Looking Back: Nashville Sunday Baseball Banned In 1911

In the late 19th century, many frowned upon playing baseball on a Sunday. The Sabbath was supposed to be set-aside for a day of rest. From time to time a community would resist Sunday baseball by taking legal action in the courts. Such was a case in Nashville with a 1911 game between the hometown Vols and New Orleans Pelicans at Athletic Park (Sulphur Dell). The Saturday May 27, 1911 edition of the Nashville Tennessean and The Nashville American gave a preview of what was expected the next day:

"Determined that the baseball game scheduled between Nashville and New Orleans for Sunday afternoon shall not be played if the provisions of the law will prevent it, the Men's Christian Union became busy yesterday and members of the union after the days work expressed complete confidence that with co-operation on the part of the city and county officials the participants, if the game is commenced, will be arrested and rearrested as often as the effort is made to play. Another meeting of the union and citizens interested in the enforcement of the law preventing the game will be held this morning at 11 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church.

"So again the question is up as to whether the game will be carried out and then published statutes of the law violated. Those protesting against the game state that arrangements are made for the arrests not only of the captains of the teams, but all participating, and not only once but as often as the effort is made to resume the game. Magistrates and constables will be on the grounds and everything will be in readiness they say.

"Sheriff Borum said last night: 'No matter what my personal feelings may be in the case, if warrants are placed in my hands, of course I will serve them. I can have no discretion in the matter, and whatever I have been accused of, I don't believe the question of my duty to the warrants placed in my hands has been or need question.

"As soon as it became rumored that Managers Schwartz of Nashville and Frank of New Orleans had scheduled the Sunday game the union commenced the same tactics pursued recently when plans had been made for the Nashville-Atlanta Sunday game and at the meeting yesterday morning appointed a committee of fifteen to see the officials, asking that the law he enforced and the game prevented. The committee named was: Dr. G. C. Savage, chairman; Dr. Allen G. Hall, I. L. Pendleton, J. W. Hunter, Jr., J. D. Blanton, E. R. Richardson, Leland Hume, J. L. Watts, John A. Pitts, Dr. McPheeters Glasgow, Dr. W. C. Gillespie, A. Tillman Jones, M. G. Buckner, F. J. Ehrhart and C. T. Cheek.

"Manager Frank arrived in Nashville yesterday afternoon and told a reporter that he was here not to dictate in the matter, but to do whatever was decided on locality. 'I am in the hands of the local baseball association,' he said, 'and aren't ready to follow out their orders, play or not play."

The game was played, but with several interferences throughout the contest. The Vols lost the nine-inning game, 10-8. The Monday, May 29, 1911 edition of the Nashville Tennessean and The Nashville American reported on Sunday's events.

"A game of professional baseball was played in Nashville yesterday for the first time in more than 25 years. Twenty-three arrests were made. Those on whom papers were served will appear before Justice J. O. Gaffney at 10 o'clock this morning. W. G. Hirsig, president of the local ball club, and William C. Schwartz, manager, were arrested shortly after the game began by a municipal warrant served by city detectives B. T. Cummins and W. E. Jacobs, and charged with playing a game of ball on Sunday. Between the third and fourth innings eight arrests of the players on bench warrants sworn out by Dr. M. G. Buckner and Dr. J. D. Blanton before A. B. Tavel and Jesse Cage, magistrates, in an automobile just outside the grounds, were made by Sheriff Sam H. Borum and Constable William Cockrell, the latter serving two warrants. Between the fifth and sixth inning thirteen bench warrants were served by Constable William Cockrell upon thirteen players.

"In each instance those named in the warrant appeared before the officer, acknowledged arrest and an appearance bond of $250 was made by President Hirsig before Judge Gaffney who was called to the field each time from the grandstand, with the exception of the municipal arrest of President Hirsig and Manager Schwartz, who were informed by City Detective Jacobs that they might appear immediately after the game at the police station and arrange for bond.

"The game started promptly at 3:30 o'clock, shortly afterward a large automobile containing Dr. Buckner, Mr. Blanton, G. S. Moore, Justice Tavel, J. L. Pendleton and I. Cockrell of the Men's Christian Union, stopped at the main entrance to Athletic Park. Justice Cage arrived shortly afterwards. Bench warrants were then sworn out by Dr. Buckner and Dr. Blanton for William Schwartz, Doc Wiseman, Juan Viola, Henry Bay, Red Smith, Henry Keupper of the Nashville club, and Umpires Fitzsimmions and Colliflower. One of these warrants was given to Deputy Sheriff Joseph Ezell and the remainder taken to Sheriff Borum at the entrance.

