Troy Haymakers
Encyclopedia
The Troy Haymakers were an American professional baseball
team.
, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant race of 1869 and joined the first professional league, the 1871 National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
(NAPBBP). They disbanded halfway through the 1872 season "on account of an empty treasury."
By 1868 the "Troy Haymakers" nickname for Union of Lansingburgh was common, although the team was sometimes called the Trojans. On the field it was one of the strongest teams in the nominally amateur National Association of Base Ball Players
. Some players were from New York City; presumably the club compensated them.
When the Association permitted openly professional teams for the 1869 season, the Haymakers were one of twelve to go pro. Evidently they were fifth in playing strength for they finished with a 12–8–1 record including two wins, eight defeats, and one tie (2–8–1) against the four strongest teams and ten wins in ten matches with the others. By playing strength they ranked about the same among fifteen professional teams in 1870, at 11–13–1. During the former season, a forfeit win over the Haymakers on August 26 in Cincinnati was the only blemish on the record of the first professional team, the undefeated 1869 Red Stockings
. (The Haymakers withdrew from the field with the score 17 to 17 in the sixth inning.)
Along with two newcomers, seven of the professional teams from 1870 established a new all-professional National Association early in 1871, known today as the first professional sports league. The rival amateur Association declined rapidly and soon left the government of baseball to the sole leadership of the professionals, but the early pros from Troy/Lansingburgh did not survive to take part.
During the two NAPBBP season, home games were played at Haymakers' Grounds
in Troy, New York
. The Haymakers were managed by Lip Pike
, Bill Craver
, and Jimmy Wood; they won 28 games and lost 25 for a winning percentage
of .528. Their 15–10 record in 1872 was one of the best for any major team to go out of business.
In baseball history today, the 1879–1882 National League club in Troy is sometimes called the Haymakers.
There is now a team in the Albany Twilight League
known as the Troy Haymakers.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team.
History
Established in 1860 as the Union base ball club of neighboring Lansingburgh, New YorkLansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant race of 1869 and joined the first professional league, the 1871 National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(NAPBBP). They disbanded halfway through the 1872 season "on account of an empty treasury."
By 1868 the "Troy Haymakers" nickname for Union of Lansingburgh was common, although the team was sometimes called the Trojans. On the field it was one of the strongest teams in the nominally amateur National Association of Base Ball Players
National Association of Base Ball Players
The National Association of Base Ball Players was the first organization governing American baseball. The first, 1857 convention of sixteen New York City clubs...
. Some players were from New York City; presumably the club compensated them.
When the Association permitted openly professional teams for the 1869 season, the Haymakers were one of twelve to go pro. Evidently they were fifth in playing strength for they finished with a 12–8–1 record including two wins, eight defeats, and one tie (2–8–1) against the four strongest teams and ten wins in ten matches with the others. By playing strength they ranked about the same among fifteen professional teams in 1870, at 11–13–1. During the former season, a forfeit win over the Haymakers on August 26 in Cincinnati was the only blemish on the record of the first professional team, the undefeated 1869 Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
. (The Haymakers withdrew from the field with the score 17 to 17 in the sixth inning.)
Along with two newcomers, seven of the professional teams from 1870 established a new all-professional National Association early in 1871, known today as the first professional sports league. The rival amateur Association declined rapidly and soon left the government of baseball to the sole leadership of the professionals, but the early pros from Troy/Lansingburgh did not survive to take part.
Haymakers' Grounds
Haymakers' Grounds was a baseball grounds in Troy, New York. It was home to the Troy Haymakers of the National Association from 1871 to 1872 and home to the Troy Trojans of the National League from 1880 to 1881....
in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
. The Haymakers were managed by Lip Pike
Lip Pike
Lipman Emanuel "Lip" Pike the "Iron Batter", was one of the stars of 19th century baseball in the United States. He was the first player to be revealed as a professional , as well as the first Jewish player...
, Bill Craver
Bill Craver
William H. Craver was an American Major League Baseball player from Troy, New York who played mainly as an infielder, but did play many games at catcher as well during his seven year career. He played for seven different teams, in two leagues...
, and Jimmy Wood; they won 28 games and lost 25 for a winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
of .528. Their 15–10 record in 1872 was one of the best for any major team to go out of business.
In baseball history today, the 1879–1882 National League club in Troy is sometimes called the Haymakers.
There is now a team in the Albany Twilight League
Albany Twilight League
The Albany Twilight League, based at Bleecker Stadium in Albany, NY, is an amateur baseball league that was founded in 1930 by George Elwell. Two former Major Leaguers, Matty Fitzgerald and Ed Phelps, along with James Ronin and William Louden, were all members of the first league commission...
known as the Troy Haymakers.
Further reading
- Wright, Marshall (2000). The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857-1870. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. ISBN 0-7864-0779-4