Chadwick's Base-ball Manual for 1871

The book contains a brief procedural history of the NABBP, lists of teams by when they joined, etc.

To make it somewhat easier to view, we have published it on five web pages. This is the first. A link to the other pages is at the bottom of each page.

Everything from the original book is included and a few images have been added. As always we will point out any obvious factual errors in the text and have corrected minor textual errors. To avoid confusion, commentary we add to the text is enclosed by double brackets and in color like this: [[BaseballChronology note: This is a sample.]]

In adding another work to the list of base ball publications now in print, the editor of the "Manual" takes occasion to state that, in each base ball book he has written, he has endeavored to introduce new matter, and especially to rearrange the chapters on instruction contained in each separate work, in such manner as to constitute each book a new volume in the series, rather than a revised edition of a previous work. It is in this respect that the "Base Ball Manual" is now presented to the fraternity; for it not only differs from any previous work emanating from the same writer, but it forms an important appendix to all of his previous publications on base ball.

The books on the national game, previously written by Mr. Chadwick, include Beadle's "Dime Book of Base Ball," the feature of which is the season's averages of clubs; Haney's "Book of Reference,"—now Peck and Snyder's,—of which special instructions to umpires is the feature; DeWitt's "Base Ball Guide," in which the prominent feature is instruction for scoring and reporting base ball; Munro's "American Game of Ball," in which the prominent feature is elaborate instructions to beginners; and the English sports and pastimes' work published in London, entitled "Every Boy's Book," the chapters on base ball in which were also written by Mr. Chadwick. All of these form a series of books on our national game, which every player ought to possess; for he will learn something from each not contained in any other. In the "Manual" will be found, not only entirely new matter, but special chapters, covering in brief most of the specialties of the other books; besides which, the "Manual: will contain particular reference to the latest "points" of the game, as developed in the leading professional contests of the past season.

In commencing a new book on base ball, in the present epoch in the history of our game, it will not be necessary to use any arguments to prove, either that base ball is now the national game of ball of America, or that it is the most popular American out-door sport now in vogue; for both facts must be apparent even to ordinary observers. But it will be necessary to make some introductory remarks in reference to the probable future of base ball ; for, if we mistake not; the season's work of 1871, both on the field, and in the clubrooms and convention halls, is to make or mar the future of our national pastime. First, let us see how we stand in the ledger of the game ; and then let us, in brief, take an account of stock, with a view of opening business, in the season of 1871, with a clear idea of what capital we have to work with, what improvements to make, and how best to avoid the rocks and shoals which have at times threatened to shipwreck our noble bark.

Our American game of ball may be said to have started on its voyage of life in the year 1860; for its existence before that period amounted only to a series of trial trips, as it were, preparatory for the great journey round the world. In that year, what we now call amateur ball-playing was in its glory. In the season of 1860, the Excelsior Club of Brooklyn, ranking second to none at any time in social standing, then occupied the highest position in the country, as the leading exemplars of the beauties of the game ; and during this year, by the way, this club did more to establish base ball on a permanent and reputable footing, than had before been attempted by any other club ; other noteworthy organizations, such as the Knickerbocker Club of New York, for instance, having been more limited in their sphere of operations. The advent of Creighton, during that memorable season, with the accompanying brilliant career of the Excelsior Nine, would have been promptly followed by the strenuous efforts of rival organizations during ensuing seasons, but for the inauguration of the great rebellion in 1861, which, of course, materially interfered with the progress of base ball ; indeed, in effect it put it back several years ; and it was not until 1864 that the game began to recover its lost ground. In 1864, however, the great struggle for the so-called honors of the championship of the base ball fraternity was in reality commenced ; all previous contests for the title being comparatively nominal battles for something which had only a questionable existence ; for, up to 1864, the circle of the base ball arena did not extend far beyond the vicinity of the spot of its christening, if not of its birth, namely, New York. In 1864, however, the system of professional ball-playing began to openly manifest itself; for previously, though practically in existence to some extent, it had not been prominently brought into public notice ; and with this new system came the real struggle for the championship. Since then, professional ball-playing has been officially recognized as a legitimate occupation ; and no doubt the distinction of classes which now exists will prevail as long as the game is known. Unfortunately certain evils have followed in the train of professional ball-playing, which, if not checked in their progress, will, ere long, so damage the reputation of the fraternity as to materially interfere with the future welfare and popularity of base ball.

