Clipping:A resume of Atlantic-Athletic relations
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| Date | Sunday, October 6, 1867 |
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| Text | [the Atlantics wish to postpone a match due to injuries; the Athletics insist on playing] Having already done the square thing in sending on a weak nine to meet their first engagement, and finding themselves still further disabled, and in a position to elicit the sympathy of their rivals, and also having been refused a request which common courtesy, if not common justice to a wounded opponent, might have granted, they were placed in a position, which, we thing, justified them in a measure, considering the importance of the issue, in resorting to strategy, to obtain a postponement of the game until they were in a fair condition to defend themselves. In this connection, a retrospective glance over the past two or three years’ proceeding of the two clubs will not be out of place as showing how the Athletic Club have themselves acted not only when placed in similarly awkward positions, but in their efforts to wrest the championship honors from the Atlantic Club. In 1865, a match was arranged to be played on the Athletic’s grounds, in Philadelphia, between these two clubs, and considerable interest was aroused in connection with it. With a week of the time appointed, however, that highly esteemed and most worthy member of the Atlantic Club, Matty O’Brien, died, and the Club very properly postponed all games for thirty days, as a tribute of respect to his memory. The Athletic Club, on learning this fact, began to spread reports abroad–or rather their followers did for them–to the effect that the Atlantics were afraid to meet them, etc., and finally resolved to appear on the ground and claim the ball if the Atlantics did not appear at the time originally appointed. Of course, the sentiments of the club, in regard to the death of their brother-member, were entirely disregarded; that coveted ball being made the primary object to be obtained at every cost. Through the promptitude and energy of Mr. Charles Bomeisler, the Atlantics were warned in time of the mine which was about to be sprung upon them, and lo and behold, the afternoon of the day on which the Athletics expected to go on their grounds, and publicly announcing themselves ready to fulfill their part of the engagement, and to claim forfeit for the non-appearance of the champions, who should appear in the city ready to play, but the self same Atlantic nine; and the Athletics, finding their little game blocked, and of course obliged to meet their adversaries, were obliged at the end of the game to acknowledge themselves defeated. Of course, after such an effort to win a trophy as this, the Atlantics had their eyes opened to the character of the governing powers of the Athletic club, and henceforth determined to keep a sharp lookout for them, and in case they tried any more “little games” of the kind, to foil them with their own weapons. That season closed with the Atlantics triumphant. The next year a new series of matches was arranged, the intercourse of the two clubs, though peaceful, being anything but of that friendly character necessary for the welfare of baseball, but nevertheless, they managed to get through one contest smoothly. The great rush of spectators to witness the contests now began to arouse the cupidity of both clubs, and the second contest promising a third profitable game to both, a third match was brought about; in the meantime, however, a dispute arose in regard to a division of the spoils, and the Athletics retaining from the Atlantic share the expense of a new fence, the result was that the Atlantics refused to play a third game, and a drawn battle for 1866 was the result. We now come to the present season, and all are pretty well aware of the result of the intercourse between the clubs so far, and of the latest dispute which has occurred, the quarrel being the result of another attempt of the Athletics to play a sharp game on the Atlantics, which was very nearly foiled as follows:–Learning that the Athletics were bent upon claiming the trophy on Monday, Sept. 30, the Atlantics then and there presented Judge Cornwell’s champion muffin-nine to meet them, and seeing the ridiculous position his would place them in, the two clubs met in committee, and, seeing the ridiculous position this would place them in, the two clubs met in committee, and, after anything but a friendly talk, the Athletics agreed to postpone the game; but they did so with the proviso that the return-game should now be played in Philadelphia, or that the final result should be considered a draw. As there is no likelihood of the Atlantics again submitting themselves to be bullied by the local partisan crowd of the Quaker City, who this season form the majority of spectators at the championship contests there, the match may be said to be off. It is worthy of record, too, in showing the unconquerable desire to win at all costs which marks the actions of those who now control the Athletic Club, that on the occasion of the visit of their old friends of the Eckford Club, after appointing a stated time for a meeting, and actually sending a stage for their guests and taking them on the grounds, the Athletics failed to meet their opponents on the field; and had the Eckfords been governed by the same motives which influence the Athletic Club, they would have claimed the ball which the Athletics justly forfeited. But the Eckfords have yet to place a spot upon their fair escutcheon, and afforded their Philadelphia hosts an example which they would have done well to follow. New York Sunday Mercury October 6, 1867 [see also NYSM 11/03/1867 judiciary committee proceedings] |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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