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59-536: During their championship season in 1903, the entire Schenectady team was jailed overnight for violating local Blue laws after playing a home game on a Sunday. The team nickname corresponds to Schenectady being the headquarters for the Edison Electric Company (today's General Electric ) in the era. In the era of segregated baseball, the Electricians were succeeded in organized baseball by

118-595: A corner outfielder . In four career games, he collected one hit in 16 career at-bats and received three walks for a .063 batting average and a .211 on-base percentage , respectively. It is unknown which hand he batted and threw with. In addition, he played or managed in the Minor leagues during eight seasons spanning 1893–1900. Ellis died in Schenectady, New York , at the age of 61. This biographical article relating to an American baseball third baseman

177-441: A Sunday. Maryland permits Sunday automobile sales only in the counties of Charles , Prince George's , Montgomery , and Howard ; similarly, Michigan restricts Sunday sales to only those counties with a population of less than 130,000. Texas and Utah prohibit car dealerships from operating over consecutive weekend days. In some cases, these laws were created or retained with the support of those whom they affected, to allow them

236-412: A Sunday; the distinction between those that could and could not be sold was increasingly seen as arbitrary, and the laws were inadequately enforced and widely flouted. For example, some supermarkets would treat the relatively modest fines arising as a business cost and open nonetheless. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 relaxed restrictions on Sunday trading. This produced vocal opposition from bodies such as

295-848: A benefit to workers at the same time that they enhanced labor productivity". The Ladenschlussgesetz ("shop closing law") on Sundays and public holidays have been in effect since 1956. In Denmark the closing laws restricting retail trade on Sundays were effectively abolished on October 1, 2012. Retail trade is only restricted on public holidays ( New Year's Day , Maundy Thursday , Good Friday , Easter Sunday , Easter Monday , Day of Prayer, Ascension Day , Whit Sunday , Whit Monday , Christmas Day and Boxing Day ) and on Constitution Day , Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (on New Year's Eve from 3 pm only). On these days almost all shops will remain closed. Exempt are bakeries, DIYs, garden centres, gas stations and smaller supermarkets. Prior to 1994, trading laws forbade sale of certain products on

354-404: A day of rest, repose, recreation and tranquility--a day which all members of the family and community have the opportunity to spend and enjoy together, a day on which there exists relative quiet and disassociation from the everyday intensity of commercial activities, a day on which people may visit friends and relatives who are not available during working days". In March 2006, Texas judges upheld

413-483: A day off each week without fear of their competitors still being open. Blue laws may also prohibit retail activity on days other than Sunday. In Massachusetts , Rhode Island , and Maine , for example, blue laws prohibit most retail stores, including grocery stores, from opening on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Research regarding the effect of the repeal of blue laws has been conducted, with Professor Elesha Coffman of Baylor University writing: Regarding culture,

472-422: A law on Sabbath desecration , is mainly to ensure that church services remain undisturbed on Sundays and Christian holidays. It forbids public festivities on a Sunday before 13:00, as well as making noise that carries farther than 200 metres (220 yd), but activities that are unlikely to disturb church services are exempt. Prior to 2008, no football was permitted to be played on Sundays by clubs affiliated to

531-508: A new league, which folded after playing less than two weeks. Schenectady folded before the league. The Eastern Association was formed for the 1909 season and played briefly before folding. The league formed as an eight-team league and began play on May 25, 1909, before folding on June 6, 1909. Schenectady and the Poughkeepsie Students teams folded on June 1, 1909. Schenectady and Poughkeepsie had no official win-loss records in

590-672: A unanimous 6–0 decision, the Lord's Day Act was ruled an infringement of the freedom of conscience and religion defined in section 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . A Toronto referendum in 1950 allowed only team sports to be played professionally on Sunday. Theatre performances, movie screenings, and horse racing were not permitted until the 1960s. The Supreme Court later concluded, in R. v. Edwards Books and Art Ltd. [1986] (2 S.C.R. 713), that Ontario's Retail Business Holiday Act , which required some Sunday closings, did not violate

649-407: Is a cessation from labor. In its enactment, the legislature has given the sanction of law to a rule of conduct, which the entire civilized world recognizes as essential to the physical and moral well-being of society. Upon no subject is there such a concurrence of opinion, among philosophers, moralists and statesmen of all nations, as on the necessity of periodical cessation from labor. One day in seven

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708-567: Is regarded as an unreliable account of the laws and probably was written to satirize their puritanical nature. While the historical roots of Sunday trade laws in the United States are generally known, the origin of the term "blue laws" remains a mystery. According to a Time magazine editorial in 1961, the year the Supreme Court heard four cases on the issue, the color blue came to be associated with colonial laws in opposition to

