Port Royal in Montgomery County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Baseball at Port Royal

Photographed by Tom Bosse, October 2, 2026

1. Baseball at Port Royal Marker

Inscription.
The ground in front of you was once the Port Royal baseball field.

Since the end of the American Civil War when Union soldiers introduced the game of baseball to the region, games were commonplace across the southern landscape. Baseball enthusiasts of Port Royal established a baseball club in 1876 and is said to be the first real baseball team in this part of the State. The team was sponsored by State Representative Charles Smith and was called The Smiths. In 1877, US Congressman John F. House became the team sponsor and changed the name of the team to the “John House Club”. By August of that year the team renamed again at the Red Jackets. In 1886 the team was known as the Pickering Club, named for sponsor R.H. Pickering, the county trustee. After 1898 the team was simply known as the Port Royal baseball team.

By 1915, Port Royal was a leading team in the DeBoob League, a local league comprised of eight local towns. Local newspapers frequently reported on the Port Royal team’s wins and losses. On the eve of the United States involvement in World War 1, league sponsors decided not to renew the DeBoob League. To honor

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the now defunct league, teams made symbolic mannequins of sawdust and ceremoniously threw them into a small pond to watch them dissolve away. After the war, Port Royal maintained a baseball team and played against neighboring towns for the next few decades. By 1955, newspapers no longer mention the Port Royal baseball team.

[Photo]:
Baseball player in field, undated. Photo courtesy of Mongomery County Archives.

Erected by Port Royal State Historic Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 36° 33.215′ N, 87° 8.571′ W. Marker is in Port Royal, Tennessee, in Montgomery County. It is at the intersection of Old Clarksville - Springfield Road and Port Royal Road (Tennessee Highway 238), on the right when traveling east on Old Clarksville - Springfield Road. Marker is located at the Port Royal State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3300 Old Clarksville Hwy, Adams TN 37010, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is

Photographed by Tom Bosse, October 2, 2026

2. Baseball at Port Royal Marker

also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Town of Port Royal (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Royal (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Port Royal (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Enslaved at Port Royal (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named The Town of Port Royal (about 400 feet away); Legacy of the Enslaved (about 400 feet away); Stores of Port Royal (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Port Royal (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Royal.

Another marker is no longer nearby. 1859 Masonic Lodge & General Store (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.