Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York
Contents |
The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York were the first organized baseball club. The Knickerbockers were officially organized in 1845.
[edit] History of the club
Playing an unorganized form of baseball, the club started play in 1842 in Manhattan. In 1845, with the arrival of Alexander Cartwright, the club came up with a set of 20 rules to govern the club, and the first organized baseball club was born. While Alexander Cartwright was instrumental in the formation of the first club, and in the first set of rules, the process followed under the leadership of club president and committe chairman (Committee to Revise the Constitution and By-Laws, which created the 20 rules) Dr. Daniel Lucius Adams.
Finding that Manhattan was not ideally suited for the play of organized baseball, the team took a ferry to Hoboken, New Jersey to practice. While practice under the new rules started in 1845, the first organized game between rivals did not occur until June 19, 1846. On that date the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club faced off against the New York Nine (largely made up of former Knickerbocker Base Ball Club members who did not want to travel to Hoboken to practice) at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. The New York Nine won 23-1 with Alexander Cartwright serving as umpire (with the power to fine players on the spot for swearing).
Of important note: the early game was played by amateurs and the players tended to come from the professional walk of life (like club president and short-stop Dr. Daniel Lucius Adams).
[edit] Photo of the 1859 Knicerkbocker Baseball Club and Excelsior Base Ball Club
[edit] Highlights
- 1842: The club begins unorganized play.
- 1845: After Alexander Cartwright joins the club, it is formally organized.
- 1846: June 19, 1846: first game, Knickerbockers lost to the New York Nine (score 23-1).
- 1849: Dr. Adams creates the position of short-stop, and, for the first time, the Knickerbocker's wore uniforms in 1849. Alexander Cartwright leaves New York area.
- 1854: June: first game to go past 9 innings: Knickerbockers lose to Gothams 21-16 after 16 innings of play.
- 1856: Base ball is named "National game" by the New York Clipper, and baseball is called "the National Pastime" by the New York Mercury.
- 1857: First league formed (National Association of Base Ball Players, includes Knicerbockers and 15 other New York City clubs, playing according to the original Knickerbocker rules plus additions).
- 1860: 62 clubs in the National Association of Base Ball Players (not to be confused with the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players formed in 1871).
- 1861: Civil War begins.
- 1862: Dr. Daniel Lucius Adams resigns as Knickerbockers president.
- 1868: 100 clubs in the National Association of Base Ball Players.
