A League of Their Own

Their dress was a picturesque costume, consisting of a tunic or blouse, blue or red, according to the nine to which the wearer belonged, with skirts extending to the knee, and belted at the waist, a jaunty baseball hat, with a rosette on the side, and baseball shoes.

When the crowd began to poor into the park a score of young women were scattered about the grounds, throwing a ball about and “warming up” for the approaching game. The game was called at 4PM. Three to four thousand people had collected in the park. The interest in the players was so great that the men thronged about the home plate, so seriously incommoding the young women that the police had to drive back the crowd.[2]

Blue Stockings, Lottie Drake, C; Jennie Meyerberg-1b; Josie Howard-2b; Alice Lingard-P; May Carter-SS; Laura Shepherd-3b, Tillie Weeks-Lf; Ada Franklin-Rf, and Ida Howard-Cf.

Red Stockings, Laura Gray-C; Millie Neville, 1b; Retta Howard-SS; Eva Clifford-P; Tillie Sheldon-2b; Georgie Losthaum-3b; Georgie Bell-Rf; Josie Arnold-Lf, and Minnie Stacy-Cf.

The Reds having taken their places in the field, Miss Clifford, the pitcher, with her feet planted firmly, she looked around at the throng, adjusted a pin in her hair, raised the ball in her hand to the level of her eyes, and sighting it in a line with the batter, Miss Drake’s head, brought her arm back and let the ball go. It moved gracefully and slowly, describing a high curve. When it came near the batter Miss Drake swung the club out in the air turning herself completely around, but missing the ball. The operation was repeated, only Miss Drake hit the ball, much to the consternation of the fielders, all of whom scrambled after it, coming together in a confused heap red heads and red faces. The ball was thrown wildly about for some time, while Miss Drake trotted around the bases and came home, scoring the first run, for which she was loudly applauded.[3]

Miss Meyersburg and Miss Howard followed and both were put out at first. But Miss Lingard and Miss Carter each were able to get hits and score. The inning ended on a ground out by Laura Shepherd.[4]

Miss Laura Gray, of the Reds was the first to bat. Alice Lingard, pitcher of the Blues, affected a stylish delivery. She poised herself gracefully, with the toe of her left foot behind the heel of her right, and, twirling the ball first in her hands, leaned forward and let her right arm and left leg go at the same time. She pitched a “drop ball.”

Miss Gray after two or three wild attempts struck the ball and made third base during great excitement. Miss Millie Neville, the second batter, made a good hit, which brought in Miss Gray, and gave the batter second base. Miss Neville was particularly conspicuous for her fleet running, bounding over the grounds like an antelope. While she was running the discovery was made that there were two balls in the field, one of the players having, figuratively speaking, and run in a “cold deck.” And attempted to put Miss Neville out with another ball that that with which the nines were playing. The umpire having captured the extra ball, the game proceeded.[5]

The Reds got seven runs in their first inning. The other innings were similar to the first. There were no serious accidents, the back hair of one of the girls came down at an exciting moment, and the playing had to be suspended for some time. Miss Lottie Drake, catcher of the Blues, and a very plucky little player, was struck with a ball in the fourth inning. She was carried to the bench, twelve fans were produced, and she was thoroughly fanned. A glass of water was poured down her throat, and in a trice, she was at her post again. In the sixth inning she was struck again and retired, Miss May Carter playing behind the at bat in the seventh inning.[6]

A threatening rain storm terminated the game in the seventh inning. The game resulted in a 37 to 22 win for the Blue Stockings.[7]

The Philadelphia Blue Stockings won the title. Both teams subsequently toured New York and New England, although the money they were paid for these games was stolen by their manager.[8]