On Neutral Ground (or It's About Frakkin' Time)

It's like we finally get to New Brunswick and instead of finding a White Castle we find a Burger Shack. For those who don't know what that means, all I can say is: Let's burn it down, Pookie!

The following detailed account of the Brown Stockings' game with the Philadelphias, on Wednesday, is clipped from the Cincinnati Commercial:

The seventh game of the championship series between the Philadelphia Club and the Brown Stockings, of St. Louis, was played at Ludlow Park yesterday, in the presence of about 600 spectators. It was a necessity with both clubs to play the game, as the season is drawing to a close, and the clubs entered for the the whip pennant have too many games yet to play to permit of their passing a day in idleness, or in playing semi-amateur clubs, such as the Stars and Ludlows. As a pecuniary speculation the affair was a failure, but as an exhibition of the beauties of the "National Lunacy" it was considerable of a success.

The St. Louis team was as strong a one as the club can muster. Seward was the only substitute in the list, and he fielded and batted up to the highest standard. The Philadelphia nine was also composed of the picked players of the club, and every man at the outset of the game was in his home position. Mr. Mack, of the Star Club, was chosen umpire, and called play at 3: 40 p.m., with the Philadelphias at the bat, they having lost the toss.

The Quakers opened the play in a style that augured well for their success. Murnan and McGeary, the first two strikers, made clean hits for bases, and were each in turn thrown out while attempting to steal second. The throwing of Miller and the skill with which Battin handled the ball are deserving of special note, as the men who were put out in this manner are among the best runners and base stealers in the profession. Their failure to play this point had a very dampening effect on their comrades, and proportionately elated the Browns.

When the St. Louis nine went to the bat, Pike made his base on an error of Murnan after Cuthbert had been retired. Base hits by Battin and Pearce followed, and Pike scored his run, being helped to it by Addy's failure to stop Pearce's hit for a single base. Bradley drove a hot grounder to Fulmer, who failed to stop it, as also did McMullen at center field, these errors giving two more runs to St. Louis. There the tally stopped, however, and no runs were scored on either side in the following inning. In the third inning the Philadelphias got their third blinder, while on a one-base hit by Pearce, and a two-baser by Bradley, two runs were added to the St. Louis score, completing their total for the game. Neither of these runs was earned, as McGeary's carelessness gave Pearce a life at second base on a hit that Addy fielded in promptly enough to have nabbed him had McGeary been quick enough in putting the ball on to Dickey.

The Philadelphias failed to score until the ninth inning. In the fourth inning, Addy was left on third base, and in the seventh inning Meyerle was thrown out at home base while attempting to run in on Miller's throw to Battin to catch Fulmer, who, as a substitute for Snyder, was stealing to second. Meyerle's hit in this inning sent the ball over center field fence, but he was restricted to one base on it. In the ninth inning McGeary made a good base hit to left field, and got second on a wild return of the ball by Cuthbert. A passed ball gave him third, and he came in at Addy's expense, that tricky player hitting to right field and being thrown out at first by Battin.

There were some very clever plays in this game. Battin and Miller, of the St. Louis Club, guarded their positions splendidly, and while Miller's throws were made quickly and accurately, Battin was always on hand to hold them, and it was like walking into a man trap for a Philadelphia player to endeavor to steal to second base. Battin's fielding record in this game is a most remarkable one. Pearce also played well both in the field and at the bat, and displayed his usual excellent judgment in directing his men in their plays.

Te best playing done on the Philadelphia side was done by Meyerle, Snyder and McGeary. Snyder caught without an error, although the pitching at times was quite irregular. Fulmer played poorly at short field, and in the fourth inning was transferred to third base, where he rendered a better account of himself. After this inning McGeary played at short and Meyerle at second base. Addy had one error at right field, but played a lively, skillful game. The victory was the fifth to be placed to the credit of the St. Louis Club, although the Philadelphias in one of the two games of the series in which they were successful, scored sixteen runs against nine consecutive whitewashes of their opponents.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 24, 1875

The final score to this rather odd game was 5-1 in favor of the Brown Stockings.

So the first two batters get on for Philadelphia but are both thrown out trying to steal and then later Bob Addy gets a hit and drives in a run only to be thrown out at first. That's a good bit of strangeness. I don't think I've ever seen the first two batters of a game get on and then thrown out stealing.

Also, we have the Commercial's take on why the game was played in Ludlow: "It was a necessity with both clubs to play the game, as the season is drawing to a close, and the clubs entered for the the whip pennant have too many games yet to play to permit of their passing a day in idleness, or in playing semi-amateur clubs, such as the Stars and Ludlows." The game had to be played because the season was almost over and a club couldn't be wasting their time playing the Stars and the Luds. But wasn't that exactly what St. Louis and Philadelphia were doing? It's kind of a non-explanation. It doesn't address why specifically St. Louis and Philadelphia were playing in Ludlow on September 22, 1875 but rather generally addresses the idea that they needed to play. The game was played because it was necessary to play the game.

What was Philadelphia doing in Cincinnati? We know the Brown Stockings were there wasting their time playing the Stars and the Luds. Did they arrange to meet in the city and play? Was the game arranged before the Brown Stockings left St. Louis? Was the game arranged at the last minute as a matter of convenience?

I think after a week's worth of posts on the topic I may have more questions then when I started looking into this. But that's life. And I was going to post the "Burn it down, Pookie!" clip for you but decided that, besides being NSFW, it was seriously inappropriate at a family-friendly blog like TGOG. But here's the link. Just don't play it around the children.

And Here's Where It Gets A Little Interesting

The Globe reported on September 21, 1875 that the Brown Stockings were "expected home from their Cincinnati trip tomorrow." No mention of Philadelphia or a game on the 22nd.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Whites were playing Hartford in Cincinnati on the 21st and winning 13-8. Also, they played Chicago in Cincinnati on September 23, winning 5-0. Philadelphia played three league games in Cincinnati in three days against three different opponents. So I think it's safe to say that the Philadelphia club was the impetus behind the league games in the Cincinnati area.

The question I have is whether or not the game between the Brown Stockings and Philadelphia was scheduled before the two clubs arrived in Cincinnati. I don't think that it's totally clear. There is no advance mention of the game between the two clubs while the paper does mention the upcoming games with the Stars and Luds. Is it possible that the two clubs happened to me in Cincinnati at the same time and decided to get in a championship game while they had the chance? More research is certainly needed and I don't have easy access to the necessary newspapers in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. It would be interesting to see if the papers in those cities mentioned the game in advance.

However, the game doesn't fit the scheduled pattern of the Brown Stockings' league games. It stand out like a sore thumb. It's possible that the club had scheduled some games against local teams in Cincinnati during a lull in the league schedule and Philadelphia, for whatever reason, had scheduled some games in the area as well towards the end of the Brown Stockings visit. Once the two clubs realised that they were both in town, maybe they decided to arrange a match. One possible reason the game was played in Ludlow rather than in Cincinnati (like Philadelphia's games on September 21 and 23) is that it was arranged at the last minute and the Luds' grounds was the only available park.

Tomorrow: The long awaited, heavily anticipated and certain to disappoint post on the Brown Stockings/Philadelphia game in Ludlow, Kentucky.

The Brown Stockings In Kentucky (or Play Harder And With Less Errors)

This is starting to remind me of The Monster At The End Of This Book, which, by the way, was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. Let's see if we can move this along.

The Brown Stockings came to the Cincinnati area, as we've seen, on September 15, 1875 and played the Covington Stars, winning 12-8. Right around this time they signed Joe Blong to a contract for 1876, possibly leading to Blong's "incident" during the Stars/Ludlow exhibition a few days later. On September 17, they played the Luds, winning 27-6. The next day, the Brown Stockings played the Cincinnati Red Stockings:

The Cincinnati Commercial thus describes the unsatisfactory finish of Saturday's game between St. Louis and Cincinnati:

Ninth Inning-Clark went out at first, Sweasy on a fly to the pitcher, and Nichols out at first.

Browns-The game now stood 12 to 9 in favor of the Reds, and a half inning yet to be played by the Browns. Pike, with a safe hit, reached first. Battin struck a fly to right field, which was taken by Wardell very close to the ground. The umpire decided it out, and Pike, who had run to second, was declared out at first. The Browns declared that the ball had not been fairly caught, but picked up. The question was noisily quarreled over by the two clubs, and a crowd of spectators who had rushed in. The umpire holding to his decision, the Captain of the Browns refused to finish the game, and so it ended, the umpire deciding the result to be 9 to 0 in favor of the Reds. It was an unfortunate termination. The Browns, of course, claim that they were unfairly used by the umpire, but there is another side on that claim. Had the Browns paid less attention to the cheers of the crowd for the Cincinnati Club, taken less to heart the decisions of the umpire against them, and played harder and with less errors, it is not at all unlikely that they would have come out winners. But if, under these circumstances, they had played the game out and been beaten in the end, they would stand in a better light before the base ball public than they now do.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 21, 1875

Dickey Pearce stated later that the reason the Browns left the field was that they thought there were three outs and the game was over. I'm not sure that that's believable.

