Baseball
Alton and Upper Alton had baseball teams as early as 1858. They
competed against each other on the "Alton Club Grounds," located in
Middle Alton. In 1884, the idea of building a baseball park was put
forth, and by 1886 the original Sportsman Park was built (which
included fencing and a grandstand). The park was located on the
south side of Broadway, near the Illinois Glass Works, in what was
called the "East End." Many baseball, football games (and other
events) were held at
the Sportsman Park between Alton, East Alton, Upper Alton,
Fosterburg, Western Military Academy, St. Louis and more. By May of
1906, Sportsman Park land was sold to the Illinois Glass Works,
where the new owners erected a large warehouse.
By 1911, a new Sportsman Park was constructed on the north side of
Broadway, where the Alton Plaza Shopping Center would later stand.
This park continued with many ballgames and other events. I'm not
sure of the closing date of this new Sportsman's Park, but in 1946 a
garment factory and Presley Groves' tented roller skating rink
occupied this site. In 1957 the Alton Plaza was constructed there.
ALTON vs. UPPER ALTON
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, June 24, 1858
Some time since we noticed the organization in our city [Alton] of a
baseball club. Since then, the Club has played from one to three
games every week, the regular games being played on Friday
afternoons, and the members have become very expert. Last week they
accepted a challenge to play a match game with the Upper Alton Club.
The game was played on Saturday afternoon, by twelve picked men from
each Club, upon the Alton Club ground in Middle Alton, the latter
winning in five innings, by one hundred and thirty-four rounds. The
game stood at the close: Alton Club, 224 rounds; Upper Alton Club,
90 rounds. We are told, however, that the Upper Alton boys played at
a disadvantage, being on strange ground, and three of their best
players being sick. It is admitted by some of the members of the
winning Club, that had the advantages been equal, the contest would
have been a close one, and the result perhaps entirely different. We
presume it will be tried again.
ALTON vs. LITCHFIELD
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 7, 1866
At the match game of baseball played at Litchfield, August 30, 1866,
between the "Prairie" of Litchfield and the "Active" of Alton, the
following was the score:
EDWARDSVILLE GAME
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, May 19, 1870
A match game of baseball was played on Friday last between the
Kunstausstellingsgebaude and Magnolia Clubs of Edwardsville, in
which the former got beaten. That name is enough to best anything.
EDWARDSVILLE vs ALTON
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, June 9, 1870
The Magnolia baseball club of Edwardsville visited Alton on Thursday
last to play a match game of baseball with the Wide Awake club of
that city. The day was very hot, and the game lasted between four
and five hours, and resulted in the defeat of the Wide Awakes. The
score stood Magnolia, 50; Wide Awake, 84. At the conclusion of the
game, the latter felt so mortified at being beaten that with but one
exception they could not treat their opponents with common
politeness.
MAGNOLIA BALL CLUB
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, November 17, 1870
On Thursday evening, November 24, the Magnolia Baseball Club of
Edwardsville will give their first annual ball at Kinder’s Hall.
Tickets of admission, $1.50.
MAGNOLIA BALL CLUB
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, December 01, 1870
The ball given last week at Kinder’s Hall by the Magnolia Baseball
Club of Edwardsville, on the occasion of their first anniversary,
was a pleasant affair, was well attended, and passed off quietly and
to the satisfaction of all concerned.
EDWARDSVILLE BASEBALL NEWS
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, July 6, 1871
Last Saturday the Chargoggaggoggmanchoggoggogg Club of Edwardsville
played the first of a series of three games with the Eureka Club of
Brighton, on the grounds of the latter club. The Edwardsvillians
lost the game by 7 points. The next game will be played at Alton
sometime during the present month, and a third on the fairgrounds at
this place during the annual fair of the Agricultural Society.
On Monday evening last, those interested met at the courthouse and
formed a club, to be known as the Red Caps. The old Magnolias and
the Chargog (&c., &c.) are merged in the new club. The Red Caps will
play the Eureka Club of Brighton at Alton on Saturday next.
At the fairgrounds during the progress of the German Catholic picnic
on July 4, a game of baseball was attempted, but the excessive heat
caused some of the players to wilt, and the game was abandoned.
There will be a practice game this afternoon on the grounds occupied
by the Magnolias last season.
QUESTION OF BUILDING A BALLPARK IN ALTON
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, April 8, 1884
The question of arranging grounds for a baseball park below the city
near the Glass Works is again being agitated. We learn that there
are many persons who would contribute liberally for such a purpose
should they receive assurance that the project would be pushed to
completion. As this city has numbers of skilled baseball players
"lying around loose," so to speak, and as this point is the centre
of aesthetic culture in that line, there is nothing to prevent the
success of a determined effort to make a park for the purpose
mentioned, and it is hoped that an association will be organized to
push the matter. Strictly athletic sports at proper times and
seasons should be encouraged and commended, as they tend to the
physical improvement of those who take part in them.
WANDA BOYS LOSE GAME
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 20, 1886
Baseball - The Wanda Boys went up to T. W. L. Belk’s last Sunday to
do up the Stump Town Clod Hoppers, but failed. We stated last week
that they would do them up in good shape, but we only made a
mistake. Owing to their catcher being indisposed, our boys allowed
them to take a catcher out of the Bethalto nine, and that is what
beat them. They’ll have a chance soon to try us again, and will say
this time for a fact that our boys will do them next time. The score
stood 32 to 37.
BASEBALL AT SPORTSMAN'S PARK
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, May 31, 1886
The Anchors of St. Louis arrived in town this morning and played
Beall Bros.' newly uniformed nine at Sportsman's Park this
afternoon.
HUNTERSTOWN vs. MUSICIANS
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, August 6, 1886
The looked-for event, the game of baseball between a Hunterstown
club and the Gossrau nine [Hunterstowners] came off yesterday at
Sportsman's Park and was well contested in the presence of a large
number of spectators. The Musicians took their instruments and
rendered some quick steps to enliven the occasion. The nines were
arranged as follows:
Musicians: Louis Yager, Catcher; Winter, first base; Mold, second
base; Hoppe, third base; Levi Yager, pitcher; Ernst, right field;
Wutzler, left field; Meyer, shortstop; Tensor, centerfield.
Hunterstowners: William Weber, catcher; Craigen, first base; A.
Kramer, second base; Seibert, third base; Fecht, pitcher; Synar,
right field; Paul, left field; Hartmann, short stop; J. Weber,
centerfield.
The game was called at 3:45, the Musicians at the bat. They made 4
runs on this inning and then retired. Their opponents made no score
on their first inning, and the Musicians again took the bat and made
one run. In the second inning of the Hunterstown club, Fries was
called to the box, took pity on the Hunterstowners and "assisted"
them to make 9 or 10 runs. Tonsor catcher. When the Musicians went
to the bat the third time in order to equalize matters. Synar
pitched for a short time and the harmonious nine made 3 runs. A
shower of rain came up before the game closed, and an adjournment
took place with a score of 11 or 12 to 13. The scorer made it 12 to
13, the Hunterstown nine having been "assisted" too much in the
second inning. There was good play on both sides. The opponents of
the Musicians showed themselves adepts, the most of them, at ball
playing, their regular battery being excellent. The Harmonious Nine
surprised the spectators by their performance on the diamond field,
the battery, Levi and Louis Yager, playing like professionals. The
Hunterstown club were in uniform: red caps, red stockings, purple
and white striped knee breeches. The other club were in sober brown
and black, except Vonder Mold, who sported a stunningly variegated
cap on a lawnmowed head.
ST. LOUIS BROWNS TO PLAY IN ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 12, 1886
There is no doubt that the St. Louis Browns baseball club will play,
in accordance with their contract with Manager Mold, in Alton
Baseball Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 17 and 18. The games
will be played for the benefit of the Father Cassidy residence
(rectory) fund. A large attendance will see both games, unless
prevented by rain. The Altons are getting a good reputation for
playing, and their friends expect a good showing against the World’s
Champions in keeping down the score to single figures.
Notwithstanding, the great expense attached to the engagement of the
Brown Stockings, the price of admission will not exceed 25 cents.
ST. LOUIS BROWNS vs ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 29, 1886
The arrival of the St. Louis Browns in Alton Tuesday morning was a
noted event in baseball annals. A Reception Committee, comprising
some of our principal citizens, was on hand, headed by Manager Mold
of Sportsman’s Park. The members of the St. Louis club were right
royally received. Three barouches were in waiting, to these the
visitors were escorted, and the procession started. In the lead were
the carriages, the streets and sidewalks thronged by a large crowd
of interested spectators intent on getting a view of the Champions
of the World; also of Mr. C. Von der Ahe, President of the American
Baseball Association, who was with the club.
An enormous crowd saw the game Tuesday between the Altons and the
St. Louis Browns in the Sportsman’s Park, and were rewarded by
witnessing a fine contest. It was indeed truly one-sided in batting
as far as the Browns were concerned, while the fielding of the
Altons must have delighted all the local cranks. For four innings it
was worthy of any professional club to have such infielders as the
Altons showed themselves to be. McClelland and Whistler played
faultlessly in their positions. The Browns safe batting was
terrific, and fully in keeping with their willow-work against all
the Association clubs. Carruthers, O’Neil, Comiskey, Welch, and
Foutz doing the brunt of the work. McSweeney did splendid work.
Fahey and Perkins did not do as well as usual. There were not many
bases stolen on either side – Kemmler and Carruthers each losing a
life trying it, and Welch was cleverly caught napping at second.
Failure to hit Foutz at the right time was what prevented the
Altons’ score from being larger, although the game was never in
doubt. The following is the score:
Dave Foutz says that Hudson is the best pitcher the Browns have. If
the Altons do as well today as they did yesterday, there will be fun
in the boys’ camp tonight. Jack Mishell did the umpiring, and
tickled Foutz immensely on balls and strikes.
The very knowing ones say that Welch dropped that fly in center on
purpose, and that Robinsons’ wild throw to first was complimentary.
Poor croakers, how sad you must feel. Let us say right here that he
or they who were not satisfied with yesterday’s game, as far as the
Altons were concerned, must be away off their base, and if they
don’t hug the bag pretty close, they’ll be thrown out.
An informal reception of the St. Louis Browns took place at Turner
Garden last evening. Mr. Von der Ahe and the ball players were the
center of attraction. The St. Louisians proved themselves to be
sociable, intelligent gentlemen, with good conversational qualities,
and made a favorable impression on all with whom they came in
contact. Professor Gossrau’s band rendered a fine program to the
delight of the company. The evening was pleasant. A party of ladies
and gentlemen tripped a few hours with flying feet in the hall to
the accompaniment of orchestral music. The party broke up between 10
and 11 o’clock.
COLLINSVILLE - BIRTHPLACE OF CATCHER WILLIAM KANE
Source: The Auburn, New York Bulletin, March 13, 1891
One of the bright and shining lights of the St. Louis "Browns" last
season was Catcher William Kane. Kane is a six-footer, and few balls
get by him, He
was
born at Collinsville, Illinois about twenty-three years ago, and has
developed into 170 pounds of manhood. His first work as a ball
player was as an amateur in his native town. After playing with a
number of good clubs, Kane joined the Madison Club, of Evansville,
Indiana, and did such excellent work with this team that President
Von der Ahe soon snapped him up for the "Browns."
NOTES:
William Jeremiah “Jerry” Kane was born in Collinsville, Illinois on
April 4, 1866. He joined the St. Louis Browns in 1888, and played
first base/catcher. His last appearance for the Browns was June 25,
1890. He was then a minor league baseball manager for several teams,
and went on to have a career in politics in East St. Louis, where he
served as Justice of the Peace. Kane died in East St. Louis,
Illinois in 1949, at the age of 83, and is buried in the Mount
Carmel Cemetery in Belleville.
