1910 West Baden Sprudels

A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1910 West Baden Sprudels

1910 West Baden Sprudels

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

April 10, 1910

West Baden, IN
"Sprudels Take One From the Plutos - It was One-sided Game in Every Way. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana, April 15. - The West Baden Sprudels beat the French Lick Plutos Sunday, April 10, in a one-sided game, 12 to 2. The Plutos scored their only runs in the first inning, and throughout the other eight innings it was what might be called 'candy.' The Plutos can be excused on account of not having their full line-up, but it was clearly showed that the Plutos cannot compete with West Baden unless they have quite a change in their line-up. Charley Taylor, the well-known manager of the Birmingham Giants, is captain-manager of the Sprudels, and has most of his old boys with him. Manager Taylor says that his team will compete with any colored team in the country, barring none. Among those with the team are: Moore, Brown and Bingham, in the old field, the best in the country as a trio, Lewis, Taylor, Wiley and Houston (reading from first to third) can't be beat in the infield. You all have heard about Steel-Arm Johnnie. Well, his brother is among those who will toss the leather. 'Nuff said,' The West Baden Sprudels only ask the public to watch the Freeman to find who the 1910 champions are. The Sprudels will deliver the goods, while Ed Rogers, the Freeman representative, will let the publi know who the real champions are. Messrs. Rogers, Burnett and Pollard are proud of their team, and will be glad to hear from the Louisville Cubs, A.B.C.s and Leland Giants, and all southern teams, who think they are colored pennant winners. Edward H. Rogers."

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 13, French Lick 2."

April 11, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 3, French Lick 5."

April 13, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 10, French Lick 12."

April 14, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 7, French Lick 3."

April 15, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 12, French Lick 1."

April 17, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 10, French Lick 0."

April 21, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 7, French Lick 7."

April 28, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 4, French Lick 1."

April 29, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 12, French Lick 1."

April 30, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 4, French Lick 8."

May 4, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 10, French Lick 5."

May 5, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 8, French Lick 4."

May 6, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 6, French Lick 11."

May 8, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 12, French Lick 8."

May 9, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 6, French Lick 1."

May 13, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 6, French Lick 1."

May 14, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 8, French Lick 6."

May 22, 1910

French Lick, IN
"Plutos Defeat Sprudels. - French Lick, Indiana. - May 23. - The Plutos again defeated the Sprudels today, 2 to 1, in a game full of thrilling plays. The Plutos got eight hits, while Williams held the Sprudels to three. The feature of the game was a home run by Woods. Batteries were Williams and Watts for Plutos and Taylor and Wiley for Sprudels."

April 16, 1910

Mobile, AL
"I am informed that C.I. Taylor has gone to West Baden with his bunch of Birmingham Giants. I wish him much success, as the Birmingham Giants had the call in Mobile last season."

"Championship Race to be Hot. - Teams All Over the Country Will Fight for it. - Perhaps the most talked about event in baseball that is to happen this season will be the try-out for the world's colored championship by the most prominent colored baseball clubs in the country. It is expected that the world's series will begin immediately after the closing games of the various leagues throughout the United States. There is a longer list of teams of standing which will compete for the pennant than last year, and every one of them is working hard to get into the championship ranks, so that they might be given a chance at winning the flag. So far the list is quite limited as to the teams that will compete for the supremacy mark. It includes Leland's Chicago Giants, Leland Giants, Cuban Giants, St. Louis Giants, Birmingham, Alabama Giants, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Giants, Royal Giants of Brooklyn, New York, Kansas City Kansas Giants, Kansas City, Missouri Royal Giants, Louisville Cubs, St. Paul Gophers, and Minneapolis Keystones. - Should Award a Cup. - The Freeman is of the opinion that the various managers should get together and make the contest the more interesting by appropriating a certain amount to use for prizes. A loving cup of real silver should serve as the price to be won by the club winning the world's championship. It is also slated that these games are to be played in Chicago this year, where baseball is being richly supported each year, although much talk is going the rounds concerning the idea of holding the battles in New York."

April 28, 1910

West Baden, IN
"Taylor Heads West Baden Sprudels. - Former Manager of Birmingham, Alabama Giants in Indiana. - West Baden, Indiana, April 28. C.J. Taylor of the famous Taylor brothers of baseball fame and former manager of the Birmingham, Alabama Giants, has taken charge of the West Baden Sprudels for the season and the former members of the Alabama team are with him. His team has already played six games with the French Lick Plutos, winning four and losing two games. The Freeman is truly the greatest friend the Negro baseball player has, said Mr. Taylor, and believe me, we appreciate it a great deal more than you really believe and yet not as much as we ought to. Everybody here and also at French Lick speaks in praise of your great edition of April 16. It was grand."

