Timeline
Baseball has become a key part of Rockway life - here you can find a timeline of major events in Rockean history, intertwined with key milestones in the development of baseball on Rockway. Historical events are in black text, general baseball events in gold and Clubs League structural and rules changes are in red.
1507
The island of Rockway is discovered by the Scottish explorer Macrath Fearghasdan aboard his ship, the Reenger.
1573
Rockway coast is fully charted by a Portuguese expedition.
1603
The first permanent settlement is established on Rockway at Old Town, by a small group of English pioneers.
1631
Johnstown is founded, the first settlement on Rockway's west coast.
1678
The British colonial governor relocates his headquarters to Johnstown, making it the de facto capital of the Rockway colony.
1744
The Northeast Incident. A French invasion of Rockway is repelled by the islands' Royal Navy garrison. British military chiefs increase their presence on what is seen as a key outpost for the flourishing Empire.
1776
Colonial leaders sign an oath of allegiance to the King amidst growing revolution in nearby North America.
1837
The Johnstown Empire Club is founded as a cricket, sports and recreation club.
1860
The Tond Union Club for sports and recreations is founded.
1861
The Rockway Western Railway Line - the first on the island - is completed, linking Johnstown to Ironfox via Tond.
1867
The British North America Acts combine four British North America provinces into the Dominion of Canada. Rockway is not included within the Acts, but is granted 'Responsible Government' status.
1871
The Rockway Times is first published.
1872
The cross-Rockway Railway Line is finished, providing a direct train link from Johnstown to Old Town.
1876
The Fairshore Atlantic Sports Club is founded.
1878
Rockway is granted Dominion status by a British Act of Parliament.
*
Elections to the Rockway Council select the first Dominion Government.
1882
The first recorded game of baseball on Rockway is played between two barnstorming teams of American National Leaguers.
1883
The first baseball game between two Rockean clubs takes place on the island, pitching the Johnstown Empire Club against the South Johnstown Nine.
*
The Ironfox Baseball Club and the Old Town Baseball Club are both founded.
1884
The Moontree Moons and Stovepipe Mulligans baseball clubs are founded.
1885
The Johnstown Motorised Tramway carries its first paying customer.
*
The Johnstown Empire Club cause great controversy by offering payments to players in order to build the most competitive squad. By the end of the year, a further four teams have followed suit.
1886
The Johnstown Professionals club and the Yaxley Ball Club are founded.
*
The Academicals, a baseball team made up of students from Johnstown University, become the last amateur team to defeat a professional outfit - the Johnstown Professionals - in a competitive game.
*
Amid calls for professionalism to be banned, the Rockean Government brokers a compromise between the owners of the nine professional baseball clubs and representatives of the amateur game so that professional teams will in future seasons be limited to competing only against each other.
*
The first Rockean professional baseball league - the Clubs League - is formally announced, to begin play in 1887.
1887
The six Clubs League teams play the first season of officially organised professional baseball on Rockway.
1889
The governing Unity Party, led by Sir Henry Wickham, narrowly win a fourth consecutive election. Their unexpected victory is largely put down to Wickham's personal popularity after his actions in the baseball crisis.
The first recorded game of baseball on Rockway is played between two barnstorming teams of American National Leaguers.
1883
The first baseball game between two Rockean clubs takes place on the island, pitching the Johnstown Empire Club against the South Johnstown Nine.
*
The Ironfox Baseball Club and the Old Town Baseball Club are both founded.
1884
The Moontree Moons and Stovepipe Mulligans baseball clubs are founded.
1885
The Johnstown Motorised Tramway carries its first paying customer.
*
The Johnstown Empire Club cause great controversy by offering payments to players in order to build the most competitive squad. By the end of the year, a further four teams have followed suit.
1886
The Johnstown Professionals club and the Yaxley Ball Club are founded.
*
The Academicals, a baseball team made up of students from Johnstown University, become the last amateur team to defeat a professional outfit - the Johnstown Professionals - in a competitive game.
*
Amid calls for professionalism to be banned, the Rockean Government brokers a compromise between the owners of the nine professional baseball clubs and representatives of the amateur game so that professional teams will in future seasons be limited to competing only against each other.
*
The first Rockean professional baseball league - the Clubs League - is formally announced, to begin play in 1887.
1887
The six Clubs League teams play the first season of officially organised professional baseball on Rockway.
1889
The governing Unity Party, led by Sir Henry Wickham, narrowly win a fourth consecutive election. Their unexpected victory is largely put down to Wickham's personal popularity after his actions in the baseball crisis.
