Wikipedia

Brooklyn Enterprise

The Enterprise Base Ball Club of Brooklyn (also known as the Enterprise of Bedford) was an American baseball club in the 1850s and 1860s.

The Enterprise Base Ball Club of Brooklyn
Information
LeagueNational Amateur Association (1861–1866)
LocationBrooklyn, New York
FoundedJune 28, 1856
Folded1866
Nickname(s)Brooklyn Enterprise
Former ballparksvarious Brooklyn locales (1856–1863)
Capitoline Grounds (1864–1866)

Founding

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The Enterprise was founded as an amateur club on June 28, 1856,[1] in the neighborhood of Bedford, in Brooklyn, New York. At the time, baseball (then spelled as two words — "base ball") was strictly a non-professional sport, played for recreation and exercise. There were no organized leagues, and rules varied by region as there were as yet no agreed-upon standards of play.

Shortly after the club was founded, the New York Clipper described the Enterprise Club (as well as the Star Club of South Brooklyn) as “youths ranging from 15 to 18 years of age, who have organized, like thousands of others, for the purpose of perfecting themselves in the various physical exercises, which are so necessary for a development of the mental faculties."[2]

By contemporaneous journalistic accounts, in their first five seasons, the Enterprise were considered an elite "Junior" class squad.[3] "Junior" clubs generally consisted of younger, less experienced, but often highly competitive players, the best of whom might be recruited by Senior clubs.

The Enterprise were competitive enough to challenge Senior clubs, but often the challenges were not accepted. "We understand that the Enterprise club have challenged several of our leading clubs who have not responded as it was expected they would," according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. "Don’t be afraid of the boys[,] gentlemen, but come out boldly and play them even if there is a chance of your being defeated. Those who back out will certainly merit the white feather for an ornament."[4]

There was an explosive growth of the game regionally and nationally in the late 1850s. In 1860, the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), which served to legitimize, standardize, and popularize the game, admitted 21 new teams to its ranks, including the Enterprise.[5] "Each new entry was required to pay a $5 admission fee and agree to pay annual dues of $5," wrote baseball historian William Ryczek. "Of the new clubs, 13 were from New York state, but the presence of eight from other states was encouraging."[5] Upon admission to the NABBP, the Enterprise began the 1861 season officially recognized as a Senior club.[6]

Quality of play

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Box score of Enterprise vs. Powhatan match published in Wilkes Spirit of the Times newspaper, October 15, 1859

“Any one who witnessed the [May 28, 1858] game [between the Star Club of Brooklyn and the Enterprise Club of Brooklyn] will admit that of all Junior clubs, they rank highest," reported Porter's Spirit of the Times. "It was played by both sides as finely, and as many excellent points were made, as will be seen in almost any match of the Senior players. … We shall watch with much interest the future games of these clubs, and advise those who wish to witness much pretty play, to be present at whatever game they may participate in."[3]

The Enterprise was considered an excellent source of talented young players, who were then recruited by more high-profile clubs. According to the New York Clipper, reporting in 1860, “The Enterprise and Star were the leading junior organizations up to 1859, when both entered the [NABBP]. Last season the Stars took a decided lead, being much stronger than the Enterprise; but this season, judging from the play of the respective clubs thus far, we are inclined to award the palm to the Enterprise club. … [The two clubs] have been rivals since their organization, the Enterprise club practicing on the same grounds as the Atlantics, and the Stars, up to this season, on that of the Excelsior Club, both the Atlantics and Excelsiors being at times recruited from these junior clubs."[7]

After a close loss to the Senior class Brooklyn Atlantics in 1860, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle commended the Junior club, noting, "The Enterprise players have learned the value and importance of proper discipline in their nine, and for a young club they are remarkably well organized in this respect, and it is in this that they have an advantage over the Atlantic’s [sic], who this season has been lacking in this very necessary matter."[4]

Home field

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The concept of a one-team "home field" did not exist in the early days of the sport. Amateur era clubs had "home" playing grounds—such as parks, public recreation areas, or vacant lots—although they were often shared with other teams and other sports (particularly cricket).

