Solari's Obituary

St. Louis, May 16.-Augustus Solari, the father of base ball in St. Louis, died Thursday morning. He was well known to base ball players throughout the country. In the early sixties Solari leased a cornfield in the edge of town and cleared the land and built the first base ball park. It was here that he brought out the once famous Umpires [sic] and Unions. The teams continued, together with several minor clubs, for a number of years, when they were disbanded by internal dissensions. There was no professional ball here then until 1876, although Solari continued to organize clubs and play games. In the latter year he interested Charles H. Turner, Frank Fowle and Joe Carn and they organized the St. Louis Club, but it was driven out by the famous Red Stockings. Solari was in with them, and after the failure of the team he organized the Grand Avenues, which played in his park on 1879, when Chris Von der Ahe, Al Spink, W.W. Judy and J.F. Farrell organized the Sportsman's Park and club. They leased his grounds and he was made the groundkeeper, a position which he has since held. Although in the last few years he was too old to attend to his active duties, he was always present at the games. He was famous among ball players for his grounds, he having a gift of providing good playing grounds, even after a heavy morning rain.

-Sporting Life, May 21, 1898

I've been looking for Solari's obit for some time and have to thank Ed Achorn for passing this along to me. While the errors in this piece are numerous, it does provide a date of death for Solari. Someone had given me some information on Solari and provide a DOD of May 11, 1898 but the obit places his death on May 12th.

So lets count the errors in Solari's obit:

1. Solari was not the father of baseball in St. Louis and could not be considered such by any reasonable measure.

2. He did not build the first ball park in St. Louis. He did not even build the first enclosed ballpark in St. Louis.

3. He did not "bring out" the Empire and Union Clubs but rather the two clubs engaged Solari to build and maintain the park.

4. Professional baseball was being played in St. Louis prior to 1876.

5. Solari did not have a prominent role in the organization of the Brown Stockings.

6. The Brown Stockings were not driven out by the Red Stockings.

7. Solari organized the Grand Avenues in 1875.

8. Solari gave up his lease to the grounds in October of 1880 and the Sportsman's Park and Club Association was organized to assume the lease. They did not lease the grounds from Solari, who never owned the property upon which the ballpark was built.

Other than that, it's a good obituary.

The1876 Brown Stockings: Clapp's Hands Finally Give Out

The Bostons to-day reversed the defeat suffered by them at the hands of the St. Louis Club yesterday. Manning was substituted for McBride, Josephs taking right field, in case of need. St. Louis started well, but wretched errors by Battin and Bradley helped the Bostons in playing a good up-hill game. Clapp, after holding out for the last six games with a very sore hand, gave up in despair in the seventh inning, McGeary taking his place. The Bostons played a fine game in the field, and were luck in taking advantage of the errors of their opponents.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 16, 1876

It was a nice run for Clapp but these things happen. Especially after the backup catcher dies.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Worst Professional Game On Record

First Meeting This Season Of The Boston And St. Louis Clubs-A Score In Which The Errors Are The Principal Feature.

Charity must be broad indeed to cover the sins of the first game of the season between the Boston and St. Louis clubs. Never was there a professional game played which was so full of disgusting muffs, disgraceful fumbles and loose and slovenly playing. The Bostons played the first three innings without an error, but in the very opening of the fourth Leonard muffed a ball thrown him by Merrill, and from that point onward it was a race to see who could make the most mistakes. Leonard, having the more opportunities, easily led the score in spite of frantic efforts on the part of Schafer and George Wright. Leonard had no less than nine errors in six innings, and the rest succeeding in running the total up to 25. Most of this was while the St. Louis nine were posting McBride out to right field-on the fourth inning for six first bases and four runs; on the fifth, four bases and five runs; and in the sixth for eight bases and seven runs. Although there was a two-base hit in each inning, only four of these runs were earned. The Bostons made very little headway against Bradley, getting one run in the fourth inning on errors of Blong and Clapp, and in the fifth on passed balls, two in the seventh and two in the ninth on errors of Clapp, Mack and McGeary.

This sad exhibition was witnessed by about 800 people, only half of whom waited to see the whole of it.

-Boston Daily Advertiser, June 15, 1876

I couldn't find the box score or account of this game in the Globe so we have to go with the Boston Daily Advertiser. It all works out because we get great phrases like "disgusting muffs, disgraceful fumbles and loose and slovenly playing." Good stuff.

