from a god to an angel
In 1885 nineteen year old Illinois born Richard A. McKnight arrived in Los Angeles. After finishing business school in Indianapolis Richard had worked his way west picking up business experience. In L. A. he met another young business man named William M. Edwards that was in the newspaper sales business with John D. Mercer. Edwards and Mercer soon dissolved their partnership and in April 1890 Edwards went into business with McKnight. Their new store began selling stationary, books and newspapers at 114 West First Street. The next year they became the West Coast agents for the National Card Company of Indianapolis.
Apparently Mr. Edwards' youthful appearance and selling style was rather brash. A newspaper article on April 13, 1891 relates that when trying to drum up trade for playing cards in San Pedro he was taken as a "card sharp". The townspeople made him only too glad to leave. The writer of the article even suggested on the next visit he should try selling bibles and dictionaries.
The love of baseball was big in Los Angeles at this time, but they were not considered having any team good enough to join the professional California league (San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento & San Jose). Edwards and McKnight had been very successful in their new business at this time and was even sponsoring The Los Angeles Derby, a Grade 1 Stakes race. McKnight, being a huge baseball fan, decided it was time for L. A. to have a better team.
Apparently Mr. Edwards' youthful appearance and selling style was rather brash. A newspaper article on April 13, 1891 relates that when trying to drum up trade for playing cards in San Pedro he was taken as a "card sharp". The townspeople made him only too glad to leave. The writer of the article even suggested on the next visit he should try selling bibles and dictionaries.
The love of baseball was big in Los Angeles at this time, but they were not considered having any team good enough to join the professional California league (San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento & San Jose). Edwards and McKnight had been very successful in their new business at this time and was even sponsoring The Los Angeles Derby, a Grade 1 Stakes race. McKnight, being a huge baseball fan, decided it was time for L. A. to have a better team.
Los Angeles Exposition Park Where The Los Angeles Derby Was Held
McKnight teamed up with Isaias "Marco" W. Hellman Jr. who was a wealthy Los Angeles business man and baseball fan. Hellman had been trying to put together a team worthy enough to join the California League for several years. In October 1891 McKnight told him he would go East and bring back some talent. Some eastern pro ballplayers already wintered in southern California so he also persuaded some of them to join the team during the off season.
Here are some players that I was able to identify he recruited to play;
Here are some players that I was able to identify he recruited to play;
Pete Lohman
George F. "Pete" Lohman was a catcher for the 1891 Washington Statesmen in the Pacific Coast League. He played in the minor leagues through 1905 and also managed in the minor leagues in parts of 6 seasons.
Pete Lohman
George F. "Pete" Lohman was a catcher for the 1891 Washington Statesmen in the Pacific Coast League. He played in the minor leagues through 1905 and also managed in the minor leagues in parts of 6 seasons.
Bill Hassamaer
Positions: Rightfielder, First Baseman and Third Baseman. 4 years in the pros after this with Washington, Toledo and Louisville.
Sam "Danny" Dungan
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman. Played almost ever season between 1892 to 1901 for Chicago, Louisville and Washington.
Phil Knell
Positions: Pitcher and Outfielder. Played between 1888 and 1895 for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus, Toledo, Washington, Louisville and Cleveland.
Emmett Rogers
Position: Catcher. Had played for Toledo.
Bob Glenalvin
Position: Second Baseman. Was playing for the Chicago Colts.
Dan “Midget” Sweeney
Position: Rightfielder. Went on to play for Louisville. Was only 5’-5”
Dan “Midget” Sweeney
Position: Rightfielder. Went on to play for Louisville. Was only 5’-5”
Al McCauley
Positions: First Baseman and Pitcher. Had played for Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Washington.
Billy Hulen
Positions: Shortstop and Centerfielder. Went on to play for Philadelphia and Washington.
George Treadway
Position: Outfielder. Went on to play for Baltimore, Brooklyn and Louisville.
George Treadway
Position: Outfielder. Went on to play for Baltimore, Brooklyn and Louisville.
