Philadelphia Baseball History

By William J. Kovatch, Jr. This week I address the arguments against Pete Rose's reinstatement, and show that as a legend of the game he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

William J.Kovatch, Jr.             The first Philadelphia Athletics baseball club, according to star second baseman Alfred J. Reach, had its roots in music.   A group of music lovers, calling themselves the Handel and Haydn Music Society met regularly along Philadelphia’s Spring Garden Street.   In addition to their penchant for singing, the members also had a joy for playing ball.             In a meeting held in 1859, over which a coal merchant named John J. Heisler presided, the Philadelphia Athletic Ball Club was created.   Heisler became the club’s first treasurer and second baseman.   William Ernst was elected president.             When the club was formed, the popular ball game in the Philadelphia area was called town ball.   The game involved a bowler lobbing a ball to a batsman or striker, who tried to hit the ball, and run around a set of bases.   The rules, however, were much looser than the game we know today as baseball.     A player could be thrown out by lite