To wrap this up, on September 20 the Brown Stockings made a trip to Louisville to play the Joe Ellick and the Eagles, winning 11-3. Also, on the same day, Philadelphia arrived in Cincinnati and defeated the Reds (Cincinnati, not St. Louis) by a score of 6-5.

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.

Interfering Considerably

Another interesting aspect to the Brown Stockings trip to Cincinnati and their game against Philadelphia in Ludlow (which, I promise, I'm getting to) is that the Reds happened to be in the area at the same time. All quotes come from the September 16, 1875 edition of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

The Ludlows still maintain their reputation for quarreling on the ball-field, as the following extract from an account of their game with the St. Louis Reds, on Monday, will demonstrate:

It was clear to the unprejudiced eye that Warner and Doescher had quarreled, but what the misunderstanding could be about, was less easy to determine. Some conjectured that it was on account of the double play in the previous inning which Warner had been instrumental in making, and which only a fortunate muff had enabled him to make. By the persons sitting nearest the parties as they sat on the bench awaiting their turn at the bat, the difficulty is interpreted to have been about the respective batting qualities of the two. Warner is somewhat proud of his reputation as the safest man at the bat of the whole nine. He seems to have grown irritated at the chaff of his companion, and to have taken umbrage at language such as he and other members habitually used towards each other. He suddenly made some statement. Doescher retorted as quickly, but with a smile, "You are a liar." The words were no sooner uttered than they were greeted with a blow that landed on Doescher's nose. The fight was on instantly, but was stopped by the intervention of Jones and other players. Warner walked off the field with a torn shirt, and refused to reappear.

Fantastic story. Made me thing of Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent. The Reds, by the way, beat the Luds 8-1.

The next day the Reds played the Stars, losing 8-5:

Oran, of the Reds, played right field magnificently, and drew forth the applause of every spectator by a grand running catch, taken single-handed, and then throwing to second base, putting out his man. Houtz, at first base, and Collins in left field, played elegantly, neither one making an error in the game.

The Stars were behind in their score until the ninth inning, when, by a combination of brilliant batting and good luck, they added six to their runs, putting them ahead, and winning the game amidst the wildest huzzas.

You really can't beat a combination of brilliant batting and good luck.

The Brown Stockings came to town the next day and played the Stars. The Globe had this to say:

The Browns have hopped over to Cincinnati, and yesterday played the Stars, thereby interfering considerably with the gate receipts of the St. Louis Reds in their game with the Cincinnatis.

This is not to imply that the Brown Stockings specifically planned to go to Cincinnati at the same time as the Reds and steal their box office but we are still looking for reasons why the club was in the area and spite can be added to the possibilities. Not to take the idea too seriously but there was a rivalry between the Brown Stockings and the Reds, as much in the front office as on the field. McNeary had been involved in the organization of the Brown Stockings until such time as it was apparent that the club was going to play its home games at the Grand Avenue grounds rather than on Compton Avenue. Brown Stocking management could not have been pleased with McNeary's decision to place the Reds in the NA and their refusal to schedule more than two games against the upstarts is, I believe, evidence of this. Both clubs probably believed that the other had negatively affected their finances.

So we can consider the possibility that the Brown Stockings, with some time on their hands, travelled to Cincinnati on the heals of the Reds simply to cut into their box office. It's a bit far fetched but, considering the relationship between the two clubs, not out of the question.

Note: Weren't we talking at some point about players making one-handed outfield catches and the rarity of such things? Can't remember but Oran's catch is an obvious example of such a thing and it was remarked upon in several different papers. I would argue that the fact that it was remarked upon in all game accounts I've come across and the brilliancy of the play was universally noted would mean that one-handed outfield catches were still rather rare.

There Is No Such Thing As Coincidence, Just The Illusion Of Coincidence

After returning from an eighteen game Eastern road trip, the Brown Stockings played thirteen of fourteen games at home, interrupted only by the game they played against Philadelphia in Ludlow on September 22, 1875. But that's not really what I want to talk about at the moment. Don't despair; I'll be getting to that game shortly.

If one looks at the schedule, the Brown Stockings were at home from August 12, when they played the Athletics, through September 13, when they played Hartford. They had the game against Philadelphia on September 22 and then returned home to play Philadelphia three more times at home, starting on September 27. The pertinent question is what was the club doing on those eight days when they didn't have a championship game scheduled?

By September 15, the Brown Stockings were in the Cincinnati area playing baseball and they remained there through the 22nd. But, again, this isn't what I want to write about. This post isn't really about the Brown Stockings. This is actually a post about Joe Blong.

Follow along:

-The Brown Stockings arrive in the Cincinnati area by September 15 and play a game against the Stars which they win 12-8 (and which was umpired by Charlie Sweasy).

-On September 18, the Stars play the Ludlows in an exhibition game and lose 7-5 to their rivals. Joe Blong is suspended after the game. Rumors fly that Blong had "sold" the game and/or was drunk during the game.

-Blong is expelled from the club on September 20 and there are reports that he had already signed a contract with the Brown Stockings for the 1876 season. During his hearing, Blong is rather defiant towards the trustees of the club and one explanation for this is that he has a contract for $1,500 from the Brown Stockings for next season.

So we now know how Blong signed with the Brown Stockings for 1876. The Brown Stockings were in the area playing baseball and actually had a game against the Stars in which Blong pitched. One can assume that the contract was offered to Blong sometime between September 15 and September 20 and that this contract colored Blong's view of his service with the Stars. It's possible that Blong already had a contract with the Brown Stockings before the Ludlow exhibition game and, if this is true, his behavior in the game should be interpreted in that context. Blong was a St. Louis native, had arranged to play with one of the top clubs in the country for the following season in his home town and was already fixed on his future rather than on endeavours in Covington. He had no loyalty to Covington or the Stars and probably couldn't care less about the rivalry with Ludlow. Blong was headed back home to play baseball at the highest level and, as far as he was concerned, the Stars could go pound sand.

It's arguable that the Brown Stockings' trip to the Cincinnati area lead directly to Blong's blow up with Covington and the beginning of his reputation as a crooked ballplayer.

Abandonment

To add to his other troubles, it is now rumored that Joe Ellick, captain of that nine, has abandoned them to accept a position with the Eagles of Louisville. It certainly is to be hoped that the association will take such cases in hand and deal with them severely, which they, no doubt, will in all the cases where the jumpers come under their discipline...Your correspondent has been credibly informed that in the case of Blong, he was released by McNeary before joining the Covington Stars. Both (Ellick) and McSorley are absent with the club on a trip through Ohio, but both will, no doubt, have something to say in defense of their action...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 15, 1875

I really like the use of the word "abandoned" to describe Ellick, Blong, et al. leaving the Reds in 1875. It seems fitting.

The two most interesting things in this piece is that Ellick was "captain of that nine" after Sweasy and that Blong is "credibly" reported to have secured his release from the club before joining Covington. I think that little facts like Ellick serving as captain adds needed detail to what we already understand about the broad picture while there are still questions about how Blong left the Reds.

And if you can't tell, I'm working my way (in my own meandering style) up to the Brown Stockings' September 22 game against Philadelphia in Ludlow, Kentucky.

The Pioneer Baseball Era In St. Louis And The Civil War

I have an article up at the Missouri Civil War Museum, entitled The Pioneer Baseball Era in St. Louis and the Civil War. The piece discusses the origins of baseball in antebellum St. Louis and the effects of the Civil War on the games development in the city, as well as attempting to put these developments in a national context. Follow the link and give it a read if you have the time. It's a more organized presentation of a great deal of the information that I've posted here as well as a reflection of my thinking after working on the Pioneer Project (whose publication sadly seems to have been pushed back to Spring of 2011).

I should also take this opportunity to thank John Maurath from the museum for his work on the article. John edited the overly long piece, added a preface and note about Al Spink, and also placed the pictures into the article. He did a great job with it and I'm very appreciative of his time and effort. While you

Al Spink Testifies

Alfred H. Spink, formerly secretary of the Browns, and at present a sporting writer on one of the local dailies, was the first witness called. He testified to the organization of the St. Louis Baseball association by himself, his brother, the late William Spink, and William Pennoyer. This organization, according to Mr. Spink, formed the St. Louis Browns during the season of 1881 and their games were played on the grounds of Sportsman's Park and club on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The St. Louis Baseball association, said Mr. Spink later on, had a contract with Sportsman's Park and club whereby they got 90 per cent of the gross gate receipts, the corporation getting 10 per cent of the gate, reserved seats were sold, and all other privileges, such as sale of score cards, etc. When the season of 1881 had been completed he and his associates turned over their baseball interests to Von der Ahe, who continued the arrangements with Sportsman's Park and club.

