Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana Baseball

Shamrock Base Ball Club

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1907 - Fort Wayne Shamrock Base Ball Club - Indiana's Famous Semi-Professionals

Article from Oct 27, 1907 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1907, Fort wayne, Shamrock, Baseball

1907 - Fort Wayne Shamrock Base Ball Club - Indiana's Famous Semi-Professionals The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, October 27, 1907, Page 21.

The Fort Wayne Shamrock Base Ball Club

Indiana's Famous Semi-Professionals.

Photos: Cleary, Manager. Cherry, First Base and Captain. Alberts, Pitcher. Smith, Second Base. Centlivre, Left Field. Gage, Shortstop.

Koons, Center Field. Hoffer, Catcher. Robbins, Pitcher. Beach, Third Base. Erickson, Right Field. Walda, Utility.

The Story of Fort Wayne's Great Independent Team and Its Successful Season

Day in and day out, there isn't a ball club in Hoosterdom outside of the American association and the Central league that has anything on the famous Fort Wayne Shamrocks.

Opening the practice season '07 at South Bend with Grant's Central league team, the semi-pros have, until the windup on last Sunday, met the strongest independent teams operating in this part of the country.

The attendance this season has been remarkable, equaling that of Central league days. Seventy-five thousand people passed through the gates in thirty-three games, and fans have seen the Fort Wayne team take the count but eight times, having twenty-five victories to its credit.

A feature of the locals work was the whirlwind finishes. When everything seemed over but the shouting, with the Shamrocks' opponents looking like sure winners, Fort Wayne came like a flash in the closing innings and by a dazzling spurt took game after game.

Everything at League park was conducted with a view to the comfort of the patrons, and the ball put up was so classy that, the big grandstand would longer accommodate the fans. Game after game the sale of seats to the big amphitheater was discontinued before the teams were sent into action. Two ticket sellers were required to handle the crowds. The average attendance of ladies was over 500.

There was no individual work on the Fort Wayne team. Every man played to win. The success of the team was what every player strived for. At no time during the six months campaign did a player present himself in anything but the pink of condition. Swell heads, crabs and disorganizers were not found on the Shamrock team, with the result that the locals presented a fighting machine that was almost invincible.

Umpire Jimmy Connell always kept the game well in hand, his work being of a character that stamps him as an indicator holder capable of making good in any minor league. The Shamrocks will at once organize for next season, and will be in the fleld with the same high-class team that has made them the most sought-after and best drawing card among the independents in Indiana.

If Fort Wayne has league ball, the Shamrocks will play here when league team is on the road, and will go on the road when the league team is at home. Manager Cleary has in the event that the team will be roaded, an offer of nine bookings in Chicago, which will about fill the schedule.

The Shamrocks have made good of Chicago. The club has journed to the Windy City on several occasions, meeting the famous Chicago Unions, Grant Johnson's Columbian Giants, the celebrated Gunthers, the Chicago Cranes, All-Chicago, and the Chicago Riverviews, of the Lake Shore league. Handsomely uniformed and equipped, always carrying a aggregation of experlenced players, no team hesitates on booking the Fort Wayne club.

Every season, almost without exception, the Shamrocks turn the trick of defeating a league team. This season Canton of the Contrat league, lost to the semi-professionals.

While Fort Wayne is ripe for league ball, the bugs are not disconsolate as long as the Shamrocks are with them. The semi- professlonals have kept the fever alive in the Summit City, and it is doubtful if the enthusiasm was ever more pronounced than in the remarkably successful season just closed. Surely the games were never more brilliantly contested, or pulled off with more polish.

The club has been a big advertisement for Fort Wayne, has been cause of many strangers coming to the city, and has furnished clear wholesome sport to an army of men and women, who the coming winter, will look back with pleasure to the many great battles witnessed at League park. And when the blue birds come in the spring, the same army of fun-loving fans will be down to the yard to give glad hand to the club of fighting semi-professionals that never quit till twenty-seventh man is out.

Record of Games Won.