And if you're keeping track at home, there were forty total errors in this game.

Armstrong's Saloon

A shooting scrape occurred at Reub. Armstrong's saloon, on Christy avenue, between Eighth and Ninth streets, last evening about 7 o'clock. The place was crowded with negroes at the time, all excited over the base ball game between the Chicago and St. Louis colored teams, and the feeling was of a partisan character. A row finally occurred, which resulted in one of the Chicago players, named Benjamin Beatty, drawing a pistol and firing at Armstrong, who was not hit, however, by the bullet. Beatty was arrested and locked up at the Third District Police Station.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 16, 1876

Setting aside the Globe's proclivity to portray African-Americans (and African-American baseball players) as violent, this is a rather interesting story. It tells us quite a bit about the culture of black baseball in St. Louis. Here we find fans and players socializing at Armstrong's saloon after a game. You often hear stories about the 20th century Negro Leagues where fans and players are socializing at the same bars, restaurants, hotels, etc. It appears that culture was already established by 1876, where the social and economic limitations imposed on African-Americans creates an atmosphere where the ballplayers are more a part of and more immersed in the society in which they live than are white ballplayers. 19th century baseball, for white men, could be a way to raise himself above his social and economic situation or to improve his class standing to a certain extent. It does not appear, generally speaking, that this was true of the black experience with 19th century baseball.

The Boss Colored Team Of Base Ballists

There is one fact that can not be disputed, Chicago journals to the contrary notwithstanding, and that is that St. Louis is possessed of the boss colored team of base ballists, who yesterday captured a victory from Chicago's famous nine of the same color. The coming of the Uniques, of the Garden City, has been eagerly anticipated by the Blue Stockings, of this city, for some time, and yesterday the long looked for struggle between these two clubs took place, and St. Louis forced Chicago to pull down her colors. Although the day was damp and disagreeable, there were several hundred people present, including many of the Caucasian race, who were anxious to witness the play between these clubs. The game was marked by many brilliant plays, and resulted in a victory for St. Louis by a score of 11 to 9. The same clubs play again Thursday afternoon, and, should the day be favorable, a large crowd will doubtless be attracted to this novel game.

Another colored club of this city is looming up as a candidate for honorable distinction in the National pastime, and yesterday met a white organization called the Lyons. The colored boys call themselves the Green Sox. The game was closely contested, the white club winning by a score of eleven to ten, in six innings, when darkness setting in put a stop to further play. The game was umpired by James Pollack (colored) who gave general satisfaction.

The Sunsets and Uniques are to face each other this afternoon, at grand Avenue Park.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 14, 1876

This may be the best article I've come across about black baseball in St. Louis during this era. In general, you have two periods when the Globe is covering black baseball to any extent: the mid-1870s and the mid-1880s. Both periods coincide with a peak in baseball popularity in St. Louis and an expansion in baseball coverage in local newspapers.

But even at the peak of its coverage of black baseball, the Globe usually only devoted a sentance or two to a game and would often fail to note the final score. Here we get a mention of three games and two scores. It's like hitting the mother load. Even better, we get an interesting reference to James Pollack, an African-American who umpired the Blue Stockings/Unique game. I'm not sure who he is but I'll have to take a look around and see if I can find anything on him. Also, the Green Sox is a club that I've never heard of before and we can add them to our list of 19th century African-American clubs.

A Note On The Browns' Uniform In 1882

The firm of Casey & Lesson are hard at work making the uniforms for the St. Louis Browns and the Standards. The Browns are having two suits made. The regular is of white flannel, while the other is of bluish gray. The latter will be worn on practice and damp days, while the white uniform will be worn in fair weather and in regular games. The Standards are having their uniform made of white flannel. Theirs will be ready this week, while the Browns will be finished by the first of next week. The Standards will wear their new uniforms a week from to-day, while the Browns will don theirs two weeks from to-day, when they play their opening game with the Standards.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 6, 1882

The above picture is of the 1884 Browns and I remember posting the picture before and mentioning how bad an idea it was to wear dark uniforms in St. Louis during the summer. Based on the above account, it's likely that the uniforms were bluish gray and not brown or black like I assumed. I still wouldn't want to wear them in a game in St. Louis on a hot August day.