-Chicago Daily Tribune, January 19, 1899

Spink was testifying in the suit brought by the Missouri Valley Trust Company against the Sportsman's Park and Club Association. Von der Ahe was arguing that his baseball club and the Sportsman's Park and Club Association were two separate entities in an attempt to stop the seizure of the ball club. He eventually lost that argument but as a result of the suit we have Spink's testimony about the founding of the Browns.

Reds/Star Ad From 1875

This ad for a June 14, 1875 game between the Reds and Stars was sent to me by Cam Miller. Much thanks.

We Have Witnessed Many Worse Games Than This

Last Monday a large number of the male population of Ludlow visited the new Star Base Ball Grounds, at the head of Madison street, Covington, to witness the great game between the much-talked of and loudly advertised "Shining Stars" (see Covington news in all the Cincinnati dailies,) and the famous St. Louis Reds. The Stars having defeated the Ludlow club when it was in its infancy, and the Ludlows having made four runs in their game with the Reds, keeping their score down to 13, and whitewashing them five times, an easy victory was anticipated for the Covington boys.

A crowd estimated at between 3,000 and 4,000 was on the ground when game was called, about 4 o'clock, and as the larger proportion of those in attendance were Covingtonians, the enthusiasm was unbounded. When the Asterisks began to toss the ball, just to show how they were going to do it, the crowd applauded, and smiled pityingly at the St. Louis boys, especially poor Blong, the lame pitcher, and Houtz, the first baseman, who, in practicing, muffed every other ball. Some of them felt sorry for Sweasy, too-he had seen better days, when he belonged to a club which could play almost as well as the Stars. Then there was a delicate-looking boy named Flint, who was going to try to catch!

All of this was preparatory. The Reds went to the field, when game was called, with the air of men determined to do their best, even though their cause was hopeless. The Stars went to the bat, and for some reason, unexplained as yet, they didn't make any runs. The Covington people winked and smiled, and "guessed" the boys were throwing off on the Reds, to make it appear like a close game. But the St. Louis boys were evidently not let into the secret, for in their half of the the first inning they scored 8.

In the second inning the Stars seemed undecided as to whether they would merely "tie" the Reds, or make it 16 to 8; but after some reflection and consultation, they concluded to give their opponents a still better chance, and generously permitted themselves to be whitewashed a second time. The St. Louis boys, not to be outdone in matters of this kind, also scored a goose egg.

When the third inning had been played, and the score stood 9 to 0, it began gradually to steal over the minds of the Covingtonians that if the Stars were really going to score two to one, they had arrived at a point in the game where it was necessary to make a start-just the smallest kind of a start. This conclusion was made known to the directors, who communicated the same to the Nine.

Then, after the Umpire had remarked "Out on first," three several times, the still Shinning Stars went to the field, and the St. Louis, still in the dark as regards the intentions of their opponents, went to the bat, and after a reasonable time spent in exercise, left the score 14 to 0.

At this state of the proceedings Coroner McCabe, in a very excited manner, asked if any one had heard from Campbell's Creek. Our reporter, who has an aunt living in that vicinity, lost all further interest in the game, and in his struggles to get within speaking distance of the man of inquests, lost his score card; and to add to his misfortunes, he was lost in the large crowd, and failed to hear any of the Campbell's Creek news. The rest of our report, therefore, is made up from our exchanges, principally the Covington papers...

We have witnessed many worse games than this; and we believe that with close application, much practice, harmony, discipline, &c., the Stars will be a very good club by next summer...

-Ludlow Reporter, July 3, 1875

This may be the best account of a 19-0 game I've ever read. Good stuff.

A Drunken, Dishonest Player

Blong has left the city. So far as we have heard any opinion expressed as to the action of the Directors of the Star club in his case, it is favorable to such action. It was simply a question as to whether a drunken, dishonest player should rule the club, or the Directors. Blong was impudent and reckless in his manner, when brought before the Directors. We believe he was advised to this course by those who were concerned in buying the Ludlow game. For our part we are fully convinced that the game was bought, sold and paid for; and this is the general opinion of those well informed.

Among the ten members of the Board of Trustees who were present when Blong was expelled, there was not one to speak in his favor. The pretence that the Directors had nothing to do with an "exhibition game" is utterly preposterous. Does any one think it the duty of the Star Directors to allow a player to come on the grounds drunk at an exhibition game, or to sell such a game? Certainly not...

The Philadelphias and St. Louis Browns played a fine game for the championship on the Ludlow grounds, Wednesday. Only six errors wee made on each side, but the Browns batted Zettlein freely, and made 5 runs to 2, by the Philadelphias...

It seems the Enquirer reporter has entered into a kind of literary partnership with Blong. We believe one of them would sell out just about as quick as the other.

-The Ticket, September 23, 1875

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.

Two Birds, One Post

I found this completely by accident:

Mr. Adolphus Busch, of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, has bought the interest originally held by Mr. Ellis Wainwright in the St. Louis Athletic Association. Mr. Wainwright is therefore no longer in any way connected with the Union Club.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 11, 1884

There I was, minding my own business and researching something totally unrelated, when my eyes caught the words "Adolphus Busch" and I stopped to read. Lo and behold, I found something that killed two birds with one stone. We can now say that Wainwright, while an original investor in the Maroons, was bought out in April of 1884. We can also say that Adolphus Busch (pictured above) was an investor in the Maroons and that the brewing family has a history in St. Louis baseball that began eighty years before August Busch, Jr. bought the Cardinals in 1953.

A Few Quick Notes About Asa Smith

I'm in the process of writing a long piece on Asa Smith and thought I'd pass along a few things I dug up recently:

-The Daily Picayune, while reporting the death of Smith's mother on November 24, 1887, describes him as "one of the most popular young men in St. Louis" before his death in 1874.

-Sadly, Smith's brother Mark, an actor, died in Paris in August of 1874, just a few weeks after Asa drowned in Maine. It must have been a difficult summer for the Smith family.

-According to the Globe, there is a "marble shaft" at Bellefontaine Cemetery inscribed with the names of Asa Smith, whose body was never found, and Mark Smith, who was buried in Paris. This monument is located near the grave of their father, Sol Smith, and other members of the family.

The Indianapolis/Chicago Series

For the past five or six years the Chicago Base Ball Club has put in an appearance at the Grand Avenue Park during fair week, and although St. Louis is without a club this season, the White Stockings intend keeping up the time-honored custom, and games with the Indianapolis Club have been arranged for Wednesday and Thursday. The Blue Stockings have been in the city for several days, and have been practicing vigorously for the coming contests, yesterday annihilating a strong picked nine by the slab-sided score of eleven to nothing.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 8, 1878

Not more than 400 spectators witnessed the defeat of the Chicago club by the Indianapolis team at Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon. The game was an interesting one, Shaefer, Clapp, Croft and Peters doing some brilliant work in the field, and the batting of the Chicagos being a fine display. The catching of Flint and Powers was superb, the pitching on both sides being wild. Healey and McCormick exchanged places in the eight inning, and the move worked well. The same clubs are to meet each other again this afternoon.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 11, 1878

Indianapolis won the game by a score of 9-7.

The game between the Chicago and Indianapolis base ball clubs at Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon was witnessed by a good-sized audience. The batting on both sides was heavy, and the outfielders were kept busy from start to finish. This afternoon these two clubs play their last game here, and this will be the last chance lovers of the sport will have this season of seeing a professional game. A good crowd will undoubtedly be on hand, as the weather is just the thing for ball tossing. The best field play in yesterday's game was that of Peters at short and Joe Start at first, while Cassidy, Powers and Ferguson did good work with the stick. For the Indicanapolis Clapp and Flint excelled in fielding, while Williamson and Healy led at the bat.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 12, 1878

Chicago won the second game 16-10.

The Chicago White Stockings found no trouble in defeating the Hoosiers in a five-inning game at the Grand Avenue Base Ball Park, yesterday afternoon...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 13, 1878

Chicago won the final game, and the series, 9-6.

And that's it as far as Indianapolis playing in St. Louis in 1878. All the talk about Indianapolis playing their home games in St. Louis came to very little: three League games against Boston and three exhibition games against Chicago. Did these six games fulfill the contract the club had with Solari? That's unknown but if the club had only contracted to play six games in St. Louis then the talk of a new St. Louis League club was nothing more than an attempt to sell tickets.

I find it unlikely that the club had any real intention of "relocating" to St. Louis for the second half of the 1878 season. It's possible that if the three games against Boston had drawn well Indianapolis would have played more League games at the Grand Avenue Park. That's probably why the contract was for six games. It allowed the club to keep their options open as far as the St. Louis market was concerned. If the fans came out, they got three more games and Indianapolis would have probably signed a new contract for more games.

It's all very interesting but I don't believe that it's accurate to say that St. Louis almost got a National League club in 1878 or that Indianapolis almost moved to St. Louis in the second half of the 1878 season. It is accurate, however, to say that it was portrayed in the local press that way for a variety of reasons.