According to the New York Clipper in May 1862, “The members of [the Atlantic Club] commenced play for the season [on May 12], the late date of their opening game resulting from their having their grounds newly laid out, which has been done under the superintendence of Mr. Wild. The ground is now one of the best of the city, and in a few weeks will be in fine condition. These grounds are occupied by the Atlantics on Mondays and Thursdays, and by the Enterprise club on Wednesdays and Saturdays." The Clipper added, "There are, therefore, two days each week unoccupied, and these days can be secured on application to Mr. Wild, at the Cline Hill Hotel, corner of Gates and Marcey Avenue.”[8] (Sunday ball was prohibited by law.)

In the 1860s, fenced-in parks, such as the Union Grounds (1862) and the Capitoline Grounds (1864), began hosting competitive sports matches. From 1864 to 1866, the Enterprise shared Brooklyn's lavish, multi-purpose Capitoline Grounds as their home field. In May, 1865, the New York Times reported, "The Capitoline grounds ... are to be the locale of some of the most interesting and exciting games of the season. Three ball clubs — the Atlantic, Excelsior and Enterprise — and one cricket Club — the Long Island — occupying it this year. A new clubhouse has been erected, costing several thousand dollars, and ample preparations have been made for the accommodation of the fair sex. In fact it is to be the popular resort of the ball-playing fraternity and their fair guests of the Western District of Brooklyn."[9]

That did not mean that all playing fields were conducive to serious ball-playing. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, covering a game between the Enterprise and the Star Club in June 1865, described the Star Grounds, opposite Carroll Park, as a "vacant lot with cobble-stone paved streets on three sides, and the lot a stony and sterile waste, [which] forms what are here called ball grounds—and no man can be expected to make much headway with spikes, on pavement. But this is the best ground South Brooklyn affords, and of course players must make allowances for that."[10]

Historical record

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To date more than 85 games played by the Enterprise have been documented. Records were not kept for an unknown number of games; for others, records were lost, or research has yet to turn up specific details. Some games were documented in Charles Peverelly's Book of American Pastimes, which was self-published in 1866.[11] Other Enterprise matches have been documented at Protoball.org, a clearinghouse of information about pre-professional baseball.[1] Enterprise game chronicles have been located in the archives of such New York-based newspapers as The New York Clipper, The Brooklyn Eagle, Porter's Spirit of the Times, Wilkes Spirit of the Times, The New York Times, The New York Daily Herald, and others.

After the 1861 season, a number of key Enterprise regulars, including first baseman Joe Start and outfielders Jack Chapman and Fred Crane, left the team and joined the rival Brooklyn Atlantics. This caused a rift between the clubs. "[T]he Enterprise ... had shared a field with and been mentored by the Atlantics in the 1850s while the Enterprise was still a junior club," wrote historians Craig Waff and William Ryczek. "But the latter was now a senior club, and the Atlantics’ raid of three ... Enterprise players (in addition to Charley Smith in 1858) permanently soured the Atlantic-Enterprise relationship. The two clubs would not play against each other again."[6]

Though the Enterprise played a busy schedule in 1861, many teams began to scale back games that year, a process that continued through 1863,[12] as many young, able-bodied males were recruited to fight in the American Civil War.[13] Only one 1862 game played by the Enterprise has been documented, and none for 1863.

Scoring totals in Enterprise matches, and in all contemporary games, were dramatically higher than in late 19th century thru today. Baseball historian Bruce Allardice said scoring in early games was "reminiscent of softball scores — which should not be surprising, since 1858–65 baseball resembled modern softball as much as it resembled modern baseball."[14] MLB historian John Thorn noted that “baseball games of the 1860s typically featured 35 or more combined runs per game, with scores of 60-100 runs not unusual.”[14] Runs scored per game in baseball matches decreased starting in the 1870s as a result of rules changes, craftier pitching, improved fielding, and changes in equipment.

