Pre-1870 Baseball Memorabilia

[GaryPassamonte]

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.

[bgar3]

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.

[bgar3]

Missing photo from above, I hope.

[jpop43]

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

[bgar3]

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

[arcadekrazy]

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!

[bgar3]

Thank you Leon.

[GaryPassamonte]

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

[jpop43]

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.

[bgar3]

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.

[Bill Rayburn]

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.

[GaryPassamonte]

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

[bgar3]

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

[Leon]

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

[GaryPassamonte]

Love it, Leon.

[ruth-gehrig]

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

[khkco4bls]

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

[GaryPassamonte]

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.

[btcarfagno]

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".





Tom C

[bgar3]

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.

[jpop43]

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??

[ksfarmboy]

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.

[bgar3]

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

[GaryPassamonte]

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

[jpop43]

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...

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by khkco4bls

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

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.

[Scott Garner]

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.

[mjkm90]

1865

[bobfreedman]

Made in 1868 is the oldest piece I own

[ramram]

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

Rob M

Baseball - c. 1866 CDV - Lon Kinch (1).jpg

[steve B]

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

[ruth-gehrig]

Did you originally have this one Steve??

[oldjudge]

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.

[GaryPassamonte]

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.

[bgar3]

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

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by bgar3

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

Agreed....+1

[bgar3]

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.

[GaryPassamonte]

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

[ramram]

1867 scorebook.

Rob M

(4).jpg

[oldjudge]

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

[ramram]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

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.

[ramram]

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

Delano page.jpg

[jpop43]

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

[Scott Garner]

What an incredible thread!

[bgar3]

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.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by bgar3

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.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

Did you originally have this one Steve??

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

[bobfreedman]

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.

[ruth-gehrig]

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

[YankeeFan]

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.