# The 1900s

In: [Learn](https://handball.theperfectship.com/learn.md) > [History](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history.md) > [Years and decades](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years.md) > The 1900s

52 dated items, 2 rulebook editions and 0 championship result rows are in the record for the 1900s.

## Years with their own page

- [1900](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1900.md) (7 dated items)
- [1902](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1902.md) (4 dated items)
- [1903](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1903.md) (11 dated items)
- [1904](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1904.md) (5 dated items)
- [1905](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1905.md) (5 dated items)
- [1906](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1906.md) (5 dated items)
- [1907](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1907.md) (4 dated items)
- [1908](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1908.md) (5 dated items)
- [1909](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1909.md) (4 dated items)

## Dated items

### [1900](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1900.md)

- **14 January 1900**: James Fitzgerald (Irish champion) and Louis Keegan beat William Carney ('champion of the world') and Captain Ward, 3 games of 5, at Chicago Source: [New-York Tribune (New York), 16 January 1900, p. 6](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030214/1900-01-16/ed-1/?sp=6), p. 6
- **25 March 1900**: P. J. Corby (from Tralee) and Ed. Lawlor beat Mike Egan and P. J. Scott 3-2 at the Greenpoint court Source: [The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 26 March 1900, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87068097/1900-03-26/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3
- **27 April 1900**: Mike Egan to give Dr. Gillen of Brooklyn ten aces in two series of eleven games Source: [The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 27 April 1900, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87068097/1900-04-27/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3
- **June 1900**: A committee of the Physical Directors' Conference at Thousand Island Park revises the code as rules for a single-wall court (Hand Ball Rules (1900)), adopted by the League's Governing Committee (H-141) and printed in the handbooks of 1904 Source: [Athletic League of the Young Men's Christian Associations of Canada, Official Handbook (1904)](https://archive.org/details/cihm_85174), pp. 79-81
- **June 1900**: Before the era: the Y.M.C.A.'s rules for a single-wall court, approved by its Physical Directors' Conference in 1898 and revised at Thousand Island Park in June 1900, printed in the Athletic League handbooks from 1904 and revised again for Source: [Athletic League of the Young Men's Christian Associations of Canada, Official Handbook (1904)](https://archive.org/details/cihm_85174), pp. 79-81
- **June 1900 to May 1915**: The Y.M.C.A.'s are the only rule-making meetings here whose place is stated: a committee of the Physical Directors' Conference revised the single-wall rules in June 1900 at Thousand Island Park (adoption by its Governing Committee is Source: [Athletic League of the Young Men's Christian Associations of Canada, Official Handbook (1904)](https://archive.org/details/cihm_85174), pp. 79-81
- **7 December 1900**: Phil Casey, 'ex-champion handball player of the world', challenges anyone at 'hand tennis' Source: [The Sun (New York), 7 December 1900, p. 5](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030272/1900-12-07/ed-1/?sp=5), p. 5

### 1901

- **25 November 1901**: 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 Source: [The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 25 November 1901, p. 4](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87068097/1901-11-25/ed-1/?sp=4), p. 4
- **29 December 1901**: Basque pelota (vasco pelota) introduced at the Olympic Club, San Francisco; court 20x35 feet... walls 30 feet high (OCR figures uncertain) Source: [New-York Tribune (New York), 29 December 1901, p. 17](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030214/1901-12-29/ed-1/?sp=17), p. 17

### [1902](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1902.md)

- **22 May 1902**: Oliver Drew (Ireland) beat Mike Egan 4 games to 3 at Jersey City, first of a planned best-of-15 series 'for the championship of the world', $250 a side Source: [Waterbury Democrat (Waterbury), 8 May 1902, p. 7](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn93053725/1902-05-08/ed-1/?sp=7), p. 7
- **22 May 1902**: May 1902 Egan–Drew conditions: 21 aces, service from anywhere inside a short line (not a centre space), 'alley cracker' ball, each player may use his own ball Source: [The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 23 May 1902, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87068097/1902-05-23/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3
- **28 May 1902**: The Sun prints (28 May 1902) that Drew's letter says the second Egan-Drew series is 'postponed indefinitely' and adds that Egan has not lived up to his conditions; the Jersey City News answers that it has not been postponed; later Egan beats Drew in doubles (5 Oct) Source: [The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 28 May 1902, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87068097/1902-05-28/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3
- **13 August 1902**: New Jersey Handball Club organized at Tarrant's court, 17th St near Grove St, Jersey City: Foley president, Drew financial secretary Source: [The Jersey City News (Jersey City), 14 August 1902, p. 7](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87068097/1902-08-14/ed-1/?sp=7), p. 7