No matches involving the Enterprise have been documented beyond 1866. In April 1867, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, in a brief item about a former Enterprise player named Smith who would be playing for the National Club of Washington that year, referred to the Enterprise as "defunct."[15] According to at least one authoritative historical chronicle, the Enterprise merged with the Excelsior Club in late 1866, and continuing under the name Excelsior fielded a competitive team in 1867.[16]

Legacy

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Joe Start, 1865, then with the Brooklyn Atlantics

Several players on the Enterprise later went on to extended careers playing professionally in the National Association and the National League. One was historically pivotal in establishing how his field position would thereafter be played: first baseman Joe Start (although Start is listed in many news accounts as playing third base for the Enterprise). Start had a 27-year career of sustained excellence through 1886, playing professionally with the Atlantic for a decade, then playing 16 years in the Major Leagues.[17]

The team name "Enterprise" became common, with similarly named (but unrelated) squads in Memphis (1866), Peoria (1867), Newark (1860), Jersey City (1859), Sidney (1866), Middleport (1868), Pittsburgh (1866),[18] Allegheny (PA),[19] Baltimore,[19] Chicago,[19] Troy (New York),[11] and elsewhere.[20] However, the Brooklyn team is the earliest known to adopt the name.

Significant Enterprise players

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Newspaper coverage of amateur-era games generally mentioned only last names in stories, and players were similarly listed in box scores. Hence, the identities of most Enterprise players are unknown. The following players had established careers after leaving the Enterprise:

