Exploring the 1886 Washington Nationals Baseball Season Through Scorecards

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

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.

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

3 thoughts on “Exploring the 1886 Washington Nationals Baseball Season Through Scorecards”

  1. Love stuff like this!

    The Giants were a powerhouse in the making in 1886. From that scorecard, O’Rourke,
    Ewing, Ward, and Welch, were destined for Cooperstown, as were Roger Connor and
    Tim Keefe sitting on the bench..

    Giants rested Connor, their big slugging first baseman.

    BR shows Nationals winning 4 to 2.

Comments are closed.