Merry Christmas

The Cincinnati Meeting

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

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

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

Defining Sporadic

Well, I said posting would be sporadic but I guess what I really meant was that I wasn't going to get back to the 1876 Brown Stockings until after Christmas. Until then I'm just posting some random stuff that I find interesting and that doesn't take much time to put together. I am getting a bit of research done today and should begin to post new Brown Stocking stuff by Sunday or Monday.

I know you're just on pins and needles wondering what happened to the boys after their disastrous Hartford trip but I don't want this to turn into all Brown Stockings, all the time.

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

Maybe I'm getting a bit cynical in my old age but I'm going to guess the problem here was that somebody forgot to pay somebody off. And since the problem is never mentioned again, I'm thinking at some point somebody did indeed get paid.

Spam, Comments, Etc.

I've been having some problems with spam in the comments and have gotten a bit tired of dealing with it lately. Nothing major but it's a pain in the rear end to continuously remove spam from the comment section on old posts. But rather than go to straight comment moderation where I have to approve every comment before it's posted, I'm setting it so that any comments on posts older than two weeks have to be approved before they get posted. Shouldn't really be a problem for anyone not spamming my blog. And if you are finding an old post that you want to comment on, I'll certainly approve it. The only thing not getting approved is the spam. Hopefully this will take care of the problem.

Also, I'm going to be posting rather sporadically over the next week or so. I've been a bit under the weather lately and haven't gotten much research done. Between that and the holidays, there's just not going to be much content going up. I'll try and pull it together after Christmas and get back on track.

Comiskey's Jackass

Charley Comiskey, the Browns' captain, brought a handsome (?) little jackass from the North with him. The other night the ass managed to get loose and was raising the mischief around the neighborhood of Sportsman's Park. Some one called to Charley and told him that his ass had broken his halter and was out in the street. Charley started out in search of his animal and thought that he saw him in a fence corner back of the park and made a lunge for him, but, alas, the dark object that the Browns' captain took for his mule was a large hole in the ground. This, I believe, is the first case on record where a man didn't know his mule from a hole in the ground. Comiskey was a little bruised in the fall, but he has fully recovered.

-Sporting Life, March 9, 1887

I don't know about you but I thought that was funny.

Curt Welch On Hand Ball

I was talking to Curt Welch, the Browns' centre fielder, on the preliminary practice usually taken y clubs in the early spring. "I am a great believer in good, honest athletic exercise in the gymnasium," he remarked, "but my hobby is hand ball. I believe you can get more solid benefit out of hand ball than in any other mode of exercise. To play the game as it should be played will develop all the muscles that are called into play on the diamond. It sharpens a man's appetite for physical culture, stimulates his muscular powers, and keeps him hustling to excel in his work. It brightens up the eye, is a damper on sluggishness, and calls into play a fellow's best energies. It's no game for a lazy man, but on the contrary has physically bettered many and many a player who might otherwise be inclined to inactivity. Just give me plenty of systematic hand ball exercise and I'll be in good condition to play ball for all that's in me all summer."

If Curt's field work is any criterion of his love of hand ball, its general adoption by the fraternity in general could find no better endorsement.

-Sporting Life, March 9, 1887

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Championship Situation

The past week has been an unprecedentedly unfortunate one for St. Louis, and has materially altered the relative standing of several of the clubs. Hartford, by her three brilliant victories over St. Louis, has emphatically settled the question as to which club is entitled to second place for the time being. These victories also bring the dark blues a notch nearer to the Chicagos for the pennant, as the Whites have played two more games than the Hartfords. The race between these formidable rivals will be watched with increased interest in the future. St. Louis still retains third position, but the Louisvilles are gradually crawling up, and from present indications bid fair to pass the Brown Stockings. The Kentuckians have been playing a magnificent game lately. The Mutuals have advanced a peg or two, and the Red-legged champions have, for the present, to content themselves with sixth place.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 11, 1876

The 1876 Brown Stockings: This Is A Mistake

A great many people might suppose, from the week's base ball record, that the Brown Stockings did not know how to play against the Hartfords and Athletics "and sich," but this is a mistake. The St. Louis boys have gate money in their eye, and want to draw the big crowds at the return matches to be played in St. Louis, where they pocket two-thirds instead of one-third of the receipts. If the Eastern clubs come here with the reputation of having been beaten by our home club, they would excite comparatively little interest, whereas the whole town may be confidently relied on to go and see the champions who have gotten away with the Brown Stockings. This is our theory of the thing, but we are sorry to say that it does not affect the bets, which are a total loss.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 11, 1876