NEW BASEBALL CLUB - WEEM'S LAUNDRY BASEBALL CLUB
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, May 16, 1893
The Weem's Laundry Base Ball Club was organized last evening, and
the St. Louis Browns will now have all they can do to hold their
prestige. Following are the names of the players: Fred Fox, c.;
Johnnie Horn, p.; Dick McGrath, 1st b.; Lee Brenner, 2d b.; Will
Coyne, 3d b.; Jim Goudie, s.s.; Will Culp, 1. f.; Mike Dwyer, r. f.;
Mike Monaghan, c. f.. The Weem's Laundry folks will furnish uniforms
for the club.
EDWARDSVILLE vs. ST. LOUIS
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 27, 1893
There was a game of baseball in Edwardsville Sunday. The clubs were
from St. Louis and Edwardsville. One of the players in the home club
had a rib broken by a ball. Then there was a fight besides, but not
on account of the broken rib. Yes, the national game has some little
drawbacks.
GODFREY BASEBALL
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 14, 1893
A great game of baseball was played in Godfrey last Saturday – the
Godfrey Nine against the Home Runs. The Godfrey Nine was victorious.
BASEBALL GAME ENDS IN COURT
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 26, 1894
It was only a game of baseball Sunday, but by the time that the
trial of Adams, the St. Louis baseball player, is over, for hitting
A. Hoffmann, the hotel proprietor, over the head with an iron
spittoon, and fracturing his skull, the costs to Madison County may
run up to nearly $1,000. If this was the only cost, it would not be
so bad, but for a man to suffer for months with a fractured skull is
more than dollars and cents. It is stated that Adams, when sober, is
a very clever man. Sunday baseball, every once in a while, has a
side issue like this, which does a great deal to bring the game into
disrepute. Adams can think over the matter in jail.
BASEBALL – Y.M.C.A. vs. MORO UNIONS
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 17, 1894
From Moro – An interesting game of baseball was played Saturday at
Balster’s Park between the Moro Unions and the Y.M.C.A.’s of Alton.
The boys were beaten by three runs, the schore standing 16 to 13.
The batters were: Y.M.C.A.’s McKinney and Lapelle; Unions – Cooper
and Flagg. The Unions were handicapped by the absence of their
regular battery and second baseman. A game is being arranged for on
Decoration Day, between the Unions and a picked nine.
BASEBALL – BLUFF LINE vs. BIG FOUR
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 24, 1894
From East Alton – The game of ball Sunday between the Bluff Line and
Big Four, was won by the Big Four club, the score being 17 to 22.
The feature of the game was the heavy batting of the Big Four boys
in the seventh inning. Short lined out two homeruns, bringing in
four runs each time. At the end of the sixth inning, the score stood
9 to 17, in favor of the Bluff Line, the Big Four boys being unable
to size up McGrath’s delivery until the seventh inning, when they
fell on to him and pounded out thirteen runs.
The list of the players is as follows:
Big Four: Lampert and Kirwin, pitchers; Short center; Tiley first
base; L. Berner 2nd base; Ray 3 base; Shannon, shortstop; Flynn,
centerfield; Kanel left field; Lampert, right field.
Bluff Line: Robings left field; Fitz, right field; McDow, center
field; Gavin, 3rd base; Dailey, 2nd base and Captain; Berner, 1st
base; Noonan, shortstop; Bushong, center field; McGrath, pitcher.
The Big Four club would like to hear from the Chicago & Alton boys,
and arrange for a game.
BASEBALL – NORTH ALTON and ALTON TEAMS
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 31, 1894
The Alton Home Runs and La Tosca’s will play at Riverside Park next
Sunday. The la tosca’s are a strong nine, and the Home Runs are
strengthening all weak spots.
The North Alton baseball team bids fair to become the champion team
of the vicinity. On Saturday afternoon a game was played with the
Godfrey team, which at the close resulted in a score of 27 to 3, in
favor of the North Altons. Sunday afternoon the North Altons and the
Upper Altons contested, and the score was 37 to 14, in favor of the
North Altons.
BASEBALL – WANDA vs. EAST ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 14, 1894
The game of ball between the Wanda and East Alton clubs Sunday was
won by East Alton. Score 25 to 13. The baseball players of East
Alton have leased a piece of ground northwest of the Big Four depot,
and will make a fine ball park there.
BASEBALL – NORTH ALTON STARS vs. ST. LOUIS SHAMROCKS
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 19, 1894
One of the best games of ball of the season was played Sunday
afternoon between the North Alton Stars and the Shamrocks of St.
Louis. It was war to the bitter end. The ninth inning resulted in a
tie, also the tenth. At the end of the eleventh inning, Mayford
scored a run from third base on a missed fly by the center fielder,
thus giving the victory to the Stars, the score standing 15 to 14.
Smith of the Stars struck out six men, while the visiting pitcher
struck out five men.
BASEBALL – UPPER ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 23, 1894
The Bucks Home Runs and the Upper Alton team played a game of ball
yesterday afternoon. The Upper Altons played poorly, and were
defeated by a score of 18 to 4. A colored baseball club played the
Upper Alton team this afternoon.
WMA vs. SHURTLEFF COLLEGE
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 4, 1894
The Western Military Academy baseball team of 1894 defeated the
Shurtleff College team Saturday afternoon by a score of 18 to 15.
Hanna and Stout, the new W.M.A. battery, did good work, and held the
college boys down in fine shape. A large number of visitors watched
the game.
EDWARDSVILLE vs. COLLINSVILLE
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 18, 1895
From Edwardsville – The baseball cranks are now in their glory. Our
club, that is the one called “Madisons,” has been organized, and in
a game at Collinsville last Sunday, did up the team of that city by
a score of 8 to 5. While we know very little about the game, we know
that others must think a good deal of it as 100 people went over to
see it played.
CHICAGO COLTS vs. BROWN STOCKINGS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 19, 1895
The Chicago Colts, under Captain Anson, had easy sport with the
Brown Stockings at the opening game of the season yesterday. An
immense crowd gathered at Sportsman’s Park and witnessed a slugging
match. The Chicago men had no trouble in batting Breitenstein’s
curves, and “kept the ball rolling.” The Brown’s came up well in the
last two innings, and the game ended with a score of 10 to 7 in
favor of Chicago.
EDWARDSVILLE BALLPARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 25, 1895
The new baseball park is 425 feet square. It was opened last Sunday
for the first time. About 400 people were there. The park is
enclosed by a high board fence, and has several conveniences in the
way of seats, booths, etc.
BASEBALL – NORTH ALTON STARS vs. ST. LOUIS GLOBES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 29, 1895
The game between the North Alton Stars and the St. Louis Globes at
North Alton baseball park was exciting, and both teams played a good
game of ball. The score was Stars 9, Globes 6.
The Trilby Feet baseball team will play the Western Military Academy
club at the Academy grounds next Wednesday afternoon. The following
players constitute the Trilby Feet Club: Charlie Perrin, Emil
Haagen, George McKinney, Charles Haagen, Clifford Coyle, John
Pfeiffenberger, Nate Cole, and B. Davis. A large number from Alton
will attend the game
TRILBY FEET vs. W.M.A.
The Trilby Feet baseball team went to Upper Alton this afternoon,
incharge of Captain Emil Haagen, and as we go to press, the members
are trying to defeat the Western Military Academy team, which is
coached by Captain Harry Brown. The Trilby Feet are made up of a
sprinkling of old “war horse” players, who are out of practice, and
the result of the game with their juniors may be a victory for the
soldies. The game was called at 2 o’clock.
The Trilby Feet are in the following positions: J. Pfeiffenberger,
captain; McKinney, pitcher; Fox, 1st base; E. Haagen, 2nd base; N.
Cole, 3rd base; A. Pfeiffer, short stop; C. Coyle, right field; C.
Haagen, center field; H. Hewitt, left field. Captain Haagen has
previously announced that probably the seventh inning will be played
without shoes.
BASEBALL LEAGUE FORMED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 10, 1895
Final arrangements were completed in the organization of the
Illinois Baseball League yesterday. At the last moment, Edwardsville
withdrew from the league, and Cairo, which had been refused
admission at the previous meeting, was allowed to enter on condition
that the matter of transportation for visiting clubs be borne in
part by the far away applicant. The first games will be played
Sunday as follows: Belleville at Springfield, Murphysboro at Alton,
Collinsville at Cairo, East St. Louis at Mascoutah. The official
schedule is not ready for publication yet. The first game to be
played at Belleville will be May 26.
MURPHYSBORO vs. ALTON BALL GAME
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 13, 1895
The Alton ballpark was trimmed and in tip top shape yesterday for
the ball game, and the big enclosure reminded one very much of the
old-time park which was successfully run for two seasons. The gates
opened at two o’clock, and a band concert of an hour preceded the
call of the game. The two stands are built with a covering, and the
other intended for bleachers were well occupied. In the practice
work, it was apparent that Alton’s home talent was not in it with
the trained St. Louisians, who are carrying the colors for
Murphysboro. With such cracks as Kinsely, McClelland, Meek, and
Sheridan, the Alton’s had no show whatever. The teams were arranged
in the following order:
The Alton’s played a miserable game of errors, and the only work
that was worthy of mention was the fielding of Tommy Lawless.
Lawless caught four hard flies. Raymond behind the bat, and Bund at
2nd base played hard. The disappointments were many. Finn, the St.
Louis pitcher, not only pitched a poor game, but was a failure at
fielding. It was simply a test game, however, to try home talent.
Manager Mike Gill announces that he will re-organize the club and
this means that but few of yesterday’s players will be retained. The
Murphysboro team is very strong. They defeated the famous Belleville
Clerks, and the championship of the league lies between these teams.
The score of the game yesterday was 25 to 6, and the Murphysboro’s
“played off” constantly after the third inning.
NORTH ALTON STARS vs. ST. LOUIS FAIRS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 13, 1895
The North Alton Stars will soon be the undisputed champions of this
district if they continue to win honors in the way they did
yesterday. The Stars defeated the St. Louis Fairs at North Alton
Park, 10 to 6.
ALTON CITY BAND FORMS NEW BALL TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 15, 1895
The members of the Alton City Band have organized a baseball team,
and will play a picked nine Sunday morning. The band has eighteen
members, and a good deal of managing was necessary to dole out the
positions and keep all in good humor. The following are the names
and positions of the team: O. Unterbrink, manager; Ulrich and
Schmidt, catchers; Lemen and Kleinpeter, pitchers; H. Unterbrink,
1st base; Warner, 2nd base; E. Gossrau, 3rd base; Miessner, Hobman,
and Cramer, fielders. The other members of the band were chosen
mascots or spare fielders. The game will take place on the sandbar
at 8:30 a.m.
ALTON ATHLETICS vs. PONCA INDIANS
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 23, 1895
The game between the Alton Athletics and the Ponca Indians came off
Monday afternoon at Sportsman’s Park. The game belonged to the
Indians from the first inning. The Indians play good ball, and
showed themselves adepts in the national game. The entire Athletic
team could not be present, and the places of the absent ones were
filled by outsiders. At the close of the game, the score stood 8 to
6, in favor of the Poncas.
NORTH ALTON vs. MORO BASEBALL TEAM
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 30, 1895
The game at North Alton park Sunday, between the North Alton Annexes
and the Moros, resulted disastrously to the former. The Moro battery
was Dietz and Busse, and the Annex battery was Davis and Cobeck. The
Annex team lost the game through errors, as the battery work was
unusually good. The score was: Moro, 16; Annex, 9.
