John Radcliff played for four teams in the National Association of 1871-75.
John Young (or Yardell) Radcliff (or Radcliffe) was born
June 29, 1848 (or 1846), in Philadelphia to John and Mary Radcliff. The 1850
census shows the family in Philadelphia County; John Sr. is a 32-year-old trunk
maker, Mary is 29, Samuel 7, Catherine 6, John is listed as 4, and Mary 1.
In the 1860 census the family lives in Camden, New Jersey.
John Sr. is still a trunk maker but has only aged 7 years; Mary has aged 9,
Samuel 11, Catherine (now Kate) 10, John 10, and Mary 11, plus there is now
10-year-old Sallie.
At some point John started playing baseball, which in the
1860s was very different from today, or even from the 1890s, and not just in
terms of the rules. There were no professional leagues, and ostensibly no
professional teams, though many upper-level teams paid some of their players. In
1867 he made his way to the Athletic club of Philadelphia, one of the country’s
top teams, as reported in the June 9 New York Dispatch:
We understand that the Athletics intend taking Radcliffe, a member of the Camden and Keystone clubs, on to Boston to catch for them. This is in direct violation of the rules, which say that a player must be a member of a club thirty days before playing in match games with them. Mr. Radcliffe is now a member of three clubs, and we advise the Eastern clubs to look out for him and enforce the rules. This borrowing men from other clubs won’t do.
“The rules” were the rules of the National Association of
Base Ball Players, the governing body of “amateur” baseball. Despite the
warning, John played right field for the Athletics against Lowell in Boston on
June 13, and hit two of the team’s eight home runs as they won 53-8. He
continued to play for the Athletic club, mostly catching. That year’s Camden
city directory shows John Radcliff as a produce dealer, living at 420 Hamilton
Street with Samuel; the Philadelphia city directory shows John Radcliffe with a
butcher shop at 274 5th Street Market, but living in Camden. The
1870 census will show both Johns as produce dealers, but our John will go into
meat and poultry after his father’s death, so perhaps he is the butcher.
On March 29, 1868, the New York Dispatch reported:
They had a good time on the Camden grounds, Camden, on the 17th inst. Al. Reach, Sensenderfer, Radcliff, Fisler, Kahmer, McMullin, D. Carter, Albertson, Borquin, Clarke, A. Howard, and several other well-known ball-tossers were upon the field, and sides were chosen, and a sharp game of six innings was played, resulting in favor of Radcliff’s side by a score of 21 to 15.
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 11:
The Athletic nine this season, will be composed of the following players: J.D. McBride, A.J. Reach, John Radcliff, Isaac Wilkins, Weston Fisler, Thomas Berry, John Sensenderfer, Edward Cuthbert, and their new player, Schaefer.
The Athletics made a tour of the western states, or what
were the western states at the time, and on June 6 they defeated the famous
Cincinnati Red Stockings, 20-13. The Cincinnati Daily Gazette reported
on the 8th:
There was a good deal of excitement over the matter in the evening, at the hotels, in the saloons, and elsewhere. It is generally conceded that, on the whole, the game was the best that has ever been played in the West.
On June 18 John scored 12 runs as the Athletics defeated the
Forest City club of Rockford, Illinois, 94-18. On July 25 the Camden New
Republic reported:
BASE BALL—The Athletic Base Ball Club has lost the services of its catcher, Mr. John Radcliffe, of this city, he having sent in his resignation last Tuesday morning. On the previous evening he left for New York, where he has joined the Mutual Club and is expected to play in the game with the Atlantic on the 30th inst.
But five days later, in the New York Tribune:
Radcliffe has returned to Philadelphia, and rejoined the Athletics. It may be remembered that Radcliffe joined the Mutual Club of this city a week ago.