The 1876 Brown Stockings: Rain Ends The Muffing

For the third successive time, the Hartfords have scored a victory over the St. Louis Club-the attendance being no better than at the other games. The Hartfords played in fine form, batting Bradley free and hard, and fielding finely, the St. Louis doing exactly the reverse. In the first inning, Burdock fouled out to Battin; Remsen hit to McGeary, and retired; Higham out on a bound to Clapp; Cuthbert and McGeary out on flies to York, and Clapp to first on a safe hit. He stole second, where he was left, Pike striking out. In the second inning Ferguson and Carey went out on

Fouls To Clapp,

and Bond on a fly to Battin. Remsen caught Battin's high drive. Blong and Bradley made their bases by safe hits to right field. Dehlman popped up a high fly which Carey allowed to drop, and then threw to third, and Ferguson completed the double play by a good throw to Burdock. In the third inning York opened by a hot liner to Dehlman, which he handsomely stopped, and by McGeary's aid retired the striker. Mills out on a fly to second. Allison took first on a safe hit to right, where he was left by Burdock's hit to Battin. Dehlman

Hit Hard

to third, but was thrown out by Ferguson. Mack hit hard over York's head, but was latter made a beautiful catch. Cuthy out on a foul fly to Ferguson. In the fourth inning Remsen got first on a fair foul. Higham corked one over Mack's head, and Pike's slow handling gave Remsen third. Ferguson hit to McGeary, and Mack threw the striker out after McGeary, and Mack threw the striker out after McGeary had muffed the hit, Remsen scoring. Carey out on a fly to Pike. Bond hit safe and brought Higham home. York hit to Battin and forced Bond at second. Clapp out on a foul fly to York, McGeary on a foul bound to Ferguson, and Pike the same to Higham.

In The Fifth Inning,

York and Mills earned their bases. The latter, with Allison, were then doubled up on Allison's hit to Mack. Burdock flied out to Cuthbert. Battin, Blong and Bradley popped up easy fly catches, and retired. The sixth innings was fruitful of runs for the Hartford. Cuthbert dropped a hard line drive of Higham's. The latter was caught between first and second, but Dehlman gave him a life by dropping an easy fly, which was accepted. Carey and Bond then hit safely, Higham scoring. York hit to center,

Carey Coming Home.

Pike threw the ball home, and Clapp caught Bond between second and third, but Battin dropped the throw and the runner was safe. Mills hit high to right, and as Blong dropped the ball two more runs were made; Mack finally throwing Allison out at first, and ending the muffing. In the seventh inning Burdock went out on a fly to Mack; Remsen was safe on a high fly between center and left, and got all the way to third on a passed ball, Burdock yelling like a bull as the ball was pitched, causing Clapp to miss it entirely; Higham out at first; Remsen scoring; Ferguson struck out. During the last half of the inning

Rain Fell

so that play had to be stopped, and the game was ultimately called, the score going back to the end of the sixth inning. The Hartfords won by their superior batting and fielding, the display in both of these respects made by the St. Louis nine being lamentable, all their errors being costly.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 11, 1876

The Brown Stockings were three games out of first place going into their series with Hartford. They had gone 6-2 on their Eastern road trip to that point. Then they got swept by the Dark Blues while Chicago, also on an Eastern trip, won three in a row. The Brown Stockings woke up on June 11 to find themselves six games out of first.

And the thing is that whatever hopes they had of winning the pennant were over. They were six games out and would finish six games out. They never got any closer than five games out the rest of the season. The Brown Stockings championship hopes were dashed in Hartford and never recovered. They'd play good ball the rest of the way but they were never in contention after this.

