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Full name Excelsior Base Ball Club of Brooklyn Nickname(s) Jolly Young Bachelor Base Ball Club Motto Ever Ownward! Founded December 8, 1854 at Florence's Hotel, Broadway and Howards Streets in NY Ground Carroll Park (1854-1859)South End of Court Street Red Hook (1859-1870)PresidentsJeremiah Nelson Tappan (1854-1857)Dr. Joseph Bainbridge Jones (1857-1865)Richard K. Cooke (1865-1866)Dr. Joseph Bainbridge Jones (1866-1870) League National Association of Base Ball Players | ||
The Brooklyn Excelsiors were an amateur baseball team that played in Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1854, the Excelsior ballclub featured stars such as Jim Creighton, Asa Brainard, and Candy Cummings.
The team is known for originating the "Brooklyn-style" baseball cap, precursor to the modern cap.
1860 Championship Season
In 1860, the Excelsior club made a now-famous tour around New York and large cities in surrounding states. They defeated the Champion Club of Albany, the Victory Club of Troy, the Buffalo Niagaras, and the powerful Brooklyn Atlantics.
The Excelsiors were National Association champions that year, finishing in a draw with the Atlantic Club. However, the Brooklyn Atlantics were the accepted champions.
During the 1860 season, the Excelsiors began wearing an ancestor of the modern baseball cap, including a long visor and button top. The cap, which became popular by the 1900s, was known as "Brooklyn-style", and was the predominant baseball cap until the 1940s.