Pre-1870 Baseball Memorabilia
 

Leon's recent acquisition of a baseball ambrotype got me thinking about how rare pre-Civil War baseball, or should I say base ball, memorabilia is. We're talking 1861 or earlier. Let's see what you've got. Amended to encompass pre-1870.

1859 advertising pages for Mayhew and Baker, Ballplayer's Pocket Companion, contained in Pycroft's, Cricket Field. These pages are exact facsimiles of the actual ones. It may take me a couple posts. My edition of the actual Ballplayer's Pocket Companion is 1861, but was George Wright's copy. Maybe not pre Civil War, but I will try to post it also. Great topic, as usual Gary. Sorry missing a photo.

Page 2
 

Missing photo from above, I hope.

Circa 1850s / 1860s belted ball...while they did co-exist for a time, this style was one that pre-dated the lemon peel ball.

For a peek at our of our 19th C. holding, please visit our website...

http://dugouttreasures.com/product.cfm?sID=4

Jon

George Wright's copy of the 1861 Ballplayer's Pocket Companion. Sorry, don't know how to straighten them.

This ought to be a great thread. I don't know how long it will last as im not sure how much pre (civil) war material still exists, but I'm looking forward to it!

Thank you Leon.

Great ball and great book. Museum quality.
I know this stuff is rare, but I thought we might get a few more

1850s/ 1860s belt used by both baseball players and firemen of the era. Belts like these were in fashion for both of these closely aligned groups in the mid 19th C. (see the image of the 1860 Bklyn Excelsiors) . This one just happens to be from NY (per mfg. info which is the same mfg. of the Baraboo BBC belt in the HoF ) and reflects the name "Excelsiors". While no definitive claim can be made that it was specifically used for baseball, such a claim cannot specifically be refuted either.

Gary, I was hoping for more also. In the interest of keeping it going I am including a stereoview that has been described in articles and books as being from 1858, depicting the only known image of the Massachusett's game in action. Unfortunately, my research places this as about 1863, and I do not dispute that it is probably the Massachusett's game, but I have no way of knowing if others exist.

Hey guys, great stuff. I love this thread also. I am not so sure about this bat, maybe late 1860's. I thought someone might be able to pinpoint it for me. It is 38 1/2" long, straight taper with a small round knob, no mfg label, barrel end is 2 3/8" dia. The handle is painted from the knob up about 15" on the handle. I am not sure what kind of wood but it is a beautiful grain pattern.

Love the stereoview.

Here is a tiger maple bat I have that is similar to yours, Bill. The knobs are different. I'm not sure of the date. Thanks, Jonathan

I don't know anything about the bats, but they are beautiful works of art.

An (the aforementioned) Ambrotype to add to the fun...

http://luckeycards.com/ppicture1860ambro1.jpg

Love it, Leon.

Really great items guys! I will post these 2 that could possibly fit the specified time period.

Here is my belt style ball. Notice the intricate red stitching. I always wondered what this was made from

I always thought these were cool. 1861 token commemorating the third anniversary of the Pioneer Base ball Club of Springfield Ma. I picked it up last night.

Not exactly post Civil War. Certainly during Civil War however. Soldier letter to home with six lines of text regarding playing base ball in camp.

"We have base ball once in a while and since commencing this letter I have been out and played a game so you will excuse my writing for I am all heat up".

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...pst9h3fqn3.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2lp1l3iv.jpg

Tom C

Glad this thread is continuing, very nice stuff.
Kevin, it is possible that red stitching is from a cricket ball that was taken apart to switch to a baseball. If that were the case, it would be a pretty neat example of the move from cricket to baseball. It just has that center stitch look to me.

Just me thinkin' here, but if we expand this wonderful thread to include 1860s baseball items (post Civil War, but nothing past 1869), it might really bring to light some great stuff...what do you think??

Great stuff everyone. Unfortunately I've got nothing. If I found something from Kansas it would be a holy grail item for sure. Keep it coming guys.

It is Gary's idea, but I could support a pre 1870 thread.

Let's go for it, pre-1870. One more from 1860.