767-505: Is the rule, founded in experience and sustained by science. ... The prohibition of secular business on Sunday is advocated on the ground that by it the general welfare is advanced, labor protected, and the moral and physical well-being of society promoted. Many states prohibit selling alcohol for on and off-premises sales in one form or another on Sundays at some restricted time, under the idea that people should be in church on Sunday morning, or at least not drinking. Many blue laws in

826-631: The 13 state holidays in Poland – these are both religious and secular days of rest. In 2014, an initiative by the Law and Justice party failed to pass the reading in the Sejm to ban trading on Sundays and state holidays. However, since 2018, the ruling government and the President of Poland has signed a law that restricts store trading from March 1, 2018, to the first and last Sunday of the month, Palm Sunday ,

885-754: The American Locomotive Company (ALCO) being headquartered in the Schenectady in the era. Thomas Edison founded the Edison Electric Company in Schenectady in 1886. In their first season of play, with an inferior roster due to the late formation of the team, the Electricians finished last in the eight-team New York State League. The Electricians finished their first season with a record of 29–77 and played under five managers: James Brady, Hodge Berry, Harry Raymond , Billy Bottenus and Lew Whistler . No playoffs were held as

944-593: The Irish Football Association in Northern Ireland. Shops with a floor area of over 280 square metres (3,000 sq ft) may only open from 1 to 6pm on Sundays. In Belfast , public playgrounds were closed on Sundays until 1965. Swings in public parks were tied up and padlocked to prevent their use. Similar laws formerly applied to cinemas, pubs and parks. Since 2007, blue laws were enacted and resulted in stores closing on

1003-566: The Jamestown Colony in 1619 by the first General Assembly of Virginia . Among the 70 laws passed by the assembly was a mandate requiring attendance by all colonists at both morning and afternoon worship services on Sundays. The laws adopted that year also included provisions addressing idleness, gambling, drunkenness, and excessive apparel. Similar laws aimed at keeping the Sabbath holy and regulating morals were soon adopted throughout

1062-651: The Keep Sunday Special campaign, and the Lord's Day Observance Society : on religious grounds, on the grounds that it would increase consumerism, and that it would reduce shop assistants' weekend leisure time. The legislation permits large shops (those with a relevant floor area in excess of 280 square metres; 3000 sq. ft.) to open for up to six hours on Sunday. Small shops, those with an area of below 280 square metres (3000 sq. ft.), are free to set their own Sunday trading times. Some large shops, such as off-licences , service stations and garages, are exempt from

1121-660: The Lord's Day Alliance in North America and the Lord's Day Observance Society in the British Isles, were supported by labor unions in lobbying "to prevent secular and commercial interests from hampering freedom of worship and from exploiting workers". In Canada, the Ligue du Dimanche , a Roman Catholic Sunday league, supported the Lord's Day Act in 1923 and promoted first-day Sabbatarian legislation. Beginning in

1180-667: The Rome Romans team ended the season with a record of 76–32, placing first in the New York State League, 46.0 games ahead of the eighth place Electricians. The team improved in 1900, as the Schenectady Electricians placed fourth, continuing play as members of the eight-team New York State League. The Electricians had a 1900 regular season record of 55–61, playing the season under returning manager Lew Whistler. Schenectady finished 18.5 games behind

1239-585: The retail sale of hard goods and consumables , particularly alcoholic beverages . The laws also place limitations on a range of other endeavors—including travel , fashions , hunting , professional sports , stage performances , movie showings , and gambling. While less prevalent today, blue laws continue to be enforced in parts of the United States and Canada as well as in European countries, such as Austria , Germany , Norway , and Poland , where most stores are required to close on Sundays. In

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1298-444: The 1840s, workers, Jews, Seventh Day Baptists , freethinkers, and other groups began to organize opposition. Throughout the century, Sunday laws fueled church–state controversy, and as an issue that contributed to the emergence of modern American minority-rights politics. On the other hand, the more recent Dies Domini , written by Pope John Paul II in 1998, advocates Sunday legislation in that it protects civil servants and workers;

1357-616: The 1909 season, Schenectady, New York was without minor league baseball for nearly four decades. The 1947 Schenectady Blue Jays began a tenure of play as members of the Canadian-American League . Early Schenectady teams through 1900 played minor league home games at the County Fairgrounds, also called Driving Park. The fairgrounds were located in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood in Schenectady. Today,

