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HE first recorded tour made by any Base Ball organization grew out of the series played between picked nines from the New York and Brooklyn quartets. Following the Fashion Course games of 1858, Base Ball clubs began to increase with great rapidity throughout the Atlantic States. Every city of considerable size soon had its team or teams of ball players. Interest in their prowess was manifested by larger attendance at matches between clubs of the same city, and by the multiplication of clubs everywhere. Now interest to know how the playing of nines of one city compared with that of teams of others began to develop.

Up to this time not much attention had been given to field sports in this country. Horse-racing was in vogue at all large places and in smaller cities in certain sections; but golf, lawn tennis, cricket, lacrosse and other games of the kind were without favor, save as here and there English and Scotch residents indulged in the national sports of Great Britain.

It was apparent now, however, that a new era had dawned in America, and while Base Ball had not yet earned the right to be denominated our national game, it 77