Shamrocks, 5; Garret, 2.
Shamrocks, 5; Garret, 1.
Shamtocks, 7; Van Wert, 3.
Shamrocks, 6; Cleveland. 1.
Shamrocks, 4; Richmond, 2.
Shamrocks, 5; Chicago Riverviews, 3.
Shamrocks, .2; All-Chicago, 8.
Shamrocks, 7; Canton Central leaguers, 4. 4; Decatur, 3.
Shamrocks, 3: Garrett, 0. 3.
Shamrocks, Garrett,
Shamrocks, 3; Van wert, 2,---ten innings.
Shamrocks, 8; Findlay, 0.
Shamrocks, 5; Cleveland, 3.
Shamrocks, 6; Hillsdale, 1.
Shamrockas, 5: Coldwater, 1.
Shamrocks, 3; Coldwater, 2.
Shamrocks, 6; Van Wert. 2.
Shamrocks, 6; Cleveland, 1.
Shamrocks, 16; Cleveland,
Shamrocks, 5; Wapakontea Reda,
Shamrocks, 1; Delphos, 0,-ten innings.
Shamrocks, 14: Delphos, 3.
Shamrocks, 2; Garrett, 1.
Shamrocks 2; Garrett, 1.

Lost.
Garrett, 4; Shamrocks, 3.
Bluffton, Shamrocks, 1.
Decatur, 5; Shamrocks, 3.
Bluffton, 1. Shamrocks, 0.
Hillsdale, 3; Shamrocks, 0.
Decatur, 4; Shamrocks, 3.
Van Wert, 23; Shamrocks, 0.
Van Wert, 6; Shamrocks, 3-11 Innings.

Photo captions:

Billy Longfield, Manager Cleary's efficient secretary

CAPTAIN BILLY CHERRY, Who leads the Shamrocks in batting and in fielding.

HARRY EHLE. Crack infielder, who was out of the game this season owing to an attack of stomach trouble.

Tom Railing, Whirlwind Pitcher and Great Batter

Coming Shamrocks

M. J. Ceary, Jr. (Four years old)

"Cyclone" Aberta, Jr. (Two years old)

1897

1897 - Bitter Fight - Robison Park Diamond Stars at Sword Points - Shamrocks - Spy Runs - Rifles The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, September 20, 1897, Page 1.

BITTER FIGHT. The Robison Park Diamond Stars are at Swords Points.

There is a merry war on in the city and Robison park base ball league. The fact that there is bad blood came evident at the game at Robison park yesterday afternoon. The Shamrocks and the Rifles were scheduled to play a game in the regular championship series. The Shamrocks and the Spy Runs are the leaders in the league race and Robbins, the pitcher for the Spy Runs, has piloted that team to many victories, The Shamrocks are the Spy Run team's most bitter rivals, as they will be compelled to play off a tie for the city champi.n ship. To prevent the result of the final game between these two clubs cutting much of a figure in the race, the Spy Runs yesterday released Pitcher Robuins so that he could pitch for the Rifles against the Shamrocks. The Spy Run team also got on the coacher's line and all around the field so as to rattle the Shamrocks and make victory easy for the Rifles. This bitter fight availed them nothing, as the Shamrocks pounded Robbins hard, and the Rifles could do nothing with Quinn's benders. The score was 13 to 6 in favor of the Shamrocks. The hits were: Shamrocks, 12; Rifles, 6. It was a decided victory for Shamrocks, and displays the fact that nothing can rattle them.

The result of yesterday's game makes the standing of the Shamrocks and the Spy Runs the same with 7 games won and three games lost for each team in the championship race. The championship will be played off next Sunday, and it is supposed that Robbins and Quinn will be the opposing pitchers. The game will be the hottest contest ever witnessed in a city league race in Fort Wayne.

1900

1900 - The Shamrocks Record - Notes of the Game

Article from Aug 29, 1900 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1900, Fort wayne, Shamrock, Baseball

1900 - The Shamrocks Record - Notes of the Game The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Wednesday, August 29, 1900, Page 6.

THE SHAMROCK'S RECORD.

Up to date the Shamrocks have won sixteen out of twenty-seven games played. Following are the scores:

-Games Won.- -

Shamrocks, 5; Fort Wayne, 4: Ten innings.

Shamrocks, 19; South Wayne, 10.
Shamrocks, 7; Concordia College, 5.
Shamrocks, 6; Rochester, 0.
Shamrocks, 33; Fort Wayne Eagles, 7.
Shamrocks, 5; Richmond, 4.
Shamrocks, 10; Concordia College, 5.
Shamrocks, 10; Marion, 8.
Shamrocks, 13; Indianapolis Reserves, 6.
Shamrocks, 12; Muncie, 1.
Shamrocks, 6; Chicago Cranes, 3.
Shamrocks, 14; Defiance, 9.
Shamrocks, 10; Bremen, 0.
Shamrocks, 8; Bremen, 1.
Shamrocks, 3; Auburn, 1.
Shamrocks, 12; Cicero, 3.

