The (English) Baseball League (est. 1888): A History

[chucksabr]

Originally Posted by dynaboyj

Man. RIP, all those who died and lost their chance at a career, even if Frederic Finn was the only name I recognized.

These posts also made me realize how many people were actually just scraping along in the League, often without a club. If those mentioned that died or were injured are just, like, 5% of the league, then there's a lot more people than I realized.

Approximately 8% of League and non-League players were killed in the War, and about 17% had to retire due to war wounds.

[chucksabr]

Great Baseballers’ Great Sacrifice.

The War has now ended and we are left to mourn our dead, mend our lives and return to the mundane normality that characterises our everyday existence. This entails both labour and leisure, and baseball encompasses both, as the professional game prepares to make its return in the spring. Supporters will be thrilled to welcome back the game they have sorely missed, but they will also carry hearts heavy with grief over the loss of ninety five baseballers, including some of the greatest players, young and old, the game has ever known, or will never have the opportunity to fully appreciate.


The loss of William Beveridge is one such example. For fourteen seasons Beveridge was a mainstay of the Liverpool club, excelling at the bat, on the bases and in the field. He led his division in hits four tines, stolen bases and runs scored once each, and finished among the top five batsmen in batting average nine times, including five of his last six seasons. When the League Championship was suspended for war, Beveridge’s First Division batting average of .364 ranked third among all careers, and his 552 stolen bases placed him sixth in First Division history. He won three Fieldsman of the Year awards, at second base and short stop; was First Division Baseballer of the Year in 1913; and won five EOI Cups with Reds. Beveridge was killed in action on September 14, 1916, in the seventh battle of the Isonzo at Gorizia in Italy. He was aged 34 years.

Another great long time baseballer killed in action was pitcher Frederic Finn, also of the Liverpool club. Finn joined Reds in 1897 when they were a struggling second division side, and he was instrumental in lifting them into the top flight for good from the 1903 season and shaping the team into a perennial EOI Cup finalist. Finn won 277 matches for Reds, which is the sixth most among Baseball League careers, and his 2.50 career earned runs average is among the very best as well. Finn earned twenty victories in a season twice, leading the top flight in one of those instances, in 1911, for which he won the Pitcher of the Year award. Finn also earned a Fieldsman of the Year award in 1910, and almost needless to say, he also counted among his spoils five EOI Cups. Finn was killed in action on May 18, 1917, in the tenth battle of the Isonzo in Italy. He was aged 40 years.

Cyril Buff joined the Chesterfield Town club as a pitcher straight from the University of Leeds in 1912 and was the winner of fifteen to help lead Spireites to the top flight for 1913. After a lacklustre season of 16 victories against 14 defeats that year, Buff set himself right in 1914 and won 21 against a mere seven losses to lead the division, and placed second in voting for Pitcher of the Year. He was also proficient at striking out opposing batsmen, as he was second among top tier pitchers both in 1913 with 192, and in his final season of 1914 with 186. His pitches, especially his fast ball, were well known and feared for their exceptional movement, and he was widely considered to have a very bright future ahead of him. Buff died on January 12, 1918 from wounds suffered during the Battle of Cambrai in France. He was aged 28 years.

One of the most excellent young players lost to the War was Louis Ashworth. Ashworth was a third baseman for the Glossop club, having been converted from the outfield after his newcomer season of 1909. He was a baseball prodigy from Gosport, Hampshire and a League starter at age eighteen. He quickly became a feared collector of threes, hitting 29 in 1910 and 25 in 1912, among the highest in his division. He helped lead his club into the First Division from the 1912 season and led his loop in base hits with 181 in the final year of 1914 just before the championship suspension took effect. In his final season he batted .377 which was second among all First Division players, putting on full display his potential to become one of the best batsmen of all time in the British game. Ashworth was killed in a mine explosion on April 19, 1915 in France, a date which, regrettably, was his twenty fourth birthday.

[canadiancreed]

Do you have a breakdown of what clubs got hit the hardest?

[chucksabr]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

Do you have a breakdown of what clubs got hit the hardest?

Indeed I do ...

