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Two historic, early documents pertaining to the Washington Nationals, a professional baseball team that played in the National League from 1886 to 1889. During these four years, the team had six different managers and compiled a miserable record of 163–337. Notable players were Connie Mack, who played catcher for the Nationals from 1886 to 1889, and deaf outfielder Dummy Hoy, who was on the 1888 and 1889 squads.
ADS signed "Luther E. Burket, Secretary, Washington National Base Ball Club," one page, 7.75 x 12.5, November 20, 1889. In part: "This is to certify that at the meeting of the 'Washington National Base Ball Club'…held at the rooms of said club in the city of Washington, D.C….on the twentieth day of November 1889 Walter F. Hewett was duly elected President of said club and Luther E. Burket was duly elected Secretary and Treasurer." Embossed at the lower left with the seal of the "Washington National Base Ball Club," featuring crossed bats at the center.
LS signed "Walter F. Hewett," one page, 7.5 x 6.5, March 21, 1890. Penned in the hand of pioneering baseball executive Nicholas Ephraim Young, and addressed to him as "N. E. Young, Sec'y National League," a letter withdrawing the Washington National Baseball Club from the league. In full: "The Washington Base Ball Club hereby tenders its resignation as a member of the National League of Professional B. B. Clubs." Hewett was also manager of the club for part of the 1888 season, leading them to a 10-29 record over 40 games (with one tie).
In overall very good to fine condition, with fold splits to the earlier document.
As with most extant National Association and early National League legal documents, these originated from the estate of N. E. Young. They are reportedly the only known remaining documents of the original Washington Nationals.
