The St. Louis Red Stockings 1875 season
The rise of professionalism in St. Louis
Discussions about whether or not St. Louis would have a professional club started shortly after Chicago announced it would be sponsoring a club in the National Association for the 1874 season. While no club was formed for 1874, on September 22, 1874, the die was cast. "Last evening about fifty prominent, and some of them wealthy young men of the city, assembled in parlor No. 2 of the Southern Hotel for the purpose of organizing a St. Louis Professional Base Ball Club for next season."(1) The assembly selected Mr. Joseph P. Carr as chairman and W.C. Steigers as the secretary. Mr. Tobias put forth a resolution that a professional club be organized and stock sold to raise the money for the club. Mr. Overbeck amended that the initial capital stock be worth $10,000, in shares of $50 each, with no person owning more than ten shares. But proposals were adopted. The Committee to solicit shares was composed of Mr. F. Williams, Mr. E.H. Tobias, Mr. Chris Overbeck, Mr. Wayman McCreery, Mr. Charles Bragg and Mr. Charles Fowle, with Carr and Steigers as ex-officio members. Articles of incorporation were to be drafted by Tobias, Williams and Col O.F.Rice. By the end of the evening, $5,800 worth of shares had been sold.
A week later, the group met again. J.B.C Lucas, C.O. Bishop, W.C. Bragg, C.A. Fowland W. Darrow were appointed to draft articles of incorporation for the St. Louis Base Ball Association. The target was set at 400 shares, at $50 per share. Seven directors were elected for an intial one-year term, although the newpaper only identified six: Joe P. Carr, J.B.C. Lucas, William Medart, Charles H. Turner,W.C. Steigers and C.O. Bishop.(2) Tobias reported in his account of this meeting in 1896 that Thomas McNeary was among the attendees, although his presence was not indicated in the local papers at the time. From these meetings came the professional St. Louis Browns.
The games
Games identified to date for 1875
| Game No. | Date | Opponent | Outcome | Notes |
| 1 | April 4, 1875 | St. Louis Atlantics | W 32-4 | |
The players
| Player | # games | Years with Reds | |
References
(1) "Base Ball. A Professional Club Formed Last Night - $5,800 subscribed," St. Louis Democrat, September 23, 1874, pg. 4.
(2) "Base Ball. St. Louis to Have a Professional Club Next Season - Organization Perfected," St. Louis Democrat, September 30, 1874, pg. 4.