How Iowa Became the Champions of the Pacific Coast

January 31, 2024 Posted by: Matthew Brittin

Iowa Defeats Stanford and ties Berkley to become the “Champions of the Pacific Coast.” -1898

 







Per Markey in From Iowa to the Philippines (1900)

In 1898, while America was preparing and fighting the Spanish American war, Volunteer troops were drawn from the public at large. They mustered, and trained at various bases around the United States where the new troops learned how to be an army; they also found ways to live in these new communities and environments. Besides the typical inclinations of drinking and carousing, we find stories of sports: baseball teams, football teams, swimming, and shooting challenges. One of the best examples comes from the 51^st Iowa Volunteer regiment. During this time the Volunteers that made up the 51^st Iowa formed a football team which took on both Stanford and Berkley with surprising results. According to the book From Iowa to the Philippines published in 1900 by Joseph I. Markey, who was part of the 51^st Iowa volunteer regiment from 1898 to 1899, this team beat Stanford 6 -0. Here is an excerpt about that day:
  


After the game, the 51^st Iowa’s future goal according to Markey was “win the Berkeley game, win the cup, go 7500 miles help whip the insurgents, and then go back to Red Oak [Iowa], settle down and build up the town.

 Below is a collection of photos showing the exciting Berkely Iowa game on October 31^st 1898. Can you hear the commentary as you scroll through them? 







Below is Markey’s description of the game.




On November 3rd, 1898, the 51^st Iowa sailed out of San Francisco towards the Philippines. When resupplying in Honolulu they played football with the native Hawaiians. They soon sailed out towards the Philippines and the United States’ first show of international power. By Thanksgiving of 1899 the Iowa boys were home. I wonder if they played a game of football that year?