sign in sign up
<<
Home , 1945 World Series, Albany Senators, Alexander Cartwright, Asahi (baseball team), Atlantic Association, Baseball in Greece

! I

I I NEWS CLIPPINGS I I I I I I I I I I I I I BASE-BALL I FIRST SAME PLAYED IN ELYSIAN FIELDS. I HDBOKEN, N. JT JUNE ^9f }R4$.* I DERIVED FROM .

I Baseball had its antecedents In a,ball throw- Ing game In ancient where a statue was ereoted to Aristonious for his proficiency in the game. The English , I were the first to invent a ball game in which runs were scored and the winner decided by the larger number of runs. might have been the national sport in the if Gen, had not Invented the game of I baseball. In spite of the above statement it is*said that I Cartwright was the Johnny Appleseed of baseball, During the Winter of 1845-1846 he drew up the first known set of rules, as we know baseball today. On June 19, 1846, at I Hoboken, he staged (and played in) a game between the Knicker- bockers and the New Y-ork team. It was the first. nine- game. It was the first game with organized sides of nine men each. It was the first game to have a . It was the I first time that baseball was played on a square with 90-feet between bases. Cartwright did all those things. I In 1842 the Knickerbocker Baseball Club was the first of its kind to organize in New Xbrk, For three years, the Knickerbockers played among themselves, but by 1845 they I had developed a club team and were ready to meet all comers. In 1846 the New %jrk Club was organized and the same year they challenged the Knickerbockers to a championship game to I be played in Hoboken. Thus the first World ©ame to Hbboken. teams met in Hoboken, and, much to the. surprise of the small I crowd of enthusiasts, the newly organized team defeated the Knickerbockers £3 to 1 in four . Under the rules of the game at that time, the team first getting Si runs was I declared winner. This rivalry opened the way for more teams, and th© sport thrived. Within a decade, Hoboken beoam© known as the I national seat of baseball. The best teams of the country played in or visited Hoboken, 1 I I -2- BASE-BALL I FIRST GAME PLAYED IN SLYBIAN FIELDS. I HQBOKEN. N. J. JUNE 1^j * I DESCRIBES EARLY GAME.

I National AaBOelation,of Baseball Qlube waa formed In 1858, "but, according to aport writers, gambling and drink demoralized the league until the existence of I baseball was threatened. New life waa given the game when the was organized In 1875 and later the 1 * The early history of "baseball finds its back- ground in old Hoboken. ?he town's popularity as a play- I ground was increased by the advent of baseball. It brought throngs across the river. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper of August, 1865, reports a game in Hoboken between the Atlantic Club of and the "Mutual Olub of New Xork. The article reports. "Never was there such a vast assemblage of people I gathered together on any similar occasion, and mver has there been known In the annala of our national sports such a closely oontested game of baseball." the article told how the teams, gathered in Hoboken and the.grounds were cleared I of spectators as well as possible so that the game could get under way. I "After some splendid"play," the report continues, "which lasted for an hour and a half, a heavy rainstorm put a stop to the sport. Five innings had been played and th© I score stood Atlantic3 13, Mutuals 12.M Besides teams from surrounding cities and towns playing in Hoboken, th© favored grounds along the I were used also by college teams, and for many years the oharapionship games of the Eastern colleges were played in Hoboken, In Hoboken's baseball history, one of the outstand- ing names is that if Gil Hatfield, Gil was a Hoboken boy who I made good in the big leagues. Old residents relate how Gil grew up on the Hoboken diamonds and at on© time threw a base- ball farther than any other player of his day. It is said I that Hatfield10 record stood unbroken for many years. I I i

FIRST QAMT5 PLAYED TN ELYBIAW FIELDS

I IfOBOKBN, N. Jr

JUNE %9f I DESCRIBES EARLY GAJvIS. I § Encroaching Industry has taken from Hoboken the baseball fields whore many of the famous players of former days got their start, but encroaching industry oan never take from the oity the memories and stories of Hoboken when m it was the baseball capital of the w>rld. I I I I I I I I I S'la n

SiT£ OFI- by Bob Considine. "You may think that Abner Doubleday invented baseball, and may point to the hamlet of Cooperstown, N. Y. and to the Baseball Hall of Fame for proof. But here () in this verdant neck of the U*S, there is no doubt that the true in- ventor was Alexander joy HOBOKEN GETS MARKER FOR SITE OF Cartwrlght. During the winter FIRST BASEBALL MATCH of 1845-46 he drew up the The campaign of the Hoboken Chamber of first known set of rules as Commerce to secure recognition for the Mile- we know baseball to-day. The Square City from the Historic first nine-inning game was Sites Commission charged with erecting suit- staged and played between able markers at points worthy of being com- Knickerbockers and memorated, has finally succeeded. team and played in the Although the great American game was "in- Fields." vented" in 1839 at Cooperstown, N. Y., it was not until seven years later that a match game between two organized teams was played, this taking place on the Elysian Fields, later "the Savannah dock grounds," and now the site of the hew General Foods plant. A large metal marker, similar to those already erected in many other places of his- toric interest throughout the State, was set in place yesterday. The inscription leads: ''On June 19, 1846, the first match game of baseball was played here on the Elysian Fields between the Knickerbockers and the .New Yorkers. It is generally conceded that until this time the game was not seriously re- garded." This is the first marker to be erected in Hoboken by the commission. But it shouldn't remain the only one. MATCH FOR NATIONAL TITLE—This is a scene of a game at Elysian Fields, Hoboken, back in the last century, as the Atlantic Club, of Brooklyn, beat the Mutual Club, of New York, 13 to 12, for the baseball championship of the United States. The crowd, which was described in the account of the game as "the most vast assemblage of people ever gathered together on any similar occasion in the annals of our national sports," overflowed the field. Close scrutiny of the print reveals many fans looking over the fence while others watch with interest from roofs of dwellings in the neighborhood. The American National Game of Baseball "It is said that the Dutch had game. He provided for a diamond game ended when one team 50 cents was charged each of the various games which might.be the shaped field with nine players on reached 21 runs. , 1,500 spectators. It was at ap- antecedents'of our present base- each side. '•-.•"'.' "No other games are recorded for proximately the. same, time that ball. They played with a'hair- "It was not however, until 1845 for five years by the end of which the Red Stockings es- stuffed ball in a game in which that the first team was organized period the Knickers had adopted tablished the precedent of paying there were batters and throwers. —the Knickerbockers of New York. as uniforms blue trousers, white their players. * " . •;'..• ; There was no: limit to. the num- Thex were unable to find an op- shirts and straw hats. They were, "This particular print shows the ber of players ' on the. team and posing team until 1846 when on challenged by the Washington grand match for the championship a base runner had to be with June 19 they -played the New Club of Yorkville in 1851 and won at the Elysian Fields, Hobokeni a thrown ball to be out. In 1939 Yorks in Hoboken. The stake was the game 21 to 11 in eight innings. New Jersey. It is the earliest base- Abrier Doubleday of Cooperstown, a dinner for all and was won by '•The first record of charged ad- ball print known and said by some New York, drew up the rules the New Yorks by 23 to 1 in the missions was in 1869, when, for to be the picture of the ffrst game" which are nearest to our present fourth inning. At this date the the purpose of preparing a field played (1846)." (Reprint) : I

THE CRICKET MATCH OP THE NEW YORK AND ST. GEORGE'S CLUB. TUB city of Vew York possesses but t*o cricket organizations, the New York I Club ani the St. Goorge's Clu\ the former mwUy young men, bora oa the soil, and the latter, as.their nime purports, are priacipilly English. Their I drat game of thesaason was pUyed on the 8ih and 9tU of this manth, at the I I I t

I THE WICKET—CRICKET .MATCH. I THE CRICKETEli.

