Clipping:Baseball excitement in Philadelphia
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| Date | Saturday, October 13, 1866 |
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| Text | Any one skeptical as to the great popularity of base ball, would have had his doubts on the subject instantly removed by a sojourn of a few hours in Philadelphia on Monday, Oct 1st, for on that day Philadelphia “had base ball on the brain” to an extent hitherto unequaled, the occasion being the visit of the champion Atlantics to play their first game of the series of home and home matches with the Athletics, a club not yet defeated in a single game this season, a success achieved by no other first class club in the country this season. We frequently hear of a furore for this, that and the other, but on this special occasion any one who couldn't talk base ball, or who was not in some way connected with the grand contest of the day, was nobody. The theme pervaded all corners of the city, and was the topic of interest among all classes for the day. On “change” the prospects of success of the contesting nines were discussed at the same time with the rise and fall of stocks. In the markets the merits of the leading players formed the subject of commerce among the dealers, in preference to the price of beef, port, butter of cabbages. On the streets, politics and base ball divided the conversation. In the offices, betting among the clerks was the order of the day, and even the “bosses” entered in the spirit of the thing to an extent that led many of them to close their establishments in the afternoon, and thereby allow their employees, equally with themselves, an opportunity of going out to see the “big match.” The lions of the day, of course, were the members of the two contesting nines, and even those who were merely members of the two clubs achieved a notoriety, for the time being, , that tickled the vanity of the majority of them amazingly. “Muffin” Atlantics and Athletics became important personages, wore their hats on one side, and looked on ordinary beings in pity. Editors of journals, who hitherto had “pooh poohed” base ball matters as unworthy of serious attention, had their eyes opened to the fact that “ye national game” was a “bigger thing” than they had estimated it, and those of the reportorial corps of the city papers, who had “always told them so, you know” enjoyed their triumph not a little, as they saw that the great excitement in regard to the match, and the thousands upon thousands who showed the deep interest they took in the matter, was having the right influence in high quarters, in removing the obstacles which had previous excluded from the columns of their papers all the extended and well written reports they had frequently sent in, only to be excluded altogether, or so cut down as to take away the very pith and marrow from the subject entirely. City railroad company directors smiled in anticipation of large returns for the day, and those whose lines did not run near the favored spot began to elaborate plans for getting up ball grounds and bit matches near the terminus of their routes. But of all parties who enjoyed special advantaged in the way of profit and popularity, those residing within the immediate vicinity of the grounds exceeded all others. Brown, Jones and Smith, whose homes overlooked the field, were never such “splendid fellows” as they were on this day. What hosts of new friends they had, and as for influence, why, “You can have anything you like, my boy,” “Do anything in the world for you.” Al Reach's “Base Ball Exchange,” on Chestnut street, has always been a popular resort since the “institution” was organize, but on this day there was no getting within reach of the place at all. Outside, a big crowd was collected, discussing, betting and pushing, joking, buying, selling and quoting, the Wall street “bulls” and “bears” on a panic day. “Who wants a hundred of Athletic at, buyer ?” “Here's fifty of Atlantic at, seller 5.” “One hundred to eight on Dick's nine,” says a Morrisanian disciple. “Take that five times,” replies a Brooklynite. “Ten to five Berky leads the score,” cries a third. “Fifty to forty Start hits Dick for a home run.” “Done,” is the prompt reply from rive or six, and so the little game goes on, and the excitement increases. In the meantime, as the hour approaches for the contest to commence, the steady tide begins to flow Columbia avenueward, until towards 1 P.M., when the mob of people, the crowd of vehicles, and extraordinary numbers of men, women and boys en route for the scene of action, is only equalled [sic] by the exodus from London on the great Derby day. The ground reached, what a sight is presented! No such scene of the kind was ever before presented to the public eye in this country, and probably will not again for some time, certainly not this season. Within a radius of a quarter of a mile from the centre of the circle were collected nearly 40,000 people, it is thought. Every window of every house within sight of the field was crowded. The house tops were peopled to an extent endangering the roofs. Trees were loaded with human fruit, and vehicles of every description surrounded the field, filled with all who could get a foothold on them. Inside the enclosure, the pressure was immense, and by the hour appointed for commencing play standing room within fifty feet of the base lines was at a premium, and, as a consequence, there was no space for the players for field operations, at least to an extent admitting of an equal contest. At last, out of patience with the delay, an effort was made to begin, but one innings play on each side sufficed to show that a game on such a crowded field was out of the question, and reluctantly both parties consented to a postponement. The disappointment consequent upon the unforeseen termination of the meeting was very great, and the Athletic Club came in for no small share of censure, some pretty hard things being said about their “grasping for gate money,” etc. But this charge was unmerited, for it that had been their object they could have trebled their receipts of the day by disposing of tickets to speculators a premium prices, but they determined to give all a chance to see, their error being in not calculating upon so large an attendance. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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