Boxscore of First Professional Ballgame

True history took place when the first two National Association teams matched up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Bad weather kept many fans away, but approximately five-hundred still appeared to witness baseball history.
"The finest game of base ball ever witnessed in this country was played on the grounds of the Kekiongas of this city this afternoon, the playing throughout being without precedent in the annals of base ball, and the members of both clubs establishing beyond doubt their reputation as among the most perfect ball players in the United States." - New York Herald
First Professional Ballgame
National Association

May 4, 1871

Cleveland
Forest Citys
Name AB R H
Deacon White c 4 0 3
Gene Kimball 2b 4 0 0
Charlie Pabor cf 4 0 0
Art Allison rf 4 0 1
Elmer White lf 3 0 0
Uncle Al Pratt p 3 0 0
Ezra Sutton 3b 3 0 1
Jim Carleton 1b 3 0 0
John Bass ss 3 0 0
Totals 31 0 5

Fort Wayne
Kekiongas
Name AB R H
Frank Selman rf 4 0 0
Bobby Mathews p 4 0 0
Jim Foran 3b 4 0 1
Wally Goldsmith 2b 4 0 0
Bill Lennon c 4 1 1
Tom Carey ss 3 0 0
Ed Mincher lf 3 0 0
Joe McDermott cf 3 0 1
Bill Kelly 1b 3 1 1
Totals 32 2 4

Hitting & Fielding Notes

Double Play(s): Carey.
Doubles: D.White, Lennon.
Line Score
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Fort Wayne 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 0

Cleveland
Forest Citys
Name IP H R ER BB SO
Uncle Al Pratt 9 4 2 2 1 0

Fort Wayne
Kekiongas
Name IP H R ER BB SO
Bobby Mathews 9 5 0 0 1 6

Game Notes

Attendance: About 500.
Umpires: J.L. Boake.
Length of game: 2:00.


The shutout pitched on this date by Bobby Mathews was enough for him to be tied for the league leader in shutouts for the 1871 season!

The 1871 season is also the first in which batting averages were officially recorded and kept!

On April 22, 1876, the National League will plays their innaugural game and history will repeat itself!
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