Gary...like this thread, that Like Oak Polka is simply wonderful! One of the things I like most about it is the depiction of the period baseball bats. They appear to be wrapped handles similar to these three c. 1860s bats that we're fortunate to have in our collection...

Interesting example Kevin. They would repurpose leather from many sources to make balls - shoes, satchels, etc. Often you do see the stitching or holes from the prior use.

1866 Base Ball Dance Invitation
 

Really a cool thread!

This Victorian Era 1866 Base Ball Dance Invitation is a favorite of mine and originated from the collection another net54 board member.

1865

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...0/IMG_2191.jpg

Deacon Muller Figure
 

Made in 1868 is the oldest piece I own

Lon Kinch - Columbia BBC - Bordentown, NJ - Catcher - c. 1866

Rob M

Attachment 277933

I had a couple of these a while back, only one now, and misplaced so I can't do a better scan. Anyway, a letterhead from the company that came up with the modern baseball. A bit hard to see but the printed date is 186_

Steve B
http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...pictureid=7077

Did you originally have this one Steve??

I guess this should count in the pre-Civil War category, an 1859 Unions of Morrisiana v. Excelsiors trophy ball. For those unfamiliar with the Unions, they played in what later became The Bronx, about a mile from the current Yankee Stadium.

Nice ball, Jay, and nice presentation with the box and flag motiff.

Here is one that I don't know if I've ever shown. It is an 1864 trophy ball commemorating the first Silver Ball Championship in Boston. The Tri-Mountains defeated the Osceolas from Maine 53-18. I've included a page from an article written in 1905 that shows the ball in the lower right.

Those trophy balls are terrific. Glad the thread is continuing.

Agreed....+1

I am so happy with this thread I decided to unlock this 1869/1870 cdv of Cal McVey (thank you Mark Fimoff for confirming the Id). This is one of only 2 individual Cincinnati Red Stockings in uniform that I have ever seen, although I am sure there must be more somewhere. (Requests to see more on this site have not yet produced results). The photographer is Broadhurst from Philadelphia. I will post the other later.

Now that's one I've never seen! Great cdv.

1867 scorebook.

Rob M

Attachment 277993

Rob-Accushnett must have been really good. They played without a Left Fielder and still won the game.

... they put up 23 runs in the sixth inning alone. Other team must have cried "Uncle" at that point or else it got dark cuz they stopped it after six complete.

Another interesting side note to this scorebook is the "Alaska" 2nd baseman "Delano" from Fairhaven. That would be future president Franklin Delano Roosevelt's grandfather Warren Delano II or one of Warren's sons. Most all of these teams were composed of the wealthy "who's who" of their hometowns and Delano was one of the wealthiest from Fairhaven.

Rob M

Attachment 277996

Keeping with trophy or presentation pieces, here are two of ours...

1. A trophy ball from 1867
2. Presentation bat / silver match safe / Presentation Cup to the "Base Ball Champions of Henry, MO."

www.dugouttreasures.com

What an incredible thread!

Early (earliest??) individual Harry Wright in baseball uniform
 

Harry Wright cdv (see also McVey above) by Broadhurst of Philadelphia, 1869/1870 (no goatee may make it late 1869 or 1870).
1 of 2 individual Red Stockings photos in uniform I have ever seen. I am not saying it is unique, I am just not aware of any others. (It is earlier than the recent Boston cdv sold by Heritage and described as the earliest in uniform I think). It appeared in a 1996 VCBC article, but I am not sure if anywhere else.
The second photo shows Harry with a Graig Kreindler study. Thanks to Graig I am able to see Harry every day rather than special occasions.

Wow Bruce! Amazing.

No, Mine were all blank.

If I had an actual letter, I'd probably still have it. That's really neat.
It's also interesting. Of the three I got two were short, the third extra long, about legal size. From the look of the letter they'd trim the large page to fit the letter they wrote.

