“The last three innings were of the most exciting character, it being anybody’s game up to the close of the eighth innings.” The Brooklyn Daily Times, September 17, 1864, p3
- Note: There are earlier examples from cricket from as early as 1840 in England and 1858 in the U.S.
Previous earliest use (Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2009):
1866. “The score was such as to make it ‘anybody’s game’” (Brooklyn Eagle, Aug. 27; Peter Morris).
