The First Army-Navy Baseball Game

Abstract

Baseball folklore has it that Abner Doubleday chased the cows out Elihu Phinney's cow pasture on an afternoon in 1839 and thus was inspired to invent the game baseball.1 While home on leave from the United States Military Academy, Cadet Doubleday drew up the rules and designed playing field, the baseball diamond, blazed the trail to the exciting game which has become America's national pastime.2Yet organized baseball at West Point did not take shape until 1863, when small group cadets applied for permission to procure the necessary equipment and play game baseball.3 Their request was approved. By 1867, the regulations were published for members the Corps Cadets to play baseball. The sport would provide exercise for the cadets and amusement for the good citizens Highland Falls [located just outside the gates West Point].4 Games were played on the southeast corner the parade field, in an open area between the cadet barracks and the academic building. The game quickly gained many followers and by the 1890s, West Point cadets were fielding team to compete against other colleges and universities.Cadets George White (Class 1891), Jay Morrow (1891), Billy Pattison (1893), and John Rice (1893) established Army's first varsity baseball team in 1890. The inaugural extramural game was played on the first Saturday August 1890, against the Riverton Club Philadelphia. The eight-inning contest ended in an 8-8 tie, but baseball had come to West Point to stay. The sport gained popularity, opening a new field for the expenditure cadet energy.5 Because the success Cadets White, Morrow, Pattison, and Rice had made with baseball, Dennis Michie organized the United States Military Academy's first football team the following autumn.The SetupTen years later, during the winter 1900-1901, athletic leaders at West Point and Annapolis arranged series baseball games between the two academies. The first Army- Navy baseball game would be played in the spring 1901, with the cadets traveling to Annapolis, Maryland, to play the midshipmen. In his annual briefing to the President the Army Athletic Association, First Lieutenant Leon B. Kromer, the Army's Officer Representative for Baseball in 1901, recounted how the baseball team used professional assistance to strengthen the skills its players. He wrote,A game with the Naval Cadets being ahead us it was resolved by all to leave no stone unturned to develop the best team possible. Accordingly, Mr. George Davis, Manager and Captain the New York National League Team, was engaged to come up on Saturdays during February and March to the candidates in batting. He came and his work was successful; upon his advice Mr. Charles Irvine was secured to stay with the team for the month preceding the Navy game. The two came up together several times and when Mr. Davis left to join his own team, great deal progress had been made, and we were on the right road.6In January 1901, George Davis the New York Giants, future Hall Fame inductee, had agreed with Lieutenant Kromer to coach our baseball nine for consideration $25.00 and expenses.7 The motion to hire Mr. Davis was moved, seconded, and carried by the Army Athletic Council. Six weeks later, the council also carried motion to close with Charles Irvine as baseball coach. In 1901, Davis was star on the National League's New York Giants and teammate Sammy Strang Nicklin, future Army manager. Irvine was close friend Davis, and he coached the team for the month preceding the Army-Navy game, proving himself to be most capable and to him is due in great measure the success the team.8 Irvine had played professional baseball in Kansas City (of the Western League) and Providence (of the Eastern League). He had also gained much experience as of various college teams throughout the states. …