Sunday Baseball

[tachyonbb]

Like many states Nebraska had a set of blue laws which outlawed Sunday baseball. Some towns like Omaha and Columbus ignored the law while towns like Lincoln and Nebraska City vigorously enforced the state law.

In 1913 the legislature left it up to local authorities to determine if Sunday baseball could be played. While most towns allowed Sunday ball York Nebraska still had a ban on Sunday ball in 1929.

Bill Kelly of Nebraska Public Radio just finished a story on Sunday baseball in Nebraska. I helped with the story. It was first broadcast this morning and the story/radio broadcast can be heard here.


http://www.netnebraska.org/article/n...e-battleground

[slidekellyslide]

Thanks Bruce....Lincoln played their Sunday ball out at Capital Beach. I have an advertising card with a shot of baseball being played on the front, but I suspect it is a photo of Antelope Park and not the ball field out at Capital Beach.

[tachyonbb]

I know that in 1907 the Lincoln team was arrested for playing on Sunday. Ducky Holmes and the players were each fined $5.00. I know that in 1907 games at Capitol (Capital?) Beach were played in an open field with no grandstands.

By 1911 they moved the chairs from Antelope park to Capitol Beach for the games on Sunday. It is amazing to me that just moving a couple of miles was enough to get away from the law.

I also know that they moved some games south to Cortland NE. They would load up the teams and fans on a train, go to Cortland, play the game and return. The sheriff followed them one Sunday and arrested the team and some of the fans.

Hastings kept Sunday baseball against the law through the 1930's.

Pennsylvania repealed the ban on Sunday ball in 1933.

[nebboy]

lov se-in NEB basball heritage!