Saturday, November 15, 2008

Charles Scudder

Text not available

Charles Scudder was a member of the Morning Star Club and played second base in their match against the Cyclone Club in July of 1860, the first documented match game in the history of St. Louis baseball. Born in Kentucky in 1834, Scudder was living in St. Louis by the 1850's and was one of the first graduates of Jones Commercial College. By 1860, he was a partner in Weirick, Scudder & Co., a wholesale grocery store in St. Louis, and was playing town ball with the Morning Star Club at Carr Square Park.

After the Civil War, Scudder was a partner in the Memphis Packing Company and was one of the owners of the Lindell Hotel. He also became involved in St. Louis city politics, serving on the school board and as city treasurer.

In August of 1880, Scudder was vacationing in Minnesota with some friends from St. Louis when, according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, he played in a "very exciting and closely contested game of ball." Scudder's team, for whom he played the outfield, won the game 11 to 10. According to reports, the game was umpired by Gen. William T. Sherman.

The above portrait comes from James Cox's Notable St. Louisans in 1900.

No comments: