps his temper; the want of control in this respect is the only fault Pack's best friends find with him.

-Chicago Tribune, April 18, 1875


I love stuff like this. It's one thing to read a player's stats at Baseball-Reference and another entirely to know what that player was like as a person. A great deal of information about Packy Dillon has come to light over the last year or so and we've finally been able to sort out his biography to a great extent. But it's little tidbits like this that help flesh out the information that we have and allow us to begin to understand Dillon as a person rather than just a stat line.

Having said that, to what extent is this reference to Dillon anything more than a stereotype? Dillon was an Irishman with a temper? I'm a bit surprised that they didn't say he liked to drink and get into fights as well. At least they didn't call him a potato-eating Papist.

The White Stockings Spank The Reds

The Chicago Club played the second game of its series with the St. Louis Red Stockings yesterday afternoon, on the Twenty-third street grounds. The audience was much smaller than the one of the previous day, though the weather was far more favorable for a larger attendance and a better game. A pleasanter afternoon could not well be desired for out-door amusement, it being comfortably cool, with a refreshing wind from the south. The home club profited by the natural advantages with which it was favored, and, with one or two exceptions, played an excellent game from beginning to end. A score of 26 to 1 against such a hard-hitting and sharp-fielding nine as the Red Stockings is a pretty certain indication that the professionals were attending strictly to business...The St. Louis nine did not play up to their standard. They were unaccountably weak at nearly every point, but more especially at third base. A change in the position of catcher was frequently made necessary, owing to the condition of Dillon's hands. He will not be able to play this afternoon, and his place will probably be filled by Quinn, of the old Aetnas.

-The Chicago Daily Tribune, May 8, 1874

Another Packy Dillon Sighting

Packie Dillon will play ball again this year. There was a time when Packie was the king-pin of catchers in this neck of the woods.

-The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 9, 1882

A pretty vague reference but Dillon was playing baseball in some form as late as 1886, specifically in the Sullivan benefit game. In 1887, he purchased the Mehlville farm and was certainly done playing ball by then.

The 1880 Brown Stockings Take The Field (And A Packy Dillon Sighting)

The faithful were on hand at the base ball park on Compton avenue, yesterday afternoon, to witness the opening of the season between the St. Louis Brown Stockings of last season, and the strongest picked nine that could be got together. All of Cuthbert's men were on hand but the best batsman of the lot, Croft, did not show up in time to participate. Cotton manned first in his stead. Dan Morgan, who is always equal to any emergency, cared for short field, and Jack Gleason, the best third baseman that St. Louis ever produced, filled that position. The picked men were of the best, including Trick McSorley, Billy Gleason, Redmond, Geer of the Cincinnatis, McCaffrey, and others who have made their mark in the professional arena. The contest was a beauty in every respect, but seven errors being indulged in during its progress. The batting of the Browns was very light, denoting their lack of practice, but their opponents, especially Redmond, made a very creditable display against the tricky McGinnes. Poor base-running cost the Browns a victory, several runs being sacrificed by bad judgement. Cunningham's batting was a feature of the game...

Packie Dillon showed up (at the game) yesterday. There was a time when Packie was regarded as the most graceful catcher in the country.

The Brown Stockings will be reorganized during the present week. Arthur Croft promises to be one of the number. such a team as McGinnes, Decker, Croft, McDonald, J. Gleason, Morgan, Cunningham, Cuthbert, Schenck, W. Gleason, Bowles and McSorley would be well-nigh invincible.

