As early as 1866, Tompkins County had seven or eight amateur baseball clubs, from the Groton Mechanics to the Peculiars of McLean.

Baseball took off in Tompkins County, and from the 1880s to the early 1900s, Black teams such as Forest City, the Keystones, and the Ithaca Colored Nine/Ithaca Giants played Black and white regional teams. Later, the Colored Vets team organized and a star player emerged, Robert Cooper.

On August 24, 1947, an afternoon baseball game between the Colored Vets and Hector came to a sudden stop with the news that Robert had a newborn son. Thus began Adrian Cooper’s lifelong connection with baseball. At age four, Adrian became a bat boy for his father;

“It was just being with dad at that time. I mean I didn’t know nothing about baseball at the time, but I’d carry his shoes, or his glove. We’d go to the ball game, and I’d be a bat boy and run out there and…go out and get the bat and come back and that’s how it all began…I’d chase the foul balls and whatnot and go get ‘em and give ‘em to the umpire.”

“Little Coop” and “Big Coop,” as they became known, were fixtures of the local baseball scene in the 1950s and 1960s. Now, nearly 70 years later, Adrian’s memories and love of the game give us a unique window into the history of Tompkins County baseball, as experienced by a young Black boy. Memorabilia from his career, and his fathers, are on display in our exhibit hall.

Adrian will be visiting Ithaca for a Vintage Baseball Game at Taughannock Falls on August 17th. The game, presented by the History Center, will be played with rules from 1864. Families are invited to bring picnics, cheer loudly, and enjoy baseball as a timeless experience that Adrian remembers fondly, "at noon, when there was nothing to do, they’d go and watch a ball game…There’d be families out there, they’d sit in the ballpark and drink cold beers and what not.”

For those too passionate about the game to watch from the lawn, there's still time to join us for a practice and represent Ithaca against the Bovina Dairymen at the big game! Practice will be held on August 11th at 2 p.m. at Cass Park, Field B1 and B2. See the graphics below for more info, or contact director@thehistorycenter.net

We can't wait to see you at Taughannock, bring your folding chairs and stop by the History Center Table for your complimentary rule card and to take a peek at baseball items from our collection.