Adam Ford
The earliest recorded description of a baseball game was written by Dr Adam E Ford (1831-1906). He wrote a letter in 1886 to Sporting Life in which he described in detail a game he witnessed 4 June 1838 at Beachville, Ontario against neighbouring Zorra. Ford would have been about 7 in 1838 and there is some question how he could have remembered all the specifics he provided.Ford was one of the first medical doctors in St Marys, Ontario and mayor in 1878-79. He lived at 157 Queen St W, St Marys which is still standing. In 1879 he was investigated in the posioning of his friend Robert Guest. Guest was the secretary of the St Marys Temperance Association and died within hours of drinking in Ford's office. A closed door coroner's inquest chose not to charge Ford but his reputation was ruined and in 1880 he moved to Denver, Colorado. Ford had a history of alcohol and drug problems and died virtually destitute on May 17, 1906.
<< Home