-The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 19, 1880

The Sullivan Benefit

The benefit game for Tom Sullivan was played at the Union Grounds last Sunday afternoon, and there was an immense crowd in attendance. It was the biggest success in the way of a benefit scored in this country, and great credit is due for the able manner in which John T. Magner managed the affair. Tom Sullivan's friends were there in a body, and we noticed among the gathering the Sheehans, the Cullinanes, the Caseys, the McCafferys, the Lyons, the O'Neills, the Sullivans, the Hunts, the Fitzgeralds and all the rest of the Kerry Patch gang. The game between the Vets and the Peach Pies brought to the memory of the oldest inhabitant the days when base ball in St. Louis was in its infancy. In the veteran team appeared Joe Chambers, who did the pitching for the Empires twenty years ago. It is needless to say that his curves were lambasted terribly. At short field was John T. Magner, looking like Falstaff, with "good round bell," not as reliable though as when the great fielder of the St. Louis Reds of '76 and the Browns of '81. At third was Pidge Morgan who has not been seen on the field these many years, but looking like the old Dan and playing as earnestly as ever. At second was Packie Dillon, who with Morgan, played with the St. Louis Reds of '74 and '76. At left was (Ned) Cuthbert, once the prince of left fielders, running as lively as ever and capturing everything within reach, but not hitting the ball as hard as in the olden time. At right was (George) Seward, who with Cuthbert played with the Browns of '74, which was just twelve years ago. At center was Dean Simpson, the pitcher of the old Evansville club; while at first was Casey of the old Quincy's. Last but not least was Harry McCaffery, whose catching was not as effective as of old and, to cap the climax, there was Dan Devinney, of the old Louisville Brownstocking memory, officiating as umpire. Is it any wonder these old Vets failed to make a hit off Silch. They lost track of the ball long years ago. The Peach Pies on the other hand had a picnic with Chambers, while their fielding was unusually sharp and brilliant. The outfield had little or nothing to do. They played four new men who did splendidly, and proved themselves acquisitions. For the Vets, Cuthbert at left carried off the honors, making some beautiful catches of hard hit balls, particularly one from Black's bat, which was a liner, and good for two bases, which he headed off and spoiled a good hit. McCaffrey behind the bat and Dillon at second base also did well. Ingraham caught Silch splendidly for the Peach Pies and Black, Bouchard and Drissel all did good fielding. There was no mule race. The gentleman who had promised to furnish the mules brought out but one animal and it was like the Vets, too old to run. The sprint races were also postponed. The sprinters were afraid the time they would make effect them in the handicaps of May 30, and for that reason they refused to run...

From a financial standpoint the benefit was also a huge success. Mr. Magner alone sold $300 worth of tickets. The gate receipts were $500. Lew Simmons, of the Athletic Club, sent $39, te contribution of himself and players. Harry Wright sent $20. The Detroits also purchased a lot of tickets. Mr Magner desires to return thanks to Jack Sheehan, the Cullinane boys, Danny Lyons and all others who assisted him in making the benefit a success. Over $900 was realized in all, which will set Tom up in business.

-The Sporting News, May 10, 1886


I've written about Sullivan's troubles and the benefit game before and finally stumbled across the TSN article. I have to admit that, for some reason, this game ranks very high among all the historical games that I would have liked to have seen. You can have Ruth's called shot and Merkle's boner and the Homer in the Gloamin' and all that-I'll take a nice little exhibition game on a Sunday afternoon at the Union Grounds in 1886.

The Reds Play The Atlantics Of Brooklyn

The old Atlantic Club of Brooklyn, N.Y., the second club organized in the United States being antedated by the New York Knickerbocker only, arrived in St. Louis on a tour through the Wild West and showed how it is done in the city of churches to the special edification of the Red Stockings Club and the six thousand St. Louisans assembled at the Compton Avenue park July 21...There was much disgust over the Reds’ play. Dillon, catcher, lost his head in the third inning because Redmon made a wild throw over first base and refused to catch; then Redmon went behind where he was not at home, making a “dead give away” of the whole game. The Reds fielding was exceedingly faulty. Of the general play of the visitors nothing need be said further than that Dicky Pearce’s antique manner of playing shortstop was not up to the modern standard, three hot balls getting past him. The Reds had no difficulty in batting Bond.

