It Was Too Good To Be True

It has been announced that there will be no charge for admission to the game between the colored clubs at Union Park to-morrow, which is true so far as the gate and free seats are concerned.  For seats in the grand stand, however, a small charge will be made.  It was feared that the public might be mislead by the announcement, hence this correction.

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


Okay, first of all, let's be clear that there will be no charge for the free seats.  Secondly, the reason the public may have been confused about all of this was because the Globe, the day before, stated that admission to the Black Stocking/Athletic game was going to be free.  They specifically stated that there would be no charge for seating in the grand stands. 

But don't think I'm complaining.  The Globe did correct their error, something that modern newspapers usually refuse to do.  And this was back to back issues that featured multiple pieces on the goings on of the Black Stockings.  So I'm rather pleased with that.   

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Posted in: Athletics,Black Baseball,Black Stockings

The Eclipse Answer The Black Stockings

Chas. Brooks, who signs himself "Manager of the Eclipse Base Ball Club, the champion colored club of the United States," writes to the Globe-Democrat to say that if Henry Bridgewater, Manager of the Black Stocking Club, has any business proposition to make to the Eclipse club, "for love or money," it will be promptly accepted.

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


Back to back issues that mention the Black Stockings.  This is more like what I was expecting when I started going through the 1884 season.  And there will be a little more about this tomorrow.   

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Posted in: Black Baseball,Black Stockings,Henry Bridgewater

Von Der Ahe And The St. Louis Amateurs

A meeting of the Board of Directors of Sportsman's Park was held at the grounds last evening, there being present Messrs. Von der Ahe, O'Neill, Nolker and Reid.  In answer to the call for the local amateur clubs desiring to compete for the handsome ebony bat and silver ball offered by the Directors, the following clubs were represented: Pinafore, by H.C. Hoener; Lyons, P.B. Golman; Comptons, N. Corbey; Wedge House, H. Sexton; Paragons, A. McHose; Westerns, Geo. Flood; St. Louis Grays, L.C. Waitt; Carr Place, A.W. Sumner; Enterprise, Wm. Cahill; Prickly Ash, H.E. Hobbs; Griesidicks, Geo. W. Alexander.  These clubs all expressed a desire to enter the competition and the Directors will decide upon those to be admitted very shortly and a schedule will be duly prepared.  No admission will be charged to the games and an effort will be made to develop the amateur talent of the city, Mr. Von der Ahe stating the willingness of the Sportsman's Park directory to stand all expense of advertising and ground appointments.  Another meeting will be held Thursday, September 4, when matters will be put in more definite shape.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 29, 1884


I've posted information about this amateur competition as I've found it and I'm hoping to find out how it all came out but it's rather interesting to see Von der Ahe promoting the amateur game in St. Louis, especially for the stated purpose of developing local talent.  I'm thinking that this has more to do with creating an alternative product to compete with the Maroons but I could be wrong.  Von der Ahe would, in the future, take unique steps to develop talent for the Browns - specifically the failed attempt at a farm team in 1888.   

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Posted in: 1884,Chris Von Der Ahe

A Free-For-All Affair

The colored Black Stockings and the colored Athletics, each claiming to be the champion colored club of the city, will play a deciding game at the Union grounds on Sunday next.  The Union management have tendered the park to the colored troops, and the latter have concluded to make it a free-for-all affair.  There will be no charge either to the grounds or grand stand.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 29, 1884


Holy cow - two references to black baseball clubs in one issue of the Globe.  Be still my heart.  And what about free admission to a championship game?  Can't imagine anything like that these days.   

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Posted in: 1884,Athletics,Black Baseball,Black Stockings

For All The Money

Harry Bridgewater, manager of the Black Stockings Base Ball Club, offers to play his nine against the Eclipse (colored) Base Ball Club, who say they are the champions, etc., for all the money they can raise, for gate receipts or for fun.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 29, 1884


I don't think I've ever seen Henry Bridgewater referred to as Harry but I'll take any reference to that Black Stockings that I can get.   

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Posted in: Black Baseball,Black Stockings,Henry Bridgewater

A New Illinois Corporation

The Belleville Base Ball Association, of Belleville; capital $250.  Incorporators - G.C. Wagner, H.C. Henderson, Geo. Thomas, W.H. Smyler, Jr., Al Davison, C.P. Fluschbein and A.G. Fleischbein.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 29, 1884


I guess I'm a bit surprised that the Belleville club officially incorporated.  I don't know if I should be but I am. 

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Posted in: Belliville

The 1884 Maroons: Was There Anything Dunlap Couldn't Do?

Two thousand people came together at Exposition Park today to witness the third contest between the Pittsburg and St. Louis Union clubs.  The weather was fine and the game full of interesting and exciting incidents.  The visitors played a strong game from start to finish, while the Price team spurted along quite gamely.  At one time it looked as if the home nine was to be badly whipped.  In the eighth inning, after Gleason had had a chance to retire the side, some of the hardest hitting seen about here for some time saved their bacon, and they piled up 6 unearned runs tieing the score.  Lucas' men, in the ninth, earned 2 runs and the home club only succeeded in getting 1, losing the game by one run.  Daily, the one-handed pitcher, set the audience wild by sending the ball down into deep middle field, making three bases on the hit.  In the ninth inning, after one man of the home team was out, Dunlap, the captain of the visitors, sent Werden into right garden and occupied the pitcher's box himself, or it was the general opinion of many spectators the nine from St. Louis would have lost the game, as the Pittsburg boys seemed to have "caught on" to Werden's delivery in great shape.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 28, 1884


Fred Dunlap pitched two and two-thirds innings in his major league career, with an ERA of 6.75 and and ERA+ of 73.

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Posted in: 1884,Fred Dunlap,Maroons