In his History of the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club, 1872-1917, Randolph St. George Walker opens his story with the following paragraph: "The Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club--as it was known at the time of its inception--was founded on the 22nd of March, 1872. The club leased as its Cricket and Baseball field the George Law property at Camp Washington, situated on the north shore of Staten Island, on the site now occupied by the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. Co, as a terminal at St. George. A lovelier or more picturesque ground it would have been hard to find, for it extended to the very water's edge. From the Bay, where the Club grounds caught the eye of someone on every passing craft, the well-rolled lawn looked like a patch of emerald velvet, and it was often a cheering sight to Club Members and their friends, going or returning from abroad, to see the club dip its flag to them, in welcome, or in farewell, as their steamer sailed in or out of the Harbor of New York."

 

Due to the advent of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and commercial encroachment at St. George, the club began, in 1885, looking for a new home. On January 18, 1886 the club ratified the purchase of the Delafield Homestead on Bard Avenue in Livingston on Staten Island at a cost of $40,000. In 1915 Richard Delafield bought back the old family homestead from the Staten Island Cricket Club and leased it back to the club. The house was situated on an approximately five acre rectangular plot covered with "fine and beautiful turf". The house contained all suitable accommodations for a club such as the SICC.

R. St. George Walker, author of this narrative, was the eighth president of the Staten Island Cricket Club. Randolph St. George Walker Jr. was a World War 1 hero and the son of a prominent member of the Staten Island Cricket Club. The Delafield property was re-named Walker Park in honor of R. St. George Walker and that name continues today. The park is bounded by Bard and Delafield Avenues, Delafield Place and Livingston Court. Some of the names associated the club in those early years and with the move from the "flats" to Walker Park are: William Krebs, George S. Scofield, Jr., William K. Jewett, William H. Davidge, and E. H. Outerbridge, 

The first cricket match at Walker Park, as reported by the New York Times of July 6, 1886, was played on July 5, 1886 between an English and an American team. Quotes the New York Times "The new grounds and clubhouse of the Staten Island Cricket Club were thronged yesterday by cricket enthusiasts and members of the Ladies' Outdoor Amusement Club. The occasion was the annual match between the American and English members of the club". The report goes on to state that in the first innings the English were all out put out for 85 runs. But the Americans could not take advantage of the favorable situation as MacGregor, an English bowler, took nine wickets at an average of just 2 runs per over. The Americans scored 66 runs. In the second innings the English scored 79 runs. One American, Pool, was reported to have bowled well in both innings. The game was decided on the first innings scores. After the match was over the members sat down to their first dinner in their new clubhouse.

 

The New York Times of July 18, 1886 reported that "The first big cricket match of the season, in this vicinity, was played yesterday on the new grounds of the Staten Island Cricket Club, at West Brighton". "The Merion Cricket Club, of Philadelphia, were the opponents of the home club. Neither team was fairly representative, yet the play throughout the game was good. Twelve men were played on each side, and only 79 runs were made in the first innings by the 24 batsmen. Not one of the Merions made double figures, and only Butler, 16; R. McGregor, 15; and E.H. Outerbridge, , 10, made more than single figures for the home club. The score at the end of the first innings was: Staten Island, 57; Merions, 22. The Staten Islanders went on to bat a second time and made 91 runs."

Richard Mather Bayles, in his book, History of Richmond County, Staten Island, New York, (L.E.Preston & Co., NYC, 1887), wrote: "The "The Staten Island Cricket and Base Ball Club, “which is the leading amateur cricket and baseball club of New York State, had its grounds for thirteen years near the present ferry landing of St. George, immediately on the bay, and one of the most picturesque locations imaginable. Bayles points out that in 1886 the club purchased the Delafield property at the foot of Bard avenue for the sum of $40,000 owing to the fact that railroad company had purchased the grounds on which the club had played. 

Bayles also noted that the club had over five hundred members and held monthly meetings during the summer months. He lists the officers of the club in 1886 as William Krebs, president, George S Scofield, Jr., vice president, N. S. Walker, Jr., secretary, E. J. Shriver, treasurer, all of whom, with the following, comprised the board of directors: W. M. Donald, W. K. Jewett, I. A. Vyse, G. C. Allen, W. H. Davidge, James W. Pryor, D. R. Norvell, W. H. Clark and E. H. Outerbridge. He also states that the club was incorporated in 1886. 

From its early days the Staten Island Cricket Club was active in the introduction of amateur sports to the people of Staten Island. The club was deeply involved in amateur baseball, thus its early name: Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club.

The club played a number of games but the principal ones were cricket, baseball and tennis. Some of the others were football (soccer), golf, rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, boating and others. Golf was introduced to the people of Staten Island by the Staten Island Cricket Club and had become quite a popular sport. Members of the club played golf at Fox Hills, Staten Island. According to Walker the club made its debut in the baseball world in 1874, when a team under the management of Edward C. Bridgman made a "Grand Tour" and invaded several the towns of Louisville, Springfield, St. Louis, New York, Jackson, Syracuse, and also Guelph and Brantford in Canada. "Tradition, if not history, records that Staten Island won 7 of the 10 games played." 

