Fifty Cents for a game

On July 20, 1858 a sports milestone first was made at the Fashion Race Course on Long Island, New York. For the first time admission to a game was charged. The game was an all-star game between Brooklyn Clubs and New York Clubs. The admission fee for the game was fifty cents.

The Brooklyn all-star team was drawn from the Atlantic, Eckford, Excelsior and Putnam Clubs. The New York all-star team was drawn from the Eagle, Empire, Gotham, Knickerbocker and Union Clubs. A rather large crowd witnessed the New York team win the game by a score of 22-18. The New York club was led by lower fielder Hoyt and pitcher Van Cott. Several of the clubs that were represented in the game would later turn professional and play in the first organized baseball league, the National Association.

Tomorrow we look at a very long American League game.