John Stafford
Positions: Pitcher and Rightfielder. Went on to pitch for Cleveland.
Billy Nash
Position: Third Baseman. Played from 1884 to 1898 for Richmond, Boston and Philadelphia.
Fred Carroll
Positions: Catcher, Outfielder and First Baseman. Had already been playing for 7 years, mainly for Pittsburgh.
Thomas McAleer
The Team Captain and a well known L. A. athlete at the time. He was mainly known as a "Wheelman" (Bicycle Racer). He held many racing records on the West Coast in the 1890s.
Edwards and McKnight were appointed the team managers and their job was to name the team. Staying true to their client, the National Card Company, the team became known as "The Apollo 33s".
Apollo, the god of healing, medicine, archery, music, poetry and the sun.
On November 8th they played the best semi-pro team in Los Angeles called the Tuft-Lyons Arms Company at the First Street ball park. Only playing before 500 spectators they lost. Sports writers started to have their doubts about the talent loaded Apollos. After several more games they improved and challenged San Francisco, of the California League, to a game.
Promoting the game heavily they moved it to the other ball park in town, Athletic Park, where they were able to fill it to it's 3,000 seat capacity with 5 cent tickets.
Promoting the game heavily they moved it to the other ball park in town, Athletic Park, where they were able to fill it to it's 3,000 seat capacity with 5 cent tickets.
Athletic Park was later known as Chutes Park
The game was celebrated with a parade to the game with both teams riding in open cars lead by a 16 piece marching band. Edwards and McKnight even hired a team mascot. His name was Willie "Jo-Jo" Mendoza.
Jo-Jo was a local "celebrity" in the L. A. population of 50,000. He was stated in the papers as "a Mexican youth with a low mental capacity."
He was an illiterate, homeless, alcoholic, that wore old used clothes he found and was said to sleep in outhouses. He would work for one day, occasionally, and then spend the money on liquor. Everyone at the city jail knew him.
Jo-Jo would show up at political rallies and give rambling speeches or sing songs with twisted lyrics.
He was noted for always wearing a chrysanthemum in his lapel.
One local parade even had him ride in a bath tub float. A newspaper stated that was Jo-Jo's first time in one.
Jo-Jo was a local "celebrity" in the L. A. population of 50,000. He was stated in the papers as "a Mexican youth with a low mental capacity."
He was an illiterate, homeless, alcoholic, that wore old used clothes he found and was said to sleep in outhouses. He would work for one day, occasionally, and then spend the money on liquor. Everyone at the city jail knew him.
Jo-Jo would show up at political rallies and give rambling speeches or sing songs with twisted lyrics.
He was noted for always wearing a chrysanthemum in his lapel.
One local parade even had him ride in a bath tub float. A newspaper stated that was Jo-Jo's first time in one.
With Jo-Jo leading the band into the ball park every patron was given a pack of Apollo #33 playing cards.
The Apollos and the Friscos battled through the first three innings scoreless. Then in the 4th both teams scored a run, but in the 5th the Apollos added 4 runs and appeared to be headed to a blow out. In the bottom of the 8th San Francisco rallied to score 3 to make it a 1 run game. But in the last inning the Apollos came alive again and added 2 more runs and the Friscos only scored once.
Next up for the Apollos was another California League team Sacramento. Two weeks later they returned to a packed Athletic Park and were beating the Senators 8-4 until the bottom of the 8th when things fell apart. In the last two innings the Senators out scored the home team 5-0 and left with the win. The crowd left disappointed. But not to backdown from California League competition Edwards and McKnight challenges the league to another game. This time it was against California League All-Stars. And again the Apollos lead until the 8th inning and blew the game by 1 run. But the local sports writers called it a lively game and gave the locals a good writeup. Giving it another try against the All-Stars, a week later in January, they lost again 4-1.
During early January 1892 talks are held between the California and Pacific Leagues about a merger with Los Angeles joining the mix. McKnight claims L. A. will soon have a professional team even if the merger fails. The merger failed, but Edwards and McKnight was not going to fail. This time he was swinging for the fence and challenged the California League champions to a series for the title of Pacific Coast Champions.
