Claiming The Forfeit

The Red Stockings Club of St. Louis, Mo., claim forfeit of a game which the Philadelphia Club failed to play with them on Sunday, June 20...

On the 20th the Atlantic of St. Louis, Mo., surrendered to the Red Sox, who scored 36 to 4...

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907


This is kind of interesting.  The Whites of Philadelphia played four games in St. Louis from June 14 to June 21, including one with the Reds on June 15, and I'm not sure what happened with the game that the Reds believed was supposed to be played on the 20th.  The Philadelphias were in town and didn't play the Brown Stockings that day, so they could have played the Reds.  Maybe they just chose not to play the game.  Regardless, it looks like the Reds picked up a game against the Atlantics after the game with Philadelphia fell through. 

Stain And Disgrace

The solace that we find in the discomfiture of St. Louis over the sale of the great bridge, under mortgage to Chicago capitalists, makes it hardly admissible to indulge in words of self-congratulation within one week after the great game of base-ball.  The overpowering sense of shame that reference to that unfortunate game must always bring to any Chicago man is in some degree lightened by reflection upon the commercial triumphs we have often gained over St. Louis; but the stain and disgrace are by no means removed.  In mere matters of business we have had our own way; St. Louis did not care particularly to interfere, or at least interfered too late.  But all that is nothing beside this defeat at base-ball.  

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907 


Another piece from the Chicago Times (May 9, 1875) lamenting the White Stockings loss to the Brown Stockings.  But lighten up, Francis.  It's just a game 

Yeah, here come the rooster.

Perspective

St. Louis, it seems, is wild with joy over the fact that she has at last got the best of Chicago.  She has been able to hire nine better ball players than Chicago, and by that means has been enabled to donate to Chicago nine very nice goose-eggs.  Chicago can afford to grant her neighbor that slight satisfaction; for while St. Louisans were shouting themselves hoarse over a game of ball, Chicago merchants were selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods at St. Louis' door.

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907


This originally appeared in the Chicago Times on May 8, 1875, and obviously was a reaction to the Brown Stockings victory over the White Stockings.  While it's all sour grapes, they make a valid point about Chicago's burgeoning economic dominance of the Midwest.  

The Boys Are Pretty Sanquine Of Success

A letter from John C. Chapman of the St. Louis Club, dated March 18 [1875], says:

"Our boys are all in fine trim now, they having been exercising in the gymnasium for the past six weeks, and I know from my own experience that it has greatly benefited us in every respect; as, besides improving our physical condition, it has given us confidence in our ability to do good work in the field.  When the weather is mild we go to the grounds for practice.  Last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the weather was delightful, and our team took advantage of it to do some very good field-training.  On the 14th we had a practice-game with the Empires.  Only four innings were played, as a thunder shower obliged a suspension of play in the fifth.  Though we gave them Bradley to pitch to Seward's fine catching, our score at the close of the fourth inning stood 8 to 1 in our favor.  There was a large crowd of people out to see the game, and the play of the 'regulars,' as you call us, pleased them exceedingly.  Seward caught very well from Bradley's swift delivery.  He has been engaged by our club as change catcher.  This will be the only local player in our nine.  We expect to visit Louisville about the 16th of April, to play matches with the gentlemenly Eagles of that city - a very strong team - and also with the Louisville Olympics.  These will be our first games out of town.  The boys are pretty sanguine of success in their matches with the Chicago nine and the Westerns of Keokuk.  It is well to feel confident, you know, but not so to be too sure.  There's no 'soft thing' in baseball matches now-a-days, as the uncertainties of the game prevent anything of that kind.  The rivalry between Chicago and St. Louis now in baseball matters surpasses even that of 1870 between the Chicago and Cincinnati clubs.  When they meet it is anticipated that over 10,000 people will be present.  We shall not visit the East until the latter part of June, by which time we shall be in a very good trim to give your crack clubs a tough tussle for victory.  Let me say to you officially that the St. Louis Club will play no match games on Sunday.    John C. Chapman."

