Looking Back: Nashville Baseball in 1867
Though many sources have reported that Nashville was introduced to the game of baseball with the city's occupation of the Union Army during the Civil War in 1862-that is a myth. A newspaper article from a July 1860 edition of the Republican Banner tells of a game of baseball being observed by a writer in the Edgefield section of Nashville.
Amateur baseball flourished in Nashville for several years after the Civil War. The best team in those infant years was the Nashville Athletic Club. The NAC played on Nashville's best diamond and furnished uniforms. The diamond was located in North Nashville in a cramp ballpark named Sulphur Springs Park, later Athletic Park and finally Sulphur Dell.
One of the earliest recorded involvements of a fan with baseball in Nashville occurred in Sept.1867. A story in the Republican Banner revealed the results of the second game of a three-game baseball series. Playing for the championship of Davidson County was the Nashville and Phoenix clubs.
The newspaper reported that, "Quite a number of spectators were present-among them several ladies who were furnished with seats and otherwise provided by Captain Hatcher." The Nashville Club won 58-29 to tie the series. The finale of the series could not be located in the archives.
The series did not end without controversy. Baseball fans from that era showed their team loyalty and emotions in the same manner as modern fans. This portion of the game has always remained the same-true baseball fans know their baseball.
While the box score of the third game could not be located, the outcome of the championship was apparent with a display of battling editorial letters. A fan, using the name "A. Ball," sent a letter to the editor of the Banner. The letter read in part:
A match game was played Tuesday between the Nashville and Phoenix Baseball Clubs, which was witnessed by a large number of spectators, with but little satisfaction however. Quite a discussion was held between the friends of both clubs. It was generally agreed that there was unfairness exhibited on the part of the Umpire, Mr. Wm. Buck.
The following items by a "spectator" will prove the above. Mr. F. Gault of the Phoenix was on first base and endeavored to make the second-he passed the second, during which a foul was called. Instead of returning to the second base, and touching it, he crossed the diamond and reached first base. Thus violating the 23rd section of the rules and regulations of National Association of Base Ball Clubs.
Wow! What a savvy, passionate baseball fan from 1867! Over 144 years later, the umpire still cannot get a break. "Mr. Ball" wrote word-for-word from the rulebook stating in precise detail, that the runner had to touch second base on his way back to first. The base runner cannot take a shortcut. The runner should have been called out, but wasn't. This was just one of the problems to cause "Mr. Ball" such disdain. He gave other accounts of the rules violations not called against the Phoenix team. The unhappy Nashvillian continued:
Partially was exhibited throughout the entire game, and everything went in favor of the Phoenix. It was not thought by the spectators that the game would be claimed by Capt. Sullivan; but in this they were grossly deceived. Capt. Sullivan, himself admitted that there was marked unfairness and partiality on the part of the Umpire.
Capt. Sullivan was J.W. Sullivan, the vice-president and a player of the Phoenix Club. Apparently, Mr. Sullivan subscribed to the Banner as his response was printed in a rebuttal letter to the editor:
The communication published in your paper yesterday over the signature of "A. Ball," was inanifestly partial. Although claimed to have been written by a spectator, I think it owes it paternity to some member of the Nashville Club, or to a zealous partisan.
The first statement that "It was generally agreed that there was unfairness exhibited on the part of the Umpire," will no doubt, astonish a large majority of the spectators as it does me. The idea must have originated in the fertile imagination of "A. Ball," as I have never heard it mentioned except by some member of the club in whose interests he writes.
In justice to Mr. Buck I would state, that no Umpire had been selected previous to the hour for playing, and in the name of all that is reasonable, why not the Nashville Club object to that gentleman before the game began, instead of accusing him of partiality at it's close?
Mr. Sullivan continued his letter disputing some of "Mr. Ball's" facts while admitting the umpire missed some calls. However, he steadfastly stood by his team and continued:
In conclusion, permit me to say in behalf of the Phoenix, that it is our aim to promote the cultivation of kindly feelings among the different Base Ball Clubs.
That we think we fairly won the championship of Davidson County, and have the champion bat in our possession and intend to retain it until vanquished in a square, stand-up fight in an open field when we will yield it cheerfully and gracefully, but never through a newspaper controversy.
Since "Mr. Ball" was complaining about the mistreatment of the Nashville Club (and the Nashville Club won the second game) his frustration must have resulted from losing the third game. Mr. Sullivan proudly proclaimed the county championship with the symbolic champion's bat. The evidence indicates that the Phoenix Club won the Davidson County championship of 1867.
The Southern League would begin operations in 1885 with the Nashville Americans a charter member. The city's first professional baseball team would finish in second place during that inaugural season. Nashville would be included in the league for several sporadic years until the league folded after the 1899 season. The league was revived in 1901 as the Southern Association. At that time the Nashville Vols were born.
This will the final "Looking Back" story for this season. If you have any comments or suggestions, click here to send an email to Bill Traughber.