Exhibitions – Page 2 – Society for American Baseball Research

The Chicago White Sox are pictured on April 12, 1918, before an exhibition game against a US Army team at Camp Funston, outside of Junction City, Kansas. Just weeks ear- lier, the first major outbreak of a global influenza pandemic killed 38 soldiers at the base. An estimated 50 million people around the world died from the flu by the time the pandemic subsided in 1920. (BlackBetsy.com)

April 12, 1918: Red Faber, White Sox win exhibition game in epicenter of influenza pandemic

May 5, 1918: Breaking the Sabbath: Navy Yard stars win exhibition at Braves Field

John “Beans” Reardon, left, wearing a flu mask underneath his umpire’s mask, prepares to call a pitch in a California Winter League game on January 26, 1919, in Pasadena, California. During a global influenza pandemic, all players and fans were required by city ordinance to wear facial coverings at all times while outdoors. The catcher and batter’s identities are unconfirmed, but the best available evidence suggests it might be Truck Hannah behind the plate and Rube Ellis at bat.

January 26, 1919: The Flu Mask Baseball Game

Babe Ruth with the Boston Red sox, circa 1917 (LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

April 4, 1919: Babe Ruth slugs ‘longest homer’ in spring-training game at Tampa

April 18, 1919: Babe Ruth thrills hometown Baltimore fans with 6 home runs in 6 at-bats

June 26, 1920: Lou Gehrig homers in high school all-star game at Cubs Park

May 9, 1921: Collegians versus the Pros: BC’s Jimmy Fitzpatrick stymies Boston Braves

October 3, 1921: A Negro League team plays in Sportsman’s Park for the first time

Oscar Charleston (SABR-RUCKER ARCHIVE)

October 4, 1921: Oscar Charleston and Charlie Blackwell bash the Cardinals’ barnstormers in Game 2

Jack Fournier (TRADING CARD DB)

October 9, 1921: Cardinals barnstormers smash St. Louis Giants in doubleheader sweep

Milt Stock (TRADING CARD DB)

October 10, 1921: Cardinals barnstormers blow out St. Louis Giants in exhibition series finale

August 14, 1922: Lizzie Murphy becomes first woman to play against major leaguers at Fenway Park

July 19, 1923: Judge Landis Day in Salisbury, MD

April 11, 1925: Braves, Red Sox resume City Series in Boston

DonaldsonJohn

June 14, 1925: ‘Outlaw’ Swede Risberg defeats John Donaldson in Montana duel

October 18, 1925: Oscar Charleston’s Lincoln Giants fall to Lou Gehrig and the Bronx Giants in an avalanche of runs

Biz Mackey (NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY)

October 14, 1928: Baltimore Black Sox beat Lefty Grove and all-star team

October 29, 1928: Young Bob Feller catches glimpse of his future as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig barnstorm into Iowa

April 14, 1929: Sunday baseball in Boston for the first time

September 7, 1929: Havana’s Luis E. Tiant knocked out in Baltimore exhibition game

September 8, 1930: Old-timers make history in charity game at Braves Field

June 20, 1931: Old Pete brings night baseball to Jamestown

Billy Evans (Walter P. Reuther collection, Wayne State University)

August 17, 1931: Thousands turn out to honor Billy Evans at Indians’ exhibition in Youngstown

September 9, 1931: Al Capone turns out for Cubs-White Sox charity exhibition in Chicago