### [1903](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1903.md)

- **1903**: Ireland, Gaelic Rules (1903) R21 and R24: a struck ball that afterwards strikes the opponent is a hinder, played over; and 'Should a player obstruct another in such a manner that he cannot play, the judge may give a hinder' (wilful: ace or Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 33
- **by 1903**: A.A.U. 1903 R6: the hinder narrowed to a ball striking the server before reaching the opponent, or the opponent during service; a served ball hitting the receiver becomes a hinder instead of an ace (reversed from 1893); each player 'must Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 41
- **1903**: The 28 Irish rules, as printed in 1903, hold the earliest long-serve rule in this record (Gaelic Rules (1903)): the toss must land between a short line and an over line. Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 33
- **1903-2020**: The Irish hard ball keeps one weight range, 1.5 to 1.75 oz, in the rules printed in 1903 (Gaelic Rules (1903)), the Council's of January 2009 (Official Playing Rules (Handball Playing Rules) (2009)) and the GAA's of March 2020 (Official Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 33
- **1903**: A.A.U. R3: 'full regulation Spalding ball', 1 7/8 in, 1 5/8 oz (Revised Handball Rules of the Amateur Athletic Union of America, For the Government of the National Championship in Singles (1903)); the advertisement after the rules lists Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 41
- **1903**: The Irish rules printed in 1903 hold the earliest long-serve rule in this record: the toss must land between a short line and an over line, and three failures are hand out (Gaelic Rules (1903) Rules 18 and 26; H-13). Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 33
- **by 1903**: The A.A.U.'s 'Revised Handball Rules' (14 rules, singles only; Revised Handball Rules of the Amateur Athletic Union of America, For the Government of the National Championship in Singles (1903)) and Deshong's rewritten 'Rules and Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 41
- **1903**: [Rules and Explanations (1903)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/deshong-fourwall-1903.md) Source: [Michael Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903)](https://www.loc.gov/item/04000015/), p. 12
- **12 April 1903**: Mike Egan beat Louis Keegan of Chicago 8 games to 1 (seven straight in the first half, said by the 12 Apr wire to have been played recently at Jersey City, then 1-1 at Chicago on 12 Apr), $200 a side, billed the handball championship of the United States; a San Antonio paper of 21 Mar only announced that the series would begin that night Source: [San Antonio Daily Light (San Antonio), 21 March 1903, p. 6](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn86090439/1903-03-21/ed-1/?sp=6), p. 6
- **23 June 1903**: Press (Worcester Spy, wire): Phil Casey held the world's handball championship for 30 years until he resigned it seven years earlier Source: [The Worcester Spy (Worcester), 24 June 1903, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn86086481/1903-06-24/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3
- **23 June 1903**: Egan beat Timothy Twohill of Kanturk 7-0 at Jersey City (23 Jun) in the first half of a best-of-15 'international' match for the world championship, $1,500; second half in Ireland 12 July; Phil Casey referee, Dr. A. M. Gillen scorer Source: [The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis), 26 May 1903, p. 18](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045366/1903-05-26/ed-1/?sp=18), p. 18

### [1904](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1904.md)

- **9 January 1904 to 11 January 1904**: Syndicated press notices say Mike Egan, 'the world's champion', has written / just published a handball book, called 'The Official Handball Guide' Source: [Lewiston Evening Teller (Lewiston), 11 January 1904, p. 4](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn86091109/1904-01-11/ed-1/?sp=4), p. 4
- **30 January 1904**: Oliver Drew and Mike Egan matched again for the world's championship, $250 a side, best of 15, seven games at Egan's court on 17 Mar and the rest at Tarrant's court on 20 Mar; later postponed to April Source: [Waterbury Evening Democrat (Waterbury), 30 January 1904, p. 9](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn93053726/1904-01-30/ed-1/?sp=9), p. 9
- **19 March 1904**: Salt Lake Tribune (SF dispatch): Michael J. Egan, born County Galway 1878, came to America at 17, joined his brother John (owner of a Jersey City handball court), won the 1897 amateur championship of the United States Source: [The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City), 20 March 1904, p. 6](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045396/1904-03-20/ed-1/?sp=6), p. 6
- **27 March 1904 to 3 April 1904**: 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 Source: [The San Francisco Call (San Francisco), 24 March 1904, p. 10](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85066387/1904-03-24/ed-1/?sp=10), p. 10
- **12 July 1904**: Phil Casey, for 25 years handball champion of the world, died at his Brooklyn home on 12 July 1904, aged 56 Source: [New-York Tribune (New York), 13 July 1904, p. 4](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030214/1904-07-13/ed-1/?sp=4), p. 4

