BARNSTORMER



Perhaps, as A. G. Spalding once wrote, baseball's first barnstormers were

the Brooklyn Excelsiors of 1860, who played in central and western New York

State.

This is from SPORTING LIFE, 6 October 1906, pg. 9, col. 4:



THE PIONEER BARNSTORMER.

Alleged New Scheme of Much-

Traveled Veteran Manager, Frank

Bancroft.

By Charles Dryden.

The pioneer base ball barnstormer of the United States is said to be

Frank Bancroft, the polite and efficient person who counts the money the Reds

take in on the road. As far back as 1879 Bancroft invaded Cuba at the head of

a performing herd of athletes. Since then Frank has barnstormed in many and

various directions. He has a new scheme for this Fall, and it listens like a

winner.



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