Early baseball in California/Game 10

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Spread of baseball: Home -> California -> Early baseball in California/Game 10
Location California
Year 1860
Month 2
Date 22
Note on date No later than the 22nd
City San Francisco
State CA
Country US
Was NY rules baseball Yes
Played by Locals
Team 1 SFBBC
Team 2 Red Rovers
Team 1 Score 33
Team 2 Score 33
Length 9 innings
Found by Angus Macfarlane

"According to John E. Spalding in his book Always on Sunday, among the early [San Francisco] residents was a group of cricket players who organized the first base ball team -- late in 1859. Called the San Franciscos, the members issues a challenge in January 1860, to 'any nine base ball players, to a match game' on February 22at the Center Bridge. A group called the Red Rovers accepted." "Using a ball made of woolen yarn from a sock and rubber from a pair of overshoes, teams battled to a 33-33 tie over nine innings in the Washington's birthday holiday contest."

Note -- Angus MacFarlane reports that the Red Rovers refused to play extra innings because they thought the SFBBC pitcher was pitching illegally.

The NY Mercury, March 18, 1860 notes this game. The Mercury, Dec. 30, 1860 labels this Feb. 22 game the first game ever played in CA. [BA]

Sources

William F. McNeil, The California Winter League (McFarland, 2002), page 9.

California Spirit of the Times, February 22, 1860. NY Mercury, March 18, 1860; Dec. 30, 1860.


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