Excelsior of Brooklyn

In 1860, the Excelsior club made a now-famous tour around New York and large cities in surrounding states. They defeated the Champion Club of Albany, the Victory Club of Troy, the Buffalo Niagaras, and the powerful Brooklyn Atlantics. Besides establishing the tradition of ball clubs traveling long distances to compete with other clubs, the tour helped advance the game's popularity outside the New York region. In 1860 the Excelsiors compiled a record of 19 wins and two losses, and were champions of the National Association of Base Ball Players, finishing in a draw with the Brooklyn Atlantics Club. However, the Atlantics were the accepted champions. During the 1860 season, the Excelsiors began wearing an ancestor of the modern, snug-fitting baseball cap, including a long visor and button top. The cap, which became popular by the 1900s, was known as "Brooklyn-style", and was the predominant baseball cap until the 1940s. ==The Club After 1860==

In 1861, due to the departure of many young club members who went to fight the Civil War, the Excelsior played only one game, against the Eureka Club of Newark, NJ, in August. (The exact date and outcome are unknown.) The Excelior played more games in 1862, and remained a competitive team. Following the tragic death of their 21-year-old star pitcher, Jim Creighton, in October of that year, the club became less dominant. Although the club remained active through 1870, they eventually drifted into irrelevance and failed to compete against increasingly powerful opponents in the pre-professional era. ==References==