More 19th Century Pelham Baseball References

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

Since it is only 63 days until New York Yankees pitchers and catchers report for spring training on February 20, it is time to document a few more instances of 19th century baseball in Pelham.  The first item is the most significant of the three references set forth in today's Historic Pelham Blog.  It describes and annual "Challenge Cup" competition held for at least three years (1884, 1885, and 1886) between one of the nation's best ball clubs (the New York Knickerbocker Club) and the Country Club Nine (also known as the Country Club Giants) based in Pelham, New York.  The remaining two references included in today's posting provide additional insight into the popularity of the sport and the way it was played in the late nineteenth century.

1887 Baseball Game Like Those Played in Pelham.

"THROWN OUT ON SECOND BASE - GILBERT GAUL --

[SEE PAGE 647.]"  Source:  Harper's Weekly, Sep. 10, 1887.

The Challenge Cup, 1884-1886

By 1886, the New York Knickerbocker Club was one of the most accomplished baseball clubs in the United States.  For at least three years (at that time), the New York Knickerbockers tested its best nine, annually, against the best ball players that Pelham had to offer.  

The tiny Town of Pelham offered, annually, the best nine of its Country Club Giants (also known as the "Country Club Nine.")  For at least three years, by 1886, the two clubs had battled annually for supremacy.  They battled annually for a "Challenge Cup."  

On June 5, 1886, The Evening Telegram, published in New York City, referenced the third of the three battles between the teams.  The paper, however, had no results, and was only able to report that the two teams had played the third of their annual matches.  Below is a transcription:  

"Yesterday the Knickerbocker Club nine were to play the Country Club nine their third annual match of baseball for the challenge cup.  The Tantivy coach to Pelham has been doing fairly well, but the rush is over and seats can be had without much trouble.  Of course on Tuesday, what with the Paulding-Freeman wedding and the Tuxedo entertainment, the coach would have gone empty had not Mr. Roosevelt filled it with a large delegation of nurses and children, Mrs. Roosevelt betting on the box seat."  

Source:  Society, The Evening Telegram [NY, NY], Jun. 5, 1886, p. 4, col. 6.  

This fascinating and important account of the "Challenge Cup," offered for the third time in 1886, provides an amazing opportunity for further early baseball research.  The "Challenge Cup," of course, likely involved a trophy cup -- sterling silver, perhaps.  

Baseball Rivalry Between Pelhamville and Pelham Manor in 1894

Pelhamville and Pelham Manor had a raging baseball rivalry in 1894.  A brief reference to the rivalry and the third game of the season between the two held that year appeared in the May 24, 1894 issue of The Chronicle published in Mount Vernon, New York.  The reference read:

"OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS.
-----
Pelhamville. . . . 

The celebrated amateur base ball nine of this village will soon play the 'Pelham Manors,' making the third contest this season.  After this game they will make preliminary arrangements to play on Decoration Day, the name of their opponents will be seen in our next issue."

Source:  OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS -- Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], May 24, 1894, p. 4, col. 3.  

Pelham Beats Eastchester 14-4 on September 16, 1894

Pelham Beats Eastchester 14-4 on Sunday, September 16, 1894.  A brief reference to the game appeared in the September 20, 1894 issue of The Chronicle.  The reference read as follows:  

"The Eastchester's engaged the Pelham's in a base ball contest last Sunday, but the latter retained their championship as shown by the score which at the close of the ninth inning was as follows:  Pelham's, 14.  Eastchester's, 4."

Source:  OUR NEARBY NEIGHBORS -- Pelhamville, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 20, 1894, p. 4, col. 1.  

*          *           *          *          *

Below is a listing, with links, of my previous postings and a published article on the topic of 19th century baseball in Pelham.

Wed., Nov. 26, 2014:  More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Thu., Nov. 13, 2014:  Baseball Crowds in Pelham Got Out Of Hand in 1896.

Fri., Sep. 12, 2014:  Reference to an 1884 Baseball Game Between the Country Club of Pelham and Calumet.

Thu., Jul. 31, 2014:  Fascinating Account of Baseball Game Played at Pelham Bridge in 1878.

Mon., Jul. 28, 2014:  Additional 19th Century References to Baseball Being Played in Pelham.

Tue., Apr. 08, 2014:  More 19th Century References to Baseball in the Town of Pelham.

Fri., Mar. 28, 2014:  Earliest Evidence Yet! Baseball Was Played in Pelham Only Months After the Civil War Ended.  

Thu., Mar. 20, 2014:  19th Century Baseball in Pelham - Newly-Discovered References.

Tue., Feb. 16, 2010:  Photograph of Only Known 19th Century Women's Baseball Team in Pelham, New York.Fri., Apr. 16, 2010:  Formation of the City Island Beldonites Baseball Club in June 1884 

Thu., Jan. 28, 2010:   News About Pelham Manor and Pelhamville in 1895 - Lighting Districts, Gas for the Village, Baseball and More.

Tue., Dec. 15, 2009:  Baseball Games Played by the City Island Beldenites and the City Island Rivals in 1884.  

Mon., Dec. 14, 2009:  Baseball Games Played by the City Island Shamrocks in 1889.  

Fri., Dec. 11, 2009:  Earliest Reference Yet to Baseball Played in Pelham.  

Thu., Dec. 10, 2009:  More 19th Century Baseball and Firefighting References. 

Wed., Dec. 9, 2009:  City Island Shamrocks Base Ball Club Changed its Name to the Minnefords in 1888.

Wed., Nov. 25, 2009:  Even More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Tue., Nov. 24, 2009:  Yet Another Reference to Early Baseball in Pelham.

Mon., Nov. 23, 2009:  Additional Brief Accounts of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 19th Century.

Fri., Nov. 20, 2009:  More Accounts of Early Baseball Played in Pelham.

Fri., Nov. 13, 2009:  1894 Account of Developments in Pelham Including a Reference to a Baseball Game Played that Year.

Thur., Nov. 12, 2009:  More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Wed., Sep. 30, 2009:   Score of June 1, 1887 Baseball Game Between the Country Club and The Knickerbocker Club.

Fri., Mar. 20, 2009:   Another Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Tue., Mar. 4, 2008:   Another Brief Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Mon., Nov. 26, 2007:  Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Wed., Nov. 21, 2007:  Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

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

Fri., Nov. 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham.

Mon., Oct. 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.

Thu., Mar. 23, 2006:  Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884.  

Tue., Jan. 31, 2006:  Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered.  

Thu., Oct. 6, 2005:   Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thu., Sep. 15, 2005:  Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham.  

Thu., Feb. 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.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."