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CHAPTER VIII.

FIRST TOUR OF AN EASTERN BASE BALL CLUB TO THE WEST—REMARKABLE SUCCESSION OF VICTORIES WON BY THE NATIONALS, OF WASHINGTON, D. C.—HUMILIATING DEFEAT BY THE FOREST CITYS.

1865

AS SHOWING the rapid growth in popularity of Base Ball from the time of the formation of the National Association of Base Ball Players, in 1857, to the breaking out of the Civil War, in 1861, the following figures, though often published heretofore, will be found of interest:

The number of clubs represented by delegates in the first convention, held in 1857, was 16; in 1858, 25; in 1859, 49; in 1860, 54, and in 1861, only 34. The great falling off in '61 was due, of course, to the beginning of hostilities in that year, and from that time until the close of the war the attendance of club representatives at national annual meetings was very small.

But in 1865, at the close of the Civil War, so great was the furore for Base Ball that 91 clubs had representation in the convention—over 48 being from the State of New York alone, while 14 clubs had representation from Pennsylvania and 13 from New Jersey. The presence of scattering delegates from Portland, Me.; Leavenworth, Kansas; St. Louis, Mo., and Louisille, Ky., showed how the fever was spreading.

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