Historic Pelham

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

The Nonpareils Base Ball Association of City Island During the 1860s

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The "Nonpareil Base Ball Association" was an early Pelham base ball club that operated out of City Island during at least 1865 and 1866. Until the research presented in today's Historic Pelham article, the earliest reference to organized baseball being played in Pelham previously known was a brief reference to a game played by the Nonpareils in October, 1865 against the Uniteds of Westchester. The Nonpareils won the contest 26 to 19. The Uniteds reportedly were pleased with the result because the Nonpareils had "experienced players from other clubs."

I have written twice before about the Nonpareils. See:

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

Mon., Apr. 06, 2015: Early Baseball Game Played by Pelham Team in 1866.

The Nonpareil Base Ball Association seems to have been a particularly active social and athletic association in 1865 and 1866. Like many such clubs, it seems also to have had an associated "Junior" club of younger players. Indeed, on June 25, 1866, the "Nonpareil Club, Jr." of City Island played a "match of base-ball" against the "Star Club, Jr." of Mount Vernon at City Island. The junior Stars massacred the junior Nonpareils by a score of 83 to 12.

As was the case with most 19th century amateur baseball clubs, the Nonpareil Base Ball Association was as much a social organization as a baseball club. For example, according to one account, on July 4, 1866, the Nonpareils were scheduled to "give a soiree at C. W. Bennett's Bay View House" on City Island. Similarly, the account of the previously-mentioned October, 1865 game between the Nonpareils of City Island and the Uniteds of Westchester ends with the statement that, after the game, "the 'boys' repaired to the hotel of George Blake, Esq., in Centreville, where they were regaled with a substantial repast, and lingered long over 'flowing lager,' while the 'jest and song went round,' and friends were toasted, and they had a good time generally."

Recent research regarding the Nonpareils of City Island has revealed what now is the earliest documented game of baseball involving a Pelham baseball team. On Saturday, September 23, 1865, the Nonpareils traveled to the Village of White Plains where they played the "Washington Club of White Plains." The Washingtons beat the Nonpareils 22 to 17 in a nine-inning game.

Thanks to a rudimentary box score published in the Eastern State Journal of White Plains, we now have at least the last names of nine of the players who were members of the Nonpareil Base Ball Association of City Island. In September, 1866, they were:

Stephens (Pitcher)
Murphy (Left Field)
Billar (Shortstop) - Likely City Island oysterman Samuel P. Billar.
Bell (First Base) - Perhaps Jerome Bell of City Island, later a member of the Town Board of Audit.
Hyatt (Second Base) - Likely James Hyatt, later Pelham Town Supervisor.
Fordham (Right Field) - Likely either of two surviving sons of Orrin Fordham living in 1865 including: John Oscar Fordham and William Rufus Forham.
Stillwell (Catcher)
Hegeman (Third Base) - Likely Benjamin Hegeman who served as Pelham Town Supervisor from 1862 until 1873.
Pippers (Center Field)

The nine-inning ball game lasted two and a half hours that day. Though the Washington Club of White Plains won the contest by five runs, members of the club clearly were unhappy with the umpiring. An account of the game in the Eastern State Journal ended with the statement: "It was thought by members of the Washington Club that the Umpire leaned rather in favor of the opposing Club in his decisions." The umpire of the game was listed as "William H. Van Cott, Sr." Although there was a Van Cott's Grove in Pelham at the time, it is not know with certainty if William H. Van Cott, Sr. was associated with that location. In any event, the U.S. Census for 1870 shows a William Van Cott living in the Pelham area (actually, in New Rochelle), perhaps accounting for the alleged bias.

* * * * *

Below is the text of a number of items regarding the Nonpareil Base Ball Association of City Island. Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"A BASE BALL MATCH. -- A match game of base ball was played on the old Fair Grounds, in this village, on Saturday, Sept. 23, between the Nonpareil Club of City Island and the Washington Club of White Plains, which resulted in a victory for the Washingtons, by a score of 22 to 17. The following is the score:

WASHINGTON,	O.	R.	NONPAREIL,	O.	R.
Horton, p……………..	4	2	Stephens, p…….........	1	4
Miller, s.s……………..	3	5	Murphy, l.f…………….	4	2
Boyd, l.f………………..	3	4	Billar, s.s…………………	3	1
Tibbets, 2d b…………	1	4	Bell, 1^st b………………..	3	3
Long, 3d b…………….	2	2	Hyatt, 2d b…………….	2	2
Moran, r.f……………..	2	1	Fordham, r.f………….	4	1
Newhouse, 1^st b……	5	1	Stillwell, c………………	3	2
Ward, c.f……………….	3	2	Hegeman, 3d b………	3	2
Kennedy, c……………	4	1	Pippers, c.f…………….	4	0
	---	---		---	---
Total……………………..	27	22	Total………………………	27	17

INNINGS.

	1^st.	2d.	3d.	4^th.	5^th.	6^th.	7^th.	8^th.	9^th.
Washington…….	0	1	1	3	4	2	4	5	2	----	22
Nonpareil……….	2	0	1	1	5	2	4	0	2	----	17

Umpire -- William H. Van Cott, Sr.
Scorers -- Messrs. Watkins and Kinney.
Time of game, two hours and a half.