Documented games

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Date Opponent Score Win/Loss/Tie Location
September 18, 1856[22] Excelsior Club unknown unknown Brooklyn
October 3, 1856[23] National Club 24-8 Win Brooklyn (Bedford)
November 15, 1856[24] Star Club of Brooklyn 21-16 Loss Brooklyn (Bedford)
November 20, 1856[25] Star Club of Brooklyn 22-8 Loss unknown
November 20, 1856[26] National Club 24-12 Win unknown
unknown (spring)[27] Ashland unknown Win unknown
August 1, 1857[28] Lone Star Club of Jersey City 24-27 Loss Brooklyn
August 22, 1857[29] Excelsior Club 51-12 Win Brooklyn (Wheat Hill)
September 26, 1857[30] Star Club of Brooklyn 14-19 Loss Brooklyn
September 28 [?], 1857[30] Excelsior Club 25-1 Win Brooklyn
October 5, 1857[31] Young America 19-16 Win unknown
October 17, 1857[32] Star Club of Brooklyn 21-11 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
October 28, 1857[33] Young America 22-16 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
October 31, 1857[27] Ashland 27-7 Win Hoboken (Fox Hill)
November 20, 1857[34] Star Club of Brooklyn unknown draw unknown
May 28, 1858[3] Star Club of Brooklyn 18-21 Loss Brooklyn (Excelsior Grounds, Carroll Park)
June 10 or 17, 1858[35] Amity 50-30 Win Hoboken (Fox Hill)
June 19, 1858[36] Ashland 27-22 Win Hoboken (Fox Hill)
June 26, 1858[37] Union 12-8 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
July 3, 1858[38] North Star 38-10 Win Brooklyn (North Star Grounds)
July 8, 1858[38] Amity 34-17 Win Hoboken (Fox Hill)
July 24, 1858 Resolute Club of Brooklyn 25-18 Win Brooklyn (Wheat Hill)[39]
August 4, 1858[40] North Star 15-8 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
August 11, 1858[40] Resolute Club of Brooklyn unknown ["scheduled return match"] Brooklyn (Bedford Atlantic Grounds)
August 18, 1858[40] Ashland unknown ["scheduled return match"] Brooklyn (Bedford Atlantic Grounds)
September 1, 1858[41] Lone Star Club of Jersey City 23-44 Loss Jersey City (Lone Star Grounds)
September 3, 1858[42] Champion of Yorkville 17-36 Loss Brooklyn (81st St and 2nd Ave.)
September 25, 1858 Resolute Club of Brooklyn unknown ["scheduled"] Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
October 20, 1858[43] Champion Club of Yorkville 20-18 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
October 27, 1858 Lone Star Club of Jersey City unknown ["scheduled return match"] Brooklyn
August 20, 1859[43] Champion Club of Yorkville 8-21 Loss [conflicting reports]
prior to Aug. 31, 1859[44] Niagara 31-7 Win unknown
September 30, 1859[45] Oakland 30-18 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
October 4, 1859[46] Powhatan Club of Brooklyn 13-11 Win Brooklyn (Bedford)
prior to Oct. 22, 1859[47] Lone Star Club of Jersey City 17-11 Win unknown
October 24, 1859[48] Oakland 19-12 Win Oakland Grounds
November 9, 1859[49][50] Powhatan Club of Brooklyn 15-8 Win Brooklyn (Powhatan Grounds)
July 16, 1860[51] Atlantic of Brooklyn 20-38 Loss Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
July 24, 1860[51] Eckford of Brooklyn 10-20 Loss Brooklyn (Bedford)[11]
August 1, 1860[52] Hamilton of Brooklyn 24-8 (or 26-10 per some sources) Win Brooklyn (Hamilton Grounds)
August 7, 1860[51] Poughkeepsie 18-14 Win Poughkeepsie
August 10, 1860 Newark Eurekas 25-21 Win unknown
August 16[11] or 17, 1860[4] Atlantic of Brooklyn 14-16 Loss Brooklyn (Atlantic Grounds)
August 24, 1860[11] New York Gothams 15-56 Loss Hoboken