May 8, 1910

Louisville, KY
"West Baden Sprudels play at Spring Bank Park, Louisville, Kentucky."

May 9, 1910

Louisville, KY
"West Baden Sprudels play at Spring Bank Park, Louisville, Kentucky."

May 10, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden Sprudels Win From Vincennes. - The West Baden Sprudels beat the Vincennes club, May 10 and 11, 7 to 1 and 10 to 5. The Vincennes are the champions of the Kitty League, and played some fast ball, but the Sprudels just out-played them. The Sprudels have not lost a series of games this season, and are very anxious to meet some of the best teams, so they may be able to show the public that they are the best in the West. Captain-Manager C.I. Taylor says they cannot show their superiority by beating French Lick, but will show it when he has an opportunity to meet some of the so-called champions from Chicago, Kansas City, and Brooklyn. The owners of the Sprudels, Messrs. Burnett, Pollard and Rogers, want to thank Sam Dickson (Little Sam), Will Perry (Blunt), Will Hill, John Marshall, Dudley Sehree, and others for their excellent rooting. Come around, boys, Sunday, and get a pass."

May 14, 1910

Indianapolis, IN
"West Baden Sprudels' Record Up to Date. - Below we give the record of the batting average of each player in the West Baden Sprudels Club."

May 19, 1910

West Baden, IN
"The first game went in the Cubians favor 3 to 0."

May 20, 1910

West Baden, IN
"West Baden 2, Cubian Giants 1."

May 21, 1910

West Baden, IN
"Cubian Giants Lose to the Sprudels. - Special to the Freeman. - West Baden, Indiana - The West Baden Sprudels beat the Cubian Giants May 19, 20, and 21, two games out of a three-game series, 2 to 1 and 9 to 8. The first game went in the Cubians favor 3 to 0. The three games were never decided until the last man was out, the last going ten innings. Ben Taylor and Morton Clark were on the slab for the Sprudels and were effective at all times. Manager Bright, of the Cubians, liked Taylor and Clark so well that he offered them a big salary to come with him, but Taylor and Clark say they know which side their bread is buttered on. Bright also wanted to take Brown, the well-liked center fielder of the Sprudels. The so-called champions are beginning to realize that the Sprudel stockholders know good ball players when they see them, and there has been any number of them made special trips to West Baden in order to try to entice some of the Sprudels with them. Rube Foster secured Daugherty from the Sprudels and other managers think they can do the same this year, but ball players want to be protected, and West Baden is the town that protects their players and also gives them what they promise; also they have the benefit of the waters and the board can not be beat. The players also know they have a season's work and no danger of being sent away at any time until the season is over. Messrs. Burnett, Pollard and Rogers extend an invitation to all managers if they can take a man from under the management of our worthy and old reliable C.I. Taylor."

June 2, 1910

West Baden, IN
"In the Field of Sport. - by Harld C. McGath. - West Baden Sprudels Win from Louisville Cubs. - The West Baden Sprudels beat the Louisville Cubs June 2 and 3 in two of the fastest games seen at West Baden Ball Park this season. The Cubs had their usual lineup the first day, with Martin in the box for the first five innings, and Prim as receiver. But Martin went up in the fifth and little Griffin attempted to take his place, but showed up a shade worse. Clark, who is fast showing the public that he is the best ball player that ever donned a Sprudel suit, went in for the Sprudels and had the Cubs at his mercy at all times, having struck out 14 men and kept the few hits received by the Cubs well scattered. Big Hank Wiley did the receiveing for the Sprudels and is fast coming back to himself. Wiley has been suffering from rheumatism for the past few months and at times thought he would have to give up playing, but he knocked the last bit of rheumatism out by putting the ball over the canvas in the sixth for a home run."

June 3, 1910

West Baden, IN
"The second game was a hard battle, with Ben Taylor in for the Sprudels and West for the Cubs. West was effective at times, but Taylor held the boys spellbound, only allowing four scattered hits. The feature of the second game was a beautiful catch by Brown, the Sprudels' center fielder, while Bingham easily led with the stick work."