It was thought by members of the Washington Club that the Umpire leaned rather in favor of the opposing Club in his decisions."

Source: A BASE BALL MATCH, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Sep. 29, 1865, Vol. XXI, No. 22, p. 2, col. 4.

"--The Star Champions are once more in the field. A very fine and interesting match of base-ball was played between the Nonpareil Club, Jr., of City Island, and the Star Club, Jr., of Mount Vernon, at City Island, on Monday, June 25, resulting in a victory for the Stars by a score of 83 runs to 12."

Source: [Untitled], Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Jul. 6, 1866, p. 2, cols. 1-2.

"'NONPAREIL.' -- This base ball association are to spend the 4th of July at City Island, where they will give a soiree at C. W. Bennett's Bay View House in the evening. We tender our thanks for an invitation to join in the festivities of the occasion."

Source: "NONPAREIL", The New York Clipper: American Sporting and Theatrical Journal, Jul. 7, 1866, p. 2, col. 5.

Undated Currier & Ives Print: "THE AMERICAN NATIONAL

GAME OF BASE BALL" Depicting an Early Baseball Game.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

* * * * *

I have written nearly fifty articles regarding the history of baseball in Pelham and early baseball games played in the Town of Pelham. Below is a listing, with links, of previous postings on the topic of early baseball in Pelham.

Wed., Apr. 19, 2017: Pelham Manor Club Defeated Gramatan Country Club in Baseball Game in August, 1902.

Mon., Feb. 13, 2017: Important Information About Early Baseball in Pelham Including a Game Against the Monitors of Brooklyn.

Wed., Jan. 11, 2017: Baseball Star Paddy Smith of Pelham.
Fri., Sep. 30, 2016: More on 19th Century Baseball in the Town of Pelham.

Thu., Jul. 21, 2016: "Base Ball" Match Played at Arcularius Hotel at Pelham Bridge in 1875.

Thu., Feb. 18, 2016: More on the Storied History of 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Tue., Dec. 15, 2015: The 1894 Baseball Season in Pelham, New York.

Tue., Sep. 22, 2015: Two Newly-Discovered 19th Century Accounts of Baseball Played in Pelham.

Thu., Jun. 18, 2015: More Early References to 19th Century and Early 20th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Mon., Apr. 06, 2015: Early Baseball Game Played by Pelham Team in 1866.

Mon., Dec. 22, 2014: Rare 1889 Photograph of Baseball Players Playing on Pelham Field.

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.

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.

Thu., 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.

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Labels: 1865, 1866, base ball, Baseball, Baseball Team, City Island, Nonpareils Baseball Club, Recreation, Sports

Monday, April 06, 2015

Early Baseball Game Played by Pelham Team in 1866

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Yesterday was opening day for the 2015 Major League Baseball season and today is opening day for the Yankees and Mets. In honor of the commencement of the 2015 season, today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog documents another early instance of baseball played by a Pelham team.

The earliest reference I have been able to find to baseball being played by a Pelham team is a brief reference to a game played in October, 1865 between the Nonpareils of City Island in the Town of Pelham and The Uniteds of Westchester. The Pelham team won the match 26 to 19. The Uniteds were pleased with the result because the Nonpareils had "experienced players from other clubs."

The brief account of the victory earned by the Nonpareils of City Island was fascinating because it noted that "In fly-catchers the Uniteds stood one ahead." The reference to "fly-catchers" is a reference to fly balls caught for a putout. The author of the account thought it significant enough to note that the Uniteds caught one more fly ball for an out than did the Nonpareils because the rules had only been changed that year. Previously, catching a ball on the first bounce earned an out. After the rule change, the ball had to be caught on the fly -- it had to be a "fly-catcher." See Fri., Mar. 28, 2014: Earliest Evidence Yet! Baseball Was Played in Pelham Only Months After the Civil War Ended.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a reference to another game involving the Nonpareils of City Island only a few months later in 1866. According to the reference, on July 4, 1866, the Nonpareil team of City Island played Una of Mount Vernon "on Nonpareil ground." Una won the game 49 to 9. The reference appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

“UNA CLUB.

The Una Base Ball Club, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was organized April 1, 1865, with the following officers:

S.P. Moore, President; Wm. H. Howe, 1st Vice-President; Wm. A. Huestace, 2d Vice-President; J.S. Fleming, Recording Secretary; D. Van Cott, Corresponding Secretary; J. H. Johnson, Treasurer.

Officers for 1866 are: S. S. Moore, Jr., President; Philip Lucas, Jr., Vice-President; C. W. Van Cott, Recording Secretary and Treasurer; J. Stevens, Corresponding Secretary.

The Una Club members ninety members. Uniform: white cap, red star in centre; white shirt, blue trimming; dark blue pants.

The following is a summary of the games played by the Una Base Bell Club since their organization: . . .

July 4 [1866].—With Nonpareil, of City Island, on Nonpareil ground; score, 49 to 9, in favor of Una.”

Source: Peverelly, Charles A., The National Game in The Book of American Pastimes, Containing a History of the Principal Base Ball, Cricket, Rowing, and Yachting Clubs of the United States, pp. 444-45 (NY, NY: Published by the Author, 1866).