A Toronto baseball team from 1880

From the Toronto Evening Telegram, April 1919

Thirty-nine years ago up on the the old grounds in Queen’s Park, near where now stand the Parliament Buildings, the Clipper Baseball Club performed. That was in 1880, a long time ago, it is true, but not too long for even some of the present day “regulars” to the Island Stadium to remember. The Clippers were a good team. J. Little was the manager, T. G. Ryves the president, and R. Irving the vice-president.

Those in the picture shown above are: Back row, J Little, manager; T G Ryves president; R Irving vice president. Second row, J McKinley, R Parks, L Gibb, F Macklin, A Ryves. First row, Geo. Bell, W. Galloway, W W Jeffers, captain. Sitting, D Smith and W L Crofoot.

There were no league games at that time. All were independent affairs. They had no big catcher’s glove, no shaped first baseman’s mitt, and no fielder’s gloves as used now. True, they had gloves, but they were skimpy affairs and afforded little protection to the hands. . . . ♦

Comments:

My name is L.M.Y. and I am the great-granddaughter of Thomas Ryves who was the president of The Old Clipper Baseball Team. You have his name as TS Ryves in the article of The Old Clipper Club, when in fact it is TG Ryves.

Full Name is Thomas Groves Ryves. Birth 1858 and died 1935. He was married to Ella Ronney Ryves and they had two children, Frederick and Florence — Florence being my grandmother.

Thomas at one time lived at 18 St. Vincent St. Toronto. He had three siblings — Annie, Albert and John. I do hope his name can be corrected in the article to T. G. Ryves. — L.M.Y. (August 2026)

Note: The name of the correspondent’s great-grandfather has been amended as requested.