John finished the year with the Athletics, usually catching
and batting third. He was recognized as a star, as suggested by this item from
the Dodgeville (WI) Chronicle of January 22, 1869:
The gold medals offered by the New York Clipper to the nine base ball players making the best average during the season of 1868, have been awarded to Messrs. Radcliffe, McBride, Foster, Reach and Sensenderfer of the Philadelphia Athletics, Waterman and Johnson of the Cincinnatis and Wright of the Unions of Morrisania.
By this time it was being reported that John would be
joining the Cincinnati Red Stockings, but it doesn’t seem to have actually
happened, and instead he wound up back with the Keystone club of Philadelphia,
one of the teams he had left for the Athletics in 1867. At the end of May it
was reported that he had left the club, and on June 6 the New York Dispatch
relayed the story:
Mr. H.R. Hellier, corresponding secretary of the Keystone Club of Philadelphia, in a letter to the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury, which we publish below, explains the rumors, and gives the facts in regard to the resignation of Radcliff from the Keystones.
Base Ball Editor Sunday Mercury: In the issue of the City Item, dated May 19, appears the following:
“Radcliffe, we hear, has resigned from the Keystone. A great loss. He wanted regular pay, as promised, and he should have had it. They’ll miss him.”
Radcliffe signed an agreement to play with the Keystones for the season of 1869, for $10 per week, which was paid him, viz: April 30, $10. He then said $10 per week was not enough to pay him for his time, so the club agreed to give him $15 per week. They paid him $15 on the 8th of May, and $15 on the 15th of May. On the 22nd of May Mr. Radcliffe called on me and said he had called at the Treasurer’s house and could not find him in. I asked him if he wanted any money, or would wait till Tuesday, when he would see the Treasurer on the ground. He replied that he would like some money then. I gave him $10—all the money I had in my pocket—and he went away perfectly satisfied. On Monday, the 24th, I received the following communication through the post:
CAMDEN, May 22d, 1869.
To the officers and members of the Keystone Base Ball Club:--
I offer this as my resignation, for reasons to devote myself to the business duties of life. Wishing success to the club, I am very respectfully yours,
JOHN RADCLIFFE, JR.
These are the facts of the case,
HENRY R. HELLIER, Cor. Sec. Keystone B.B.C.
John made his way back to the Athletics, with whom he
traveled to Brooklyn for a game against the Atlantic club on July 5. The New
York Dispatch reported on the 11th:
When the two nines finally presented themselves in attitude for play, much disappointment was felt at seeing Radcliffe in the Athletic nine, as his presence (not being entitled to play) made it evident to all that the game was to be a social one instead of a regular match game, as had been anticipated; and we were informed by a Philadelphia reporter who accompanied the Athletics that the intention all along had been to make the two first games mere contests for gate money, the regular matches to be played in the Fall. All this would have been overlooked, however, had a fine display of science and skill been afforded; but such was not the case, the fielding being the poorest shown by either club this season, four hours being occupied in getting the twenty-seven hands out on each side. The batting was the only redeeming feature, the display in this respect being certainly very fine, every man striking as though his sole aim and desire was to make a home run. Every player in both nines fielded miserably, dropping fly balls, muffing grounders, throwing wildly, in fact, conducting themselves like the veriest muffins, the few good points that were made being entirely lost in the avalanche of bad play.
John played the rest of the year with the Athletics,
generally catching and batting eighth.
The 1870 census shows the family living in Camden. John Sr.
is a 52-year-old produce dealer, with real estate valued at $1500 and personal
estate of $1000. Mary is 48. Samuel is a 27-year-old produce dealer with $2200
in real estate, John is a 22-year-old produce dealer, Mary Jr. is 20, and
Sallie is now Sarah and is 17. On March 14 the Cleveland Daily Herald
reported in its “Base Ball Items” column:
…In other cities throughout the country the “busy notes of preparation” admonish us that the season of 1870 will be one of unusual activity. The Athletic Club of Philadelphia, the Champions of Pennsylvania, and long contestants for the higher title of “Champions of America,” have completed their nine as follows: …John Radcliffe, short stop…
That spring the Cincinnati Semi-Weekly Gazette ran
position-by-position reports on the top teams in the country, covering the
Athletics in their April 5 issue:
BASE BALL.
