Sometime in 1903, Benjamin and Mary Purnell co-founded the communal religious society called The Israelite House of David in Benton Harbor, Michigan. One restriction of becoming a member of the community was you were not permitted to cut your hair.
As the community grew, Purnell, a sports enthusiast, encouraged members to play baseball to build physical and spiritual discipline. By 1913 the baseball team started to play competitively. They barnstormed all across rural America sharing their beliefs and if their history is accurate, beating just about everybody they played.
Since the players could not cut their hair they were not able to play in the majors or have an official game against a Major League ballclub. The House of David played against any team, minor league, independent hometown teams, and Negro League teams, even Major League teams in a friendly affair.
The House of David teams have been featured in Ken Burns’ Baseball and the movie The Winning Team about the pitcher Glover Cleveland Alexander. Also Harry Turtledove’s fantasy novel, The House of Daniel.
The House of David religious society was more than just a baseball team. Reading a bit of the history it is fascinating until it was rocked by a scandal.
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