1416-550: The 1913 and 1914 Schenectady Mohawk Giants of the Negro Leagues and in minor league play by the 1947 Schenectady Blue Jays , who began play in the Canadian-American League . Minor league baseball began in Schenectady, New York in 1895, when the Schenectady "Dorpians" became members of the Independent eight–team New York State League . The Dorpians finished their initial season with a 24–24 record, placing fourth in

1475-401: The 3rd and 4th Advent Sundays, as well as trading until 14.00 for Easter Saturday and Christmas Eve. In 2019, the restriction was extended, and trading was permitted solely on the last Sunday of the month, as well as Palm Sunday , the 3rd and 4th Advent Sundays, as well as trading until 14.00 for Easter Saturday and Christmas Eve. From 2020, stores may only be open on seven Sundays in

1534-648: The Charter because it did not have a religious purpose. Nonetheless, as of today, virtually all provincial Sunday closing laws have ceased to exist. Some were struck down by provincial courts, but most were simply abrogated, often due to competitive reasons where out-of-province or foreign merchants were open. In the United States, judges have defended blue laws "in terms of their secular benefit to workers", holding that "the laws were essential to social well-being". In 1896, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Johnson Field , opined with regard to Sunday blue laws: Its requirement

1593-699: The Christian Sabbath tradition. In the Kingdom of Tonga , the Vavaʻu Code (1839) was a form of blue law inspired by the teachings of Methodist missionaries . With the inauguration of the Tongan Constitution on June 4, 1875, the sixth clause stipulates: "The Sabbath Day shall be kept holy in Tonga and no person shall practise his trade or profession or conduct any commercial undertaking on

1652-479: The Electricians in beginning league play on May 12, 1899. The Schenectady team was formed late in the spring after the other league teams, leaving its roster thin on quality players. The Schenectady "Electricians" nickname corresponds with local history and industry. The city was once known as "The City that Lights and Hauls the World" in reference to the Edison Electric Company (known today as General Electric ), and

1711-528: The New York State League. The Schenectady managers were Irvin Cook and Patrick Shea, as the Dorpians finished 3.5 games behind the first place Binghamton Crickets. The league began the season with eight teams and ended with four teams. The New York State League did not return to play in 1896. A Dorpian is loosely defined as nickname for an inhabitant of the city of Schenectady. The Schenectady "Dorpians" nickname

1770-691: The North Dakota Catholic Conference in 2011 likewise maintained that blue laws, in accordance with the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church , "ensure that, for reasons of economic productivity, citizens are not denied time for rest and divine worship". Similarly, Chief Justice Earl Warren , while recognizing the partial religious origin of blue laws, acknowledged the "secular purpose they served by providing

1829-805: The Sabbath Day except according to law; and any agreement made or witnessed on that day shall be null and void and of no legal effect." Ben Ellis (baseball) Alfred Benjamin Ellis (July [?] , 1870 – July 26, 1931) was an infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1896 season. He was born in New York City . Basically a third baseman , Ellis played all infield positions, except first base , and also served as

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1888-693: The United States held in its landmark case, McGowan v. Maryland (1961), that Maryland 's blue laws violated neither the Free Exercise Clause nor the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution . It approved the state's blue law restricting commercial activities on Sunday, noting that while such laws originated to encourage attendance at Christian churches ,

1947-722: The United States restrict the purchase of particular items on Sundays. Some of these laws restrict the ability to buy cars, groceries, office supplies, and housewares among other things. Though most of these laws have been relaxed or repealed in most states, they are still enforced in some other states. In Texas, for example, blue laws prohibited selling housewares such as pots, pans, and washing machines on Sunday until 1985. In Colorado , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Louisiana , Maine , Minnesota , Missouri , Oklahoma , New Jersey , North Dakota , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin , car dealerships continue to operate under blue-law prohibitions in which an automobile may not be purchased or traded on

2006-566: The United States, the Supreme Court has upheld blue laws as constitutional , recognizing their religious origins but are supported by secular justifications. This has resulted to the provision of a day of rest for the general population. Meanwhile, various state courts have struck down the laws as either unenforceable or in violation of their states' constitutions. In response, state legislators have re-enacted certain Sunday laws to satisfy

2065-688: The ballpark site is near the Mount Pleasant Fields park and Martin Luther King Elementary School. Beginning in 1901, Schenectady hosted minor league home games at Island Park. The park was also known as Columbus Park. The park was located on Van Slyck Island on the Mohawk River . The location is no longer an island, having since been connected to the mainland. Today, the ballpark site is on the property of Schenectady County Community College . The ballpark site

2124-405: The charges of "playing baseball on Sunday." A jury acquitted the players the next day after player/maanger Ben Ellis had his case presented first, ending in his acquittal. Beginning the season as defending league champions, the 1904 Schenectady Electricians relocated during the New York State League season. Despite winning the 1903 championship, the owners had still lost money in the 1903 season and