A Set Of Frauds

The Indianapolis and Milwaukee Clubs were to have played three of their series of championship games in (St. Louis) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the present week. President Pettitt, of Indianapolis, so informed Superintendent Solari, of Grand Avenue Park, with whom he has a contract to play a certain number of games in St. Louis the present season. At Pettitt's request the announcement was made, and now comes a letter from that gentleman stating that owing to "fever and the prevailing hot weather" the games will not be played here, but that he will complete his contract with Solari before the season closes. The gentlemen who take a lively interest in the national game here have about come to the conclusion that the Indianapolis crowd are a set of frauds. The excuse quoted above is so thin as to prove for itself that other engagements, which probably promise better, will be entered into before the St. Louis contract is carried out...The fact that the Milwaukee and Indianapolis Clubs will not play here should be a matter for congratulation. To witness the two worst clubs in America cross bats, after the magnificent entertainment furnished by the old Brown Stocking Management, would go a great way towards knocking the last spark of life out of the national game, which is already nearly dead, owing to the manner in which players have been compelled to do crooked work by men in high places who claim to be immaculate. Not the slightest breath of suspicion ever attached to any officer of the St. Louis Club, and while the record of the home organization is clean, care should be taken that it is not smirched by any foreign element.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 1, 1878

The most important matter here is that, according to the Globe, Pettitt had a contract with Solari to play "a certain number of games in St. Louis..." That, I think, speaks to a seriousness of purpose with regards to a possible "relocation" of the Indianapolis club to St. Louis. The question, of course, is how many games did the contract call for Indianapolis to play at the Grand Avenue Park. Based on the evidence, I'm thinking that the contract wasn't for more than six games. The club played the three games against Boston in St. Louis and there was continuous talk about another series. As we'll see later, the club did return to St. Louis after the season for an exhibition series against Chicago and, following that, there was no longer any talk about a contract or possible games in St. Louis. The season was over with and there was really no more games to be played but the fact that Chicago series put an end to the Globe's grumblings lends credence to the idea that the contract was for a limited number of games rather than for the remainder of Indianapolis' home schedule.

The second point I'd like to make regards the "magnificent entertainment" furnished by the Brown Stockings. Obviously, someone forgot about the disaster that was Brown Stockings baseball in 1877. Baseball in St. Louis was "already nearly dead" and at the beginning of a major league interregnum for a reason.

Undetermined As To Their Future Course

The fact that less than 500 people attended the three games of base ball at Indianapolis last week, would seem to indicate that the Hoosier Club is an expensive institution to its backers. That it should be, is indicated by the manner in which the officers have acted recently. The team was transferred to this city, and, in spite of the intense heat, and the fact that the Blues played a game which the local amateurs could discount, the attendance was fair. Supt. Solari had gone to a great deal of expense in fitting up the park, but the moment the club found that they could not draw large crowds until they demonstrated their ability to play ball, they skipped back to Indianapolis, and, if the reports in the Pittsburg papers are true, will ignore their St. Louis engagements and play in that city. Last night the Indianapolis correspondent of the Globe-Democrat was informed by President Pettitt that the report as to Pittsburg was without foundation, and that, as stated heretofore, the club would alternate between St. Louis and Indianapolis, coming here when the weather was cooler. On the heels of the above telegram, a message was sent to John Clapp, the manager of the club, stating that the weather was cooler, and asking whether the club intended keeping its engagements here, to which the following reply was received:

"No. We are due in Chicago next week; can not tell about week after next. (Signed) John E. Clapp."

The above shows that the directors of the club are undetermined as to their future course. If they think it will pay they will come here; if not-not...For the benefit of the jealous scribes in League cities who misrepresented the numbers in attendance at the three games played here, it may be stated that St. Louisians are educated up to the fine points in base ball, and that they have no use for a club which can neither bat nor run bases. Lovers of the national game who saw a club made up of six of the present Chicago team, with three of the strongest men in the Providence nine-the Hartfords of '76-whitewashed in three straight games in one week by the St. Louis Brown Stockings, are not willing to patronize any except a strictly first-class organization.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 21, 1878

Happy Independence Day

I hope you enjoy your Fourth of July. On to the videos (patriotic edition).

It doesn't get any better than this. Kate Smith-God Bless America:




You should really watch this. It's silly and chuckle-inducing. The Muppets-Stars and Stripes Forever:




Not patriotic, but definitely silly. Beaker doing Ode to Joy:




More Muppet silliness. I'm pretty sure this is the Blue Danube Waltz:

This I Can Understand

Owing to the intensely hot weather, the Indianapolis Club will play the Providence team at Indianapolis on Tuesday, returning here for the contests Thursday and Saturday.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 14, 1878

So much for playing the rest of their home games in St. Louis. While I like hot weather, things can get rather uncomfortable in St. Louis during the summer and I wouldn't blame anybody for not wanting to play baseball at the height of a warm spell here. St. Louis, as Casey said about Busch Stadium II, holds the heat well.

The Third Game

The attendance at Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon was not what it should have been, in view of the fact that the Boston and Indianapolis clubs were to meet in this city for the last time this season. The game was virtually lost to the Blues in the first two innings, the Reds batting "the only Nolan" all over the field, and to add to the misfortunes of the Hoosiers, Flint was hit by a fierce foul tip, which necessitated his being relieved by Clapp, who supported McKelvey magnificently. The Blues were outplayed at every point, and the game was lost and won on its merits, nothing brilliant, except the batting of Leonard, being achieved on either side.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 14, 1878

Boston jumped out to an eight run lead and cruised to a 12-4 victory. The game report didn't state when exactly McKelvey replaced Nolan on the mound.

No Season Tickets

The matter of season tickets for the series of base ball games to be played by the Indianapolis Club in (St. Louis) has given rise to considerable question. On the arrival in St. Louis of Mr. Scott, on Tuesday last, it was announced that the sale of season tickets was a fixed fact. But as none have been offered for sale, the inquiry has naturally been made as to the reason for their being withheld. Mr. Scott explains the matter very satisfactorily, as follows: After canvassing the ground thoroughly on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, he arrived at the conclusion that it would be far better to rely upon the direct gate patronage of the patrons of the game than to sell tickets in advance. This conclusion he reported to Mr. Pettit on his arrival, and that gentleman at once indorsed his decision. The friends of base ball will understand this straightforward policy of the managers, and will show their appreciation of fair dealing by a liberal patronage on each day of play.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 13, 1878

I'm intrigued by the statement that the decision regarding ticket sales was made after "canvassing the ground thoroughly..." It's possible that the Indianapolis Club had made a decision to play their remaining home games in St. Louis (although that's far from certain) but after an inspection of the Grand Avenue Grounds, which was operating under a smaller configuration than it had in previous seasons, decided that the ballpark did not meet their expectations or needs. While speculative, it's possible that the state of the ballpark combined with what Al Spink described as poor attendance for the series against Boston convinced Pettit that St. Louis would not be an improvement over the situation in Indianapolis.

The Second Game

Notwithstanding the intensely warm weather there was a fair attendance at the Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the second contest between the Boston and Indianapolis Base Ball Clubs. McCormick replaced Nolan in the latter team, and his pitching was eagerly watched by the crowd, very few of whom had ever seen him play. The game was one of the best ever witnessed in this city, and was only won by a combination of good luck, dashing base running and nervy work on the part of the champions...

There should be a rousing attendance at the Grand Avenue Park Saturday afternoon, when the Reds and Blues again meet. Such a contest as that of yesterday, though only seen once in a lifetime, may be duplicated to-morrow.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 12, 1878

So the once in a lifetime game will be duplicated tomorrow? Really? Wouldn't that then not make this game a once in a lifetime experience? I'm just asking.

This once in a lifetime experience was nothing more than Boston coming back to win the game after they were down 4-1 going into the eighth inning and anybody who's a fan of a team with a bad bullpen sees something like that a dozen times a year. Boston scored four in the eighth and three in the ninth after Nolan replaced McCormick, who broke "one of the small bones in his fore arm," and won 8-4. The Only Nolan really had a poor series and was lit up rather good by Boston in this series.

I just took a look at Nolan's stats over at B-Ref and I guess I never looked at them before because I never realized that The Only Nolan wasn't all that good. I know that B-Ref doesn't have his full record, missing seasons when he wasn't pitching in the major leagues, but still...I assumed that he was a great pitcher. The guy was a star; he was The Only Nolan. But Ed Nolan was a bit of a bum and a headcase. It's as if my entire world has changed; black is white, day is night, The Only Nolan was not a good pitcher. So I guess that the only reason we remember Nolan is the nickname and a couple of non-League seasons he had as a teenager with Indianapolis.

