Early baseball in Iowa/Game 2
From SABR Encyclopedia
| Spread of baseball: Home -> Iowa -> Early baseball in Iowa/Game 2 |
| Location | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Year | 1867 |
| Month | 7 |
| Date | 27 |
| City | Fairfield |
| State | IA |
| Country | US |
| Modern address | Fairfield IA |
| Was NY rules baseball | Likely |
| Played by | Locals |
| Team 1 | Jefferson BBC |
| Team 2 | Mechanics |
| Team 1 Score | 50 |
| Team 2 Score | 23 |
| Found by | Jeff Kittel |
In 1867, baseball swept over Iowa. In May, it reached Fairfield, where it was enthusiastically received. After some preliminary meetins, on the 24th, the Jefferson Base Ball Club was organized. The officers were: Dr. J.M. Shaffer, president; W.W. Junkin, vice president; John R. Shaffer, secretary; T.F. Higley, treasurer; and W.N. Stephens, G.W. Phelps and Galon Baker, directors. The first game was played the next day. On June 8th, the Mechanics’ Base Ball Club completed an organization. Its officers were: A.R. Fulton, president; A.R. Byrkit, vice president; C.S. Byrkit, secretary; S.E. Bigelow, treasurer; and W.L. Daggett, John D. Rider and Henry Vote, directors. On July 27th, picked players of these clubs matched their skill on the diamond. The score stood 50 to 23 against the Mechanics.
Fairfield IA (1860 pop. about 1,850; 1870 pop. about 2,200) is about 55 miles SW of Iowa City.
Sources
History of Jefferson County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement; Fulton, Charles J.; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company; 1914; pp 385-386.