August 27, 1860[53] Newark Eurekas 13-20 Loss Newark (Eureka Grounds)
August 29, 1860[54] New York Gothams 15-21 Loss Brooklyn
September 26, 1860[55] Eckford of Brooklyn 18-31 Loss Brooklyn (Greenpoint)
October 3, 1860[56] Eckford of Brooklyn 20-38 Loss Brooklyn (Bedford)
October 10, 1860[57] Eureka Club of Newark 25-21 Win Brooklyn (Bedford)
October 18, 1860[58] Eckford of Brooklyn 31-16 Win unknown
November 1, 1860[58] Eckford of Brooklyn unknown ["scheduled"] unknown
June 5, 1861 Eckford of Brooklyn 19-53[11] (or 52)[59] Loss Brooklyn (Bedford)
June 26, 1861[60] Hamilton 38-27 Win Brooklyn (Hamilton Grounds)
July 10, 1861[61] Newark Eurekas 5-27 Loss unknown
August 20, 1861[62] New York Gothams 13-14 Loss Hoboken (Elysian Fields)
September 5, 1861[63] Eckford of Brooklyn 20-27 Loss Brooklyn (Atlantic Grounds)
September 10, 1861[64] Hamilton of Brooklyn 41-23 Win Brooklyn (Atlantic Grounds)
September 21, 1861[65] Brooklyn [unknown name] 46-12 Win Brooklyn (Enterprise Grounds)
September 25, 1861[66] Mutual Club of New York 21 [or 23]-33 Loss Hoboken (Elysian Fields)
October 4, 1861[67] Eckford of Brooklyn 20-19 Win Brooklyn (Manor House Grounds, Greenpoint)
October 17, 1861[68] Eckford of Brooklyn 26-23 [or 24] Win Brooklyn (Putnam Grounds)
May 20, 1862 Eckford of Brooklyn 20-19 Win Brooklyn (Greenpoint)
July 16, 1864[69] Excelsior Club 19-25 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
July 26, 1864 New York Gothams 13-22 Loss Hoboken
June 6, 1865[70] New York Gothams 18-19 (12 innings) Loss Hoboken
June 24, 1865[10] Star Club of Brooklyn 36-44 Loss Brooklyn (Star Grounds, Carroll Park)
July 29, 1865[11][71] Active of New York 12-27 Loss Hoboken
August 5, 1865[72] Star Club of Brooklyn 38-47 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
August 7, 1865[72] Hudson River Club of Newburgh unknown unknown Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
August 16, 1865[11] Empire Club 33-37 Loss Brooklyn (Bedford)
August 28, 1865[11][73] Eckford of Brooklyn 20-21 Loss Brooklyn (Union Grounds)
September 2, 1865[71] Active of New York 18-28 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
September 13, 1865[73] Eckford of Brooklyn 25-26 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
September 26, 1865[11] Excelsior Club 21-46 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
November 11, 1865[11] Excelsior Club 16-43 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
June 16, 1866 Union of Morrisania 16-42 Loss Morrisania, The Bronx
June 20, 1866[11] Eckford of Brooklyn 21-39 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
June 30, 1866[11] Active of New York 26-31 Loss Hoboken
July 4, 1866[11] Active of New York 26-29 (10 innings) Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
July 21, 1866[11] Pacific Club of New Utrecht 30-15 Win New Utrecht (Long Island)
September 3, 1866[11] Eckford of Brooklyn 10-34 Loss Brooklyn (Union Grounds)
September 4, 1866[74] Eclectic of New York 24-14 Win Hoboken
September 10, 1866[75] Eckford of Brooklyn 22-17 Win Brooklyn (Union Grounds)
September 14, 1866 Excelsior Club 18-16 Win unknown
September 19, 1866 Waterbury 37-21 Win Hoboken
October 6, 1866[11] Union Club 6-43 Loss Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
October 20, 1866[11] Eclectic of New York 31-18 Win Brooklyn (Capitoline Grounds)
October 24, 1866[11] Pacific Club of New Utrecht 52-19 Win unknown