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907


Chapman was like some kind of 19th century media star in 1875 and his reports shed a lot of light on what was happening with the Brown Stockings as they prepared to open the season.  It's good stuff. 

Just Beat Chicago

A letter from Chapman announces the arrival at St. Louis of the Brooklyn contingent of the St. Louis professional club, and John, in his epistle to the Brooklynites dated from the Everett House, St. Louis, Jan. 22, says:

Pearce, Dehlman, Fleet, and myself arrived here last Sunday morning, after a tough ride of over three days and as many nights.  We are all well pleased with our new friends.  They are all gentlemen of high standing and as fine a set of men as I have ever met.  They are very anxious for us to beat Chicago.  If we only do that - which I know we will - they will be satisfied.  This will be the greatest city in the country for baseball the coming season.,  Everyone appears to be red-hot on it here.  We had a very pleasant time last evening at the new club-rooms of Manager Graffen, a large party being present.  The directors of the new club are determined to have their club rules observed and to make each and every player live up to his contract.

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907


It's always interesting and reasonably rare to hear directly from the players with regards to what was going on in St. Louis in 1875 (and this most likely comes from the January 20, 1875 issue of the Clipper).  I was most interested in what Chapman said about beating Chicago.  It's reasonably well known that the reason the Brown Stockings were put together was because of the failures of the St. Louis clubs to beat the White Stockings of Chicago but I don't think that I've ever heard anybody connected with the club state that.  This is direct, contemporary testimony supporting the thesis that the Brown Stockings formed because of the success the Chicagos enjoyed in St. Louis in 1874.   

An 1875 Interview With Jack Chapman

During the recent visit of the "Brown Stockings" to Louisville a number of the players were interviewed by the Courier-Journal relative to the base ball prospects for the season.  The last victim of reportorial pertinacity was Chapman, who is charged with having delivered himself as follows:

Reporter - How came so many Atlantic men to leave for St. Louis?

Mr. Chapman - St. Louis is bound to be the greatest place on the continent for base ball this season.  Her stock company offered big inducements, and we accepted.

R. - Who compose the St. Louis stock company, and why is it to be a great base ball place?

Mr. C. - Very rich and nice people form the company.  Its officers are mostly millionaires who desire their city ably represented in base ball.  The people "turn out" there in thousands, and are all agog with base ball excitement.  Five thousand people witnessed our practice game last week.

R. - What are base-ball players paid?

Mr. C. - Substitutes get from $900 to $1,200.  Regulars receive from $1,000 to $2,500.  Bob Ferguson, of our old club, gets $2,500 this year for captaining the Hartfords.

R. - What becomes of players during the winter?

Mr. C. - A good many loaf, and others work at different jobs.  Generally, whatever they hit upon that suits.

R. - From your observations, how do our Eagles compare with other clubs?

Mr. C. - They are a fine set, and compare favorably with any junior club in the land.  They are all gentlemen.

R. - In what respect are they deficient?

Mr. C. - Nerve.  All else they have, and only need more mixing with professionals and closer observance of the fine points of the game to become experts.

R. - Is Mr. Ellick a good player?

Mr. C. - He is very fine.

R. - Do you hope to beat the Boston Reds this season?

Mr. C. - We hope to do it, and I believe we shall.  The Reds are a good team, made excellent by having stuck together so long.  I consider the Athletics the stronger nine this year.  Harry Wright is the best captain in America.  The Mutuals were the best club of last season, and but for the bad feeling among members, would now be the champions.

R. - Do you think Louisville could support a professional club?

Mr. C. - I do, indeed, and am surprised she hasn't one.

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 5


That's a cool interview and I have to dig around to see if I can find the rest of them. 

