Three Strikes Two-Step (Sousa Baseball Team) [2 copies], 1899
Series Description
This subseries dates from 1897 to 1953 and features teams associated with schools, minor leagues, youth leagues, independent teams and individuals who are not defined with any Major League team. Sheet music in this subseries documents interest in baseball outside the Major Leagues. Music from college and school teams includes the "Illinois Loyalty Song," (University of Illinois) from 1907, and "Our Ball Team," from Holy Ghost College (now Duquesne University) in Pittsburgh from 1897, featuring a photograph of Holy Ghost College's baseball field with smoky skies over the Monongahela. The minor leagues are well represented in this subseries and account for eight titles. Of note among minor league music are the 1915 "Copper League Waltz," featuring team photographs from this New Mexico league; the 1906 "Tri-State March Two-Step," featuring teams from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey; the 1936 "Our Team's Leading the Hit Parade," featuring head shots of the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association; the 1912 "Hustlers Pennant March," featuring a team photo of the Rochester, New York International League; and the 1908 "Millionaires March Two-Step," featuring Williamsport of the Tri-State League. Youth leagues music includes two songs about Little League that were written in 1950 and 1953, and the song "Legion Ball: Marching Song," featuring pictures of major league veterans of Legion baseball. Songs from individuals include announcer Mel Allen's 1952 song, "Play Ball, You All," and two songs from 1913 and 1914 about ballplayer turned evangelist, Billy Sunday. Songs about other teams include the 1923 "House of David Blues," for the Benton Harbor, Michigan religious organization that sponsored a prominent touring team. A full-page advertisement for John Philip Sousa's 1899 "Three Strikes Two-Step," appears on the back of "A Dream of Heaven Waltz," and features a team photograph of the Sousa Baseball Team. Also included are the song lyrics written for the Wright Team for the 1929 United States Fleet Championship held at Balboa, in the Canal Zone (Panama). This last piece includes photographs of the Wright baseball team in action, presumably during 1929.
Dates
- 1899
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions but viewing materials does require an appointment. Please contact the Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.81 Cubic Feet (In five oversize flat boxes)
From the Collection: 5.42 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Archives Repository