Although bat and ball games have been played for many thousands of years, the game of baseball that we know and love it took its present form over the course of the mid Nineteen Century. The first games under the New York Rules were played during the 1845-46 period in the immediate area in Manhatten and across the river in Hoboken, New Jersey. A little more then 11 years later, on January 22, 1857 an organization called the National Association of Baseball Players was formed.
This organization steered the sport through an important growth period in its history. It oversaw many, mostly minor changes that honed the game, into the sport we all love today. Many of the group were unhappy when Alfred J Reach of the Philadelphia Club announced in 1864 that he would be drawing a salary from the club simply for playing the game as the organization was dedicated to preserving the sports amateur status. They were further in their disapproval when in 1869, the Cincinnati Redstockings announced they would field an all professional club for the upcoming season. The organization was amazed and dimayed as well when at the end of the season, the club announced a profit of $1.39. The group knew at that point that their days as spokesmen and leaders of the game were numbered. They did a great job for what they did, as did those who took of the mantle of leadership from them, to give us the game we know today.
Tomorrow we will look at a very one sided Hockey game.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Amateurs
Every professional sports athlete has one thing in common. each and everyone of them was an amateur at one time or another. Each of these athletics went into a program of some kind that helped them hone their skills to a point where they were able to become a professional. For many of these athletics that program was the Amateur Athletic Union. The AAU was founded on January 21, 1887 to oversee athletics from all over the United States and Canada. At its founding, the AAU was divided into five districts to cover its vast territory.
When the Olympic movement was relaunced in the 1890s the organization obtained for itself a great task. Over the years that task resulted in great successes of our Olympics teams in many different sports. When the United States Olympic Committee took over the task of training our Olympic athletics, the task was made much easier as a result of the groundwork already laid down by the AAU. Even today many athletics are honing their skills as result of the fine work done today by the organization. Many books have been written just on the role of the organization in Basketball alone, let alone the work done in Track and Field as well as Swimming and many others.
Happy Birthday AAU, may you continue to prosper for many more years!!! Tomorrow we will look at the founding of another sporting organization.
When the Olympic movement was relaunced in the 1890s the organization obtained for itself a great task. Over the years that task resulted in great successes of our Olympics teams in many different sports. When the United States Olympic Committee took over the task of training our Olympic athletics, the task was made much easier as a result of the groundwork already laid down by the AAU. Even today many athletics are honing their skills as result of the fine work done today by the organization. Many books have been written just on the role of the organization in Basketball alone, let alone the work done in Track and Field as well as Swimming and many others.
Happy Birthday AAU, may you continue to prosper for many more years!!! Tomorrow we will look at the founding of another sporting organization.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The United States Baseball League
Most Football fans can remember the United States Football League of the mid 1980s. Alot of Basketball fans maybe aware their was a recent Basketball that played a spring to Summer Schedule called the United States Basketball League. Big Hockey fans that follow the sport down to the lowest levels are aware there is a junior hockey league called the United States Hockey League. I can guarantee there is not a Baseball fan reading this blog that can remember a professional baseball league called the United States League.
As we learned in yesterdays bonus blog, there were several leagues that tried to be third major leagues and they folded after a season or two. Many of these leagues was never recogized as major leagues. Among these leagues was the United States League of 1912-13.
On January 20, 1912 the United States League announced itself. The eight clubs were awarded to Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, OH; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Reading, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia and Washington, DC. With 9 major league competing against them for the fans dollar, the odds against the league lasting were very long right from the start. Although the leagues clubs had mostly unique nicknames, it did not help at the gate fast enough. The Chicago Club was called the Green Sox, The Cincinnati Club was the Pippins, The Cleveland Club was the Forest Citys, The New York Club was the Knickerbockers, the Pittsburgh Club was the Filipinos, the Reading Club did not have a name, the Richmond Club was called the Rebels and the Washington Club was called the Senators.
