From a fan’s perspective — opening day in the 19th century.

“The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.”

Ernest Thayer’s lines from Casey could certainly be applied to our favorite time of the year, the start of the baseball season. Below are a few illustrations of Opening Day from the era of Casey, the 19th century. They not only document the wooden ballparks that have long since vanished, but they also offer a few artistic peculiarities. Isn’t the diamond too big in the 1895 Cleveland illustration below? And, too small in the 1896 St. Louis drawing? Plus, the obstructed view of the unfortunate fan in the 1900 Indianapolis illustration is simply hilarious. See all below. Uniform renderings are included to show the colors on the field that day. Enjoy.

1883 — May 5, Chicago v. Detroit, at Chicago, Lake Front Park

Illustration: Harper’s Weekly, 1883
Battery: Chicago– Corcoran and Flint; Detroit– Weidman and Bennett
Score: Detroit 3, Chicago 2
“Over 5,000 people sat in the chilly atmosphere of the Ball Park yesterday afternoon to witness the opening game of the League season in this city. […] The Chicagos came on the field in their red and white uniforms, and after some preliminary practice by both clubs, the band struck up a lively air, while Capt. Anson ran up the championship flag of 1882.” From the Chicago Tribune, May 6, 1883, page 11.

1886 — April 30, Kansas City v. Chicago, at Kansas City, League Park

Illustration: Kansas City Times, May 1, 1886
Battery: Kansas City– Weidman and Briody; Chicago– Clarkson and Flint
Score: Chicago 6, Kansas City 5, 13 innings
“The game was witnessed by about 3,500 enthusiastic people and was the most exciting contest. […] Every play was applauded heartily, the audience rising almost in a body, shouting and waving their hats and umbrellas on several occasions when a good hit or a brilliant field play came along.” From the Kansas City Times, May 1, 1886, page 5.

1889 — April 17, Cincinnati v. St. Louis, at Cincinnati, League Park

Illustration: Cincinnati Enquirer, April 18, 1889
Battery: Cincinnati—Mullane and Baldwin; St. Louis—King and Boyle
Score: St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 1 – American Association game
“The stands, which had been beautifully decorated with flags, banners and bunting, formed a splendid background for the gay spring bonnets and rich attires of the one thousand ladies in the grand stand. On either side, the bleaching boards and the pavilions were filled with men and boys, while a cordon of humanity three and four deep fringed the entire field. Venturesome boys climbed to the roof of the pavilions, while a row of skirmishers held onto the fence by their fingernails. The telephone poles on the outside, the roofs of the adjoining buildings and the tops of the boxed cars on the side tracks west of the park furnished accommodations to bushwhackers who had not made the acquaintance of the gentleman in the box office. By actual account 10,410 people paid admission.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 18, 1889, page 8.

1895 — May 1, Cleveland v. St. Louis, at Cleveland, League Park

Illustration: Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 2, 1895
Battery: Cleveland—Young, Cuppy and Zimmer; St. Louis—Ehret and Pietz
Score: Cleveland 7, St. Louis 6
“The crowd began to assemble early at League park and a band in the grand stand made things lively. By the time the game was called the stands were all well filled and all the well-known rooters and fans were present.” From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 2, 1895, page 1.

1896 — April 16, St. Louis v. Cleveland, at St. Louis, Sportsman’s Park

Illustration: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 1896
Battery: St. Louis—Breitenstein and McFarland; Cleveland—Young, O’Meara and O’Connor
Score: St. louis 5, Cleveland 2
“Eleven thousand enthusiasts rejoiced exceedingly at the clever manner in which the Browns vanquished the Clevelands. At 3:30 the game was called, and there was not a vacant seat to be had for love or money. Standing room was at a premium in the stands, and in the space at the rear of the outer fence of the race track. It was a perfect day for base ball.” From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 17, 1896, page 4.

1898 — April 15, Louisville v. Pittsburgh, at Louisville, League Park

Illustration: Louisville Courier-Journal, April 16, 1898
Battery: Louisville—Cunningham and Wilson; Pittsburgh—Killen and Schriver
Score: Louisville 10, Pittsburgh 3
“Out there is a beautiful chalk-marked lawn, as smooth as a billiard table. Over to the left the green stops abruptly against coated men, a hillside thirty feet high and three hundred feet long. To the right is another bank of men, rising tier on tier, and every seat taken. ‘Here they come,’ is announced in loud tones by a small boy, and the hillside on the left swells and turns towards the gate. Two squads of uniformed men march on the lawn. Those in white trot to the little house far out there where the fences join. Those in red and blue stop once they are within and begin to toss about the small, round white object.” From the Louisville Courier-Journal, April 16, 1898, page 4.

1898 — April 18, Washington v. Baltimore, at Washington, National Park

Illustration: Washington Post, April 19, 1898
Battery: Washington—Amole and McGuire; Baltimore—Hughes and Clark
Score: Baltimore 9, Washington 0
“The faithful fair flocked up the run to the grand stand, and illuminated the pavilion with brilliant patches of Easter color. From the right wing of the stand to the fifty-cent balcony and thence to the remote section of the bleachers was terraced a multitude of 8,000, whose plaudits dwindled to a splutter as the Western twirling sorcerer [Baltimore’s Hughes] gradually transformed the locals into an Eden Musee collection of wax works.” From the Washington Post, April 19, 1898, page 8.

1900 — April 20, Indianapolis v. Cleveland, at Indianapolis, Washington Park

Illustration: Indianapolis News, April 21, 1900
Battery: Indianapolis—Kellum, Dammann and Heydon; Cleveland—Jones and Diggins
Score: Cleveland 7, Indianapolis 6 – American League game
“A noisy welcome greeted the Hoosiers, eighteen strong, as they marched up the field, and a cheer greeted Manager Watkins when he took his accustomed seat on the bench. Another shout of approval went up when the nine young men in white scampered out to their positions and Kellum took his place in the box.” From the Indianapolis News, April 21, 1900, page 2.

Thank you for your time. If you know of a scene from opening day, either illustration or photo, please send it my way when you have time. Thank you. — Craig