More High School Baseball In 1876

The St. Louis High School nine yesterday defeated the Bignall Pumps by a score of 16 to 6. The heavy batting of the schoolboys, led by Cranden, Truesdal and Lemoine, won the game.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 11, 1876

This is confirmation that the students at Central High School had organized a baseball club. I had speculated about this a few days ago and am glad that for once I happen to be correct. Again, I should add that this is not high school baseball as it's presently organized but rather a club made up specifically of students from Central High School. However, if one were to trace the history of high school baseball in St. Louis, I believe that it would be proper to begin with the clubs from Central and Sumner.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: Another Tough Loss To Hartford

Even a smaller audience than on Tuesday greeted the second appearance of the St. Louis Club to-day, not more than 300 people being present when the game was called, at 3:30 o'clock. In the first inning, Cuthy went out on a foul bound, but Clapp got to first on a safe hit to right field, and was put out at second on a steal. McGeary went out on a fly to center. Burdock retired on a foul, and Remsen and Higham at first by the assistance of McGeary and Battin. In the second inning, Pike went out at first, Battin on a foul bound and Blong on a fly to Remsen. Ferguson went out on a foul bound, but Carey reached first on a safe hit to right. Bond reached first on

Battin's Muff

of a ball hit to Mack. York went out on strikes, and Mills on a fly to McGeary. In the third inning Bradley, Dehlman and Mack went out on flies to Ferguson, York and Blong. Harbidge and Remsen went out at first, and Burdock on a fly to Pike. In the fourth inning Cuthy was put out on strikes, Clapp on a fly to York, and McGeary at first on a hit to short. Higham reached second on a square muff of his high fly, hit to Cuthbert, and he reached third on Ferguson's safe hit to right, and home on McGeary's error and Clapp's throw;

Ferguson Scoring

on Bond's out at first. Carey out by battin to Dehlman, and York on a fly to McGeary. In the fifth inning Pike went out, and Battin, also, on fly balls to Ferguson and Mills. Blong reached first on a safe hit, but Bradley went out on a foul fly to Harbidge. After Mills and Harbidge had been retired on fly catches by Pike and Battin, Burdock hit safe for one bag, took second on a passed ball, and scored on Remsen's safe hit to center, the latter being thrown out while trying to steal second. In the sixth inning, Dehlman opened with a fair-foul, and

Stole Second,

reaching third on Mack's hit to second. On Clapp's hit and out at first Dehlman scored, and Cuthy reaching first on Higham's drop, and scoring by stealing second and third, and home on McGeary's hard hit to second, but was caught between that base and third and run out by Ferguson. Higham opened with a safe hit, but was thrown out at second. Ferguson earned first and reached third on Blong's error in dropping Carey's high fly. Ferguson scored while Bond was being thrown out at first, and York ended the inning by a

Grounder To M'Geary.

In the seventh inning Pike and Battin were thrown out at first, and Blong retired on a foul to Allison, who had taken Harbidge's place, the latter having had his hand badly split while playing up under the bat. Mills out at first, Allison on a fly to Pike, and Burdock on a fine running foul-bound catch by Cuthbert. In the eighth inning Bradley, Dehlman and Mack went out on weak hits. Remsen reached first on a safe hit. Higham hit to Battin and McGeary dropped the throw to make a double a double play, Remsen scoring while Ferguson was being thrown out at first. Carey and Bond were then retired

At The Same Place

before Higham could get home. In the ninth inning Cuthbert and Clapp opened with good hits, McGeary helping each along one base on a block hit, but was thrown out himself. Pike brought Cuthbert home on a safe hit to left field, Battin out on a foul fly to Ferguson. Pike ran down to second, and Clapp was neatly caught too far off third by Allison. York reached third on a beauty to center, and scored on Mills' two baser to left, the next three strikers going out at first base.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 9, 1876

A couple of thoughts:

-This was not the lead baseball story of the day in the Globe. The top story was the Stocks 10-9 victory over the Reds. The Reds had been down 10-4 after five innings and staged a furious comeback, scoring one in the seventh and four in the ninth. With two outs in the final inning, Pud Galvin dropped a fly ball to put the tying run on third. "The excitement was painful." The game ended on an outstanding play by John Gleason, who snagged a hot-shot at third off the bat of Billy Redmon.

-There were a rather interesting play in the sixth. First, Cuthbert reached on an error, stole second and third, and then scored on a grounder to second. That is how you manufacture a run right there. I saw Whitey Herzog's Cardinals score in the same manner many a time. The only way that play could be any better is if the batter reaches on an infield hit. The other interesting part of the play was, if I'm reading it correctly, that McGeary, whose grounder scored Cuthbert, was tagged out between second and third. The play must have went 4-2, runner safe at home, McGeary aggressively taking second on the infielder's choice, and then getting tagged out by Ferguson when either McGeary lost his mind and tried to take third or the ball was fumbled at the plate and McGeary thought he could get one more base. That's a crazy couple of at bats.