Sources

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Freyer, John and Mark Rucker. Peverelly's National Game. Dover, New Hampshire: Arcadia Publishing: 2005. ISBN 0-7385-3404-8

References

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  1. ^ a b Enterprise Club of Brooklyn at Protoball.org
  2. ^ New York Clipper, November 22, 1856, via Waff, Ryczek and Morris, "Star Base Ball Club, in Base Ball Pioneers, 1850–1870: The Clubs and Players Who Spread the Sport Nationwide
  3. ^ a b c “Out-Door Sports: Base-Ball: The Enterprise and Star Clubs of Brooklyn,” Porter's Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 13, May 29, 1858, p. 197, col. 1, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  4. ^ a b c "Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Atlantic,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 19, no. 196, August 18, 1860, p. 3, col. 2, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  5. ^ a b Ryczek, William, "1860 Winter Meetings: Convention of the National Association of Base Ball Players", at SABR.org (originally published in the book Base Ball’s 19th Century Winter Meetings: 1857-1900)
  6. ^ a b Ryczek, William, and Craig Waff, "Atlantic Base Ball Club," Base Ball Pioneers, 1850–1870: The Clubs and Players Who Spread the Sport Nationwide, McFarland & Co. Inc., 2012, p. 123
  7. ^ “Enterprise vs. Atlantic,” New York Clipper, vol. 8, no. 15, July 28, 1860, p. 116, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  8. ^ “The Atlantic Club,” New York Clipper, May 1862 [exact date unknown]
  9. ^ "Out-Door Sports.; Base Ball and Cricket-Playing — Opening of Base Ball and Cricket-Playing — Opening of the season", The New York Times, May 1, 1865, p. 2
  10. ^ a b Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 26, 1865, p 2.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Reprint of Peverelly's Book of American Pastimes, by John Freyer and Mark Rucker, Introduction by John Thorn, Arcadia Publishing, 2005
  12. ^ Gilbert, Thomas W., How Baseball Happened: The True Story Revealed (Godine, 2020). "When the Civil War started in 1861, the Knickerbockers stopped playing for two seasons." (p. 73); [The war] "caused many New York baseball and cricket clubs to shut down for a year or more." (p. 84)
  13. ^ Peverelly's National Game (pub. 1866): "In 1861, the [Brooklyn Powhatan] club became in a measure disorganized, on account of so many members entering the army."
  14. ^ a b Allardice, Bruce, "Baseball 1858-1865: By the Numbers", posted at SABR.org, originally published in the Spring 2020 Baseball Research Journal
  15. ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 25, 1867, p. 5
  16. ^ Ryczek and Morris, "Excelsior Base Ball Club," Base Ball Pioneers, 1850–1870, p. 105. "The [Brooklyn] Excelsiors fielded a competitive team in 1867, merging with the Enterprise Club and finishing with an 11–5 record."
  17. ^ Chusid, Irwin, Joe Start biographical profile at the Society for American Baseball Research's BioProject
  18. ^ Helander, Brock, "Prelude to the Formation of the American Association", excerpt from "From Swampoodle to South Philly", The National Pastime (SABR journal), 2013
  19. ^ a b c Base Ball Pioneers, 1850–1870: The Clubs and Players Who Spread the Sport Nationwide, various editors and writers, pub. McFarland & Co. Inc., 2012.
  20. ^ "Earliest Baseball Clubs", MLB.com
  21. ^ Ryczek and Morris, "Excelsior Base Ball Club," Base Ball Pioneers, 1850–1870, p. 109. "Murtha was a member of the Enterprise Club for several years."
  22. ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 15, no. 222, Sept. 16, 1856, p. 3, col. 1, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  23. ^ "Ball Play: Enterprise vs. National" New York Clipper, vol. 4, no. 25, Oct. 11, 1856, p. 195. “These clubs are composed of lads between the ages of 14 and 18 years. Let them be encouraged."
  24. ^ “Ball Play: Enterprise vs. Star,” New York Clipper, vol. 4, no. 31, Nov. 22, 1856, p. 247
  25. ^ “Base Ball: Match between the Star Club, of Brooklyn, and the Enterprise Club, of Bedford,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 1, no. 13, Nov. 29, 1856, p. 213
  26. ^ “Base Ball—Enterprise vs. National,” New York Clipper, vol. 4, no. 33, Dec. 6, 1856, p. 259
  27. ^ a b W. H. Davis, “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Young America,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 3, no. 10, Nov. 7 1857, p. 148. PSoT: “The Ashland played better than in their match with the Enterprise in the Spring.”
  28. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Lone Star and Enterprise,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 2, no. 25, Aug. 22, 1857, p. 389
  29. ^ “Enterprise vs. Excelsior Base Ball Clubs,” New York Clipper, vol. 5, no. 19, Aug. 29, 1857, p. 151
  30. ^ a b An Observer, “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Star,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 3, no. 5, Oct. 3 1857, p. 77; date of Enterprise vs Excelsior match uncertain; story includes reference but scheduling is vague
  31. ^ “Enterprise vs. Young America,” New York Clipper, vol. 5, no. 26, Oct. 17, 1857, p. 205
  32. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Star,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 3, no. 8, Oct. 24, 1857, p. 117
  33. ^ W. H. Davis, “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Young America,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 3, no. 10, Nov. 7 1857, p. 148
  34. ^ Waff, Ryczek and Morris, "Star Base Ball Club," Base Ball Founders, p. 145. The game "ended in a draw when the Enterprise players decided to leave the field, [blaming] certain decisions by the referee, who was a brother of a Star player."
  35. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Amity,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 16, June 19, 1858, p. 245
  36. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Ashland,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 17, June 26, 1858, p. 261
  37. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Union vs. Enterprise,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 18, July 3, 1858, p. 277
  38. ^ a b “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. North Star,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 20, July 17, 1858, p. 309
