Pre-1870 Baseball Memorabilia

[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...