Leading Clubs of the United States
ATHLETIC, OF PHILADELPHIA
The Athletics, the pet club of Philadelphia, will make a determined struggle, this year; for the honor of being considered the best club in the United States, and also for the possession of the whip pennant, the emblem of the championship. They mean business, and present one of the strongest nines in the country with which to wrestle for the supremacy in our national game…
SHORT STOP.
Johnny Radcliffe, the “little Jerseyman,” will play short stop in the Athletic Nine, and will undoubtedly maintain his well earned reputation as one of the best players we have. “Red” joined the Philadelphia Club in 1867 as catcher, which position he filled during 1867 and 1868 in a style that has never been surpassed by any catcher, with the exception of Allison, of the Cincinnati club. Radcliffe is a splendid general player also, and a good change pitcher. He combines all the requisites of a first-class shortstop—pluckiness in facing all kinds of hot balls, agility and good throwing qualities. As a batsman he is one of the top lights of the fraternity, and although a very small man [5-6, 140], he can bat a ball a tremendous distance, and is also a very safe hitter and a good base runner.
He was engaged for the Red Stocking Nine in the early part of last season, but owing to the troubles he became involved in with his old club, he was released from his engagement to the Cincinnatis, and returned to Philadelphia. The Athletics will do well to retain him…
John did play shortstop, usually batting seventh. On June 22
the Red Stockings came to Philadelphia, and the Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
reported:
To-day the Red Stockings achieved the greatest victory of their brilliant record, defeating the undoubted second best nine in the country, the best nine the famous Athletics ever presented on a ball-field, and the so-called champions of the United States, in the face of the partially unfriendly crowd of over 20,000 people, after a hard up-hill fight. The game, too, was played with an elastic ball, the choice of the Athletics, and therefore favoring batting rather than fielding, and long hits being in order, of course the Philadelphia players were the gainers when the ball was knocked into the crowd friendly to them…
John hit three singles and a homer, scoring four runs, as
the Red Stockings won 27-25. On July 26 the New York World reported:
The Athletics appeared in their new uniform, consisting of light gray and blue plaid stockings, white flannel trowsers, with a white bow at the knees, a flesh colored silk shirt, with a short white flannel jacket, and a flat topped cap of the same material.
In October it was again reported that John would be joining
the Red Stockings, but the team disbanded and he wound up back with the
Athletics, now part of the newly formed National Association of Professional
Base Ball Players, the first professional league, often considered retroactively to have
been the first major league. The first game was played on May 4, though the
Athletics didn’t play their first league game until the 20th.
John played shortstop and batted third in the order that
season. The Athletics won the pennant with a 21-7 record; most games the teams
played were not official league games. John hit .303 (the league average was
.287), tied for third in runs scored with 47, and was second in fielding
percentage among shortstops at .804.
After the season John signed with Baltimore for 1872. They
finished in second place with a 35-19 record, while John led the league with
297 at-bats—and also with 74 errors, most of them at shortstop—hitting .290. As
an indication of how much the game centered around putting the ball in play, he
had two strikeouts and no walks.
John returned to Baltimore in 1873 and split time between
shortstop and third base. He hit .287 but his extra base hits were down
considerably.
The 1874 Camden city directory shows John Radcliff as a
poultry dealer, Samuel Radcliff as a poultry dealer, and John Y. Radcliff as a
gentleman, all at 556 Berkley Street. Maybe John Sr. had retired, or maybe our John was doing so well with the baseball thing that he didn’t need to work.
