Staten Island Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
The Staten Island Cricket Club (SICC) is a cricket
club on Staten Island
, New York
that was incorporated as the Staten Island Cricket and Base Ball Club on March 22, 1872. It became the first tennis
venue in the United States
.
on the “Flats” or old Camp Washington Terminal from 1866 to 1886. While not the oldest cricket club in the United States, it does claim to be the oldest cricket club in continuous use since its founding in that country. Mary Outerbridge brought tennis to the club in 1874. The first national tennis tournament in America was held at the club on September 1, 1880. 'The waterfront land was known by its Civil War use as Camp Washington. It was here that Mary Ewing Outerbridge, resident of the historic area, introduced lawn tennis in the spring of 1874. Her brother Emilius helped her to set up a net and mark out a tennis court on the grounds of Camp Washington used by the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club. The club had to give way to Erastus Wiman
's ventures at that site and move to the former Rufus King Delafield estate in the Livingston
neighborhood of Staten Island about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) away from St. George. In 1906 the name of the club was changed to the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club, and changed again in 1931 to the Staten Island Cricket Club. In 1925 the property was sold to the Staten Island Academy
then sold in 1930 to the city of New York. After the sale to city the estate was originally named Livingston Park but was later renamed Walker Park in memory of Randolph St. George Walker Jr., a casualty of World War I
and son of a prominent member and officer of the club." A clubhouse on the grounds burned down in 1932, taking many of the club's records with it. The clubhouse was replaced with a Tudor style brick structure in 1934 that is still standing.
Famous cricketers that have played while visiting at the SICC include W. G. Grace
, Colin Blythe
, K. S. Ranjitsinhji, and Donald Bradman
.
Early movie scenes of the S I Cricket Club can be seen in the famous silent film Raffles the Amateur Cracksman (1917) with famous actor John Barrymore
. Barrymore lived on Staten Island as a child. The film is also on youtube. Scenes show a cricket match played at the club.
with cricket pitch
prominently placed in the center of the park, but it also has six asphalt tennis courts in its southeast corner, a little league baseball field
in its southwest corner, two basketball court
s along the west, and a children's playground
in the northwest corner. The cricket club uses the 1934 brick and half-timbered clubhouse in the northeast corner of the park at 50 Bard Avenue.
In the 2000s the club participated in competitive matches in the New York Metropolitan and District Association League. The Latin motto of the club is Lude Ludum Insignia Secundaria which is translated to mean "Winning the game is a secondary concern. Playing the game is a primary reward. (It's just a game...)"
In popular culture it was depicted in Joseph O'Neill
's novel Netherland
which was a story about a New York banker shaken up by the events of September 11, 2001 who takes up cricket and starts playing at the Staten Island club.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
club on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that was incorporated as the Staten Island Cricket and Base Ball Club on March 22, 1872. It became the first tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
venue in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The club originally played at St. GeorgeSt. George, Staten Island
St. George is a neighborhood on the northeastern tip of Staten Island in New York City, where the Kill Van Kull enters Upper New York Bay. It is the most densely developed neighborhood on Staten Island, and the location of the administrative center for the borough and for the coterminous Richmond...
on the “Flats” or old Camp Washington Terminal from 1866 to 1886. While not the oldest cricket club in the United States, it does claim to be the oldest cricket club in continuous use since its founding in that country. Mary Outerbridge brought tennis to the club in 1874. The first national tennis tournament in America was held at the club on September 1, 1880. 'The waterfront land was known by its Civil War use as Camp Washington. It was here that Mary Ewing Outerbridge, resident of the historic area, introduced lawn tennis in the spring of 1874. Her brother Emilius helped her to set up a net and mark out a tennis court on the grounds of Camp Washington used by the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club. The club had to give way to Erastus Wiman
Erastus Wiman
Erastus Wiman was a Canadian journalist and businessman who later moved to the United States.Wiman was born in Churchville, Upper Canada, now part of Ontario, on April 21, 1834....