-E.H. Tobias, writing in The Sporting News, January 25, 1896

A couple of interesting things here (besides me being wrong about the Atlantics of Brooklyn coming to town). The thing about Packy Dillon throwing a fit over Billy Redmon's error is fascinating. It certainly gives a layer of depth to our understanding of Dillon and his personality. It also shows something about what was happening to the Reds in 1874. It seems that there were several incidents like this and that the club was not one big happy family. Tobias writes about several contentious events among teammates, the club bringing in new players, the club being hauled before the Judiciary Committee of the State Association, and things of that ilk. The fact is that the Reds, a promising young team in 1873, failed to meet expectations in 1874 and 1875 would be even worse. I've written before about the possibility of there be cliques on the Reds in 1875 and that having something to do with the club falling apart in late June of that year. I think that Tobias confirms the idea that the Reds did not have a harmonious clubhouse.

I also like Tobias' quote about the Reds having no problem with young Tommy Bond. Looking at the box score, the Reds lost by a score of 27 to 2 and didn't score after the second inning. I'm going to guess and say that they had some problems with Bond's pitching. But that's Tobias' style. While he could be harsh in his observations, he also had a habit of praising a club if it put up any kind of a fight against what he perceived to be a vastly superior opponent. In his letters to TSN, he almost always praises the St. Louis clubs when they lost to the strong Eastern clubs as long as they put forth the effort. For Tobias, the fact that the St. Louis clubs got on the field with the elite clubs and competed was a victory in and of itself.

The Reds First Big Win

If we accept E.H. Tobias' assertion that the Reds came into existence in 1873 (as I believe that the evidence suggests we should) then the Reds first big win against a St. Louis amateur power came on July 19, 1873 against the Turners. The Turner Base Ball Club had been in existence since at least 1869 and was a member of the State Base Ball Association. They challenged for the championship in 1872 and were able to take one game from the Empire Club. In 1873 they challenged the Empires again although they lost all three games to the champions. The Turners' reputation was such that when the Chicago White Stockings visited St. Louis in 1874 one of the teams that they played was the Turners.

Despite the Turners reputation as a top amateur team, the upstart Reds were actually favored in the first game between the two. On July 5, the two teams met and to the surprise of the Red Stocking faithful the Turners hung eleven runs on the new club in the third inning and went on to win the game 19-17. Tobias writes that Packy Dillon, the Reds' catcher, was suffering from a finger injury during the game that caused the Reds to shuffle their lineup to the teams' detriment.

The second game of the series between the two clubs took place on July 19. In what was described as "a splendid exhibition of cool, watchful playing," the Reds avenged their earlier defeat. Jumping out to a 7-0 lead, the Reds defeated the Turners 16-5 behind four runs by Billy Redmon and three each by John Paul Peters and center fielder Dean. Pidge Morgan pitched well, putting up goose eggs in six frames, and the Reds defense played outstandingly behind him, committing only "three or four" errors.

This was a significant victory for the Reds, establishing them as a power on the local baseball scene and validating the hype that had surrounded them entering the 1873 season. It also jump-started a successful season that saw the club take the Empires to a deciding fifth game in their championship series before falling to the defending champs.

Joe Blong And The St. Louis Juniors

A new organization, named St. Louis Junior, was composed entirely of mechanics, formerly connected with the Atlantic, Jr., and they located on the old Veto grounds, near the Pacific machine shops, with Joe Blong president.

-E.H. Tobias, writing in The Sporting News, December 28, 1895

So according to Tobias, Blong is in St. Louis in 1871 playing baseball. We know that Blong was at Notre Dame in 1869 and I had guessed that he may have been there at the same time as Packy Dillon and Trick McSorley. However, it's known that Dillon and McSorley didn't enter Notre Dame until 1872.

Since the StL Juniors were "composed entirely of mechanics" and "formerly connected with the Atlantic, Jr.," it may be safe to assume that after leaving Notre Dame Blong was playing baseball with the Atlantic, Jr. and working as a mechanic in some capacity.

Packy Dillon's Grave

These shots of the Dillon family plot at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis were taken by Connie Nisinger. Packy Dillon's grave is unmarked but the records indicate that he was laid to rest here with other members of his family.

I honestly can't thank Connie enough for her work in getting these pictures. I basicly cold called her with the information about Dillon and the grave location and she was kind enough to go out of her way to search for the location and get me the pictures. It was extremely kind of her.