Both black and white team baseball team members members in Darby Boro were arrested on a regular basis and across Delaware Co. . Even managers and umpires were sometimes arrested. Most area teams teams moved to Phila. to play Sunday Baseball games in the early 1920's. but some teams continued to defy the sunday ban. Special thanks to Delco Sports Historian, Rich Pagano, for this picture of the Hilldale Baseball team of Darby from the 1920's.
Note: Although the first major league game to be played on a sunday was played in 1917 by the New York Giants there still was a lot of problems. It was different state by state. Pennsylvania was one of thee toughest. In 1926 the Philadelphia Athletics played a Sunday Game in honor of the nations 150 year anniversary. They team wanted to play more and were denied, a lawsuit ensued and the State Supreme Court of Pa. ruled sunday baseball was illegal in 1927 and was "unholy". In 1933 the Penna. State legislature left it up to local jurisdictions to vote on Sunday baseball. That year Phila. voted to finally allow Sunday ball. Locally in Delaware County there was still some problems. Darby baseball players would go to Phila. aka cross Cobbs Creek to play ball. Darby players and managers were regular arrested for playing on Sunday. It was quite a shock when a Phila. Judge ruled in the favor of Darby Ball Players who had appealed their fines etc.
SUNDAY BASEBALL NOT ILLEGAL, IS COURT’S RULING
Philadelphia Jurist Gives Sweeping Decision Against Blue Laws
A sweeping decision against too rigid enforcement of the Sunday blue laws, declaring much of the Act of 1794 has been dead 100 years beyond even the power of the courts to revive it, was handed down by Judge Lewis in Quarter Sessions Court in Philadelphia. The decision rules not guilty three men arrested on a disorderly conduct charge in connection with a Sunday game of amateur baseball.
In his opinion, which covers twenty-eight typewritten pages, Judge Lewis makes the following points:
Sunday baseball by amateur teams does
not in itself constitute a breach of the peace, provided there is no
commercialism or disturbance of neighbors.
Taking up a collection to defray
expenses only, is not commercialization.
Arrests on Sunday without a warrant
are unlawful when there is no breach of the peace.
Although public peace is still more
fragile and brittle on Sundays than on weekdays, the people themselves long ago
effected a repeal of the extreme portions of the 1794 blue laws.
A law which runs counter to the habits
and customs of a majority of the people is not really a law. It is a bugaboo, a scarecrow that cows only
the timid and but amuses the bold.”
In conclusion, Judge Lewis makes seven
specific reasons regarding the administration of the Sabbath laws “in order
that there may be no misapprehension and as a guide to those concerned,
including the police department.”
The decision was given in the cases of
Malcolm McGowan, manager of the Passon baseball team; Edward Sherman, manager
of the North Penn Athletic Club, and Tod Voorhees, an umpire, who were arrested on a charge of
disorderly conduct at a baseball game played Sunday, August 3, a Passon
Athletic Field, 48th and Spruce streets in Philadelphia.
All three were sentenced to thirty
days in jail by Magistrate Hamberg on refusing to pay fines of $10 and costs
each. Michael Saxe, attorney for Harry
Passon, sponsor of the game, filed an appeal which was argued before Judge
Lewis.
After reviewing at length the
circumstances leading to the arrests and quoting from decisions of the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court in other cases bearing on the subject, the opinion
of Judge Lewis says:
“The evidence produced before us as to
the conduct of the baseball game on August 3 does not establish that disorderly
conduct amounting to a breach of the peace was committed by all or any one of
the defendants. Their arrest on Sunday
without a warrant was therefore unlawful, the whole proceeding being without
effect and void.”
We have come a long Way since those days!
ReplyDelete