Empire Base Ball Club of Freeport

Pre-pro Baseball
	Freeport, IL Firsts, Games, Clubs, Fields, Predecessor Games Greater New York City Firsts, Games, Clubs, Fields, Predecessor Games IL Firsts, Games, Clubs, Fields, Predecessor Games United States Firsts, Games, Clubs, Fields, Predecessor Games
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Nick Name	Empire
Earliest Known Date	Monday, May 26, 1862
Last Known Game
Location	Freeport, IL, United States
Modern Address
NABBP Status
Nine Class	Senior
Tags
Description	The Freeport Journal, June 6, 1866, has a lengthy and interesting article titled "Empire Base Ball Club...History of the Club." The detailed article says the club was formally organized May 26, 1862, but couldn't find a team to play against until they played the Garden City of Chicago in a home and home tournament June 10, July 4, 1863. The Empire won the latter game and, according to the newspaper, "was pronounced the Champion club of the State." They played the Empire of St. Louis July 4, 1865, losing 27 to 20. On Sept. 29, 1865 they beat the Julian of Dubuque, at Dubuque, 27 to 26. The article gives the names of the organizers of the team and the current players. The Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1863 reports on the 2nd game of the Empire-Garden City contest, at Freeport on July 4th. The Empire won 40-20. Gives a box score. The Freeport Weekly Journal, April 12, 1865: "the Empire Base Ball Club have again reorganized" with "John Neff, president" and "A. Brewster, capt. on field." Same, Aug. 2, 1865, reports that "Monday" the Empires visited the Forest City of Rockford, beating them 55-21. The St. Louis Globe Democrat, July 8, 1865 gives a long report of the game between the Empire and the St. Louis team. The Freeport Journal April 3, 1867, under the headline "Base Ball Club" reports on the "reorganization" of the "Empire Base Ball Club of this city". W. B. Thomas was elected president and captain. An initiation fee of $1.00 was set. Same June 7, 1867 has the Empire defeating the Stars 10-9.
Sources	The Freeport Journal, June 6, 1866
Source Image	[[Image:\|left\|thumb]]
Has Source On Hand	No
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Found by	Bruce Allardice
Submission Note
Entered by	Bruce Allardice
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Win/Loss Records As Far As We Now Know

Warning: Users should not rely on a team's won-loss record as a reflection of its "standing" among all base ball clubs. Team schedules were not balanced, and a good record against mostly weak opponents does not signify a leading club.

Year	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties
1865	1 Played	1 Won	0 Lost	0 Tied

Ballgames

Page	Date	City	Borough	State	Team 1	Team 2	Score	First in	Contributor
Ballgame	1865-07-31	Rockford		IL	Forest City Club of Rockford	Empire Base Ball Club of Freeport	21 - 55	Rockford, IL	Bruce Allardice

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Players

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Playing Fields

Field	Years	Edit Association with Club
Empire Club Grounds, Freeport	1865 - 67

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