Clipping:Tag Professionalism
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professionalism and amateurism
| Date | Tuesday, March 9, 1869 |
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| Text | [commenting on the tour of the Southern Club of New Orleans] ...they ventured a step further than they should have gone in contesting with the 'Red Stockings' of Cincinnati. That step was a erroneous as it would be for a fair whist player, or cribbage player to take challenge from or give challenge to a professional gamester. The 'Red Stockings' are mere hirelings paid annual salaries by jobbers in base ball, who bet upon the achievements of their chosen men whose only business is to practice the game and assiduously think by what trick success can be assured. The Southerns demeaned themselves by playing against such men, as much as a gentleman would demean himself by riding against a professional jockey. The introduction of base ball or any other manly exercise, to invigorate the constitution and develop strength and activity, is beneficial, but the votaries of the game must not descend to the level of competing with the instruments of gamblers. The Southerns were very bold but they were not discreet, in consenting to meet the “Red Stockings” even if the Cincinnati Club were socially their equals, for the Orleanians were already too severely tried by journeys on railroads and steamboats, coming in quick succession, and by a series of games played under the influence of exhausting weather. Cincinnati Commercial September 3, 1869, quoting the New Orleans Bulletin So far as the social status of the gentlemen composing the “Red Stocking” Nine is concerned, in opposition to what we had been led to believe from their appellation as “professional base ball players,” we are happy to state on the authority of the members of the Southern Club, that they are intelligent and clever gentlemen, several of whom are married and have left clerkships and other occupations to take to base balling, in order to gratify their enthusiasm for the game, and, at the same time, follow remunerative occupation. Cincinnati Commercial September 8, 1869, quoting the New Orleans Bulletin |
| Source | Cincinnati Commercial Tribune |
| Tags | Professionalism |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |