Monday, March 23, 2009

The 1879 Brown Stockings

The Globe-Democrat is in a position today to announce that St. Louis is to be represented on the ball field this season with a strong team, made up of several first-class professionals and one or two amateurs who have already made their mark as players of rare skill.  The nine will be known as the Brown Stockings and will make application for membership in the National Association in a day or two.  Contracts have already been signed with seven players, and negotiations are now pending with others.  The team will play its opening game this afternoon at the Grand Avenue Park, when an idea as to its merits can be formed by all who attend.  The Browns will have as opponents the Athletics, to whom the pennant emblematic of the amateur championship was awarded last season...In order that the men may obtain suitable practice, the club will be happy to play the strongest picked team that can be organized at any time and the amateurs should profit by the chance, as it will give them the best kind of training to be utilized in the race for their pennant.  The game to-day will no doubt be watched with a great deal of interest, as one or two engagements hinge on the performances of the men.  It is the intention of the Browns to entertain all foreign clubs who desire to visit St. Louis this summer.  They also intend to invade the dominions of the Northwestern League.  Should the club receive a living patronage it will doubtless be the means of securing a first-class League team in St. Louis next year.    
-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 13, 1879


The Globe lists the team as follows:  Decker, catcher; McGinnis, pitcher; Houtz, first base; McDonald, second base; Pearce, third base; Morgan, shortstop; Cuthbert, left field; Croft, center field; Magner, right field.  

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