both brothers played baseball for some of the leading clubs during the amateur era of the national association of base ball players (nabbp). harry was already 22 when the baseball fraternity convened for the first time in 1857, at which time he joined the knickerbocker base ball club. he did not play in a game with the knickerbockers until july 8, 1858, playing the outfield against excelsior of brooklyn. the knickerbockers lost the game, 31–13.