2183-717: The colonies. The first known example of the phrase "blue laws" in print was in the March 3, 1755, edition of the New-York Mercury , in which the writer imagines a future newspaper praising the revival of "our [Connecticut's] old Blue Laws ". In his 1781 book General History of Connecticut , the Reverend Samuel Peters (1735–1826) used the phrase to describe numerous laws adopted by 17th-century Puritans that prohibited various activities on Sunday, recreational as well as commercial. Beyond that, Peters' book

2242-500: The constitutionality of Pennsylvania's Sunday law. As in cases in other states, litigants pointed to the provisions of state constitutions protecting religious liberty and maintained that Sunday laws were a blatant violation. Though typically unsuccessful (most state supreme courts upheld the constitutionality of Sunday laws), these constitutional challenges helped set a pattern by which subsequent minorities would seek to protect religious freedom and minority rights. The Supreme Court of

2301-484: The contemporary Maryland laws were intended to serve "to provide a uniform day of rest for all citizens" on a secular basis and to promote the secular values of "health, safety, recreation, and general well-being" through a common day of rest. That this day coincides with Christian Sabbath is not a bar to the state's secular goals; it neither reduces its effectiveness for secular purposes nor prevents adherents of other religions from observing their own holy days. McGowan

2360-653: The final Eastern Association League standings. Joseph Andries served as the Schenectady manager in the brief season. The Newburgh Colts were in first place in the Eastern Association with an 8–2 record when the league folded. In the era of segregated baseball, Schenectady next hosted the Schenectady Mohawk Giants of the Negro Leagues , who played in the Eastern Independent Clubs in the 1913 and 1914 seasons. After

2419-425: The final standings of the eight-team league. In 1902, the New York State League was elevated to become a Class B level League. Continuing play in the eight-team league, the Electricians ended the season with a 56–55 record and finished in fifth place. Playing under returning manager Lew Whistler, Schenectady finished 15.0 games behind the first place Albany Senators in the final standings. The 1903 Schenectady team

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2478-464: The first place Utica Pent-Ups in the final standings of the Class C level league. Player/manager Lew Whistler hit 9 home runs to lead the league. The Electricians placed fifth in the 1901 New York State League final standings. Schenectady ended the season with a record of 65–60, playing the season under manager Howard Earl . The Electricians finished 7.0 games behind the first place Albany Senators in

2537-531: The franchise was relocated after beginning the 1904 season. On July 17, 1904, the Electricians moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania with a record of 20–39, finishing the season playing as the Scranton Miners . After compiling a record of 27–36 while based in Scranton, the team ended the season with an overall record of 47–75. The Schenectady/Scranton team finished in seventh place in the eight-team league, as

2596-599: The game. Blue laws Blue laws (also known as Sunday laws , Sunday trade laws , and Sunday closing laws ) are laws restricting or banning certain activities on specified days, usually Sundays in the western world . The laws were adopted originally for religious reasons, specifically to promote the observance of the Christian day of worship . Since then, they have come to serve secular purposes as well. Blue laws commonly ban certain business and recreational activities on Sundays, and impose restrictions on

2655-580: The impact of vanishing blue laws could be larger. A study in New Mexico in 2006 found a sharp increase in drunken driving on Sundays after that state dropped its Sunday ban on packaged alcohol sales. A broader study published by MIT and Notre Dame economists in 2008 found that the repeal of blue laws led to decreased church attendance, decreased donations to churches, and increased alcohol and drug use among religious individuals. These wide-ranging effects cannot easily be pinpointed to specific causes, but one of

2714-556: The latter study's authors, Daniel Hungerman, suggested to Christianity Today that blue laws might have been fulfilling their original intent, to keep people pious. Beginning in the mid-19th century, religious and ethno-cultural minorities arrested for violating state and local blue laws appealed their convictions to state supreme courts. In Specht v. Commonwealth (Pa. 1848), for example, German Seventh Day Baptists in Pennsylvania employed attorney Thaddeus Stevens to challenge

2773-515: The red emblem of British royalty. Other explanations have been offered. One of the most widely circulated is that early blue laws adopted in Connecticut were printed on blue paper. However, no copies have been found that would support this claim and it is not deemed credible. A more plausible explanation, one that is gaining general acceptance, is that the laws adopted by Puritans were aimed at enforcing morality and thus were "blue-nosed", though