I St. George's grounds, near the Red House, Harlem. Oar artist was promptly on the ground, aai has admirably sketched the various scenes of tie exciting sport. There wan a full attendance of the main*>ers of the respective clubs, and interested spectators. Tlie grouads werd in beautiful order, and the day charming. The St. George had the tirat iuaingi, and scored sixty-oae. At the close of the play the New York Club bad scored 125, with two ulayers at

1 I I

JUNE 19,1846, the earliest recorded Above: Brooklyn and Philadelphia teams playing at game of the first organized baseball Hobokcn, N. J., in 1859, on what was known as the Elysian Field, as shown in a contemporary drawing in Harper's WARD B. SNYDER team,- the Knickerbockers of New Weekly. The first recorded game, referred to at left, was UHADQUAliTEUS FOR . York, was played at Hoboken, N. J. played on this field. When Knickerbockers lost their mid- Baseball got its start long before this, town diamond, they located a new one by taking Base Ball Goods. but it was played by pickup teams the Hoboken ferry. It became home field of many teams. .Fancy But Ball Cups, SO par I dozen. Samples Uy mail, poatag* of various numbers, without regular paid, 60c. fields or set rules, until 1845. .Then Fancy Web Belts, $4 por dozen. Sampled by mail, postage |>ald, i1«. , who organ- Fiu« SliirU, nllh SUieM and ized the .Knickerbockers, designed tuillal Ulter, l-'.M lo f 3,24 «ncb. I Best Assorted Itcgulutioa Ba3o the "diamond" and secured adoption Sail Ban, Si50 per dozou. t)f regular rules. To the authors of Best Professional lied or Walts Dead Ballc seal by mail, poiuga the new book, Big League Baseball paid, on receipt o( $1,50 O.ICIL (Avon), Cartwright is the man Practice Dead Balls, (1 eaota. most deserving of the title of father BIB Ball Rule] Tor 1476, by mail, postpaid, 10c. each. of the sport. Members of the Priia Goods, Shoot, Stock* Knickerbockers, the first club, were lng«, Ba««i, etc. all men of Social Register status in Do not order your unifornu bs> I New York. Their historic game on fort sending for my NovrCatalogus, containing Una colored illustra.* June 19-, 1846, was played with a lions of cverj'lliiuj iu tho Baa« group called the Ne^ York Nine for Ball lino. - ^ AM* THE NEW STYLES JPOH 18T«, a side bet of a dinner. (They lost, AT LOW glUCE 21 to 1.) A number of cities had learns by 1861, but rapid growth This ad appeared in a New York began with the Civil War. Youths paper in 1876. The cap had been •who became acquainted with it. in introduced several years before by the soldier camps spread it throughout first professional team, the Cincin- the country, and in 1872 it was nati Red Stockings, but, as is evi- dent, was not yet in universal use. hailed as die national game. Mark In early days umpires down [see Twain explained baseball was "the picture at top]. They were unpopu- very symbol, the outward and visible' lar from the start. This cartoon E expression of the drive and push and [left] of 1884, showing in armor, had the caption, "The base- -tush and struggle of the raging, ball umpire of the future if the' teeming, booming, 19th Century/' present state of things continues.'*.. I #j> addressing questions on bUtor? lo Mr. Kinnatra, pieswo cnoloie «tampea, MNlre&ea cnTtlop*. Text an< *rc«ent».Moa lfht. 1951. Klac fuwa Syndicate, Us. Clip the daily instalments of this pictorial history of America; you'll want a complete scrapbook of them. I (.Listen to "Your America Day-by-Day in Pictures" on the air. Tune in Skitch Henderson. WNBC_(dial 660), 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. daily1) ' I I I I I

I 1 Across the River to Jersey: '<• I , During the "roaring forties" of the last century, Hoboken ' :,, was the "playground of New York." Cricket had long'been ' i played on the St. George Cricket Field in the northwestern I part of the town. Other spots became popular., and the Elysian < Fields in the northern section along the riverfront attracted the < Knickerbockers as a grand place to "exercise"—perhaps be- i Cause they could eat right there at McCarthy's Hotel, for I banqueting was one of the favorite pastimes of these early amateurs. At any rate, the "Knicks" paid out their thirteen . cents apiece several times a week for the roundtrip fare on the Stevens Barclay Ferry. I Before long the one-and-only Knickerbockers received a Challenge for a match from another set of gentlemen who called themselves the "New York Nine" and who, although unor- ganized, had been playing together for some time—as their I total of 23 runs in four innings makes-cruelly apparent, (Under the rules of the day the game ended when one side acquired i 21 runs.) The stake arranged was a banquet to be paid for by I the losers. The date of the epochal event was set for June 19, I ; 1846 and, as fashion would dictate, the Elysian Fields was chosen as the background. { According to an account left by President Curry of the i Knickerbockers some of his clubmates had advance qualms 1 ( about the results of the game, but these faint-hearted' ones were laughed into silence and told there was no possibility 1 of the "Knicks" losing. ; Apparently the New York Nine was regarded as so un- 1 worthy an opponent that very few of the Knickerbockers took I ( the trouble to practise before the game—probably the first ex- ample of overconfidence in the annals of American sport.* i June 19 was fair but extremely hot. The New York Nine's pitcher was a well-known.cricket bowler, and while only a I ' straight-arm delivery was allowed he served up a swift ball and • could as long as he wanted to a batter because no balls ! were called. The ball was rubber-centered, weighed about six I ounces, and was ten inches in circumference. The catcher was called the "behind." A goodly number of friends gathered • at the Elysian Fields. Mr. Cartwright umpired the game. I At You Pleased: , Suns were called aces; especially appropriate in the case of the "Knicks" lone tally made by Birney. Murphy and Case of the New York Nine each crossed the slab of Hoboken slate ( used for a plate four times in four innings for averages I of 1000. Despite the rude shock of a 23 tb 1 defeat, the gastronomic Knickerbockers were able to stand their opponents • big feast at McCarthy's Hotel, afitt return to New York that I : night...... «£» .... / I I AS HOBOKEN OBSERVED BASEBALL CENTENNIAL I I IV I

