Brownlow's Black Boys Base Ball Club
| Nick Name | Brownlow's Black Boys Base Ball Club |
|---|---|
| Earliest Known Date | Sunday, September 16, 1866 |
| Last Known Game | |
| Location | Nashville, TN, United States |
| Modern Address | |
| NABBP Status | |
| Nine Class | Senior |
| Tags | |
| Description | On Sunday September 16, 1866, 16 African American men (and one white one) were caught playing baseball at Nashville's Sulfur Spring Bottom, and were fined $5-9 for not respecting the sabbath. On the following Tuesday, the Nashville Daily Union and American published two separate accounts of the incident, both times referring to the men as belonging to "Brownlow's Black Boys Base Ball Club." That name clearly refers to William Brownlow, governor of Tennessee at the time, and a former minister and newspaper editor from East Tennessee. A unionist before and during the war, as governor Brownlow was a Radical Republican who favored extending civil rights for African-Americans and limiting them for ex-Confederates. As a result of his radical policies, Brownlow was not well liked by Nashville's white elite, and it's possible the name was the product of a newspaperman's dry wit. A second newspaper article, this time published in the Republican Banner, also describes the incident, but without naming the team. However, it does list by name all 17 men involved, along with the fines listed for each person. Oddly, few if any of these African Americans were listed in the Nashville city directory for 1866. Odder still, the lone white man involved, a certain "Same O.L.D. Coons," was also not found in the directory. Tragically, the Nashville Recorder's Court records for 1866 are no longer extant, so we may never know the extent to which the Brownlow's Black Boys Base Ball Club was an actual team. |
| Sources | "Recorder's Court." Daily Union and American [Nashville, TN], 18 Sept., 1866: 3. Web, Chronicling America. 11 Apr. 2014. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038519/1866-09-18/ed-1/seq-3/ "The Five B's C Stars." Daily Union and American [Nashville, TN], 18 Sept., 1866: 3. Web, Chronicling America. 11 Apr. 2014. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038519/1866-09-18/ed-1/seq-3/ "A Freedman's Club." Republican Banner [Nashville, TN], 18 Sept., 1866. |
| Source Image | [[Image:|left|thumb]] |
| Has Source On Hand | No |
| Comment | Edit with form to add a comment |
| Query | Edit with form to add a query |
| Found by | Christopher Ryland |
| Submission Note | |
| Entered by | Christopher Ryland |
| First in Location | |
| First in Location Note | |
| Entry Origin | |
| Entry Origin Url | |
| Local-Origin Study Groups | Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball |
| Has Supplemental Text |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 | 1 Played | 0 Won | 0 Lost | 0 Tied |
Ballgames
| Page | Date | City | Borough | State | Team 1 | Team 2 | Score | First in | Contributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballgame | 1866-09-16 | Nashville | TN | Brownlow's Black Boys Base Ball Club | Christopher Ryland |
Players
| Player | Years | Roles | Edit Association with Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Boyd | 1866 | ||
| Andrew Jackson | 1866 | ||
| Andrew Wright | 1866 | ||
| Charles Arms | 1866 | ||
| David Young | 1866 | ||
| Gus Spence | 1866 | ||
| Howell Tate | 1866 | ||
| Jack Phillips | 1866 | ||
| Jesse Gordon | 1866 | ||
| John Cook | 1866 | ||
| John Patton | 1866 | ||
| Riley Williams | 1866 | ||
| Rufus Porterfield | 1866 | ||
| Sim Noel | 1866 | ||
| Thos. Payne | 1866 | ||
| Vaughn Loften | 1866 |
Playing Fields
| Field | Years | Edit Association with Club |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur Spring Bottom Athletic Park |
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