Early in 1874 John signed with a new team to the National
Association, a second team for Philadelphia. Baseball Reference calls them the
Philadelphia Whites, but at the time they were generally just referred to as
the Philadelphia Club, as opposed to the Athletic Club of Philadelphia. In
February it was reported that John’s contract was for $1200. From the Philadelphia
Dispatch, March 22:
The Philadelphia nine, although new in composition and association, will be comprised of as strong players as the country can produce…At second base either Craver or Radcliff will probably flourish…Radcliff is also one of the most available infielders in the country, and will render great service to the Quakers during the season…
John played every position except pitcher and catcher for
the Philadelphia Club, but most often in the outfield. In July he was accused
of trying to enlist Umpire William McLean to help him and some teammates to
throw a game to the Chicago White Stockings in Chicago. From the Chicago
Tribune, September 4:
THE CHARGES AGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA CLUB.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3.—Several reports have been given of the investigation into the actions of certain men of the Philadelphia and Chicago clubs. The affidavits made have all been carefully kept under lock and key, and none but the Investigating Committee were allowed to know their contents. Despite all this secret working, your correspondent got hold of the following affidavit, which tells the whole tale, and is strictly a verbatim copy:
William McLean, residing at 197 Grand avenue, being sworn, doth depose and say: I was in Chicago at the time the Philadelphia Base-Ball Club arrived in that city to play the Chicago Club, and it was understood between the two clubs that I was to umpire all three games to be played in that city. Previous to the first game being played, and on the same day, I was approached by John Radcliffe, one of the players of the Philadelphia Base-Ball Club. He took me to one side, in the hotel (the Clifton) where they were stopping, and told me that he had $350 which he gave to his brother to bet in Philadelphia on the result of this game, stating at the same time that it was all the money he had, and that he would give me one-half if I gave my decision in favor of the White Stockings. He also stated that there were four others in with him. He named them as Cummings, Hicks, Craver, and Mack, and himself, and wanted the game to result in favor of the Whites. When he offered me one-half of the $350, I told him I would have nothing to do with it, and I said I would umpire the game the same as I had done all the other games. He said they were all together, and that Cummings was to put the balls right on the bat. During the game, I saw Craver go to Zettlein at the end of one of the innings. He raised his hand to his mouth and said, “If you cannot win this game you cannot win any, as you have got it all your own way.” I also saw Craver at second base pick up a ball, drop it, fumble it, and instead of throwing it to first, having plenty of time, he threw backwards over his head. He also picked up a ball close to Mack and threw hard and wide to first base to prevent the runner from being put out. Cummings, Hicks, Craver, Mack, and Radcliffe did not play, in my opinion, as they ought to play. Cummings pitched during the game nice for the batter. I mean to say that he pitched the ball as if he wanted the batters to hit it. Hicks did not throw to second base as he can do and ought to have done, the players stealing second base with impunity. What confirms me in my opinion was a remark that I heard Hicks make to Cuthbert, “If you can show me any man that is wrong, I will give you $25.” Sworn and subscribed to this 20th day of August, A.D, 1874.
WILLIAM MCLEAN.
J.P. DELANEY, Alderman.
Radcliffe and his brother deny the truth of the charges. The Committee have rendered a report to-night recommending J.T. [sic] Radcliffe’s immediate expulsion, and reprimanding the Directors for a lack of discipline; also for negligence in the performance of their duties.
On September 9 the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on
a meeting of the club members the previous night, in which the five-man
committee presented their reports. Two members concluded that John had been
proven guilty while his teammates had not; two members felt that the evidence
had failed to show that anyone was guilty; and one member said that he had
originally signed the statement of the first two but had reconsidered, now
feeling that he had no idea whether John was guilty but believing that his
teammates were not. Another meeting was held on the 9th, and the Cleveland
Leader of the 12th shared the New York Times’ report on
it:
BASE BALL.
The Charges Against the Philadelphia Nine—Radcliffe Ejected From the Club, and the Other Players Censured.
Correspondent to the New York Times.
PHILADELPHIA, September 9, 1874.
