SCSR : 19th Century Cincinnati Base Ball

Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago White Stockings

August 9th 1875

Ludlow (KY) Avenue Base Ball Grounds

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
CIN	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	7	0	-	13	-	7
CHI	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	-	5	-	22

	Cincinnati	T	R	1B	PO	A	E

1B	Charlie Gould	6	2	1	3	0	1
RF	Redleg Snyder	5	2	1	1	1	0
SS	(?) Radcliffe	5	2	1	1	2	1
P	Cherokee Fisher	5	2	2	2	1	1
CF	Bobby Clack	5	0	2	0	0	0
2B	Sam Fields	4	1	2	1	0	0
LF	(?) Wardell	5	0	1	4	0	1
C	Dave Pierson	5	2	1	15	0	3
3B	Henry Kessler	5	2	0	0	0	0

	Totals	45	13	11	27	4	7

	Chicago	T	R	1B	PO	A	E

LF	Dick Higham	4	1	0	0	0	1
1B	Jim Devlin	4	0	0	16	1	4
CF	Paul Hines	4	2	2	0	0	0
SS	John Peters	4	1	1	4	5	2
C	Scott Hastings	4	0	0	3	1	4
P	Mike Golden	4	1	1	0	3	4
3B	(?) Warren	4	0	1	2	4	4
RF	Oscar Bielaski	3	0	1	1	1	1
2B	Joe Miller	3	0	0	1	2	2

	Totals	34	5	6	27	17	22

	CINCINNATI	CHICAGO

Base On Errors	10	2
Runs Earned	0	2

Time Of Game	2:10
Attendance	3,500
Umpire	Charley Jones
	of the Ludlows

Remarks

Cincinnati Commercial

08-10-1875

The overwhelming defeat of the Chicagos may be ascribed to several reasons. In the first place, the nine are dissatisfied with their management and with each other. They have been berated since the opening of the season by the Chicago press in such a manner as to dishearten them, while in 6the most active stage of the season's play they have been told that but a portion of the nine will be retained for next year. This information has taken the heart out of the nine. They are jealous of one another, and indifferent as to how their club fares. They are now on their return from an unsuccessful Eastern trip, and they expect to be badly received when they get home. All these circumstances must influence their play, and in an unfavorable manner. Then, in yesterday's game, they were short their regular left fielder and Captain, Glenn, and they were fatigued from the effects of a continuous ride by rail from Philadelphia.

They were hustled to the grounds as soon as they left the cars, and were every way unfitted for the contest. Furthermore, they were picked up by the Red Stockings. Instead of meeting a picked nine of ordinary players, they met a very well disciplined team who had everything to win and nothing to lose. The crowd also was more intensely partisan than any of those which graced the old Union Grounds in former years, and the Chicagos, not having the club spirit and esprit-de-corpe that is the secret of the Boston club's success fell easy victims to the very nine of all others that they desired to defeat.

All of their players did poorly, and the only words of commendation to be written in their behalf must be applied to Peters for his beautiful double play in the ninth inning.

The Red Stockings astonished and delighted everybody. They played with much steadiness, and developed skill on the part of several players that was unlooked for. Particularly was this the case with Pierson. He is a second Allison, with more activity than that famous player possesses. Pierson's debut was a complete success, and his name, his achievements, were on every tongue as the crowd left the grounds. His catches of foul tips, three of them, were wonderful indeed, and if he possessed a little more stamina, he would be all that a first-class catcher need be.

Fisher pitched remarkably well, made one good play in the field, and batted with good effect. Gould more than sustained his past reputation, particularly in batting, his hits being made when most needed. Fields batted splendidly, and was loudly cheered. Radcliffe fielded well, and captained his nine very fairly for first effort. Wardell played splendidly in the outfield, as did Snyder also, while Clack earned his honors in batting.

The umpiring was excellent, and by the impartial and judicious warmly applauded.

First Game Of the New "Cincinnatis"

Cincinnati Commercial

08-10-1875

Cincinnati is in for the base ball fever sure enough now. The contests of local and suburban amateur clubs had developed the symptoms pretty thoroughly as it was, but now that we have a club of our own, and a professional club at that, and a club that has taken its first trick already and thinks it can shape itself into the ace of clubs and take in all the other clubs of the country, we suppose the city had better commence taking its base ball medicine regularly, get down all the old and musty base ball almanacs and see what is good for a "stinger." how a "muff" should be treated, how a "daisy cutter" prevented, and "sky scooper" taken in, and a thousand or so more little ball knocking points covered.

