Baseball and labor organizing in 1886

A baseball team of local cigar makers defeated a team of local printers 37–15 in 1886.

But the lop-sided score did not prevent the “rattled” printers from collaborating with the cigarmakers in labor organizing later that year.

“The local cigarmakers and printers took an outing yesterday afternoon, and, forgetting the work bench and case for the time, devoted them selves to a contest on the diamond field,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on June 17, 1886.

It was more of a game of slap stick than hard ball.

“John Moynehan (of the printers) tried to catch a fly ball in his hat, but did not succeed,” The Morning Star reported.

“Charles Perry umpired the game in a fair and impartial manner until the fifth inning, when a small boy came up and told him that supper was ready. He immediately disappeared.”

“Tea” Rice was recruited from the stands to take over as umpire, and had a few controversial calls.

“Emmett Hartibus, not liking a decision of Rice, threw the ball at him. He was fined twenty-five cents, and the printers tried to raise the necessary amount, but only succeeded in getting nineteen cents. The umpire contributed the other six cents, and the game went on.”

The reporter covering the game equally ridiculed both teams.

“William Donovan (of the cigarmakers) was a remarkable third basemen, and, with a little practice, will be able to catch a fly without molasses.”

Donovan, later in the year, was elected vice president of the new Glens Falls International Cigar Makers’ Union, №298, at the union’s charter meeting, held at the local Typographers’ Union hall.

“The employees of the various cigar manufacturers of this village met last evening in the rooms of the Typographers’ Union … on Ridge Street, and organized a union with eleven charter members, which includes nearly all the journeymen cigarmakers now employed in this place,” The Morning Star reported on Sept. 28, 1886.

Other officers were: Edward Cary, president; Daniel Cary, financial secretary; A.V. Couprette, corresponding secretary; Peter Doney, treasurer.

The union was to hold its monthly meetings at the Typos hall.

Click here to read my most recent previous regional baseball history post.

Click here to read my most recent labor history post.