The League struggled to make it to the end of their first month. After opening play on May 1, the lost the New York and Washington Clubs and early June the Cleveland and Reading Clubs. The four survivors tried to play, but were forced to give up the ghost by the end of June. League organizers were not ready to give it forever. They worked tirerlessly through the summer and into the offseason to lay plans to revive the league. A second season opened with 8 clubs, after the opening games, two clubs withdrew. After each of the surviving six clubs played their second game, the league collapsed for good.
The name United States League as a baseball league was revived in 1945 when a Negro League was set up with that name. I hope you learned something by reading this. Tomorrow we will look at the Amateur Athletic Union. Some many sports, some little time, pity I have to work for a living.
As we learned in yesterdays bonus blog, there were several leagues that tried to be third major leagues and they folded after a season or two. Many of these leagues was never recogized as major leagues. Among these leagues was the United States League of 1912-13.
On January 20, 1912 the United States League announced itself. The eight clubs were awarded to Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, OH; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Reading, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia and Washington, DC. With 9 major league competing against them for the fans dollar, the odds against the league lasting were very long right from the start. Although the leagues clubs had mostly unique nicknames, it did not help at the gate fast enough. The Chicago Club was called the Green Sox, The Cincinnati Club was the Pippins, The Cleveland Club was the Forest Citys, The New York Club was the Knickerbockers, the Pittsburgh Club was the Filipinos, the Reading Club did not have a name, the Richmond Club was called the Rebels and the Washington Club was called the Senators.
The League struggled to make it to the end of their first month. After opening play on May 1, the lost the New York and Washington Clubs and early June the Cleveland and Reading Clubs. The four survivors tried to play, but were forced to give up the ghost by the end of June. League organizers were not ready to give it forever. They worked tirerlessly through the summer and into the offseason to lay plans to revive the league. A second season opened with 8 clubs, after the opening games, two clubs withdrew. After each of the surviving six clubs played their second game, the league collapsed for good.
The name United States League as a baseball league was revived in 1945 when a Negro League was set up with that name. I hope you learned something by reading this. Tomorrow we will look at the Amateur Athletic Union. Some many sports, some little time, pity I have to work for a living.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Lots of Basketball
Today we hope to pacify the Basketball fans among our readers who may have felt jilted that we did not write about their sport earlier in the week, when we promised we would. We start with January 19, 1963 at the Onondega County War Memorial Arena when the Syracuse Nationals hosted the Boston Celtics for a game. The Nats took an 80-65 lead at the half. Many games of the era could have seen that as the final score. The Celtics who had John Havilicek as a rookie was not about to take no for a answer. The Celts took over for the second half and forced the game into overtime. The locals outscored their visitors by a score of 12-11 in the overtime period to set a couple of records, that have since been broken. The Nationals 149-148 win set a then record for most points by both clubs combined. The Celtics set a then record for most points by a visiting club.
The NBA is not the only league capable of setting records on January 19th. On this date in 1969, the American Basketball Association got into the act. The Miami Floridians played host to the Los Angeles Stars at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. Thanks in large part to a 44 point third quarter, the Floridians won by a score of 145-120. Les Hunter of the Floridians scored a game high 25 points.
January 19, 1971 On the same day that in Baseball, the Southern and Texas Leagues formed the 14 club Dixie Association, the Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association hosted the Denver Rockets. The Chaps played like the Floridians did just two years before, when the used an 83 point second half to cruise to a 148-127 victory. They were led by John Beasley who had 27 points and Wayne Hightower, who haad 26 points. The Chaparrals would later end up in San Antonio and enter the NBA as the Spurs. The Rockets would also move over to the NBA without changing cities as the Nuggets.
On January 19, 2003 the United Professional Basketball League got into the act with two high scoring games. The first at the Kentucky Basketball Academy in Lexington the Kentucky Coyotes beat the Louisville Eagles by a score of 155-154. In the second game at Mansfield, Ohio the Mansfield Hawks scored a 140-75 win over the Frankfort Statesmen.