We can not say of the malady, with the people out West when locating the milk silkness, that it is further on. It is decidedly and positively here. As P. Henry said of the war of the Revolution, "It has actually begun;" and its worst stage dates from yesterday, when our freshly organized Red Stockings, little practiced as they were, gallantly defeated the boasted heroes of Chicago to the tune of 13 to 5 !

It could hardly have been expected by the (unreadable word) believers in CIncinnati's ability up a first-class club, that an effective (unreadable word) be organized at this season of the (unreadable word) short a time. But there (unreadable word) physical forces at work (unreadable word) result, and while the new Red Stockings (unreadable word) yet be Herculean in it's strength and perfect in its discipline, it has made wonderful progress in the brief space of time it has been in existence and bids fair to take up the tale of triumph where the old Cincinnati Club snapped it off.

The first game of the new club was played on another's field. The grounds preparing for their occupancy, at the Stock-yards, being still under water from the Mill Creek inundation, the club had to resort to "Kentucky hospitality," which, though not always as unostentatious as it might be, was gracefully represented by the Ludlow Base Ball Club, on whose grounds the contest took place. The event had been liberally and judiciously advertised, and the general interest felt in the inaugural game of the home club crowded the grounds to the point of interference with the play. The street cars running to the foot of Fifth street were unmercifully loaded for the poor horses, and McCoy's little ferry-boat was a perfect sweat-bath for the poor people who subjected themselves to the misery of that means of transportation across the booming river. The steamer Champion came in for a couple of boat loads to the grounds, and what with people on foot, people in carriages and people by river, there must have been between three and four thousand spectators of the game.

It was a crowd of unbounded enthusiasm on the Red Stocking side, after the boys showed themselves worthy the attention of their adversaries; but it was not, we are sorry to say, as orderly as the gatherings we used to have at the old Union Grounds. It was to boisterous and too full of slang for the large numbers of ladies that were present and in its partially for the Reds, treated neither the Chicago visitors nor the umpire with a proper degree of courtesy - frequently hissing the latter and taunting the former in a manner that we hope will not be tolerated on the new grounds. It is very discouraging to a strange club to encounter an unfriendly feeling in an audience, and it is certainly ungenerous and unkind for a crowd of partisans to criticize with hisses and sneers the decisions of a gentleman who accepts the ungrateful position of umpire, with the determination to do the fair thing all around. The generality of base ball goers conduct themselves with decorum, as did the great majority of people yesterday; but the percentage of hissers, and claqueurs, and cat--callers was entirely too large for comfort and as the remedy is simple, it is desirable it should be applied in the future.

All the base ball enthusiasts of former times were on hand of course. There was ex-Mayor Davis busy with tally-sheet and pencil keeping up with the game, and commenting to his neighbors on the good and bad plays made, with the vivacity of a thorough-going devotee. Then there was Dr. Maley in his new white plug, keeping the boys off the field with a stick,; and Jim Binnigan, and Archie Walker, and Colonel Snelbaker, and a host of other "old-timers," eager for the fun and delighted with the brilliant victory of the successors of their old favorites. Johnny Joyce was the here of the occasion. He had been sent out to gather up a nine, and it was doubtful in a good many minds whether he had made a good job of it.

The first public game was the settle the question in some degree, and Johnny, though confident, was somewhat nervous. The first few innings went against the boys, and at one point demoralization "seemed to have overtaken them. But the little "Colonel" never lost nerve, and when the tables were turned, and the Reds made run after run, tying and passing, then leaving the White Stockings away behind, amid the cheering and waving of that wildly enthusiastic multitude, he was a happy man indeed.

The result of the game was a sad and totally unexpected blow to the Chicago betting men. It was almost generally conceded that the White Stockings would beat the new nine, and nearly all the betting was on the Chicagos beating them two to one. Cincinnatians were afraid to venture much even at those odds, but the sporting fraternity that bet on anything, from the turn of a card to the pulling of the longest straw out of a haystack, went in heavily on that proposition, and landed many a good ten-dollar bill.

At 4 P.M. Captain Jones of the Ludlows, doffed his coat, and stepping to the home plate, ordered play to begin. The Reds had lost the toss, and were, therefore, forced to go to the bat. Golden, the White Stockings pitcher, after sending in a few balls by way of exercise, got down to business, and all eyes were centered on Charlie Gould, who, being the only one of the original Reds in the new nine, was appropriately picked upon to lead the batting order.