The game between the North Alton Stars and the St. Louis Globes at
Sportsman’s Park Sunday attracted a large crowd. The Globes were far
inferior to the Stars, who defeated them with a score of 23 to 4.
Most of the runs were piled up in the first inning by the Stars, and
it was plain to be seen that the Globes were rattled. They recovered
themselves, and in the last eight innings allowed 12 runs to be
registered in favor of the Stars.
The Stars have accepted the challenge of the Edwardsville team, who
threw down the gauntlet and invited the Stars or any other team to
take it up. A game will be played at Edwardsville next Sunday and at
Sportsman’s here the following Sunday. If a third game is necessary,
a mutual agreement will determine the scene of battle. The series
will decide who are the champions of Madison County, and will be
watched with interest by Altonians.
The Athletics, accompanied by the Alton City Band, went to
Belleville Sunday, and tackled the Clerks of that burg. The Clerks
played good ball, and defeated the Altons with a score of 18 to 5.
EAST ALTON BASEBALL
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 5, 1895
The East Altonians have completed their new baseball park, and with
their new suits are now ready to play good ball.
BASEBALL – EDWARDSVILLE vs. ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 5, 1895
The Edwardsville Madisons defeated the Alton Athletics at
Edwardsville Sunday, by a score of 10 to 5. The game was hotly
contested, and up to the seventh inning was in favor of Alton, when
the Madisons had a streak of luck, and pounded out enough runs to
win the game. Nagle and Bund for the Athletics, and Wheeler and
Schulte for the Madisons, were the batteries. Wheeler struck out 6
men, and Nagle 3. Base hits – Madisons 12; Athletics 7. This does
not have any effect on the owner of the championship of Madison
County, which has already been captured by the Athletics. Another
game will be played by the clubs soon.
Sunday was a beautiful day for baseball; just warm enough and just
cool enough to make the boys enthusiastic. Notwithstanding the other
attraction, which consisted in electric car riding, the King
B-Amateur game at the park was well patrionized. The King B’s
“poured the soup” into the Amateurs from beginning to end of the
game. The score stood at the close of the game 30 to 8, in favor of
the King B’s.
BASEBALL NEWS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 9, 1895
The game yesterday between the Alton Athletics and the Diels of St.
Louis was a walk over for the home team. The Diels put up a good
game of ball, but the Athletics played almost perfectly, and gave
the battery full support. The Diels were shut out, the score being
34 to 0. Smith and Bund were the battery for the Athletics. The
Athletics will play the Carlinville team at Sportsman’s Park next
Sunday.
The managers of the Alton Athletics and Edwardsville Madisons have
arranged to play the last game in the series of five on neutral
ground. Accordingly, on Sunday, September 22, the two clubs will go
to St. Louis and play the deciding game at Sportsman’s Park.
FOSTERBURG BASEBALL CLUB
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 10, 1895
Fosterburg has a baseball club – the Browns – which is fast striding
toward the championship of the county. The players are all
first-class, and some of them are phenomenal, notably pitcher Nagle.
In last Monday’s hotly contested game between the Fosterburg Browns
and a Gillespie team, an unfortunate accident stopped proceedings in
the seventh inning, the score standing 12 to 6 in favor of the
Browns. A member of the Gillespie team named Toohy fell and broke
his right leg. All of the money was generously turned over to him.
MADISONS DEFEAT THE ALTONS
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, October 22, 1895
The baseball championship of Madison County, which the papers of
Alton so enthusiastically claimed for the Altons, has taken a rapid
shoot toward Edwardsville. The famous clubs met for the first games
of the last series Sunday, and the Altons sustained two overwhelming
defeats. At no time in either game did the visitors exhibit evidence
of their ability to win. They did fairly good fielding in the first
game, but were unable to hit. They hit well in the second because
Wheeler was in for the second time, and there was no necessity for
him to throw his arm off, but they went to pieces in the field and
fell easy victims to our hard hitters. The first game was called at
10:20,
and owing to the chilly weather was not very largely
attended. For the Madisons, Will Wheeler was in the box. In the
absence of Schulze, the regular catcher who is a mail carrier in St.
Louis, and had to take an examination Sunday, Will Kane of
Collinsville played the position, and did as well as the old
veteran. The battery work was splendid. Only four hits were made off
Wheeler and he struck out five men and gave only three bases on
balls. Kane caught without a passed ball and threw four men out at
second. Nichols, at short, played a steady game, and the old members
of the team played good ball as usual. For the Altons, Nagle and
Bund did the battery work. Nagle pitched a much better game than did
Phenom Smith in the afternoon. Servis played in the field for the
visitors, otherwise the team was as it has been playing. The
Madisons scored two in the first inning. After Hackett went out,
Wheeler was given a base and Winklemeier lifted the ball over the
right field fence, both scoring; Alton scored one on two errors, and
tied the score in the third by getting two bases on balls and one
hit. In the fourth, the Madisons added another on an error and two
bases on balls, and in the fifth made six by hard hitting, assisted
by two errors and two bases on balls. This completed the
run-getting, and with the score 9 to 3 at the end of the seventh
inning the game was called to give the men time to get dinner. The
second game was called at 2:30 o'clock. The afternoon attendance was
only fair. Winklemeier was put in the box for the Madisons, but he
retired after the second inning, although the visitors had made only
one hit off him. His arm was not in condition. Wheeler succeeded
him, and Winklemeier went to right, taking S. Henry's position. The
other members of the team played in the same positions as in the
morning. Wheeler started in to pitch good ball, but the two games
were too much for him and the visitors found him quite freely in the
latter part of the game. However, there was no occasion for him to
strain himself. Smith, the man who the Belleville Clerks considered
a phenomenon, started in to pitch for the visitors, but as on one
occasion before, he was knocked out of the box in the seventh
inning. He was hit safely twelve times in six and one-half innings,
including three long drives for three bases. Granville finished the
game and he was touched up for two singles and a double. Runs were
made so fast in both games that the playing became uninteresting.
BASEBALL SEASON OPENS
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 30, 1896
The baseball season was opened Saturday in this vicinity by a game
between the Western Military Academy of Upper Alton and the Smith
Academy team of St. Louis. The Smiths were victors by a score of 15
to 11, and after the game paraded the streets of Alton, rubbing it
in on the W.M.A. boys.
The game between the Altons and St. Louis Globes at Sportsman’s Park
Sunday was exciting from beginning to end, and aside from the
accident that befell the Globe catcher, the game was a big success.
The Alton team was in fine trim, and evidently met in the Globes an
equal, for up to the sixth inning the score stood 1 to 1. During the
sixth inning, Joseph Lodecke, the Globe catcher, was struck on the
abdomen with a hard ball, which laid him out. The Altons from then
on began to pull away from opponents, and at the close the score
stood 8 to 4, in favor of the Altons.
Lodecke’s injuries were intensely painful, and a physician was
summoned to give him relief. He was taken to his home in St. Louis
last evening. An unconfirmed report was current here today to the
effect that his injuries had proved fatal.
BASEBALL GAME
Fosterburg Brown vs. Key Wests
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 7, 1896
The Browns played their first game of ball on Sunday with the Key
Wests. Nanny Frankford and Ollie Robinson were the battery for the
Browns, and John Harris and Spurgeon served in the same capacity for
the visiting club. The score was 18 to 34, in favor of the Browns.
ALTON vs. CARLINVILLE
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 16, 1896
The game between the Alton and Carlinville tea, Saturday afternoon,
was an interesting and exciting one all the way through. The game
was viewed by several hundred people at Sportsman’s Park. The teams
are evidently very evenly matched, as was evinced by the closeness
and good quality of the game. The score stood 8 to 5 at the close of
the game, in favor of the Altons.
The Altons Sunday wiped up Sportsman’s Park diamond with the St.
Louis Diels, to the tune of 13 to 8. The Altons are winning quite a
reputation in this vicinity as ball players, and have been beaten
but once this year.
EDWARDSVILLE vs. ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 6, 1896
The baseball game at Sportsman’s Park, Sunday, between the
Edwardsville Madisons and the Altons, attracted the largest crowd of
the season. The game was the first in a series of five for the
championship of Madison County, and a purse of $250. The contest was
close throughout, and until the last part of the eighth inning, the
score stood 3 to 1. The Edwardsvilles gained two more runs in the
last half of the inning, and the score at the end of the game stood
5 to 1, in favor of Edwardsville.
The Alton Baseball Association is just now turning its attention to
a bicycle track around their baseball grounds at Sportsman’s Park.
There is a good stretch of ground surrounding the diamond, and this
the management thinks could be turned to a lucrative use by building
a regulation bicycle track. The matter was brought up last evening
at the regular meeting, and it was decided to give an entertainment
of some kind to raise funds for the purpose.
A meeting of the Alton Baseball Association was held last evening to
elect officers to fill vacancies caused by resignation. Mr. J. F.
Porter resigned as President, and Henry Dietz was elected to fill
his place. W. F. Hoppe was elected Secretary to succeed Henry
Hessnauer, resigned. Both officers resigned because of lack of time
to attend to the duties of their offices.
EDWARDSVILLE vs. ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 13, 1896
Owing to the failure to secure any accommodations from the Wabash
Railroad till the last minute, a small crowd went from Alton Sunday
to witness the second game in the series between Alton and
Edwardsville, for purse of $250 and the championship of Madison
County. The weather was so hot, that the game was attended with
great danger to the players, and several of them were almost
prostrated by the heat. Lahey of the Madisons had to retire, and his
place was taken by Wahl.
The Altons lined up with Smith, pitcher; Steiger, catcher; Raymond,
1st base; Wheeler, 2nd base; Kirwin, 3rd base; Caustigan, shortstop;
Wood, right field; Fahey, left field; and Mayford, center field.
Up to the sixth inning, the score stood 5 to 1 in favor of Alton,
when the Madisons [Edwardsville] scored five runs, and at the last
half of the ninth inning, the score was 13 to 10 in favor of
Edwardsville, and Alton at the bat. With three men on bases, Steiger
knocked a home run, and brought in four runs, which made the score
14 to 13, consequently the game was Alton’s.
The quality of the game was not near so good as the game played at
Alton, the intense heat probably having a good deal to do with it.
The way the Edwardsville rooters treated the Alton men was shameful.
In the game at Alton, the Madisons were treated in a courteous
manner, and acknowledged it. At Edwardsville, the rooters shouted
all kinds of epithets at the Alton players, and conducted themselves
in an ungentlemanly manner.
ALTON vs. EDWARDSVILLE
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 20, 1896
Sportsman’s Park was visited by a large crowd Sunday afternoon to
witness the third game in the series of five, between the
Edwardsville Madison and the Altons, for the championship of Madison
County. Both teams had been strengthened for the fray, and good
quality of ball was furnished. The game was closely contested
throughout, but at the conclusion of the first half of the ninth
inning, the Altons proved to be the winners, the score standing 13
to 12 in their favor, and it being their turn at the bat, the game
was dismissed without further playing. The next game will be played
at Alton, the patronage at Alton being much large than at
Edwardsville. Edwardsville people are feeling rather blue over the
result of the baseball games that have been played in the
championship up-to-date. One of them predicts the defeat of the Hub
team next Sunday. Don’t feel so bad about it, Edwardsville, you’ll
get used to it.
ALTON vs. EAST ST. LOUIS
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 03, 1896
The Altons lost an intensely exciting game Sunday to the East St.
Louis Oberts, one of the crack teams of the defunct Southern
Illinois baseball league. From the beginning to the end, the game
was interesting and close, and both sides made some good plays. The
Alton’s found their match in the Oberts, but there was no such scene
as occurred at the game of a week ago. The score was 11 to 9.
