Abner Powell
Encyclopedia
Abner Charles Powell was a Major league baseball
player who was a member of the Washington Nationals
of the Union Association
in 1884. He later played for the Baltimore Orioles
and the Cincinnati Red Stockings
in 1886. He also managed and owned several teams.
Powell was more famous, however, for innovations that changed baseball. In 1887, Powell came up the idea of using an infield tarpaulin
so that fields could be ready immediately after rain storms. He also introduced Ladies Day, with the first scheduled recurring game on April 29 that same year. The idea was to create an environment in the stands free of unsavory characters and conduct, as well as to make baseball a family oriented event. This practice is still in place today. His most important innovation, however, was the introduction of the rain check, which added a perforated stub to tickets so that fans could attend a make-up game if the scheduled game was cancelled due to rain.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who was a member of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals (UA)
The 1884 Washington Nationals were a member of the Union Association. They were managed by Mike Scanlon and finished in seventh place with a record of 47-65. Their home games were played at Capitol Grounds...
of the Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
in 1884. He later played for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and the Cincinnati Red Stockings
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1886. He also managed and owned several teams.
Powell was more famous, however, for innovations that changed baseball. In 1887, Powell came up the idea of using an infield tarpaulin
Tarpaulin
A tarpaulin, colloquially tarp, is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with urethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene. In some places such as Australia, and in military slang, a tarp may be known as a...
so that fields could be ready immediately after rain storms. He also introduced Ladies Day, with the first scheduled recurring game on April 29 that same year. The idea was to create an environment in the stands free of unsavory characters and conduct, as well as to make baseball a family oriented event. This practice is still in place today. His most important innovation, however, was the introduction of the rain check, which added a perforated stub to tickets so that fans could attend a make-up game if the scheduled game was cancelled due to rain.