1870s? Score Sheet
 

Hi-
I purchased the score sheet scanned below back in November,
but I am having great difficulty with my research on it. It is from a game between the Unions and the Stars, and there are plenty of details,
but no date. The Umpire is even recorded as H (I think) Ward of the "Muffins", and the scorer as G. Richards. On the Union side,
the players appear to be

J. Braker
L. Hoipwell?
W? Burrill
J. Wilkinson
F? Smith
W or G? Pitt
R. Pitt
L?

The side with the Stars is much more difficult to read and I am
still working on deciphering a player list. Google searches have
provided no baseball links to any of these names, but I also am
not great at reading old writing which could lead to incorrect
searches.

My biggest questions are in regards to the approximate year
of this game. When did most areas adopt Chadwick's scoring
system? How long was the Outs/Runs method in use?

I assume these are not the famous Union and Stars of
baseball history, but has anyone ever heard of the "Muffins"?
I have heard of the early book but I thought it was odd that
the name was put in quotes on the score sheet. I have read
that it was common practice for players from other teams
to be umpires, so maybe this is another local team name?

Any help folks can provide would be greatly appreciated.
I will try to take a better scan of the Stars side soon.

Thanks in advance,
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com
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"muffins" defined by Chadwick 1868
 

In his GAME OF BASE BALL 1868 on page 42 Chadwick defines muffins as "...title of a class of ball players who are both practically and theoretically unacquainted with the game." He adds that muffins are the lowest grade below first and second nines and amateurs.

Going simply by the style of writing as well as the outs/runs I am thinking pre Civil War.

Tom C

Thanks bgar3! I thought the term had to do with a subpar ball player but was not sure.

Thanks Tom! I would love it if it is indeed pre Civil War. I am hoping it is, but I am not sure if there is a way to prove it.

Thanks,
Alan

Hi-
I am in the process of reading Preston Orem's 1845-1881 baseball book, and it appears that more detailed box scores started appearing in newspapers in about 1867-68. Is this an accurate statement? Any other opinions on the possible age of this score sheet?
Thanks in advance,
Alan

I've collected a few 19th century scorebooks going back as far as the 1860's and if I were to guess I'd put this sheet from the late 1860's. It seems that most "Muffin" teams that I have encountered were from the period shortly after the Civil War. The style of writing seems to fit there as well.

Rob M.

Your "Hoipwell" is actually "Hipwell". The flourish is still part of the H.
The second Pitt may actually be Petty.

Thanks John and Rob! I really appreciate both of your help with this.

Alan