ALTON DEFEATED AGAIN
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 10, 1896
The Lynch Ryes of St. Louis, an amateur team recently organized, and
considered the best in the city, came to Alton yesterday and
administered a drubbing to the Altons, the score at the end of the
game being 8 to 5. The contest was a spirited one thoughout, and
splendid ball was played by the Altons, but they went down before
the invincible Ryes.
ALTON vs. BELLEVILLE
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 17, 1896
The game at Sportsman’s Park Sunday afternoon between the Belleville
Clerks, the champions of southern Illinois, and the Altons,
attracted a large crowd. The game was an interesting and close
contest throughout. Herr of St. Louis, the new pitcher for the
Altons, proved himself a dandy, and the Clerks were unable to “find”
him at all. The Altons made two runs, both in the second and third
innings, and one in the fifth. The Clerks made one in the fifth, and
two in the sixth, the score at the finish standing 5 to 3, in favor
of Alton. The Clerks have heretofore been considered the crack team
of southern Illinois, having defeated all other teams and holding
the championship.
WESTERN MILITARY ACADEMY vs. SHURTLEFF COLLEGE
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 15, 1896
The large crowd of spectators who witnessed the game of football
between the Shurtleff and W.M.A. teams Saturday afternoon, had the
privilege of witnessing an exciting and hotly contested game. The
first half of the game resulted in a score of 12 to 0, in favor of
Shurtleff. In the latter half of the game, excitement was at fever
heat, and neither side were able to score a single point. Hanna did
the best playing on the W.M.A. team, and Jones, Dixon, and Swam did
good work on the Shurtleff side. Both teams are in good shape, and
presented a game which was much enjoyed by the devotees of the
sport. Jones, Hoag, and Dudley received slight injuries, the latter
being on the W.M.A. team, but there were no accidents of any
consequence.
ALTON vs. EDWARDSVILLE
Baseball Game
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 27, 1897
The Alton Mutuals went to Edwardsville Sunday to play ball with the
Edwardsville Madisons, and came home Sunday evening after having
drained the dregs of defeat to the last drop in the bucket. The
score was 32 to 11, and the Mutuals could only lay claim to the tail
end of that score. The Alton boys put up a good game, and its loss
is wholly chargeable to errors. Mallott, the Mutual pitcher, struck
out fifteen men, and had his support been what the boys might have
made it, the score would possibly tell a different tale. The Mutuals
had no difficulty in connecting with the Madison’s pitcher, and did
some heavy batting. The Mutuals and Madisons will play here at a
near date.
LAST GAME OF THE SEASON
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 28, 1897
The last, but not least, was the game at Sportsman’s Park between
the Altons and the ex-Altons. The ex-Altons was an aggregation of
ball players who have in times gone by held up the standard of Alton
on the green diamond, and again organized Sunday to try conclusions
with the Altons in the closing game of the season. The game was for
$25 a side, and there were side bets too on the result. The
attendance was large, and not a person there but said the game was
the best of the season. In the second, fourth, and sixth innings,
the Altons scored, and in the third and sixth the ex-Altons scored.
The Altons made seven hits and four errors; the ex-Altons four hits
and three errors. Dietz and Raymond held down the rubber for their
respective teams, and did good work. An Alton ball player is
authority for the statement that next season Alton will have a
baseball team to be proud of, and negotiations are now being made
with some good players for the season. Alton is a good baseball
town, and with a good team to represent her, the local fans would do
all in their means to give it proper support.
AL WARNER MEMBER OF NATIONAL LEAGUE UMPIRES
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 04, 1898
Al Warner, the well-known glass worker and baseball man, has become
a member of President Young’s staff of National League umpires. Al
was at one time one of the first-class ballplayers of the league,
and is now one of the most enthusiastic baseball men in the country.
He is a glassblower by trade, and can make good wages, but is so
enthusiastic in his devotion to the game, he prefers to serve as a
National League umpire at a much less salary. He was a member of the
old Altons, and was the star pitcher, beginning his career here as a
baseball pitcher. A few years ago his arm went bad on him, and he
was forced to give up his place in the National League. Then he
became an umpire in the Western League, and afterward in the Central
League. He has now reached his goal in his appointment as an umpire
in the National League, making his debut at Pittsburg yesterday in
the game between the Philadelphias and the Pittsburgs. Al is a
fearless umpire, who is bound to give satisfaction because of his
accurate knowledge of league rules and his long experience. He has
made arrangements with his employers in St. Louis to blow glass
after the close of the baseball season.
NOTES:
Albert “Al” H. Warner was born in Alton on September 18, 1865. He
umpired his first game in the National League on July 28, 1898. He
umpired 138 games in his three-year career in the Major Leagues. His
last game was on August 26, 1900. He died November 20, 1916, in St.
Louis, Missouri, and is buried in the St. Matthew Cemetery in St.
Louis.
ALTON’S NEW BASEBALL TEAM
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 18, 1898
Mr. J. H. Fenton, an enthusiastic baseball man from St. Louis, was
in town Friday to make arrangements for bringing a first-class
baseball team to Alton. He leased Sportsman’s Park for the
remainde4r of the summer, and intends to have a game at the park
every Sunday, beginning August 21. Mr. Fenton promises to bring a
team to Alton that will be as good players as the Belleville Clerks,
and has already closed with the Clerks for a game. The team is to be
called the Altons. The battery is to be a good one. Adam Dietz will
play with the new team, and possibly one or two others of the best
players of last year’s Alton team will be engaged.
BIRTH OF THE BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 10, 1899
William Wilson, manager of the Alton Baseball Club, was here
yesterday making the necessary arrangements for the appearance of
his team, April 30, the opening date. The club will be named the
Alton Blues. The team is to equal any club ever in this city, and
they will undoubtedly be liberally patronized.
BASEBALL SEASON OPENING
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 15, 1899
The first baseball game of the season was played this afternoon at
Sportsman’s Park, between the Western Military Academy and St. Louis
High School. Both teams belong to the Interscholastic League, and
this is the first game of a championship series, some to be played
in St. Louis and some in Alton. All the clubs in this league are
“cracker-jacks,” and a swift game of ball may always be expected
when any of them are matched.
ALTON BLUES READY FOR OPENING GAME
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 24, 1899
Manager Charles Wilson of the Alton Blues was in Alton Sunday and
stated that the new Alton team is now organized and ready for the
opening game at Sportsman's Park, to be played next Sunday. The St.
Louis Athletics, who will play the Alton's next Sunday, is one of
the very best of amateur teams in St. Louis. When these two strong
teams meet, there will be an interesting game, and with a fine day
there will be a large crowd in attendance. The coming of the new
team has set all the local fans to talking, and great interest has
been created. The team has suffered some changes by some of its good
players entering other teams, but their places have been filled by
some of the best men obtainable, and there is no doubt that the team
is a strong one. The players are: Charles Gass, catcher; Thomas
Gillon, pitcher; Frank Meeks, first base; Thomas Morrison, second
base; Will Morrison, third base; Paul McSweeney, shortstop; James
Zoellers, left field; Al Hiob, center; Will Kieth, right field. An
Alton player, Will Kuhn, will be extra man to play in emergencies.
UPCOMING BASEBALL GAMES - WESTERN MILITARY TO PLAY ST. LOUIS
TEAM. ALTON BLUES TO PLAY OPENING GAME.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 27, 1899
Smith's Academy baseball team of St. Louis will play the Western
Military Academy team at Sportsman's Park Saturday afternoon. The
St. Louis Browns broke their winning streak yesterday by dropping a
game to the "Orphans" of Chicago, the score being 7 to 6. The St.
Louis team apparently had an easy victory up to the last inning,
when Wilson, who was on the rubber, broke down and gave a base on
balls and four hits to the "Orphans." The new St. Louis club has a
record of seven games won and one lost, and stands at the head of
league teams. At Sportsman's Park, there will be a big crowd to
witness the opening game between the Alton Blues and the St. Louis
Athletics. With a first-class team in Alton and a pennant winning
team in St. Louis, baseball interest is supplanting every other
amusement in this section of the country.
ALTON BLUES LOST FIRST GAME
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 01, 1899
The Alton Blues lost their first game Sunday, but in such a defeat
there was no disgrace, and in such a victory there was great glory.
The score was 5 to 4 in the ninth inning, and McSweeney died on
third base, preventing a tie. Up to the sixth inning the game was as
pretty a game as has been seen in Alton in all time. The grandstand
and bleachers were filled with an enthusiastic crowd of revelers.
During the first part of the game the weather was threatening and a
high wind prevailing, but the game went right along and then it was
when the boys did their best work. About the sixth inning the
pitcher of the Blues partially went to pieces, and some of the boys
became slightly rattled. McSweeney, the old Alton favorite, was
there as shortstop, and he was just the same old McSweeney. In the
sixth inning three of the Blues died on base after three runs had
been made. Then the Athletics turn came, and they made four runs in
the same inning. Gillon was replaced by McSweeney after this, and
the Athletics couldn't hit the ball. Each team made one run before
the ninth inning and at the close of the first half of the ninth,
the score was 5 to 4.
TWO NEW MEN ADDED TO ALTON BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 6, 1899
The Alton Blues have been strengthened for the game with the
Columbias tomorrow, by the addition of two new men, Wryoski and
Popps, both pitchers. The weak spot in the team last week was the
pitcher, and the weak spot has been braced up. The game with the
Columbias will come off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Sportsman's Park.
BLUES WIN EASILY AGAINST THE COLUMBIAS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 8, 1899
The St. Louis Columbias came to Alton Sunday to try to do with the
Alton Blues what the Athletics did last Sunday. They returned home
Sunday night without doing anything, except making three runs, while
the Blues made 13. From the start the game belonged to the Blues.
Doble was easy for the Blues, and in the first inning five runs were
scored by the home team. The Columbias' errors made their defeat
worse than it should have been. They made one error after another,
and freely let the Blues' men on base tally up runs. Frank Wryoski
of Cape Girardeau spent Sunday for the first time with the Altons.
He is a new acquisition, and a valuable one too. He is said to have
a delivery like a shot, but his pitching yesterday was not so fierce
as it would have been had there been a necessity for it. It was the
opening game of the season for the young pitcher, and he save his
arm. Gass, the catcher, is a hot favorite. He plays a good game at
all times. His batting is something terrific and about equally
divided honors with Zoellers, who had little difficulty in finding
the sphere and putting it where he wanted it. There was over a
thousand in attendance at the game, and the manager of the team is
very well satisfied. The game next Sunday will be with the new
Belleville Clerks, a team organized to take the place of the old
Clerks, who are now the Altons.
ALTON BLUES vs. THE CONSUMERS OF ST. LOUIS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 22, 1899
The Alton Blues won a great game from the Consumers of St. Louis
Sunday. It was the prettiest, snappiest and quickest game of the
season at the park, and was played in just 90 minutes, one of the
shortest amateur games on record. The diamond was in bad shape, but
that did not affect the game to its disadvantage. There were fewer
errors in the game than have been known at any game this year at
Sportsman's Park, and all the players seemed to do their very best.
The score was 10 to 4. O'Connell, the new acquisition of Manager
Wilson, is a star pitcher. He held the Consumers down to only a few
hits and made himself a hot favorite at his first appearance in
Alton. Gass covered himself with glory too, both offensive and
defensive. He made two three-base hits and some good single-baggers.
He was at his best behind the bat and was almost perfect. Meeks
played a fine game at first base and has a star record as a first
baseman. Johnson, of the Consumers, pitched a good ball, but the
Blues had little difficulty in solving his twists and batted him
unmercifully for a while. The umpire was John Hunt, an old baseball
man who has been engaged for the season. The game next Sunday will
be with the Athletics of St. Louis, and the following Sunday the St.
