In April 1898, a unique opportunity occurred that allowed the University of Maryland baseball team to play the professional Orioles baseball team at what was then Union Park.
Usually by July, baseball is in full swing. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed that this season, but Major League Baseball (MLB) players have finally reported to “spring” training, and it looks like the 2020 baseball season will happen.
The Historical Collections department of the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HS/HSL) is celebrating this unusual beginning to the MLB season by throwing it back to 1898 when the University of Maryland had an athletic association. The association supported teams in ice hockey, football, track, polo, and baseball. The teams were made up of men from across the schools of dentistry, medicine, and law.
In April 1898, a unique opportunity occurred that allowed the University of Maryland baseball team to play the professional Orioles baseball team at what was then Union Park. The previously scheduled Orioles games against Montreal were canceled for April 13 and 14, and the managers of the two teams met and agreed to play back-to-back nights.
In the first game, on April 13, the professional Orioles team beat the University of Maryland “nine” by a score of 15-0. The Baltimore Sun reported rather fairly on the one-sided game by praising the efforts and skill of the University team against the professionals. The article praised the pitching of F. Talbott Brooks, School of Medicine Class of 1900, and cited a few errors in fielding as the reasons for the loss. Unfortunately, the University of Maryland team was unable to redeem itself the following evening, as the game was called off due to rain. However, the University of Maryland team was given a shot at redemption the following April, playing the Orioles in an 18-0 defeat.
The University of Maryland team played five collegiate games in the 1898 season with a respectable record of three wins, one loss, and one tie. Members of the team included representation from each of the three schools.
The members were:
- Second baseman Milton M. Whitehurst, School of Medicine, graduate, Class of 1899
- Shortstop (Jesse) H. Whitehurst, School of Medicine, graduate, Class of 1900
- First baseman George L. Hicks, School of Medicine, graduate, Class of 1898
- Catcher and first baseman T. Owings, School of Dentistry, member, Class of 1901
- Third baseman Frank O’Donnell, School of Medicine, member, Class of 1898
- Left fielder William H. Smith, School of Medicine, graduate, Class of 1900
- Catcher William R. Pond, School of Dentistry, graduate, Class of 1899
- Center fielder Frank M. Widner Jr., School of Law, graduate, Class of 1899
- Right fielder Neilson Poe, School of Law, member, Class of 1900
- Pitcher M. Walters, School of Dentistry, member, Class of 1900
- Pitcher F. Talbott Brooks, School of Medicine, graduate, Class of 1900
- Pitcher William Bullock, Maryland Athletic Club player.
References:
Bones, Molars, and Briefs. 1899. University of Maryland, Baltimore. Retrieved from: hdl.handle.net/10713/2450.
“Orioles and Students.” The Sun; April 14, 1898; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Baltimore Sun, Page 8.
“Real Baseball.” The Sun; April 13, 1899; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Baltimore Sun, Page 6.
“Unexpected Opponents.” The Sun; April 13, 1898; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Baltimore Sun, Page 6.