The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
iiOtT this time In the year
\ 1856? baseball fans all over the
Eastern and central sections o..

~ ING: baseball fans all oNe- the
Eastern and central sections o.
the cot ntry--and there was a
considerable loly vi enthusiasts even
In those days-wCge talking about the
champion led Stockings IF Cincinnati.
Hero was a team that had just gained
what WAS the equivalent of the
words championship by defeating all
corners. The Red Stockings Played
hfty-seNen games tina season and won
every II Of them. something that has
e been accomplished since by any
nine of major or MINOR LEAGUE clhbrc.
and to the great success Of this team *
ascribcd the placing of baseball on a
firm foundation aS a natiurNl sport.
Many men are st.l, iivir who recall
With pleasant memories heir euthu-
siasm over the game OF the season OF
1869. The Red stockings siart.i their
winning streak with the first game.
played against the Great Western
team Of Cincinnati on May 4. Their
steady string of victories soon at-
tractcd attention throughout the East.
and as game after game was played
with the Reds still on the winning end.
every one began wondering II il were
possible for them TO he beaten. The
Cincinnati team finished their work
on November 6 by defeating the Mu-
tual Club of New York by the score
Of II to 3 ON the hcnc grounds.
The Reds aroused the admiration of
even their opponents and many an old
boy tells his youngsters OF the stirring
contests of those days. Not long ago
THE SrN printed an editorial concern
ing the late A. q. Spalding's con-
nect.on with baseball and IL resulted in
many OF the old time fans writing ct
tiers TO THE SCN giving their reco'.ec-
lions Of the champions of 1863. They
mentioned the prominent teams. ~
those days and told who the players
We're, but some of them disagreed COZ
siderably upon various points. For
instance, there vas "A difference of
opinion. 81 Of memory. on the very
impor;an, point of whether or not the
Reds wont through the season of 1869
without being defeated. and II wus
with a view of clearing up the situ,-
ton with respect to the first worlds
champions that THE SuN sent 81 COR
respondent TO see George Wright uf
Boston, cricket. baseball. hockey. ten
Shis and golf enthusiast, and one OF the
four surviving members of the Reds
championship team.
Mr.. Wright Is 6S years old and
sound in wind and limb. He can see
a golf ball as far away az when he Mas
trying to judge baseballs knocked In
his direction forty-five years ago. oc-
cnsionally he takes his eye off" as
they say in the go.ing world, and IL
has the usual result. a topped hall.
Outside of this minor defect, which is
not the result of poor sight. Il Il
little slowing up" in footwork, Mr.,
Wright is In fine physical condition.
Good weather always secs him on
the course at the Wollaston Coli club
for at least one round "A day. and he
frequently enters he open tourna-
ments Of the Massachusetts, clubs,
playing a much stcad!er game than
most people of less han half his age
90. " The New England men who
were the first 10 become interested n
this ancient Scottish sport Mr.. Wrigh,
is probable the hest player to-day.
His Interest in golf has not weanei
him from his first love, baseball, He is
70 he found AT one Of the Boston base
ball parks several times each week
during the season. The big tennis
tournaments always find him among
the spectators, and his two sons, Bcals
and Irving Wright, have been among
the topnotchers Of this game.
From MIR. Wright many interesting
comparisons between baseball of the
Aarly bayS and tho present time can