Charles Browns will play here.
THE "FATS" vs THE "LEANS"
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 28, 1899
The game between the Fats baseball club and the Leans was played at
Sportsman Park this afternoon. When the game was proposed by the
Fats, most people thought the heavy weights were bluffing, but they
meant business, and the game was the real thing. Fun for the crowd
and for the players was the main object, and the Woman's Home
treasury benefit was a secondary matter. The fun at the game was
fast and furious. It began at the Fats' headquarters in Ben Few's
hotel at 1 o'clock, when the big fellows began to drop in there to
dress for the afternoon. The fats wore blue overalls, white shirts,
yellow caps, and red and green striped stockings. The weights of the
Fats as they stood ready to play the game was said to be 2,275
pounds for the nine, not counting in the weights of the substitutes.
Ben Few, the one-armed pitcher of the Fats, weighed 266 pounds, and
Frank Leyser, the seventeen years old first baseman, tipped the
scales at 307 pounds. George Few, the catcher, brother of Ben,
weighted 227 pounds; John Elenbaugh, second base, 222 pounds; Ed
Scheffel, third base, 212 pounds; George Dickson, shortstop, 223
pounds; Mayor Young, centerfield, 211 pounds; John H. Boals, left
field, 219 pounds; J. M. Giberson, right field, 266 pounds. A. L.
Daniels, the umpire for the Fats, had 229 pounds to back up his
decision and a big revolver he wore in his belt. W. D. Barnard, the
Upper Alton druggist, was captain of the Fats and registers 262
pounds avoirdupois [body weight]. Each of the Fats carried a little
paper umbrella to keep off the sun's heat.
The lineup of the Leans was: R. W. Stanton, captain; Thomas Goudie,
catcher; Rev. H. M. Chittenden, pitcher; LeRue Boals, first base; F.
L. Stanton, second base; Raymond Hatfield, third base; Dr. G. A
McMillen, shortstop; R. D. Patton, left field; Ira Garstang, right
field; T. H. Kauffman, centerfield. The Leans wore the natty
blue-gray suits of the Alton Blues that were made without regard to
fitting the long frame of the Stantons and Ira Garstang.
The Fats rode to the park in a big wagon drawn by four horses, while
the Leans crowded into a wagonette. The Juvenile band headed the
procession. The Fats carried a banner that read on one side, "Watch
Us Skin the Skinnies," and on the other, "Champion Baseball
Aggregation, Captured in Borneo, Imported at Great Expense." The
procession started at 2 o'clock and the program began at 2:30. The
crowd at the park filled nearly every seat.
The Fats went to the bat and scored 9 runs. The Leans scored 11. In
the first inning the following Fats scored: George Few, Ben Few,
Dixon, Leyser, Eilenbach, Scheffel, A. W. Young and J. M. Giberson.
The Leans scored: Goudie, Chittenden, Boals, McMillen, Hatfield,
Kauffman. Young, Turk and Garstang made outs. In the second inning
the Fats were shut out. The Leans that scored in this inning were:
Chittenden, Boals, McMillen (home run), and Kauffman. Jim Young,
Garstang and Goudie made outs. At the close of the second inning,
the score was: Fats 9; Anti-Fats 14.
Part of the show was a tight rope walker who was captured by Ben
Few. The fellow was dressed up in gorgeous apparel, and tumbled to
the ground every other step. As the wire was only three feet above
the ground, his falls were not serious. The first part of the
program at the park was omitted.
ALTON BLUES ARE MONEY MAKER
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 10, 1899
The attendance at the ballgame at Sportsman's Park yesterday was the
largest of the season. The tickets taken in at the gate numbered
2,030. The Alton Blues are money-makers, and Alton helps them out.
It was a lucky win for the Blues, as the St. Charles series is most
profitable and an extension of the series will make the two teams
money.
MEETING OF ALTON BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 19, 1900
A meeting of the Alton Baseball Association was held yesterday, and
all the land belonging to Sotier and Straube was leased for the
baseball park. The fences enclosing the park will be moved back on
the south side, and a place will be provided there for carriages of
patrons of the park. It is possible that a grandstand for ladies
will be erected back of the catcher.
OLD TIME RIVALS - ST. CHARLES AND ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 6, 1900
From St. Charles comes the story that the Alton Blues may lose their
captain, Paul McSweeney. The Monitor says: "From present indications
the St. Charles baseball club will lose its old famous reliable
second baseman, Billie Kuehne, better known as 'The Count.' There is
not a rooter in St. Charles but what feels bad about the loss, for
'The Count' always greatly 'counted' in a baseball game, and did
much in giving us the scalp. Kuehne at present is working for the
Hargadine-McKittrick Wholesale Dry Goods Company of St. Louis, and
as that company will put a strong club in next season, they have
pulled him into the team. He can't get out of the job, and although
he likes St. Charles and her rooters, he will have to play ball for
his employers. Alton, our old time rival, is also hard hit under the
belt, and the queer part of it all is 'the blow that almost killed
father' comes from the same source. Paul McSweeney, the famous Alton
Blues captain of last season, the same who made such a beautiful
spin on his head the day Bode ran into him at Alton, also works for
the Hargadine people, and they have nailed him to play on their
club. Alton and St. Charles can shake, in this, their sad hour of
affliction." Mr. George Sauvage of the Alton Baseball Association
was seen today and said he does not believe McSweeney has any
intention of leaving the Blues. McSweeney is a popular favorite with
Alton fans and he prefers coming to Alton to playing elsewhere.
BASEBALL PARK FENCE HAS CLOSE CALL
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 13, 1900
The baseball park fence had a close call for destruction by fire
last evening, and Eliot hose truck was called out to put out the
flames. Boys smoking cigarettes at the south side of the park set
fire to the grass near the fence, and the fire communicated to
fence. Only a little damage was done.
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED FOR ALTON BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 02, 1900
The Alton Baseball Association held a meeting yesterday and elected
the following officers: Alex McBride, president; James J. McMullen,
secretary and treasurer; C. A. Wilson, manager; Paul McSweeney,
captain; James Mullen, John Weber and George Sauvage, directors. The
season at Sportsman's park will be opened April 22 with a game
between the Blues and the Hargadine and McKittricks of St. Louis.
McSWEENEY WILL LEAVE THE BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 9, 1900
As the Telegraph announced one month ago, Paul McSweeney will not
play with the Alton Blues this season. The announcement was flatly
contradicted by Manager Wilson at the time, who said McSweeney would
not play with the Hargadine and McKittrick new team, but the first
information was correct. It was given out yesterday that the Blues
catcher had decided to leave the team because of pressure of his
employers to join the team organized among their employees in the
store. Swartz will do all the pitching for the team and Fairback
will exchange places with Meeks. Either Lee Garvin of Jefferson City
or Stein of the Belleville Clerks may go in as catcher of the Blues,
and both are good men.
ALTON BLUES LINEUP
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 16, 1900
Phil Kavanaugh, who will be center fielder, and Manager Charles
Wilson of the Alton Blues, were in Alton yesterday. The Blues will
open with the St. Louis Spaldings next Sunday afternoon. Frank Pears
will be umpire during the season, and the following is the lineup:
Stein, catcher; Schwartze, pitcher; Fairback, first base; Tom
Morrison, second base and Captain; Griffin, short stop; Ricks, third
base; Hiob, leftfield; Kavanaugh, center field; Zoellers, rightfield; Meeks, general utility man. The Blues will come to Alton
Saturday afternoon, and will don the blue uniform for practice at
the park.
ALTON BLUES BEGIN THE SEASON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 23, 1900
The Alton Blues started the season yesterday in the way the rooters
wish them to travel without deviation this season. The team was
stiff and not in its prime form, but the material was there and the
spirit that made the Blues champions last season. The players were
up late the night before, and with the usual stiffness of athletes
after lack of practice, the boys were not able to make the showing
they made last year, but they were all right. Some admirers of
Schwartz say he has better control of the ball in its puzzling
down's and out's than last season, and Fairback showed he has lost
none of his old time batting ability when he lined out a few to keep
his hand in. Stein, the new Hannibal catcher, gives evidence of
being a very good man on the team and a find of great importance to
the Alton fans. In the seventh inning, the Spaldings were so far
behind they could never catch up, and Manager Wilson put William
Zimmerman, a new man here, in the box for trial. All the runs of the
visitors were made off the new man in the two innings, but there is
probably better stuff in Zimmerman than he showed yesterday.
SPALDING CATHOLIC CLUB BASEBALL TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 26, 1900
Ther Spalding Catholic Club Baseball team has been organized with
the following players: J. Riley, catcher; C. Conley, pitcher; B.
Garstang, first base; G. Bruner, second base; H. Chalk, third base;
W. Cremen, shortstop; S. Toole, right field; J. Crivello,
centerfield; J. Burton, left field; S. Sneeringer, manager.
WESTERN MILITARY ACADEMY DEFEATED BY ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 27, 1900
The Western Military Academy baseball team was defeated by the St.
Louis University team at Sportsman's Park yesterday afternoon. The
Western's pitcher, Scott, was not in good form and was hard hit,
while his team gave poor support. The University pitcher was hard
hit also, but was better supported, and the outfielders played an
errorless game. The Westerns will play Smith Academy Saturday.
HACKETT WILL PLAY WITH THE BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 18, 1900
Hackett, the Jacksonville twirler who pitched against the Alton
Blues last Sunday and made such a good record, will wear a Blue
uniform Sunday and will play here with the Alton team as long as he
gives satisfaction. The deal was closed yesterday at Jacksonville by
Manager Wilson. Manager Sheble of the Hargadine-McKittrick team,
which will play here Sunday, says his team is putting in much time
in practice and that they go to Athletic park every afternoon to
practice for Sunday's game. He says their rooters, 200 strong, will
come up with the team Sunday and will bring brooms and tin horns and
they say that the way they will root will make the Alton men green
with envy. Hackett says the St. Louis rooters will not have a chance
to put their horns to their lips and that they will have no need for
the brooms unless it is to brush the dirt from their clothes after
the game is over. The Alton rooter is becoming famous and the
visitors will bring the choicest selection in St. Louis to compete
with them for first honors. Manager Wilson says he thinks Sunday's
game with Paul McSweeney's team will be the best of the season up to
date.
BLUES BEAT THE HARGADINE-McKITTRICK TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 21, 1900
Fully 2,000 persons saw the Alton Blues give the
Hargadine-McKittrick team of St. Louis a fearful drubbing at
Sportman's Park Sunday, defeating them by the score of 27 to 2. The
Blues gave a great exhibition of batting, finding the ball for
thirty safe drives. "Big Bill" Fairback made a terrible drive over
the centerfield fence, scoring the first home run made on the local
grounds this season, thereby winning a few boxes of cigars, a hat, a
pair of trousers and other articles too numerous to mention, offered
by Alton merchants. Paul McSweeney played by far the best ball for
the visitors, and he was the only one on his team that could do
anything with Hackett, the new pitcher signed by Alton last week.
Hackett had no chance to show his real ability as a twirler, as he
was not called upon to exert himself, but he showed he had plenty of
reserve curves that could be made to deceive better batters than the
victims of yesterday. Al Warner umpired his usual faultless game.
Next Sunday Jake Bene's new East St. Louis team will oppose the
Blues.
ST. LOUIS CARDINAL PITCHER PLAYS AGAINST ALTON BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 28, 1900
Jake Hene's new East St. Louis team were the guests of Charley
Wilson's Alton Blues at Sportman's Park Sunday afternoon, and before
the usual large crowd the two aggregations put up the banner game of
the season. The visitors were re-enforced by John "Wee Willie" Sudhoff,
the Cardinals'
pitcher, and he twirled a brilliant game. Hackett
began for the Blues, but in the middle of the third inning he was
forced to give way to Frank Pears. Hackett had worked in four games
for the Jacksonville Central League club the past week, and he was
all out after starting the contest. In the first inning East St.
