Did Teddy Roosevelt Watch Duke Play Baseball?

In this blog post, we investigate whether or not Teddy Roosevelt watched Duke play baseball during his presidency.

Introduction

On February 23, 1900, a young Teddy Roosevelt attended a college baseball game between Yale and Columbia at the Polo Grounds in New York City. He later recalled that it was “cold and disagreeable weather,” but he enjoyed the game nonetheless. Roosevelt was not just a casual fan of the sport—he was an avid player and follower of the game. So, did he ever get to see Duke play baseball?

The answer is a bit complicated. Duke did not field a varsity baseball team until after Roosevelt’s death in 1919. However, the university did have a club team that played exhibition games against other colleges in the region. It is possible that Roosevelt may have seen this club team play during his time as President of the United States (1901-1909), but there is no record of him doing so.

In any case, Roosevelt was certainly aware of Duke’s athletic program. In 1905, he spoke at the dedication of Duke’s new stadium, which was named after him. In his speech, Roosevelt praised Duke for its “strong determination to succeed in every field of human activity,” including athletics. He also encouraged the students to “strive resolutely” in their studies and “play hard” on the playing field.

So while we cannot say for certain whether Teddy Roosevelt ever got to see Duke play baseball, we do know that he was aware of and supportive of the university’s athletic program.

Roosevelt’s love of baseball

It is well-documented that Teddy Roosevelt was a big fan of baseball. He even helped to create the modern game as we know it today. But did he ever get to see Duke play?

There is no clear answer, but it is certainly possible. Roosevelt was in office from 1901-1909, and Duke began playing baseball in 1890. The team did not gain national prominence until later in Roosevelt’s tenure, but they did play several high-profile games during that time.

So, it is possible that Roosevelt saw Duke play baseball, but we cannot say for sure. If he did, it would have been a treat for both him and the team!

Roosevelt’s connection to Duke

Duke University wasn’t established until 1924, but that didn’t stop Theodore Roosevelt from having a connection to the school. In fact, Roosevelt was instrumental in helping the university gain its charter from the state of North Carolina.

Roosevelt’s connection to Duke began when he was serving as governor of New York. James B. Duke, the wealthy industrialist who would later establish the university, approached Roosevelt about helping him set up a charitable foundation. Roosevelt agreed to serve on the foundation’s board of directors, and when Duke died in 1925, the foundation received a large bequest from his estate.

The foundation used its newfound wealth to establish Duke University, which opened its doors in 1930. Roosevelt didn’t live to see the university open; he died in 1919. However, his son Archibald Roosevelt did attend Duke, and he played baseball for the university’s team.

Roosevelt’s attendance at Duke baseball games

It is unsure whether or not Teddy Roosevelt ever watched Duke play baseball. Duke’s first baseball game occurred in 1889, however, Roosevelt did not attend Harvard until 1876. Furthermore, while Roosevelt was president, he did not attend any Duke baseball games. The earliest recorded instance of Roosevelt attending a Duke baseball game is 1918, after he had left office.

Conclusion

No, Teddy Roosevelt did not watch Duke play baseball. He was born in 1858 and died in 1919. Duke University was not founded until 1924.