i •; 3y FliAXK X. ftOOXEY I'- They were all present raid accounted lor. Yes, 0^'i^S& Above, scene at r&view- I every one! ; ^:S:;>i§Vv ing stand; left, Baseball '-> longer earthbound, they pa-1 • ... unseen before the eyes oi! M':-'~^iSi ^zar "Happy" Chandler; iiier^ mortals; tut they were there,] nevertheless—those departed greats ^£Wti right, George Burns.and I of the game, who heeded the call oi i&SfPMli: Gracie Allen; below, the supreme umpire and had the hits they made in life weighed W:pfKKi float of old'Elysian Fields. against the errors. j In countless numbers they assem-| bled for Hoboken's Centennial of I 3a.scb.ili and, while the oldsters in ".he audience quite understandably grasped the solemnity oi" their pres- ence, we'll wager that mauy of the MV.all fry who scampered underfoot I :~er.sed :'. -• deeper significance oi ths celebr.u.oii too. The roil call was complete. .Kone wanted to be accused oi absenteeism .i'ar this was the spore which -had 1 g'.ven them so much; to which they had contributed so much to assure its acceptance as the national p is- time. I ' ' While John Q. Public, his brother :iiid his sisters trod to and fro ove/j the hallowed ground oi wha; was; once the famed Eiysian Fields, these j others hovered above within earshot [• v.r.d lingered Just • ion;; enough to«. 1 witness the ceremonies at the sitc-l oi organized baseball's first match' game. Had those- • hundreds oi persons who gathered around the state I marker at 11th and Hudson streets been blessed with vision strong I enough to see across the River Styx I they would have caught a glimpse of ' those illustrious personalities of old. I In the foreground were Aimer \ Soublcday, who fathered the game, and Alexander Joy Cartvright, who ' formed iiie first team, arranged the initial match game between his I Knickerbocker Club and the New Yirk Nine, and drafted the original rules. ' Outlined ciim!y in the background, TOO, were Mike Kelly. Jim O'Rourke, I , , Christy Mati'cwson, Johnny Clarkson, i ,"Buck" Ewir.g, George and Harry Wrisht, Judge Lnnciis, and Bill I A.. ...^ii there were Ciiarlies Com- •y, "Iron Man" McGinuity, Roger • _'-V0Ai-.-.hiin, Gil Haiiield, Cornelius 3:ilicuddy, John Montgomery I :d, Dan Erouthers, and Ban Ev i the sports writing fraternity TO •presenlcci for somewhere up .•;:.s ••?(;.-." ' liaclwick, the first, I "'•• 'r' • • • '••" the sport, whoj THE NEW YORK SUN> - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, THE BEST FIFTY CURRIER & IVES PRINTS—NO. 12

, ; Courtesy of the Old Print Shop. "The American National Game of Baseball. Grand Match for the Championship at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, N. J., published by Cur- rier & Ives in 1862. This it the earliest and most important baseball print known and is exceedingly scarce. Its record price at auc. tion was $1,000 in the James tale in 1928. It is a curious fact noted by print collectors that very few old prints depict any phase of sporting life in America except the turf. 356 FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER. | AUGUST 26, 1865.

\

BASS BALL MATCH TOE Tine CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC CL/OB OF BBOOKLYN AND TB£ MUTUAL CLUB OF NEW XOB2, A3! HOBOEEN, AUGUST 3—-EEE MUTUALS " CATCHING OUT THE . ' ' , ' - ' ATItANTlOS ON A *' FOUTJ BALL." • . —^*""~ i . BASE-BALL MATCH FOR THE match and the field clear—aB well as it was possible to clear it—the contest commenced, the Atlantics being the CHAMPIONSHIP. first to go to the bat • . THE Elysian Reids, at Hoboken, N. J., were After some splendid play, which lasted one hour and crowded on the 3d inst., to witness the grand contest a half, a hear; rainstorm put a stop to the sport. Five for the Championship of the United StateB, between the innings having been played according to the rules of —-i—oiao ~b.~±d8t Tori aiirtoe'Atlantic Club of the National Association, the game was decided in 1.-.^ Brooklyn. Never before was there such a vast assem- of the Atlantics. The score stood at the close—Atlantic blage of people gathered together on any similar occa- 13; Mutuals, 12. ' ") sion, and never hae there been known in the annals of our liational sports, such a closely contested game of base-bun, as that which took place on Thursday. At a quarter to i P. M., all being in readiness for the I I I

I JERSEY OBSERVER, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 29, 1937.' I Pride of Hoboken SanHIot Baseball in 1903 r I I I I I I I I I I I During the very year that the Jerseys won their only pennant (1903) the Hoboken Baseball Club was active at the St. George ! Cricket Grounds. The above photo shows the members of that team and many of them became, prominent in the sports world. 1 Front row, seated from left to right are, Billy Eecht, Jack Cussick and Dude O'Connor; second row, -Emil Reinnacher, Fred Daab, I ! Jack Daab and Dave Driscoll, who later became affiliated with the Jersey's; rear, standing, Mike Mulhns, Pop Dietrich, Jack i Merrity (the same who announces the wrestling and boxing matches at local clubs), Pete Lam.ar and Mattie McPhihps. i I I I I

\ The Jersey Observer reproduced •' * picture of Phil Daab's old Hobo- ' kens who were practically supreme I an the world of semi-pro baseball 1 35 years ago. The caption over tho ' picture was "Pride of Hoboken ; Sandlot Baseball in 1903." ; The young man who wrote Uiat • caption should have talked with Addic Langer or somebody who i remembers those days. Imagine 1 the beautiful sward of the old St ' George Cricket grounds being i called a sandlot. Imagine Dave 1 Driscoll, Pete Lamar, Reinaeher, "Dude" McCormick, who later was I , a star big league , ', being called sandlotters. Those old Hobokens played Mc- Grav/s Giants and practically all , the big league teams in those days.