Games. Lost.

South Bend Greens, 9;
Shamrocks, Indianapolis Reserves, 5;.
Shamrocks, 2. Richmond, 10;
Shamrocks, 0. Marion, 4;
Shamrocks, 0. Richmond, 5;
Shamrocks, 4. Chicago Unions, 11;
Shamrocks, 4. Marion, 12;
Shamrocks, 0. Cicero, 4;
Shamrocks, 2. Auburn, 4;
Shamrocks, 2. Celina, 3;
Shamrocks, 2. Marion, 5;
Shamrocks, 4. Ten innings.

The Shamrock team is recognized as one of the very best attractions in this part of the country and Manager Cleary is kept busy selecting dates so many requests come from amateur managers for games with the Shamrocks.

NOTES OF THE GAME.

President Strobel has signed pitcher named Ed B. McKenna.

"Doggie" Miller and his cripples will hie themselves to Marion tomorrow and may be joined there by Babb and Fricken.

Belden missed his first game of the season yesterday and now every member of the Fort Waynes has been out of one or more games.

Elmer Flick made two home runs yesterday, making his total for the season ten. He is certain now to lead the home-run hitters of the big league.

The Pittsburg Stars defeated the Blue Rocks by a score of 13 to 5. Batteries- Blue Rocks, W. Wilkinson, Bailey and Bailey; Stars, Ralph and O'Menley. The feature of the game was the playing of L. Marlitt on third base for the Blue Rocks.

Fort Wayne is now having more than its share of ill luck. Fricken and Kleinow are out of the game on account of sore hands and Babb has been confined to his home by illness. Now Belden meets with an accident and is unable to play. The team will be lucky, indeed, should it finish better than third.

The treatment received by the New Castle players at the hands of the wealthy directors is a disgrace to the national game and will tend to keep New Castle off the map hereafter. There is a wonderful difference between the sportsmanship of the Mansfield and New Castle directories. The Haymakers are treated as well as any team in the league, althought the backers of the club conintually lose money.

1902

1902 - Close Successful Season - Shamrocks Quit With A Fine Record - Won Twenty Games Lost 14

Article from Oct 25, 1902 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1902, Fort wayne, Shamrock, Baseball

1902 - Close Successful Season - Shamrocks Quit With A Fine Record - Won Twenty Games Lost 14 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, October 25, 1902, Page 11.

CLOSE SUCCESSFUL SEASON

SHAMROCKS QUIT WITH A FINE RECORD.

Won Twenty Games and Lost Fourteen During the Season- -Robbins' Excellent Record.

The Shamrocks have just closed the season with one of the best records ever made by a semi-professional team and have fully justified the belief of their admirers that no faster team can be found outside of league ranks. Every member of the team is a Fort Wayne boy, and what is more unusual in a semi-profossional team, not one of the players is on salary, all of them being employed in different trades and playing more for love of the game than anything else.

The Shamrocks opened, the season the first Sunday in May and closed October 12. Thirty-four games were played, of which the Shamrocks won twenty and lost fourteen. Twenty-one games were played away from home. Of the Shamrock pitchers, Robbins was the hardest worked, pitching twenty-three games out of the thirty-four. He won sixteen and lost seven; Erkson won three and lost four, Stout won one and lost two and Fisher lost one. Tieman: caught thirty-three games and Smith one.

OCR did not capture the statistics

LEAGUE BALL A CERTAINTY

CIRCUIT WILL BE ORGANIZED THIS FALL.

Old Interstate Towns and Evansville and Terre Haute, of the Three I, to Be Included.

That there is a movement on to organize the old Interstate league is becoming more evident as the winter approaches, and by the time the robins nest again Fort Wayne will have a professional base ball team in one of the minor leagues of the country. The magnates who are backing the proposed league are not saying much, but they are sawing wood, and correspondence has been opened with baseball men in the old Interstate towns with a view of getting a clear idea of the situation.