[canadiancreed]

Damn Glossap got taken to the back of the woodshed. They're either going to mid table or if already there, plunging into the basement.

[chucksabr]

There is definitely trouble in Glossop, Derbyshire.

[chucksabr]

Great Baseballers as Casualties of the War.

By the Baseball League’s official count, 225 registered players have had to quit playing the game of baseball professionally because of the grievous wound they suffered during the Great War. Included among them are some of the greatest baseballers to have ever played the game, as well as many young players who certainly would have taken their place among the all time greats.


Often referred to as the “Greatest Pitcher in the history of British Baseball”, Jesse Morgan had the great fortune of playing twenty full seasons, nineteen in the League and fifteen in the first division, before answering his King’s call to defend Britain from the tyranny of the Hun. Entering the League with Newcastle United to start the 1896 season, Morgan immediately became the best pitcher in the English game. On his way to accumulating 296 victories, in which he ranks second all time, Morgan led his division in strike outs an astounding fourteen times, all consecutively from his first season through the 1908 season, and he retires atop the career strike out list with 2,471, several hundred ahead of any other pitcher still playing to-day. Not only that, but he also wielded unparalleled control of the strike zone such that in eleven separate seasons, he issued bases on balls to the fewest batsmen per game of any regular starter. Morgan won twenty or more games in four separate seasons and led his division in this measure twice. He won Pitcher of the Year four times, Baseballer of the Year twice, and the EOI Cup with Magpies in 1905. Morgan was wounded in the Meuse-Argonne battle this past October. He is aged 44.

Centre fielder William Taylor was fashioning a brilliant career before he entered the Baseballers Battalion in early 1915. He joined the then newly renamed Port Vale club for the 1907 season and immediately made his mark at the bat, leading the top flight in threes with 36 and in total bases batted with 279. He continued batting at a torrid pace throughout his eight seasons in the League, and led his division in extra base hits six times; total bases four times; twos and threes both twice, stolen bases once; and was among the top five in these and many other categories in each of the seasons during which he played. He was the recipient of the Batsman of the Year award in 1909, and ends his career with a .335 batting average. It is reckoned that Taylor stole more bases and hit more threes in the first eight seasons of his career than any other baseballer ever has in theirs. Taylor was also considered one of the finest fielding centre fielders of the era, a position in which he put his considerable speed to good use. Taylor was wounded in the Battle of the Somme in July of 1916. He is aged thirty two years.

Ernest Gilbey, left fielder and first base man for the Chesterfield Town club, had one of the best starts to a career in League history. After his second season completed in 1913, his career batting average stood at .411 whilst missing not a single game, and by our reckoning he stole more bases and received more bases on balls in his first two full seasons than any other player has ever got in theirs, and by that time measure he is also second in base hits and fourth in runs scored. Only Bobby Arscott is considered to have had a finer career start than he. Gilbey won Batsman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Baseballer of the Year in 1912, and followed up with another Batsman of the Year award in 1913. He was struck by injury early in 1914 and was limited to only 62 matches, but he still finished the season with a fine .355 batting average. Gilbey was destined to become one of the “shining stars” of the British game. Gilbey was wounded in the Battle of Ramadi in Iraq in September of 1917. He is still aged only twenty seven years.

We wish nothing but the best of tidings for these fine and brave men, and to their compatriots upon whom a similar fate has befallen.

[chucksabr]

Baseball Conference.

War Time Restrictions Removed.

The officers of the Baseball Association, Baseball League, and associated regional leagues held a private conference yesterday evening at the offices of the Baseball Association, Russell-square.

The meeting was the outcome of a resolution passed at the conference on November 12, when powers were given to the B. A. Emergency Committee to approach the various leagues with the idea of removing the restrictions placed upon professional baseball in January, 1915.

The following decisions were arrived at, but these will not become operative until they have been confirmed by a meeting of the Council, which will be called for December 23 :—

That the restriction providing that no remuneration shall be paid to players is withdrawn, and that effective with the 1919 season leagues and clubs may make such temporary arrangements for the remuneration of players as they may desire.

That the registration of professional players shall begin as from January 6 next.

