History
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DIAMOND STATE BBC
Contrary to popular belief, Abner Doubleday did not invent the game of baseball. In fact, it is believed he may have never even played the game.
Baseball and games similar to it have been played in America since colonial times. What started out as a game for children had evolved by the 1850’s into a ‘gentleman’s game’ played by well-heeled men of large communities. Throughout the 1850’s and into the early 1860’s, many of the first amateur clubs were organized in the Mid-Atlantic states and base b
all (as it was spelled then) achieved more widespread popularity. An explosion of organized amateur teams occurred all over the country at the conclusion of the Civil War, as men found more time for leisure. It was at this period that the original Diamond State Base Ball Club (DSBBC) was organized in Wilmington, Delaware.
Club organizers, consisting of a group of prominent lawyers and businessmen, held their first business meeting on October 2, 1865 in the Wilmington office of attorney Levi C. Bird, the DSBBC’s founding president. Diamond State hastily assembled its first nine and played what is believed to be the first ever match by an organized club in Delaware on October 7 against St. Mary’s College of Wilmington. The historic event took place at the Diamond State’s home ballfield at Delaware Avenue and Adams Street, on the lot adjoining the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery. The Diamond States prevailed by a lopsided score of 69-26 over the college boys.
Emboldened by an easy first victory, Diamond State unwittingly issued a written challenge to the mighty Athletic BBC of Philadelphia, who was widely acknowledged as one of the strongest clubs in the country. The Philadelphians accepted the challenge and arrived in Wilmington ready to decimate the home team. At one point in the October 28th match, the Athletics allowed the Diamond States to scatter their first and second nines about the field to limit the visitors’ offensive onslaught, all to no avail. The Diamond States were thoroughly humbled by the Philadelphians by the lopsided tally of 104-7. Diamond State dropped another match on November 11 to the newly organized Lenapi BBC of New Castle.
Diamond State club leaders spent the fall and winter preparing for the club’s first season of play in 1866… and what a season it proved to be! The club ran a record of 15-2, defeating every Delaware team it faced and losing only to Pennsylvania clubs, Keystone BBC of Philadelphia and Brandywine BBC of West Chester. Diamond State crushed the Germantown BBC of Philadelphia 70-17 on Thanksgiving Day to close out the ‘66 campaign. With victories over Delaware clubs Atlas of Delaware City, Lenapi of New Castle, Excelsior of Milford, Lafayette, Pacific, and Wawaset all of Wilmington, Diamond State wore the crown of mythical state champion in their first full season of play.
By the end of 1866, other ball clubs formed all over the state. Aside from those previously mentioned, the Live Oak of Dover, Olympic of Middletown, Tammany of New Castle, St. Georges, and four additional Wilmington teams, Independence, Minquas, Minute and Pautaxat also started operations.
Though his 
stay was short in Wilmington, the most accomplished Diamond State player was Fergus G. “Fergy” Malone. He later went on to a long professional career as catcher with professional outfits such as the Philadelphia Athletics, the Philadelphia White Stockings, the Chicago White Stockings and the Philadelphia Keystones. Malone holds the distinction of being one the first Irish-born players in the major leagues.
Diamond State continued to battle Wawaset BBC of Wilmington for the state title throughout the remainder of the 1860’s and into the early 1870’s, after which time Diamond State disbanded.
The Quickstep BBC of Wilmington, which was formed in 1868 by Monk Auston, became the dominant amateur team in Delaware during the early 1870’s. Later that decade, the Quickstep split into two clubs, one that included amateur players and another that featured professionals. Diamond State reorganzied for a brief time in the mid-1870s but the club did not last.
The Diamond State Base Ball Club lay dormant for over 135 years, when the club was revived again in September 2008. True to the original club, the modern day Diamond States utilize 1866 rules and wear uniforms based on the original club’s design. They completed their first season of play in 2009.