The investigation into the charges of selling out by members of the Philadelphia Base Ball Club, of which mention has heretofore been made in the Times, concluded this evening. Radcliffe, the accused party, presented to the club this afternoon a document reflecting seriously on McLean’s character, but the allegations had, it is said, but little weight among the members of the club. McLean, on the other hand, submitted a letter to the club, in which he offered to withdraw the charges made against Radcliffe, assigning as his reason the fact that he thought it was decidedly unfair to have “Johnny” thrown overboard and made to bear all the blame, when his companions would be exonerated. In offering to withdraw the charges, however, McLean said he did not mean to back water, but that he still held Radcliffe and the others to be guilty. The club then voted by 26 to 15 to eject Radcliffe from the club, and a vote of censure was passed on the other players for the loose manner in which they had been playing, Radcliffe signified his intention of carrying the matter before the judiciary committee to have his character vindicated, and failing to secure satisfaction there, he will take the case to the courts, and commence suit against his accusers for conspiracy. The club authorized a reward of $300 to be paid to any person, producing testimony to convict any other player of the nine of dishonest practice. The action of the meeting debars Radcliffe playing in any professional club in the country until his character is cleared.
As a clarification, it was the members of the athletic club
who voted 26 to 15, not specifically the members of the club’s baseball team.
While with the team John played in 23 games (the team played 58 for the season)
and hit .243 in 103 at-bats.
John continued to fight for reinstatement. From the Philadelphia
Dispatch, March 7, 1875:
Base Ball.
THE ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL CONVENTION—MEETING OF THE JUDICIARY—DISPOSITION OF CASES—CHANGES OF RULES—NEW OFFICIARY AND COMMITTEES—THE CASE OF D.W. FORCE
Monday last was not a day calculated to bring back memories of green fields and spring butter; but the meeting of the base ball lovers at the Atlantic Club rooms caused considerable excitement, and a scene of unusual activity ensued during the day…
John S. [sic] Radcliff’s appeal for reinstatement—Radcliff, it will be remembered, was expelled from the Philadelphia Club for alleged dishonesty on the accusation of William McLean. Messrs. Redheiffer and Davies appeared as counsel for Radcliff and for the Philadelphia Club. Mr. Davies stated that the original Philadelphia Club was not an incorporated body, was no longer in existence, and that the present organization had no desire to press matters against the plaintiff. Upon these grounds Radcliff was accordingly reinstated.
So John was off the hook because the Philadelphia Club of
1875 was not the same entity as the Philadelphia Club of 1874, and therefore
the team he had allegedly betrayed no longer existed. There would actually be
three National Association teams in Philadelphia in 1875, the third one being
called the Centennial Club—and that’s where John ended up, after a March 13
report in the Chicago Inter Ocean that he was playing for the New Haven Elm
City club.
However, the Centennials folded after their game of May 24,
having played 14 games and lost 12 of them. John had played in five of them,
all at shortstop, where he made 15 errors for a fielding percentage of .651,
while hitting .174.
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, where the Red Stockings had folded
after the 1870 season, a new professional team was being organized. The July 17
Cincinnati Daily Times reported that: “A private telegram from Colonel
John P. Joyce, last night, states that he has engaged Radcliffe, a well-known
ball tosser, and Snyder, the ‘finest first baseman in the country,’ for the new
Cincinnati club.” The team, inevitably known as the Red Stockings, began play
in early August, not as part of the National Association but as an independent
team, though they did play some games against NA opponents.
John was the captain of the Red Stockings, played shortstop,
and usually batted third. A report in the September 1 Cincinnati Enquirer
on a game against the Covington Stars said that: “Radcliffe did good service at
short, but neglected to bestir himself as Captain in the spirited manner that
such a position requires.” A September 9 game against the NA’s Chicago White
Stockings was the first game played in a new baseball park, which would
become known as the Avenue Grounds.
The Cincinnati Daily Times of November 1 reported that the
Red Stockings had finished with a record of 26-7-1 and that John had played in
27 of the 34 games, making 82 outs and 31 hits while scoring 19 runs.