The First Game

Grand Avenue Park presented a decidedly animated appearance yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the opening base ball game of the season, between the red-legged champions of Boston, who, owing to their skillful play and gentlemanly deportment, were always prime favorites in St. Louis, and the Indianapolis Club, which has decided to make its home here for the remainder of the year. The crowd reminded one of old times, when the enthusiasm manifested for the National game was unbounded. While the park is not as large as in previous years, it is still amply sufficient for all practical purposes, and the "diamond," thanks to Superintendent Solari, is in perfect condition. Nothing is lacking to make the visitor comfortable, and the seating capacity is equal to anything but an extraordinary emergency. That great interest is still taken in the game was manifested by the presence of so many spectators from all branches of life, and the demonstrative manner in which they received the rival athletes...Clapp, Croft and Flint were quickly recognized, and each was accorded an ovation...The Reds won the toss, and after the third inning had everything their own way, having all the luck and the best of the umpiring...It was evidently an off day for the Hoosiers, six of whom could do nothing with the stick, while all except Croft, Flint, Shaefer and Williamson were shaky in the field...No brilliant play was exhibited on either side outside of the pitching and catching, which was a model display, and a fine catch each by Leonard and Warner. While a majority of the spectators would have preferred seeing the Bostons beaten, the applause was distributed in an impartial manner.

The disagreeable feature of the contest was the boorish conduct of Burdock, who, as usual, had more to say than all others pub together, and who, by his idiotic shouting, endeavored to disconcert the opposing players at critical points of the struggle. His appeals to the umpire were based on the most childish pretexts imaginable, and the respectable people present were surprised that Harry Wright did not sit down on him.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 10, 1878

Boston won the first game of the series, 6-3.

Blogger Has Gone All Wonky

For some reason, my scheduled posts have not been published as scheduled the last three days. No idea why except that Blogger is a touchy little application that I've grow tired of. Don't be surprised if one day I move this whole operation over to WordPress. But in the meantime, I have to start paying attention to things a little more closely than I usually do.

Bottom line: Google is evil.

The St. Louis Club

How St. Louis Thumped Cincinnati

[From the Cincinnati Enquirer.]

The first League series of twelve games to be finished this season is the Cincinnati-Indianapolis (or St. Louis) series, which ended last Saturday. The result was eight games won by the St. Louis Club to four by the Cincinnatis.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 9, 1878

The implication is that the Cincinnati paper was referring to the Indianapolis club as "the St. Louis Club." Of course, this could have been creative editing by the Globe.

Their Future Home

The lovers of out-door sports, should the weather prove fine, will, in all probablility, fill the Grand Avenue Park to its utmost capacity this afternoon, on the occasion of the first professional base ball game of the season, which is to be called promptly at 3:30 o'clock. The contest is for the League championship, and the contestants, the Boston and Indianapolis, or rather St. Louis clubs, two of the strongest organizations in the arena. Clapp and his comrades arrived in the city yesterday morning, and the Bostons, who played at Peoria yesterday, will reach here on an early train. Both nines are in splendid trim. The Bostons must win to-day to retain first place in the race for the championship, and as the Indianapolitans naturally desire to create a favorable impression on their first appearance in their future home, the struggle will be a desperate one, and should be witnessed by all who take an interest in the national game.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 9, 1878

A couple of thoughts:

-Putting the situation in context, it should be remembered that St. Louis had placed teams in the NA and the NL during the previous three seasons and had seen some success in 1875 and 1876. The 1877 season was a disaster for several reasons and the Brown Stockings folded in difficult circumstances. Indianapolis and Boston came to town the following season, which was the first since 1874 that St. Louis hadn't fielded a major league club.

-I really can't speak to the intentions of the Indianapolis Club and what their plans. What I can say is that this series was being sold as the first home games of a new St. Louis League Club. Was Indianapolis selling the St. Louis public a bill of goods? Don't know. Was the Globe misrepresenting the situation? Maybe. Was their a deal that fell apart? Possible-and I'll get to that later.

Indianapolis Will Finish The Season In St. Louis

I've been having an interesting email conversation with Lenny DiFranza about St. Louis ballparks and, in the course of this conversation, the subject of Indianapolis playing three "home" games at the Grand Avenue Park against Boston in 1878 came up. I had seen the box scores for at least one of the games before but never did anything with the information. Taking a more in depth look at what was going on, it appears the situation was a bit more interesting than Indianapolis simply playing three games in St. Louis. Over the next few days, I'll post what I found. I'd also be happy to get any input that I can on the situation in Indianapolis.

Mr. Frank N. Scott has been sent by the managers of the Indianapolis Base Ball Club to this city, charged with the soliciting of subscriptions from parties here and the selling of season tickets. It appears, too, if the report in the Pittsburg Gazette is true, that Mr. R.E. McKelvey, of the Indianapolis Club, has been sent to Pittsburg to arrange for the transfer of the nine to that place. At the same time that these agents of the club are at work in St. Louis and Pittsburg, the Indianapolis people are given to understand that the club will still play several games there after it leaves for another diamond field of usefulness. Under the circumstances it would be well for parties in St. Louis to abstain from subscribing or purchasing season tickets until the Indianapolis Club give a guarantee that their nine will play all their Western engagements in this city, and no where else. The tickets which were sold in Indianapolis at the beginning of the season are now useless to the purchasers, although the season is not half over, and St. Louisans should not be placed in the same box. The patrons of the game would be pleased to have the Indianapolis Club come here, and will without doubt support it more liberally than any city in the Union if it plays to win all the time. The President of the club has been assured of this fact, and the Directors should rest content with the gate receipts until such a time as they state emphatically that they intend remaining here throughout the season, and desist from leading the Pittsburg and Indianapolis people to believe that only such games will be played here as may suit their convenience. If the Indianapolis folks do not like the terms, the Milwaukee Club has given notice that it will jump at them.

Mr. Scott...stated positively that the club would finish the remainder of the League season in St. Louis, and that McKelvey's mission to Pittsburg was not authorized by President Pettit...Twenty League games, he says, will be played on the Grand avenue grounds, and the purchaser of a season ticket will be assigned a reserved seat, which will be set apart for his exclusive use. The seating capacity of the grounds, as remodeled, is estimated at 2,000 and there will be ample room for all. Aside from the objectionable feature of the transfer alluded to above, the Indianapolis Club deserves well of the St. Louis public, as i playing strength it ranks with the best, and includes several home players who were always great favorites.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 3, 1878

Indianapolis played three games in St. Louis against Boston on July 9, 11, and 13 in 1878. Al Spink, writing in The National Game, mentioned that he was involved in bringing the Indianapolis club to St. Louis to play a few games but that the enterprise was a failure due to poor attendance. He portrayed the games as an attempt to revive interest in major league baseball in St. Louis.

However, it looks like what we have is an Indianapolis club that was struggling financially and looking for ways to increase revenue. If they weren't drawing well at home (and B-Ref doesn't have any attendance data for the club), it seems likely that Indianapolis may have been looking around for somewhere else to play their home games. St. Louis was a logical choice for several reasons. First, the city had proved to be a baseball hotbed but at the moment was lacking a major league club. Secondly, Indianapolis had Art Croft, Silver Flint and John Clapp on the club. Croft and Flint were St. Louis natives and Clapp had played for the Brown Stockings. If the Indianapolis club was looking to "move" than St. Louis would have been a good place for them to "relocate" to.

And this is how the games were being sold to the St. Louis public. They were being told that the Indianapolis club was now going to play its home games in St. Louis and that it was now the "St. Louis Club." As you'll see over the next couple of days, the team, for a short period of time, was actually being referred to as the "St. Louis Club" and it took awhile for people to realize that the team had not, in fact, "relocated" to St. Louis.

More On The Lucas (Amateur) Nine

Mr. Henry V. Lucas, of the St. Louis Union Club, is a great lover of the National game and is probably the only base ball president in the country who ever plays himself. All last season he kept up a club known as the Lucas amateurs, at his own expense, and played third base on the nine himself, and played it well, too. At his beautiful suburban home in Normandy he had a fine ball ground laid out on his estate and had comfortable seats erected for the accommodation of a couple of thousand of people. On days when games were played he invited out a number of friends from the city and at the conclusion of the game they were treated to an elegant spread prepared under the supervision of his charming wife.

-The Cleveland Herald, April 22, 1884

The rich are different from you and me. They have more money, form their own baseball clubs and leagues, and build ballparks on their estates.

Season Tickets Are Now Ready

Season tickets for the games at Union Park are now ready for circulation and can be obtained at the office of Henry V. Lucas, at the corner of Fourth and Pine streets. The seats in the best part of the grand stand are to be numbered and sold in regular rotation, the first comers being the first served. There will be fifty-six championship games, and the season tickets entitling the holder to admission and reserved seat to all of these will be sold until April 19 at $22...Besides the reserved seats, season tickets for the field and open seats will be sold for $11...This is the cheapest base ball ever offered local patrons.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 30, 1884

More On The Anheuser-Busch/Union Association Link

The Union Association was essentially a Western organization...Messrs. Lucas, Wainwright, and the Busch Anheiser Brewing Company, of St. Louis, are moving spirits in the Association...