Charlie's first effort was not a success, his easy bounder to first base being handled by Devlin in ample season to necessitate the striker's retirement. Snyder fared no better on a bounder to short stop, as Peters picked it up and threw it nicely to Devlin in good time to cause a second had to be lost. Radcliffe also hit a bounder, and was thrown out at first by Miller.

For the Chicagos, Dick Higham led off with a long, high fly ball to left field, that Wardell misjudged, giving Higham second base, and causing the crowd to groan dismally. Higham soon trotted to third on an over-pitch, and Devlin then fouled out on the bound to catcher. A passed ball followed, and Higham crossed the plate, to the disgust of the spectators. Hines drove a savage liner to center, and got his base easily. Peters put up a high foul fly that Gould traveled for, but could not get, as it fell among the crowd. Pending Peters' next attempts, Hines made third third base an another passed ball. Peters at last hit the ball, sending it high in the air to left field, where it fell in Wardells hands. Before the ball could be returned, however, Hines scored a second tally for Chicago, and it was well that he did so, as Hastings, the next striker struck a foul fly that fell in Pierson's ready palms.

Fisher opened the Cincinnati's second inning with a hot bounder that owing to the uneven nature of the ground, went over Miller's head, giving the striker a base that was earned under the circumstances. A passed ball gave him second, but Black's soft hit to Peters led to a double play, the striker finding the ball at first before he reached that base, and Devlin returning it quickly to Warren at third in time to shut off Mr. Fisher. The play was a fine one and Peters displayed shrewdness and skill in holding Fisher a few seconds too long on second by his feint to throw to that base. The inning ended with Fields going out on three strikes.

The Whites were also blanked, Golden struck out, Warren drove a hot bounder to Fisher who clutched it with his right had and threw it to first accomplishing a piece of fielding for which he was deservedly applauded. Bielaski hit a hot grounder which Radcliffe fumbled and gave a base to the striker, the umpire making a good decision, although some of the crowd seemed to think different. On a passed ball, Bielaski made second and there he was left, as Miller struck out.

The third inning resulted in another whitewash for the Reds. Wardell bounded out to Devlin at first, Pierson was missed by Hastings on a foul bound and got his base after afterward on an easy fly badly muffed by Golden. Kessler also had a life given him by Golden's muff of his ground hit. Gould then came to the bat amid cried of "home run" from the youngsters, and struck a long fly to right field just inside the foul line. Pierson and Kessler thought the ball bounded foul, and while they were trying to understand some of the orders shouted at them by others of the Red Stockings, the ball was passed to Warren at third and by him thrown to Miller, effecting another double play, as it was a forced run. This want of judicious captaincy lost the Reds one or more runs.

The White Stockings fared no better, however. Higham flew out to Radcliffe, Devlin fouled to Pierson on the bound, and Hine's fly to right field was easily caught by Snyder.

In the fourth inning the Red Stockings astonished their friends by tying and exceeding the score of their antagonists. Gould was the first striker, and although Golden dropped his bounding ball, the sphere was thrown to first in time to put out Charley. Snyder followed with a similar hit to Warren, who muffed it. Radcliffe sent the ball skimming through the grass to Miller, who muffed it, also giving another life. Snyder traveled to third on the play, but would have been out had not Warren dropped the ball when Miller threw it to him.

Snyder came in on Peters' muff of Fisher's bounding ball and was lustily cheered. Radcliffe and Fisher then forged a base ahead on a passed ball. Clack flew out to Peters, making room for Fields, who struck as if he meant it, and as the ball sped through the space to a safe spot in center field, Radcliffe and Fisher ran in. Fields made his second base, and the hill around which the major portion of the crowd were congregated, looked like an outdoor mad house or an open air meeting of the Democracy. Wardell then went out at first with Golden's assistance, leaving Fields on second and the game in their favor with an inning to spare for Chicago.

The Reds were wonderfully encouraged by this streak of luck and good play combined, and, altho8ugh Peters, who led off for Chicago rapped the ball hard it was gathered by Radcliffe, and beat the White Stocking delegate to first base. Hastings then flew out to Fisher. Golden got his base on called balls, his second on a passed ball, and scored on Warren's fine line hit to right field. Warren failed to make second base on the play through Snyder's quick throw in, that Fields held in time to touch him out. Golden was entitled to his run, as he crossed the plate before being put out.