^ 3o~

eball Club was active at the St. George . fa^ame prominent in the sports world. ccMl row, Emil Reinnacher, Fred Daab, ! ? -x r • 'i »t • T .•• • di^S, Mike Mullins, Pop Dietrich, Jack ), Pete Lam.ar and Mattie McPhilips. I THE CIVIC LEADERS COOPERATE WITH THE COL- LEGE AUTHORI- TIES FOR PURER AIR AND CLEARER SKIES: OFFICIALS Tsi Hudson County in a Conference With Faculty Members of the Smoke Abate- ment Research Bu- I reau of Stevens In- stitute of Technology on Methods to Dimin- ish the Smoke Nui- I sance. Left to Right, Seated, Are: Colonel Elliott H. Whitlock, William G. Christy, John F. I O'Neill, Hudson County Supervisor; Dr. Harvey N. Davis, President of Stevens Institute, and Frank I Hague, Mayor of Jersey City, I (Furniss.) I I I Jail That Was baseball, Flayed by Jersey Juniors of Hoboken, 43 Years Ago

• Wonder,how many baseball fans remember the Jersey Juniors of Hoboken who wielded the willow forty-three Bycars ago? This was a great aggregation, as old-time followers of the game, will realize it is stated that they defeated •the famous Cuban Giants, a colored team that often played rings around big league outfits. The Jersey Juniors also had dangling from their belts the scalps of such teams as the Cuban Giants, Eckfords of Manhattan College, •„ Royal Giants, Royal Stars, Philadelphia Giants, Long Island Stars, Clintons of Hoboken and many others. They (•were not lacking in loyal rooters at their games, no matter whether at home or abroad-^-the rooters never missed •a game. And they were always on'hand en masse. They knew they would be treated to sensational baseball, for the •Jersey Juniors weren't afraid of anything in the semi-professional line that professed to,be a,ball team. Offers ^^o join big league teams were made to several of the boys, but every mother's son of.them turned thumbs down ' on the proposition. In later days when star players were offered real money, it probably would have been different. Dscar Votteler was the forerunner of in his slashes for the Jersey Juniors. The right field fence was his hobby, as per the Bambino nowadays. The Jersey Juniors played on the St. George Cricket Grounds, shreve'sball park at Eighth and Clinton streets, also at the Fox Hill grounds, Eleventh Street and Willow avenue, where the dressing room accommodations were located in the rear of Phillip Hohn's saloon. Among the players who have gone to the Great Beyond are: Charles "Spider" Carniaux, William "Mungo" Bell, Oscar Votteler, John "•ahrenhots and "Benny" Decker. The lineup in the above, picture follows: lower row; Chaa. "Spider"£arniaux, itch and center field; Oscar Brown.catcher; "Billy" Harroun.pitcher and centerf ield; middle row:William"Mungo" Jell, ; Geo. D, Kuncken, 3rd base; Oscar Votteler,, 1st base; "Art;ie" Lachwitz, 2nd base; "Al" Mayer, ight field; John Blumensteel, left field. Top row: John Fahrenholz.jfcorer; Fred "Duzy" Williams, mascot; "Benny'* DVw, manaeer.

I THE JERSEY JOURNAL

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20,. 1933 Hoboken Was Cradle qf Baseball; ^ Gambling Threatened Game With another thrilling chapter in baseball history completed, lovers of the sport in country arid city are now tilting their chairs back and cocking their feet on pot-bejiied stoves or on club window siMs as they settle down to arduous post- season discussion of the national pastime. , : ; . . ••'•>• • - . Every hit, run, and of the last will beconie a ma- jor premise for argument. In the country club and around the village cracker barrel, fang will meet to play the series over move by move. Then, as the Winter wears on and the past season has been discussed and rediscussed, the older fans will begin to slip back into the past of baseball and resurrect the games and players ofyyesteryear: to make comparisons 'or merely for the sake of telling a baseball yarn. •••.., No place in the world" should be richer in baseball history and stories of past baseball glories than Hudson County, for it was in Hoboken that the first organized baseball game in the world was played. It was to the Mile-Square-City, when it was still a part of the township of North Bergen, that two organized teams from New York came in 1846 to play the historic game that started the sport on its way to international fame. "•'••••. •.•'.•'•'• '••;." • During the "Roaring Forties" of the last century, Hoboken w*as the playground for New Yorkers. The the same year they challenged the, . Above photo hhows what is be- Gil Hatfield. Gil was a Hoboke St. George Cricket Field in the Knicke'rboekers to a fchampionshiR^ Northwestern section of the town lieved to have been the first World boy who made good in ths bi game to be played in Hoboken. Series—a contest between two New leagues. Qld. - residents relate ho had long been famous as a meeting Thus the first World Series came York teams at lllysi^n - Fields, place for cricket teams, and it seem- Gil grew up on. the Hoboken die to Hoboken, . The teams met in Ho-> Hoboken. monds and at one time thr.ew a bast ed natural that these grounds should boken, and, much to the surprise of < • . <; ball farther than any other playt be selected as the site for the first the small crowd of enthusiasts, the ball .game. Later other fields, were paper of August, 1865, reports a game of hie day. It is said that Hatfield' newly organized team defeated the in Hoboken between the Atlantic record stpod unbroken for man used* in Hoboken. The Elysian Field Knickerbockers 23 to 1 in four in- in the Northern section along the Club of Brooklyn and' the Mutual years. V' nings. Under the rules of the game Club of New York. The article re-, Today the Elysian Fields are gon< riverfront also became popular with at that time, the team first getting the visiting teams. In Jersey City, ports. "Never was there such a vast There remains a small park on Hue 21 runs was 'declared winner. assemblage of people gathered to- son St.. between 4th St. and 5tl Centennial Field was among the This rivalry opened the way for outstanding baseball sites of the gether on any similar occasion,^ and a mere remnant' of the cool wood* time. \;: \ more teams, and the sport thrived never has there been known, in the Within a decade, Hoboken became annals of our national sports such park • Hoboken knew of old. On Peilyfcd From Greeks known as the national seat of base- a closely contested game of base- bare plot in this park baseball sti Baseball hadatSxantecedents m a ball. The best teams of the country ball." The article told how the fhrives, and any evening during th |ball throwing game in ancient Greece played in or visited Hoboken. teams gathered in Hoboken and the season a game will be found in prog where a statue'., wsp . erected to Describes Eariy Game grounds were cleared .of spectators as ress there. Aristonicus for his proficiency in the well as possible so, that the game The St. George Cricket ground Tame. The English .were the .first The National Association of Base- could get, under way. r stil} survive the march, of, progress o irtvent a ball game inNwhichruns ball Clubs was formed in 1858, but, "After some splendid play," the re- They are hemmed'in by the Pali ere scored and the winndF decided according to sport writers, gambling port continues, "which lasted for an sades and railroad tracks on one sid >y the larger number of runs. and, drink demoralized the league un- hour and &. half,. 3. heavy rainstorm and factories on the other. Gone ar Cricket might have been the Rational til the existence of baseball was .put a stop to the sport. Five in- the shade trees of long ago. Gon sport in the United States ':\t Gen. threatened. New life was given the nings had been played and the score also are the baseball games, for no\ bner Doubleday had not hlvented game when the National League was stood Atlantic^ 13, Mutuals 12." the field is chiefly used as a socce he game of baseball. ; v organized in 1875 and later the Amer- Besides teams from surrounding and football field. , ' In 1842 the Knickerbocker Pase-' ican League. cjtivs and towns playing in Hoboken, V Encroaching industry has take, iall Club was the first .of its:, kind The early finds the favored grounds along the Hud- from Hoboken the to organize in New York. For 'three its background in old Hoboken. The son River were used also by college where many of the famous player ears the Knickerbockers played town's popularity as a playground teams, and for many years ths cham- Of former days got their, start, bu mong themselves, but by 1845 they- was increased by the advent of base- pionship games of the Eastern col- encroaching- industry,can never tak ad developed a club team and were ball. It brought throngs across the leges were played in Hoboken. '. from the city the memories am ady to meet all comers. In 1846 the river.. ..-..*' In Hoboken's, baseball history, one stories of Hoboken -when it .was. thi New York Club was organized and Frank Leslie's Illustrated New*- of the outstanding names is that of baseball capital of the world. ., -HUDSON DISPATCH, TUESDAY,"OCTOBER 2, 1934; Forerunner of World's Series Contested in Hoboken in 1846 Knickerbockers, of Manhattan, and the New York 'Club Came Across River for First Classic Every year about this time, when 'i the world of baseball is -passing |ened. As a result, the association through the excitement of a World's was disbanded, but in 1S75 new life Series, local devotees of the sport was given the sport by the organ- delight in. proudly recalling: that ization of the National League. The what was the .forerunner of the American Leaen.Leagupe n#.™—-followed.,> - present-day autumnal diamond The popularity of .Hoboken as a classic was played right here in i playground was increased by the Hudson CountCountyv. 'advent of baseball, and throngs . Baseball's archives disclose that came over from New York every ,in 1846, the New, York Club met the Sunday to "watch the diamond con- Knickerbockers, also of Manhattan, tests. A writer in Prank Leslie's in a championship game at Ho- Illustrated Newspaper (later Les- boken. The Knickerbockers,' organ- lie's Weekly) reporting, in one of ized in 1842, were the JJrst club in the issues of Aiigust, 1S65, a game New York; and for three years they in Hoboken between the .Atlantic played- among themselves, recruit- Club of Brooklyn .and the'llutual ing several teams .from their mem- Club of New York, said: bership'. "Never was there such a vast as- semblage', of people gathered to- In 1845, the "Knickerbockers sent gether on any similar occasion, and jroadeast a, challenge, which was never-has there been known in the lo—t ..^o,taken. Au pcnalicnge until" 'th, «whic •>-»h— wa• s annals of our nationan«+««-«l' sport-- s sruch lot taken up until the following- clo&ely contested game' of base- v'ear, when the New York Club was aball" •- ' ' ' husiastormed. s Awitnesse smalld crowthed contestof m-, College" s Playe* d in Hoboken, Too ,nd, as is the case even today with The article described how the •aseball crowds, cheered when the teams gathered in Hoboken, and the ,ew team defeated the recognized ground^~.*.,o guuieres were dclear in Hobokens ** , and the hampions. grounds were cleared of spectators as well as possible so that the game Score Was 23 to 1 could be played. The game lasted four innings, and . "After some splendid play," the he score was 23 to 1, the rules of I report went on, "which lasted for he sport then providing that the irst team to score 21 runs was the ,an hour and a half, a heavysrafn- rictor. From the time of that first storm put'a stop to the sport. Five 'World's Series" game, Hoboken innings had been plnyed, and the jecame rich in baseball lore. Addi- sore stood Atlantics 13, Mutuals 12." tional teams were organized, with College teams, as well as profes- all the important "games played In sional, used Hoboken's famous base- Hoboken, and in less than a decade, ball grounds, and for many years the Mile Square City became known the championship games ^.of the as the seat of baseball in the 1eastern colleges were played there. United States. ___ One of the outstanding" names in Hoboken's baseball history is that In 1858, the National Association of Gil Hatfield, a Hobokenite wlK! of Baseball Clubs was formed, but, made g-ood in the major leagues. as sports writers have since ex- Old-timers tell how Hatfleld grew plained, the league was undermine. d, . uw.u-imjerp on thse telrffam^"l how Hatflel-* •*"d grew , by gambling—sw>/i43 writero smnr>V havi e* " sinc«•—e» -ex-" I up on the diamonds _ of Hoboken Iplained, the league was undermined and at one time threw a baseball by gambling—so much so, that the farther than atiy other player of his very life of the pastime was threat- 'period. I

