Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897

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Those who read the Historic Pelham Blog regularly know that periodically I have posted to the Historic Pelham Blog research regarding early organized baseball in Pelham. In fact, I have written extensively on the topic. Among the material I have prepared on the topic are the following:

Friday, July 20, 2007: Account of Early Baseball in Pelham: Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897

Friday, November 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham

Monday, October 9, 2006: Reminiscences of Val Miller Shed Light on Late 19th Century Baseball in Pelham and the Early Development of the Village of North Pelham

Thursday, March 23, 2006: Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884

Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered

Thursday, October 6, 2005: Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thursday, September 15, 2005: Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Thursday, February 10, 2005: New Discoveries Regarding Baseball in 19th Century Pelham

Bell, Blake A., Baseball in Late 19th Century Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 17, Apr. 23, 2004, p. 8, col. 2.

Travers Island, summer home of the New York Athletic Club, had an active "base ball" program during the 1890s. The June 1897 issue of the New York Athletic Club Journal contained an extensive account of the plans for the Club's baseball team during the summer of 1897. That account is quoted immediately below.

"BASE BALL

GOVERNOR FRED HAUSLING, who is the leader of the baseball enthusiasts of the club, has been besieged by his fellow 'fans' anxious to know the arrangements made for playing the national game at Travers Island this season. Though no effort will be made to organize a team capable of taking the Giants into camp, still the grass will not be allowed to grow too long around the diamond, as various spirited contests are talked of between the 'Hasbeens' and their erstwhile opponents, the Athletes. From among the players in these friendly matches it is hoped that a nine will be selected to meet any teams which may come straying around the Island in seach of scalps.

A series of games has been arranged with the Crescent Athletic Club, of Brooklyn, to be played alternately at Travers Island and the home of the Crescent Athletic Club, at Bay Ridge. There is every likelihood of spirited games resulting, and whether the result of the series is favorable to the New York A. C. or not the contests will be sure to arouse interest among the members, as the nine will be made up of players who have long been favorites in club life. A large crowd will undoubtedly be on hand to root for the Mercury Foot nine, when such men as R. C. Fisher, George Schwegler, E. Deppeler, A. J. Kerwin, Fred Hausling and A. J. Moore are in the field.

The first game with the Crescents will be played at Travers Island on June 13. The other games will be June 19, at Bay Ridge; June 27, Travers Island, and July 3, at Bay ridge. Should each team win two games, a fifth encounter will be arranged to decide the question of supremacy.

A cordial invitation is extended by the Crescent A. C. to New York A. C. members who desire to witness the games at Bay Ridge, and the Crescent A. C. members are offered the privileges of Travers Island, when the contests take place there."

Source: Base Ball, New York Athletic Club Journal, Vol. VI, No. 3, p. 12 (June 1897).

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