A gentleman residing in St. Louis, who is intimately acquainted with Mr. Henry V. Lucas, the president and organizer of the new anti-league St. Louis team, to-day assured me that Mr. Lucas is not shouldering the costly team that has been engaged for that city. Said this gentleman: "I have reason to think-I might almost say I know positively-that the new St. Louis enterprise is secretly backed by a big brewing company. I believe that same concern is backing the Chicago Union scheme, and, in fact, is the main support of all the Union Association clubs. Beer-selling is to be a feature of all the games, and the brewing companies probably expect to make enough money out of the sale of beer to pay the cost of supporting the ball clubs."

-The Cleveland Herald, December 17, 1883

I certainly don't consider this confirmation of Anheuser-Busch's involvement with Lucas, the UA and the Maroons but I'm having fun trying to run this down. At this point, I honestly don't believe that A-B was involved in the financing of the UA but I'm keeping an open mind. The most I'm willing to say at this point is that Adolphus Busch was probably interested in Lucas' baseball venture and the two may have talked about the brewery investing in one or more clubs.

A Quick Note On Ellis Wainwright

Ellis Wainwright's name has been getting kicked around here the last couple of days and David, in a comment, mentioned that the man's name might actually be Elias Wainwright. I, as usual, had no real clue what I was talking about and had to go back and check things out. It was possible that I got the name wrong while typing up the post or that the Globe had the name wrong to begin with. So being the curious monkey that I am, I went and did the old ProQuest search on Ellis Wainwright.

Ellis Wainwright was born around 1850 and was the president of the Wainwright Brewing Company in St. Louis. He was a rather prominent member of St. Louis society and was involved with the art museum and the public library. Wainwright was also a member of the St. Louis Club and the Veiled Prophet association. In his obituary, it was mentioned that he was one of the wealthiest men in St. Louis.

There can be no doubt that he moved in the same social circle as Henry Lucas and appears to have been friends with several members of the Union Club. Interestingly, he was caught up in the "boodle" scandal along with Union Club member Charles Hunt Turner. While there doesn't appear to be much of a connection between Wainwright and baseball, he was a bit of a sportsman and was particularly involved in horse racing in St. Louis.

I did find two instances in the Globe where Ellis Wainwright was referred to as Elias but in each instance it was clear that the person in question was Ellis Wainwright. Another source that came up when searching "Elias Wainwright" was actually a reference to Ellis Wainwright and was simply an error in the soundex due to the similarities in the name.

Based on the information at hand, I have no doubt that Ellis Wainwright was one of the early backers of Henry Lucas and the Maroons. Any references to Elias Wainwright is merely a typographical error or an understandable misreading of the source material.

Edit: While I'm at it, David also mentioned that there may be references to Lucas' UA plan in the press outside of St. Louis in the summer of 1883. So far the earliest references to the plan that I see in the press comes in October 1883. The New York Times has a story on October 25 that they apparently picked up from the Globe. Earlier St. Louis references to Lucas and baseball have to do with the amateur Lucas Nine rather than to the Union club. However, if Lucas was announcing his plans in October or if the story was breaking then, certainly it's safe to assume that Lucas' plan was in development prior to that. If that's the case then it's possible that there may be earlier references to it and I'll continue searching for them.

The Intention Of The New League

"The intention of the new League is to break down this (reserve) rule in a measure," said Mr. Lucas, "by affording players an opportunity of escape from its rigid conditions. We propose to pay first-class men first-class salaries, and if one place can afford to pay a good man more than another, why let him go where he can earn the most money. We don't care to make a wagon-load of wealth at the expense of the players, but are willing to let them share our prosperity."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 13, 1883

The New Club

The new club has formed (in St. Louis) with some $15,000 capital. Henry W. Lucas, a millionaire and prominent business man, is at the head, with Anheuser Busch Brewing Company as second stockholders. Mr. Lucas subscribes $6,000 to the stock. They have outside parties interested, it is rumored. They have secured very central grounds at Twenty-fifth and Biddle streets, about a mile closer to the city than the old grounds...They will enter the new Union League and the papers have been forwarded for that purpose.

-The Cleveland Herald, October 26, 1883

The reference to Anheuser-Busch's involvement in the Maroons is unconfirmed but very interesting given their later involvement in St. Louis baseball. There are other reports that Lucas' main partner in the club was Ellis Wainwright and the conventional wisdom, of course, is that Lucas ran the whole show, both club and league.

The First Hint Of Lucas' Plan

For some time past rumors of a new local base ball organization have been in circulation, but nothing beyond vague intimations of undefined efforts to revive the old Stocks Park as an active ball field came to the surface. That there were efforts in that direction is vouched for by persons who were solicited to interest themselves in the project. That they have been discontinued is vouched for by persons who were solicited to interest themselves in the project. That they have been discontinued is quite probable from the fact that nothing has been heard of them recently. Another movement, and one of recent origin, has, however, assumed a tangible form, and the Globe-Democrat is able to state positively that a new base ball club, with wealthy and liberal backing, is assured, and a plot of ground, 500 by 400 feet, situated on the southeast corner of Jefferson avenue and Dayton street, has been secured as the field of operations. The organization is not yet perfected, and will not be for a few weeks, but another month will see it established on a firm basis, and bidding for first-class base ball talent. Mr. Henry V. Lucas and a number of other young men of means and enterprise will control the new organization.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 23, 1883

The Lucas Nine

The St. Louis Athletics will go out to Normandy this afternoon to play the Lucas nine, and will make a grand effort to get even with the country lads, who a short time ago defeated them...Mr. Henry Lucas has left for the East and Geo. E. Cassilly will captain the Normandy team in his absence.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 9, 1883

The Pony Reds, who have defeated the Grand Avenues, Florissants and the best amateur clubs in the country, will take the Narrow Gauge Road for Lucas Station this afternoon and indulge in some leather hunting with Henry Lucas' pets at Normandy. The game will be an interesting exhibition of the national pastime as well as one of the hottest contests of the season in the amateur arena...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 7, 1883

This afternoon Henry Lucas' champion amateur sluggers played the Blues of (Lebanon, Illinois), and were beaten by a score of 12 to 6. The game was the finest ever played in (Lebanon).

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 16, 1883

I think the point of all of this is to show that Lucas had an interest in baseball prior to the formation of the Maroons and the Union Association. It appears that he not only had put together an amateur club but was also a player on that club.

Some Specifics About The Wealth Of The Lucas Family

There's an interesting article in the January 4, 1880 edition of the Globe-Democrat that provides a list of people who paid taxes on property valued at over $25, 000. Essentially, it's a list of the wealthiest landowners in St. Louis. On the list are numerous names connected to the history of St. Louis baseball. The Cabanne family, the Carrs, the Turners, and Rufus Lackland all had ties to the Union Club while Samuel Davis was the father of Cyclone Club member Jonathan Davis.

What really stands out is the wealth of the Lucas family. Henry Lucas owned property valued at $257, 580, J. B. C. Lucas $290, 810, and Robert Lucas $289, 920. Six members of the family were among the twenty wealthiest landowners in St. Louis. And those numbers don't include property owned outside of the city or any other investments.

While I'm talking about the Lucas family, I might as well point out something that I don't think I've ever mentioned. The family was involved in St. Louis baseball in one form or another across three decades. Robert Lucas was a player for the first nine of the Union Club for several years in the 1860s, J. B. C. Lucas was the president of the Brown Stockings in the 1870s, and Henry Lucas was the president of the Maroons and the founder of the Union Association in the 1880s.

The Partition Of The Lucas Estate

In June, 1875, the Circuit Court appointed, at the suggestion of the heirs and devisees of James H. Lucas, Messrs. George S. Drake, Isaac H. Kelm and Julius Pitzman, Commissioners, to divide the lands belonging to said estate in eight parts or shares, of equal value, and to apportion the same amongst his children, namely: William Lucas, John B. C. Lucas, Nancy L. Johnson, wife of Dr. John B. Johnson, Robert J. Lucas, Elizabeth L. Hager, wife of John S. Hager, of San Francisco, James D. Lucas, Joseph D. Lucas and Henry V. Lucas. This partition includes all the lands belonging to said estate, situated in Iron County, Reynolds County, Ripley County and St. Louis County, of all the unimproved lots in the City of St. Louis, and of some central property not heretofore disposed of by Mr. Lucas.

Several years prior to his death, Mr. Lucas provided for his family by conveying his elegant residence on Lucas Place, two new stores on the west side of Fourth street, between Olive and Locust streets, and three large stores at the northeast corner of Fourth and Locust streets, to his wife, and by conveying most of his improved property to his children in equal parts, but the improved property in the central part of the city included in the partition was not divided by Mr. Lucas in his lifetime on account of the difficulty of making a perfect and equitable division...