In 1864 was 'Inaugurated the first of a series of important amendments to the playing rules of the game, the result of which has been to bring base ball nearer to the point of perfection than its best friends ever expected it would reach some twelve years ago. The inaugural improvement was the abolition of the bound catch from fair balls, and it is worthy of note that among the opponents of the improvement were ranked the Active Club of New York, the Atlantic of Brooklyn, and the Eureka Club of Newark, all of which clubs since then have been prominent exemplars of the beauty of the very style of play they were then opposed to. Year after year, from 1864, were the rules amended and improved, — the present arrangement of special departments being introduced in 1867. In this year, too, steps were taken establishing the National Association on a new basis, and, at the annual convention of 1867, the State base ball associations were for the first time admitted to representation by delegates. In 1868 the rule dividing the fraternity into professional 'and amateur players was adopted by a nearly unanimous vote of the representatives of nearly two hundred clubs, and this division will henceforth rule as an unchangeable law of the game without a doubt, the action of a minority temporarily in power at the convention of 1869 to the contrary notwithstanding. The season of 1870, marked as it was by the creditable success of the best-organized and thoroughly trained professional nines yet known in the history of base ball, closed with a record showing the national game to be a flourishing and popular institution from the borders of the St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico on the one band, and from the forests of Maine to the golden sands of California on the other ; and, as we before remarked, it remains for our clubs this year to take such action as shall ensure the continuation of so desirable a position for our favorite game.

Below we give an article on the philosophy of our national game, from the editorial columns of the "Nation" of Sept., 1864, which is worthy of preservation. It is as follows:

"Cricket has, for some reason or other, always been a failure as an American game. Although various attempts, and very vigorous attempts too, have been made to naturalize it, they have all broken down, and it cannot be said by any one, whose enthusiasm has not perverted his sense of truth, that cricket is to-day one whit more in favor with the ball-playing public, than it was thirty years ago. Notwithstanding the fact that New York and Philadelphia and Boston all encourage the game, and that the first of the three can boast of the St. George's Club, and the second of the Young America, it still remains true that the sport is watched by most American crowds with suspicion and dislike, as an imported invention not suited to the peculiar institutions of the country, while the enthusiasm called out by a match-game of base ball has been for some years steadily on the increase, year by year, throwing the rival amusement more into the shade. This general fact, we, take it, is not open to dispute ; but what is the explanation of it? After sighing for generations, that Providence should vouchsafe us a ' truly American' literature, and 'truly American' architecture, and truly American' schools of painting and music, Providence, it appears, at length answers us with a truly American game of ball. Let us not repine at the decree of fate, but examine with a cheerful spirit the peculiar traits of the game which, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, and from Key West to the extremest point of Alaska, is dignified by the name of 'National.' Let us say, by the way, that it is by no means an insignificant fact that a late riot in Charleston, S. C., should have been caused, not by the entry of a Savannah cricket club into the city, but by that of a base ball club. In such slight things there is a meaning. Had it been a cricket club, none would have cared enough about the matter to turn out, and so there would have been no mob, and so there could have been no riot. But it was a base ball club ; the throng was immense ; the riot ensued ; and thus did a little game of ball affect the great game of Reconstruction. But let that pass ; we revert to our theme.