I JERSEY OBSERVER, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 7, 1934. I OLD CRICKET PRINTS AT PUBLIC LIBRARY I A series of cricket matches, play- ed weekly on Saturdays, is under- way at Stevens Campus, Hoboken, and in this connection it is inter- esting to note that at the local Free I Public Library, Fifth street and Park avenue, an exhibition of prints and pictures dealing with various sports pf which Hoboken was a cen- ter in its early days, is being shown. I The current matches were begun on July 4 when two English clubs from Brooklyn started playing a match which is to continue for sev- eral weeks. Today the Overseas Cricket Club will oppose the Brook- I lyn group. The Library exhibit, arranged by Librarian Mrs. Nina Hatfleld, com- prises a number of interesting prints. One shows a group of 11 I English. criclieteers who played at Hoboken in 1859. Participant teams in the cricket match between Can- ada and the United States at Ho- boken on August 2 and 4, 1858, are also shown in pictured group. I There are also interesting "shots" of the game between the .Australian and New York elevens, October 1 and 2, 1878, and a game between 11 English and 22 American ar •.- I teurs on September 18, 1872.. Included in the exhibit is a print of the "Great Foot Race" at Hobo- ken on November 19, 1844. Admit- tance to this feature was twenty- four cents in those gay days. Au- I thorities speak of the foot race as having been run at Beacon Course Hoboiten. Cricket and footracing were cnls two of the varied sports played on I Mile Square City grounds during th« early history of Hoboken. Many of the currently popular sports had their first tryouts in Hc'joker. and baseball, today's great national pas- time, had many an inning on local I diamonds. Mrs. Hatfield's exhibit is but one of many similar features she pre- sents at the Library. Her collection of historical photos of Hoboken, and other information, regarding the I beauty of the city in its infancy, make for most interesting periodic I showings. I I I I I I .HUDSON DISPATCH, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 19341 Forerunner0/ World's Series I Contested in Hoboken in 1846 Knickerbockers,"of ^Manhattan, and the New York I %, 'Club Came Across River for First Classic

