The Quest for the Silver Ball: Base Ball in the Red River Valley in 1883
After the Great Northern Railroad reached Grand Forks in 1880, teams from Fargo and Grand Forks began playing each other in baseball. By 1883, these teams traveled to Minneapolis and St. Paul to play. Click here for a summary of the 1883 season in the Red River Valley. The photo at the left (courtesy State Historical Society of North Dakota) is from an early game in Wahpeton, North Dakota
After the Great Northern Railroad reached Grand Forks in 1880, teams from Fargo and Grand Forks began playing each other in baseball. By 1883, these teams traveled to Minneapolis and St. Paul to play. Click here for a summary of the 1883 season in the Red River Valley. The photo at the left (courtesy State Historical Society of North Dakota) is from an early game in Wahpeton, North Dakota
Everybody Happy and Sober: The 1887 Red River Valley League
1887 was the first year baseball teams in the Red River valley organized into a league. In addition to a detailed account of one game between Fargo and Grand Forks, the Grand Forks Herald noted the fact that "everybody was happy and sober." Click here for a summary of the 1887 season in the Red River Valley. The photo at the left (courtesy State Historical Society of North Dakota) is from an early Wahpeton team. |
Divorcees, Barmaids, Methodists and Undertakers: The 1897 Red River valley Baseball League
In 1897 four teams in the Red River valley formed the first league in the Dakotas that was included under the umbrella of Organized Baseball. Thought it lasted just one season, the league would be the foundation of the Northern League that would begin five years later and operate in the Dakotas and other parts of the upper Midwest for decades. The photo at the left is Deacon Phillippe, who pitched briefly for Fargo in 1897 and later had a long career as a star with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League. Click here for the story.
In 1897 four teams in the Red River valley formed the first league in the Dakotas that was included under the umbrella of Organized Baseball. Thought it lasted just one season, the league would be the foundation of the Northern League that would begin five years later and operate in the Dakotas and other parts of the upper Midwest for decades. The photo at the left is Deacon Phillippe, who pitched briefly for Fargo in 1897 and later had a long career as a star with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League. Click here for the story.
York, North Dakota's Improbable 1908 Season
In 1908, an independent team from the small town of York, in Benson County North Dakota, won an amazing 28 games in a row. They declared themselves the amateur champions of North Dakota as well as international champions. Clink this link to read their story.
In 1908, an independent team from the small town of York, in Benson County North Dakota, won an amazing 28 games in a row. They declared themselves the amateur champions of North Dakota as well as international champions. Clink this link to read their story.
The Battle Over Sunday Baseball in North Dakota
At one time the playing of baseball on Sunday in North Dakota was against the law. On several occasions entire teams were arrested and charged with "Sabbath breaking." Because early professional teams in the state needed the revenue from large Sunday crowds to remain financially viable, an initiated referral measure was passed by the voters in 1920, and Sunday baseball was finally legal. Look here for the story. The photo at the left is of the Wimbeldon, North Dakota town team circa 1920.
At one time the playing of baseball on Sunday in North Dakota was against the law. On several occasions entire teams were arrested and charged with "Sabbath breaking." Because early professional teams in the state needed the revenue from large Sunday crowds to remain financially viable, an initiated referral measure was passed by the voters in 1920, and Sunday baseball was finally legal. Look here for the story. The photo at the left is of the Wimbeldon, North Dakota town team circa 1920.
The North Dakota/South Dakota Base Ball Games of the 1880s
Before North and South Dakota became states in 1889, teams from both sides of the border challenged each other for the base ball supremacy of Dakota Territory. In the early 1880s, Fargo and Wahpeton in North Dakota were the best teams, but by 1889 Aberdeen built a dominant team by hiring all professional players. Read the story here. |