That the restriction providing that the agreements with players for services after March 15, 1915, shall be suspended until further order is withdrawn.

That the regulation permitting clubs to join any combination of clubs which may be convenient to them be withdrawn from the 1919 season.

That the following restriction also be withdrawn :— “That matches be played only on Saturday afternoons and on early closing and other recognized holidays.”

That the season shall begin on the Monday falling immediately on or after May 1 in each year and close on the Saturday falling immediately on or after September 9 in each year, notwithstanding Cup competitions to determine league or division champions.

[chucksabr]

The Baseball League.

Proposed Fusion with Southern League.

The Management Committee of the Baseball League met yesterday in Birmingham to consider the question of the allowances to players during the present season.

It was decided that a meeting should be held in Manchester on Monday next, when each club should bring two players, one of them, if possible, being the captain, so that the whole question could be discussed in regard to the present financial position of clubs and to the possibility of allowing increased sums for expenses to players.

The committee received a deputation from the Southern League, who asked the Management Committee of the Baseball league to consider the proposal for the amalgamation of the Southern League and the Baseball League. Mr. S. Bourne (Crystal Palace), Mr. J. H. Fielding (Queen’s Park Rangers); Mr. A. S. Buck (Brentford); Mr. A. J. Darnell (Northampton Town); and Mr. H. Bradshaw, secretary, formed the deputation.

The first proposal put forward was that the present Southern League should form a third division of the Baseball League. The Southern League consists of twelve clubs whereas each of the two divisions of the Baseball League consists of twenty clubs. Should the deputation and its attendant proposal be accepted, it is generally believed that three divisions of sixteen to eighteen clubs apiece would be formed, although an alternative suggestion was that the second division of the Baseball League should be enlarged to thirty two clubs, and divided geographically into the Northern and Southern Divisions. A sticking-point of the proposal is that of the quality of the Southern League clubs, not that the best of them could not compete effectively in the Baseball League, but that the worst of them could not, and that there are many good teams playing in the Northern, Western, and especially Central leagues who would make better candidates for inclusion in the Baseball League.

As the Baseball League Committee had already arranged for a meeting of their clubs on Monday next, it was decided that the proposals should be submitted to that meeting for decision. Meanwhile the Southern League will put into writing any further details of their scheme which they wish to be presented to the meeting.

[chucksabr]

Fusion with Southern League Denied.

The special meeting of the Baseball League at Manchester yesterday—called by the Management Committee a week ago to discuss all the questions that have caused so much criticism lately—rejected the proposals brought before them

The Southern League sent a deputation, who put forward a proposal that the present Southern League should form a third division of the Baseball League. An alternative suggestion was that the second division of the Baseball League should be enlarged to thirty two clubs and divided geographically into Northern and Southern Divisions. There was no decision, the League clubs, through the Management Committee, having evidently come to a decision.

Blackpool proposed that the season should be extended by two weeks, with the idea of admitting more clubs to the First Division and, of course, to the Second Division. The motion was adopted and the divisions of the Baseball League will extend to twenty two clubs beginning with the 1919 season.

Mr. J. McKenna, president of the Baseball League and vice-president of the Baseball Association, was in the chair. Addressing a deputation of players, he explained why they had invited the attendance of players from all the clubs. In view of the general discontent, it was thought that a personal interview was advisable. He reviewed the position of the game during the war, and explained the exact financial position of clubs in both Midland and Lancashire sections. On an average the clubs in the former competition received £67 a week, and a table of figures quoted showed that these clubs were better off than those in Lancashire. The majority of clubs were unable to pay anything like normal wages, to say nothing of the preposterous sum mentioned in a circular issued from London.

If the players demanded freedom of contract it must also be conceded to clubs, of whom only a third would, under the terms laid down by the Players’ Union, be able to engage any players at all. “What would become of the clubs?” asked Mr. McKenna.

In reply to a question by Charles Roberts, the spokesman for the players, the chairman could not say whether the present rate of payment would continue. That was a matter for the clubs.

Sur Harry Norris, M.P., representing the Chelsea club, thought the London Combination could, without risk, give a slight increase.