To illustrate the rich tradition of organized sport enjoyed by SICC, in 1886, the Illustrated Sketchbook of Staten Island described the then professional baseball club, the Metropolitan Baseball Club, as playing out of the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club's facilities. It was this club that later became the New York Giants and who now play in the National League as the San Francisco Giants.

To Miss Mary Ewing Outerbridge belongs the credit of having brought the first set of the "New Game of Lawn Tennis" to America. Mary E. Outerbridge spent the winter of 1874 in Bermuda where she saw the game played by British officers of the Garrison. She imported this set from England via Bermuda in 1876. By permission of the Directors of the Staten Island Cricket Club, the net was put up on the club grounds and the new game soon became very popular among the members. Thus the club was the first organization in the country to take up lawn tennis. A little later, after the game had become more generally known, the club held upon its grounds, in 1880, the first open tournament, Davis Cup, ever played in this country, wrote Walker. And for several years the Championship in Ladies’ Singles was held by Miss Adeline K. Robinson, a member of the club. 

 

 According to Bayles the club had about thirty members in 1873, added members each year and by 1887 had a membership of over five hundred making it one of, if not the largest club of its character in the United States. Due to its year to year lease of its original grounds it was unable to erect a large club house. The club provided one of the main social attractions on the island and set aside Friday each week as ladies day, giving the ladies exclusive use of the grounds. Writes Bayles, "The cricket match played between the visiting team of gentlemen of England and the Staten Island Club in September, 1885, was one of the most important events in the annals of cricket in this country."

Walker writes that for a number of years, especially between 1885 and 1900, the club traveled regularly to Philadelphia to play Annual Cricket Matches with their friends at Germantown, Merion, Philadelphia and Belmont Cricket Clubs. These, he states, were the great matches of the year to which SICC looked forward with the keenest enthusiasm. He also states that those of SICC who played will never forget the pleasure of those three or tours and the delightful hospitality of their Philadelphia friends.

Belmont has disappeared but the other three clubs remain and, starting with Merion in spring 1987 resurrected cricket. It is wonderful to note that SICC played in the first games at the re-inauguration of cricket at Merion and now makes Annual trips to play both Merion and Philadelphia. The facilities and grounds at these clubs are the best that can be found in the United States.

The practices of travel to play elsewhere and of hosting traveling teams at home is well ingrained in the history of the Staten Island Cricket Club. In 1888 an SICC eleven made a tour of the British West Indies under the captaincy of C. L. Bixby. They played 8 to 10 matches, had a delightful trip and "were the recipients of the most lavish hospitality at the hands of their hosts at the several islands", writes Walker. In later years . . . 

As reported by both the New York Times and Walker SICC played host many touring teams on its grounds: R. Daft's X1 and Gentlemen of Ireland 1879; English Tour Team 1881; West Indies September 1886; SICC 2-week Tour of West Indies August 1887; Australian Test Team vs All New York Team October 1893; E. J. Sanders' X1 1885 And 1886; West Indians 1886; Gentlemen of Ireland 1888; Lord Hawks X1 1891; Gentlemen of Ireland 1892; Australians 1893; Lord Hawkes' X1 1894; Oxford and Cambridge (combined) 1895; P. F. Warner's X1 1897; P. F. Warner's X1 1898; K. S. Ranjitsinhji's X1 1899; Kent County 1903; Hamilton (Bermuda) Cricket Club 1905; M C C 1905; Corinthian Football Club 1906; M C C 1907; Gentlemen of Ireland 1909; Australians 1912; Australians 1913; Incogniti Cricket Club 1913; English Cricketers 1897; Canadian and English (War Mission Team ) July 20, 1918; Australian Team, July 18, 1932 ( Bradman scored 35 ); Queensland, Australia July 8, 1962; SICC Tour of West Indies, March 1967; SICC Tour of West Indies March 1967; MCC Team Vs SICC September 1967; In 2015 the club hosted a visiting team from Australia. And in 2016 we hosted another visiting Australian team. Some other teams visiting SICC were: Hyderabad Blues of Pakistan, New Zealand Touring Team, Old Collegians of Australia and Touring teams from Bermuda and several West Indian Islands.

Among famous cricketers, other than Sir Donald Bradman, to have played on the grounds of Walker Pare are: Sir Everton Weekes (played in 1967 with MCC vs a New York Team); Sir Garfield Sobers (as part of the belated 1988 100th Anniversary at Walker Park); Alan Border and a young Geoffrey Boycott. Club lore also has it that W. G. Grace and K. S. Ranjitsinghji also played on the grounds.

In 1925 Walker Park was sold to the Staten Island Academy. It was subsequently purchased by New York City in 1930 for $110,000.00 and transferred to the Parks Department in 1931. At the time of the transfer the ground contained a club house with lockers and showers, a refreshment building and three tool sheds. Tragically, a fire in 1932 burned the club house down and most of the club’s records were lost. The club house was replaced in 1934 with the current Tudor- style structure of red brick and stone.