When I was writing my story for District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington DC, I was asked to recheck my references on the game scores almost every step of the way. What people just don’t get is that baseball games had basketball scores back in the day of no gloves. Check it:
That article says:
Another victory for the National - At a match game of base ball, played yesterday afternoon between the “Nationals” of Washington and the “Buckeyes” of Cincinnati, in that city, the former scored 88 to the latter’s 12.
Eighty-eight-to-twelve!
Meanwhile, back in DC:
Base Ball - A match game was played yesterday afternoon by the Jefferson and Continental Clubs on the Nationals’ new grounds, resulting in a victory of the former by a score of 85 to 16 in a game of five innings.
The game was advertised to commence at 3 1/2 p.m. but on account of the sun it was not called until 6, with the Continental in the field. The Jefferson was minus Doyle as short-stop, playing throughout the game with eight men only. The Continentals were also minus some of their players, whose places were, however, filled with able substitutes. On the part of the Jefferson the batting was very heavy, no less than 9 home runs being made. Some good batting was also done by the Continental, by Burger, Nichols, and Lancaster. The fielding on both sides was very poor. Mr. Haskin of the Union Club of Morrisania performed the duties of umpire in an able and impartial manner. All of the home runs made were by the Jeffersons.
I used this article in my District Comics story because I love the Jeffersons, playing with eight men on the field and still winning by 69 runs (in only five innings!) and still not getting full kudos by the reporter (their fielding was poor - they didn’t have a shortstop! Unlike the Continentals, who had “able substitutes.”).
Also, cool note - Morrisania is an old name for the Bronx, and the Unions were an old Bronx baseball team. Interestingly, there wasn’t a Haskin on the 1867 roster (see below)…maybe he moved down to DC? Quit baseball? I can’t find any record of a Haskin playing baseball around that time. Lost to history…for now. At least we know he was able and impartial.
Also, I love the reporters fascination with homeruns. ~140 years later you’ll crucify Barry Bonds but you MADE Barry Bonds, you bastard!
Anyways, pick up District Comics. It’s very able.
Previously: From Newspaper to Comic Book
