Baseball...
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February 23, 1861
WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, February 23, 1861.
* Baseball
The front page of this issue features an illustration captioned: "Jem Belcher - Champion of England at Twenty Years Old".
Page four of this issue includes a rather lengthy article concerning billiards entitled: "Kavanaugh s. Seereiter".
Another article found within this issue and entitled: "Our Chess Department" includes a "problem of the week" and the answer to the previous weeks' problem.
This 16 page issue also includes some Civil War reports as well as other sports items, including boxing, horse racing, and cricket. Although this issue is in nice condition, some small spots of dirtiness can be found on the front page, in addition to several tears throughout.
Background Information: Jem Belcher (April 15, 1781 - July 30, 1811) was an English bare-knuckle boxer and Champion of All England 1800-1805.
Born in Bristol, Belcher drew with champion Jack Bartholomew in a 51-round bout in 1799, and won the rematch in the following year to become champion. He lost an eye in 1803 whilst playing fives, and evaded challenges to his title until 1805 when he lost - in eighteen rounds - to Henry 'The Game Chicken' Pearce.
In 1807 Belcher returned to the Prize Ring and lost to the outstanding new talent Tom Cribb in 31 rounds. Virtually ruined by the huge gambling losses he sustained at this fight he caused a fracas after the bout, for which he spent four weeks in prison. He died in London in 1811, a broken man.
* Baseball
The front page of this issue features an illustration captioned: "Jem Belcher - Champion of England at Twenty Years Old".
Page four of this issue includes a rather lengthy article concerning billiards entitled: "Kavanaugh s. Seereiter".
Another article found within this issue and entitled: "Our Chess Department" includes a "problem of the week" and the answer to the previous weeks' problem.
This 16 page issue also includes some Civil War reports as well as other sports items, including boxing, horse racing, and cricket. Although this issue is in nice condition, some small spots of dirtiness can be found on the front page, in addition to several tears throughout.
Background Information: Jem Belcher (April 15, 1781 - July 30, 1811) was an English bare-knuckle boxer and Champion of All England 1800-1805.
Born in Bristol, Belcher drew with champion Jack Bartholomew in a 51-round bout in 1799, and won the rematch in the following year to become champion. He lost an eye in 1803 whilst playing fives, and evaded challenges to his title until 1805 when he lost - in eighteen rounds - to Henry 'The Game Chicken' Pearce.
In 1807 Belcher returned to the Prize Ring and lost to the outstanding new talent Tom Cribb in 31 rounds. Virtually ruined by the huge gambling losses he sustained at this fight he caused a fracas after the bout, for which he spent four weeks in prison. He died in London in 1811, a broken man.
Category: Post-Civil War