The total value of the estate divided in this partition amounts to about $3, 500, 000, according to the estimate of the Commissioners.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 23, 1876

A Bitter August Solari

Up to about a year ago August Solari was the proprietor of the Grand Avenue Park which, under his management, was not an overpowering success, and an association was formed last spring known as the St. Louis Sportsman's Park and Club Association, with Chris Von der Ahe as President. Under the new auspices the place became popular and successful, which fact it appears did not please Mr. Solari, who threw impediments into the way of the club, and resorted to some means of ruffling the feathers of the club at large and Von der Ahe in particular. He caused them trouble about their liquor license and about their shooting privileges, but was usually checkmated. As a final piece of spitework, the clubmen say, he erected a high fence on the grounds in front of Von der Ahe's house, to shut out the view of the park to that gentleman's family, and caused the arrest of Von der Ahe on a charge of making false affidavits on a question of resident tenants in the vicinity of the park. Yesterday the case came up in the Court of Criminal Correction. On a motion to quash, the motion was sustained and charge dismissed, Solari thus scoring another defeat.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 31, 1881

Trouble With The Bookkeeper

Ernest Rother, late book-keeper in the grocery store of Von der Ahe, of the St. Louis Base Ball Club, was arrested in (Columbus, Ohio) to-day on a telegram from the Chief of Police of St. Louis, asking that he be detained on a charge of embezzlement. Rother waived all formalities of a requisition, and left with an officer this evening on his return to St. Louis. He states that he does not know what the special charges can be against him, though there is nothing wrong with his accounts or books, and he can make the matter clear when he arrives. He thinks the arrest was made through the connivance of his enemies.

Rother was on his way to Germany. While in (Columbus) he sent for James Williams, late manager of the St. Louis Club, who visited him at the prison and heard his story of the alleged outrage.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 1, 1884

Ernest Rother, late book-keeper and cashier for Chris Von der Ahe, arrived in the city yesterday morning from Columbus in charge of an officer under charge of embezzlement. The prisoner was placed in the holdover to await further developments, where he was interviewed in reference to the charge by a Globe-Democrat reporter yesterday. According to his statement he had been in Mr. Von der Ahe's employ a little over two years, handling in the mean time about $150,000. The books and accounts of both the grocery and Base Ball Park were kept by him. Sometimes the account overran and sometimes it was short, but Rother says he is positive that it was not out of balance more than ten times during his service. The greatest shortage was $100; he does not remember what the largest surplus was...

The difficulty which induced him to quit Von der Ahe originated in his employer opening a letter addressed to him by a lady friend. When he went away he said he parted on the best of terms with his employer, who promised to keep his situation open for him. The first intimation he had of any trouble was at Columbus, where he was spending a short visit with James Williams. When Williams showed him a telegram from Von der Ahe, accusing him of stealing, he told him he would take the next train back to St. Louis. The train was two hours late, otherwise he would have arrived here without an officer Tuesday night. As it was, he was placed under arrest when he went to get his trunks rechecked, and readily consented to come on without requisition. Said he: "If I am $2,000 short in my accounts, I do not know it."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 2, 1884

An Inadvertent Fireworks Display

About noon yesterday the pipe of the stove in the fireworks house at the Sportsman's Park fell and threw hot embers among the pyrotechnics stored there, setting fire to them. Several small explosions occurred, but none of them were of any consequence. The building and contents were entirely destroyed. The loss on the building was $200 and on the stock $1,500. There is no insurance on either building or stock, both the property of the Sportsman's Park Association. The building was erected on a permit issued by the Commissioner of Public Buildings, calling for the erection of a storehouse. It was obtained by Congressman-elect O'Neil for Mr. Chris Von der Ahe. When it was ascertained that the building was to be used for storing and manufacturing fireworks material, several citizens called upon the Commissioner of Public Buildings and endeavored to induce that official to revoke the permit. No action, however, was taken by the Commissioner.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 31, 1882

In his entry on fireworks in A Game of Inches, Peter Morris notes that Von der Ahe "initiated the use of fireworks at the ballpark..." Morris cites Hetrick's book but checking the reference it says that "Once a week (in 1882), revelers could enjoy dancing to their hearts' content as fireworks burst overhead from a bamboo Japanese cannon." No mention of fireworks at a ballgame.

Prof. Wm. Hand will give a closing display of fireworks at Sportsman's Park to-morrow evening, and a brilliant programme is promised. Amongst the sets are the mammoth battle scene and the base-ball set, with motto. Miss Hand, who is reputed as the only female pyrotechnic expert in America, will fire the pieces.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 5, 1882

This somewhat confirms Hetrick's statement about fireworks at Sportsman's Park but we still have nothing on fireworks at a game. I'm going to try to run this down and see what else I can find. I'll certainly post anything relevant or interesting.

The Wild West Show Comes To Sportsman's Park

Buffalo Bill's Wild West show met with a large and flattering reception at Sportsman's Park yesterday afternoon. This exhibition is certainly one of the most realistic and instructive shows ever seen in any country...The rifle shooting and horsemanship of the handsome Buffalo Bill excites the admiration of all. Sitting Bull, the renowned Sioux Chief, looking unconcerned and stately as a veritable king, was observed of all observers. The Indians in their many colored costumes and war paint, the dashing appearance of the hunters, trappers and cowboys, the many beautiful horses, the hunters' camp, with its tents and backwoods appliances, all pleased and inspired the vast audience, and for the time being gave the impression that it was in reality living amongst the scenes of which the show was only a tableau vivant. Too much can not be said in favor of this grand entertainment. Every man, woman and child in the country should see it, not only as a means of an hour or two's amusement, but as a matter of historical education. To those most skeptical as to the merits of the Wild West, one visit to it will be a revelation and make them warmest friends in its praise. There will be a performance this afternoon and then daily performances during the remainder of the week.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 4, 1885

Two grand attractions for one admission price are offered at the park to-day. Buffalo Bill's Wild West will give its regular performance, including Sitting Bull and his staff of chiefs, and a game of base ball will be played between the St. Louis champion Browns and the Cincinnatis. Game will be called at 2:30 in the afternoon, and at its conclusion the great Wild West show will be given complete.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 11, 1885

I always figured that if I could go back in time and see one game it would be the May 6, 1875 game between the Brown Stockings and Chicago, when St. Louis beat the White Stockings 10-0 and the city went nuts. I believe it's the most significant game in the history of St. Louis baseball. But if I can only go back in time once, how could I pass up the opportunity to see the Four Time Champions (even if at this point they were only the One Time Champions and they were only playing an exhibition) and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Who wouldn't want to see that?

I'm sure somewhere Von der Ahe has been mocked as the guy who brought in the Wild West Show and had horses and buffalo running around on his ball field but this was a brilliant business move. You have a wildly popular, championship baseball club coming off the most successful season in St. Louis baseball history combined with the most successful touring show the nation had ever seen. Off the top of my head, I'd guess that the baseball game/Wild West Show double header drew a pretty good crowd.

Augustus Charles Bernays And Baseball At McKendree College

(Augustus Charles Bernays) spent considerable time in the college gymnasium, and took part in some of the public exhibitions given there. He was fond of outdoor sports, and joined the first base ball club organized at McKendree College. When Bernays received the degree of Bachelor of Arts on June 13, 1872, he lacked four months of being eighteen years old. He was the youngest member of his class and one of the youngest graduates in the history of McKendree College.

-from Augustus Charles Bernays by Thekla Bernays

McKendree College (which is now known as McKendree University) is located in Lebanon, Illinois and is about fifteen or twenty miles east of St. Louis. Established in 1828 as a Methodist seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois.

According to Connie Nisinger, Bernays was one of "the nation's most eminent surgeons of his time...(and was) famous as a contributor to the literature of anatomy and surgery...Dr. Bernays performed the first successful Caesarian section in St. Louis in 1889. He went on to perform the first successful coeliotomy (organ or body cavity surgery) and the first successful gallstone operations in Missouri. Bernays was made Professor of Anatomy in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of St. Louis before the age of 29." He was certainly an interesting guy and his biography has a bunch of entertaining stories about life in the St. Louis area during the antebellum era.

Redmond's Whereabouts Is Unknown

I'm back from my little sabbatical and feeling much refreshed. Hope you didn't miss me too much.

The following is from an article that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal in June of 1895 regarding former major league players:

(John) Peters is connected with the water department in St. Louis.

(Daniel) Morgan is a successful businessman in St. Louis.

(Billy) Redmond's whereabouts is unknown

Billy Redmond was actually dead. Based on Peter Morris' research, we now know that Redmond, who had been working in St. Louis as a bricklayer, died on either April 2 or 3, 1894 and was buried at St. Matthew's Cemetery in St. Louis. His last name, and that of the other family members buried near him, is spelled "Redmon" in the cemetery records and on the tombstones.