After further discussion the players withdrew to discuss the question. On returning, Roberts said the players wanted minimum wages of £2 a week, with the promise of more if the clubs could pay. Mr. McKenna said the suggestion was impossible, and the matter ended.

[chucksabr]

League Baseball.

Prospects of the 1919 Season.

(From a Correspondent.)

At the beginning of next week the Baseball League will resume the game after a break of four years. The week following, the remaining great professional leagues of Britain will commence their seasons as well.

Many changes have occurred since, in the spring of 1915, the Baseball Association decided that the payment of players should cease. The professionals, who became amateurs for the period of the war, if not soldiers, now return to their old status and seek higher wages than ever before, goaded forward by the new players’ union of London—to be exact, the Professional Baseball Players Union—which replaced the old British Baseball Players Union of Manchester, the latter having folded under the weight of the War. To be sure, players will enjoy an increased annual income, to be paid during the season proper, and be free from club influence of any kind in the five months close season. Whether this arrangement will have the desired effect of inducing professional generally to make their game more of a recreation, additional to other means of earning a livelihood, remains to be seen.

Despite the vague dissatisfaction regarding wages, which to be sure is the lot of working men the world over, baseball never looked so tempting as a principal means of livelihood as it does now, but the possibility of regular work in trade, business, or profession has not been made easier by the extension of the playing terms by two weeks in September. The increase, too, in the number of competitors to 22 in the two divisions of the Baseball League necessitates further calls on the players, and to this end, the clubs themselves will forthwith retain a full retinue of twenty one reserve players in addition to the twenty one players already on active squad. This will provide clubs the ability to adapt to the inevitability of injury by having enough fresh bodies available to sub for players as needed. Reserves will travel with their clubs and play in their own “league”, as it were, to maintain the adeptness needed to perform at maximum capability upon receiving the call.

The Public.

That the general public retain their love for competitive sport had clear proof in the large attendances earlier this year all over the country for the various forms of football and racing. During the War, modified Baseball and Football league competitions and the London Combinations for each had kept a hold on the people who, once relieved of the anxieties that for over four years had marred all their pleasures, flocked to grounds in larger numbers than ever to witness non-championship and, indeed, even non-League football matches. In view of this, besides the extra costs incurred in the running of a larger club, it has been decided as a matter of League policy to charge at a minimum a shilling admission to all first division matches. The better clubs, of course, will command higher prices at the gate, and the baseball enthusiast will not mind this rise if he can enjoy improved accommodation at the ground precipitated by a falling off of attendance by lesser dedicated supporters; but judging from attendances at sporting events since the War ended, it is likely that even with the price rise, gates will increase and perhaps substantially. In this connexion several club officials throughout the Kingdom have undertaken an increase in the holding capacities of their grounds. In London, Stamford Bridge will afford a good sight of the play for 10,000 people more than formerly; the stands and accommodations at Highbury are worthy of a first division League club; and the White Hart-lane ground, in the hands of the military for nearly five years, will again provide every convenience for Tottenham Hotspur and their supporters.

The London Clubs.

These three London clubs went through a strange experience before the League decided on their future. Chelsea’s misfortunes in being liable to relegation to the second division of the League, no doubt, influenced the decision to add two clubs to each division of the League; and also to the prolongation of the season to 126 games from the previous 114. As such, Chelsea were spared the irksome task of seeking re-election. Only Bristol City, the southwest English port city well clear of London’s orbit, were relegated to the lower level whilst Blackburn, Oldham and Nottingham Forest rose to take the one vacated and two added spots to the division. Later, however, the Fulham club were also added to the top flight to take over for the Glossop club, the alleged mismanagement of which caused them to be excommunicated from the League entirely despite their recent mid table success. The celerity with which this move managed to be executed left a bad taste in the mouths of some Midland and Lancashire club officials who sense, likely quite correctly, that the League is trying to curry favour with the seven millions of Greater London residents. Baldly obvious as the move may have been, one can hardly argue against a business simply going where the money is.

