Here is a recreation of the first "traveling" league.
On June 30, 1860, the Excelsior Club boarded a train and embarked on the first great baseball tour. They started in upper New York State and on July 2 defeated the Champion Club of Albany, 24–6. On July 3 the Victory Club of Troy fell to the Excelsiors 13–7. They enjoyed a 50–19 victory against the Buffalo Niagaras on July 5. Wins in Rochester, NY and Newburgh, NY followed and the Excelsiors returned to Brooklyn on July 12 to prepare for the Atlantic Base Ball Club. On July 19, some 10,000 fans turned out to watch pitching ace Jim Creighton win easily 24–4. Afterwards they turned south in response to many invitations and played the Excelsior Club of Baltimore and won 51–6 on July 22. The trip concluded with games in Philadelphia, Maryland and Delaware, with the Excelsiors winning every game.
Brooklyn Excelsiors circa 1860 (left to right): Reynolds, Whiting, Creighton, Polhemus, Pearsall, Russell, Leggett, Brainard, and Flanly.
This season is for the Strat-O-Matic computer game only. You must authorize this season using the 1950 MLB authorization.
How do I use these?1860 Brooklyn Excelsior season The data for this season was spotty at best - so take the fielding ratings and some of the individual stats with a grain of salt. That being said, the season plays well and brings to life many players that have been all but forgotten.
1860 record of the Excelsiors (from
Baseball Chronology)
May 15—Excelsior and Charter Oak of Brooklyn. Won by the Charter Oaks 12-11.
June 21—Excelsior and Charter Oak of Brooklyn. Excelsior's ground. Excelsiors, 36 runs; Charter Oaks, nine runs; nine innings. Umpire, Andrew J. Bixby, of Eagle Club.
June 28—Excelsior and Star of Brooklyn. Excelsior's ground. Excelsiors, 16 runs; Stars, 5 runs. Umpire, Andrew J. Bixby, of Eagle Club.
Tour to Buffalo—June 30, 1860, the Excelsior Nine and others left for Albany. They were received by a delegation from the Champion Club of Albany, and registered at Stanwix Hall.
July 2—Excelsior and Champion, of Albany. Excelsiors, 24 runs; Champions, 6 runs; nine innings. After the game the Champions entertained their guests at the Merchant's Hotel.
July 3—Excelsior and Victory, of Troy. The Excelsiors were received by Dr. Hegeman, Robert Green, and others. Played on Victory's ground at Wier's Course, Troy. Excelsiors, 13 runs; Victories, 7 runs; nine innings. After the game the Excelsiors were well entertained at the "Troy House."
July 5—Excelsior and Niagara, of Buffalo—The Excelsiors were met by a delegation of the Niagara at the depot, and taken to the Mansion House. Excelsior, 50 runs; Niagara, 19 runs; 9 innings. Umpire, Frank P. Whiting, of Excelsior Club. The Excelsiors were escorted to Bloomfield's Hotel, where a splendid supper was provided. The Niagaras also went with them to Canada, to the Clifton House, where they were hospitably treated; and throughout, the attention shown the Excelsiors by their friends could not have been exceeded, and is remembered with the utmost pleasure.
July 7—Excelsior and Flour City, of Rochester. The Excelsiors were received by a delegation of the Flour City at the depot, and were conducted to the Osborne House. Excelsior, 21 runs; Flour City, 1 run; 9 innings.
July 9—Excelsior and Live Oak, of Rochester. Excelsior, 27 runs; Live Oak, 9; 9 innings.
July 11—Excelsior and Hudson River, of Newburgh. The Excelsiors were received by Mr. Miller and associates, and conducted to the Orange Hotel. Excelsior, 59 runs; Hudson River, 14 runs; 9 innings.
July 19—Excelsior and Atlantic. Excelsior's ground; Excelsior's, 23; Atlantics, 4; 9 innings; Umpire, William Bane, of Pastime Club.
