Brooklyn Atlantics

Lore & Background

Established on August 14, 1855, Atlantic became a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of baseball. Atlantic held the championship through the 1861 season, albeit in controversial fashion. Atlantic held the championship again through the 1861 season, which was shortened due to the American Civil War, before finally surrendering it to Eckford of Brooklyn in 1862. Atlantic recaptured the pennant in 1866 with a season record of twenty wins, no defeats, and a single tie. Atlantic went undefeated in 1865 with an 18–0 record. Atlantic's 36-game winning streak was broken in June 1866 by Irvington, NJ. Atlantic retained the pennant that year by splitting a two-game series with Athletic of Philadelphia and declining to schedule a series with Union of Morrisania. Atlantic surrendered the title to Union in 1867. When Atlantic defeated Eckford to regain the pennant in 1869, Atlantic had already lost to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. This allowed Atlantic to claim the championship over the undefeated Cincinnati club under the "challenge" format. On June 14, 1870, an estimated crowd of 15,000 saw Atlantic win 8–7 in extra innings over Cincinnati at the Capitoline Grounds. Atlantic surrendered the title later that year to Mutual. After the 1865 season, the Atlantics became the first baseball team to visit the White House. A daguerreotype of the Atlantics presenting an official team jersey to President Johnson bearing the number "65" is on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Atlantic had been among the first clubs to declare themselves professional when allowed to do so in 1869. However, when the major professional clubs formed the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1871, Atlantic declined to field a team. When Atlantic did join the professional circuit in 1872, it was unable to reestablish itself as a leading club, suffering losing records in each of its four seasons in the league. Atlantic was not invited to join the National League in 1876, but continued to play an independent schedule until at least 1882. A remnant Atlantic was invited to join the American Association in 1882 but failed to satisfy the requirements.

In Their Own Story

The sun dipped low over Union Grounds, casting long shadows across the dirt infield. The crowd roared as the Atlantics' pitcher wound up, his motion a blur against the twilight sky. A young boy in the stands gripped his cap, eyes wide, watching the ball sail past the batter's bat with a crack that echoed through the borough. In this moment, before the trolleys or the World Series, there was only the game, the city of Brooklyn, and their banner flying high.

Reader's Guide

The 1865 Atlantics are said to have been on the first ever baseball card. The only known card was archived at the Library of Congress since the 1880s. Another card was found in 2013 and sold for $92,000.

Did You Know?

• The Atlantics were the first baseball team to visit the White House, in 1865.
• The Atlantics played at the Capitoline Grounds, at least for the famous 1870 game against Cincinnati.
• The Atlantics were not a dominant force in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players; they had losing records in each of their four seasons in that league.
• The dissolution of the Atlantics did not directly pave the way for other Brooklyn franchises; the Brooklyn Grays (later Dodgers) were formed in 1883, several years after the Atlantics folded, with no direct causal link.