During early January 1892 talks are held between the California and Pacific Leagues about a merger with Los Angeles joining the mix. McKnight claims L. A. will soon have a professional team even if the merger fails. The merger failed, but Edwards and McKnight was not going to fail. This time he was swinging for the fence and challenged the California League champions to a series for the title of Pacific Coast Champions.
The Apollos put up a tough fight the first two games but lost each by one run. The third game San Jose blew them out. But the last two games were a double-header and the Apollos won both. After winning most of their 22 games that winter the locals considered it a huge victory and validation for them to join the California League.
In early March most of the Apollos have moved on to pro teams in the East but one more game is scheduled by Edwards and McKnight.
March 5th
Los Angeles Evening Express
A telegram announces that the World’s Fair Female Base Ball team will play in this city one week from tomorrow. Their opponents will be members of the late Apollo team. This will be the first ball game played by females ever seen in this city.
March 7, 1892
The Los Angeles Herald
A Prostitution Of The National Game
The Herald writer is always willing to help along any legitimate sport, but the line is drawn at female baseball playing. But the promoters expect to reap a harvest from the chumps who pay to see eighteen girls dressed in tights – that is if the girls can be secured to thus degrade themselves.
March 7, 1892
The Los Angeles Herald
FEMALE BASEBALLERS
A Charge That Under Age Girls Were Hired -No Game Today
Humane Officer Wright and Detective Bosqui Looking Into The Matter
Even though women base ball teams, called Bloomer Girls, had already been around for twenty years no game was played.
In early March most of the Apollos have moved on to pro teams in the East but one more game is scheduled by Edwards and McKnight.
March 5th
Los Angeles Evening Express
A telegram announces that the World’s Fair Female Base Ball team will play in this city one week from tomorrow. Their opponents will be members of the late Apollo team. This will be the first ball game played by females ever seen in this city.
March 7, 1892
The Los Angeles Herald
A Prostitution Of The National Game
The Herald writer is always willing to help along any legitimate sport, but the line is drawn at female baseball playing. But the promoters expect to reap a harvest from the chumps who pay to see eighteen girls dressed in tights – that is if the girls can be secured to thus degrade themselves.
March 7, 1892
The Los Angeles Herald
FEMALE BASEBALLERS
A Charge That Under Age Girls Were Hired -No Game Today
Humane Officer Wright and Detective Bosqui Looking Into The Matter
Even though women base ball teams, called Bloomer Girls, had already been around for twenty years no game was played.
That summer Los Angeles gets their wish and were added to the California League. Since most Apollos have moved on a new team is formed by other locals and the remaining Apollos. The new team name becomes the Angels.
With the mission accomplished Edwards and McKnight go back to running their business. But McKnight has bigger plans and he and Edwards end their partnership that November. Edwards gains a new partner and stays in the stationary business. McKnight runs for City Clerk and loses. He then forms a new partnership and goes into the fancy goods business.
On July 2, 1893 the Angels make baseball history. They become the first team to play a night game on the West Coast (MLB wouldn’t hold their first night game until 1935). The Angels won that game by a score of 5-2 over the Stockton River Pirates. The California League folds at the end of the season.
With the mission accomplished Edwards and McKnight go back to running their business. But McKnight has bigger plans and he and Edwards end their partnership that November. Edwards gains a new partner and stays in the stationary business. McKnight runs for City Clerk and loses. He then forms a new partnership and goes into the fancy goods business.
On July 2, 1893 the Angels make baseball history. They become the first team to play a night game on the West Coast (MLB wouldn’t hold their first night game until 1935). The Angels won that game by a score of 5-2 over the Stockton River Pirates. The California League folds at the end of the season.
This night game was actually the third time a baseball game had been played under the lights. The last time before this game was in 1883. You can read about it in my story about Jake Aydelott.
If you would like to read more about the history of the California League you can visit this site
You can also read about the history of the Angels at this site