(Unreadable word) and sixth innings were blanks for both (unreadable word) fifth, Gould made a base for the Cincinnati (unreadable word) a bad fumble by Golden, but was (unreadable word) being Pierson on a foul bound to (unreadable word) Kessler on a fly to Peters, and Snyder (unreadable word) with Warren's assistance. In the sixth, (unreadable word) and Fields were thrown out at first by Miller and Peters, while Fisher struck out and found the ball at first base before him. Clack, who had reached his base on a safe grounder over second, was left.

The Whites went out in one, two, three order in these innings. In the fifth, Bielaski fouled out on the bound to catcher, Miller gave Fisher a chance for a fly catch, and Higham did likewise to Wardell. In the sixth Devlinb and Hines went out on foul flies to Pierson, the nobby little catcher jumping high in the air in his second effort and taking the ball in with his left hand. Peters closed this inning by an out at first, due to hitting to Radcliffe.

In the seventh inning the game was decided. Wardell opened in an unpromising manner by retiring at first on a bounder to Warren. Pierson made the same kind of a bounding hit, but Devlin muffed Warren's throw. Then Kessler drove another bounder to Miller, who had the ball in his hands and could have made a double play, but for his over-anxiety, which caused him to drop and give both men their bases. Gould had two strikes called on him before he offered to introduce himself to the ball but when he did so the globe went humming to right field, giving Pierson a run. Gould got second base on the hit, as Bielaski allowed the ball, after it had struck to bound through his legs.

Snyder now came to the rescue with a high fly hit that fell inside the left field foul line, and as Higham was playing too far toward center, before he could get up to it Kessler and Gould tallied and Snyder reached second base. Radcliffe hit a liner that Devlin muffed, missing a double play, as Snyder was off the base at the time and would have been caught had he held it. As it was, Devlin had to be content with picking up the ball and putting Radcliffe out on first. Snyder was soon afterwards caught off third, but Golden's wild throw saved him from being put out. Fisher then ended the inning by hitting to Peters and going out at first.

The Chicagos were now heartily discouraged. They had had every reason to anticipate an easy victory, and finding themselves so far behind at such an advanced stage of the game they abandoned all hope of winning. Hasting hit to short left field and Wardell got the ball while running like a race horse. Golden tipped a foul bound to Pierson. Warren made another line hit to right field and stole second, but was left by Bielaski, whose foul tip was taken hot from the bat by Pierson.

In the eighth inning trouble began in earnest. Clack did not want to be responsible for any of it as he opened with a fly to Bielaski. Fiields than drove a base bounder between Warren and Peters, and Wardell followed with a bounding hit over Peters' head. Hines got the ball on this hit and threw to Warren to capture Fields, but failed of his object. Warren seeing how futile was the effort, no sooner caught the ball than he hurled it to where the second baseman ought to have been to catch Wardell. But no baseman was there, and as the ball sped into the outfield, Fields tallied. Pierson then hit easily to Golden, and Wardell was caught, while imprudently trying to run in by Golden's throw to Hastinge. Kessler hit to Warren, and the ball was thrown too low to first, giving him the base.

At this stage of the game Higham and Miller changed positions with the White Stockings. With two men on bases, it became necessary for Gould to do something, and he electrified the crowd by driving a sharp grounder over second, and sending in both men. Snyder got his base on a muffed bounder by Devlin. Radcliffe then drove a hard liner to right field, sending Gould in, and Fisher followed with a rattling liner to center field, tallying Radcliffe and Gould. Fisher took second on a passed ball. Clack made a base on a fair foul easy tip, and got second on Higham's muff of Hasting's throw to catch him stealing second. Fisher came in also on this play. Clack stole third, and Fields went out at first by Peters' throw.

For the Whites, Miller fouled out to Pierson; Higham hit a foul fly, and Kessler, in running for it, had the breath knocked out of him by colliding with a small boy, he evidently not understanding what Covington small boys are made of; Higham then flew out to Wardell, the catch being a fine one; Devlin fouled to Pierson.

In the ninth inning Wardell was fielded out at first by Warren in fine style. Pierson hit for a base, and took second on Devlin's error, after being caught napping between bases. Kessler took first on Peters' error. Gould hit a scorching liner, which Peters caught splendidly, after jumping in the air for it, and then stepped on second, capturing Pierson also.

The Whites now struck a streak of batting, earning two runs by the good hits of Hines, Peters and Golden. Hastings and Warren were taken by Pierson on hot foul tips, and Bielaski was touched out between bases after a good fly hit to left field.

The score was as follows, the column headed "T" meaning times at the bat.

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