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Exploring the 1886 Washington Nationals Baseball Season Through Scorecards

  • Published April 28, 2015
Take a look back at the 1886 Washington Nationals baseball season through three scorecards from games against the New York Giants, Boston Beaneaters, and Boston Beaneaters. See the advertisements, handwritten notes, and penciled notations on the scorecards.
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What an amazing old baseball find here. This is a scorecard marked up for a game on August 18th, 1886. Also, check out the great advertisements around the scorecard. The Nats, by the way, finished 28-92 that season, good for eighth place our of eight in the National League. Oddly enough, the game ended in a 4-4 tie that day.

Scorecard for 1886 baseball game between Washington Nationals and New York Giants; advertisements printed on borders of card. Printed on card: "Washington, New York." Handwritten on card: "Aug. 18, 1886, Washington, D.C." Penciled notations on scorecard.
Scorecard for 1886 baseball game between Washington Nationals and New York Giants; advertisements printed on borders of card. Printed on card: “Washington, New York.” Handwritten on card: “Aug. 18, 1886, Washington, D.C.” Penciled notations on scorecard.

Source: Detroit Public Library

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Here’s another scorecard from May 4th, against the Boston Beaneaters in which they lost 8-3.

Scorecard for 1886 baseball game between Washington Nationals and Boston Beaneaters; advertisements printed on borders of card. Printed on card: "Washington, Boston." Handwritten on card: "May 4, 1886. Washington, D.C." Penciled notations and corrections on scorecard.
Scorecard for 1886 baseball game between Washington Nationals and Boston Beaneaters; advertisements printed on borders of card. Printed on card: “Washington, Boston.” Handwritten on card: “May 4, 1886. Washington, D.C.” Penciled notations and corrections on scorecard.

Source: Detroit Public Library

And finally, another one from August 21st, also against Boston, and also a loss, 6-5.

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Scorecard for 1886 baseball game between Washington Nationals and Boston Beaneaters; advertisements printed on borders of card. Printed on card: "Washington, Bostons." Handwritten on card: "Washington, D.C., Aug. 21, 1886." Penciled notations on scorecard.
Scorecard for 1886 baseball game between Washington Nationals and Boston Beaneaters; advertisements printed on borders of card. Printed on card: “Washington, Bostons.” Handwritten on card: “Washington, D.C., Aug. 21, 1886.” Penciled notations on scorecard.

Source: Digital Public Library

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