Friday, April 30, 2010

Postcard Friendship Friday (chirp...chirp)

Today in history! On May 1, 1751 the first (and perhaps last) cricket game was played in America. I have no further information to share with you - who played, who won, how long the game lasted, whether they stopped mid-game for a spot of tea, if any fan(s) stayed for the whole game. I do know that, for ever what reason, cricket is not a big game here in the states. It's not even a little game. We play baseball and eat peanuts and crackerjack.

The British still owned the US in 1751 which explains why the game was even played here on our soil in the first place. After 1776 we changed our TV channels to Baseball, Basketball, American Football and let the Canadians come on down and play Hockey with us.

Cricket was played in the Olympics only once: during the 1900 Olympics in Paris, France.

Other first and last time sports played in these first Olympic games of 1900 (which was an appendage of the 1900's World's Fair) included obstacle swimming, pigeon shooting, pigeon racing equestrian high and long jumping, angling, ballooning, canon shooting, fire fighting, kite flying and life saving.




The card is dated April 11 with no year. Mother is writing a note to her children to tell them Cyrus is getting better, and they celebrated his birthday yesterday and had a nice dinner. The weather is beautiful, but no rain, and although the farmers are busy they aren't planting yet. There's something about chickens and beans. She misses her children and wishes they could visit.

American Crickets of Note:


Mormon Cricket
(Not sure if there are crickets of other religions)


Although cricket did not catch on here, crickets did. The invasion of Mormon crickets in Salt Lake, Utah, is part of our history as are the thousands of hungry seagulls who flew by and saved the day.


Rock n' Roll Cricket

Buddy Holly (and the Crickets) was a important and revolutionary Cricket to the music culture


L.A. Cricket

Connie Stevens played a chirpy little character named "Cricket" on Warner Bros. "77 Sunset Strip" back in the 60's

For more Postcard Friendship Friday fun, stop by Beth's at "The Best Hearts Are Crunchy"

11 comments:

viridian said...

Dear Muse;
Your link on Beth's site is not correct. Luckily I have a link to your web page built into my blog!

Beth Niquette said...

I took care of the link problem. The right one is featured now!

I LOVED this post! Your postcard made me laugh--the old guy could have been my grandfather--and he's playing Cricket???

(guffaw)

Happy PFF!

Joy said...

Love the card. I wonder if the shamrock is a reference to the Irish tour to the USA.

Snap said...

Fun post ... loved all your *crickets*!!! Happy PFF!

Paul van Yperen said...

Loved your post. Amazing but very understandable that there has been only one cricket game in the US. I had forgotten that Buddy Holly's band was called the Crickets and I would love to see that film with Connie Stevens. Thanks for sharing.

Clytie said...

I love your post about Cricket(s). You have a wonderful sense of humor, and a knack for ferreting out the most interesting bits of information!

The postcard is fantastic - I laughed at what Beth said about the grampa looking guy - it's true!

Happy PFF!

Postcardy said...

They sure had some odd sports at the 1900 Olympics.

Tussy said...

Beautiful post, look like very neat drawing.

You Got A Posty ~ PFF
Theme Day ~ Statue

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

Cricket, lovely cricket. I was brought up to love the game. Fortunately, because I'm now married to a sports fan and we watch it all the time. :)

Lyneen said...

Interesting history on cricket in the US... I wonder if we would have continued under British rule if we would have cricket as a spectator sport????? HMMMMM Happy PFF!

Tea Time With Melody said...

I like the part where we "let the Canadians come down and play hockey" hahah