Potomac Club of Washington
| Nick Name | Potomac Club |
|---|---|
| Earliest Known Date | November 1859 |
| Last Known Game | |
| Location | Washington, DC, United States |
| Modern Address | |
| NABBP Status | Member |
| Nine Class | Senior |
| Tags | |
| Description | "In the fall of 1859, two separate groups of government workers met in Washington and formed the area's first base baseball clubs, the Potomac and the Nationals." An article in the Washington Evening Star, June 7, 1906, says this club was formed in Sept. 1858, and soon after adopted the name Potomac. Major B. B. French, government supt. of buildings in DC, allowed them to stake out a ball field south of the White House. Among the 17 members were Robert C. Wood Jr. (1832-1900, an army officer, later a Confederate colonel); Richard Biddle Irwin (1839-92, the club secretary, later a colonel USV and author), Thomas Cooper De Leon (1839-1914, the author), and Lewis Cass Forsyth. Washington's population in 1860 was about 75,000. It was the 14th largest city in the US. Originally the District of Columbia included areas south of the Potomac River, but in 1846 these areas were given back to Virginia. |
| Sources | Washington Evening Star, June 7, 1906. Peverelly, The Book of American Pastimes (1866) p. 494 |
| Source Image | [[Image:|left|thumb]] |
| Has Source On Hand | No |
| Comment | The Washington Star, Nov. 4, 1859 announced the formation of this club, with 21 members. McLane Tilton was president, Leonard C. Gunnell as vp, and Richard B. Irwin as secretary. Tilton (1836-1914) was a MD-born Marine officer; Gunnell (1836-72) a DC-born bank clerk; Irwin (1839-92) a Pittsburgh-born govt clerk, and during the war Lt. Colonel under General Banks. Edit with form to add a comment |
| Query | Edit with form to add a query |
| Found by | |
| Submission Note | |
| Entered by | Bruce Allardice |
| First in Location | DC |
| First in Location Note | |
| Entry Origin | Sabrpedia |
| Entry Origin Url | |
| Local-Origin Study Groups | |
| Has Supplemental Text |
Win/Loss Records As Far As We Now Know
Warning: Users should not rely on a team's won-loss record as a reflection of its "standing" among all base ball clubs. Team schedules were not balanced, and a good record against mostly weak opponents does not signify a leading club.
| Year | Games | Wins | Losses | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | 1 Played | 0 Won | 0 Lost | 0 Tied |
| 1860 | 9 Played | 3 Won | 5 Lost | 0 Tied |
| 1866 | 5 Played | 2 Won | 2 Lost | 0 Tied |
| 1867 | 4 Played | 2 Won | 2 Lost | 0 Tied |
| 1868 | 1 Played | 0 Won | 1 Lost | 0 Tied |
Ballgames
Players
No players have been associated with this Club yet.
Playing Fields
| Field | Years | Edit Association with Club |
|---|---|---|
| Potomac grounds | 1860 | |
| White Lot south of the White House | 1860 |
Comments
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