 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
 |
|
|
"The best way to research the Providence Grays is by reading the original accounts in the 1884 Providence Journal. Their sportswriter is never named, but he was very entertaining. I also found obituaries in a variety of local papers (see below). A series of articles by Frederick Ivor-Campbell are the best historical pieces on the Grays. I also got good leads from conversations with local baseball historians Richard Testa and Rick Harris. There are undoubtedly many other sources to examine: the hometown papers of the Grays' opponents; the files at the Hall of Fame library in Cooperstown; out-of-town obituaries; and the hundreds of general books and articles on nineteenth century baseball history. It would not be too hard to track down some living descendants of the players who might have family traditions or memorabilia to share." Rick Stattler - Grays Historian
Reference sources: The Baseball Encyclopedia, Joseph L. Reichler, ed. (New York: MacMillan, 1988) Baseball's Book of Firsts, by Lloyd Johnson (Philadelphia: Courage Books, 1999) Baseball's Radical for All Seasons: A Biography of John Montgomery Ward, by David Stevens (Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 1998) Before The Curse, by Troy Soos (Hyannis: Parnassus Imprints, 1997) The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, by Bill James (New York: Villard, 1988) Diamonds The Evolution Of The Ballpark, by Michael Gershman (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993)
Articles: "Extraordinary 1884", Frederick Ivor-Campbell, The National Pastime #13 (1993). "John H. Gaffney", "William H. McLean", Larry R. Gerlach, Baseball's First Stars (Cleveland: Society for American Baseball Research, 1996). "McLean Disgraced", Sporting Life circa May 4, 1884. "Sweeney's Whiff Feat of 1884 Rates No. 1", Frederick Ivor-Campbell, Baseball Research Journal #14 (1985). "The Radbourn and Sweeney Saga", Jack Harshman, Baseball Research Journal #19 (1990). Boston Herald, May 2, 14, 19, June 11, July 20, August 10, 13, 1884. Boston Morning Journal, July 3, 21, 24, August 2, 15, September 20, 29, 1884. Boston Sunday Courier, April 27, May 4, 11, June 8, 22, July 6, August 10, September 7, 14, 1884. Chicago Tribune, August 24, September 28, 1884. Clinton Courant, August 17, 1878; April 19, May 8, 1879. Fall River Daily Evening Herald, September 1, 1884. Fall River Daily Evening News, July 17, 22, August 18, 21, 26, September 4, 5, 8, 27, 1884. Nineteenth Century Stars, published by the Society for American Baseball Research, 1989. Includes articles on Denny, Ferguson, Hines, Irwin, Start, and Sweeney, mostly written by Frederick Ivor-Campbell. Providence Journal, September 27, 1882; June 29, August 22, August 25, September 26, October 22, 1884; May 12, June 12, June 17, July 19, December 13, 1885; May 16, August 22, 1886. Providence Morning Star, June 29, July 9, 1884; August 16, 1885. Worcester Evening Gazette, April 12, 25, May 2, 16, June 4, August 8, 11, 1884.
Obituaries: "John L. Cattanach Dead at Age of 63", Providence Journal, November 11, 1926. "Arthur Irwin, Ill, Is Probable Suicide", Providence Journal, July 17, 1921. "Joe Start, Famous Baseball Player, Dead", Providence Journal, March 28, 1927. "Charles E. Bassett Dies at Hospital", Pawtucket Times, May 28, 1942. "Farrell, Member of 1884 Providence Team, Is Dead", Journal, February 11, 1914. "Former Providence Grays Catcher Dead at Lynn", Journal, April 3, 1934. Obituary of Ed Conley in the Woonsocket Evening Call, October 17, 1894. Obituary of Ferguson G. Malone in the Phiadelphia Record, January 19, 1905.
General Rhode Island records: City directories for Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston and Warwick Rhode Island vital records, 1853-1900 Providence vital records, 1900-1930 1900 U.S. Census, Warwick, E.D. 196, (Joe Start's hotel)
Researched by: Rick Stattler, June 1997 |
|