1883 Michigan-Yale Game

Michigan's 1883 team was the only non-Eastern team playing football at their level. This series uses period publications to cover Michigan’s trip east to play Wesleyan, Harvard, Yale, and the Stevens Institute in nine days.

Previous posts in the series: Intro | Wesleyan ($)

Two days after playing Wesleyan in Hartford, the Wolverines faced Yale in New Haven. The game was played at Hamilton Park, which hosted horse races, baseball, and football, including serving as home to Yale football until Yale Field opened in 1884.

Hamilton Park (New Haven Museum)

There were an estimated 400 to 600 fans to greet the Yale team when they arrived wearing their blue jockey caps, canvas jackets, brown breeches, and blue stockings, while Michigan wore their usual outfits.