Games Tab:Philadelphia

The Craig B. Waff Games Tabulation

Regions
Baltimore-Washington California Canada Chicago Cincinnati Connecticut Detroit Greater New York City Greater New York City, 1861 - 1862 Hudson, Lower Hudson, Upper Louisville Massachusetts Milwaukee Minnesota Miscellaneous New Hampshire New Orleans New York State, Capital Area New York State, Central New York State, Northern New York State, Western Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland, ME St. Louis Greater New York City

36 Entries, using 58 sources     Pdf Version

Craig Waff's Games Tabulations made foundational contributions to our effort to document games and clubs before baseball became a professional sport. Craig's work is memorialized in this section of the site and lives on as a substantial mass of entries in Pre-pro Baseball. For more information about Pre-pro Baseball, see our About Pre-pro page.

1857

Date of Game	City/Town Playing Field	Outcome	Sources
9 Sep, 1857	Germantown, Pa. The old “School Lot”	Keysers’s side, [?] regular circuits and 8 grannies Schaeffer’s side, 73 regular circuits and 6 grannies (town ball)	(1) Sport, “The Game of Town Ball,” NYC, [?] Sep 1857
20 Nov, 1857 (Fri)	Philadelphia, Pa. United States Club grounds at corner of 61st and Hazel streets	Mershin’s side 117 Bears’ side 82 (town ball – six players on each side)	(1) “Town Ball,” NYC, [?] Nov 1857

1858

Date of Game	City/Town Playing Field	Outcome	Sources
18 May, 1858	Camden, N.J.	Olympic 119 counts, 89 catches Camden, 81 counts, 139 catches (town ball – 19 innings)	(1) “Town Ball in Camden, N.J.,” NYC, vol. 6, no. 6 (29 May 1858), p. 43, col. [xx]
3 Jun, 1858 (Thu)	Camden, N.J. Olympic  grounds	Camden (six of the first eleven & five of the second eleven), 85 counts, 178 catches Olympic (second eleven), 76 counts, 181 catches (town ball)	(1) M., “Game of Town Ball,” NYC, vol. 6, no. 9 (19 Jun 1858), p. 70, col. [xx]
17 Jun, 1858 (Thu)	Camden, N.J. Olympic  grounds	Camden (eleven), 81 counts, 146 catches Olympic (second eleven), 71 counts, 142 catches (town ball)	(1) “Town Ball—Return Match,” NYC, [?] Jun 1858
18 Nov, 1858 (Thanks-giving Day)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Swann’s side 27 Wood’s side 20 (game between two nines of the Pennsylvania Tigers Social Club “in existence only a short time.”)	(1) “Base Ball in Philadelphia,” NYC, vol. 6, no. 32 (27 Nov 1858), p. 254, col. [xx]

1859

Date of Game	City/Town Playing Field	Outcome	Sources
11 Jun, 1859 (Sat)	Nesquehoning, Pa.	Mauch Chunk 75 Nesquehoning 42 (PSOT: “Several hundred persons were on the ground, and witnessed the game, …”)	(1) J. L., “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Base-Ball at Mauch Chunk, Pa.,” PSOT, vol. 6, no. 17 (25 Jun 1859), p. 260, col. 3
30 Sep, 1859	Philadelphia, Pa.	T. Bomeisler’s side 18 T. Swann’s side 8 (intra-club game of the Penn Tigers Base Ball Club, which “celebrated their first anniversary.”)	(1) “Base Ball in Philadelphia,” NYC, [?] Oct 1859
12 or 19? Nov, 1859 (Sat)	Philadelphia, Pa. ? Nelson Werntz’s Avenue Drove Yard	McKenna’s Eleven 45 Canning’s Eleven 28 (5 innings) (Pennsylvania BBC intra-club game) (PSOT: “They have adopted the rules of the New York Base Ball Clubs.”)	(1) “Pennsylvania Base Ball Club,” PSOT, vol. 7, no. 13 (26 Nov 1859), p. 196, col. 3
24 Nov, 1859 (Thu) (Thanks-giving)	Philadelphia, Pa. Winona grounds adjacent to Girard College	Davies’ side 67 Mahony’s side 41 (Winona BBC intra-club game) (PSOT: “Their playing was much admired by a large concourse of spectators.  We should like to see this club in a match with one of the numerous clubs of our city.”)	(1) “The Winona Base Ball Club,” NYC, [?] Nov 1859 (2) “Winona Base Ball Club,” PSOT, vol. 7, no. 15 (10 Dec 1859), p. 229, col. 2
24 Nov, 1859 (Thu) (Thanks-giving)	Philadelphia, Pa. Nonpariel grounds in the southern part of the city	Maloney’s side 51 Barr’s side 49 (7 innings) (Nonpariel BBC intra-club game)	(1) “The Nonpariel Base Ball Club,” NYC, [?] Nov 1859
26 Nov, 1859 or 3 Dec? (Sat)	West Philadelphia, Pa. Pennsylvania grounds	Weller’s side 25 Cochran’s side 24 (Pennsylvania BBC intra-club game)	(1) “Pennsylvania Base Ball Club,” PSOT, vol. 7, no. 15 (10 Dec 1859), p. 229, col. 2

