Name-a-Day Calendar, April 10: Manhattan Jaspers
Page 155 of 365
Chosen in: Probably the 1860s but definitely by the late 1800s
Chosen by: Athletic director and head baseball coach Brother Jasper of Mary
Before we begin, I’d like to laugh at Manhattan College for being misnamed for the past 101 years; the school was founded in Manhattan but moved to the Bronx in 1922.
The Academy of the Holy Infancy was founded in 1853 and changed its name to Manhattan College in 1863 when it received its New York State charter. The same year, Brother Jasper of Mary,1 who had come to the school in 1861, started the Manhattan College baseball program. This was the school’s first sports program so, in doing this, Brother Jasper became both the coach of the team and the athletic director.
In addition to these duties, Brother Jasper was the head of resident students and founded several literary clubs at the school as well as its first orchestra, band, and glee club. He was such an important figure to Manhattan, athletically and otherwise, that their sports teams were named in his honor at some point in their infancy.
Brother Jasper also might be the origin of the 7th inning stretch. Maybe. Anyway, today, a costumed version of Brother Jasper serves as the school mascot.
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Born Joseph Brennan on July 1, 1829, in Ireland
Manhattan College is going to change their name to College of The Bronx when they do anything other than finish very average in the MAAC.
I will never be proven wrong. They will always be average.