Deep Red Stockings

The uniform of the St. Louis "Reds" will consist of gray pants, shirts and caps, with red trimmings, and stockings of deep red.  "Red Stockings," in small letters, will be worked on the shirts, and the words "St. Louis," over it.

-Mears Scrapbook, Volume 5


I have to admit that when I first read this description of the uniform of the 1875 Red Stockings, I believed that their stockings were "Jeep red" and I actually googled "Jeep red," hoping to discover what the heck that looked like.  Of course, I ended up with lots of descriptions and pictures of red Jeeps.  How was I supposed to know that there is no such thing as "Jeep red"?  I'm a guy.  I only recognize the existence of about ten colors.  How was I to know that some 19th century woman didn't come up with a weird shade of red and called it "Jeep red"?  It was a possibility. 

There are two lessons here.  First, red is red and there is no such thing as Baby Pink or Terra Cotta or Dark Sienna or Candy Apple Red.  Second, sometimes trying to decipher 19th century newspapers can be difficult.   

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. 

Sweasy Arrives In St. Louis

Charlie Sweazy, the veteran second baseman of the old Cincinnati Red Stockings, arrived in town yesterday morning, looking remarkably well and hearty.  The Red Sox will now get down to work in earnest.

-Missouri Republican, April 14, 1875

Brown Stocking Season Tickets

The price of season tickets to the Grand Avenue park has been fixed at $15, and they are now on sale at Graffen & Floyd's baseball headquarters, on Olive street, near Seventh.

-Missouri Republican, April 4, 1875


Graffen is Mase Graffen, Brown Stocking manager.  Not sure who Floyd is. 

Andy Blong Goes To Philadelphia

Mr. A. Blong has gone to Philadelphia to look after the interests of the Red Stockings and will act as their delegate on the admission of the club into the Professional association.

-Missouri Republican, February 28, 1875

Just Because It Comes Out Of Chicago Doesn't Mean It Isn't True

A report published in the Chicago Tribune, stating that three of the Brown Stockings were constantly inebriated, is, it almost needless to say, entirely without foundation.  The men are exceedingly temperate, and the utmost zeal and caution used to keep them in good trim.  Such charges emanate either from malice or love of sensation.

-Missouri Republican, June 27, 1875

The Great Game Of The Season

The Great Game

Of the season, that is, to the people of St. Louis, will come off, weather permitting, next Thursday afternoon, when the nine that Chicago has been boasting of all the winter will play our Brown Stockings on the Grand Avenue park.

We can tell after the game is over as well as any one else which side wins the game, but predictions as to the probable result would be idle.  We can only express our confidence in the nine selected to represent us in the contest.  Their splendid physical condition, steady earnest play and mutual reliance one upon the other are qualities that if persevered in, will prove triumphant over stronger nines than our sister city has got together.

Persons desiring to avoid the rustle at the gates can purchase tickets at the base ball headquarters for any of the championship games the coming week.

-St. Louis Republican, May 2, 1875

Remember that this piece appeared in the Republican prior to the game between the Brown Stockings and the Reds.  I understand the build-up that went on in the off-season and the back and forth that was going on between the St. Louis and Chicago papers, as well as everyone's desire to see a St. Louis club beat the Chicagos.  But, come on.  You had the first league game in St. Louis history coming up in a couple of days and it pitted two St. Louis clubs against each other.  That wasn't the great game of the season (to date)?

Now obviously it wasn't and there really wasn't a comparison between the Reds and Brown Stockings.  But I didn't think that was recognized in St. Louis prior to May 4, 1875.  I might be wrong about that and it what is obvious in retrospect may have been obvious to the baseball fraternity of St. Louis at the beginning of the 1875 season.

In the end, the Republican is absolutely correct in saying that the first Brown Stocking/Chicago game was the game of the season.  Not only that, it's one of the most significant games in St. Louis baseball history.  As far as 19th century St. Louis baseball games are concerned, it might be the important game ever played by a St. Louis club.  If not, it ranks right up there with the $15,000 slide game and a couple of the games that the Empire Club played in 1865.

