In 1861, Jasper became prefect of students at Manhattan College. He was also the school's athletic director, resident student adviser, and chief disciplinarian.[1] He founded Manhattan's first band, orchestra, glee club and several literary clubs, and in 1863, started the school's first baseball team.[2][1] Manhattan College's athletic teams were called the Jaspers in honor of Brother Jasper. In 1926, the school formally adopted the nickname.[3] In 1882, during the seventh inning of a game against the New York Metropolitans, Jasper instructed restless students to stand and stretch until play resumed. Although it is not the only origin story for the seventh-inning stretch, former National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum curator Ted Spencer said that it was the one with the "most substance [and] is the one best documented".[4] Jasper died of "congestion of the lung" on April 9, 1895, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.[1]
References
^ abcdCaldwell, Dave (March 19, 2014). "Manhattan College Basketball Team Nickname Stirs Mystery; Jaspers' Origins Explored as Team Prepares for NCAA Tournament". The Wall Street Journal.