OTD: First recorded baseball game in North America takes place in Ontario

On today’s date in 1838, the first recorded baseball game in North America took place near the Beachville Baptist Church in present-day Beachville, Ont.

The first documented evidence of a baseball game in Canada is a letter published in Sporting Life magazine in 1886. The letter was sent by former Beachville resident Dr. Adam Ford, who wrote about the momentous game that took place 48 years earlier.

Many Canadians, including the staff of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ont., claim this was the first documented game of modern baseball; however, there is no evidence the rules used in this game were codified or adopted in other regions.

The Mint also struck these four silver coins as part of its World Baseball Classic series.

2018 BASEBALL COIN

In 2018, the Royal Canadian Mint struck 5,000 pure silver convex coins, entitled “180th Anniversary of Canadian Baseball.”

Designed by artist Steve Hepburn, the coin features engraved stitchwork while its curvature transforms the reverse into a baseball-shaped canvas.

As seen from behind the “knocker’s stone” (today known as home plate), the participants from Beachville and Zorra are all in position: one team stands in the open field, ready to catch the ball; a “knocker” (batter) from the opposing team grips the “club” (bat) as he keeps his focus on the ball tossed by the “thrower” (pitcher); to the right of him, an “umpire” leans in to rule whether the ball is “fair” or “unfair.” At their feet, the denomination “25 Dollars” is engraved; in the arched banner above, the double commemorative dates “1838” and “2018” flank a rendering of the equipment used in that era: two clubs (crossed) and a yarn ball covered by stitched calfskin.

In 2013, the Mint struck its World Baseball Classic commemorative coin series, which included four silver and three gold coins, each depicting a different baseball-related theme.

In Proof quality, the set included a $150 half-ounce gold coin, two $75 quarter-ounce gold coins and four $20 one-ounce silver coins.

The Royal Canadian Mint struck these three gold coins in commemoration of the World Baseball Classic in 2013.

Each of these seven coins also features reverse designs by Hepburn. These designs are surrounded by the inscriptions “2013” and the face value of the coin. Also shown on the reverse are the artist’s initials of “SH” and the official logo of the World Baseball Classic tournament.

The commemorative coins were struck as legal tender. Shown on their obverse is Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Surrounding her portrait are the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II,” “CANADA” and “D G REGINA.”

Leave a Reply

Canadian Coin News

Canada

Canadian Coin News is Canada's premier source of information about coins, notes and medals.

Although we cover the entire world of numismatics, the majority of our readers are Canadian, and we concentrate on the unique circumstances surrounding collecting in our native land.

Send Us Your Event

Running an event? Send it to us and we will display it on Canadian Coin News!

Submit Event →

Subscribe To 26 Issues For Just $59.99/year

Subscribe today to receive Canada's premier coin publication. Canadian Coin News is available in both paper and digital forms.

Subscribe Now

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.