Mr. A. G. Spalding set out to spread the word about America’s favorite pastime in 1898-1899 when he organized the Baseball World Tour. The result was a historical milestone for the sport on which the trip brought the game of baseball which began in November, 1888, and ended in March, 1889. The tour went through Americas small and large towns and eventually found its way overseas to New Zealand, Australia, Egypt, Europe and even Arabia.
An excerpt from the Melbourne Sporteman said:
“The best evidence offered that Melbournites were pleased and interested in the exhibition lies in the fact that the crowd of nearly ten thousand people remained through not only nine but twelve innings of play, and then many of them stayed to see a four inning game between the Chicago team and a nine composed mainly of our local cricket players, who made a very creditable show, considering the strength of the team they were playing against, and the fact that they were almost utter strangers to baseball. Not only did the spectators remain upon the ground but they heartily applauded the heavy batting, the base running and base sliding and the brilliant fielding executed by our Yankee visitors. Perhaps the truest realization of just how difficult it is to play a finished game of base ball was obtained by the cricketers who went in against the Chicagos. A man may be able to guard a wicket with a degree of skill that would win him wide fame in cricket circles, but when it comes to standing beside the home plate of a baseball diamond, and mastering the terrific delivery of an American professional pitcher, the average cricketer is compelled to acknowledge the wide difference existing between the two positions. Then again, the quick handling of a batted or thrown ball, that it may be returned with all accuracy and lightning like rapidity to the waiting basemen are points which our cricketers are deficient in, when compared with the American professional ball player. It can be seen at a glance that the game is prolific of opportunities for quick and brilliant fielding.”
DOMESTIC TOUR
- Chicago, IL -October 20 1889—Chicago 11, All America 6, Attendance 3,000
- St. Paul, MN
October, 21 1888—Chicago 9, All America 3, Attendance 1,500
October 21, 1888—St. Paul 8, Chicago 5, Attendance 2,500 - Minneapolis, MN
October 22, 1888—All America 6, Chicago 3, Attendance 1,500
October 22, 1889—Chicago 1, St. Paul 0, Attendance 2,000 - Cedar Rapids, IA
October 23, 1888—Chicago 6, All America 5, Attendance 4,500 - Des Moines, IA
October 24, 1888—All America 3, Chicago 2, Attendance 2,000 - Omaha, NE
October 25, 1888—All America 12, Chicago 2, Attendance 1,500 - Hastings, NE
October 26, 1888—Chicago 8, All America 4, Attendance 3,500 - Denver, CO
October 27, 1888—Chicago 16, All America 12, Attendance 6,000 - Colorado Springs, CO
October 29, 1888—Chicago 13, All America 9, Attendance 1,200 - Salt Lake City, UT
October 31, 1888—All America 9, Chicago 3 (4 innings), Attendance 1,200
November 1, 1888—All America 10, Chicago 3, Attendance 2,000 - San Francisco, CA
November 4, 1888—All America 14, Chicago 4, Attendance 10,500
November 6, 1888—Greenwood and Moran 12, All America 6, Attendance 3,000
November 8, 1888—Pioneer 9, All America 4, Attendance 4,000 - Stockton, CA
November 8, 1888—Chicago 2, Stockton 2 (Nine Innings), Attendance 4,000 - San Francisco, CA
November 9, 1888—All America 16, Stockton 1, Attendance Unknown
November 10 1888—Chicago 6, Haverly 1, Attendance 3,000
November 11, 1888—All America 9, Chicago 6, Attendance 6,000 - Los Angeles, CA1
November 14, 1888—Chicago 5, All America 0
November 15, 1888—All America 7, Chicago 4
International Tour
- San Aukland, Australia
December 10, 1888—Chicago 22, All America 13, Attendance 4,500 - Sydney, Australia
December 15, 1888—All America 5, Chicago 4, Attendance 5,500
December 17, 1888—All America 7, Chicago 5, Attendance 3,000
December 18, 1888—All America 6, Chicago 2, Attendance 2,500 - Melbourne, Australia
December 22, 1888—Chicago 5, All America 3, Attendance 10,000
December 24, 1888—All America 15, Chicago 13, Attendance 6,000 - Adelaide, Australia
December 26, 1888—All America 19, Chicago 14, Attendance 2,000
December 27, 1888—Chicago 12, All America 9, Attendance 2,200
December 28, 1888—Chicago 11, All America 4, Attendance, 2,000 - Ballarat, Australia
December 29, 1888—All America 11, Chicago 7, Attendance 4,500 - Melbourne, Australia
January 1, 1889—Chicago 14, All America 7, Attendance 2,500
January 5, 1889—Chicago 5, All America 0, Attendance 11,000 - Colombo, Ceylon
January 26, 1889—All America 3, Chicago 3 (Five Innings), Attendance 4,000 - Ghiz eh, Cairo, Egypt
February 9, 1889—All America 9, Chicago 6, Attendance 1,200 - Naples, Italy
February 19, 1889—All America 8, Chicago 2, Attendance (Five Innings), Attendance 3,000 - Rome, Italy
February 23, 1889—Chicago 3, All America 2 (Seven Innings), Attendance 4,000 - Florence, Italy
25 February 1889—All America 7, Chicago 4, Attendance 2,000 - Paris, France
8 March 1889—All America 6, Chicago 2 (Seven Innings), 4,000
