The Nineteenth Century Committee, SABR, was established in 1983, about six
months after the founding co-chairmen John Thorn and Mark Rucker distributed
this letter. This edition mimics the original, character by character.
See also the 1983 Welcome (in effect, the first newsletter).
September 30, 1982
To whom it may concern:
Knowledge of baseball from the 1860's to the 1890's, the era of
earliest organization, has til now been restricted to a very few. With
more information continually appearing, the opportunity for research is
expanding, as is interest in the earliest known teams and players. To accom-
modate this growing fascination, and to widen the possibilities for gathering
information, we propose a new S.A.B.R. committee dedicated to the Nineteenth
Centry game.
The committee wil compile photographic and factual records of
individuals and clubs from the New York Knickerbockers to the end of the
century. Considerable atention will be focused on the late 1850's, the
1860's, and 1870's, where it si most needed. A particular goal will be to
assemble a photo file (copied from original sources) of all major teams and
players, a virtually unattainable task,but one which sould give the committee
long life. The committee's job must be pure research, and will not be a vehicle
for the selling and trading of documents.
We are hoping to attract no only present S.A.B.R. members, but
also those whose interest is exclusively in the Nineteenth Century, and who
presently have no outlet for expanded research. If you, or others known to
you, would like to participate in the committee's work, please contact John
Thorn or Mark Rucker at the addresses below.
Sincerely,
[signature]
John Thorn
18 Virginia Ave.
Saugerties, N.Y. 12477
[signature]
Mark Rucker
137 Circular St.
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866