London has four clubs in the First Division: Tottenham Hotspur; Fulham; Clapton Orient; and Chelsea. Only West Ham United occupy the Second Division from the Capital region, and league officials are keen to rectify that with the inclusion of more London clubs—thus, the movement afoot among several officials of the League, i.e. those not affiliated with any club, to annex the Southern League. The addition of the London clubs from that league—Crystal Palace, Millwall, Brentford, Queen’s Park Rangers, and Charlton Athletic—would bring the Greater London contingent in the League to ten, which would quite satisfy the League’s desire to have a dominating presence in the loop representing the city and its close suburbs commensurate with the area’s population and influence. The fly in the ointment is, as it should be, the quality of the teams themselves. Based on the records of 1914, only the Brentford club could be reasonably judged to have a chance at a fair showing in even the lower level of the League. Charlton, Queen’s Park and Millwall were all mid table clubs, and Crystal Palace brought up the rear that year.

The Glossop Affair.

The Glossop club were adjudged to have insufficiently maintained business operations, club grounds, and, frankly, fealty to League officials during the several seasons leading up to the War, and thus were split off from the League to mend their ways and right their ship for future reinstatement no sooner than ten years hence. As part of the banishment, all players on the club who had played for Glossop in 1914 were allowed, at their discretion, to immediately sever ties with the club and take their chances as non-affiliated players in the First Division with the hopes that a current club will sign them to contract. Eight such players qualify; seven of them—O’Sullivan, Williams, Bain, Partridge, Miles, MacPhail, and Simpson—took advantage of the offer. Only Wright, the highest paid player on the club, opted for staying on with Glossop.

The Hillmen will now ply their business in the Central League, from which five clubs were voted into the second division of the Baseball League: Leicester City (né Leicester Fosse); Stockport County; Bradford City; West Bromwich Albion; and Luton Town. All except the last are clubs returning to the League, most of them for the first time in over a decade. Only Luton Town, who have been toiling in relative obscurity in the Central, are making their maiden appearance in the League. Aston Villa, who had been voted out of the League after the 1914 campaign, have retained their position with the extension of the League, and will have another chance to improve a team that has been on the verge of banishment for most of the past decade.

Forecast of the Season.

This all dovetails with a broader point to make about the League for 1919 which is this: it is nigh on impossible to forecast with any degree of accuracy the final disposition of the season’s table, for either division. All forty-four league clubs suffered some level of loss from death and injury during the War. Some were heavily affected: both Burnley and West Ham suffered the loss of thirteen players from their 1914 squads; Oldham Athletic, new to the top flight, lost nine as did Walsall Swifts; and formerly champions Liverpool suffered the deaths in battle of their greatest hitter in Beveridge and greatest pitcher in Finn. Others, such as Burton United, Chesterfield and Bristol City, lost as few as two. The decimation was not evenly distributed among the clubs and that should make for a League in which the tables may well be turned topsy-turvy from five years ago. On the other hand, all squad positions have been filled and then some by the clubs with fresh young baseballers who have yet to show their wares at the highest level the British game has to offer, and after all, the lion cubs of 1914 are the old lions of 1919, and the old lions from such days of yore are either on the precipice of the pasture, or fully enveloped by its weeds. It is a new League, in other words, and that by itself should augur for an interesting, and long awaited, championship season to take place once more on the green baseball pitches of Britain at last, at long, long last!

[chucksabr]

Baseball League 1919: Clubs

<<<<< All updated uniforms courtesy of forum member No Pepper >>>>>

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Baseball League 1919: Club Locations


First Division (Everton Hidden)




Second Division

[chucksabr]

Baseball League 1919
First Division Results

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Baseball League 1919
EOI Cup Series

Walsall defeated Port Vale
Four Matches to None

[chucksabr]

Baseball League 1919
First Division Champions and EOI Cup Winners




Walsall Swifts

[chucksabr]

Baseball League 1919
EOI Cup Runners Up

Port Vale Valiants

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Baseball League 1919
First Division Table

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Baseball League 1919
First Division Team Batting and Pitching

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Baseball League 1919
First Division Award Winners


Baseballer of the Year: Liam Heywood




Batsman of the Year: Ron Maudlin




Pitcher of the Year: Joshua MacIlraith




Newcomer of the Year: William Hunt