Base Ball in Cincinnati: A History(3 The McFarland Historical Baseball Library)

"From time to time fragmentary accounts of the origin and progress of baseball, as it existed in our community, have appeared in the papers and magazines, but it has remained to the writer to present for the first time a full and complete history of the game of baseball from its first organization in our midst until the present day"--from the Preface. Harry Ellard's Base Ball in Cincinnati, published in 1907, is an invaluable resource for those interested in the early years of professional baseball and the city that was its hometown. Ellard was uniquely positioned to write the definitive book on this topic: as a Cincinnati journalist, he knew of and consulted the best photographs and documents relating to the Cincinnati Club, and had the cooperation of several Red Stockings players. Readers will find information on stand-out clubs and games, and many of the important men who were instrumental to early baseball in Cincinnati and so to professional baseball in general.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Preface      Editors’ Note      CHAPTER I.      History of Our National Game of Baseball. Cincinnati Was Always a Stronghold for Fans. Prominent Men Started Rounders and Townball Preceded Baseball on Local Lots. First Rules of Baseball. CHAPTER II.      How the First Cincinnati Baseball Club Was Organized. Prominent Men Took an Active Part in the Game. History of Early Days. Rivalry and Enthusiasm Were Unbounded When Teams Played. The Great Baseball Tournament of 1867. Formation of the Ohio Association. Scores Made by the Cincinnati Baseball Club in 1866 and 1867. CHAPTER III.      How the Famous Reds of 1868 Were Organized. Men of National Fame Later in Life Played Ball in Those Days. Adoption of the First Uniforms of the Club. Short Trousers Inaugurated. The Cincinnati Juniors Figured. Youngsters in All Our Suburbs Had Good Nines. Baseball Clubs in Cincinnati in 1868. Harry Wright Married. Indians Play on Cincinnati Ball Grounds. Charter Roll of Membership of the Original Cincinnati Baseball Club. Scores Made by the Cincinnati Baseball Club in 1868. Scores Made by the Buckeye Baseball Club in 1868. CHAPTER IV.      The Famous Reds of 1869 and Their Victories. Were the First Professional Team in the Country. Players Were Secured by a Cincinnatian from All Parts of the Country. Never Defeated. Detailed Account of Each Player. Salary List. Their Eastern Tour. The Great Game with the Mutuals of New York City. CHAPTER V.      The Unbeaten Redlegs of 1869. Great Reception upon Their Return Home. Most Famous of Ballplayers. Their Western Tour. The Reds of Sixty-nine. Official Scores for the Season. CHAPTER VI.      The Cincinnati Baseball Club of 1870. The Players of the Year. The Season Opens Very Successfully. Larger Scores Made than in 1869. Their Eastern Tour. Their First Defeat. CHAPTER VII.      The Historic Game with the Atlantics. Red Stockings Lowered Their Banner on the Capitoline Grounds Back of Brooklyn. It Came to Pass, but It Took Eleven Innings to Defeat the Invincible Ball-tossers. CHAPTER VIII.      Homeward Bound. Presentation of Banner by President Champion. Resignation of Officers of 1869. Election of New Officers of the Cincinnati Baseball Club. Scores Made by the Cincinnati Baseball Club in 1870. CHAPTER IX.      Dissolution of the Old Red Stockings. Disbanding of the Original Cincinnati Baseball Club. Formation of Association of Professional Baseball Players. The Old Reds Quit Cincinnati. Championship Clubs from 1859 to 1876. The Reds Invade England. CHAPTER X.      The Ball-fields from 1876 to the Present Day. Formation of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Baseball Wars. Cincinnati Took Prominent Part. The Cincinnati Baseball Club as Pennant Winners. The Players of the Club of 1882. The American Association. Championship Clubs from 1882 to 1892. Championship Clubs of the National League from 1876 to 1908, and Their Managers. The Cincinnati Baseball Club of Today. CHAPTER XI.      Index (Compiled by the Editors)     

About the Author :
Harry Ellard was a baseball writer in Cincinnati. A relative of his helped found the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Review :
“One of the best but least-heralded developments in the recent history of baseball literature was the inauguration of the McFarland Historical Baseball Library in 2003”—I>Spitball; “important”—Sports Collectors Digest; “valuable...fascinating...a good addition”—Ohio Valley History; “invaluable McFarland Historical Baseball Library series”—Edward Achorn, The Providence Journal.