1873.12

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Ladies BB Club Forms in Kansas

Salience Noteworthy
Tags Females
Text

"Some of the young ladies of our city have organized a base ball club,and will soon be ready, we understand, to challenge the Arkansas valley club for the belt."

Sources

 Wichita City Eagle February 13, 1873.

Comment

Richard Hershberger, (FB posting, 2/13/2023): 150 years ago in baseball: "A female baseball club. Or at least so it is reported. It often is hard to be sure about such things. Female clubs definitely existed, but the serious ones tended to be discreet about it, rather than put up with jackass men gawking. Was there a political aspect to this? I'm glad you asked! Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the women's rights activist, reportedly organized one. There also were very public female nines, where jackass men paying for the privilege of gawking was the whole point. These were invariably organized by men, typically shady operators, and were not serious baseball outfits. As for the club reported here, I know nothing else about it. The Arkansas Valleys were a local male club. I am skeptical of an intersex game taking place, but I'll keep an eye out for it."

 

Kansas had become a state in 1861.  In 1870, Wichita's population numbered 689 souls. 

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Query

Is there a good source for Elizabeth Cady Stanton's interest in 19C base ball? 

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Source Image
Ladies Club 1873.jpg
Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Submission Note FB posting, 2/13/2023



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1873