Handball

James Fitzgerald

Also printed as James Fitzpatrick (Sun and Jersey City News, 1897-01-21)

Active 1899 to 1905

Roles

Dated facts

  • 9 July 1899 (dated from the issue it appeared in): James Fitzgerald of Brooklyn, backed by Alderman Dunne for $1,000, challenges Mike Egan, former three-year amateur champion turned professional

    Egan was amateur champion for three consecutive years and turned professional to meet Carney

    Source: The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 10 July 1899, p. 3

  • 25 November 1901 (dated from the issue it appeared in): Mike Egan of Jersey City challenges Jim Fitzgerald (Denver/San Francisco; 'Irish champion') for $1,000 a side; both claim the championship; no match reported by Dec 1901

    Egan offered $1,000 a side; both claim the championship

    Casey abandoned the title several years earlier; Egan the strongest candidate

    Fitzgerald refuses to meet Egan; Egan claims the title

    Source: The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 25 November 1901, p. 4

  • 27 March 1904 to 3 April 1904 (dated from the issue it appeared in): Mike Egan beat James Fitzgerald at the Olympic Club, San Francisco, 6 games to 1 on 27 Mar and 2 of 3 on 3 Apr (8 of 15 needed), billed the handball championship of the world; gate nearly $800

    terms: seven games on each of two Sundays; eight of fifteen games wins the title; $5 seats

    first Sunday 27 Mar: Egan won six of seven games

    second Sunday 3 Apr: Egan won two of three, eight of a scheduled fifteen, and the title

    winner takes the entire gate, nearly $800

    Source: The San Francisco Call (San Francisco), 24 March 1904, p. 10

  • 17 March 1905 (dated from the issue it appeared in): Mike Egan, 'the world's champion', in early tuberculosis; Olympic Club directors gave him a purse; benefit handball games at the Olympic Club (Dunne Jr. and Hampton v. Fitzgerald and Cory) on 19 Mar

    tuberculosis diagnosed after the 1904 San Francisco match; Olympic Club directors presented a purse

    benefit games at the Olympic Club for Mike Egan, 'the world's champion', 'made ill by overindulgence in the popular game'

    Source: Waterbury Evening Democrat (Waterbury), 18 March 1905, p. 9

Sources

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