' Every year ahqut this tUrje, when ened. As a result, the association ithe world ; o$ baseball is-ipabsing was disbanded, but in 1,875 n«w life I 'through the excitement of a /World's was given the sport by the organ- 'Series, local devotees pf the sport ization of the National League. Th« 'delight in. Proudly recalling that American League followed.. what was the, forerunner.. of the The popularity pf Hoboken as a present-day autumnal d i a m o n d playground was increased by the' classic was played .rigl^t here in advent of baseball, and throngs.' I . Hudson County. ''.; •.;•:;'•.'."•';)"'" :".', came over from New York every; , Baseball's archives disclose that Sunday to watch the diamond con- ,-in 1846, the New,York Club met the tests. A writer in Frank Leslie's, Knickerbockers,.also of. Manhattan, ;ilustrated Newspaper ,(later Les- 'in a championship game at Ho- lie's Weekly) reporting; in one of: boken. The Knickerbockers,' organ- the issues of August, 1865, a game I ized in 1842, were the first club in in Hoboken between the ^Atlantic, New York, and for three years they Club of Brooklyn and the. UutuaJ played, among themselves, recruit- *lub of New York, said: ing several, teams .from their mem- "Never was there such a vast as>" bership1./ : '. '•',' •• •"' " '. : semblage of people gathered to-, 6ether on any similar occasion, and I In 1845, the knickerbockers sent never has there been known in the broadcast a challenge, which was annals of our national sports such, lot taken up until the following a closely 'contested game^ of base- year, when the New York Club was ,alW ;•:> ;.-'-.;- -:••;',;• '/ J->\ ? ' 'ormed. A small crowd of en- husiasts witnessed the contest, Colleges Played in Hoboken, Too I The article described how the. ',nd, as is the case even today with laseball crowds, sheered when the teams gathered in Hoboken. and the lew team defeated the recognized grounds were cleared of spectators hampions. .: '•••••• ; ,•_ , ".•: . , as well as possible so that the game . ; Score Was 23 to 1 .;./•. could be played. . ;. *• ! "After some splendid play,'* the I ,' The game lasted four innings, and report "went on, "whiph lasted, for' |he score was 23, to 1, the rules of an hour,and a half, aheavy *rafn,- he sport then providing that the storm put a stop to the sport. Five Irst team to score 21 runs was the innings had been played, and the /ictor. From the time of that first sore stood Atlantics i.3, Mutuals 12." 'World's Series" game, Hoboken College* teams, as well as'jirofes- I became rich in baseball lore. Addir sional, used Hoboken's famoujs base- ,tional teams were organized,' with ball grounds, and for maijjs. years all the important games played in the championship games ./of' the Hoboken, and in less than a decade, eastern colleges were played .there. the Mile Square City became known One of the outstanding1 nanies in I as the seat of baseball in the Hoboken's baseball history is that United States. • of Gil Hatfield. a Hobokenite wl£8 In 1858, the National Association made good in- the major leagues. of Baseball Clubs was formed, but, Old-timers tell how Hatfteld grew as sports writers' have since ex- up on • the diamonds. pf Hoboken plained, the league was undermined and at one time threi^-•• a baseball I by gambling—so much so, that the farther.than any nitier' player pf hi? s: ;very life of the pastime was threat- period, ! -. •'•, ' "•;•• '• •' ' "..,• • •• • I I I I I I I I JERSEY OBSERVER, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1936 I Local Boat Club Begins 79th Year Tht Atlantic Boat Club of Bobo1- ken and East Rutherford -will hold I ; its seventy-eighth annual meeting, 'tonight, at its Hoboken boat house, feet ot fourth street. Officers. will ; be elected for the ensuing year. i A. program of social and athletic I events for 1936 will be outlined. Con- siderable attention will be devoted : to the interesting of local young : men In the physical and mental ad- vantages to be derived from the I strenuous sport of rowing. ' With the organization of the Schoolboy Rowing Association in this country last year, the sport is expcted to become increasingly pop- I ular. The Atlantics are determined to do the)r bit- to encourage it I I I I I I I I I I I I HUDSON DISPATCH, UNION CITY. N. J..-TUESDAY. ATTftUST 9, 1938 \ Paging All Umpires! Settle This Argument if You Can By WhoniV When and Where Was the Game of Base- ball Invented?—Boboken and Gooperstown, V N. Y., Focal Points of Controversy :

With the building of the giant urally accepted by the Coopers- plant of General Foods along the towners, and the ""bigwigs" of the Hudson River between ltlh and game, facts Educed from history 12th sts.,.Hoboken, the site t>fHo- gives the- evolutionists the better boken's old ball field, where base- of the argument. ball fans of the Mile-Square City The claim by the latter is that maintain the first game of the baseball was played during the great American sport was played early part of the JL9th century in 98 years ago, will soon be trans- western , but under formed for the more complex rules far different from those* of game of "business." today. The claim is that the early As a coincidence, news comes rules called for -only One base, and from Cooperstown, N.Y;j that the that for years after that when the centenary of the founding of the other bases were added, runners game by one of its native sons, Ab- were put but by hitting them/with ner Doubleday, will be celebrated the ball, instead of being caught next year. ;, Doubleday later be- out by a baseman/ came a general in the Civil War. The Cooperstowners contend that Played With One Base Doubleday "invented" the game. Years after the game became Though this celebration has the professional and the three bases sanction of the baseball moguls, came into use, the old form was there is a lively war of words on, continued in country schools in as to the authenticity of the claims Pennsylvania with sometimes one of Cooperstown. base, and at other times with three, Hoboken's Claim Good according to the number playing.) After examining all sides of the The game under those rules thenj controversy, there is good reason to was known as "long ball,": . A soft believe that Hoboken has a good ball was used. ^ i 0.^,; claim to the site of the first game It is held by the evolutionists of baseball and the first ball team, that during the formative days of which followed under the rules the game there were no rules as that are generally used today. to distance between bases, or how There is a lot of confused argu- far the pitcher was to stand from ment as to the origin,of the game, the batter. Local managers deter- from which two distinct schools mined those details. The evolution have emerged. One of these holds ists give credit for the drawing ol that it came into existence over a the modern "diamond" giving the period of years, an evolution of the distances between * bases and: be- •English game of cricket. The other tween the catcher and pitcher, tc one has it that the game came in- Alexander Cartwright, in 1839, one to existence, full-fledged, in 1839, year before Hoboken became fa- having been devised by Doubleday. mous for its ball field, and the well Origin Disputed known Knickerbocker team which! Though the latter has been nat- is still talked about locally. | AUGUST WILLIAM HUTAF 51 HUDSON PLACE WEEHAWKEN, N. J. /j3(j

th** J i

16 6 J

~7" In t tj / aa / a Ar-v' J h

CO p

•f- & b /it, 7 th. &&1$ii nix, nVi!il\liNLf, A.PKIL1 Zii, Pride of Hoboken Sandlot Baseball in 1903

fphilDaab'soKlHobo- ho were practically supreme world of semi-pro basebaU ago. The caption over the ^^obo^

