Spalding World Tour

"[6] The idea of a world tour originated with Chris von der Ahe, owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings and president of the American Association, who initially explored the possibility of a trip to Europe in early 1888.

"[8] There was briefly talk of an Australian tour organized by Boston Beaneaters manager James Hart, which would have included Buck Ewing, King Kelly, and John Montgomery Ward.

"[6] Other active future Hall-of-Famers not on the roster included batters Roger Connor and Dan Brouthers, as well as pitchers Tim Keefe and Pud Galvin.

They were received in Honolulu, capital of the then-independent Kingdom of Hawaii, by King Kalākaua, but played their first overseas exhibition game in Auckland, New Zealand on December 10.

Instead, he arranged for an exhibition to be held on the grounds of the Villa Borghese gardens, before King Umberto I and his wife, Queen Margherita of Savoy.