"This cornucopia of bats and balls, uniforms, photographs and memorabilia has opened at the Marylebone Cricket Club’s museum at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and will move on to the Hall of Fame."
I wonder if this exhibit will include any memorabilia or woodcut images from the Americans' 1874 baseball tour of England and Ireland? Supposedly there were many articles in London newspapers about the Americans' visit.
On August 3rd, 4th, and 6th 1874 the Boston and Athletic teams played two games against each other at Lord's Cricket Grounds in London. A crowd of 5000 spectators watched. The Americans also beat the Marylebone cricketers in a cricket game by a score of 107 to 105. The Americans were permitted 18 men and the Marylebone cricketers were allowed 12, since the Americans were supposed to know little or nothing about cricket.
In the evening the players were given a banquet by the members of the Marylebone Cricket Club. They were treated to "thick and clear turtle soup" and "ham and tongue", among other delicacies.
Attached is the September 5th 1874 Harper's Weekly woodcut depicting the Red Stockings and the Athletics during a game.
The caption reads:
"BASE-BALL IN ENGLAND - THE MATCH ON LORD'S CRICKET GROUNDS BETWEEN THE RED STOCKINGS AND THE ATHLETICS"
During these games Boston flew their National Association Pennant, which can be seen in the upper left corner of the woodcut.
While in London, Boston's James O'Rourke won a long distance throwing contest with a throw of 119 yards (357 feet). In 1910 - thirty six years later - O'Rourke showed the souvenir cricket ball to his friend Tim Murnane during an interview. He had kept it all those years.
Paul C.
|