Staten Island Cricket Club facts for kids

The Staten Island Cricket Club (SICC) is a special sports club located on Staten Island, New York, in the United States. It's famous for playing cricket, a bat-and-ball game similar to baseball. The club started way back on March 22, 1872. It was first called the Staten Island Cricket and Base Ball Club.

This club also holds a unique place in history. It was the very first place in the United States where tennis was played!

A Look Back: The Club's History

Early Days and New Sports

The Staten Island Cricket Club began playing cricket in 1866. Their first home was in St. George, on a spot known as the "Flats." They played there until 1886. While it might not be the absolute oldest cricket club in the U.S., it proudly claims to be the oldest one that has been playing continuously since it started.

A very important event happened in 1874. A woman named Mary Outerbridge introduced the game of tennis to the club. She had seen the game played in Bermuda and brought it back to Staten Island. Her brother, Emilius, helped her set up a net and mark out a tennis court.

Just a few years later, on September 1, 1880, the club hosted the first national tennis tournament in America. This shows how quickly tennis grew in popularity there!

Moving to a New Home

Eventually, the club needed to move from its original location. It found a new home in the Livingston neighborhood of Staten Island. This new spot was about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) away from St. George.

Over the years, the club's name changed a couple of times. In 1906, it became the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club. Then, in 1931, it changed back to simply the Staten Island Cricket Club.

The land where the club is now was sold to the city of New York in 1930. It was first called Livingston Park. Later, it was renamed Walker Park. This was done to remember Randolph St. George Walker Jr., a young man who died in World War I. His father was an important member of the club.

The Clubhouse Story

Sadly, the club's original clubhouse burned down in 1932. Many of the club's old records were lost in the fire. But the club didn't give up! A new clubhouse was built in 1934. It's a beautiful brick building with a Tudor style, and it's still standing today.

Famous Players at Walker Park

Many famous cricket players have visited and played at the Staten Island Cricket Club. These include England captain Pelham Warner, who played there in 1903. Other legendary players like Gilbert Jessop, Donald Bradman, Everton Weekes, and Garry Sobers also played at the club.

There are also stories that other cricket legends, such as W. G. Grace, Colin Blythe, and K. S. Ranjitsinhji, might have played at Walker Park too!

The Club on Screen

The Staten Island Cricket Club even appeared in an early movie! Scenes from the famous silent film Raffles the Amateur Cracksman (1917) were filmed there. The movie starred John Barrymore, who lived on Staten Island as a child. You can see a cricket match being played at the club in the film.

What's Happening at Walker Park Today?

Walker Park is a busy place with lots of sports. The Staten Island Cricket Club's cricket field and cricket pitch are right in the middle of the park. But there's more!

• There are six asphalt tennis courts in the park's southeast corner.
• A little league baseball field is in the southwest corner.
• Two basketball courts are along the west side.
• A children's playground is in the northwest corner.

The cricket club still uses its 1934 brick clubhouse. It's located in the northeast corner of the park at 50 Bard Avenue.

Playing and Learning

In the 2000s, the club played in competitive matches as part of the New York Metropolitan and District Association League. The club has a Latin motto: Lude Ludum Insignia Secundaria. This means, "Winning the game is a secondary concern. Playing the game is a primary reward. (It's just a game...)" This motto shows that the club values playing fairly and enjoying the sport more than just winning.

The club was also featured in a book! It appeared in Joseph O'Neill's novel Netherland. The story is about a New York banker who finds comfort in playing cricket at the Staten Island club after the events of September 11, 2001.

Other Nearby Cricket Spots

• St. George Cricket Grounds was another place for cricket, baseball, and lacrosse in the 1880s. It was built near the club's first location in St. George.
• Richmond County Bank Ballpark is a modern baseball and cricket ground that opened in 2001. It's also located near where the SICC first started.