-ote that

reorse Cricket grounds being called a sandlot. Imagine Dave Xamar, Remacher During the very year that the Jerseys won their only pennant (1903) the Hoboken Baseball Club was active at the St. George SS'McCormkk; who later was Cricket Grounds. The above photo shows the members of that team and many of them became prominent in the; sports world. a s£ big league third baseman Front row, seated from left to right are, Billy Eecht, Jack Cussick and Dude O'Connor; second row, Emil Reinnacher, Fred Daab, lieinz calle: d sandlotters. Jack Daab and Dave Driscoll, who later became affiliated with the Jersey'srrear» standing, Mike Mullins, Pop Dietrich, Jack ¥£fe- old Hobofcens ..played Merrity (the same who announces the wrestling and boxing, matches at local clubs), Pete Lam.ar. and MaltieMcPhilips. Giants and practically all league teams in those days I

I UERSEY OBSERVER, THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1938 I Last of the Jersey Blues I I I I I I I I I Whenever semi-professional baseball discussed, the name of the Jersey Blues often comes into the conversation, not that there are many here- abouts who remember that famous outfit but the deeds of the players have I been handed down from one generation to the other. In the above photo (seated) are the two sole surviving members of the Blues, playing Charles F.'Kuncken. 80 years young, on the left, and catcher Michael Shan- non, 78 years of age. In the rear is George Kuncken, who brought the two oldtimers together recently. The Blues performed in the days when the I Klysian Fields were in their glory and baseball fields were as plentiful in Hoboken as factories are now. One of the Blues' most bitter rivals was I the New Vork Ironsides,^ I I I I I HUDSON DISPATCH, UNION, CITYJN. X. 'TUESDAY^ATIGUST 9, 1938 I Paging All Umpires! Settle This Argument if You Can I By Whom, When and Where Was the Game of Base- ball Invented?—Hoboken'and Cooperstown, N. Y., Focal Points of Controversy I r ! With the building of-the giant urally accepted by the Coopers- plant of General Foods along the towners, and the "bigwigs" of the /Hudson River between ltlh and game, facts cdduced from history • 12th sts., Hoboken, the site of Ho- gives the evolutionists the better I boken's old ball field, where base- of the argument. ball fans of the Mile-Square City The claim by the latter is that maintain the first game of the baseball was played during the great American sport was played early part of the 19th century in 98 years ago, will soon be trans- western , Pennsylvania, but under I formed for the more complex rules far different from those of | game of "business." today. The claim is that the early I As a coincidence, news comes rules called fqr-only one base, and 'from Cooperstown, N. Y., that the that for years after that when the centenary of the fpunding of the other bases were added, runners^ I game by one of its native sons, Ab- were put out by hitting them with* ner Doubleday, will be celebrated the ball, instead of being caught pext year. Doubleday later be- out by a baseman. came a general in the Civil War, The Cooperstowners contend that Flayed With One Base I Doubleday "invented" the game. Years after the game became Though this celebration has the professional and the three bases v, • sanction of the baseball moguls, came into use, the old form was there is a lively war of words on, continued in country schools in I as to the authenticity of the claims Pennsylvania with sometimes one pf Cooperstown. base, and at other times with three, Hoboken's Claim Good according to the number playing. •; After examining all sides of the The game under those rules then controversy, there is good reason to was known as "long ball,: " A soft 1 believe that Hoboken has a good ball was used. ' jclaim to the site of the first game It is held by the evolutionists of baseball and the first ball team, that during the formative days of ;which followed under the rules the game there were no rules as that are generally used today. to distance between bases, or how- I j There is a lot of confused argu- far the pitcher was to stand from jment as to the origin of the game, the batter. Local managers deter-T jfrom which two distinct schools mined those details. The evolution- 'have emerged. One of these holds ists give credit for the drawing o< jthat it came into existence over a the modern "diamond" giving the I period of years, an evolution of the distances between.- bases and be- English game of cricket. The otfter tween the catcher and pitcher, to one has it that the game came in- Alexander Cartwright, in 1839, one to existence, full-fledged, in 1839, year before Hoboken became fa-l having been devised by Doubleday. mous for its ball field, and the v,el\ I Origin Disputed known Knickerbocker team whichi ; Though the latter has been nat- is still talked about locally. I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I HUDSON DISPATCH, UNION J,; TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1939 I Baseball's Odd Beginnings Told InMrs.HatHM9sLibraryExhib^ Mutual I TV 1 rn,,n. «". . l" Club" of New York, and Display or Uld rnnts, Magazine the "Atlantic Club" of Brooklyn, and Newspaper Articles, Uni- ' fe^ chamPionshiP °f the Uid The account of the game is as I forms Draws Throng different from that given by pres- In observance of the centennial of ent day sport writers as the scene baseball, an exhibition offprints and on Elysian Fields is different from; the same spot in Hoboken today. | magazine and newspaper articles "Never before," (says the article) I bearing on its early history has been "was there such a vast assemblage arranged by Mrs. Nina Hatfield in of people gathered together on any the Hoboken library. While the similar occasion." . After some splendid play, which game was developed and first lasted an hour and a half, a heavy I played) in Coopertown, N. Y., the rainstorm put a stop to it, with the first organized game was played inlAtlantics' score 13, and the Mu- the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, onthejtuals' 12. Five innings having been if -,-cupied by the GenerallP^^^f^^-^^ Food Products buildings. iners. 1 Abner Dbubleday of Cooperstown, { Big salaries for baseball players evolved the game, working out the ; began, evidently about 1882, for an- rules which are much the same asother picture in the collection is those of today, and laying out the that of "Mike Kelly," described as I diamond. Although the game was the "$10,000 beauty of 1882." played in his home town that same Another picture shows the "Jer- year, it was hot until 1845 that the sey Blues" and the Hoboken Policev; "Knickerbockers" of New York, the Department nine who played a first organized -tearn, was formed match game for the benefit of St. I and not until June 19, 1846, that Mary's Hospital on June 23, 1906. the historic combat between the There is a still earlier photo of the Knickerbockers and the "New "Jersey Blues" taken in 1884, and Yorks" was played. presented to the library in 1906 by >Aft old colored print, illustrating the Elysian Camera Club. I this, probably the earliest and most Beside the photographs and the valuable picture depicting such a old prints, Mrs. Hatfield's exhibi- game, is one of the most interesting tion includes several old scrap- exhibits in Mrs. Hatfield's. collec- books, with accounts of the early j tion. Instead of \>ig salaries, thegames, and the names of their play- j 'stake for the game was a dinner, ers. They are all on display in the{ I 'which was won by the "New Yorks." cases in the center of the distrib-l | Another item in the collection is uting room of the library and mostj ja copy of "Frank Leslie's magazine clevisitors ans dsto c pmm to study the old arti- ;for Aug. 26,18S5, showininge a nirturpicturpe ° ent on the "queer I !of.thj " bl^en the ll^lSinillJ^^^LE^^?: I I (§h&tvxx?v I WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1939—•