Von der Ahe's Plan

Mr. Christ. Von der Ahe's plan for a joint stock company, to be known as the St. Louis Sportsman's Association, has found such favor with the fraternity as to assure its being carried out.  Articles of incorporation will be applied for on Monday or Tuesday, and the work of improving the club grounds on Grand avenue will be proceeded with at once.  Mr. Von der Ae has secured a lease of the Grand Avenue Base Ball Park, as it was in the professional days, the strip that was cut off about three years ago having been again added thereto.  The park will, therefore, be the most commodious in the country and will be admirably adapted to athletic sports of every description.  A cricket field, dept in order throughout the season, a base ball diamond, cinder paths for "sprinters," a hand ball court, bowling alleys and everything of that sort will be laid out and constructed, comfortable accommodations for spectators will be erected, and nothing will be left undone to make the institution a model of its kind.  $2,500 will probably be spent in the work of improvement.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 20, 1881

More then ten years before he built New Sportsman's Park, Von der Ahe was already thinking of a ballpark as something more than a place to play baseball.  As he began his foray into major league baseball, Von der Ahe was thinking in terms of a multi-sport facility that could generate revenue year round and wasn't simply dependent upon a ball club.    He was a visionary businessman who was ahead of his time when it came to using a ball club and ballpark to generate ancillary revenue and he was roundly mocked and attacked for his ideas.  In an age with hotels, restaurants and bars attached to ballparks, not to mention waterfalls in centerfield and hot tubs in the bleachers, it's safe to say that Von der Ahe's vision was been accepted as a conventional business practice.  

Baseball Without License

"St. Louis Sportsman's Park and Club (Christ. Von der Ahe)" was read on the docket of the Second District Police Court yesterday, and after it, under the head of "Alleged Offenses," the words "Base ball, cricket, etc., without license."  Lovers of sport assembled to hear all about it, but they were disappointed, for the case was continued until the 12th, next Wednesday.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 9, 1881

So I guess Von der Ahe didn't bother to get a business license for the operation of Sportsman's Park.  I couldn't find anything else about the case and I'm assuming, given Von der Ahe's political connections, that the entire thing went away.  

Mr. Von Der Ahe Understands But Little About Baseball

Manager Sullivan, of the St. Louis Club, yesterday asked President Von Der Ahe for his release.  On Wednesday, when the Metropolitans were batting hard, the President requested Manager Sullivan to change the pitchers.  The manager refused to do so, saying: "It's no use now.  The Mets have a deciding lead."  After the game, it is said, the President spoke harshly to the manager.  "I have brought this club up to its present standing," said Mr. Sullivan yesterday, "and it is hard, after putting it in a fair way to win the championship, to be treated thus badly.  Mr. Von Der Ahe understands but little about base-ball, and if I had obeyed all of his orders during the season, the club would be nearer the foot than the head in the race."

-New York Times, August 31, 1883

While this account of Sullivan's resignation as Browns' manager is essentially correct, several details have been left out.  About two weeks previous to this, Pat Deasley and Fred Lewis got drunk, assaulted Sullivan, and spent the night in jail.  This story leaked to the press and the Browns had a PR problem on their hands, especially after everybody involved denied the story and were proved to be disingenuous.  The Post-Dispatch started digging and published numerous stories of fights and drunkenness involving Browns' players.  As the Browns were in the process of falling out of first place and losing the pennant, the Post was hammering them about the conduct of their players and stating that a lack of discipline was costing the club a championship.  

Von der Ahe and Sullivan's relationship was already strained after Sullivan refused to support Von der Ahe's fining of Arlie Latham in late July.  After the manager again defied his boss during the New York game and the club again lost, Von der Ahe decided to conduct a surprise curfew check and found most of the players absent from their rooms.  He went to confront Sullivan about the situation and that's when a screaming match broke out and Von der Ahe "spoke harshly" to Sullivan.  

In Before They Were Cardinals, Jon David Cash has the Post's take on Sullivan's resignation:

It is announced from New York that Sullivan has withdrawn from the management of the St. Louis club.  The reasons for the withdrawal are alleged to be dissensions in the club, some accounts of which have already been given by the Post-Dispatch, and the truth of which are pretty well proven to by the final result.  It is also stated that President Von der Ahe took Sullivan to task for not enforcing stricter discipline, and that a stormy scene occurred between the two men.  Sullivan, at any rate, has withdrawn, and his place is filled for the present by Charley Comiskey.

So basically Sullivan is letting the players run wild, the team is losing, and he can't get along with his boss but, in the New York Times, Von der Ahe is the bad guy (based on the testimony of Sullivan).  Of course Von der Ahe shouldn't have been interfering in game decisions and his fining of Latham in late July was uncalled for but Sullivan's real failure was his inability to deal with Von der Ahe.  History has glossed over Sullivan's failures and his resignation as Browns' manager has become part of the Von der Ahe myth.  Von der Ahe is the guy who tried to force his manager to change pitchers in the middle of the game rather than the guy who had problems with a manager who had a championship-caliber club but was letting the pennant slip away because he couldn't maintain discipline.  Sullivan is the hero who resigned with honor rather than a failed manager.  

I think that most of us have had demanding bosses as well as bosses who were erratic in their demands.  As an employee, it's part of your job to deal with that and, to a certain extent, manage your boss.  Sullivan was unable to do this and, if he didn't resign, he probably would have been fired.  One of the strengths of the man who replaced Sullivan, Charles Comiskey, was his ability to manage Von der Ahe.  He established a relationship with his boss that grew over time and Von der Ahe came to trust and respect Comiskey.  A good manager manages people and Sullivan doesn't appear to have been particularly good at that especially in comparison to Comiskey.              

Griswold Back In New York

Glassmaker's Clay-Evens & Howard's

Cheltenham Fire Clay, of Missouri, used for

years in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, &c.  For Sale

by

Merritt W. Griswold

sole agent, 101 Maiden Lane, N.Y.

-Boston Daily Advertiser, August 8, 1863

We know that Griswold was still in St. Louis in August of 1861 when he mustered out of the Home Guards and we know that at some point he moved back east.  However, we don't know exactly when he returned to New York or under what circumstances.  Actually, there's quite a bit about Griswold that we don't know but that's neither here nor there.  The point of all of this is to show that Griswold was in New York by August of 1863 and, having already set up a business, had most likely been in the city for at least a few months.  Therefore, we can state that sometime between August of 1861 and the summer of 1863, Griswold left St. Louis and moved back to New York.  

I had always assumed that Griswold left St. Louis during the war years to escape the chaotic political and military situation and return to a more familiar and normal setting.  And it certainly looks like he did leave St. Louis during the war.  But the more I think about it, the less comfortable I am saying he left because of the war.  Certainly, St. Louis was not an enjoyable place to be during the Civil War.  The city was under martial law and the threat of attack by Confederate forces.  The population was divided and there was a large number of Confederate sympathisers in the city.  And Missouri itself was a battleground, just as divided as St. Louis.  Griswold's experience in St. Louis as a Yankee outsider in a militantly divided, slave-owning city may not have been particularly pleasant.  

But then it dawned on me that New York wasn't exactly a calm oasis during the war years and was probably just as divided as St. Louis.  You had the draft riots and talk of making New York some kind of neutral, free and open city.  New York certainly wasn't a Republican, pro-Union stronghold.  So if Griswold was trying to escape from the chaos of the war, he probably shouldn't have moved back to New York.  

In the end, the question of why Griswold left St. Louis remains unanswered.   

Football And Shinny

The following communication will be devoured with great avidity by our sporting readers, particularly those lovers of the manly game of football, of whom our city boasts so large a number:

Mr. Editor:  On Friday last...arrived in St. Louis, by the Alton packet, Phelim O'Murphy, the world's champion of football...On Saturday he was waited upon by a deputation of St. Louis football players, who invited him to a trial of skill...Measures have been taken to form a football club under the artistic instructions of O'Murphy.  The enthusiasm for this scientific sport is rapidly increasing...

-Daily Missouri Republican, October 25, 1858

Our review of the past week contains interesting meetings for mumble peg, marbles, peg top, shinny, &c.  The weather has been more propitious, the oppressive heat of midsummer having given way to a delightful touch of autumn, making out-door games beautiful and pleasant.

A very interesting match at shinny was played on Tuesday afternoon, at Washington Square, between the Hickory and Chiukapin clubs.  The beautiful weather, together with the noted reputation of the players, brought on the grounds a large number of spectators, among whom we noticed a fair sprinkling of ladies.  The play on both sides was very good indeed...Chiukapin won the match, having scored seventeen "homes" to only thirteen of their opponents.

-Daily Missouri Republican, August 23, 1858 

These references to outdoor sports are noted simply to illustrate the sporting culture that existed in St. Louis during the antebellum era.  The New York game in St. Louis didn't develop in a vacuum.  It's popularity and success can be traced to the fact that it was introduced into a well-developed and healthy sporting culture.