Let's see some early or historic scorecards

[GaryPassamonte]

I searched Retrosheet for all Mutual and Athletic games for 1871. What's interesting is that I didn't find a game with the 17-3 score that's on the scorecard. I also checked Mutual/Athletics scores for the 1872-1876 seasons and found no 17-3 scores. The scorecard must be for an exhibition game that is not listed in current records.

[68Hawk]

Thanks Gary, super interesting and just went to look at same statistics....

Here's a blow up of the top of the card, not a whole lot better I'm afraid.
Would be happy to make enlargements of the rest of the card if you have ongoing interest to sleuth.

[David Atkatz]

The date is Oct. 20th, 1871.

[GaryPassamonte]

If the game was played on 10/20, it must have been an exhibition.
David- Did you find a record of this game?

[68Hawk]

Agree it looks like a three letter abbreviation, and can't think of another that would have similar pen strokes...

Being so very soon after the game played on the 18th Oct between the two sides, could there have been a disagreement of some sort over the result of that meeting and so a follow up was scheduled to settle matters?
But as the result also so heavily favored the Athletics the original score was simply unchanged...

Seems odd to have an exhibition directly after the end of the season, with the amount of baseball already watched by the supporters of both teams....?

[GaryPassamonte]

I sure having a game on 10/20 had to do with money. Both teams were there and maybe the weather was good. Why not pad the pocket going into the cold weather.

[68Hawk]

They played the 18th Oct game in Philly....
It looks to me like the writing suggests the 'Union Grounds' along the top before the date, which is back in NY.
Would they have traveled up for an exhibition game directly after the last game of the year, especially considering the Athletics would have been celebrating their efforts to win the first year of the National Association of Professional Baseball players league....?

[insidethewrapper]

Being a Detroit Wolverine Collector, this is my favorite Scorecard from the 1887 "World Series". This is from Game 5 @ Brooklyn on October 14, 1887.

[ramram]

Originally Posted by 68Hawk

They played the 18th Oct game in Philly....
It looks to me like the writing suggests the 'Union Grounds' along the top before the date, which is back in NY.
Would they have traveled up for an exhibition game directly after the last game of the year, especially considering the Athletics would have been celebrating their efforts to win the first year of the National Association of Professional Baseball players league....?

Even though there was an established league at this point, these NA teams still played a large number of non-league games against all-comers. It wouldn’t surprise me at all that they made a home and away game at the end of the year even though the second game wasn’t a league game.

Great scorecards everyone!

Rob M