‘And God bless us every one!’ Baseball on Christmas Day, 1873
This article was written by Bob LeMoine
This article was published in 1870s Boston Red Stockings essays
The day, though rather cloudy, was not chilly, and not stormy, and thus there was no reasonable cause for failure to make the most of the religious and social privileges provided as part of the day’s enjoyment,” wrote the Boston Globe. “In nearly all the churches, elaborate preparations were made and appropriate services held—all being largely attended.”
Some 500 Bostonians, however, went to see a baseball game at the South End Grounds on Christmas Day, December 25, 1873. Harry Wright and Al Spalding chose two teams of 10 players and played a 10-inning game. “All players wishing to take part are requested to be on hand in good season,” prompted the Boston Post. The game began at 10:30 A.M. and was over in time for a hearty Christmas dinner. The admission was free and the Globe promised that “an interesting game is sure to occur.”
Spalding took the mound and had Dave Birdsall at catcher and Fred Cone at first. It also appears that a young Arthur Soden, future baseball executive and owner of the Boston Beaneaters, was patrolling center field. He would also travel with the team on their voyage to England in 1874. Harry Wright was the opposing pitcher, and he had his brother George at shortstop, Jack Manning at first, Charlie Sweasy at second and Bob Addy at third. There was also an S. Wright Jr. catching, who was probably the Wrights’ younger brother Sam.
The Harry Wright side won 18-16, the New York Clipper commenting, “The closeness of the contest may be judged from the fact that the game was a tie at the close of the third, eighth, and ninth innings, Wright’s side obtaining the winning run in the tenth.”
Other teams had already experimented with the 10-10 structure. Henry Chadwick was convinced the idea was good for baseball and presented his opinions at the March 1874 baseball winter meetings. The motion was defeated by the delegates.
While it would be unheard of to see major-league ballplayers today play a game “just for fun” (and with free admission), it was common in that day. “The boys were amateurs at heart,” wrote Harold Kaese.
BOB LeMOINE came up with the idea for this book while researching the beginnings of professional baseball in Boston, wondering “How did all of that come together?” He often daydreams about time traveling to the 19th Century too see early baseball games, horse and buggies, and meet the legendary stars. Actually, he’d just like to see a game for 25 cents. Bob works as a high school librarian and lives in Barrington, New Hampshire.
Sources
“A Ten Innings Game,” New York Clipper, January 3, 1874: 315.
Boston Post, December 25, 1873.
Kaese, Harold. The Boston Braves: 1871-1953 (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2004), 13.
“Merry Christmas. Its Celebration in Boston and Vicinity,” Boston Globe, December 27, 1873: 1.
Morris, Peter. A Game of Inches: The Story Behind the Innovations That Shaped Baseball (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee Publishers, 2010), 502-503.
“The City. Notes of the Day About Town,” Boston Globe, December 25, 1873: 8.