This seems to have concluded John’s baseball career. The
next I found of him was a report in the September 9, 1879, Harrisburg Daily
Independent that: “Al Reach and John Radcliff, veterans of the Athletics, have
given up baseball entirely and now devote all their spare time to cricket.”
John’s father had passed away in January of that year, and on September 24 John
got married, to 22-year-old Abraetta Briant Munyan.
The 1883 Camden city directory shows John as a poultry
dealer with a stall at 109 Federal market, living at 304 S 5th
Street; he also appears in the Philadelphia directory as a poultry dealer at
373 5th Street market. In August 1884 Abraetta gave birth to
daughter Hazel. The 1885 Philadelphia directory shows John at the same market
address, but he is categorized as game rather than poultry.
In March 1886 daughter Erma was born, and in May 1888 son
John. The 1890 Philadelphia directory has John as a butcher at the 5th
Street market, while the Camden directory of that year shows him operating a
livery stable at 538 Washington while still living at 304 Broadway. The Ocean
City news column in the June 15 Philadelphia Times reported that “John
Y. Radcliff and family, of Camden, came down for the summer on Wednesday.” In
February 1891 son Orlyn was born.
The 1892 Philadelphia directory shows John as a game dealer
at the 5th Street market, while the Camden one has him as a poultry
dealer in Philadelphia, still living at 304 Broadway. In the 1894 Philadelphia
directory he is a game dealer at 30 Terminal market, and the Camden directory
lists him as a “com mer” in Philadelphia living at 304 Broadway. Orlyn died
that October.
The May 5, 1895, Philadelphia Inquirer’s Ocean City
news reported that “John Y. Radcliffe and family, of Camden, were among recent
visitors"; on June 30 the same column included the item: “John Radcliffe, of
Camden, has his family down for the summer occupying their Asbury avenue
residence.” On June 21, 1896, the news was: “John Y. Radcliff brought his
family down last Wednesday and opened their summer cottage.” Then, on March 21,
1897: “John Y. Radcliffe and wife, of Camden, spent this week in this city occupying
their Asbury avenue cottage.” The 1897 Camden directory has John back to the
poultry business in Philadelphia, still living at 304 Broadway in Camden, as it
would henceforth.
The Philadelphia North American of July 8, 1899, under the
heading of Ocean City Visitors, reported: "John Y. Radcliffe, a real estate man
[?] of Camden and an ardent angler, will spend vacation days in a pleasant
cottage at Fourteenth street and Asbury avenue."
The 1900 census shows John and family still at 304 Broadway
in Camden; he is listed as a poultry dealer. Hazel is 15, Erma, listed as Emma,
is 13, and John Jr. is 12.
Things apparently stayed pretty consistent for the Radcliffs
for the next several years, though John’s mother passed away in 1902. In the
1907 Camden directory, John Jr. gets his own entry, as a salesman. From the
Ocean City news column in the Philadelphia Inquirer of August 18, 1907:
The past week has been the greatest one in the history of this resort. “A Night in Venice,” held here Monday night has been the main topic of conversation all week. Hotel guests and residents alike declare they never saw anything that equaled it. Between 8000 and 10,000 persons came here especially to see the event, many of them remaining all week, the consequence being a greater number of social “doings” than usual.
Among the prominent men of the resort who took part in the parade and the names of their boats follow:
…Captain John Y. Radcliffe, Emma;…
Mount Carmel Daily News, June 8, 1908:
Swimming From Boat, Youth Drowns.
Ocean City, N.J., June 8.—Herbert Morrison, twenty years old, of Philadelphia, was drowned while swimming in the Thoroughfare. Young Morrison, with John Y. Radcliffe, Jr., of Camden, went out in a rowboat. They jumped overboard for a swim in midstream. The boat drifted beyond their reach, and in endeavoring to again reach it Morrison went down. Radcliffe was rescued by a launch.