Steve B

Recent Pick up
 

This Trophy Ball is mentioned in the book "Eyes on the Sporting Scene from 1870 - 1930" . On about page 41, it states "The Liberty Club played on the grounds east of Oak Hill cemetery and were the champion club of 1867. A silver ball the size of a baseball was awarded by Mr. Spencer Wood of New City, New York., following the tournament. There was a club called the Yankee base ball club in Nyack in 1866, a name that would take on its own meaning in the future. By spring of 1868 the best of the Old Liberty Base Ball Club was absorbed into the Tappan Zee Base Ball Club of Nyack".

As you can see, the name on the ball is Spencer Wood and is without question, the "Silver Ball" that is referenced in the book. I need to do more research on the ball (any help would be appreciated) but this is a great start.

Bob you are like a magnet to all the great stuff! Absolutely superb! Great ball.

WOW! These artifacts from the the dawning of the game we love really take you back and spur the imagination. Makes you wish you could have witnessed some of it.

Bob, that silver ball is gorgeous! Congratulations on the pick up and thank you for showing us.

Bob,incredible piece. Where did that originate. Did you get that at auction or privately

Amazing thread! Here are a range of pre 1870's items. I've shown most of these before so nothing new.

1856 Porter's Spirit of the Times - Early rules along with diagram of the field
1857 Porter's Spirit of the Times - Gothams vs Eagles
1860's belt buckle
1860's 1/4 plate tintype with glass cover
1860's CDV of 2 players from Dunkirk, NY
1868 CDV of Xenia BBC

Great trophy ball. Hope it didn't come from Nash...:cool:

I don't think these are pre-1870 but are early and neat looking.....

http://luckeycards.com/pphotox21870s80s.jpg

Really great stuff everyone. I want to keep the thread and I apologize in advance if these were posted before, but they fit the thread.
First is a stereoview of a game at Amherst. My research puts it circa 1865. Amherst has it in its collection as an example of the Massachusetts game, but later research by Sabr has it as regular base ball.
Sorry, my photos seem to always be upside down.

Another pre 1870 stereoview, generic game in front of schoolhouse, that reminds me of a lesser version of a photo Leon has posted in the past

1868 Chadwick related handbill/broadside previously written up by Carlton

Stereoview Central Park

Wow some of those committee names on the Newark Base Ball Club Hop photo from Gary Passamonte appear to be descended from some of the wealthiest landowners in southern New York and Northern New Jersey. F. Pell from the Pell family landed in NY in the 1600's and owned much of the Bronx and southern Westchester County which now includes Pelham and Pelham Manor, New Rochelle, Eastchester part of Yonkers etc. The Van Houtens, Cranes and Hoppers owned much of the land encompassing the Meadowlands area in Northern, NJ up through Hackensack and surroundings towns. Most date back to original land grants from the English. Amazing where these folks popped up in those days...

About the only thing that fits my budget...
 

When it comes to pre-1870 Base Ball, the only things that my budget allows are newspaper articles and woodcuts. Still, I love reading these early accounts of games in the prose of the day.

Here are a few from Newark, NJ in September 1855. I grew up right outside of Newark (South Orange, NJ). The name of the newspaper is the The Newark Daily Advertiser


September 5, 1855
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7tmqyuqh.jpg


September 6, 1855. this one references a game at Hoboken between the Gothams and the Empires
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrvhycwjr.jpg


September 13, 1855. A match between the married mend and the single men
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psooplezpz.jpg


September 20, 1855. Seems that there was a regular weekly game between the Married and Single men of the Newark Club
Also announces the formation of the "Empire Club" as only the 5th organized club in the city.
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszrxmebl3.jpg

Great info, Chalupacollects. Thanks.

other than a few early baseballs
 

this is the only thing I have pre-1870 related to America's pastime. Most of my stuff is 1880-1890......... The teams represented major publishers of the day. The "gold" base ball is very neat.

Here's one of my old favorites. It is almost a piece of folk art.

That is really neat.

Visited with Bruce's (Bgar3) and his collection this weekend.

Stunning

Thanks Jim, it was fun to meet someone from here. Your stories were priceless, thank you for a nice afternoon.

1866 Harper's Weekly Woodcut

Not sure what year this tintype is from but probably close to 1870?