1860

Date of Game	City/Town Playing Field	Outcome	Sources
18 May, 1860 (Fri)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Bomeisler’s side 39 Boyce’s side 35 (Winona Base Ball Club intra-club game)	(1) “Winona Base Ball Club,” NYC, [?] May 1860
11 Jun, 1860 (Mon)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Winona 39 Equity 21	(1) “Winona and Equity,” NYC, [?] Jun 1860
25 Jun, 1860 (Mon)	Philadelphia, Pa. Pennsylvania grounds at Ridge & Columbia avenues	Equity (Philadelphia) 65 Pennsylvania 52 (Peverelly: debut match for Equity and “the first ever match played in Pennsylvania”)	(1) “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Base ball in Philadelphia,” PSOT, vol. 8, no. 20 (10 Jul 1860), p. 309, col. 2 (2) Peverelly, p. 107 [date = 26 Jun]
4 Jul, 1860 (Wed)	Philadelphia, Pa.?	Keystone (Philadelphia) 26 Continental (Philadelphia) 11 (PSOT: “The playing was very good on both sides, the fielding of the Keystones eliciting much applause from the spectators.”)	(1) “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Keystone vs. Continental,” PSOT, vol. 8, no. 21 (17 Jul 1860), p. 325, col. 2 (2) Peverelly, p. 103
5 Jul, 1860 (Thu)	Philadelphia, Pa. Equity grounds	Equity (Philadelphia) 59 Winona 39 (NYC: “This manly pastime has become a fixed institution in Philadelphia, there being already twelve regular clubs organized. … Both clubs labored under the disadvantage arising from a very poor ground. … Among the number of spectators present we observed with pleasure the worthy President of the famous Atlantic club of Brooklyn …”	(1) “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Equity vs. Winona,” PSOT, vol. 8, no. 21 (17 Jul 1860), p. 325, col. 2 (2) “Winona vs. Equity,” NYC, [?] July 1860 (3) Peverelly, p. 107
9 Jul, 1860 (Mon)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Excelsior 2 (Philadelphia) 80 Camden 2 (Philadelphia) 42 (town ball – 12 innings) (NYC: “Many ladies and gentleman visited the scene of the contest during the progress of the game, and not a few gave demonstrative tokens of their admiration of the sport.”)	(1) “Town Ball in Philadelphia,” NYC, [?] July 1860
12 Jul, 1860 (Thu)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Olympic 87 Excelsior 71 (town ball – 11 innings)	(1) “Town Ball in Philadelphia,” NYC, [?] July 1860 (2) Peverelly, p. 99 [reprints NYC article]
23 Jul, 1860 (Mon)	Philadelphia, Pa. Grounds at the corner of Columbia and Ridge avenues	Equity (Philadelphia) 58 Winona 21 (third meeting of teams) (NYC: “Several hundred spectators were present, the fair sex being well represented.”)	(1) Clio, “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Base Ball in Philadelphia,” PSOT, vol. 8, no. 23 (31 Jul 1860), p. 357, col. 3 (2) “Winona vs. Equity,” NYC, [?] Aug 1860 (3) Peverelly, p. 107 [dates game 19 Jul]
24 Jul, 1860 (Tue)	Philadelphia, Pa. Camac’s Woods	Olympic (Philadelphia) 18 St. George’s Cricket Club 16	(1) Peverelly, p. 101
25 Aug, 1860	?	Equity (Philadelphia) 49 Pennsylvania 23	(1) Peverelly, pp. 107-108
15 Sep, 1860 (Sat)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Athletic (Philadelphia) 29 Pennsylvania 19 (base ball – “A large number of spectators were on the ground, among whom were quite a bevy of the fair sex; indeed, base ball matches are beginning to be very popular in Philadelphia, especially with the ladies.”)	(1) “Pennsylvania vs. Athletic,” NYC, [?] Sep 1860 (2) Peverelly, p. 104 [dates game 22 Sep and states Athletics had 27 runs]
15 Sep, 1860 (Sat)	?	Equity (Philadelphia) 43 Keystone (Philadelphia) 20	(1) Peverelly, p. 103 & 108 [latter page dates game 19 Sep and says Equity had 42 runs]
