1867 Fort Wayne Kekiongas season

The Fort Wayne Kekiongas played several games during 1867, touring around the upper Midwest. Frank H. Wolke, who served as a non-player with the club, was the Vice President of the 1867 State Base Ball Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. George Mayers also attended the conference and was chosen captain of a team composed of other conference attendees. The team played another club named the Westerns and lost, 50-8. The "Picked Nine" cited unfamiliarity with their teammates for their defeat.

Intraclub Match

The first game of the schedule was an exhibition of the Kekiongas First Nine versus their Second Nine in Jul 1867. The First Nine topped the Second Nine by a score of 54-45.

Toledo

The Kekiongas were hosted by the Toledo, Ohio ballclub on 25 Jul 1867. Rather than treat other teams as opponents, clubs would often go to great lengths to extend graciousness and hospitality to their rivals. The two clubs dined together the night before the game and one of the members of the Toledo club arranged for a private train car for the Kekiongas' return trip. Players F.A. Gorham and Charles Gorham drafted an announcement for the Fort Wayne Daily Gazette publicly lauding the Toledo club.

Toledo visited Fort Wayne on 22 Aug 1867, results were not recorded.

Kendallville

Kekiongas played Kendallville, Indiana in early Sep 1867, with Kekiongas winning after the Fort Wayne players, described as "turbulent and rowdy" by the Kendallville Standard, argued with the umpire after the third inning. In the opinion of the Kendallville newspaper, the umpire then "favored the Fort Wayne Club in every instance, and giving a number of most outrageous and unjust decisions." The Fort Wayne newspaper refers to Kendallville bragging after a victory against the Kekiongas earlier in the year.

On 10 Sep 1867, the Fort Wayne Daily Gazette published a letter from "a member of the Kendallville baseball club" which displays contemporary insults during the early American Civil War. The editor published the letter spellatim et literatim, which was derivative of the Latin verbatim et literatim meaning word-for-word. In this case, the editor wanted the readers to know that the incorrect spelling was from the original letter.

...but it were not a Ball Play, the game Played there were played by Some Outsiders. the Fort Wayne Democrat called them Gentlemen, but if they associate with him, we would like to no if he is a Gentleman. O, Shame Democrat. We did not thing you would associate with Such Low Vagabonds, Scape Gallowses, and Pickpockets, Gamblers and Hellish Looking Specimens of humanity as they are. Mr. Democrat Said that if the Keyiongas could not beat us playing the would whip us, that is nice talk for an Editor of a Copperhead Papper did you thing about fiting when Our Country were about to be destroyed by Some of your Brethren in the South, you would Like perhaps to get the game fought out by some others, and you would stop at your Cheese Press and Blow, all wee ask is for you to keep your blubber head Shut and not disturb yourself About the B.B. affairs, and if you are a Jentleman for God Sake Place it in your Local So that Others ma See Some of your Wonderous Works up here.

Peru

Fort Wayne hosted a team from Peru, Indiana and defeated them 23-7 in six innings on 9 Sep 1867. Charles Gorham hit a home run for the Kekiongas.

Empires

The Empires were hosted by Kekiongas on 5 Oct 1867 with Kekiongas winning 37-6. No home runs were recorded for Fort Wayne.

Roster

1866 Fort Wayne Kekiongas
Roster
Pitchers Cassidy Catchers George J E Mayers (p) Woodworth		Infielders Aveline Bramble Diehl Fisher F.H. Gorham Hartman Moderwell Rumsey Towne Wheeler (c)		Outfielders Craw Fowler Charles D Gorham Lumbard (if) Casper Miller Robert L Milliman Singleton Stophlet Charles F Taylor		Captain Charles D Gorham