2832-712: The restrictions. Some very large shops (e.g. department stores) open for longer than six hours on a Sunday by allowing customers in to browse 30 minutes prior to allowing them to make a purchase, since the six-hour restriction only applies to time during which the shop may make sales. Christmas Day and Easter Sunday are non-trading days. This applies even to garden centres, which earlier had been trading over Easter, but not to small shops (those with an area of below 280 square metres; 3000 sq. ft.). Prior to 1996, shops were generally closed on Sundays. A new law regarding opening times changed that and leaves that decision mostly up to local municipalities. The Zondagswet ("Sunday law"),

2891-410: The returning Ben Ellis and Jim Garry managed the team in the two locations. Schenectady/Scranton finished 35.5 games behind the first place Syracuse Stars in the final New York State League standings. The Scranton Miners continued New York State League play in 1905, with Jim Garry returning as manager. Schenectady did not return as members of the league. In 1909, Schenectady became charter members of

2950-545: The rulings while allowing some of the other statutes to remain on the books with no intention to enforce them. The Roman Emperor Constantine promulgated the first known law regarding prohibition of Sunday labour for apparent religion-associated reasons in A.D. 321: On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. The earliest laws in North America addressing Sunday activities and public behavior were enacted in

3009-416: The second place Syracuse Stars in the final standings of the Class B New York State League. Schenectady pitcher Del Mason led the league pitchers with a 24–7 record. On Sunday May 25, 1903, the entire Schenectady team was arrested for allegedly violating local Blue laws after playing a home game at Island Park on a Sunday. The players were arrested by county officials and held in jail. They were tried on

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3068-680: The state blue law that requires car dealerships to close either Saturday or Sunday each weekend. Blue laws also exist in the Polynesian islands of Cook Islands and Niue . In the Cook Islands, these were the first written legislation, enacted by the London Missionary Society in 1827, with the consent of the ariki (chiefs). Laws in Niue ban certain activities on Sunday, reflecting the country's history of observing

3127-698: The term "blue" may have been used in the vernacular of the times as a synonym for puritanism itself, in effect, overly strict. As Protestant moral reformers organized the Sabbath reform in 19th-century America, calls for the enactment and enforcement of stricter Sunday laws developed. Numerous Americans were arrested for working, keeping an open shop, drinking alcohol, traveling, and engaging in recreational activities on Sundays. Erwin Fahlbusch and Geoffrey William Bromiley write that throughout their existence, organizations advocating first-day Sabbatarianism , such as

3186-475: The year: Palm Sunday , the 3rd and 4th Advent Sundays, the last Sunday of January, April, June and August as well as trading until 14.00 for Easter Saturday and Christmas Eve. As a result of restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic , the 2nd Advent Sunday was later added as a shopping day. The Lord's Day Act , which since 1906 had prohibited business transactions from taking place on Sundays,

3245-597: Was but one of four Sunday closing cases decided together by the Court in May 1961. In Gallagher v. Crown Kosher Super Market of Mass., Inc. , the Court ruled against a Kosher deli that closed on Saturday but was open on Sunday. The other two cases were Braunfeld v. Brown , and Two Guys from Harrison-Allentown, Inc. v. McGinley . Chief Justice Earl Warren declared that "the State seeks to set one day apart from all others as

3304-508: Was declared unconstitutional in the 1985 case R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd. Calgary police officers witnessed several transactions at the Big M Drug Mart, all of which occurred on a Sunday. Big M was charged with a violation of the Lord's Day Act . A provincial court ruled that the Lord's Day Act was unconstitutional, but the Crown proceeded to appeal all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada . In

3363-464: Was later adopted by a professional basketball team in the city that played from 1915 to 1923. After a three year hiatus from minor league play, in 1899, the Schenectady "Electricians" were formed and the team rejoined the Class C level New York State League. The Albany Senators , Auburn Prisoners , Binghamton Bingos , Cortland Wagonmakers , Oswego Grays, Rome Romans and Utica Pent-Ups teams joined

3422-569: Was near the Western Gateway Bridge and State Street in Schenectady, New York. Island Park next hosted the Schenectady Mohawk Giants of the Negro Leagues , who played in 1913 and 1914. On October 5, 1913, the Mohawk Giants defeated the major league baseball Washington Senators and Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson by the score of 1-0 in a game at held at Island Park. There were over 6,000 in attendance for

3481-453: Was nicknamed for the frogs that inhabited their home ballpark at Island Park and the "Frog alley" was a local nickname for the area. The 1903 Schenectady "Frog Alleys" won the New York State League championship in a season marked by an arrest of the whole team, Schenectady won the league championship by finishing the season with a record of 80–52 record, playing the season under manager Ben Ellis . The Frog Alleys finished just 1.0 game ahead of

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