Yearly Archives: 2022

Doc’s Knickerbocker Uniform Buttons

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Two uniform buttons from Doc Adams’ Knickerbocker Base Ball Club (ca. 1855). These buttons currently reside in a private collection. They are likely the oldest known surviving piece of baseball uniform with provenance. These are also locked up in a bank vault. We have two buttons that belonged to Doc that are embossed with KBBC on them that they’re a little bit larger than a quarter and they’re studs. They are not regular sew-on buttons. And I showed very detailed pictures of them to Jim Gates at the Hall of Fame at the Library. He’s one of the head researchers … Continue reading →

Remembering Marjorie Adams And Her Great-Grandfather’s Appearance On A HOF Ballot

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Today would have been Marjorie Adams’ 74th birthday. Marjorie’s tireless efforts to spread the story of her great-grandfather, Doc Adams, enlightened and inspired many baseball fans. Marjorie conducted a campaign to educate people on Doc’s role as a pioneer of our National Pastime and his importance to baseball’s survival and growth during its nascent period. Her goal was to see him recognized with long overdue enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. She made many ‘baseball’ friends, particularly in the vintage base ball community. She is greatly missed. When talking about Doc, Marjorie often said that “she has all … Continue reading →

The National Association

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When the Knickerbockers met on December 6, 1856, they resolved “to call a convention of the various base ball clubs of this city and vicinity.” The New York Herald, in reporting on this meeting, observed: “We understand the object of this convention is to promote additional interest in base ball playing, by the getting up of grand matches on a scale not heretofore attempted.” The anticipated outcome would be to inaugurate new clubs and to strengthen existing ones, by conforming the rules and making the game more “scientific” and difficult to play—”manly,” in the preferred term of the day, like … Continue reading →

Doc Adams’ Youngest Son’s Recollections Of His Father

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Roger Cook Adams wrote the “Nestor of Ball Players” about his father in August 1939. Besides some facts about Doc’s contributions, it’s interesting how Roger Cook Adams highlighted how Doc’s passion for the game was invaluable to the early game, The first five years of the existence of the Club were evidently the hardest. Enthusiasm waned and attendance lagged. There was no inter-club rivalry, and often Dr. Adams would go to Elysian Fields and find only two or three others present, compelling them to play “old cat, one or two as the case might be.” The continued existence of the … Continue reading →

1862 Knickerbocker Base Ball Club

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This is photograph of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club taken in December 1862. This picture chronicles many of the key member of one of baseballs first organized clubs. Standing (L to R): Duncan Curry – First elected Knickerbocker President, 1845 and instrumental in formalizing the first set of base ball rules. Walter T. Avery – Played in the first Knickerbocker game on June 19, 1846 at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. Was elected Vice President in 1861 and 1864. Henry T. (Tiebout) Anthony – Early member of the Knickerbockers, was elected Treasurer in 1851 and 1852 and … Continue reading →

1860 Beadle’s Dime Base-Ball Player

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In the premier issue of Beadle’s Dime Base-Ball Player, Hall of Famer Henry Chadwick, expresses gratitude to his friend, Dr. Adams. Doc was also listed as delegate to the 1860 National Convention representing the Knickerbockers with his teammate, William Grenelle. As is illustrated by Doc’s name appearing in italics, he still continued to support the ‘catch on the fly’ rule. The rule change was proposed to the NABBP annually by Adams but did not pass. It wasn’t finally instituted in 1864. Doc Adams was elected the presiding officer of the first convention in 1857. The second convention was the birth … Continue reading →

The Gotham And The Knickerbockers

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On October 18, 1853, the Gotham and the Knickerbockers played what was referred to “the finest and at one time the closest match, that has ever been played between the two clubs”. The Knickerbockers prevailed by a score of 21-14 with Doc Adams scoring 3 runs.

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Marjorie Adams Named The Inaugural Doc Adams Award Recipient

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On October 9, 2021, the general meeting of SABR’s Smoky Joe Wood Chapter had a 19th Century Base Ball theme. Presentations on the 1884 season by Bill Ryczek, the popular game of Wicket in CT by Joanne Hulbert, Sunday Base Ball by Alan Cohen, and annual Retro All Star selections for 1876 to 1899 by Michael Murphy were enjoyed by attendees. The capstone of the meeting was Chapter President Steve Krevisky announcing Marjorie Adams as the recipient of the Inaugural Doc Adams Award. Marjorie Adams’ tireless efforts to spread the story of her great-grandfather, Doc Adams, enlightened and inspired many … Continue reading →