Baseball

http://homepages.rpi.edu/~fiscap/history_files/history1.htm

While the exact origins of baseball are unknown, most historians agree that it is based on the English game of rounders. A game which began to become quite popular in this country in the early 19th century, and many sources report the growing popularity of a game called "townball", "base", or "baseball".

Throughout the early part of the 19th century, small towns formed teams, and baseball clubs were formed in larger cities. In 1845, Alexander Cartwright wanted to formalize a list of rules by which all teams could play. Much of that original code is still in place today. Although popular legend says that the game was invented by Abner Doubleday, baseball's true father was Cartwright.

The first recorded baseball contest took place a year later, in 1846. Cartwright and his Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York City lost to the New York Baseball Club in a game at the Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey. These amateur games became more frequent and more popular. In 1857, a convention of amateur teams was called to discuss rules and other issues. Twenty five teams from the northeast sent delegates. The following year, they formed the National Association of Base Ball Players, the first organized baseball league. In its first year of operation, the league supported itself by occasionally charging fans for admission. The future looked very bright. The early 1860s, however were a time of great turmoil in the United States. In those years of the Civil War, the number of baseball clubs dropped dramatically. But interest in baseball was carried to other parts of the country by Union soldiers, and when the war ended there were more people playing baseball than ever before. The league's annual convention in 1868 drew delegates from over 100 clubs… Although the league was supposed to be comprised of amateurs, many players were secretly paid. Some were given jobs by sponsors, and some were secretly paid a salary just for playing. In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings decided to become a completely professional team. Brothers Harry and George Wright recruited the best players from around the country, and beat all comers. The Cincinnati team won sixty-five games and lost none. The idea of paid players quickly caught on. Some wanted baseball to remain an amateur endeavor, but there was no way they could compete with the professional teams. The amateur teams began to fade away as the best players became professionals. In 1871, the National Association became the first professional baseball league…..

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Kearney Hub

June 1889 – The Hub Cup – A Silver Cup will go to the player of the Kearney Base Ball club making the best record of hits in the season.

[Towns had teams that played each other. Good players often moved to another town if they got a better deal.]

May 14, 1890 – The broncos and the Bankers will play ball again next week. It will be a very closely contested game and it’s hard to tell which will have the better team.

June 6, 1891 – From School to Base Ball
Since the city schools have closed base ball clubs are becoming numerous, and there will be no lagging of the national game during vacation. The names of the clubs are far fetched and suggestive. The following announcement was requested to be published early this morning: The Black Diamonds and Cranz Brothers will cross bats at the high school grounds Monday afternoon

June 9, 1891 - Cranz Bros. 29 – Black Diamonds 3

[no other references to black diamonds other than in relation to coal]

April 29, 1892 – Several letters have been received asking about the base ball team lately.

December 8, 1892 – Lan Roi, of baseball notoriety, is registered at the Midway.

March 24, 1894 – Miller had a girls baseball team.

April 4, 1894 – A game of baseball is on between Grand Island and Kearney juvenile nines.

April 16, 1894 – Let’s Have a Baseball Team.

        Several people were interested in organizing a baseball club. A meeting was held over Bodinson’s . Inquiries have been received from surrounding towns asking if Kearney wood have a club and wanting to se3t dates for games. There are several young men in town who are good players and they were to meet the next night. A practice game was being played that afternoon at the ball park.

June 1, 1911 – Game with GI

        The Kearney team was called the Kapitalists

        Kearney started out with 5 scores in the first inning. They had a new pitcher who came from Cheyenne. He held GI scoreless in the first two innings and then allowed 3 in the third. Another pitcher took the 4th inning but then the new guy was back for the rest of the game. In the meantime, Kearney was not scoring at all until the 8th when they got two more to bring their score to 7. G I gradually added to their score until they tied in the top of the 9th. Then a Kearney player hit a home run.

Other Cranz related articles:

Sept. 1889 – Cranz’ lunch counter; Mrs. J.H. Cranz advertised a furnished front room for rent at corner of 20th & 2nd

May 14, 1890 – Mrs. F. H. Cranz, mother of two Hub carriers, is very sick with inflammation of the bowels

Jan 7, 1891 – Charles Cranz had near perfect attendance in primary Sunday School

May 1, 1891 – Dressmaking –cutting and fitting a specialty. Order solicited by Mrs. Cranz, 2104 Ave C

Aug 1891 –  Mrs. F H Cranz will visit in Cleveland

Sept 2, 1892 –  For Sale—I will sell all my household goods, everything inline of housekeeping. Also a good milch cow. Mrs. Cranz 2104 Ave C