1837.1 The Evolution of the New York Game—The Arbiter's Tale

Abstract

We first organized what we called Gotham Base Ball club ... in 1837. Among members were Dr. John Miller, a popular physician of that day; John Murphy, a well-known hotelkeeper, and James Lee, president of New York Chamber of Commerce.*Creation or evolution? historians have argued a similar question for a century and a half. American invention or grownup English children's game? The extensive 1887 testimony of William R. Wheaton, game's first umpire, provides satisfaction to both sides.Wheaton turned 23 in spring of 1837. He was newly married and had been practicing law for a year. According to John M. Ward, Colonel James Lee, elected honorary member of Knickerbocker Club in 1846, said that he had often played same when a boy.1The members of club soon swelled beyond fastidious notions of some of us, and we decided to withdraw and form a new organization we called Knickerbocker.The 1887 narrative leaps ahead eight years to fall of 1845. Wheaton and W. H. Tucker were delegated to draft rules and bylaws of Knickerbocker Base Ball Club. On occasion of club's first at Elysian Fields, October 6, Wheaton served as umpire, endorsing score in Knickerbocker book.The Gothams played a with Star Cricket Club of Brooklyn and beat Englishmen out of sight, of course.This comment is significant because it links Gothams of 1837 to later New York club. The name may have been changed in 1843 when club moved to Elysian Fields, which also hosted fledgling New York Cricket Club. On October 21, 1845, Brooklyn Eagle advised public of A Great Match at Base Ball, between New York Base Ball Club and Brooklyn Club. The Morning News of following day carried details of game, a 24-4 victory for former club. Wheaton was listed as one of three umpires, serving in same capacity in return match several days later.2Confirmation is provided by presence of Miller and Murphy in lineup against Brooklyn, represented by members of Union Star Cricket Club. Alexander Cartwright and Daniel Adams, pioneers of Knickerbocker Club, each reluctantly acknowledged New York club as a predecessor.3 The same club defeated Knickerbockers 23-1 in a famous match June 19, 1846.We laid out ground at Madison Square in form of accurate diamond, with homeplate and sand-bags for bases. You must remember that what is now called Madison Square, opposite Fifth Avenue Hotel, in thirties, was out in country, far from city limits.Base ball was a popular amusement in New York during early 19th century. Charles Haswell refers to the boy of 1816, noting that on Saturday afternoon in fall of year, a few students would meet in hollow Battery.4 After city authorities banned ballplaying at Battery and City Hall Parks in 1817, moved up Manhattan Island. An anonymous item in New York Clipper of October 23, 1880, recalled days when Baseball was favorite game played Chatham square.5 There were games in Greenwich Village in early 1820s and at Washington Square after it was opened in 1826.Originally used as a burial ground, location of future Madison Square had been part of Parade, nearly 75 acres set aside by city planners as an area sufficient to maneuver entire militia of New York.6 An arsenal was built in 1806 at junction of Broadway and Boston Post Road, and, during War of 1812, ground served its intended purpose. It is possible that baseball was played there by New York soldiers like James Lee.7The growing city gradually encroached Parade. In 1825, arsenal was converted into a juvenile detention hall. In 1837, there was still open ground in front of House of Refuge. The opening of Fifth Avenue and construction of Harlem Railroad had recently made neighborhood more accessible. …