Manager Mautner is not inclined to say much about the new league, but does not deny that there is "something doing." It is known that President Sexton, of the Three I'd league, has written the backers of the proposed league, stating that they are welcome to include Evansville and Terre Haute in the circuit, as these towns are somewhat out of the way and can be spared. Other cities who are willing to enter the circuit are Dayton, Mansfield and Youngstown, Ohio; Wheeling, W. Va.; Fort. Wayne, Marion and South Bend, Ind., and Grand Rapids, Mich.

A fact that gives strength to the belief that there is some league plan afoot is that League park is being put into good shape. The fences and grand stand are being repaired and the grounds are being improved.

1907

1907 - Shamrocks Close With Excellent Record - Played to Big Crowds Beat Best Semi-Professionals

Article from Oct 22, 1907 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1907, Fort wayne, Shamrock, Baseball

1907 - Shamrocks Close With Excellent Record - Played to Big Crowds Beat Best Semi-Professionals The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tuesday, October 22, 1907, Page 7.

SHAMROCKS CLOSE WITH EXCELLENT RECORD FOR 1907

Played to Big Crowds and Beat Best Semi-Professional Clubs.

To take a lot of young fellows who work day in and day out play base ball only on Sunday, and have them win twenty five out of thirtythree games in a season is a remarkable feat, especially so when coupled with the fact that the very best professional and semi-professional inde pendent teams were sought after and only those booked that had the reputation of putting up high class base.

This is the record of the Shamrocks for the season of 1907 and the credit belongs to no particular member of the team as every man was heart and soul in the work and all went out to win and none said die unti1 the last man was down in the closing inning. Aside from being a base ball team the Shamrock organization social in its nature and good fellowship and the utmost friendliness characterizes the entire membership.

A remarkable feature of the season just closed is that not a scheduled game was declared off on account of the weather conditions and rain only interferred slightly on two or three occasions. The utmost good order has been maintained at the park, the comfort of the patrons has been a first consideration and every effort directed toward giving the people, the best article of ball obtainable. In the closing games of the season the club went against a lot of professionals who have made names for themselves in organized ball, but they all looked alike and nine straight wins against the strongest teams of the season was the record for wind-up. In most of these games the locals played under handicaps as they invariably got away behind and had to work hard and make some nose finishes to get the smoked side meat.

Manager Mart Cleary is a base ball crank right. He don't care so much about making money out of the game as he does about seeing good play, and this has been his slogan ever since he entered base ball ten years ago. It is his side line and he gets his summer pleasure watching the games and his winter amusement talking about them. Billy Cherry led the league and the following averages and statistics have been compiled from the records, which include everything but the actual paid attendance. This has not been compiled, but the club played to approximately 75,000 people, including the live ones and those that went in on passes.

OCR did not accurately grab statistics so look at newspaper for details.

1912

1912 - Mart Cleary and Shamrocks Will Be Hosts of Local Youngsters To-Day

Article from Sep 2, 1912 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1912, Shamrock, Baseball, Fort wayne

1912 - Mart Cleary and Shamrocks Will Be Hosts of Local Youngsters To-Day The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, September 2, 1912, Page 6.

MART CLEARY AND SHAMROCKS WILL BE HOSTS OF LOCAL YOUNGSTERS TO-DAY

The regular annual frolic of Fort Wayne youngsters will be on this afternoon at the local League park when Mart Cleary and the Fort Wayne Shamrocks will be hosts to the lads. All boys of 16 years and under will be admitted to the game free. The Columbia City Trolley leaguers will be the attraction on this occasion. Columbia City, like the Shamrocks, is well up in the Trolley league standings and hopes to finish a winner. A victory for the nearby aggregation to-day over the Shamrocks would help a lot and the visitors are out to turn the trick if there is a possible chance.

With the Columbia City crowd are Reig and Wambsganas, two well-known local products. Reig has twirled excellent ball since his start in the Trolley league and his work has had a lot to do with the success of the visiting club. Wambsganas at short vies with Strawbridge, of the Shamrocks, for the honor of being the best shortstop in the league. He is extremely fast and is a good-sized lad, who can wield the bat. Like Strawbridge, he is due for a chance at professional baseball next spring and several Central league clubs are said to be looking him over. Dinkmeyer another Fort Wayne boy is a member of the Columbia City club.

To-day will be a four big one in Trolley leagure circles, with four contests scheduled for this afternoon. In addition to the local contest, the following games are also on for to-day: Huntington at Auburn, Garrett and Antwerp and Paulding at Hicksville.

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