The Sporting FraternityThe Sporting Fraternity

SpectatorsSpectators

Thousands of spectators gathered to watch:Thousands of spectators gathered to watch:

1.1. Foot racesFoot races

2.2. Boat racesBoat races

3.3. Prizefights/ Boxing MatchesPrizefights/ Boxing Matches

1840s & 1850s1840s & 1850s

Sports were broken up into sporting Sports were broken up into sporting fraternity and ballplaying fraternity.fraternity and ballplaying fraternity.

Ballplaying- baseball & cricket.Ballplaying- baseball & cricket. (Made (Made rules of play, appointed officials, rules of play, appointed officials, scheduled matches etc.)scheduled matches etc.)

Sporting fraternity- Scheduled and Sporting fraternity- Scheduled and promoted sporting spectacles.promoted sporting spectacles. (More (More interested in gaining money.)interested in gaining money.)

John Cox StevensJohn Cox Stevens

Heir to steamboat fortuneHeir to steamboat fortune

Promoted numerous sporting events.Promoted numerous sporting events.

Loved horse racing.Loved horse racing.

Constructed a large park, known as Constructed a large park, known as Elysian Fields.Elysian Fields.

YachtingYachting

Believed to have strengthened the bond Believed to have strengthened the bond between upper-class Americans and between upper-class Americans and British Sportsmen.British Sportsmen.

Stevens had a yacht, known as America, Stevens had a yacht, known as America, that was very successful.that was very successful.

FootracingFootracing

Also known as pedestrianism.Also known as pedestrianism.

Stevens offered $1,000 to anyone who Stevens offered $1,000 to anyone who could finish 10 miles under 60 minutes in a could finish 10 miles under 60 minutes in a 1835 race. 1835 race.

20,000 fans showed up for the race. 20,000 fans showed up for the race.

Henry Stannard, a farmer from Henry Stannard, a farmer from Connecticut, finished at 59 minutes and 48 Connecticut, finished at 59 minutes and 48 seconds.seconds.

Peds ran sprints, hurdles, long distances, Peds ran sprints, hurdles, long distances, against times and even against horses. against times and even against horses.

Racing CompetitionsRacing Competitions

Edward P. Weston walked from Portland Edward P. Weston walked from Portland Maine, to Chicago in 1867 for $1,000. It Maine, to Chicago in 1867 for $1,000. It took 26 days.took 26 days.

““Go-as-you-please” races- Peds attempted Go-as-you-please” races- Peds attempted to cover as many miles as they could on to cover as many miles as they could on an indoor track within a set time. Normally an indoor track within a set time. Normally a 6 day period.a 6 day period.

Prizefighting

Tom Molineaux- a slave who won his freedom by defeating a fellow slave.

English and Irish boxers were welcomed to American shores.

John “Old Smoke” Morrissey

Born in Ireland

Defeated Yankee Sullivan in 1853 for the unofficial American championship.

Served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Meanings of Prizefighting

Symbolic contest for supremacy and honor amongst native American, English and Irish individuals.

Mocked Victorian values.

Thomas McCoy died in an 1842 match.

Boxing Domination

Late 1800s- Irish

1920s- Jews

1930s- Italians

1940s- African and Latin Americans

Athletic Clubs

Sprung up in New York, New Orleans and San Francisco.

Sparring lessons from former greats, like John L. Sullivan and Mike Donovan, took place.

Athletic clubs encouraged:

1. Numbered Rounds

2. Weight divisions

3. Indoor Matches

4. Awards or Money

Marquis of Queensberry Rules1865

Required glovesLimited rounds to three minutesProvided ten second knockoutsProhibited wrestling holds

John L. Sullivan

Born in Boston to Irish immigrants Suffered from alcoholism and poor

health.

Sullivan vs. Corbett1. Held indoors under electric lights2. Used gloves3. Sponsored by an athletic club