18 Sep, 1860 (Tues)	Philadelphia, Pa.	Winona 46 Pennsylvania 35	(1) “Winona vs. Pennsylvania,” NYC, [?] Sep 1860
24 Sep, 1860 (Mon)	Philadelphia, Pa. Camac Woods	Excelsior (Brooklyn) 15 Philadelphia picked nine 4 BS (1): The match “was witnessed by some fifteen hundred persons.  … The New Yorkers gave the Philadelphians credit for excwellent playing.” (NYT (3): “… the Philadelphians played well in the field—some of them being cricketers.”) (NYT (4): “The base ball match … was witnessed by fifteen hundred persons.  …  The game occupied two hours and five minutes.”) (NYC: “about two thousand gratuitous cards of admission were distributed to the ball clubs of the city, and their friends. … It must be borne in mind that the game of base ball is not an institution of long standing in Philadelphia.”)	(1) “Base Ball Match at Philadelphia,” BS, vol. 47, no. 113 (25 Sep 1860), p. 1, col. 5 (2) “Base Ball: The Excelsiors,” BDE, vol. 19, no. 229 (25 Sep 1860), p. 3, col. 2 (3) “News of the Day,” NYT, vol. 10, no. 2812 (25 Sep 1860), p. 4, col. 2 (4) “Sporting Affairs: The Excelsiors in Philadelphia,” NYT, vol. 10, no. 2812 (25 Sep 1860), p. 5, col. 3 (5) “Base Ball at Philadelphia,” BS, vol. 47, no. 114 (26 Sep 1860), p. 1, col. 5 (6) “Interesting Match in Philadelphia, between the Excelsior, of Brooklyn, and Nine Philadelphians,” NYC, [?] Oct 1860 (7) Peverelly, p. 58
29 Sep, 1860 (Sat)	?	Pennsylvania 48 Keystone (Philadelphia) 20	(1) Peverelly, p. 103
6 Oct, 1860 (Sat)	?	Hamilton 51 Athletic (Philadelphia) 37	(1) Peverelly, p. 104
23 Oct, 1860 (Tue)	West Philadelphia, Pa.	Hamilton 15 Equity (Philadelphia) 11 (NYC: “some three hundred persons, including a number of ladies, crossed the bridge to witness a display of the national game … the third match which the Hamilton has played … it is the youngest organized club in the city.”)	(1) [untitled], NYC, [?] Oct 1860 (2) Peverelly, p. 107
6 Nov, 1860 (Tue)	West Philadelphia, Pa. Hamilton grounds	Olympic 18 Hamilton 16 (PI: The defeat of the Hamilton “was unexpected, as they have beaten the Pennsylvania, Athletic and Equity Clubs, and it was thought they would beat the Olympic, and then would be the Champion Club.  The score was small … and kept down by extraordinary good play.  …Quite a number of ladies were present.”) (NYC: “A large concourse of ladies and gentleman [sic] were present to participate in the amusement tendered by this recreative game. … The Hamiltons have played four match games this season, three of which resulted in their favor.”)	(1) “Base Ball,” PI, 8 Nov 1860, p. 1, col. 2 (2) From Our Regular Correspondent, “Base Ball Matches, Trotting and Running at Point Breeze,” NYC, [?] Nov 1860
8 Nov, 1860 (Thu)	Philadelphia, Pa. Continental grounds at Ridge Rd. & Columbia Ave. (PI) or in rear of the Girard College (NYC)	Mercantile 41 Continental 12 (NYC: “the Continentals were badly beaten, and by a club who never before played a match game  Every man in each club were uniformed, a circumstance I have not noticed before. … The ground upon which the game was played is the poorest in the city.  In the rear of the play ground is an embankment, over which the ball rolled several dozen times, causing much delay.  Eight innings only were played, on account of the near approach of darkness.”)	(1) “Base Ball Match,” PI, 8 Nov 1860, p. 1, col. [xx] (2) “Field Sports: Base Ball,” PI, 10 Nov 1860, p. 1, col. [xx] (3) From Our Regular Correspondent, “Base Ball Matches, Trotting and Running at Point Breeze,” NYC, [?] Nov 1860