June 5, 1910

French Lick, IN
"West Baden and the Plutos played a fast and interesting game Sunday, which ended in one of the prettiest plays seen on the Plutos' diamond. In the ninth inning Kinsie knocked a long fly to right field, which caught Bingham playing close to center. Bingham started for the ball at top speed and it seemed utterly impossible ot get it, but he made a phenomenal one-handed catch out of it about two feet inside the foul line, which caught Dan near home and the big French Lick catcher near third. Bingle slammed it to first and Lewis sent her to Clark at second, which completed one of the prettiest triple plays ever seen on a baseball diamond. Stanford was in for the Sprudels and only allowed the Plutos five hits, three being in the second inning."

"Nick-Nacks of the Game - Houston is some hard ball player and always in the game. - C.I. Taylor made a home run, and we are told he made a double there. Jerome Lewis is back in the game again and better than ever. - Bingham is going some with the stick. - Ben Taylor is leading with a batting average of .417. - Moore, Brown and Bingham are batting .300. I guess Sam Wiley ain't a third sacker. What? Clark is captain during C.I.'s absence and controls the boys nicely."

June 20, 1910

West Baden, IN
"The Lelands leave Sunday night for West Baden where they play on the 20th, 21st and 22nd."

West Baden, IN
"Between the Giants. - Leland Giants Win from Sprudels - The Same Score, 4 to 2, for Both Days. - Special to the Freeman. - The West Baden Sprudels and the famous Leland Giants crossed bats June 20, 22 and 23. The Sprudels showed a record of winning 36 out of 48 games, and also a record of not losing a game for 20 straight. The Lelands had not lost but two games out of the last 38 games. Therefore it made the series very interesting, as the Sprudels had beaten the Louisville Cubs, Memphis Tigers, Cuban Giants, Evansville Athletics and Vincennes of the Kitty League, not allowing either team to win a game. The Sprudels had also beaten French Lick and other semi-professionals who are claiming the championship of the Middle West, as the Memphis Tigers. The Sprudels are not claiming any championship, but have proved what they are by beating every team played, barring the Lelands. And our old master, Rube Foster, said the series of games he won from the Sprudels was certainly the hardest he had won this season. The first game was fast and looked in favor of the Sprudels time and again. Pete Hill and Hutchinson, it can be well said, won the game for the Giants by knocking the ball over the centerfield fence for homers right in the time of need. Sam Wiley, the big third baseman for the Sprudels, also lifted one of Foster's drops over centerfield fence, which the Baden fans greeted with Thank You! Clark did the twirling for the Sprudels and had the Giants guessing all through the contest. Foster, the old reliable, was in for the Giants and gained quite a lot of favor from the fans with his funny sayings and underhand ball."

June 21, 1910

West Baden, IN
"The Lelands leave Sunday night for West Baden where they play on the 20th, 21st and 22nd."

West Baden, IN
"Second Game. - The second game was something of a pitchers' battle and went thirteen innings in favor of the Giants. It was one of the hardest contests seen on the Sprudels' diamond since Foster and his men were in Baden a year previous, when twelve innings were played without either side scoring. It was when Dougherty made his hit with Rube and also when Rube outbid the Sprudels for the big left-hander. The Sprudels had one in just as good and showed Foster that there were other left-handers that could puzzle them as well as Dougherty. Ben Taylor was the contestant, and only liked one thing to have beaten the champions, and that was Pierce, the old 1909 catcher. Taylor held the champions all through the contest as though they were the Plutos, and would have won his game only for a costly error by the Sprudels favorite sticker, Eugene Moore. In the thirteenth inning, with two men on base. Strother went in to bat for Pryor and knocked a line drive straight to Moore, who misjudged it and allowed it to go over his head, scoring the two winning runs. Wickware was in for the Lelands and acknowledged he had not pitched as hard this season. Petway showed some class in all three games and is undoubtedly the best colored catcher in the business."

June 22, 1910

West Baden, IN
"The Lelands leave Sunday night for West Baden where they play on the 20th, 21st and 22nd."

July 3, 1910

Louisville, KY
"Baseball at Louisville. - By Jesse Palmer. - The West Badens and Louisville Cubs met for the third series of games at Spring Bank Park Sunday, July 3, the Cubs defeating Taylor's aggregation in one of the best played games of the season, despite the heavy hitting of the West Badens. It was really pitchers' battle, with honors about even. The feature of Sunday's game was the fielding of Emory, Rogers, Wallace and Watson for the Cubs and Taylor and Hueston did the best work for West Baden."