Philadelphia Inquirer, November 26:
MILITARY MAN TAKES A BRIDE
Commandant of Wenonah Academy Weds Miss Hazel Radcliffe, Camden Society Girl
One of the society events of the present season in Camden was the wedding last night of Miss Hazel Radcliffe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Y. Radcliffe, to Captain Percival C. Jones, commandant of the Wenonah Military Academy. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride, 304 Broadway, by Rev. Caleb H. Butterworth, of Haddonfield, an uncle, in the presence of many invited guests from Camden, Philadelphia, and other places.
Miss Erma Radcliffe, sister of the bride, was maid of honor…
The 1910 census shows John, poultry merchant, now 61, and Abraetta, 52, still at 304 Broadway, with Erma, unemployed, 23, John Jr., poultry salesman, 21, and 20-year-old servant Emma Falis.
The American League Philadelphia Athletics won the World
Series in 1910, and on November 6 the Inquirer reported on a celebration
in their honor:
PRESENT LOVING CUPS TO PLAYERS AT BANQUET BOARD
Following the big Broad street parade the members of the Athletics were the guests of honor at a banquet in the Clover Room of the Bellevue-Stratford, where 300 representative men in the sporting, business and political life of the city gathered to do them honor.
All the members of the team were present except Manager Connie Mack, Pitcher Jack Coombs and Second Baseman Eddie Collins…
Each guest at the dinner was presented with a copy of an old wood cut, showing the famous championship game between the Athletics and the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1865. This game was played at the old grounds, Fifteenth street and Columbia avenue, and was won by the local stars. Five men who played in that famous game were present at last night’s dinner. They were George Bechtel, right field; A.J. Reach, second base; Weston D. Fisler, first base; John Radcliffe, catcher, and Richard McBride, pitcher. They shared with the present world’s champions the honors of the occasion…
Well, somebody was confused—either the organizers of the
banquet, or the reporter. Of the five players named, only Reach and McBride
were on the 1865 Athletic club, with Fisler joining in 1866.
From the Inquirer, May 13, 1911:
Record of the Courts
Judgments
In the following list the judgments are against the first named in each case:
Pressler’s Vienna Restaurant—John Y. Radcliffe. For want of a plea. $11.46.
On July 26 John passed away. From the July 27 Inquirer:
John Y. Radcliffe Dies at Shore
Special to The Inquirer.
OCEAN CITY, N.J., July 26.—John Y. Radcliffe, of 304 Broadway, Camden, was seized with a fatal attack of heart disease and acute indigestion here this morning while in his yacht Adele. Captain Herbert Smith went to his assistance and brought him into the Ocean City Yacht Club, where he expired in less than half an hour.
And from the 28th obituaries column:
RADCLIFFE.—Suddenly, at Ocean City, N.J. on July 26, 1911. JOHN Y. RADCLIFFE, aged 63 years. Relatives and friends, also members of Ocean City Yacht Club, are invited to attend funeral services, Saturday, July 29, 1911, at his late residence, 700 Wesley ave., Ocean City, N.J. at 9:30 A M. Relatives and friends, also Camden Lodge, No. 15, F A M: Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R A M, are invited to attend services at the chapel, Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, N J, same day, at 1 P M.
The version that went out across the country went like this,
here as it appeared in the New Orleans Times-Democrat of July 28:
Veteran Radcliffe Dead.
OCEAN CITY, N.J., July 27.—John Y. Radcliffe, famous as a baseball player in the sixties and early seventies, died suddenly at the Ocean City Yacht Club here yesterday, aged sixty-three years. Radcliffe was a member of the celebrated Athletics of Philadelphia, playing as catcher and short stop. He was regarded as one of the great bare-hand catchers of his time. Radcliffe lived in Camden, N.J., and after retiring from baseball became a prosperous poultryman.
John Jr. continued in the poultry business.
https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Pradcj101.htm
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/radcljo01.shtml
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