1865 newspaper - The Brooklyn Atlantics Win National Baseball Championship with Undefeated Season
New York: Harper's Weekly Illustrated Newspaper, 1865. 1st Edition. Folio. Very Good. Item #18180
An original 1865 Civil War-era illustrated newspaper with a large, full-page engraving of the Atlantic Baseball Club (known as the Brooklyn Atlantics), as well as a headline report announcing the championship after their undefeated season.
The 1865 Brooklyn Atlantics finished the season 23-0 and had not lost a game since 1863. The Atlantics are considered baseball's first dynasty, and are the forerunner of today's Los Angeles Dodgers.
The full-page engraving features woodcut portraits of the starting nine players, with their names underneath.
"The Atlantic Base Ball Club, of Brooklyn, was organized August 14,1855. "From the day of it's entrance upon the base ball field, it has occupied and filled a front rank position as a crack playing club... the Atlantics have always and at all times had a nine from which any rival club might most despair of winning any lasting laurels." -from "American Pastimes" published in 1866. The 1856 season was the first full one for the Atlantics, playing on the Capitoline Grounds in Brooklyn.
"In 1857, Atlantic finished in first place, 5-0 in match play against the principle clubs. A match consisted of winning 2 of 3 games from an opponent. Prior to the 1858 season the National Association of Base Ball Players was formed by 16 clubs, all of which were located on Manhattan or Long Island. This included the Atlantics. The Atlantic repeated as first place finishers in 1858, 5-1 match record, and again in 1859, 6-1.
Atlantic was undefeated in 1864, winning 19 games, and was recognized as National Champions. Atlantic, upon a challenge from the Young Canadian Club of Woodstock, Canada, Country Champions, traveled to Rochester and beat the Young Canadians, 75-11. In January 1865, Atlantic played Gotham a series on ice skates for a silver ball, winning 2 of the 3 games. Atlantic again went undefeated in 1865, winning all 23 games and was declared National Champions. Undefeated since 1863, they lost their second game in 1866. Atlantic remained champions for 1866. In 1868, Atlantic embarked on an extensive western trip, winning 16 of 17 games, but finished second for the year." - brooklynatlantics*org
This issue is complete in 16 pages and measures 16" X 11". It is in excellent condition. Disbound.
1Q-079.
Price: $125.00