Louis team scored on Winter's single and steal and two outfield
flies. In the third, after Hackett had given Burke a base on balls
and that player had stolen second, being counted on Taff's safe hit,
he was relieved by Pears, who put out the next three batters and
yielded but one hit in the remaining six innings. Alton's lone run
was scored in the sixth on Taff's miss of Burke's throw, giving
Zoellers second. A short safe hit by Stein sent Zoellers to third.
On an attempted double steal Zollers was out at the plate, and Stein
reached third. Fairback's slow tap to Vien tallied Stein. In the
seventh inning Phil Kavanaugh put the ball over the fence, but it
was declared foul by Warner, who gave the Blues' the worst of a
close decision. Griffin, Hiob, Vein and CArney besides the pitchers,
carried off the honors. Final score: East St. Louis 2. Alton 1.
[According to Wikipedia: John William (Wee Willie) Sudhoff
(September 17, 1874 - May 25, 1917) was a starting pitcher in Major
League Baseball who played in the National League for the St. Louis
Browns (1897-1898), Cleveland Spiders (1899), St. Louis Perfectos
(1899) and St. Louis Cardinals (1900-1901), and with the St. Louis
Browns (1902-1905) and Washington Senators (1906) of the American
League. Sudhoff batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Saint
Louis, Missouri.]
ALTON BLUES VS TRENTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 4, 1900
Almost 2,000 enthusiasts attended Sunday afternoon's game at
Sportsman's Park, between Charley Wilson's crack team [Alton Blues]
and the Trenton aggregation. "Wee William" Sudhoff, who had given
the local band its one defeat of the season last Sunday, was on the
firing line for Trenton, and he tried hard to duplicate his feat of
a week ago. He was up against a hard game, though, as the Blues,
re-enforced by Jack Crooks, the well known former big leaguer, went
after his slants savagely and won the game easier than the score of
8 to 7 shows. Trenton's final three tallies came in their ball of
the ninth inning, and their brief rally was ended through a swiftly
completed double-play, started by Hicks and going via the Crooks
route to Pears, who was on first. Crooks secured one safe drive and
tallied two runs. In the field, he had the unusual number of sixteen
chances, and accepted the all without an error, taking part in three
double-plays. Percy Griffin put up his usual neat game at short, and
Pears' first base play was of high class. Schwartz was touched up
fairly lively, but received good support and was never really in
danger. Stein back him up in splendid shape. Sudhoff twirled a good
game for the visitors and fielded his position splendidly, accepting
eleven chances and shutting off several well intended "singles." He
was well supported by Wolff and Skinner, the others putting up a
very weak defensive game. Al Warner umpired faultlessly.
ALTON POLICE vs. THE FATS FOR CHARITY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 6, 1900
The ball game tomorrow between the Police and the Fats promises to
be an interesting affair. The Police will be led by Mayor Young and
Chief of Police Volbracht. The Police nine have so long wielded the
club that no doubt they will be able to do some hard slugging. They
have had a good deal of practice legging it over hill and dale, so
that they ought to make good base runners. The number of catches
they have made in their time ought to make them experts behind the
bat and in fielding. The way they steal home on crooks will give
them the necessary experience in stealing bases. And the Fats - what
shall we say of them? They are daisies, every one of them,
especially Squire Few. There are four of them who weigh on an
average of 250 pounds each, viz: Andy Greble, Henry Geeser, John
Tonsor and Ellis Barnard. Woe betide the policeman that happens to
collide with one of these giants. He will think that the Alton
Limited had struck him. All the Fats have had previous experience,
and in this they are ahead of the Police. Squire Few may again be
called upon to umpire the game, and if he does it will be plain
sailing and easy victory for Fats. We would rather have the Squire
on our side as umpire than have the New York Giants or any other
aggregation. The object of the game is not wholly fun, while there
will be fun and to spare. Two very and deserving charities are the
beneficiaries - the Woman's Home and the Hospital. Our citizens
should turn out and enjoy an old fashioned game of ball, and help on
most worthy institutions. The lineup will be:
Fats:
G. Root, 240 lbs, catcher; Few, 265 lbs, Greeble, 220 lbs, pitchers;
McDow, 235 lbs, 1st base; W. Glassbrenner, 200 lbs, 2nd base; J.
Elinbaugh, 225 lbs, 3rd base; L. Glassbrenner, 225 lbs, left field;
George Few, 235 lbs, center field; H. G. Giberson, 212 lbs, right
field; E. Scheffel, 215 lbs, shortstop. Subs: A. Millen, 240; Henry
Leyser, 235; John Tonsor, 275; Ellis Barnard, 240. Waterboys: Henry
Tonsor and John Kramer.
Police:
H. Spaet, catcher; A. Mayford, pitcher; Capt. Fitzgibbons, 1st base;
Tom Green, 2nd base; F. Volbracht, 3rd base; Green Parker, left
field; Mayor Young, center field; John Winkler, right field; George
Welch, shortstop. Subs: B. Fahrig; William Thomas; Henry Satgast;
James Colman. Waterboys: T. Jones, Thomas O'Leary.
FATS WIN GAME WITH THE ALTON POLICE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 8, 1900
The Fats again demonstrated they are ball players, notwithstanding
their cumbrous size, by defeating the night police in the game at
Sportsman's park yesterday afternoon. The score was 17 to 18 in
favor of the Fats. The night police went to pieces in the sixth
inning, and allowed the Fats to pile up runs in such numbers as to
overcome the lead the Police had, and the officers never caught up
again.
ST. CHARLES BROWNS GO DOWN IN DEFEAT - ALTON BLUES WIN FIRST GAME
OF INTER-STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 18, 1900
The Alton Blues took the first game of the series with St. Charles
yesterday by a score of 9 to 3, and 2,100 people saw them do it, the
number including many of the admirers of the St. Charles team who
had come over on a special train to see their favorites wallop the
baseball park with the Blues until the earth would be covered with
the remnants of their hides. The rooters for St. Charles were at
their best, but they had little chance to vent their enthusiasm, the
course of the game perforce corking up their choicest "roots" in
their throats. It was a disappointed crowd that went home to St.
Charles after the game, and no doubt the despair in the Missouri
town was deep and dark last night. The visitors confidently expected
to defeat the Alton boys. Young was not at his best, however, and he
was found for 12 base hits while Schwartz was touched for only 8 in
a game where both sides had on their batting clothes and frequently
found the ball. Davy Young began to be ineffective in the fifth
inning when the Altons solved the mystery of some of his slants, and
hits were many. Maloney, the much vaunted pitcher of St. Charles,
was not given a trial. Long before the game started the crowd had
filled the grandstand, and hundreds of people filled the vacant
space before and around it to the topes that had been stretched to
keep the people out of the field. It was the biggest attendance in
the history of the park. The two teams played superbly, considering
the early stage of the season. Schlem for the visitors was a stone
wall at third. Stein for the Blues played a pretty game, and both
Kavanaugh and Schwartz covered themselves with glory. Once Kavanaugh
was on third after a three base hit and the catcher was returning
the ball from home to the pitcher. Kavanaugh started down the home
stretch on a steal, and succeeded in making his score before the
ball could be returned to the catcher. Kavanaugh is making a great
reputation among the local fans as a stealer of bases, and is credit
with being a base kleptomaniac. Schwartz never pitched better, and
did much to win the game. Next Sunday the Blues will journey to St.
Charles to try the same thing on the Browns on their home grounds.
UPPER ALTON HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 22, 1900
The Christian Brothers baseball team of the Upper Alton High School
has begun practice for a coming engagement with the Jerseyville High
School team in the near future.
ALTON BLUES DEFEAT OAKLAND TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 5, 1900
The Alton Blues defeated the Oakland team, formerly of Matoon,
Wednesday afternoon in the shortest time that the game was ever
played at Sportsman's park. The attendance was large and the crowd
saw the best game of the season, both sides playing with a
remarkable fewness of errors. The Altons made three errors and the
visitors made none. The score was 3 to 1. The Oakland team put up by
far the best game of any club that has been seen on the local
diamond this season, and made the locals play hard all through the
game to win out. Zoellers' home run drive over the right field
fence, and Jack Rick's hitting and base running set the big crowd
wild. Schwartz, who pitched a masterly game, was ably supported by
Stein. Pears made a sensational double play unassisted in the first
inning that got the Blues out of a tight hole. The visitors' best
work was done by Keefe at third and O'Connell at short, they
accepting fourteen chances between them. Al Warner umpired. Next
Sunday the Blues will go over to St. Charles to play the second game
of their series.
VENICE vs. EDWARDSVILLE AT SPORTSMAN'S PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 21, 1900
The baseball teams from Venice and Edwardsville that will play at
Sportsman's Park tomorrow will have a large number of friends with
them to see the game. A large number will come from the county seat
and the game will be an interesting one in that the team is made up
of many of the old Madison players that won all the games they
played when they were in their prime. The Venice team is a good one
too, and will be accompanied by a large number of rooters.
LEMPS vs ANHEUSER-BUSCH AT SPORTSMAN'S PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 28, 1900
The Lemps and the Anheuser-Busch baseball teams played a match game
yesterday afternoon at Sportsman's Park for the benefit of Henry
Schreiber, and incidentally to settle a question of supremacy that
has been a contested claim of each team. The score shows the dispute
as to supremacy was well grounded, and neither side had an easy
thing in the game. The score was 8 to 9, in favor of the Lemp team.
ALTON BLUES TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 30, 1900
The Blues and St. Charles Browns played two of the prettiest games
ever played at Sportsman's Park Saturday and Sunday, and as a result
the Blues won both, giving them the championship of their class of
Illinois and Missouri, also giving Alton seven straight games from
St. Charles. The contest was a heartbreaking one, Saturday. Neither
side seemed able to score a decided advantage throughout the game,
and up to the close of the tenth inning it was anybody's game.
Startling plays were the order of the day, and both sides
distinguished themselves. St. Charles was playing with the energy of
despair, and the Blues realized they had a tough proposition. St.
Charles deserves credit for the excellent game they put up, while
the Blues covered themselves with glory. Zoellers in the right
garden slid ten feet on his hands and knees and caught a low line
drive that made every fan there catch his breath in surprise.
Kavanagh's base running and O'Connor's game at third were some of
the features of the Alton side, while Frank Pears pitching was good.
In the Sunday game the playing was phenomenal, while most interest
was centering about the magnificent pitcher's battle. Invincible
Carl Schwartz was opposed by McDermott, formerly of the Clevelands
and the Louisvilles. Schwartz gave no free passes to first, and
McDermott let five Blues walk. Meeks, the rejuvenated Blue, did some
terrific hitting and excellent first base work. Ricks did some
sensational hitting. The score for the Saturday game was 6 to 5 in
ten innings. The score yesterday was 5 to 2, the two runs being made
in the eighth inning by the visitors.
SPAULDING TIGERS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 01, 1900
The Spaulding club is making arrangements to hold a field sports
exhibition at Rock Spring Park next Wednesday, at a picnic to be
held at the park that day. The Spaulding Tigers are getting
themselves into form for all kinds of contests in the line of field
sports.
ALTON BLUES vs. ST. CHARLES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 6, 1900
The beating the Alton Blues gave the St. Charles team is taken as a
public affliction in the village, and nearly every fan in the place
is wearing crape or a long face. The latest to be heard from was Bob
Bode, the tall first baseman of the old Browns, who extends in his
letter to St. Charles fans his sincerest sympathy. He says: "Am very
sorry Browns lost games to Alton, thereby losing the championship.