Scoring records are not the only way into Basketballs recordbooks. On January 19, 2007 at Madison Square Garden, fans may have not realized the history they were watching when the Nets beat the Knicks by a score of 101-100. The game ended without either team tallying a blocked shot. History does after all come in many forms. Tomorrow we will look at the founding of the United States Baseball League.
Please remember that suggestions and comments are always welcome. I am still waiting for the first brave volunteer to leave a comment on the blog, until then I can be reached by the timid at sabrkev@gmail.com.
The NBA is not the only league capable of setting records on January 19th. On this date in 1969, the American Basketball Association got into the act. The Miami Floridians played host to the Los Angeles Stars at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. Thanks in large part to a 44 point third quarter, the Floridians won by a score of 145-120. Les Hunter of the Floridians scored a game high 25 points.
January 19, 1971 On the same day that in Baseball, the Southern and Texas Leagues formed the 14 club Dixie Association, the Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association hosted the Denver Rockets. The Chaps played like the Floridians did just two years before, when the used an 83 point second half to cruise to a 148-127 victory. They were led by John Beasley who had 27 points and Wayne Hightower, who haad 26 points. The Chaparrals would later end up in San Antonio and enter the NBA as the Spurs. The Rockets would also move over to the NBA without changing cities as the Nuggets.
On January 19, 2003 the United Professional Basketball League got into the act with two high scoring games. The first at the Kentucky Basketball Academy in Lexington the Kentucky Coyotes beat the Louisville Eagles by a score of 155-154. In the second game at Mansfield, Ohio the Mansfield Hawks scored a 140-75 win over the Frankfort Statesmen.
Scoring records are not the only way into Basketballs recordbooks. On January 19, 2007 at Madison Square Garden, fans may have not realized the history they were watching when the Nets beat the Knicks by a score of 101-100. The game ended without either team tallying a blocked shot. History does after all come in many forms. Tomorrow we will look at the founding of the United States Baseball League.
Please remember that suggestions and comments are always welcome. I am still waiting for the first brave volunteer to leave a comment on the blog, until then I can be reached by the timid at sabrkev@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Bonus Blog II The American League
Several years ago some of my fellow members of the Society for American Baseball Research contacted me about singing a petition to recognize the 1900 American League as a Major League. Major League Baseball recognizes six leagues as Major Leagues:
National League since 1876
American Association 1882-1891
Union Association 1884
Players National League 1890
American League since 1901
Federal League 1914-15
Some folks like myself will also recognize the National Association of 1871-75 as a major league, it was after all the only professional league operating at the time. The arguement presented was that the 1900 American League was a better league then both the Players Laegue and the Union Association, recognized Major Leagues. They said that when you compared the leagues together the 1900 American League had less players who had no other major league experience then the others. They also pointed out that there were more players with MLB experience in the 1900 American League, then in the other leagues. I believe that although the arguements presented in the case were quite sound, they ignored one very important fact. The American League did not recognize itself as a major league in 1900. They announced they were seeking major league status on January 27, 1901 at the same time they announced that 4 of their 8 clubs were moving to the East Coast.
I am by no means advocating a change now. I am presenting this to see what you my readers have to say on the subject. I for one am very much against revisionist history. I believe that things are just fine the way they are. Now lets have a great debate!!
National League since 1876
American Association 1882-1891
Union Association 1884
Players National League 1890
American League since 1901
Federal League 1914-15
Some folks like myself will also recognize the National Association of 1871-75 as a major league, it was after all the only professional league operating at the time. The arguement presented was that the 1900 American League was a better league then both the Players Laegue and the Union Association, recognized Major Leagues. They said that when you compared the leagues together the 1900 American League had less players who had no other major league experience then the others. They also pointed out that there were more players with MLB experience in the 1900 American League, then in the other leagues. I believe that although the arguements presented in the case were quite sound, they ignored one very important fact. The American League did not recognize itself as a major league in 1900. They announced they were seeking major league status on January 27, 1901 at the same time they announced that 4 of their 8 clubs were moving to the East Coast.
