BASEBALL MONTHLY
March 1876
National League Officially Organizes
The 1876 Major League Baseball season will be something of a fresh new start for the profesional game as team owners met to formolize rules and vote for a new front office over the winter.
The major issue was to create a central authority with exclusive territories in larger cities. There were league wide claims of gambeling and corruption and now with a central authority and persidency the league will be deemed more legitimate.
William Hulbert organzied the new league which will be known as the National League of Profesional Ball Clubs. The owners announced that Morgan Bulkely will be the first league president. The league will remain with a 60 game schedule and an elaborate reserve clause that leaves little chance of players negotiating salaries.
The league will also retain two divisions, the East and West, of 8 teams with a possibility for expansion in the future.
Boston in the meetings changed their name from the Red Stockings to the Red Caps.
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White Stockings Name Anson as Leagues Youngest Manager
After a disapointing couple of seasons the Chicago Whte Stockings made a change for the future of their team, naming star infielder Cap Anson as their new manager going into the 1876 season.
Anson is only 24 years and will be extremely young for such a position, but the Chicago front office doesnt seem worried about his lack of experiance.
"Cap is already respected by everyone on the team." said the team owner, "He has been here since our very first game. A new era for a young league deserves a new young man in charge in Chicago."
Chicago opens the season in Cincinnati next month.
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Leage Tidbits
Joe Gerhardt, short stop for the Brooklyn Atlantics broke a bone in his elbow and will miss 4 to 5 months, likely the entire season in a bad blow for the promising player.
Lip Pike, one of the most popular players in the league will miss alot of time. In a freak off the field accident while playing with his son, Pike tore his hamstring and will miss at least 4 months, if not the entire season for the St. Louis Browns. Ticket sales have already suffered.
Al Spalding the reigning outstading pitcher of the league in the NL West has an interesting off season venture. The star pitcher has started his own sporting brand company known as "Spalding". The company is already making a bid to manufacture the official game ball for the league.
Power Rankings
St. Louis Browns
Cleveland Blues
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Caps
Chicago White Stockings
Cincinnati Reds
Brooklyn Altantics
Philadelphia Athletics
The A's ranked as last despite winning last season's championship!