It's tough luck to have Alton rub it into our boys in Brown. They
are hard ones to beat, especially with their own umpire. Extend my
sympathy to Manager Hoehn and tell him 'it ain't what you used to
be, it's what you are today.'"
ALTON BLUES vs. ST. LOUIS GLOBES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 18, 1900
The game tomorrow between the Blues and the St. Louis Globes will be
a good one. The Globes have strengthened their team by adding some
new players, recruited from the ranks of professionals, and the team
will be much stronger than the one that came here early in the
season. McDermott, who pitched for St. Charles and has made a good
record, will be here as pitcher for the Globes, and he has selected
all the Globe's players for tomorrow's game. He expects to win the
game, too. Winters, right-field, played with Montreal last season,
and refused to sign with the Canadians this season. Clifford played
center for Hillsboro, and is well known to Alton fans. The line-up
for the two teams for tomorrow's game will be:
Altons: Stein, catcher; Schwartz, pitcher; Meeks, 1st base; Ricks,
2nd base; O'Connor, 3rd base; Griffin, shortstop; Hiob, left field;
Kavanaugh, centerfield; Zoehlers, right field; Peals, substitute.
Globes: Clifford, catcher; McDermott, pitcher; O'Brien, first base;
Erman, second base; Corcoran, third base; Wilcox, shortstop; Riley, leftfield; Flood, centerfield; Winters, rightfield; Carney, substitute.
[The Gobes were defeated by the Blues, 6-4.]
BENEFIT BASEBALL GAME
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 11, 1900
A baseball game will be played Thursday, September 20, at
Sportsman's Park for the benefit of the Merchant's Carnival fund.
Will Bauer is getting up two teams to be made up among the clerks of
the city, and tickets to the game will be sold for 25 cents. Every
person in the city will be expected to buy at least one ticket, and
as many more as he can possibly be prevailed upon to take. It is
proposed to raise a big part of the money for the carnival fund by
means of this baseball game.
BLUES WIN IN THE NINTH
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 17, 1900
The Blues set Alton baseball wild Sunday by defeating the crack
Danville, Illinois club of the Central League. It was the most
exciting and hard fought game ever played in this city. Alton made a
Garrison finish, winning out in the ninth inning, after one man had
been retired. The big crowd went wild with delight, throwing hats,
coats and umbrellas in the air, and carrying Jack Ricks, who drove
in the tying run and scored himself on a wild throw with the tally
that gave Alton the game. The game consisted of some brilliant
playing on both sides at times, though neither team played steady
ball. Both pitchers were touched up rather lively when hits meant
runs, but Schwartz had by far the better control, retiring several
of the Danville batsmen on strikes, while Popp was wild, giving
seven bases on balls. Final score: Alton 10; Danville 9.
ALTON BLUES WILL CLOSE THEIR SEASON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 24, 1900
The Alton Blues baseball team will close their season with a game at
Alton, October 14. Manager Wilson has arranged for a game with a
team of professionals headed by Frank Genkins of the Cleveland team,
which Genkins is picking out from the best material obtainable in
the vicinity of St. Louis. The following Sunday the Blues will
travel to Memphis, Tennessee to play the crack Memphis team, which
has been negotiating for some time to secure a game with the Alton
team. The Blues have had a very prosperous season this year, and its
percentage of games won will be high. Manager Wilson says that the
prospects of the formation of a league of baseball teams of South
St. Louis, Belleville, East St. Louis and St. Charles, with the
Blues as one of the members, are good. The proposition has been well
received by all the teams to which it has been made.
ALTON BLUES LOOSE TO ST. LOUIS PROFESSIONALS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 01, 1900
The Blues were defeated Sunday at Sportsman's Park by the
professionals from St. Louis in an exciting ten-inning game, 8 to 4.
The Blues held a commanding lead up to the ninth inning, when the
visitors tied the score on a couple of costly errors, followed by
two safe drives. They scored four more in the tenth on two bases on
balls, a base bit and a wild throw to the plate that got lost in the
"bleachers." The features of the game were Genins' sensational catch
of Cavanaugh's hard drive to deep left-center. Winkehneyer's home
run over the fence and Kane's base running. O'Connor and Stein
played the best ball for Alton.
ALTON BLUES BASEBALL TEAM TO BE REORGANIZED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 18, 1901
It is announced by members of the Alton Baseball Association, which
was disbanded a few months ago, that the association will be
reorganized, and that the Alton Blues Baseball team will have
another season at Sportsman's Park in Alton. It was announced at the
time of the disbandment that the club would probably not be
reorganized, owing to lack of interest on the part of Alton fans the
latter part of the season, which made the Blues a failure as a
financial investment during 1900. The Alton fans have been so urgent
in their requests that another season be tried that a meeting will
be called. Charley Wilson, who has been manager of the Blues since
the team was organized, will not be with the Alton Blues during the
season. His place will be filled by the appointment of another
manager, probably James J. Mullen, who was a prominent stockholder
in the Alton Baseball Association, and an old baseball player. It is
stated that the team will be strengthened by some new players, and
most of the best players of last season who were with the team, and
are still available, will be engaged for the coming season. Some of
the best semiprofessional players in St. Louis will be taken into
the team, and the Blues will be made as strong as it is possible to
make them. The management has the reputation of paying good
salaries, and good men are assured. It will probably be part of the
new policy of the association to take the Blues away from Alton to
play more frequently, in order to insure the appearance of better
teams to play return games.
GETTING READY TO ORGANIZE THE ALTON BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 6, 1901
The management of the Alton Blues is making haste to secure
contracts with the players who will wear the blue uniform this
season, and it is announced that some of them have already signed.
Betts, the new pitcher, who will take the place of Schwartz who has
gone to St. Charles, and Ricks, who will play second base, have
signed for the season, and it is expected that by tomorrow
afternoon, when a meeting will be held by the directors, that all
the members of the team will have signed. Manager Mullin is in
correspondence with all the players in St. Louis who are desired,
and answers are expected from there before tomorrow morning. The
season at Alton may be opened the last Sunday in April or the first
Sunday in May. Last year the season started the last Sunday in
April. A first-class team is promised Alton fans this year.
ALTON BLUES SIGNED FOR SEASON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 8, 1901
A meeting of the Alton Baseball Association was held yesterday for
the purpose of considering the organization of the club for the
season, and to take account of what players can be counted upon for
the Alton Blues. Every point in the team has been filled except
short stop, and Manager Mullen hopes to have a good man in that
position in a short time. Letters were received from all the players
who had been counted upon to join the Blues, and acceptances were
the rule. Henry Stein of Hannibal, catcher; Herrold Betts of St.
Louis, pitcher; Frank Meeks, first base; John Ricks, second base;
Arthur Granville of St. Louis, third base; Charles Gast, Joe
Zoellers and Al Hiob in the outfield. The team will be as strong as
last year, although Schwartz has signed as pitcher for St. Charles.
SPAULDINGS BASEBALL TEAM ORGANIZED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 30, 1901
The Spauldings baseball team was organized last evening at the Alton
Catholic Club rooms, and the following officers were elected: Bayard
Davis, manager; Ed Cremens, Captain; C. C. Ruberstein, treasurer and
corresponding secretary. The team is one of the strongest amateur
teams in the city, having the pick of the best players in all the
best clubs in the city.
CATCHER STRUCK IN EYE BY BALL
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 01, 1901
Roy Swain, catcher on the first baseball team of Shurtleff College,
was struck in the eye by a ball yesterday and was rendered
unconscious for some minutes. There will be no injury to his eye.
ALTON BLUES FIRST GAME OF SEASON VIEWED BY 800 PEOPLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 6, 1901
The Alton Blues and the St. Louis Bohm Bros. teams played ball
yesterday in Sportsman's park - that is the Blues played ball, the
Bohm played bum, but were permitted to make two runs to encourage
them a little. The new members of the Blues are good men, and with a
little practice will prove invincible to all such amateurs as can be
found in Edwardsville, St. Charles, St. Louis and other villages of
that class. Donahue of the Bohm's did some very fast work as short
stop, as did also Pennington, third baseman for the visitors. The
honors of the day for speedy and effective work for the Blues were
captured by Granville and Ricks. The score was Blues 6, Bohm Bros.
2.
SPALDING BASEBALL TEAM WILL OPEN SEASON IN LITCHFIELD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 11, 1901
The Spaldings, Alton's recently organized baseball club, will go to
Litchfield tomorrow and open the season with the Litchfield
Lightnings. A great many rooters will go up with the following
players: Kuennemen and J. Berner, catchers; Cremen and Demuth,
pitchers; Ashlock, 1st base; Demuth, 2nd base; Dooling, 3rd base;
Brady, shortstop; Dooley, left field; Noonan, center field; Kennedy,
right field.
FIRST DEFEAT OF THE SEASON FOR THE ALTON BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 10, 1901
The Alton Blues suffered their first defeat Sunday at the hands of
the St. Louis Diels. It was a rattling good game for a while, but
the local team went into the error making business while the
visitors turned their attention to making good hits, and the result
was disaster. However no team can win all the time and the
encouraging record made by the Blues ought to spur them to great
deeds in the future. Blues players: Zoellers, Stein, Ricks,
Granville, Cass, Meeks, Barrot, Close, Betts.
BLUFF CITY BREWERY vs GODFREY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 10, 1901
The Bluff City Brewery baseball team went out to Godfrey and
walloped the Godfrey club by a score of 25 to 15, Sunday. Batteries:
Alton team - Stillwell and Mitchell. Godfrey - Doyle and Hermon. The
feature of the game was the remarkable batting of Stillwell and Barr
of the Alton team, and Frank Squire of the Godfrey team. The B. C.
B. team will play at Delhi next Sunday, and at Moro the Sunday
following, and if any one else wants a game with the club, the wants
will be supplied by addressing E. A. Stillwell, care Alton Roller
Milling Company.
HAROLD BETTS LEAVES TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 02, 1901
Harold Betts, the pitcher for the Alton Blues, has left the team.
His place will be filled in the game Thursday with the Globes by
Charles Gass. Al Hiob will be with the Blues Thursday also. The
Blues will go to St. Charles Sunday, East St. Louis the next Sunday,
and Quincy the following Sunday.
BASEBALL NEWS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 5, 1901
The Alton Blues defeated the St. Louis Hargadine-McKittrick team
Sunday by a score of 19 to 5. There was nothing much for the Blues
to do only do as they please to win. They pleased to do some good
ball playing. The batteries were Stein and O'Connell for the home
folks; McSweeney and Rily for the visitors. The Alton Browns
defeated the No Names at Rock Springs park by a score of 7 to 25.
Hoehn and Threde of the Browns made a great double play. The
Spaldings defeated the Mexico Stars, Sunday. The Stars being
eclipsed by a score of 13 to 1 - pretty nearly as bad as Bryanism.
The Mohawks defeated the Cherry Streets. Score 5 to 3. An Upper
Alton picked team played with the Godfrey boys Saturday afternoon on
the College campus, and the latter were defeated by a score of 15 to
14.
ALTON MAY LOSE HER BASEBALL TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 22, 1901
Manager J. J. Mullen has booked no game for Sunday, and there is
nothing definite as to when another game will be booked. The
patronage of recent games has not been sufficient to encourage the
management to maintain the team, and not being millionaires they do
not feel able to keep up a good team at the expense of their own
private purses. Manager Mullen stated today that the old-time
rooters have fallen off in their devotion to the team, and that the
attendance is so small that the team is going in the hole slightly.
