Grant & Baseball

Grant and the others in the crowd saw what The New York Times the following day called “A Fine Game at the Bat.” The newspaper reported, “The largest number of persons that ever assembled on a ball ground in this city witnessed a game of base-ball played on the Polo Grounds yesterday between the New-York and Boston clubs.” The story noted that the game was the first time that a New York team “competed in a game for a league championship.” Although technically correct then as now, that wording would not be used today to describe a regular season game; it would instead denote the post-season.

In a rare photograph from 1883, Grant, seated at center, enjoys the weather with family members including his wife Julia Dent Grant, seated, left. Grant attended the home opener at the original Polo Grounds that spring.

The story went on: “Among those present was Gen. Grant. He sat in the rear of the grand stand and apparently enjoyed the game, as he at times took part in the applause given the players.” New York pitcher Mickey Welch (Smiling Mickey) “pitched in capital style,” while short stop Dasher Troy had a bad day, with five errors, but made up for it “with a splendid running catch” late in the game, the Times reported. New York jumped out to an early lead, and Boston narrowed the gap but came up short in the end, a scenario repeated many times over the next 120 years. New York won 7-5. This first New York game in the National League “seemed to have inspired new life among the patrons of the national game in New-York and vicinity,” noted the Times.

There were opening day festivities before and after the game, including a performance by (Claudio S.) Grafulla’s Seventh Regiment Band, which played “See the Conquering Hero Comes,” which was apropos given the Gothams’ victory and Grant’s attendance. Grant did not throw out the first ball; President William Howard Taft started that tradition in 1910.

It is hard to imagine a more thoroughly American moment than a baseball game in New York City with President Grant. This is why Grant’s interaction with the sport is interesting. It brought together one of the greatest Americans of history and the greatest American game.

<<	Grant & Baseball	>>
Personal Encounters	President Grant and the Sport	The Original Polo Grounds
Personalities	Grant at the Game	Selected Bibliography
	Home