21 Jun 2006, Larry Hayes wrote:

> A book on Northwestern University athletics (The Tale of the Wildcats
> by Walter Paulison) mentions some early college baseball leagues.
> On april 22, 1876 the "College Baseball Association of the Northwest"
> was formed. Members were Northwestern, Racine and the old Chicago
> University. the Women's Education Association of Chicago had offered
> a silver ball to the college champion of the northwest since 1871.

Thanks, Larry.

In the Harvard book there aren't any leagues, only Harvard and Yale
--only a slight exaggeration for the 19th century.

By the way, did women play baseball at midwestern colleges?
Or merely sponsor men's championships?

Clearly a compilation of collegiate "champions" is within the purview of
this research committee. And it must be more compelling work for some
people than game-level records or even standings.
The identification of clubs is more fundamental than the standings
(season-level) and game logs (game-level) data featured in my articles.
Consider the table that I called Teams and Homes[cities not parks] in
the clubs and standings article. The identification of leagues is more
fundamental than the standings or championships.
It is reasonable to gather information about clubs and leagues and put
it in order. Rick Benner's procedure has been to grow outward and
backward from NCAA baseball clubs. Secondary sources on the olden days
are a source of data that should be mined, probably just be mined in
order to compile champions and learn a sketchy history of leagues ahead
of the pace of game-level research.
Ultimately, I am certain, much of what we learn about collegiate
clubs, including name and location (Teams and Homes) will come from
game-level research.

Paul Wendt

[The actual Game Logs appear in the next and last "Coverage" article.
I missed a day with computer troubles.]