Just picked this up today at, of all places, the East Coast Nat'l show at White Plains, NY! I thought I might give my wife a few hours to herself so I took all three kids along with me and, to my great surprise, scored this super lemon peel ball!

The ball is full size for a lemon peel and has just the slightest of separation at one of the seams. The lacing is very small and very tight which, to me at least, reflects some real skill in construction.

Jon
www.dugouttreasures.com

I am guessing all that follow this thread know about this auction

https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/g...com_hp_row2_p2

Nice ball, Jonathan.

1887 Trophy
 

This is one pf my favorite trophies, notice the ring bats and the Pill Box hat as well as the baseballs on the base. I have owned this for about a year but forgot that it was made in the 1880's

Great trophy!

Great looking ball Jonathan and trophy Bob! Can't ever remember seeing a trophy design such as that. This is a recent Heritage win. They described it as the earliest known California baseball scene. 1860s. Measures approximately 4.5 in by 8 in.

Nice outdoor shot, Michael. Here's another one. Hoboken is written on the reverse.

1860s New Marlboro Match Base Ball
 

The first picture is a diagram of a baseball field with four names written on the bottom corner. The second picture is the "Rules and Regulations of the New Marlboro Match Base Ball Co." Notice the same four names on the bottom corner. The third picture is a signature of whom I am certain is responsible for drawing the diagram and the rules. The fancy signature "William Lewis Camp" is in an autograph album from the South Berkshire Institute dated 1863. The signatures of all four of the names written above are in this album which ties the whole lot to the South Berkshire Institute. The fourth picture is of the Institute located in New Marlboro, Mass. (I have shown this many times)

I am glad you reposted it, I had never seen it, a super group. The Ballplayer's Pocket Companion has a whole section on the Massachusetts Game. Let me know if you want me to send pictures.
I also posted above, a stereoview of the Massachusetts game from about 1862.
Love the piece and this whole thread

Hey Shawn, I remember bidding on that diagram and how cool it was but I don't remember the rules page being with it or the autograph page. Were they all together or did you manage to piece it together? Really, really cool.

Rob M

Thanks Guys,

Bgar3, I believe I have seen the Pocket Companion section on the Massachusetts Game - I do appreciate the offer to send pictures and nice Stereoview by the way!

Ramram, shortly after winning the diagram - the lady contacted me and said she had something else that she thought should go with it and wanted to know if I was interested. I told her yes (sight unseen) I would like to purchase anything she had associated with the diagram. Once the package arrived the additional item turned out to be the Rules and Regulations!

A month or two later I noticed she had listed the Autograph booklet and I purchased it well.

A side note: Richard Hershberger wrote an extensive article about these items in the Spring 2010 issue of John Thorns Base Ball -A Journal of the Early Game-

The Autograph Album belonged to Carrington Phelps but I believe the "whole lot" was drawn / created by W. L. Camp of whom in my opinion was probably the "class artist". Several of the little flourishes / handwriting etc. all match W. L. Camps Autograph page...

Carrington Phelps went on to Yale and was quite a famous Rower accomplishing many firsts...

There are 46 signatures in the album that belonged to Carrington Phelps. I have included a small list and am interested if there are any names of importance?

W. L. Camp - Winsted, CT.
Robert G. Fitch - Sheffield, Mass
Charles J Townsend - Monterey, Mass
Reginald Canning - Stockbridge, Mass
George N. Hayward - CT.
David Ives Bushnell - Sheffield, Mass
A. B. Church - Wassaic, NY.
William Taft - Sheffield, Mass
John R Huggins - Sheffield, Mass
Charles Stoddard - CT.
Henry T Powell - New Marlboro, Mass
Mason B. Smith - Mill River, Mass
George C. Walter - Southfield, Mass
Frank Warner - Mill River, Mass
H. W. Rising - New Marlboro, Mass
John P. Cook - Winsted, CT
Edward G. Day - Barrington, Mass
William H Clark - Sheffield, Mass
W. H. Chapin - Barrington, Mass
John B. Walker - New Marlboro, Mass