America’s national pastime, baseball, originated before the Civil War, but grew in popularity during the war. In 1871, the first professional baseball league was formed, and by the beginning of the 20th Century, most large cities in the eastern United States had a professional baseball team. As settlement increased in the west after the Homestead Act of 1862 and after the Civil War was over, people brought their love of baseball to their new communities.

Very early in Cottonwood’s history, a baseball team was formed. Some of the team members on that first team were George Munroe, John Munroe, Will Garry, Joe Garry, J.C. Lines, and Alf Noble. The first official Cottonwood baseball team was organized in 1899 and included: Harry Russell, Lauritz Kolhei, Alex Lowe, Alf Noble, Archer Adams, B.C. Schram, Julius Anderburg, Hjalmer Hogren, and Oscar Brenna.

According to the Cottonwood Jubilee book, published in 1938, an all-time record for gate receipts was set in 1919, when at the end of the season, a sum of $2,000 was in the team’s treasury. The $2,000 was divided among the players, and a balance of $200 remained to start the next season. The record in gate receipts shows the enthusiasm for baseball during this time. For example, all the places of business were closed for every home game, and most everyone in town attended the games.

The photograph featured this week was taken around 1905 of the Cottonwood baseball team. The team members in this photograph are top row, left to right: Oscar Brenna, Arthur Gibb, Benny Stevens, Roy Gibb and Loraine Ness. Second row, from left: Alex Kolhei, George Koelz and Hans Gullickson. Sitting: Wilbur Lines and John Bly.

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