Brookfield Buicks · Brookfield, Missouri · 1921

The biggest sporting event in the history of north Missouri

October 5, 1921: the American League All Stars come to Brookfield, led by John Tobin of the Browns with Dixie Davis in the box, against a Brookfield Buicks lineup guaranteed to contain no one from Brookfield. One pitcher promised $50 to management if he could not beat them.

“The lovers of real base ball are offered an attraction at Brookfield on Wednesday, Oct. 5th, which they cannot well afford to miss.” So opens the Chariton Courier’s preview of the American League All Stars’ 1921 visit, and it wants you to know this is not the usual “barn-storming outfit”: the stars of various teams assembled into one club playing its way to the Pacific coast, “the pick of the St. Louis, Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia and other teams,” under the leadership of “the speediest outfielder in history, John Tobin, of the St. Louis Browns, with ‘Dixie’ Davis, who has twirled such wonderful ball for the Browns, in the box.” Only four other Missouri dates were booked, none within a 100-mile radius.

The opposition would be “called the Brookfield Buicks, but again assurance is given there will not be a Brookfield player in the lineup,” management having realized “it will take the classiest talent available to make these big leaguers realize they are in a real ball game.” The hired Buicks include Jenkins, Brown “the famous first baseman,” Reviere “the scintillating outfielder” and a pitcher named Balmer who “will pitch this game and make a donation of $50.00 to the management if he cannot defeat them.” Cady, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, will catch him, and “the fleet outfielder Zwilling of the Kansas City Blues” patrols the grass, “so it can be seen no stone is being left unturned to secure only the best.”

The details are all business. The teams play on a percentage basis, “so it will not be the usual exhibition game for a flat rate and the absence of competition.” And “to prevent any possible question of prejudice, out of town umpires will officiate in the capacity of arbitrators.” Reserve your seat early through the Community club, “as the capacity of the park will be taxed to the utmost. Don’t fail to see this, the biggest sporting event in the history of north Missouri.”