I am by no means advocating a change now. I am presenting this to see what you my readers have to say on the subject. I for one am very much against revisionist history. I believe that things are just fine the way they are. Now lets have a great debate!!
All Star Hockey
On January 18, 1967 the Natioanl Hockey League gathered for its 21st All-Star Game at the Montreal Forum. It was the first All-Star game for the league since expansion had doubled the number of clubs in the league. Going in history had already been made. The Canadiens sent their team out to met the league All-Star Team. The home team managed to score only three goals in the game, the only three goals in the game. It was the first All-Star Game to end in a shutout. The feat has not been equaled to this day.
Exactly twentyfive years later, on the silver anniversary of this game, the league gathered once again, the time in the City of Brotherly Love. At the Spectrum in Philadelphia a very different game would result. In game history would be made as no penalties were called in the game. The fans knew going in that history would made as each team sent three goalies into the contest instead of the traditional two. Riding a six goal second period the Campbell Conference won the game by a score of 10-6. It was the third year in a row that the winning club in the game had scored at least 10 goals. It was also the third time the feat had been done.
Five years later, on January 18, 1997 they gathered at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California for the 47th All-Star game. In this game one player from each side had a hat trick as the Eastern Conference won the game by a score of 11-7. The two teams had combined for a record ten goals in the second period.
Tomorrow I will make it up to the Basketball fans with a look at six different games.
Exactly twentyfive years later, on the silver anniversary of this game, the league gathered once again, the time in the City of Brotherly Love. At the Spectrum in Philadelphia a very different game would result. In game history would be made as no penalties were called in the game. The fans knew going in that history would made as each team sent three goalies into the contest instead of the traditional two. Riding a six goal second period the Campbell Conference won the game by a score of 10-6. It was the third year in a row that the winning club in the game had scored at least 10 goals. It was also the third time the feat had been done.
Five years later, on January 18, 1997 they gathered at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California for the 47th All-Star game. In this game one player from each side had a hat trick as the Eastern Conference won the game by a score of 11-7. The two teams had combined for a record ten goals in the second period.
Tomorrow I will make it up to the Basketball fans with a look at six different games.
Monday, January 17, 2011
A High Scoring Hockey Game
Today we are going to look a high scoring Hockey game.
On January 17, 1962 The Toledo Mercurys of the International Hockey League traveled to the Saint Paul Auditorium for a game against the Saint Paul Saints. The Mercurys quickly took control of the game with a goal at the 1:26 mark of the first period and another at 6:23 to claim a 2-1 lead in the contest. Shortly after that disaster struck the Mercurys when goaltender Norm Jacques had to leave the game with an injury. At the end of the first period the Saints held a 4-2 lead. The Mercurys then suffered though an unbearable second period watching the Saints score 6 goals to their one to find themselves on the short end of a 10-3 score at the second intermission. Judging by the results of the third period the Mercurys must have never made it out for the third period as the Saints took aim at the league recordbook with a 10 goal period to take a 20-3 win from the shellshocked visitors.
Among the many records set were: most total points both clubs with a combined 64 points, most points by one team, the Saints with 55; most points by a team in one period, the Saints with 29 in the third period; most assists in a game Jean-Paul Denis with 9 assists and Paul Masnick with 7 assists both breaking the previous mark of 6; most points in game by one player, three Saints had at least 10 points breaking the previous mark of 9; and defensemen Elliott Chorley scored six goals. The Mercurys probably set a new record sending 4 men into the nets in an attempt to stop the slaughter. The four netminders still managed to record 40 saves between them.
I was going to look at a basketball game from 2005 in the American Basketball Association game, just not enough accurate information was available to write about it.