July 22—Excelsior of Brooklyn, and Excelsior of Baltimore. Excelsior of Brooklyn, 51 runs; Excelsior of Baltimore, 6 runs; 9 innings. The Excelsiors were entertained with true Southern hospitality. A magnificent dinner at Guy's, after the game, was partaken of, at which flowers in profusion decorated the tables' toasts and songs abounded. From 4 A.M. of Saturday, until 5 P.M. of Sunday, the Excelsiors of Brooklyn were occupied in one entire round of pleasure. Played at Camac Woods, Philadelphia. Excelsior, 15 runs; All Philadelphia, 4 runs; 9 innings.
August 4—Excelsiors and Putnams. Putnam's ground. Excelsior, 23 runs; Putnam, 7 runs; nine innings. Umpire, Peter O'Brien, of Atlantic Club.
August 9—Excelsior and Atlantic. Atlantic's ground; Excelsiors, 14; Atlantics, 15; 9 innings; Umpire, William Bane, of Pastime Club.
August 23—Excelsior and Atlantic. Putnam's ground, on Broadway; Excelsiors, 8; Atlantics, 6; 5 innings were played, when the game was drawn (due to rowdy fan behavior); Umpire, R.H. Thorn, of Empire Club.
August 25—Excelsior and Knickerbocker. Excelsior's ground. Excelsiors, 32 runs; Knickerbockers, 9 runs; nine innings. Umpire, C. A. Burtis, of Gotham Club.
September 1—Excelsior and Empire. Empire's ground, Hoboken; Excelsiors, 23 runs; Empires, 7 runs; nine innings; Umpire, Samuel W. Patchen, of Charter Oak Club.
September 7—Excelsiors and Unions. Home-and-home game. Played on the Union's ground, at Morrisania. Excelsiors, 7 runs; Unions, 4 runs; nine innings. Umpire, John Van Horn, of Baltic Club; time of game, 2.23.
September 15—Excelsior and Independent. Excelsior ground; Excelsiors, 46 runs; Independents, 14 runs; nine innings.
Excursion to Baltimore, Md., Friday, September 21—The Excelsior Nine and others, left for Baltimore, where they arrived at about four o'clock on Saturday morning, and were received by George Beam and associates, and taken to Guy's Monument House.
September 29—Excelsior and Empire. At Elysian Fields, Hoboken; Excelsiors, 23 runs; Empires, 7 runs, nine innings; Umpire, Andrew J. Bixby, of Eagle Club.
November 5—Excelsior and St. George's Cricket Club. St. George's Cricket ground, Hoboken; Excelsiors, 25 runs; St. George's Cricket Club, 0 runs; nine innings.
Star pitcher Jim “Lifting Speed” Creighton of the Brooklyn Excelsiors (written by Eric Miklich)
Albeit brief, his baseball career remains one of the most remarkable of all time. Born on April 15, 1841, JIM CREIGHTON was baseball's first real star and made his pitching debut with the Brooklyn Niagaras at age eighteen in 1859. He would join the Brooklyn Star Club that year and then join the Excelsior Club, in 1860, for "under the table inducements." Although it is difficult to prove, he was probably the first paid player (not Al Reach of the Brooklyn Eckfords and the Philadelphia Athletics as recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame).
At the time Creighton pitched, the ball had to be delivered with a stiff-armed underhand motion. Creighton was said to be one of the first to bend the rule. He inaugurated speed pitching by adding an almost undetectable wrist snap and arm bend to his delivery. From 45 feet away he threw his rising "speedballs" and then threw slow pitches he called "dew drops" to further confuse the batter. During this time the pitcher's job was to help the batter and not hinder him. Fielding was to decide the game and some detested his aggressive approach. On November 8, 1860, Creighton would record baseball's first shutout. He was also an excellent hitter, scoring 47 runs in 20 games that same year. During the 1862 season, he was reportedly retired only four times.
On October 18, 1862, playing against the Union Club of Morrisania, NY, Creighton hit a home run. John Chapman, who was on-deck, heard something snap during Creighton's swing. After Jim crossed home plate he assured Chapman that his belt had broken. Four days later the Excelsior star was dead having ruptured his spleen or bladder in the process. He had bled to death of internal injuries. Jim Creighton was 21.
Creighton's approach forever changed the essence of the game from a match between hitters and fielders, to a duel between the pitcher and batter. He has not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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