Special series scores the game, 1858-1875
Iowa Town Ball: Building community pride
Teams compete in a baseball game in Sabula, 1905. Photo courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa
By John Liepa
According to the DeWitt Clinton Observer of July 18, 1866, a match game between the Hawkeyes of DeWitt and the Hawkeyes of Tipton, “engaged in a contest on the grounds of the DeWitt Club on July 10th. This is said to have been the first Base Ball match played within the limits of the State. The contest was for the customary ball, and name, to be decided by the two best games in three. The Clubs had adopted the same name without the knowledge of each other’s existence … the time settled upon for the commencement of the match was 9 o’clock a..m. As the hour approached, the spectators began to assemble, the majority being ladies. Each player determined to act well his part … The contests between the players were marked by friendly feelings. The spectators were very orderly, considering the exciting character of the game.”
The Base Ball match ended up being a split decision with DeWitt winning the first game by a score of 17-10 and Tipton coming back to redeem itself with a resounding shellacking of DeWitt in the second game by a score of 33-15. This game is an example of how widespread and popular baseball had become within a year after the Civil War.
This was not the “first” baseball game “played within the limits of the state.” There were clubs around Iowa that had played baseball games and tournaments from 1858 to 1866. It does illustrate, however, the pride and significance that baseball had brought to small towns in Iowa shortly after the end of the Civil War and for years to come.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS STORY AND OTHER FASCINATING STORIES ABOUT IOWA HISTORY, subscribe to Iowa History Journal. You can also purchase back issues at the store.