HOBOKEN HAS A PROPER PLACE IN I EDITORIAL j BASEBALL'S CENTENARY PAGE Baseball's centenary^ which is being observed this year, has special significance for Hoboken, I for it was in this city that the first real match game was played on June 19, 1846. This was seven years after Abner Doubleday, returning I to Cooperstown, N. Y., from West Point, evolved the basic rules under which the national pastime has been played ever since. Up to that time baseball was simply "one o' cat," I in which the runner had to be hit by the base- ball in order to be declared out. This often led to many a runner being I "beaned," and, realizing the danger of this, Doubleday devised the plan of having bases which the runner had to reach before $he ball I or; else take to the bench. He and Alexander Cartwright subsequently fixed the distance be- tween bases as 90 feet, this having never been changed. The "diamond," of course, qame I into being at the same time. However, it remained for the time being a game for boys, and it was 'not Until older devo- I tees organized the , which gave baseball, as we have known it ever since, its real start. But the Knickerbockers needed opponents, and so they came to Ho- I boken for the first arranged match game, which took place on the old Elysian Fields. Accord- ing to Frank G. Menke, publisher of the "All I Sports Record Book" and considered an au- thority, the Knickerbockers "defeated New iYork, 23 to 1, in four innings." I On a broadcast in honpr-of-basebaH's cen- tenary the other night it was stated that the Knickerbockers played a picked team, pre- sumably of local players, so here we have a I dispute as to who the actual opponents of the Knickerbockers were on this historic occasion. But the fact that the first real match game was I played on the Elysian Fields of Hoboken is not open to question. The centenary will be observed in a manner fitting the occasion at Cooperstown, where the I game had its beginning seven y^ars earlier, and where there is baseball's "Hall of Fame," with which every follower of the sport is familiar. I But why shouldn^J; Hoboken celebrate in this centenary year also the fact that on its famous historic Elysian Fields the first match I game took place? The Greater Hoboken Com- mittee of the local Chamber of Commerce, re- iterating this query, intends to do something I about it. This is as it should be. KllSttifiliiia

ESTABLISHED 1874 SATURDAY, MAY 13, '1939

The fact is that the four-page circular,' | ing the system of legalized gambling for two "Race Track Gambling Amendment—Defeat i i years," did NOT vote it out of existence." It!" bears Dr, Clee's name as "Chairman." In; | That, we assert, is base deception and a dis- that circular, or "literature," the Director of; ] honest presentation of an important phase of campaigning. Accounts of is quoted as al- And speaking of dog racing, the Elizabeth1 leging that certain shortages were due toj (N. J.) Daily Journal, Apr. 24, ardent sup-! 1 "gambling on horses," and "gambling on the' porter of Dr. Clee in trying to defeat the: jraces." horse racing amendment, in an editorial cap- We are reliably informed that the direc- 1 tioned, "Betting Referendum Deceptive,"] quoted from the amendment by using thej JH tor's original report stated "gambling on the races and on the stock market." : ' "words, "racing of horses may be conducted.": I WHY was the "stock market" deleted, ' That referendum specifically provides the I Rev. Mr. Rumsey? Is that an honest state- • "racing of horses ONLY may be conducted." ' ment? Or is that "misleading" and "un- j The word "only" was deleted from the text. truthim?" J That robbed the referendum of its TRUTH,' Dv. Ctee is quoted in the Newark News! for this referendum purposefully EX-| Apr. 27, as having said: "Massachusetts, aft-'' CLUDES DOG RACING. • et feytog the system of legalized gambling Rev. Mr. Rumsey's assertion that the sur-i £ot two yeara, voted it out of existence:" .'] vey printed in Social Action went unchal-: That is an UNTRUTHFUL statement. j lenged in is not supported by i The fact is that, according to law, the i news from Salem, Mass., where the city con-| i pari-mutuel has to be voted upon, for con- .j • tiauance, ."every four years in, Massaehu- i sidered taking action against the publishers! | setts. It is not » statewide referendum, in j' of that publication. j effect, lor each county votes for itself. I Rev. Mr. Rumsey evidently does not know ' ID one county where the Agawam Horse )\ that a mass meeting was held, and that affi- Racing track is located, racing was VOTED j davits were presented refuting many of the OUT; defeated. It is said that the issues untrue statements made. were badly mixed there, on account of dog Does that sound as if the "survey" in So-j racing-, which was something of a scandal. , cial Action went unchallenged? Does that! . If it had been on horse racing alone, it \ sound as if it remained for New Jersey to! I probably would have carried. But that can- Y challenge the truth of matter contained in: I not be proved. We admit that the county Social Action—which is being distributed in; ' referendum defeated racing, in that county, I and that the horse track is closed—in that New Jersey as part of the attack on horse 1 : county. •'' racing? ; ' < ' But in Suffolk County, CiOt&iy adjacent to Yfe reassert tliat the "literature" iSsed in f Boston, where the Suffolk Downs track is the fight against horse racing is "mislead- located, RACING WAS CARRIED BY A ing" and "untruthful"~and WORSE. f VOTING RATIO OF 4 TO 1. • . :j We again assert our belief that Rev. Mr. ! We assert, Dr. Clee—and Rev. Mr. Rumsey j Rumsey means to be truthful, but is gross-] also-^that Suffolk County is still in Massa- 1 ly misinformed, as are many others who ac-| cept ^he assertions of the State Association chusetts, and that "Massachusetts, af^er try- / to Defeat Race Track Gambling Amendment, I I fluosmt Itsjraf rh I SATURDAY, MAY 13> 1939

I Time for Action ~ W .'•, "Literature" Used Against Against "Bean" Ball Racing Is "Misleading," Baseball rulers will soon have to take, I ''Untruthful"—and Worse! ; stringent action regarding the "bean" ball. (Continued from yesterday's editorial) • ' The last paragraph in Rev. Edwin W. Rum- j Too many valuable players have been sey*s letter to the Hudspn Dispatch, pertain-; paired or totally ruined by being hit on the I ing to the Horse Racjng Amendment, wasj head by balls thrown with terrific speed. The as follows: ./•• .•. : .i- ':•). • . •' l • ,! "bean" ball is not a ball resulting from a wild 1 In your editorial of Mar. 3,4, 1939, you brand] pitch; it is a ball deliberately thrown either i certain "literature" circulated by the opponents j at the batsman's head, or thrown so close,, of the proposed pari-mutuel amendment as) it that if he makes the slightest mistaki • "misleading" and "untruthful" The "literature" goes "out." ' ••' /.ff?*:' * referred tcj'is a thoroughgoing survey of race- I track gambling in the State of New Hampshire, The purpose of the "bean" ball is to serve made by the Council for Social Action of the as a warning to batsmen to stop "crowding", Congregational and Christian Churches at the the plate. It is virtually futile, for ball players request of the Congregational Churches of New do not scare easily, and they continue tof i Hampshire, and was published in "Social Ac- stand up. ; j tion" (a magazine of fact, the official organ of The "bean" ball is unsportsmanlike, Th»