Tomorrow we will look at three NHL All-Star games and on Tuesday we will make it up to the Basketball fans among our readers.
On January 17, 1962 The Toledo Mercurys of the International Hockey League traveled to the Saint Paul Auditorium for a game against the Saint Paul Saints. The Mercurys quickly took control of the game with a goal at the 1:26 mark of the first period and another at 6:23 to claim a 2-1 lead in the contest. Shortly after that disaster struck the Mercurys when goaltender Norm Jacques had to leave the game with an injury. At the end of the first period the Saints held a 4-2 lead. The Mercurys then suffered though an unbearable second period watching the Saints score 6 goals to their one to find themselves on the short end of a 10-3 score at the second intermission. Judging by the results of the third period the Mercurys must have never made it out for the third period as the Saints took aim at the league recordbook with a 10 goal period to take a 20-3 win from the shellshocked visitors.
Among the many records set were: most total points both clubs with a combined 64 points, most points by one team, the Saints with 55; most points by a team in one period, the Saints with 29 in the third period; most assists in a game Jean-Paul Denis with 9 assists and Paul Masnick with 7 assists both breaking the previous mark of 6; most points in game by one player, three Saints had at least 10 points breaking the previous mark of 9; and defensemen Elliott Chorley scored six goals. The Mercurys probably set a new record sending 4 men into the nets in an attempt to stop the slaughter. The four netminders still managed to record 40 saves between them.
I was going to look at a basketball game from 2005 in the American Basketball Association game, just not enough accurate information was available to write about it.
Tomorrow we will look at three NHL All-Star games and on Tuesday we will make it up to the Basketball fans among our readers.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A Very Early Hockey Game
In the very early days of the 20th Century, the holder of Hockeys' Stanley Cup was subjected to challenges for its right to retain the cup. Any Hockey club could issue a challenge to the current holder.
On December 19, 1904 The Dawson City Nuggets left their home in the Yukon Territory of Canada to travel to Ottawa to challenge the current holders of the Cup, the Ottawa Silver Seven. The Nuggets traveled 4000 miles using dog sled, ship and train to reach the Canadian capital. The journey took almost a month. After taking a 9-2 beating in the opening game of the best two out three series, the Nuggets returned to O'Dey Arena for game 2 on January 16, 1905. What they did not expect was a record beating. At the time hockey games were played in two halves. At the end of the first half the visitors were down by a score of 10-1. When all was said and done, the final score was 23-2. Frank McGee the center for the Silver Seven had scored an amazing 14 goals!! His teammate Harry Westwick scored 5 goals.
Yet six weeks later the Silver Seven accepted yet an other challenge for the Cup, this one came from the Rat Portage Thistles, who were denied in three games. I would like to hear from anyone who can tell me when hockey games began to be played as three periods rather then two halves.
Tomorrow we look at two high scoring events.
On December 19, 1904 The Dawson City Nuggets left their home in the Yukon Territory of Canada to travel to Ottawa to challenge the current holders of the Cup, the Ottawa Silver Seven. The Nuggets traveled 4000 miles using dog sled, ship and train to reach the Canadian capital. The journey took almost a month. After taking a 9-2 beating in the opening game of the best two out three series, the Nuggets returned to O'Dey Arena for game 2 on January 16, 1905. What they did not expect was a record beating. At the time hockey games were played in two halves. At the end of the first half the visitors were down by a score of 10-1. When all was said and done, the final score was 23-2. Frank McGee the center for the Silver Seven had scored an amazing 14 goals!! His teammate Harry Westwick scored 5 goals.
Yet six weeks later the Silver Seven accepted yet an other challenge for the Cup, this one came from the Rat Portage Thistles, who were denied in three games. I would like to hear from anyone who can tell me when hockey games began to be played as three periods rather then two halves.
Tomorrow we look at two high scoring events.
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