"A controversy ensued between Sheriff Borum, Deputy Ezell and members of the Men's Christian Union party, the sheriff claiming that Deputy Ezell was only commissioned for the purpose of collecting for a collection agency and not for making criminal arrests. Deputy Ezell claimed that his commission did not state that and he has sworn to uphold law and order.

"Sheriff Borum stated that he brought with him eighteen deputy sheriffs commissioned for criminal arrests and asked Deputy Ezell to turn in his commission today, to which the latter asserted. When the sheriff and several of his deputies served the warrants there were hisses from some of the spectators.

"Constable William Cockrell was given the next warrants to serve on the following players: Harry Bay, Doc Wiseman, Warren Seabough, Teddy Bair and William Bordeiser, of the Nashville Club, Umpires Fitzsimmons and Colliflower, and Johnston, Kirke, Callahan, Doane, Frazer and Veasey of the New Orleans Club.

"The following volunteered to accompany Constable Cockrell and aid him, if necessary, in arresting and removing the players from the field: R. C. Reeves, P.W. Cavender, J. Boiling, Harry Hughes, Henry Jordan, Joseph Ezell, H. A. Myers and Dr. Blanton. The party was unable to get through the gates, and at the manager's office only constable Cockrell was permitted inside the grandstand. A semi-scuffle ensued at the doorway, the crowd, in the rear striving to push those forward into the grandstand.

"The service of the warrants culminated, as did former service, the players being called from the field at the end of the inning, acknowledging service and Mr. Hirsig making bond before Justice Gaffney. The action of the officers in permitting bond to be made on the grounds and the game to continue was much decried by the members of the committee from the Men's Christian Union.

Dr. Blanton, of the Men's Christian Union, was not pleased that bonds could be made on the stadium site or the next day and the game continued. He was also upset that Sheriff Borum did not support Deputy Ezell by taking the men served with warrants to the police station for processing. Dr. Blanton made the following statement:

"I think it is an outrage when a city comes to the pass when you can only find two officers who are willing to issue warrants with a view of breaking up a baseball game which is in violation of the law. And when the sheriff finds one of these is his deputy he at once revokes his commission. We have reached a period of anarchy, and it is conversely shown."

"In connection with his action in revoking the commission of Deputy Ezell, Sheriff Borum made the following statement:

"I consider that I am in a measure insulted by several men whom I understand to be representatives of the Men's Christian Union. I told a committee of gentleman from that body Saturday I would be present at the ball game with all the deputies necessary to execute provisions of the law. They told me that was perfectly satisfactory, and were pleased with my decision. They agreed to meet me at the box office today and deliver the warrants in person.

"When they met me they were with a constable and a man bearing my commission to do special work, such as collecting for collection agencies. It appears to me by that action that they did not have the confidence in me that was displayed Saturday. I still stand ready to serve and execute any warrants given to me."

One week later, Nashville was scheduled to play Birmingham on Sunday June 4. And once again everybody showed up to play a game including the Men's Christian Union and the Sheriff's department. The Tennessean reported on that second Sunday game in which Birmingham defeated the Vols, 5-4:

"Despite 176 bench warrants issued by members of the Men's Christian Union a game of professional baseball was played in the city yesterday afternoon between the Nashville and Birmingham clubs. This is the second Sunday game played here for the past twenty-eight years, the first being played the previous Sunday. The warrants were served upon twenty-seven participates included players, umpire, gatekeepers and ticket sellers by Sheriff Borum and his deputies.

"Bonds in the sum of $250 each were signed by W. G. Hirsig, president the Nashville club, immediately after each service before Justice of the Peace John Gaffney. Manager William Schwartz, of the Nashville club was arrested on the municipal warrant at the close of the game.

"Warrants were served at the beginning and in the middle of each inning, eighteen services being made during the game, which was only slightly interfered with the warrants not being served until the men came in from the field."

Baseball was not played on Sundays in Nashville for the rest of the year. Sunday Baseball was resumed later, but in 1916, another lawsuit was served on the Nashville Vols for playing baseball on Sunday. In that case, Sunday baseball in Nashville was stopped until 1919 after the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled for the Christian groups opposing games on the Sabbath. The Tennessee Court of Appeals overturned the Supreme Court ruling Sunday Baseball was not a violation of any law.

Traughber's Tidbit: This Associated Press story from April 6, 1911 in Grand Junction, Colorado read: "A baseball team composed entirely of clergymen is Grand Junction's latest acquisition. The club is made of pastors of various churches here, and includes some former college stars. The ministers practice daily, except Sunday, and have issued a challenge to any team in the state made up of members of one profession." The headline to the story stated, "FOUND AT LAST; UMPIRES' PARADISE."

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