A Comprehensive History of Princeton University Baseball
Princeton University's baseball program boasts a rich and storied history, dating back over 150 years. From its humble beginnings in the mid-19th century to producing Major League Baseball players in the modern era, Princeton baseball has been a significant part of the university's athletic tradition. Baseball holds the distinction of being Princeton's first varsity sport, with its roots extending to November 1864.
Early Years and Formation (1858-1864)
Baseball on the Princeton campus began more than 150 years ago. In 1858, freshmen from Brooklyn, where the game was already popular, started the first organized games. Other Princetonians joined, and by 1860, the school had a team called the Nassau Base Ball Club, ready to compete against local clubs. Their first game was against a team from Orange.
During the Civil War, Princeton was considered the best collegiate team in the nation. They consistently beat well-known clubs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Newark, and Philadelphia. In 1864, Princeton played its first intercollegiate match, defeating Williams by a score of 26-16.
The Rise of Innovation (1870s)
The 1870s saw Princeton players leading the way in college baseball innovation. William Gummere was the first player to perfect the hook slide. Joseph Mann was the first college pitcher to throw an effective curveball, learning it from future Hall of Famer Candy Cummings. In 1875, Mann pitched baseball’s first recorded no-hit game against Yale.
Coaching and Early Successes
Bill Schenck, a catcher on the 1880 squad, famously stuffed copies of The Princetonian into his uniform to create a homemade chest protector, leading to the commercial manufacturing of chest protectors. That same spring, Bill “Boileryard” Clarke began informally coaching the Princeton players while recovering from a broken finger. Clarke, a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles known for their clever play, helped the Tigers win several Big Three titles.
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After retiring from professional baseball in 1909, Clarke became the school’s full-time coach, a position he held through 1926. He developed several excellent players, including Moe Berg, who played shortstop for the Tigers before becoming a big-league catcher. Despite his academic and intellectual accomplishments, Moe Berg chose a career as an athlete for his love of baseball.
In the mid-1920s, Princeton’s teams were among the best in college baseball. Clarke returned to Princeton in 1934 and coached until 1943.
Televised Game and Post-War Era
Princeton University was one of the two baseball teams in the first-ever televised baseball game, played on May 17, 1938, at Columbia University's Baker Field.
In the postwar years, Emerson Dickman, a former big-league pitcher, led the Tigers to three Eastern Intercollegiate titles and their only trip to the College World Series in 1951. Their star pitcher was Dave Sisler, son of Hall of Famer George Sisler.
Eddie Donovan Era
The year following their College World Series appearance, Eddie Donovan began a 24-year tenure as Princeton's baseball coach. During his time, the school found success against Ivy League opponents. However, baseball often took a back seat to football and basketball.
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Modern Era and MLB Success (1998-Present)
A change began in the new millennium. Under coach Scott Bradley, a former Yankees catcher who was named coach in 1998 after working as an assistant under Fred Hill at Rutgers, Princeton qualified for seven NCAA Tournaments between 2000 and 2016. The Tigers produced three high draft picks who went on to play in the pros: pitchers Russ Ohlendorf and Chris Young, and outfielder Will Venable. In 2013, pitcher David Hale joined this trio in the majors. Only 12 other four-year schools had sent four players to the majors, and no other Ivy League university had a player in the big leagues. Interestingly, Young and Venable initially came to Princeton as basketball players.
In 2013, Mike Ford was named Ivy League Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, leading the league in home runs and RBIs while going 6-0 on the mound with a 0.98 ERA.
One of Bradley’s early players was shortstop Mike Chernoff, a Pingry School graduate who took summer internships with the Mets and Indians while attending Princeton.
Key Moments in Princeton Baseball History
Several historical moments are captured in the archives, reflecting the evolving landscape of the university and the nation:
- April 5, 1841: Local residents receive word that United States President William Henry Harrison has died.
- August 29, 1878: An article in the San Francisco Chronicle discusses the state of baseball in America, noting that some amateur teams are better than professional ones.
- June 18, 1882: Marquand Chapel is dedicated.
- June 5, 1909: Yale shuts out Princeton’s baseball team 6 to 0 in New Haven.
- May 1, 1934: Harold Dodds explains how the Great Depression is changing Princeton in an interview with Redbook Magazine.
- September 23, 1947: A controversial chain letter begins sweeping the campus.
- September 25, 1827: Princeton’s Commencement turns violent.
These snapshots, taken from a recurring series documenting Princeton University's history, provide a glimpse into the moments that have shaped the university's baseball program and its place within the broader context of American history.
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Program Overview
The Princeton Tigers baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team representing Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. The team is a member of the Ivy League and competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at Bill Clarke Field in Princeton, New Jersey.
Princeton's baseball legacy includes 10 Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League championships and 8 Ivy League titles. The team has made 12 appearances in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship and reached the College World Series once, in 1951.
It is worth noting that approximately thirty former Princeton University baseball players made it to the majors.
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