"The game of cricket being an English game, and base ball being American, we should expect to find in the national differences of character an explanation of the differences in the two national amusements. And we should expect this all the more, because the basis of both games is the same. Both games rest, first, upon the desire of the Anglo-Saxon—(we do not say Caucasian, or Aryan, because we like to be exact)—upon the desire of the Anglo-Saxon to arm himself with a stick and drive a small round body with it ; and, secondly, upon the desire of any other Anglo-Saxon who happens to be in the way to stop this body, to deprive the other of his stick, and `bat' himself. In these fundamental instincts may be clearly seen the germs of the two games of cricket and base ball. Let there be, instead of two men, two sides, one of which has the bat, while the other's function is to stop the ball, and let the rude violence of nature be restrained and regulated by law, and you have at once a game of ball. As the methods of striking and stopping, or batting' and ' fielding,' vary, you obtain now cricket, now base ball. It is the fundamental similarity of the two games, then, which enables us to say that their superficial differences are the result of national differences of character. If the difference between tip favorite amusement of English and American boys were something intrinsic, the case would be changed. Suppose that English boys found their highest amusement in surf-swimming, like the boys, of the Sandwich Islands, while the sport most keenly enjoyed by American boys was vivisection, —it would certainly be difficult to say how far such wide differences could be accounted for by analysis of national tendencies. But in the actual case, the generative principle of both games being the same, the investigator is confident at once that the explanation of what diversity exists must be found in the diversity of the character of the two nations.

"Now, in two points at least, it may be said with certainty that the American character differs from the English, — In being less brutal, and in being more fond of novelty, of change, and of the excitement which novelty and change produce. And to any one who carefully watches the two national games, it becomes evident that they also differ in the same way, — cricket being the more brutally dangerous, and also affording the least excitement of the two. The first point will probably be readily granted, inasmuch as it is obvious that the much greater solidity and hardness of the ball used in the English game greatly increase the chances of danger; it is, in fact, no uncommon thing for cricket-players to have their limbs broken ; and in order to guard against this a system of pads has been invented, which affords the spectacle of the nearest *approach to a suit of mail that any modern nation has made. Even with these guards against him, an experienced bowler can easily break the teeth, or ankle, or wrist of the man at the bat ; not that we mean to accuse the lovers of the sport of any such nefarious desire, but merely to point out the incidental dangers to which the cricket-player lays himself open. These dangers the English like, and to the English mind they give a gusto to the game for which they would otherwise hardly know where to look. To the American, on the other hand, the spectacle of suffering of any kind is distasteful, and hence the first change in the game. The ball is made softer. The ball once rendered harmless, bowling along the ground, as in cricket, becomes impossible, and batting in the air becomes a necessity. We have already the rudiments of quite a different thing from the game of cricket.

"The next step is to obtain excitement. Cricket is essentially a slow game, a game without chance, a game of science. Each side consists of eleven men, and before the sides change ten individuals must be bowled," stumped,' caught,' or run' out. In addition to this, each side goes to the bat twice, and thus the game is always long, and sometimes even tedious ; it is no uncommon thing for it to occupy 'parts of two days. We might be sure that Americans would never learn to play at a game like this ; and accordingly we find that, just as we have substituted for the meditative and slow game of whist the exciting and rapid euchre, so in outdoor sports steadfast persistence has given way to dash and movement. The side' in base ball is already reduced to nine in number, though that is of small consequence ; the principal change is that putting out three men puts out the whole side, which gives an opportunity for nine innings instead of two, and an amount of variety in the chances at different stages of the game that the steady-going cricketer has no conception of. To explain what we mean, let us go more into detail : Suppose that a game of cricket is to be played between the St. George's Club and the All-England Eleven, and that the latter have the first innings. The St. George's men distribute themselves over the field, while A and B of the other eleven go to the bat. The St. Georges bowler does his best ; the St. George's wicket-keeper does his best ; the St. George's fielders do their best ; and between them they manage in the course of half an hour to get A out. In comes C, and the process is repeated; out goes C, and in comes D, and so on through E, F, G, and all the rest of the eleven. In base ball, this is all different : As soon as A is out, the outside ' knows that by getting B and C out their turn will come. B and C are put out, and the whole nine is out, —those that have not struck a blow as well as those who have. And, in order to make this process quicker, it is required that the striker should run as soon as he has hit the ball, and thus stand his chance of being put out on the bases. In cricket this is not the rule, and in the case we have supposed, A and B might go on striking the ball to all eternity without running, if they please. Of course it is for their interest to run in order that their side may score, but their not being obliged to do so makes the game much longer than it otherwise would be.

