• Leagues & Organizations

The Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia is here to introduce communities across the region to the sociable and well-played game that defined 1864 baseball and that 12-year period of fine, high-quality local clubs before the professional era took hold. In particular, we are keen to re-establish each of the clubs the Athletic played from 1859 to 1872 for re-matches 135 years in the making.
ABOUT

The Athletic Base Ball Club was founded in 1859 with the express purpose of playing what was then often referred to as the New York game. Early on, Athletic competed against stiff local competition from clubs such as Keystone, Equity, Minerva, Mercantile, and many others. These amateur clubs were organized by trade, neighborhood, or from the ranks of clubs devoted to other hobbies.

As Athletic grew to be a force on the national scene, many of these clubs became de facto farm teams for the Athletics, who had the best record in the country in 1867 and 1868. Part of Athletics’ mission was to facilitate the growth of the sport in towns around the region, and Athletic even sponsored the first African-American club to apply for membership in the National Association of Base Ball Players. As professionalism took over after the Civil War, the Athletics moved on to become the first champions of the new National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. Athletic would remain a force to be reckoned with until their ejection from the National League after the 1876 season.

Scott Big Deal Alberts (photo, right) initiated the revival of the traditions of the amateur Athletic Base Ball Club in August of 2009. The revived ABBC seeks to reestablish the convivial amateur spirit of the early game. We welcome enthusiastic lady and gentlemen ball players and arbiters (umpires). All that we require is your interest and enthusiasm!