What Happened in the First Ever Baseball Game?

Bobby Matthews posing with a bat in hand (CCed by Liscense 2.0)

Baseball is more than just an event involving a customized wooden stick and a ball. Baseball is more than just a game that we all started playing as children. Baseball is life for some as it is a pastime for others that is enjoyed by generations. Some work their entire lives to get a call from a Major League team, as others yearn to play catch with their father or loved one. There is no specific way to play. Everyone has their own batting stance or throwing motion. Universally, it is one of the most understood sports in the world in a base sense.

But what if it never existed? Or perhaps did for a brief time and never worked out? We would not have had Aaron Judge’s 62 home run season, Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, or even the iconic "Touch ‘em all, Joe” call in the 1993 World Series. There would be no such thing as the World Series. All these people would still exist, but they may have been completely unknown if baseball never gained in popularity. 

As like everything in this world, nothing starts out big. For baseball, it began in one of the smallest ways ever in a game that some of the most even diehard fans cannot recite. The first ever major league baseball game was played in Indiana on May 4th, 1871, a ripe 155 years ago and just six years after a nation divided ended what would be known as the Civil War. The game was played by the Fort Wayne Kekiongas against the Cleveland Forest Citys in what was then known as the National Association. The game was played at the Kekionga Base Ball Grounds. The Kekionga Base Ball Grounds was located in Camp Allen, which had been used as a Union staging area for troops during the Civil War. Amateur games were played there in the 1860s, but that May date of 1871 was when history would be made. Surprisingly, the full play-by-play still exists today despite it being from the 19th century. I actually think it is a little sad how you can find a full game stat line and roster from literally the first-ever Major League game from over 150 years ago, but yet game records from minor league baseball pre-1980s are nearly impossible to find.

The game would result in a 2-0 Fort Wayne win over Cleveland in nine innings. A low-scoring game in 1870s standards would end up marking history in what was a pitcher’s duel that only saw eight combined hits and two combined walks. Both starters went the distance, but only one would actually notch a strikeout. Bobby Matthews would punch out six batters to get the first pitching win in MLB history. Matthews threw the first ever complete game and shutout.  As a matter of fact, Matthews got a literal complete game, as despite being on the home team, original rules allowed for the home team to play the bottom of the ninth even if they are winning. The Kekiongas’ elected to, and Matthews got three quick groundouts to seal the win. Art Allison would become the first strikeout victim in MLB history, but also would later become the first player to steal a base and become the first to get caught stealing. Now that’s a rollercoaster of a history book page.

The 2-0 shutout was very unusual at the time, as it would be the lowest scoring ball game in MLB history throughout its first four seasons. Just two years prior in 1869, an amateur game played at the Base Ball Grounds resulted in over 40 combined runs, so it is safe to say that this was a world-class outing from both pitchers and their defenses. It was acclaimed as the ‘greatest game of all time’ by many due to how much of a defensive showing it was at the time.

The Kekionga Base Ball Grounds were demolished in the 1880s, with a portion becoming development for housing. On May 4th, 2024, a monument was unveiled on the site of the game, which is now part of Camp Allen Park in Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a one-year major league team, which would post a 13-18 record. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Forest Citys would go defunct in 1889, but only played in what is now the majors until 1872. 

Both teams played a pivotal role in the ultimate start of the great sport we love today. To think of all of the events that occurred after this 2-0 game, you can’t help but wonder why this does not get discussed more often. In any case, next time you see a second deck tank or a nasty curveball, hopefully it reminds you and allows you to appreciate the bout on May 4th, 1871.