  39. ^ Enterprise Club of Brooklyn v Resolute Club of Brooklyn on 24 July 1858, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  40. ^ a b c W. H. Davis, “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: North Star vs. Enterprise,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 24, Aug. 14 1858, p. 380
  41. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Lone Star vs. Enterprise,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 5, no. 2, Sept. 11, 1858, p. 20
  42. ^ A Ball Player, “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Champion vs. Enterprise,” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 5, no. 2, Sept. 11, 1858, p. 20. PSoT: "Yesterday, quite a large party, among whom were many of the fair sex, assembled to witness the match. ... At the conclusion of the game the Enterprise were entertained by the Champions at the Magnolia Place, near the grounds, where toasts were given for each club. Speeches were made by Mr. Sutton, of the Enterprise, and Rowe, of the Champions. Songs were sung by Sutton, Boyd, and Webber, of the Enterprise, and Goldie, of the Champions, after which we separated in the best of humor."
  43. ^ a b “City News and Gossip: Base Ball,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 17, no. 249, October 20, 1858, p. 3, col. 2, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  44. ^ "Sporting Base Ball," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 18, no. 207, Aug. 31, 1859, p. 3
  45. ^ “City News and Gossip: Base Ball, Enterprise vs. Oakland,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 18, no. 237, Oct. 5 1859, p. 3
  46. ^ “City News and Gossip: Base Ball,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 18, no. 237, Oct. 5 1859, p. 3
  47. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Lone Star” Porter’s Spirit of the Times, vol. 7, no. 8, Oct. 22, 1858, p. 120
  48. ^ “City News and Gossip: Base Ball - Enterprise vs. Oakland,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 18, no. 256, Oct. 27 1859, p. 3
  49. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Powhatan,” Wilkes’ Spirit of the Times, vol. 1, no. 11, Nov 19, 1859, p. 165, col. 1
  50. ^ “Enterprise vs. Powhattan [sic],” New York Clipper, vol. 7, no. 31, November 19, 1859, p. 245
  51. ^ a b c Atlantic Club of Brooklyn v Enterprise Club of Brooklyn on 16 July 1860, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  52. ^ "Base Ball.; Enterprise of Bedford vs. Hamilton of Brooklyn", The New York Times, August 2, 1860, p. 1
  53. ^ "Base Ball.; Eureka, of Newark, vs. Enterprise, of Brooklyn", The New York Times, August 28, 1860, p. 5
  54. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Gotham of New York vs. Enterprise of Brooklyn,” Porter's Spirit of the Times, vol. 9, no. 2, Sept. 4, 1860, p. 437
  55. ^ Eckford Club of Brooklyn v Enterprise Club of Brooklyn on 26 September 1860, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  56. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Eckford vs. Enterprise 'Muffin Nines',” Porter's Spirit of the Times, vol. 9, no. 7, Oct. 9, 1860, p. 100
  57. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise of Brooklyn vs. Eureka of Newark, N.J.,” Porter's Spirit of the Times, vol. 9, no. 8, Oct. 16, 1860, p. 117
  58. ^ a b “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Eckford vs. Enterprise,” Porter's Spirit of the Times, vol. 9, no. 9, Oct. 23, 1860, p. 133
  59. ^ Games Tab: Greater New York City, 1861-1862, Protoball.org, per various contemporaneous newspaper sources
  60. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Matches to Come Off” Wilkes' Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 18, July 6, 1861, p. 276
  61. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise of Brooklyn, vs. Eureka, of Newark, N.J.” Wilkes' Spirit of the Times, vol. 4, no. 20, July 20, 1861, p. 307
  62. ^ "Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Gotham," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 20, no. 197, Aug. 21, 1861, p. 3
  63. ^ Porter's Spirit of the Times, September 7, 1861, p.9, per Eric Miklich, Protoball.org
  64. ^ "Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Hamilton", Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 20, no. 215, September 11, 1861, p. 3, col. 1, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  65. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Brooklyn”, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 20, no. 220, September 17, 1861, p. 3, col. 2, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  66. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise of Brooklyn vs. Mutual of Hoboken (sic)", Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 20, no. 228, September 27, 1861, p. 2, col. 5, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  67. ^ “Out-Door Sports: Base Ball: Enterprise vs. Eckford", Brooklyn Daily Eagle, vol. 20, no. 235, October 5, 1861, p. 3, col. 2, per Craig Waff, Protoball.org
  68. ^ Wilkes' Spirit of the Times, October 26, 1861, p.116, per Eric Miklich, Protoball.org
  69. ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 18, 1864, p. 2. This was the first reported Enterprise game since 1862. BDE: "We have at last the pleasure of recording the appearance of the above named clubs in a match for the first time this season, and now that they have taken off some of the rust which has accumulated since they last appeared in the field of action ..."
  70. ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "Sports and Pastimes: Base Ball," June 7, 1865, p. 2. Headline says "Thirteen Innings Played," but box score indicates the Gothams scored two runs in the bottom of the 12th to clinch victory.
  71. ^ a b "Base Ball.; Active, of New-York, vs. Enterprise, of Brooklyn", The New York Times, September 3, 1865, p. 5
  72. ^ a b "Out-Door Sports.; Base Ball. Atlantic vs. Mutual. Star vs. Enterprise. Hudson River of Newburgh vs. New-York and Brooklyn Clubs", The New York Times, August 7, 1865, p. 8
  73. ^ a b Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 14, 1865, p 2. "In the recent game between these two clubs, played on the Union Grounds, the Eckford then won, the score being 21 to 20."
  74. ^ New York Daily Herald, September 6, 1866, p. 4
  75. ^ "The National Game: Eckford vs. Enterprise", New York Herald, September 12, 1866
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