NY sports history: Feb. 4, 1861

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Monday, Feb. 4, 1861

Baseball played on ice skates in Brooklyn

It was obviously no pitchers' duel when the Atlantics defeated the Charter Oak Club, 36-27, in a winter baseball game in South Brooklyn. What made the game unique is that it was played on a frozen Litchfield Pond and the players all wore ice skates. According to published resources, it was the first baseball game played on ice in the New York area. Each team had 10 players. And since the idea of the designated hitter was still more than 100 years away the extra player was a backup catcher. Not to be outdone, another similar sport played on turf and dirt would try a frozen surface. The first cricket game on ice took place Jan. 29 1867 in New York.