### [1905](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1905.md)

- **12 January 1905 to 27 January 1905**: Oliver Drew beat Francisco Y. Ordoizoiti (France and Spain) at Tarrant's court, Jersey City, for the 'international handball championship' (begun 12 Jan, won 27 Jan); straight handball against the French game of 'reves' Source: [Waterbury Evening Democrat (Waterbury), 13 January 1905, p. 9](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn93053726/1905-01-13/ed-1/?sp=9), p. 9
- **17 March 1905**: 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 Source: [Waterbury Evening Democrat (Waterbury), 18 March 1905, p. 9](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn93053726/1905-03-18/ed-1/?sp=9), p. 9
- **8 April 1905**: Dispute over the Yale handball champion (Moore 11-1 v. DeForest 10-1) submitted to 'the handball expert of the American Amateur Athletic union' Source: [The New Haven Union (New Haven), 8 April 1905, p. 1](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92051126/1905-04-08/ed-1/?sp=1), p. 1
- **27 June 1905 to 30 June 1905**: Lewis and Clark Exposition, Portland: amateur handball tournament 'for the championship of the Pacific coast' in hard-ball and soft-ball events; Louis Levy (Olympic Club, San Francisco) won the singles Source: [The Salt Lake Herald (Salt Lake City), 27 June 1905, p. 7](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85058130/1905-06-27/ed-1/?sp=7), p. 7
- **29 August 1905**: Spalding Athletic Library list: 'No. 13 - How to Play Hand Ball. By the world's champion, Michael Egan of Jersey City. This book has been rewritten and brought up to date in every particular' Source: [The Spokane Press (Spokane), 29 August 1905, p. 2](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88085947/1905-08-29/ed-1/?sp=2), p. 2

### [1906](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1906.md)

- **1 April 1906**: Oliver Drew, 'fast coming to be recognized as the champion handball player of the world', beat John Howes and Jack Flaherty 2 games to 1 at Tarrant's court; James Dunne Jr., who had twice beaten Drew, beat P. J. Corby at the Brooklyn court Source: [Waterbury Evening Democrat (Waterbury), 2 April 1906, p. 9](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn93053726/1906-04-02/ed-1/?sp=9), p. 9
- **1 June 1906**: Press notice: a 'coming match' between Brooklyn's P. J. Corby and 'Champion Mike Egan' (no report found) Source: [The Pascoag Herald (Pascoag), 1 June 1906, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn91070508/1906-06-01/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3
- **6 June 1906**: James Dunne, Superintendent of Sewers in Brooklyn, and his son James Dunne Jr. sail for Europe to play handball in Ireland and unveil a Cork monument Source: [The Sun (New York), 6 June 1906, p. 8](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030272/1906-06-06/ed-1/?sp=8), p. 8
- **9 November 1906**: Chicago's Charles Schuttler and Thomas Lee beat Oliver Drew ('the national champion') and John Egan, and Daniel Shea, in the opening tournament of the new Cincinnati gymnasium courts, called 'the greatest handball tournament ever held in this country' Source: [The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis), 10 November 1906, p. 8](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045366/1906-11-10/ed-1/?sp=8), p. 8
- **8 December 1906**: Rock Island Argus quotes the history section of 'Spaulding's athletic guide on the game': handball 'unquestionably of Celtic origin', earliest mention in Ireland 1,879 years before the Christian era Source: [Rock Island Argus (Rock Island), 8 December 1906, p. 3](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92053934/1906-12-08/ed-1/?sp=3), p. 3

