It was 150 years ago today that 100 year old Queen/Rutgers College played its first intercollegiate game. On May 5, 1866 Rutgers took only eight players to Princeton, flipped a coin and batted second, and then lost 40-2. Because pitching was underhand the batter could call for where he wanted his pitch. Baseball was an offensive game when it started. So Princeton scoring 40 wasn't unusual... but Rutgers only getting two was.
Rutgers challenged Princeton for another game a week later but Princeton said they had to study for Greek Examinations. Rutgers played class games and also played on local New Brunswick teams, mostly the Star Base Ball Club of New Brunswick, during the 1860s. This was their only intercollegiate baseball game of the decade.
Their next intercollegiate competition was the historic November 6, 1869 football game with Princeton in New Brunswick. Their third intercollegiate competition occurred at the end of that school year on June 20, 1870 when Harvard’s Lawrence Scientific School rowed against the Rutgers Crew on the Raritan River. The first track meet wasn't far behind after that.
In the fall of 1870, the Rutgers Base Ball Club formed and they have played at least one game every year since.
Happy 150th Birthday to Rutgers and Intercollegiate Sports.
Rutgers challenged Princeton for another game a week later but Princeton said they had to study for Greek Examinations. Rutgers played class games and also played on local New Brunswick teams, mostly the Star Base Ball Club of New Brunswick, during the 1860s. This was their only intercollegiate baseball game of the decade.
Their next intercollegiate competition was the historic November 6, 1869 football game with Princeton in New Brunswick. Their third intercollegiate competition occurred at the end of that school year on June 20, 1870 when Harvard’s Lawrence Scientific School rowed against the Rutgers Crew on the Raritan River. The first track meet wasn't far behind after that.
In the fall of 1870, the Rutgers Base Ball Club formed and they have played at least one game every year since.
Happy 150th Birthday to Rutgers and Intercollegiate Sports.