"Notes - Emory certainly played some first Sunday. Booker, the old reliable first sacker, came over and went to his old place at first. - Old Nat Rogers is fielding at short in great form. Get your eye on the ball, old fellow. - Captain Griffin was all smiles after Sunday's game, as the Cubs won from the West Badens in a Garrison finish. - Watson, the third sacker, is going at some rapid pace with his fielding and batting, as well. He is hitting at a fair clip at present. - The boys from West Baden can certainly play the game, and under the leadership of Captain Taylor the club that bests them must play some ball. - Benton should have won his game. Say boys, play ball. A hint to the wise is sufficient. We are still with you, Benton, old fellow. Better luck next time. - Haywood Rose, backstop king, was of the Johnnie Kling order. Not one man stole a base. Only one attempt was made and he got his. Let the good work go on. - Wallace's playing at second was nothing short of marvelous. Wallace is one of the fastest second sackers in the country. He is a consistent hitter and good on the bases. Hats off to you, Kiddo; you deserved to win. West had perfect control Sunday and that low ball broke nicely, in fact, it was really the best West had twirled this season."

July 4, 1910

Louisville, KY
"July 4 the best the Cubs could get was a ten-inning tie in a very loosely played game. Benton was on the slab for the Cubs and should have won his game. Not an earned run was made by either team. In the afternoon about 100 14th degree fans braved the rainy weather to hear the Johnson-Jeffries returns. In the fifth inning Captain Taylor played the baby act to perfection and called his men off the field. Captain Taylor doesn't do baseball any good by such conduct."

July 9, 1910

Indianapolis, IN
"Sprudels Win One, Lose One. - Both Teams Even Up Things in Indianapolis. - The visit of the Sprudels to this city last Saturday and Sunday to play the Indianapolis A.B.C. Club a couple of games resulted in the visitors taking the first game by a score of 18 to 5 and the A.B.C.s winning the second game by a score of 5 to 1. Both games were well played, but the Sprudels simply ran away from the home boys in the Saturday game, despite the efforts of the A.B.C.s."

July 10, 1910

Indianapolis, IN
"It can be said that both teams played great ball Sunday from a scientific standpoint, although the A.B.C.s seemed to show a shade the better so far as condition went. Captain C.I. Taylor of the West Baden boys showed keen insight and natural ability as a ball player of long years' experience in generaling his men. The spectators could not help but admire such a skillful battery as Taylor and Houston of the Sprudels show themselves to be."

July 17, 1910

Chicago, IL
"Lelands Whip Sprudels. - Role up Score of 9 to 0 - Great Crowd Present. - Otis Burnett, of West Baden, Indiana, came to the city Sunday with the West Baden Sprudels, to play against the Leland Giants. Much to the credit of the visitors, they put up a fine game. The first six innings were as finely played as any team the champions have gone up against. The Sprudels were in excellent trim, and their good playing elicited a great deal of rooting from the fans. Taylor, the pitcher for the Sprudels, could not deliver the goods, while Dougherty of the Lelands, was there. Taylor struck out two men, while Dougherty struck out nine men. Every man on the Leland Giants team made a hit except Pryor, and Hill and Payne made three base hits. One of the largest crowds of the season attended the game."

July 18, 1910

Chicago, IL
"Stars Take First Game. - Cubans Pile Up Early Lead and Defeat Sprudels, 8 to 1. - The Stars of Cuba won the first game of their series with the West Baden Sprudels Monday, at Gunther Park, by the score of 8 to 1. Williams pitching in the first two innings giving the islanders too much of a lead for the Sprudels to overcome."

July 23, 1910

Chicago, IL
"On Monday of this week the Chicago Baseball League passed a rule barring games between its members and all visiting colored ball clubs from now on, the rule being made to include the Cuban clubs that have been playing around the circuit the past two years. The rule will work very badly against the Stars of Cuba, who figured on playing on the Chicago League Circuit after the Cuban Stars left the city. This action means that the Chicago Leaguers will not play visiting colored teams any more in the future."

July 30, 1910

West Baden, IN
"Clark, the West Baden short stop, is a very clever player even though he does wear glasses."

July 31, 1910

Chicago, IL
"West Baden Sprudels and Union Giants at our (Leland Giants) Park."

Chicago, IL
"The West Baden Sprudels left the city very suddenly last week. They went up against several clubs, and made it pretty warm for their opposers."