And now I have a new idea for a series of posts.  The only question is should I limit the list of the most significant 19th century baseball games to ten or go all out and put together a top twenty-five?  I can do ten off the top of my head so I'm thinking I'll have to do a top twenty-five.

But I digress.  The point here is that with the Reds/Brown Stockings tilt just a couple of days away, they're looking past that to the Brown Stocking/Chicago game.  And that's kind of fascinating.   

    

Just Your Run-Of-The-Mill Baseball Ad

Oh, but wait...

This is an advertisement for the first big league game in St. Louis baseball history.  Of course, the game as advertised didn't come off because of rain and the first big league game wasn't played until a few days later.  But still. 

Dear Sirs: Stop Making Stuff Up

To the Editor of the Missouri Republican:  At a meeting of the Empire base ball club held last evening the secretary was instructed to answer a card that appeared in your paper last Sunday, and signed by one of the twelve professional players of the St. Louis team.  As no arrangement had been made by the officers of the Empire club for a game with the St. Louis professionals it was therefore impossible for the base ball reporter of the Democrat or any one else to have broken up the game that never was arranged.

Respectfully, Chas. H. Stevens, Secretary Empire Base Ball Club.

-St. Louis Republican, April 8, 1875

The Afterthoughts

The Empires have not yet filled the vacancies in their nine, and have done no practising during the past week.  They will play a practice game among themselves to-day at Solari's park.  

-St. Louis Republican, April 4, 1875


It's amazing how quickly you can be forgotten.  The Empire Club dominated St. Louis baseball for fifteen years, dating back to before the Civil War.  They were perennial champions and those few times they didn't win the championship, they were still the team to beat.  And here they are, in 1875 - an afterthought.  The previous season, they had won the championship in a brilliant five game series against the Reds and the excitement that season and that series generated helped lay the groundwork for the introduction of National Association clubs in St. Louis.  They would win the championship again in 1875.  But their day was done; their era was over.  

At The Missouri Gymnasium

At about 10 o'clock the members of the St. Louis professional base ball club make their appearance and for an hour or two try to work off some of their superfluous fat which has accumulated upon them since last season.  They are a healthy looking set of young men, full of fun but decidedly more fond of ball-tossing than dumb-bell brandishing.  In the afternoon they frequently come around again and indulge in more jostling of iron weights. 

-St. Louis Republican, March 19, 1875


Off-season weight training goes back to at least 1872 and, depending on your definition, you might be able to trace it back to Jim Creighton.  One point that Peter Morris made in A Game of Inches was that this kind of off-season training was expensive and, therefore, rare unless all the players lived in the city in which they were playing.  The Brown Stockings had to have been paying for their players to come to town early and train.  Knowing these guys as I do, I can say that there was no way they were coming in voluntarily.  So the St. Louis Base Ball Club was spending a great deal of money that they didn't have to spend in order to try and put a first-class team on the field. 

Wanted: One Veteran Professional

We learn that our Red Stocking club have secured Dennis McGee, the "Mack" of the Philadelphia club last season, now playing with the Lone Stars of New Orleans as their second baseman.

-St. Louis Republican, February 21, 1875


This is pretty interesting.  Now, obviously McGee didn't sign with the Reds in 1875 but this shows that they were looking for a veteran, Eastern professional for the club.  That sheds a great deal of light on the Charlie Sweasy signing. 

Gossip

The Red Stockings of this city talk of running into the professional business with a co-operative nine, but we can learn nothing official in regard to their progress.

-St. Louis Republican, January 31, 1875


This was in a column titled "Base Ball Gossip."  I'm guessing that the Brown Stockings had made up their minds to play to the Grand Avenue Grounds and Thomas McNeary, the president of the Reds and an early investor in the Brown Stockings, was not pleased with the decision.