12 Nov, 1860 (Mon)	Philadelphia, Pa. St. George’s Cricket Club grounds at Camac’s Woods	Equity (Philadelphia) 29 Athletic (Philadelphia) 17 (8 innings) (NYC: “The entire game was not played, owing to an acknowledgment of defeat by the Athletics.  A little ill feeling was noticeable, throughout the game, and too strongly exhibited in the eighth innings.  But at the end of the game, the clubs cheered each other … the parties left the field, many of them arm in arm with each other—thus exhibiting that the ire displayed was absolutely temporary. … The Messrs. Vernon, Mudie, Davis, and Karcher, of the Athletic, it was conjectured, would, in some parts of the game, display some excellent playing, as they are formidable cricketers; but the points anticipated were not exhibited.  Indeed, their play did not come up to the standard.  It being their first play, however, they are most certainly excusable.”)	(1) From Our Regular Correspondent, “Base Ball—Equity vs. Athletic,” NYC, [?] Nov 1860 (2) Peverelly, p. 104
14 Nov, 1860 (Wed)	Mauch Chunk, Pa.	Mauch Chunk 45 Athletic (Philadephia) 43 (Mass. Games rules) (WSOT: “On Wednesday, the 14 th ult., the Athletics left Philadelphia, at 6 A. M., on a brief visit to the Mauch Chunk base ball boys; they arrived at 11 ½ o’clock, and were immediately escorted to the hotel, where a fine dinner had been prepared for them.  After doing justice to the generous repast, a four horse stage, gaily decorated with flags and bunting, was in readiness to convey them to the playground, upon reaching which, the athletics were surprised to find the ground staked off for the ‘Massachusetts game.”  This was not anticipated by A’s, as all of the Philadelphia clubs, and indeed nearly all in the state of Pennsylvania, play the New York game.  The Athletics had never played the Massachusetts game, and the Mauch Chunks were not familiar with the National Association game, although most of them had seen it played. / However, the Athletics, nothing loth, played the Mauch Chunk at their own game, which was one for 45 tallies.  Notwithstanding their inexperience, the Philadelphians played an excellent game, and when the Mauch Chunk went out for their 45, the Athletics had made 43.  During the game, M. C’s made 30 tallies prior to the Athletics securing one; but as soon as the latter understood a little respecting it, they made rapid progress, and if the game had been a full one of 100 tallies, the victory would probably have been with the Athletics. “)	(1) “The Athletic and Mauch Chunk,” PI, 10 Nov 1860, p. 1, col. [xx] [date = 15 Nov] (2) “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Philadelphia Base Ball Boys on a Jaunt—The Athletic Base Ball Club,” WSOT, vol. [xx], no. [xx] (8 Dec 1860), p. [xx], col. 1
14 Nov, 1860 (Wed)	Mauch Chunk, Pa.	Athletic (Philadephia) 34 Mauch Chunk 2 (4 innings, due to darkness) (WSOT: “At the conclusion of the [Massachusetts] game [described above], the bases were arranged for the New York game, …”)	(1) “The Athletic and Mauch Chunk,” PI, 10 Nov 1860, p. 1, col. [xx] [date = 15 Nov] (2) “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Philadelphia Base Ball Boys on a Jaunt—The Athletic Base Ball Club,” WSOT, vol. [xx], no. [xx] (8 Dec 1860), p. [xx], col. 1
17 Nov, 1860 (Sat)	Philadelphia. Pa. Minerva grounds at Camac’s Woods	Minerva 2 (?) (W by 10 runs) Leola 2 (?) (L)	(1) “Base Ball,” PI, 19 Nov 1860, p. 1, col. [xx]
29 Nov, 1860 (Thu)	Philadelphia, Pa. Rear of the Girard College	Winona 2 (?) 32 Equity 2 (?) 19 (NYC: “quite a large number of persons were attracted … to witness a game … The ground, on account of its frosty nature, was in bad condition.  The playing, however, considering this grave impediment to a good field, was strikingly fine.”)	(1) [untitled], NYC, [?] Dec 1860