The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-04
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BASEBALL AUTHORITIES SAY
CITY WILL SURRENDER CLUB
, apparently dead in the rest.

is apparently dead in the rest.
| After the Iowa cities dropped out.
Missouri and Illinois teams were ad-
mitted and the Iowa State league be-
came the Central association. Other
clubs that have played in the league
are Galesburg. Kewanee, Monmouth
and Quincy, Ill, and Hannibal, Mo.
Was In Big League.
But Keokuk. as Local historians
fondly recall, was once member of
another league For period OF just
six weeks back in the year 1875, Keo-
kuk enjoyed the luxury Of big league
ball club. The city was in the Pro-
fessional association composed of
thirteen clubs, and which became the
National league the following year.
Keokuk's first taste Of league ball
was not very sweet one. The club
played thirteen games, winning only
one. and losing twelve, and then dis
banded and gave UP the franchise be-
cause of lack of patronage. But it
must be said that the attendance In
those days was better than it has
been during the past few seasons. An
average week day crowd was between
500 and 1000, 500 being regarded as
very small. The Sunday crowds usual
ly ran up into several thousand. But
even this attendance was not a suff1-
cient inducement for the big eastern
clubs to travel to the small Iowa city,
and about the middle of June they re-
fused to do SO, and Keokuk was
forced to disband.
After carefully looking up the rec
ords of The games played the early
part of that season, the writer is I'M
o. n 70 %, cot icfo afn III
sion as to just what strength the
Westerns, as the Keokuk club was
known. was possessed. The Keokuk
players were of the opinion that the
team was good one with the excep-
ton of several men,, and st. Louis
sporting writers were agreed that the
club had some exceptional ball play
ers. Chicago writer's were not so
generous, especially the Tribune
dopeSter, who sort of looked upon
the Westerns as a band of amateurs.
Golden was the name of the iron
man who twirled for Keokuk and it is
quite a remarkable fact to present
day baseball lovers. that he pitched
every game that the Westerns played.
One week he pitched five games in
five days, and only had an off day
when it rained, or there was an open
date. In all of the records that were
there is nothing to show
that Keokuk, during the six weeks of
baseball in the Professional associa-
ton. had more than one pitcher, but
In nearly every game 'ne was charged
with more or less wildness.
One player attracted especial atten-
ton here, however. He was Quinn, a
fielder and wonderful batter. Quinn
was one of the best ball players in
the country at that time.
The First Game.
Keokuk opened the season on We'd
nesday. May 5, 1875, by losing to Chi
cago, Is to 1, although Chicago was
credited with only one earned run.
The following day Keokuk lost to
Chicago, to 1, the same pitcher
for both clubs.
Golden pitched his third successive
game on Friday, and Keokuk scored
it's only victory of the season, 15 to
2, over the ST. Louis Red Stockings,
Golden allowed six hits.
On Sunday, before a crowd of 1000
people, the Red Stockings came back
with a win over Keokuk, 6 to l,
Golden pitching his fourth game.
Rain kept Keokuk from playing for
several days, but the following We'd
nesday they met defeat the hands of
the ST. Louis Brown Stockings, 16 to
6, Golden pitching again. Keokuk
made % errors.
The sixth game played with the
same club was one of the best played
in Keokuk that season. Golden held
the Browns to seven hits, but lost,
4 to 2.
The following day Keokuk hit the
road and fans followed the club with
great interest. In a ten inning battle,
the Chicago White Stockings won to
6. The next day Keokuk lost to the
same club, to 2.
In the next game with Boston, Keo
kuk lost, to 4, and the following day
lost to the Mutuals, ! to 0, in five in
nings, and so the Westerns continued
until the disbanding without winning
another game.
League History In Brief.
In 1875 thirteen clubs entered the
lists for the Professional association
championship, representing seven
eastern cities and three western cities
New York, Boston, Brooklyn. Wash
ington, Hartford and New Haven each
entering one club from the east, Chi
cago and Keokuk one each from the
west. and Philadelphia entering three
clubs and ST Louis two. Such an ar
rangement in itself was barrier to
success in the seasons campaign and
the final result proved it, as only
eleven of the thirteen clubs played
out their quota Of games. This was
the last year Of the old association
and the percentages follow:
Won Lost. Pct