"Such are the changes which have been introduced into the game of cricket, or rather the game of ball, by American players, and the alterations are, as we believe, of a truly national character. We do not believe that cricket will ever be naturalized here, but that its rival is destined for evermore to be the national game. To those who would object to our explanation that it is fanciful, we can only say that we believe it violates none of the known laws of reasoning, and that it certainly answers the great end of accounting for the facts. To those other objectors, who would contend that our explanation supposes a gradual modification of the English into the American game, while it is a matter of common learning that the latter is of no foreign origin, but the lineal descent of that favorite of boyhood, Two-Old-Cat,' we would say that, fully agreeing with them as to the historical fact, we have always believed it to be so clear as not to need further evidence, and that for the purposes of this article the history of the matter is out of place. We have throughout spoken of cricket as changing' into base ball, not because we suppose these words represent the actual origin of the latter, but to bring more vividly before the mind the differences between the two. He would indeed be an unfaithful chronicler who should attempt to question the hoary antiquity of Two-Old-Cat, or the parental relation in which it stands to base ball."

The initiatory steps for the organization of the National Association of Base Ball Players were taken in May, 1857, in which month a convention of delegates from the principal base ball clubs then in existence was held. Prior to that date the three leading clubs of the country at that time, namely, the Knickerbocker, Gotham, and Eagle Clubs, of New York, had played in accordance with the following code of playing-rules, which were originally drafted by the former club for their own government when they were the only regular club in existence.

FIRST RULES OF BASE BALL.
Section 1. The bases shall be from " Home " to second base forty-two paces; from first to third base forty-two paces equidistant.
Sect. 2. The game to consist of twenty-one counts or aces, but at the conclusion an equal number of hands must be played.
Sect. 3. The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat.
Sect. 4. A ball knocked outside the range of the first or third base is foul.
Sect. 5. Three balls being struck at and missed, and the
last one caught, is a hand out ; if not caught, is considered fair, and the striker bound to run.
Sect. 6. A ball being struck or tipped, and caught either flying or on the first bound, is a hand out.
Sect. 7. A player, running the bases, shall be out, if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base, or the runner is touched by it before he makes his base ; it being
understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him.
Sect. 8. A player, running, who shall prevent an adversary
from catching or getting the ball before making his base, is a hand out.
Sect. 9. If two hands are already out, a player running
home at the time a ball is struck, cannot make an ace if the striker is caught out:
Sect. 10. Three hands out, all out.
Sect. 11. Players must take their strike in regular turn. Sect. 12. No ace. or base can be made on a foul strike.
Sect. 13. A runner cannot be put out in making one base, when a baulk is made by, the pitcher.
Sect. 14. But one base allowed when the ball bounds out of the field when struck.

Section 7 of the above rules was afterwards changed so that the first baseman only could put a player out by holding the ball on the base before the striker reached it. It will be seen at a glance how great have been the improvements made in the rules within the past twelve years. At that time the legal weight of the ball was over six ounces, and in size it was over ten inches in circumference, or three and a half inches in diameter. Only an ounce and a half of rubber was then used in its composition.

The first movement towards calling a Convention of Base Ball Players was made at a meeting of the Knickerbocker Club, held at Smith's, 462 Broome Street, New York, December 6th, 1856, on which occasion Dr. Adams, the President of the club, called the attention of the members to the importance of calling a Convention of Base Ball Players, for the purpose of revising the existing code of rules of the game, and alto with a view of organizing a National Association of Base Ball Players. A committee was then and there appointed, composed of Dr. Adams and Messrs. Grenelle and. Wadsworth, to issue the call, and the meeting of delegates was announced for the 22d of January, 1857, to be held at 462 Broome Street. At this meeting delegates appeared from the principal clubs, and it was determined to hold a convention in March, 1857, which was accordingly done, at which the following clubs were represented by three delegates each, namely, the Knickerbocker, Gotham, Eagle, Empire, Putnam, Baltic, Excelsior, Atlantic, Harmony, Harlem, Eckford, Bedford, Nassau, Continental, Union, and Olympic, — seven of which were from New York, and the rest from Brooklyn.

