Fordham, a participant in the first known collegiate baseball game under modern rules, celebrated the 150th anniversary of that game this year. The contest, between Fordham (then called St. John’s College) and St. Francis Xavier, was held November 3, 1859. Fordham defeated St. Francis Xavier, 33-11.

The Rams marked the occasion with a game against Williams on April 7. The first recognized intercollegiate baseball game, between Williams and Amherst, took place July 1, 1859. Amherst won the 25-inning contest, 73-32, in 25 innings. Teams were allowed to use between 10 and 14 players.

For the April 7 contest, Fordham players wore commemorative patches on their uniforms and Fordham president the Rev. Joseph M. McShane threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Williams upset the Rams, 5-2.

Fordham’s 1859 victory was the first of 4,010 the program has tallied in the intervening years, by far the most in Division I.  Texas is second with 3,117 wins. Fordham nurtured several Major League Baseball players, including Hall of Famer Frankie Frisch (the “Fordham Flash”), Esteban Bellan (the first Latin American professional baseball player in the U.S.), and Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers.