n the early 1880s, Altoona had a thriving amateur baseball reputation, which it still enjoys.  In 1883, a group of sixteen local businessmen, headed by Arthur Dively and William Ritz, formed a semipro team that traveled the Commonwealth taking on other teams.  The team included numerous players destined for major league time, most notably George "Germany" Smith.  The team drew 1600 fans per game from a fan base of 25,000 people. 

  At the conclusion of the 1883 season, Dively and Ritz had joined the Inter-State Association, but in February 1884, half the teams jumped to the Eastern League.  Altoona, sensing the ISA was a sinking ship, tried to follow, but were denied. 
  Then the amazing happened.  They were invited to join the new Union Association, in the major leagues.  Henry Lucas gave out that the Pennsylvania Railroad was going to back the team, but this was not the case.