The first annual convention was held on the 10th clay of March, 1858, pursuant to a call signed by the presidents of the Knickerbocker, Gotham, Eagle, and Empire Clubs, In which the following clubs were represented by two delegates each, namely, Knickerbocker, Gotham, Eagle, Empire, Putnam, Baltic, Excelsior, Atlantic, Harlem, Eckford, Continental, Union, Metropolitan, Columbian, Osceola, Oriental, Stuyvesant, Hamilton, Pastime, Liberty (of New Brunswick), Monument, Amity, St. Nicholas, Nassau, and Mutual. With the exception of the New Brunswick Club, all the others were from New York and Brooklyn. At this convention a resolution was adopted, declaring the convention a permanent organization, and appointing a committee of three to prepare and submit a Constitution and By-Laws for its government. The committee reported, and the convention adopted a Constitution and By-laws, and the "NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASE BALL PLAYERS" was duly organized.

The first annual meeting of the Association was held at the Cooper Institute on the 9th of March, 1859. The officers of 1858 were re-elected; the Constitution and rules and regulations of the game revised and amended.

Below we give the list of officers of the Association from 1858 to 1869.

The following officers were elected in 1858, and re-elected in 1859:
W. H. Van Cott, of Gotham, New York, President.
J. B. Jones, of Excelsior, Brooklyn, First Vice-President.
Thomas S. Dakin, of Putnam, Brooklyn, Second Vice-President.
J. Ross Postley, of Metropolitan, New York, Recording Secretary.
Theo. F. Jackson, of Putnam, Brooklyn, Corresponding Secretary.
E. H. Brown, of Metropolitan, New York, Treasurer.

The third annual meeting was held at the Cooper Institute, in the city of New York, on the evening of March 14, 1860. The following officers were elected for 1860:—
Dr. J. B. Jones, of Excelsior, President.
Thomas S. Dakin, of Putnam, First Vice-President.
Henry Shriver, of Excelsior (Ball), Second Vice-President.
J. Ross Postley, of Manhattan, Recording Secretary.
Theo. F. Jackson, of Putnam, Corresponding Secretary.
E. H. Brown, of Metropolitan, Treasurer.

The fourth annual meeting was held at Clinton Hall, in the city of New York, Wednesday evening, December 12, 1860. The following officers were elected for 1861:—
D. Milliken, of Union, President.
DeWitt C. Moore, of Athletic, First Vice-President.
Burr Porter, of Newark, Second Vice-President.
J. Ross Postley, of Manhattan, Recording Secretary.
Theo. F. Jackson, of Putnam, Corresponding Secretary.
E. H. Brown, of Metropblitan, Treasurer.

The fifth annual meeting was held in the Mercantile 'Library Building, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, the 11th of December, 1861.
The following officers were elected for 1862: —
D. Milliken, of Union Club, President.
William H. Hegeman, of Victory Club, Troy, First Vice-President.
Jos. B. Leggett, of Excelsior Club, Brooklyn, Second Vice-President.
J. Ross Postley, of Jefferson Club, New York, Recording Secretary.
Z. Voorhies, of Brooklyn Club, Corresponding Secretary.
E. H. Brown, of Metropolitan Club, Treasurer.

The sixth annual meeting was held at Clinton Hall, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, the 12th of December, 1862.
The following officers were elected for 1863: —
Thomas Fitzgerald, of Athletic Club, President.
I. W. Dawson, of Eureka Club, First Vice-President.
F. K. Boughton, of Atlantic Club, Second Vice-President.
J. Ross Postley, of Jefferson Club, Recording Secretary.
J. W. Mott, of Eagle Club, Corresponding Secretary.
E. H. Brown, of Metropolitan Club, Treasurer.

The seventh annual meeting was held at the Mercantile Library Building, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, the 11th of December, 1863.
The following officers were elected for 1864 :—
I. W. Dawson, of Eureka Club, President.
Francis Pidgeon, of Eckford Club, First Vice-President.
A. J. Dupignac, of Gotham Club, Second Vice-President.
J. Ross Postley, of Jefferson Club, Recording Secretary.
J. Seaver Page, of Active Club, Corresponding Secretary.
P. J. Cozans, of Eagle Club, Treasurer.

