Early Baseball Organizations, Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., N.Y.

Early Baseball Organizations,
Town of Sandy Creek,
Oswego Co., N.Y.

Empire Baseball Club, 1884, Sandy Creek
Empire Baseball Club--1884
Back Row, left to right-- Harvey S. Bartlett, left field; Chas. A. Thomas, center field;
Phil Dyer, pitcher; Clarence L. Baldwin, right field; Udelle Bartlett, short stop;
Front Row, left to right-- Cassius M. Groat, pitcher; John Kelly, third base; Benjamin Jones, first base; Wellington H. Wart, catcher; Fred Sargent, second base.

Source: Centennial Souvenir History 1825 - 1925 of the Town of Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York, Commemorating the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Founding of the Town July 2-3-4-5, 1925. Compiled by T. T. Davies, Historian. Article by G. D. Wart.

This story of base ball in Sandy Creek dates from the organization of the X. L. Club, May 6, 1866, with the following officers:

President, H. E. Root;
Vice-President, J. J. Harris;
Secretary, W. J. Hooker;
Treasurer, W. D. Ferguson.

The batting order of the team was as follows:

C. E. Thomas, Catcher;
M. J. Salisbury, Pitcher;
Ed. Robbins, Short Stop;
Henry Seeley, First Base;
L. J. Jones, First Base;
J. H. Clark, Second Base;
J. J. Harris, Third Base and Pitcher;
Charles Harding, Left Field;
Byron Hinman, Catcher and Right Field;
Brayton F. Jones, Right Field;
Adelbert Myers, Catcher and Fielder;
Allie Gaylord, Short Stop and Second Base.

     The first game was played with O. K.'s of Pulaski and the score was 32 to 24 in favor of the X. L.'s.
     During the season of 1866 the X. L.'s played. eleven games defeating the O. K.'s of Pulaski in three games, the Ontarios of Watertown in two games, the Camden team, Ontario first and second nine of Oswego and the Eurekas of Orwell. They were in turn defeated by the Ontarios of Watertown and the Ontarios of Oswego.
     On June 2nd, 1867 the X. L.'s met at the Town Hall in Sandy Creek and reorganized and elected the following officers:

President, H. E. Root;
Vice-President, F. A. Aldrich;
Secretary, George Wart;
Corresponding Secretary, M. J. Salisbury;
Treasurer, E. M. Stevens.

The lineup was as follows:

C. E. Thomas, Catcher;
M. J. Salisbury, Pitcher;
George Wart, First Base and Left Field;
Henry Seeley, Second Base;
Charles Clark, Third Base;
Adelbert Myers, Catcher and Fielder;
Ed. Robbins, Short Stop;
J. J. Harris, Pitcher; and Right Fielder;
Byron Hinman, Center Field;
Curtiss Hinman, Left Field;
G. N. Salisbury, Right Field;
L. J. Jones, First Base.

A baseball nine called The Troublers was organized in 1874 with the following lineup:

Udelle Bartlett, Catcher and Short Stop;
Jerome Stevens, Third Base;
Harry Kaulback, Pitcher and Center Field;
C. L. Baldwin, Catcher and Left Field;
F. N. Sargent, Pitcher and Third Base;
Ben D. Jones, First Base and Fielder;
Julius Aucampaugh, First Base;
Will King, Center Field;
Ed. Leavenworth, Right Field;
Fred Bumpus, Left Field;
Charles James, Right Field;
Wellington D. Wart, Catcher and Short Stop.

     This team played during the seasons of 1874 and 1875 winning most of the games played.
     In 1885 the Empire Baseball Team was organized and played during a period of two years losing but four games of sixty-one played.
     Through the ready assistance of the citizens of Sandy Creek and Lacona Recreation Park was constructed on the premises of E. H. Sargent on Lake street. It was enclosed and made possible of receiving admissions which were needed to cover the rapidly increasing expenses of the team. At this park were played several very interesting games with semi-professional teams from Oneida and Oswego who were responsible for the few games lost by the Empires.

The lineup of the Empires was as follows:

Udelle Bartlett, Captain and Short Stop;
F. N. Sargent, Manager and Third Base;
Ed. Brooks, Catcher and Second Base;
W. H. Wart, Catcher and Second Base;
C. L. Baldwin, Catcher and Left Field;
Philip Dyer, Pitcher;
Cassius Groat, Pitcher;
John Kelly, First Base;
B. D. Jones, First Base;
F. E. Smith, Second Base;
George Powers, Right Field;
Charles Thomas, Center Field;
Harvey S. Bartlett, Short Stop and Left Field;
W. H. Cox, Third Base;
C. A. Powers, Official Score Keeper.

The average age of the Empires was 24 5-10 years; average weight, 171 1-5 lbs.; average height, 5 ft., 61/2 in.
The Empires were a hard hitting team and usually won the game in one or two innings of the game. Philip Dyer was the first pitcher in this section to throw a curve ball. He had them all and was successful in pitching against professional players.

The members of the Empire Baseball Team comprised:

Udelle Bartlett, Captain and Short Stop;
Fred N. Sargent, Manager and Third Base;
Ed. Brooks, Catcher and Second Base;
Wellington H. Wart, Catcher and Second Base;
C. L. Baldwin, Catcher and Left Field;
Philip Dyer, Pitcher;
Cassius Groat, Pitcher;
John Kelly, First Base;
B. D. Jones, First Base;
Ferdinand E. Smith, Second Base;
George Powers, Right Field;
Charles Thomas, Center Field;
Harvey S. Bartlett, Short Stop and Left Field;
Will Cox, Third Base.

This team played in tournaments in Ellisburg, Pierrepont Manor, Sandy Creek, Sand Bank, Belleville and Watertown winning each tournament by a good margin.

Leaders

By G. D. WART

The Game of the Early Nineties as Played Locally

     The Leaders Baseball Club of Sandy Creek was organized in 1890 and continued to be very much alive until the close of the season of 1893. The pinnacle of their success was reached in 1891 and 1892. Some of the time Eugene Hibbard was manager and part of the time Tad W. Harding was the manager. At the beginning the players were Gilson Wart, catcher; Gilford Hadley, pitcher and short stop; Benjamin Mansfield, first base; William Bristol, second base; Tad Harding, third base; Harvey Bartlett, short stop and pitcher; James Porter, left field, James La Tant, center field; John Thompson, right field. After the first season other members were added, namely: Eugene Hibbard, infielder; Frank Bonner and Earl Brown, pitchers and Eugene Millard, outfielder.
     The field of activity was mostly in Oswego and Jefferson counties although some games were played in St. Lawrence county, and some in Oneida county, namely at Camden and Sylvan Beach. Games were played against teams from Belleville, Ellisburg, Orwell, Pulaski, Parish. Cleveland, Oswego and other places.
     The home games were played in Recreation Park, built and made popular by the Empires, which park was located on the South side of Lake Street on the farm owned by Edmund H. Sargent. When it could be so arranged the games were umpired by Ralph Pratt of Orwell or John J. Frisbie of Oswego.
     The score keeper was usually Chena A. Powers or H. Louis Wallace.
     The Leaders played a great many games in the four years, winning probably eighty per cent of the games played. They successfully maintained the excellent baseball standing of the town which had been established by their predecessors. They were loyally supported by the Sandy Creek News and the community.

The Leaders made good.

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