-When I originally read the account of the play, I thought to myself that I haven't noticed many guys getting tagged out on the base paths in these games. We can say that it's a small sample and all that but in all the games that I've looked at in this era, I really can't remember too many guys getting tagged out between bases. Don't know why that is. You would think that with the aggressive base running of the era, you'd see that play more but you really don't. Think of how many guys you see in a modern game caught between the bases and tagged out. I bet Albert Pujols, who's a very aggressive base runner, got caught between bases at least six times last year. These guys are certainly running into a lot of outs but it appears to me that when they're taking the extra base, for the most part, they get it. In this era, the base runners were forcing the defense to make plays that it doesn't appear that they were capable of making.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: A Few Words About Poor Tom Miller

Thomas Miller, the late catcher of the St. Louis Club, died in Philadelphia, Pa., his birthplace, on May 29, of disease of the kidneys, to the great regret of his comrades and of the members of both the St. Louis and Easton clubs, with all of whom he was a favorite. Miller began play in 1865, in Philadelphia, and during his career as a ball-player he was connected with the Jackson, Logan, Expert, Olympic and Marion clubs of Philadelphia, in the latter of which he was catcher in 1871. In 1873-74 he caught for the Easton Club, and in 1875 he became catcher of the St. Louis nine. This year, owing to ill-health, he was superseded by Clapp, but was, nevertheless, in the St. Louis team. He was a very effective player in the position, and, moreover, had a reliable record. The funeral took place Wednesday afternoon, and was numerously attended, the members of the St. Louis Club accompanying the body of the deceased to its final resting-place. A very handsome floral wreath-the gift of his associates-was placed on the burial casket.

At a meeting of the St. Louis Club, held at the Bingham House, Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 1876, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

Whereas, The Ruler of the Universe has seen fit to remove from our midst our late associate and fellow-member, Thomas P. Miller; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we bear testimony to the manliness, honesty and courtesy that ever stamped his intercourse with us, and that it is with genuine sorrow we record his early demise.

Resolved, That we express to the grief-stricken relatives of the deceased our deep and earnest assurance of sympathy with them in their hour of affliction, and that we, his fellow-members, are admonished:

"We, too, shall come to the river side,

One by one;

We are nearer its brink each eventide,

One by one."

Resolved, That we, his late associates, wear a badge of mourning for thirty days as a token of respect for his memory; that the secretary forward a copy of these resolutions to the family of the deceased.

Geo. W. Bradley, Joseph B. Battin,

Jno. E. Clapp, Edgar E. Cuthbert,

H.J. Dehlman, Lipman Pike,

M.H. McGeary, Joseph W. Blong,

Dennis McGee, S. Mason Graffen

C. McManus, Secretary

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 8, 1876 (from The New York Clipper)

Is anybody else intrigued by the idea of a Brown Stocking team meeting on May 30 with McGeary suspended and Orrick Bishop in town about to undermine the authority of Mase Graffen? That meeting immediately makes my top 50 list of historical events I would like to have been at. Actually, I think I'd rather be in a pub with Cuthbert after the meeting, having a few drinks and asking a few questions.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: Meanwhile, Back In St. Louis...

Honors were pretty evenly divided yesterday in the base ball contests between the representative league clubs of the East and West, Chicago and Louisville winning, and St. Louis and Cincinnati losing. By all odds the most important of the four contests was that between the Browns of St. Louis and the Dark Blues of Hartford. To these organizations the task has fallen of depriving the Chicago White Stockings of the championship, and as each of these clubs had won the same number of games the meeting was looked forward to with more than usual interest. Hundreds of people assembled in the vicinity of the Globe-Democrat office where the game by innings was bulletined, and runners were busily engaged in carrying the figures to saloon-keepers and others who displayed them as though they had paid for them in order to attract custom. The first inning and the fourth were hailed with shouts of joy by the friends of the absent ones, but the others were silently received and at the end of the game the disappointed spectators retired in decency and in order.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 7, 1876