The eighth annual meeting was held at Cooper Institute, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, December 12, 1864. The following officers were elected for 1865:—
Thomas G. Voorhis, of Empire Club, President.
D. A. Scott, of Hudson River Club, First Vice-President.
M. J. Thompson, of Utica Club, Second Vice-President.
J. Seaver Page, of Active Club, Recording Secretary.
A. H. Rogers, of Resolute Club, Corresponding Secretary.
P. J. Cozans, of Eagle Club, Treasurer.

The ninth annual meeting was held at the Mercantile Library Building, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, December 11th, 1865.
The following officers were elected for 1866: —
John Wildey, of Mutual Club, President.
Mortimer M. Rogers, of Lowell Club, First Vice-President.
M. C. Sexton, of Empire Club, St. Louis, Second Vice-President.
J. Seaver Page, of Active Club, Recording Secretary.
A. H. Rogers, of Resolute Club, Corresponding Secretary.
P. J. Cozans, of Eagle Club, Treasurer.

The tenth annual meeting was held at Clinton Hall, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, December 12, 1866. The following officers were elected for 1867:—
A. P. Gorman, of National Club, Washington, President.
B. F. Rose, of Mountain Club, Altoona, First Vice-President.
W. H. Murtha, of Enterprise Club, Brooklyn, Second Vice-President.
A. H. Rogers, of Resolute Club, Brooklyn, Recording Secretary.
C. E. Coon, of Empire Club, Washington, Corresponding Secretary.
M. M. Rogers, of Lowell Club, Boston, Treasurer.

The eleventh annual meeting was held at the Chestnut Street Theatre and Athletic Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, on Wednesday and Thursday, 11th and 12th December, 1867. The following officers were elected for 1868:—
George F. Sands, Ohio, President.
Manning Treadway, Wisconsin, First Vice-President.
Frank B. Wood, New Jersey, Second Vice-President.
Albert H. Rogers, New York, Recording Secretary.
Edward H. Griggs, Illinois, Corresponding Secretary.
Mortirner M. Rogers, Massachusetts, Treasurer.

The twelfth annual meeting was held at Metzerott Hall, in the city of Washington, on Wednesday, December 9, 1868. The following officers were elected for 1869:—
Thomas Tassie, New York, President.
Frank B. Wood, New Jersey, First Vice-President.
J. J. Rogers, Pennsylvania, Second Vice-President.
C. E. Coon, District of Columbia, Recording Secretary.
C. A. Downey, Nebraska, Corresponding Secretary.
M. M. Rogers, Massachusetts, Treasurer.

The thirteenth annual meeting was held at the rooms of the Lowell Base Ball Club, Boston, on Wednesday, December 8th, 1869.
The following officers were chosen for 1870: —
A. McC. Bush, Massachusetts, President.
J. H. Westervelt, New Jersey, First Vice-President.
L. P. Fuller, Missouri, Second Vice-President.
C. E. Coon, District of Columbia, Recording Secretary.
A. T. Gordon, Ohio, Corresponding Secretary.
W. A. Conant, New York, Treasurer.

The following members of the Association have acted as Chairmen of the Committee of Rules since the organization of the Association : Dr. Adams from 1858 to 1862, Dr. Jones from 1862 to 1867, H. Chadwick from 1867 to 1871. F. K. Boughton was appointed in 1867, but resigned before the convention met.

The following are the names of delegates who have acted on the Committee of Rules during the years 1858 to 1870 inclusive : —

The following are the names of delegates who nave acted on the other Committees of the Association since its organization up to the present time:—

The following is the list of base ball clubs enrolled as members of the National Association up to the date when State Association representation was inaugurated. We give them in the order of the years in which they joined the Association, and all alphabetically:—

From the preceding list of individual clubs, which includes all enrolled as members of the National Association, up to 1868,—at which time, individual club representation ceased to exist in the annual conventions of the Association,—it will he seen that the list includes no less than three hundred different clubs, to which are to be added the new clubs represented by State Association delegates at the conventions of 1867, 1868, and 1869, of which, in 1867, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana alone were credited with one hundred and two. The total reaches nearly over five hundred different clubs, enrolled as members of the Na