THE 1878 MILWAUKEE GRAYS

May 14, 1878 at Milwaukee
Grays defeat Reds, 8-5
Season record: 2-5-1

The regular season of base ball opened at the Milwaukee Club grounds, yesterday, the game being between the Milwaukees and the Cincinnati boys. The weather was all that could be asked, and the crowd in attendance was large. The best classes of our people were represented, and many ladies graced the occasion by their presence. The home club appeared in splendid condition, and were clad in their gray uniform. The Cincinnati boys were exceptionally fine-looking, and made a very jaunty appearance in their white uniforms. No betting is allowed on the ground, but it was understood that, at the pool rooms, odds were freely offered against the home nine. This was natural, as the Milwaukee boys had lost five out of the six games played during their recent trip [note: plus one tie], while the Cincinnati Club had not lost a game.

Still, the hopes of friends of the home nine were high, and it proved that such hopes were well founded, for, at the close, the score stood eight to five, in favor of the Milwaukees. This results has given great encouragement to the friends of the home nine, and it is probably that the game tomorrow will be attended by many thousands of people. This game was watched with the closest interest, and every bit of good work was loudly applauded. The visiting nine was treated with the utmost courtesy by the spectators, who awarded their applause most impartially. The best of feeling was manifested between the rival clubs, each member bearing himself as a gentleman throughout the game.

The gentlemen having charge of the grounds and of the arrangements for the game carried out their plans to the great satisfaction of everybody concerned. [note: Not only was baseball in its early stages, but so too was sportswriting. What followed was play-by-play of each inning, but much of it on what I have is unreadable due to the quality of the document.]

The story ends thusly: The feature of the game were the heavy batting of both parties, some excellent fly catches by Dal, Weaver, Peters and Pike; some pincky playing on the part of Hobert, who got a severe tap on the forehead. Over 800 persons were present, the grand stand being completely filled. The rumor which is being circulated to the effect that the game was a “put up” is entirely false, the game being fairly played and fairly won. “All honor to him to whom honor is due.”

Notable
- Last place Milwaukee met first place – and unbeaten Cincinnati – in the Grays’ first home game.
- Items of note from the play-by-play: Milwaukee batted first, not second. Much like we do in vintage base ball, teams would flip for who was in the field and who was at bat first. Interesting recount of Cincinnati’s first: Pike got his bag on a base hit, and stolen second; McVey getting two sacks on a long hit to right field, sending Pike to third [so he only goes one base on a double]; Geer going out on first. White took first on balls [so bases loaded]. White [another player, his brother] out to Weaver, leaving Pike on third [I gather this was a pop or liner, since the runner held]. Jones out on fly, leaving Gerhardt on third. [Gerhardt not mentioned previously; plus the box score lists Cincinnati’s order as Pike, McVey, Geer, J. white, Gerhardt, Jones. So probably a mistake with the second White, but no way Gerhardt would be on third anyway, as the “second White” made an out, plus Pike was on third! Welcome to 1878 reporting.]
- In the fourth: Dalyrmple took first on a base hit, stealing second on a bad fumble by Sullivan [note: i.e. error]. Peters took first on basehit, sending Dal to third, himself stealing second, Dal, making out on home through inexcusable carelessness.
- In the sixth: Jones took first on Redmond’s error, taking second by knocking the ball out of Peters' hand … [note: so much for being gentlemen …]