|
The barnstorming 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first nine of professional baseball, touring coast to coast over an eight-month period. From their first contest, in which they bested the Great Westerns of Cincinnati 45-9, to their final game, a 17-8 triumph over the New York Mutuals, the Red Stockings played 57 games without a defeat. With such national success, the George and Harry Wright-led Red Stockings became a continental phenomenon, the inspiration for a new league, and popular advertising pitchmen. Published by J.L Peters of New York from Boston to New Orleans, the offered “Red Stockings’ March” sheet music was released toward the latter part of the first 1869 season. Dedicated “To the ladies of Cincinnati”, this approximately 9-1/2 x 13-1/2” artifact portrays oval captions of all nine of the squad, including George and Harry Wright. Surrounded by the nine is a graphic of a pitcher lobbing the ball underhanded to an awaiting batter in true 1860s fashion. Despite this three-page nineteenth century survivor revealing extensive tears, wear, fraying and writing, the original fine thread binding which secures the inner page is still intact. A fantastically scarce early baseball piece with immense historical significance.
|