### [1907](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1907.md)

- **1907**: [New handball rules (Y.M.C.A., Honolulu) (1907)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/ymca-honolulu-1907.md) Source: [The Pacific Commercial Advertiser (Honolulu), 19 October 1907, p. 5](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85047084/1907-10-19/ed-1/?sp=5), p. 5
- **23 October 1907**: The Hawaiian Star prints seven 'new rules for hand ball' adopted on the Honolulu Y.M.C.A. courts: hand-out, ace/service line, hindrance, eleven-point games Source: [The Hawaiian Star (Honolulu), 23 October 1907, p. 6](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82015415/1907-10-23/ed-1/?sp=6), p. 6
- **15 November 1907**: John Etchebarren (champion of Nevada) beat Andrew Ripa (champion of California) at the Ballarena and Savoy Hotel court, Elko, Nevada, in a match for $1000 a side billed the championship of two states Source: [Weekly Independent (Elko), 15 November 1907, p. 1](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn86076366/1907-11-15/ed-1/?sp=1), p. 1
- **28 November 1907**: Oliver Drew, 'world's champion', engaged as handball instructor by the Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago Source: [The San Antonio Light (San Antonio), 28 November 1907, p. 6](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn86090330/1907-11-28/ed-1/?sp=6), p. 6

### [1908](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1908.md)

- **1908**: The A.A.U. constitution claims jurisdiction over handball, Article IX (H-33 supported). Source: [Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Official Athletic Rules (1908 handbook)](https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/public/gdcmassbookdig/officialathletic01amat/officialathletic01amat.pdf)
- **3 January 1908**: Brooklyn real-estate report: 'a three story brick building and handball court, known as Casey's Ball Court', on Degraw St, sold to John Muldoon Source: [New-York Tribune (New York), 3 January 1908, p. 12](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030214/1908-01-03/ed-1/?sp=12), p. 12
- **5 March 1908**: Honolulu Y.M.C.A. handball tournament 'for the championship of the Territory' begins 5 March, fifteen-point games Source: [The Hawaiian Star (Honolulu), 4 March 1908, p. 6](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82015415/1908-03-04/ed-1/?sp=6), p. 6
- **July 1908**: Martin J. Carney (County Mayo, late of Philadelphia, now of Chicago) beat Oliver Drew, 'the handball champion of the world', at Chambers' court, Chicago, and claimed the title Source: [The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.), 31 July 1908, p. 10](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84026749/1908-07-31/ed-1/?sp=10), p. 10
- **August 1908**: Michael McGurn, 'prominent for twenty years in handball circles', died at Chicago after an illness of five weeks Source: [The Penn's Grove Record (Penn's Grove, N.J.), 21 August 1908, p. 4](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85035524/1908-08-21/ed-1/?sp=4), p. 4

### [1909](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1909.md)

- **by 1909**: The Y.M.C.A. has hand-ball rules of its own; the 1909 Spalding index entry for them (Y.M.C.A. Hand Ball Rules (index entry) (1909), H-07) is very probably the single-wall text of 1900 (Hand Ball Rules (1900)), not a four-wall code; by 1908 Source: [[James E.] Sullivan, Official Sporting Rules (1909)](https://www.loc.gov/item/unk82075824/)
- **16 February 1909**: Obituary of Edward J. Sweeney: his father and he established the handball and racquet court in 34th St, opposite the old police station, where Phil Casey and Jim Dunn had many matches Source: [The New Haven Union (New Haven), 16 February 1909, p. 9](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92051126/1909-02-16/ed-1/?sp=9), p. 9
- **6 April 1909**: Washington Y.M.C.A. handball described as 'a newly developed sport'; its team played Baltimore in March and meets the Oriole Association on 10 April Source: [Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 6 April 1909, p. 13](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045462/1909-04-06/ed-1/?sp=13), p. 13
- **11 July 1909**: John J. Bowles (Limerick) and James Kelly (Brooklyn) play for the 'International Handball Championship of the World': best of 15 games of 21 aces, seven at Limerick (5-11 July) and the rest at Brooklyn in September; Bowles outclassed Kelly in the first half at Limerick on 11 July Source: [The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram (Richmond), 15 January 1909, p. 2](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn86058226/1909-01-15/ed-1/?sp=2), p. 2

## What the record does not hold

- The record holds nothing for the 1900s under championship results: no result row is dated to the decade.

## Neighboring decades

- Previous: [The 1890s](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1890s.md)
- Next: [The 1910s](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1910s.md)
- [All years and decades](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years.md)

## Corrections

Found a mistake, or a source we missed? Email perfectshipllc@gmail.com with the subject "History correction: The 1900s (/history/years/1900s/)". Please name the page and, if you can, the source.