As a preliminary to the 1897-98 football season, Leicester Fosse staged a baseball game between Derby County and Crystal Palace, the first exhibition of the sport in Leicester, and a 100 yard handicap race for professional footballers. The event was the brainchild of Mr W D Clark who had recently left Derby, the home of English baseball, to become the new Fosse secretary. The proceedings began an hour late at about half-past three. Derby had arrived without three of their best players, the most conspicuous absentees being the famous footballers – Steve Bloomer {Derby County] and Dennis Allsopp [Nottingham Forest], while pitcher Ehcidenbach, and catcher Beresford, were rested for the final of the National Baseball Cup against Middlesbrough, to be played the following weekend. Crystal Palace were also without a prominent player, Mr R G Knowles.
England football legend Steve Bloomer, was a highly accomplished baseball player, winning the British Baseball Cup in 1895, 1897, and 1898. The Derby Baseball Club was owned by Francis Ley of Ley’s Malleable Castings Iron Foundry located adjacent to the Baseball Ground, which staged all home matches, regularly attracting crowds of up to 10,000. Aston Villa, now known exclusively for football, won the only professional baseball championship in 1890. The competition was hindered by poor weather and disappointing crowds, and made a loss for its investors. Aston Villa’s win was not without controversy, however, with both Aston Villa and Preston North End being found guilty of cheating during the season. For much of the season Derby Baseball Club led the championship, but pressure from other teams in the league over the number of American players on the Derby team, as well as low attendances, led to Derby being expelled before the end of the season.
The game at Filbert Street, which according to the Leicester Chronicle reporter, ‘could never be called exciting, although a few good passages were witnessed’, was umpired by Mr. Kelly, of Leicester, a former baseball player, and was closely watched by the 2,000 spectators. Palace, who took the lead in the first innings, won by 15 runs to 12. Only seven of the usual nine innings were played by mutual consent. The scores were
Crystal Palace 2, 3, 6, 0, 2, 2, – Total: 15
Derby Baseball Club: 1, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 5, 3 Total: 12
At the end of the game the 100 yards handicap race was held. There were 30 entries, including many prominent players connected with the principal Midland football clubs. Only fourteen, however, put in an appearance. Winners of the four heats – Johnny McMillan [Fosse], Dick Jones [Fosse]. Billy Dorrell [Fosse] and Charlie Athersmith [Villa] – competed in the final for two prizes , the first being £10 and the second £2. Jones did not run, and the race finished in a dead heat between McMillan (ten yards start) and Dorrell (seven yards)in a time of 9 4-5 seconds. Athersmith, with a one yard start, came third. McMillan offered little when the race was run off, Dorrell ‘winning as he pleased.’
The Derby Baseball Club, with Steve Bloomer on 2nd base and Jack Robinson on 3rd. Francis Ley is in the bowler hat.