In 1936, the National League celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding. Each of the eight NL teams paid tribute to the anniversary individually on separate dates at their ballparks. On Aug. 1, the Phillies held their ceremony at National League Park (aka Baker Bowl).

• Phillies Alumni

The day started with a luncheon at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel for guests invited to attend the event. These included numerous ballplayers of yesteryear whose careers dated to the 19th and early 20th centuries. The four surviving members who played for NL teams in 1876 were present: Chick Fulmer, George Wright, Tom Bond and James White. Numerous former Phillies’ players also were on hand including Jack Clements, Roy Thomas, Al Maul, and pitcher Harry Coveleskie -- still heralded in newspaper coverage of the luncheon as the “Giant Killer” for virtually single-handedly preventing John McGraw’s team from capturing the NL pennant by beating them three times in the last week of the 1908 season. In addition, NL president Ford Frick was in attendance.

After the luncheon ended, tallyhos and barouches -- primary forms of transportation in 1876 -- were used to transport the guests up Broad Street to National League Park. (The ballpark was located along Broad Street between Huntingdon Street and Lehigh Avenue.) Once there, the highlight of the celebration took place as the “Phillies” took on the “Cardinals” in a three-inning game played employing the rules, equipment and uniforms that were used during the 1876 season. The Phils were portrayed by members of the Philadelphia Police Department Baseball Team, while the Cards were represented by members of the Philadelphia Fire Department Baseball Team. St. Louis was chosen as the visiting team because the Cardinals were in town to play the Phillies that day.

The 12,000 fans in attendance must have been perplexed by the 1876 rules of baseball that were featured in the exhibition game. The pitcher hurled the ball underhand from a square box 45 feet from home plate; men played without gloves; foul flies caught on the first bounce were outs; the roving or tenth man on defense took up different positions during play; batters could call for a high or low pitch; and, if hit by a pitch, they were not awarded first base. In addition, it took nine balls before a batter walked, not four. The 1876 Phils beat the 1876 Cards, 2-0.

Sportswriter Stan Baumgartner writing in the next day’s Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper called the celebration “a complete success.” Using the occasion to look back nostalgically at the Phillies’ baseball past, he observed, “The park itself was gaily decorated with flags and banners that reminded one of the glorious pennant-winning days of 1915.” Baumgartner was a member of the 1915 NL champion Phillies.

In the regularly scheduled game held after the ceremonies were over, the Phillies beat the Cardinals, 11-3.

Former players who participated in the NL 60th anniversary celebration at National League Park were each given a ring by the Phillies. The ring’s head is inscribed, “The PHILLIES … 1936.” The words, “NAT LEAGUE 60TH ANNIVERSARY” are around the periphery of the ring’s head. On each shank there is a figure of a baseball batter. Every ring was inscribed on the inside of the band with the initials of the individual to whom it was given. Based on the initials inscribed in this ring, it was probably given to Lawton “Whitey” Witt, who played with the Philadelphia Athletics, New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers between 1916-26.

Although my research is incomplete, I believe this was the first time the Phillies distributed rings to players to commemorate a special occasion. In 1915, when the team won the NL pennant, players received pocket watches. In 1925, when the 50^th anniversary of the NL’s founding was observed, players received watch fobs. If future research compels me to change this view, I’ll let you know.