EP Rankin to James Hugh Moffatt

Shawano, Wis. 1-21-1901

Mr. J.H. Muffat

My dear Sir. Your letter misdirected to me at [Sterns Pt ?]was forwarded + is just at hand.

Am sorry that I cannot furnish photos of the varsity B.B. teams. for wh. you ask, for '63 -- '68. What I have, that may be of use to you, I forward. [underlined: Please carefully preserve, and return.]

My autograph album has this record. - June 1, 1864. "Dear Rankin - "One by one it became my painful duty to bid farewell, in writing, to the members of the 1st nine. How shall I forget the glorious times we have had, and the tremendous fly catch, which was so universally admired and cheered on the Atlantic ground, will ever be fresh in my memory

Ever think with charity and kindness of your friend an[d] soon to be [underlined: ex-captain], Henry C. Millspaugh. of Newburgh, N.Y. Millspaugh was [underlined:captain] when he graduated in '64. And my recollection is that he had been captain from the time that I entered as a sophomore in '62. It seems to me too that that was about the beginning of Base Ball organization in the college. I send you

a [underlined: photograph] of [underlined: Millspaugh] -- I succeeded him as captain and continued so for 3 years, during part of my course in the Theo. Seminary at Princeton.

In those days, an underhand pitch was the only allowable delivery - no throw or jerk permitted. Violation of this rule gave the striker his base. Also, the ball caught on the first bound, as well as on the fly, put the striker out.

In that series of games in New York, in 1864, which first brought us fame, the "star" club over which we gained our 3rd successive victory of the series, was the only one that played the fly game. On that trip we played on Monday a team whose name I forget. On Tuesday we won against a first-class team - the Columbia's. The game had a sensational finish - eleven to five against us when we went to our last innings, it closed twelve to eleven. These N.Y. players were mostly brawny young fellows from factory or mill. They looked on us as boys and were chagrined at defeat. That night as we were taking in the Minstrels, a gentleman, from the seats behind, said - "Are you the fellows that beat the Columbia's today? You are getting up a name." Next day, the "Stars" who ranked with the Columbia's, undertook the honors of the city - but was handily beaten at their own "fly" game; their last man flying out to tutor Mudge who played our left field. Thursday we had the game with the champion, "Atlantics". Pete O'Brien and Start being of their nine - They won by a score of 18 to 15, but they had against us, as[umpire, the captain of the defeated and disgruntled Columbia's of the Tuesday before. In presence of a crowd estimated to be 10,000.

On the 4th July, 1865, on the Elysian Fields, Brooklyn, we defeated the "Mutuals" of that city - who rivalled the Atlantics for the country's Championship -- we also the same season played the Athletics of Philadelphia. Al Beach - Captain - losing by one run, and winning next day from the "Olympics". (over)

As I remember, professionalism in Base Ball had not yet begun - these men of the N.J. and Philadelphia clubs, had regular work and occupation and did not depend on playing for a living. [underlined: Besides my own photo - I send] you three of [underlined: W.H. Wickham], class of '66, Catcher and Ed. Condit of 66, 1st base - who excelled, in their positions, all that we encountered. And our pitcher - Henry of '66 - (I think a promiment physician + surgeon of Philadelphia) was the master pitcher of those days. These belonged to the time of 64-65, + 65-66, I do not have his picture.

[underlined: I send also a photo] of the College Cricket eleven of '65 - myself as Captain on the right, Wickham next to me, the names of the others I cannot recall.

Also a photo of the class nine of 1872 - with [Albin Milher ?] (druggist now of St. Louis) Captain, on the right. He also for two years previous was pitcher of the University nine.

I enclose badges of Atlantic's of N.J. Athletics of PhilaNassau+ Yale -- Perhaps you would be interested to see them + can make some use of them in your book. [underlined: Please preserve] them with care and [underlined: return to me]. In '67, the first intercollegiate games were played. Our nine, myself Captain, made a trip to Williams, Harvard + Yale, playing in the order named, having the last two games by scores of one + three runs respectively - If I can be of any further help, command me

Sincerely yours, E.P Rankin, Class of '65, F.A.W.S