1916 Tennesse Rats

A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1916 Tennessee Rats

1916 Tennessee Rats

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

May 4?, 1916

Ottumwa, IA
"Quite a number of our colored people attended the ball game played by the Tennessee Rats at Ottumwa, Iowa."

May 30, 1916

Omaha, NE
"Base Ball! - Brandeis Stores vs. Brown's Tennessee Rats - (The first team composed entirely of Colored players to visit Rourke's Park this season.) - Rourke Park - May 30, June 3 and 4 - Admission to any seat 25c"

Omaha, NE
"Brandeis Crew is Victor Over Rats From Old Tennessee - The Tennessee Rats made their first appearance at Rourke Park, before a large Memorial Day crowd and were vanquished by the Brandeis stores by a 3 to 0 count. Olson worked along in smooth fashion and was invincible at all times. But one visitor reached third base, by grace of an error and a wild pitch, but he suffered his demise when Olson fanned Little for the final out. The Brandeis copped the battle in the opener. Dygert was punctured and Rohen moved him along with a sacrifice. Dygert set out for third on the play and continued his journey when Gates dropped a throw from first. Graham followed with a safe one and score on Lawler's first double. The Tennessee Rats return to Rourke Park on Saturday and Sunday for return engagements with the Brandeis."

Omaha, NE
"Tennessee Rats Lose - The Tennessee Rats made their first appearance at Rourke Park before a large Memorial Day crowd, losing 3 to 0. Vivian pitched a good game, fanning nine. Errors were partly responsible for his defeat. On Saturday and Sunday they will play a return engagement with the Brandeis Stores at Rourke Park."

June 3, 1916

Omaha, NE
"Brandeis to Play Tennessee Rats at Rourke Park Today - Omaha's crack semi-pro nine, the Brandeis Stores team, will lock horns with the Tennessee Rats at Rourke Park this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Brandeis vanquished the Rats in an exciting tangle Memorial Day and hope to repeat. Rhode, Manager Bradford's new hurler, will appear on the firing line against Lyress. Bradford declares Rhode is a winner and will exhibit a masterful line of curving. The Brandeis play the Rats again on Sunday at Rourke Park."

Omaha, NE
"Rats Return for Saturday and Sunday Afternoon Games - The Brandeis Stores and Brown's Tennessee Rats are booked for two games at Rourke Park, Saturday and Sunday. The great exhibition of Decoration day was fine, both teams being on their mettle. The defeat of the colored athletes was due to both the masterful pitching of Morrey Olson and the clever support afforded him by his teammates. Vivens, the dusky southpaw, made a hit with the fans and is entitled to be classed as one of the leading colored slabmen of the country. Manager Brown of the Rats will probably use Lyress, his crack right-hander, and Manager Bradford will give the fans an opportunity to pass judgement on his latest acquisition, Vinton Rhode, formerly of the Canadian League, in Saturday's game, which is booked for 3:15."

June 4, 1916

Omaha, NE
"Rats Return for Saturday and Sunday Afternoon Games - The Brandeis Stores and Brown's Tennessee Rats are booked for two games at Rourke Park, Saturday and Sunday. The great exhibition of Decoration day was fine, both teams being on their mettle. The defeat of the colored athletes was due to both the masterful pitching of Morrey Olson and the clever support afforded him by his teammates. Vivens, the dusky southpaw, made a hit with the fans and is entitled to be classed as one of the leading colored slabmen of the country. Manager Brown of the Rats will probably use Lyress, his crack right-hander, and Manager Bradford will give the fans an opportunity to pass judgement on his latest acquisition, Vinton Rhode, formerly of the Canadian League, in Saturday's game, which is booked for 3:15."

Omaha, NE
"A large crowd is looked for at Rourke Park this afternoon when the Brandeis warriors will pounce on the dusky rats from Tennessee and endeavor to hold them in submission, so they will not travel around the paths as if there was a cat on their trail. The Tennessee Rats have already amply demonstrated the fact to the fans that have seen them perambulate on the turf that they are a tough combination to feed on lemons. Both teams are in the pink of condition for this fracas, so in all probability a contest worth the nicks with interest and compound interest at that will be staged."