It is not decided that the Blues will be disbanded.
COLORED K. OF P. SECURE SPORTSMAN PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 11, 1901
The Amusement Committee of the colored Knights of Pythias have
secured Sportsman's Park for a baseball contest in connection with
their emancipation celebration here Monday, September 23. It will be
the first time colored ball teams ever played there. Two games will
be played. At 1:30 p.m. the Alton team will play Granite City, and
at 3:30 St. Charles, Mo., will try conclusions with Granite City.
FOSTERBURG BROWNS PLAY BETHALTO TEAM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 12, 1901
Fosterburg News - Last Sunday our "invincible" Browns crossed bats
with the Big Four team of Bethalto, on the Fosterburg diamond, and
we can safely say it was one of the best if not the best game that
has been played here this season. Robert Pfaff was in the box for
our team, and struck out fourteen of the Big Four players. The
Browns have not lost a game this season, and have played several
visiting teams, the Woodburns, Key Wests, and Big Four are among the
teams that have met defeat at the hands of the Browns. The score was
14 to 6.
PITCHER BREAKS RIGHT ARM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 24, 1901
Andrew Hart, pitcher for the colored baseball team from Newport,
that played at Sportsman's park Monday afternoon, broke his right
arm between the shoulder and the elbow while throwing the ball. He
had thrown the ball once before and felt no inconvenience. When he
delivered the ball the second time, his arm fell limp and a doctor
was summoned. Dr. Bowman made an examination and pronounced the bone
broken off squarely. Hart says his arm was never broken before, and
this fact makes the accident a curious one. The force of the throw
must have caused the fracture. Hart's arm was set and he was sent
home. The score of the game was 10 to 11, in favor of Newport.
ALTON BLUES TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 7, 1901
The Alton Blues took the championship of Illinois and Missouri
yesterday in the closing game of a series of five games between the
Blues and St. Charles Browns. The Blues made some glaring errors,
but as they won out in the ninth inning, the errors are forgiven.
Breitenstein pitched for the Blues, and his part of the game was
very satisfactory. In the first half of the ninth inning the St.
Charles made one run that tied the score, and Blues played out the
last half, making another run that made score 7 to 6, in favor of
Alton. The game was witnessed by a good-sized crowd. Next Sunday a
team of professionals may come here to play the Blues.
ALTON WILL HAVE INDOOR BASEBALL IN CITY HALL
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 21, 1902
An indoor baseball club is being organized in Alton among the young
men who take active interest in athletic sports. The members of the
indoor baseball club will probably be the members of the old
Olympias, Imperials, Black Hawks and one other bowling club. The
young men have secured permission to use the city hall, and last
evening they held their first meeting in the hall to make
preparations for beginning the games. The teams consist of eight
players, there being no short-stop, but the teams will have a dozen
players each in them from which to select men to make up the eight.
There will be four clubs, and they will play a series of games for
championship honors. Monday night the players had a practice game,
and say they found the game a very good one. They have placed wire
screens over the windows in the city hall to avoid breaking the
glass, and they have laid out the floor for the games. The bases are
27 feet apart. The ball used is a large one, of soft material, and
the game is played similarly to the national game of baseball. The
young men who are interested in the formation of the indoor baseball
league will hold a meeting next week to effect a permanent
organization and to elect officers. The organizers of the indoor
baseball league asked the permission of the City Council to use the
city hall for the game this winter, and permission was given.
Meetings will be held once a week, probably on Monday nights, and
the only expense to the players will be the cost of replenishing the
carbons in the electric lights.
ALTON BLUES vs ST. CHARLES BROWNS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 21, 1903
The opening game of ball in Alton in the Trolley League series next
Sunday in Sportsman's park, between the St. Charles Browns and Alton
Blues, will be one of the best games seen in Alton for years
probably. Both teams are in good form and each is determined that
the other must lose. That feeling insures good ball playing. The
Altons have been greatly strengthened and the club gives every
evidence of winning a great bunch of laurels for itself and Alton
this season. In speaking of this opening game, the St. Charles
Cosmos says: "Next Sunday a railway excursion will be run from here
to Alton, Ill., in order that our rooters may attend the opening
game of the Trolley League. Rummel's Military band and many of our
prominent citizens have signed the list to go. St. Charles wants the
game and will get it. Hill and Heininger are getting down to
business. Louie says there will be something doing at Alton next
Sunday." Mike Woodlock has been signed to play shortstop and Riordan
will play in right field after the close of his early season with
the Christian Brothers team. Otherwise, the Alton team will be
strengthened by the addition of new players wherever it is found
possible to make improvements.
ALTON BLUES LOSE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 31, 1905
The Alton Blues lost their game with the Triple A team at
Jerseyville Sunday. The score was 9 to 4. Many of the local fans
went to Jerseyville to see the game. A game was played yesterday
afternoon at Forkyville, near Upper Alton, between the J. H. Mann's
club and the Burlingtons. Neville and Steigler did some fine work
for the Mann's team, and succeeded in keeping the list of Burlington
runs down to three. The Mann's team made ___ runs. The manager of
the latter team, Walter Schwartzbeck, would like to hear from any
amateur clubs desiring a game. Fosterburg defeanted the Upper Alton
baseball team yesterday by the score of 13 to 8.
OLD ALTON BASEBALL PARK AT AN END - GRANDSTAND AND BLEACHERS COME
DOWN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 22, 1906
The end of this week will mark the end of the throne on which the
baseball fan sat for many a day and many a year, passing judgment on
the deeds of the heroes of the green diamond. The bleachers has
furnished a seat for the real fans, those whose enthusiasm could not
be burned out by an August sun, nor chilled by the early frosts of
the Fall before the game was ended for the season. It was the place
where the real critics and where the "sure things," the old
true-penny of the managers sat, who could always be counted on to
find money enough to see a game of baseball even if the pantry at
home did suffer. The grandstand played a minor part, but was none
the less a fixture of the old baseball park. Manager W. M. Sauvage,
who has charge of the May festival to be given at Sportsman's park,
said today that he would tear down the bleachers and the grandstand
and clear the whole grounds to make room for the shows which will be
put in there by the Gaskill Carnival Co. The Illinois Glass company,
having purchased the baseball park to be used as a site for a new
office building, the grandstand and bleachers once taken down, will
not be rebuilt. It will be the end of the baseball park as a ball
park. If a new diamond is to be secured it must be found east of
town, perhaps at the old Chessen race track.
EARLE HARRY DECKER - MAN WHO STARRED AS CATCHER ON FAMOUS OLD
ALTON BASEBALL TEAM - GOES TO SAN QUENTIN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 12, 1913
Earle Harry Decker, many years ago the star catcher on a star Alton
baseball team, who caught Al Warner in the memorable game in which
Alton defeated the Drummond Horse Shoes by a score of 9 to 5, has
been sent to the state prison at San Quentin, California, for forging
checks. The poor fellow has been an inmate of Kankakee and other
institutions for the insane in the past on similar charges, but it
seems the Californians did not believe
he was "daffy." Decker on his
first trip to the plate clouted a three bagger on Paul McSweeney,
and each time up hit safely. He also caught the game at Hannibal two
weeks later, coaching Warner splendidly to another great victory, 9
to 4. The famous "Eagle Eye" Jack Beckley only secured a lone single
out of a total of four hits. A dispatch from Los Angeles says: E. H.
Decker, who was arrested at Los Angeles under the name of Earl H.
Davenport, for passing forged checks, was found guilty by a jury in
Judge Willis' court and sentenced to serve three years in the
penitentiary at San Quentin. A plea of insanity was set up, and it
was shown that Decker had been an inmate of the Elgin and Chester,
Ill. asylums. It was claimed that while playing with Pittsburg in
1891 he was hit in the head with a ball pitched by Bobby Caruthers,
then twirling for Brooklyn, from the effects of which, it is
claimed, he has never recovered. Decker had played ball with
Philadelphia, Detroit, Indianapolis, Toronto, Macon, Keokuk,
Jacksonville, Decatur, and other clubs, and is said to be the
inventor of the safety catchers' mitt now in general use. It is also
said that he has invented a pneumatic mitt that is to be placed on
the market next spring.
[Note: According to the website Evolution of Baseball Catchers
Equipment: "Mitts were a taken-for-granted part of catching. The
earliest documented use of a glove by any player occurred on June
28, 1870 and that was by a catcher. A sportswriter for the
Cincinnati Commercial cabled his office, [Doug] Allison caught today
in a pair of buckskin mittens, to protect his hands. Historians
quibble over whether Harry Decker or Joe Gunson first used the
padded catcher's mitt in the 1880′s The "Decker Safety Catcher's
Mitt," a contraption that was basically a glove stitched to the back
of a round pad that covered the palm of the hand. These gloves were
literally flat pillows that got their pockets broken in on the job
at the expense of the catcher's palm."]
FORMER ALTON PLAYER VISITS
Now Member of Chicago White Sox
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 16, 1913
Laverne "Larry" Ashford Chappell, who was auctioned off to the White
Sox baseball team for $15,000 [$462,286.36 in 2023 money], the
highest price ever paid for an outfielder in professional baseball,
was in Alton today for a short time on his way to his home in
Jerseyville. Chappell, who is only 23 years old, played with the
Greenwood team in the North Side [North Alton] as his first
appearance in a baseball team away from home at McClusky. He is well
known in Alton because of the good work he did with the Greenwood
team. He will join the White Sox team in Chicago Friday, and make
his debut as a big-league player. He is expected by the White Sox
management to make good, as is shown by the big price that was paid
for his release from the team where he had been doing star work. It
is the fact that Chappell is a hard-hitter, as well as a star
outfielder, that makes him valuable, and he is young and ambitious
and ought to make good.
NOTES:
Chappel played for the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and
Boston Braves. He died in 1918 in an army camp in San Francisco
[WWI] from the Spanish Flu, and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery
in Jerseyville.
JOHN IRELAND STRUCK BY BALL IN THE HEAD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 30, 1913
John Ireland, the member of the East Alton Blues who was struck with
a ball pitched by John Balster in the game between the East Alton
Blues and the Bethalto team, was removed to St. Joseph's Hospital
this morning for an operation to be performed by Dr. J. N. Shaff, to
remove the pressure of the skull from the brain. The pressure of the
skull is believed to have formed a blood clot there, as he bled at
the nose all night last night and paralysis of the brain set in. It
is hoped that the operation will relieve the injury. The surgical
operation was performed because there seemed to be a depression in
the skull where the ball struck Ireland, and the surgeons believed
that there had been a fracture of the inner table of the skull,
which had caused the blood clot to form. By trephining the skull and
draining away the blood clot, it was believed it would be possible
to relieve the pressure and permit the young man to regain his
normal senses, and be relieved from the paralysis which would
inevitably disable him, at least partially, unless the pressure was
taken away. The operation was performed late this afternoon and the
surgeons believed it would be successful.
HOLIDAY WILL HURL FOR THE ALTON BLUES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 16, 1922
Jack Holiday, right-hander, who this spring had a tryout with the
St. Louis Browns, and who was sent by that club to Meridian,
Mississippi, and later went to Terre Haute and Bloomington of the
Three-I League, will be in the box for the Blues, Sunday, against
Collinsville. Manager Jack Butler of the Blues today received a
telegram from Jack saying the hurler will be here. When it was
learned that Holiday might be traded by the Bloomers, Butler
immediately got busy and made the wires hot by his telegrams, with
the result that Holiday will be here. Sunday's defeat has caused
Butler to get into action. Another change on the club is planned,
but what it will be Butler will not state. He merely said a change
was coming, but when the Telegraph asked what it was, replied with
his characteristic smile. It may be announced in a few days.
