Atlanta was a perfect first stop for the Georgetown team as it began its tour of baseball towns across Georgia. Passing through town in late August, the Georgetowns dropped two out of three against the Atlantas before proceeding on to Columbus. It is doubtful that Henke was with the Georgetowns during that first series; his name did not appear in the lineup in any of those games. On their way back home two weeks later after touring the state, the Georgetowns again stopped to play the Atlantas in a four-game series. Henke was now playing third base for the Georgetowns, earning praise from the Atlanta Constitution: “Henke distinguished himself again on the third base” it noted in reference to Henke’s play in the third game of the series on September 10.(3) Henke also hit well in the four game series. Atlanta swept that second series against the team from Kentucky; it also managed to pinch their third baseman in the process.

After defeating Georgetown 7-3 on September 11 to complete the sweep, the Atlantas’ lineup for the game the next day against the depleted Columbus Stars included Henke at third base. Henke collected three hits while scoring two runs. The Constitution noted that “Henke, the new third baseman of the Atlantas, won frequent applause yesterday” which is somewhat surprising since he also committed three errors that day.(4) Atlanta won 9-0 on September 13, the Constitution noting that “Henke, Heinzman and ‘Little Joe’ Masran made beautiful three-baggers and were loudly cheered when they went to bat afterwards” and “(T)he Atlantas have a bonanza in Henke…he is already a great favorite.”(5) The reporter only casually mentioned the fact that Clem, Atlanta’s pitcher who also had been pilfered from the Georgetowns before they left town, surrendered no hits to Columbus that day. All told, Henke played the last five games of the Atlantas’ season, picking up 8 hits, including a home run, and scoring 6 runs in those games.

The Atlantas in 1885 were charter members of the new Southern League. The Atlanta team was funded by a group of prominent investors (nominally, at least, on behalf of the AAC), many of whom had been involved in the development of the club in 1884. Henry Grady, the publisher of the Atlanta Constitution and one of the team’s investors, was named league president early in the league’s formative process.

Henke and second baseman Henry “Red” Bittmann, who also hailed from Cincinnati, were the only players from the 1884 team slated to play under manager Gus Schmelz for the Atlantas in 1885. Schmelz put together a strong team; other significant contributors included right fielder Walt Goldsby, shortstop John “Patsy” Cahill, catchers George McVey and George Mappes, and pitchers Al Bauer, Ed Dundon and Tom Sullivan. Henke was moved to first base for 1885 and continued to be a crowd favorite, becoming somewhat notorious for a hard sliding style on the basepaths (the “Henke slide”).

The team from Nashville made its way into Atlanta for a series against the home club beginning Friday, August 14. The Atlantas had a record of 55-25 and enjoyed a 5 ½ game lead over second-place Nashville heading into the game that day. Al Bauer toed the rubber for the home team, while Norm Baker went to the mound for the visitors. Atlanta’s SS Patsy Cahill led off the game (Nashville won a coin toss and decided to bat second) with an inside-the-park home run, staking Atlanta to an early lead. At the end of three innings, the home team enjoyed a 3-0 lead.

Notes:

(3) "Georgetown's Waterloo," Atlanta Constitution, September 11, 1884, p5.

(4) "Thirteen to Three," Atlanta Constitution, September 13, 1884, p5.

(5) "Totally Eclipsed," Atlanta Constitution, September 14, 1884, p7.