1870s Boston Base Ball Grounds Complimentary Passes (2)

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1870s Boston Base Ball Grounds Complimentary Passes (2)

Simple, yet significant, these two 3x4" passes both belonged to a Mr. White and granted access to Boston "Base Ball" grounds from the late 1900s. A small pinhole exists near the top in both, one only barely perforating the card. Overall in VG condition with small creases, one has two minor tears on bottom corners. One is from 1872 and is signed by President John A. Conkey; the 1872 Boston Red Stockings featured Al Spalding.Addendum: Thanks to our friend David Maus who did some necessary research. The first pass though difficult to make out reads "1870." This predates the "Cincinnati Red Stockings" moving to Boston in 1871 and becoming the "Boston Red Stockings" (George & Harry Wright, etc.). Treasurer of the Union Grounds is Ivers Adams who brought the Red Stockings to Boston in 1871 and is considered the father of professional baseball in Boston.  He was succeeded as president of the Red Stockings in 1872 by John Conkey as shown on the 1872 pass. Both passes were issued to Horatio Stevens White --Captain of the Harvard Nine from 1871-1873 and, unfortunately for him, played catcher at Harvard before future Harvard player F. W. Thayer invented the catchers mask. A few years earlier Thayer's invention might have saved White some pain or even facial damage.