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Pre-Civil-War Base Ball Games Played in Baltimore-Washington

Compiled by Craig B. Waff

(14 December 2008 version)

Acronyms:

BS = [Baltimore] Sun

NYC = New York Clipper

NYT = New York Times

PSOT = Porter’s Spirit of the Times

Date of Game	City/Town Playing Field	Outcome	Sources
1860
5 May (Sat)	Potomac grounds	Potomac (Washington, D.C.) 37 National (Washington, D.C.) 15 (7 innings)	(1) “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Base Ball in Washington,” PSOT, vol. 8, no. 13 (26 May 1860), p. 196, col. 2 (2) Peverelly, p. 112 [Potomac = 35 runs]
2 Jun (Sat)	?	National (Washington, D.C.) 46 Potomac 14	(1) Peverelly, p. 112
6 Jun (Wed)	Washington, D.C. Potomac grounds	Excelsior (Baltimore) 40 Potomac (Washington) 24 (PSOT: “A large number of spectators were upon the ground, including some three or four hundred ladies. Both clubs joined the National Association, at the last convention, and have done much toward introducing the New York game in the South. … Hazlett, who played 1st base, was severely hurt in the third inning by a spike from one of the Potomac; … As the Pioneer game of the South, it was, notwithstanding its large number of runs, a creditable display for both Clubs. The day’s pastime terminated by the Potomacs entertaining the Excelsiors with a handsome dinner, at which the usual sentiments of esteem and regard were interchanged, and the good feeling and friendship which has ever subsisted between the two organizations, was renewed and cemented. Smedberg [Potomac catcher] presented the ball in neat and appropriate remarks.”) (NYC: “The occasion … brought on the grounds a large concourse of spectators, among whom were several hundred ladies … The grounds are finely located near the White house, and are quite extensive, and very suitable for the purpose.… We notice, however, that there were twenty nine catches made on the bound, and only twelve on the fly. The clubs should, on practice days, play entirely on the fly, and in matches only take those balls on the bound that cannot possibly be taken in any other way. … Remember, that small scores and a quick game indicate good play, and the contrary shows an indifferent game, generally speaking.”)	(1) “Local Matters: Base Ball,” BS, vol. 46, no. 124 (10 Apr 1860), p. 1, col. 6 (2) “Local Matters: The Contest,” BS, vol. 47, no. 18 (7 Jun 1860), p. 1, col. 5 (3) “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: Base Ball South—Excelsior of Baltimore, vs. Potomac, of Washington,” PSOT, vol. 8, no. 16 (16 Jun 1860), p. 244, col. 3 (4) “Base Ball Match at the South—Grand Match at Washington—Excelsior vs. Potomac,” NYC, [?] June 1860
11 Sep (Tue)	?	Potomac 38 National (Washington, D.C.) 22	(1) Peverelly, p. 112
17 Sep (Mon)	Baltimore, Md.	Waverly 24 Excelsior (Baltimore) 20 (NYC: “Within the past year, our young men have become imbued with the love of out-door sports to such an extent, that, if they progress as well as they have started, you need not be surprised to hear of one, or more of our clubs, inviting competition from similar organizations in sister cities. … over three thousand persons, including several hundred ladies, were in attendance.”)	(1) “Base Ball in Baltimore,” NYC, [?] Sep 1860 [notes that same teams played a drawn game the previous Monday]
21 Sep (Fri)	?	National (Washington, D.C.) 30 Potomac 25	(1) Peverelly, p. 112
22 Sep (Sat)	Baltimore Excelsior grounds	Excelsior (Brooklyn) 51 Excelsior (Baltimore) 6 (NYC: The Brooklyn Excelsiors’ “grace and ease of movement, their surety in catching and holding the balls sent to them, their perfect discipline, and the admirable skill shown in each and every position, marked them at once as masters of the game; and not the least beneficial result of their visit to the warm-hearted Southerners, was the attention that has thereby been drawn to the attractive nature of the game, and we have no doubt but what it has been the means of advancing the game in that quarter three or four years. Indeed, there is now quite a furore created in regard to base ball in Baltimore; other cities further South are stirring in the matter, and by next season fully twenty or thirty clubs will have started, whose organization will have resulted from this grand match.”)	(1) “Local Matters: Visit of the Excelsior Base Ball Club, of Brooklyn, N.Y., to the Excelsiors of Baltimore,” BS, vol. 47, no. 111 (22 Sep 1860), p. 1, col. 6 (2) “Base Ball: Excelsior Club of South Brooklyn vs. the Base Ball Players of Baltimore,” NYT, vol. 10, no. 2810 (22 Sep 1860), p. 8, col. 5 (3) “Local Matters: A Gala Day Among the Base-Ball Men—Arrival of the Excelsior Club of Brooklyn—Match Game and Dinner at Guy’s,” BS, vol. 47, no. 112 (24 Sep 1860), p. 1, col. 6 (4) “Out-of-Doors Sports: Base Ball Match in Baltimore,” NYT, vol. 10, no. 2811 (24 Sep 1860), p. 8, cols. 4-5 (5) “Grand Base Ball Match at Baltimore: Excelsior of Brooklyn vs. Excelsior of Baltimore,” NYC, [?] Sep 1860 (6) Peverelly, p. 58 (7) Wright, p. 44 [date: 22 Jul]
17 Oct (Wed)	Baltimore, Md.	Waverly 32 Excelsior 14 (NYC: “By the following score, it will be seen that the Excelsiors were ‘beaten out of their boots.’ “)	(1) “Base Ball in Baltimore,” NYC, [?] Oct 1860
22 Oct (Mon)	?	National (Washington, D.C.) 46 Pythian 20	(1) Peverelly, p. 112