's ventures at that site and move to the former Rufus King Delafield estate in the Livingston
Livingston, Staten Island
Livingston is a name sometimes applied to the northeastern portion of West Brighton, a neighborhood located on the North Shore of New York City's borough of Staten Island.-Geography:...
neighborhood of Staten Island about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) away from St. George. In 1906 the name of the club was changed to the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club, and changed again in 1931 to the Staten Island Cricket Club. In 1925 the property was sold to the Staten Island Academy
Staten Island Academy
Staten Island Academy is a coeducational, college-preparatory day school located on a campus in Staten Island in New York City, USA. Founded in 1884 by Anton Methfessel, it is the oldest private school on Staten Island, and is the only independent school in the borough. It educates students from...
then sold in 1930 to the city of New York. After the sale to city the estate was originally named Livingston Park but was later renamed Walker Park in memory of Randolph St. George Walker Jr., a casualty of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and son of a prominent member and officer of the club." A clubhouse on the grounds burned down in 1932, taking many of the club's records with it. The clubhouse was replaced with a Tudor style brick structure in 1934 that is still standing.
Famous cricketers that have played while visiting at the SICC include W. G. Grace
W. G. Grace
William Gilbert Grace, MRCS, LRCP was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport...
, Colin Blythe
Colin Blythe
Colin Blythe , also known as Charlie Blythe, was a Kent and England left arm spinner who is regarded as one of the finest bowlers of the period between 1900 and 1914 - sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age" of cricket.-Career:Blythe first played...
, K. S. Ranjitsinhji, and Donald Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
.
Early movie scenes of the S I Cricket Club can be seen in the famous silent film Raffles the Amateur Cracksman (1917) with famous actor John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
. Barrymore lived on Staten Island as a child. The film is also on youtube. Scenes show a cricket match played at the club.
Recent activity
Walker Park has the SICC cricket fieldCricket field
A cricket field consists of a large circular or oval-shaped grassy ground on which the game of cricket is played. There are no fixed dimensions for the field but its diameter usually varies between 450 feet to 500 feet...
with cricket pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
prominently placed in the center of the park, but it also has six asphalt tennis courts in its southeast corner, a little league baseball field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
in its southwest corner, two basketball court
Basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
s along the west, and a children's playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
in the northwest corner. The cricket club uses the 1934 brick and half-timbered clubhouse in the northeast corner of the park at 50 Bard Avenue.
In the 2000s the club participated in competitive matches in the New York Metropolitan and District Association League. The Latin motto of the club is Lude Ludum Insignia Secundaria which is translated to mean "Winning the game is a secondary concern. Playing the game is a primary reward. (It's just a game...)"
In popular culture it was depicted in Joseph O'Neill
Joseph O'Neill
Joseph O'Neill may refer to:* Joseph O'Neill , Irish-born novelist and author of Netherland* Joseph O'Neill , Irish novelist* Joseph O'Neill , Irish politician, member of the 14th Seanad...
's novel Netherland
Netherland
Netherland is a critically acclaimed novel by Joseph O'Neill. It concerns the life of a Dutchman living in New York in the wake of the September 11 attacks who takes up cricket and starts playing at the Staten Island Cricket Club.-Plot summary:...
which was a story about a New York banker shaken up by the events of September 11, 2001 who takes up cricket and starts playing at the Staten Island club.
See also
- St. George Cricket GroundsSt. George Cricket GroundsSt. George Cricket Grounds or "St. George Grounds" is a former baseball ground located on Staten Island, New York, USA. St. George was the home park for the New York Metropolitans of the American Association for the 1886 and 1887 seasons...
was a later cricket, baseball, and lacrosse venue built at or near the club's original St. George location and used in the 1880s. - Richmond County Bank BallparkRichmond County Bank BallparkThe Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George is a baseball stadium located on the north-eastern tip of Staten Island. The ballpark is the home of the Staten Island Yankees, the NY-Penn League affiliate of the New York Yankees, and of Wagner College Seahawks Baseball. The ballpark was also...
is a baseball and cricket ground that opened in 2001 built at or near the SICC's original St. George location.
External links
- The club's later Livingston location, also known as Walker Park, is at 40.6433°N 74.1093°W.