Featured Partner
Charlton's Baseball Chronology - 1859
March
| March 14 |
The Nassau Base Ball Club is organized on the Princeton campus by members of the class of 1862. |
| March 15 |
At the annual meeting of the National Association of Base Ball Players‚ rule 36 is amended to read: "No party shall be competent to play in a match who receives compensation for his services." This rule will not be enforced although the first instance of a player moving to accept a professional ball playing position‚ Al Reach‚ will not take place until 1864. |
June
| June 30 |
The Knickerbockers play a test match with the Excelsior Club to determine the merits of the "fly game." The Knicks have been trying for 2 years to have the rule changed that now reads a batter can be put out when the fielder catches his fair ball on the first bounce. The Knicks lose the test match‚ 28-22. |
July
| July 1 |
The first intercollegiate baseball match is played between Amherst and Williams colleges at Pittsfield‚ MA. After taking a early lead‚ the Amherst squad wins the 4-hour‚ 26-round game by a score of 73-32. The game is played under the rules of the "Massachusetts Game." |
| July 8 |
The Atlantics defeat the Eckfords in Greenpoint‚ 25-15. The match draws the largest crowd since the Fashion Series last year. |
August
| August 2 |
In South Brooklyn‚ the Knicks demonstrate the "fly game" rule‚ losing to the Excelsiors‚ 20-5. |
| August 15 |
In the championship of Chicago between 2 local teams‚ the Atlantic Club beats the Excelsiors‚ 18-16 with 2 runs in the 9th. They win the best of three games with 2 straight wins. |
September
| September 8 |
Before the largest crowd of the year‚ the host Atlantics lose to the Eckford club‚ 22-16. Eckford breaks a tie with 6 runs in the 8th. The teams are tied at one apiece in their 3-game series. |
October
| October 12 |
The visiting Atlantics whip the Eckford Club‚ 22-12 to win the championship of 1859. The Atlantics score 7 in the first inning and lead 16-4 at the end of 3. They finish the year at 11-1. |
November
| November 28 |
The first baseball club on the West Coast is formed‚ the Eagle Club of San Francisco. The idea for the club belongs to Martin Cosgriff‚ a former member of the Tri-Mountain club‚ who moved to California in 1858. |
| November 29 |
The Nationals‚ the first club in Washington‚ D.C.‚ is organized. |
