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Nick Soulis · 04-07-2010, 12:37 AM

BASEBALL MONTHLY

March 1879

Whites Say Goodbye to King

Recovering from the heartbreak of last season the Chicago White Stockings are looking to the new season with optimism and hope. The team did retool over the offseason mostly to balance their financial sheets.

In the process the Whites had to make some tough decisions. The team let go short stop Mike McGeary and outfielder Paul Hines who were both high earners and spent only one year with the team. These changes did not cut as deep however as the loss of outfielder and fan favorite Steve King, who was let go by the team after he batted only .227 last season. King who turned 36 years old did catch on with a new team, the Baltimore Orioles.

"We really wish Steve the best" said Cap Anson, "he had been here since the first White Stockings game was played, and he meant alot to this team and city. But that is baseball."

For his career King won the 1872 MVP award and also was rookie of the year in 1871. King is a .314 career hitter 27 triples and 221 RBI. King also was the franchise leader in runs scored.

King was greeted at Union Station before leaving for Baltimore by numerous fans and well wishers. Thanks were given for his 8 years in Chicago.

The team did resign pitching arms Hugh Campbell and Cherokee Fisher. The only major free agent signing was 25 year old first baseman Jack Manning. Manning will platoon with Jim Devlin at first base.

With spring training in full swing the team also suffered two significant injuries. Joe Quest (thumb) and Terry Larkin (bicep) are both expected to miss opening day.
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League Changes Schedule

The longest season in baseball history awaits as teams agreed to an expanded and balanced 84 game schedule. The jump is up from a 60 game season that was the norm for the last 6 years. The increase in games will increase league revenue greatly due to many more attended games. Many league records will obviously fall with the expanded schedule.

Teams are also trying to compensate for fatigue, especially on the pitching mound with the extra games.

The World Series will remain the same.
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Off season tidbits

Mike McGeary, star short stop will continue his career with the Boston Red Caps. Boston overtook Chicago as the team with the highest payroll in the league (13,349$).
George Zettlein of the Brooklyn Atlantics will miss all of the 1879 season as the veteran pitcher tore his labrum and although doctors say he may pitch again, the hurler will be out 12 months.
Frank Buttery will also be missing most of the year. The St. Louis third baseman who batted .291 last season broke his kneecap and will miss 8 full months.
Candy Cummings, the free agent pitcher who won the pitcher of the year award in 1872, had ligament surgery and will miss the 1879 season. Cummings also is expected to make a full recovery.
According to scouts the best hitter in the league is George Gore of the Cincinnati Reds.

04-07-2010, 12:37 AM	#93
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,363	BASEBALL MONTHLY March 1879 Whites Say Goodbye to King Recovering from the heartbreak of last season the Chicago White Stockings are looking to the new season with optimism and hope. The team did retool over the offseason mostly to balance their financial sheets. In the process the Whites had to make some tough decisions. The team let go short stop Mike McGeary and outfielder Paul Hines who were both high earners and spent only one year with the team. These changes did not cut as deep however as the loss of outfielder and fan favorite Steve King, who was let go by the team after he batted only .227 last season. King who turned 36 years old did catch on with a new team, the Baltimore Orioles. "We really wish Steve the best" said Cap Anson, "he had been here since the first White Stockings game was played, and he meant alot to this team and city. But that is baseball." For his career King won the 1872 MVP award and also was rookie of the year in 1871. King is a .314 career hitter 27 triples and 221 RBI. King also was the franchise leader in runs scored. King was greeted at Union Station before leaving for Baltimore by numerous fans and well wishers. Thanks were given for his 8 years in Chicago. The team did resign pitching arms Hugh Campbell and Cherokee Fisher. The only major free agent signing was 25 year old first baseman Jack Manning. Manning will platoon with Jim Devlin at first base. With spring training in full swing the team also suffered two significant injuries. Joe Quest (thumb) and Terry Larkin (bicep) are both expected to miss opening day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- League Changes Schedule The longest season in baseball history awaits as teams agreed to an expanded and balanced 84 game schedule. The jump is up from a 60 game season that was the norm for the last 6 years. The increase in games will increase league revenue greatly due to many more attended games. Many league records will obviously fall with the expanded schedule. Teams are also trying to compensate for fatigue, especially on the pitching mound with the extra games. The World Series will remain the same. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Off season tidbits Mike McGeary, star short stop will continue his career with the Boston Red Caps. Boston overtook Chicago as the team with the highest payroll in the league (13,349$). George Zettlein of the Brooklyn Atlantics will miss all of the 1879 season as the veteran pitcher tore his labrum and although doctors say he may pitch again, the hurler will be out 12 months. Frank Buttery will also be missing most of the year. The St. Louis third baseman who batted .291 last season broke his kneecap and will miss 8 full months. Candy Cummings, the free agent pitcher who won the pitcher of the year award in 1872, had ligament surgery and will miss the 1879 season. Cummings also is expected to make a full recovery. According to scouts the best hitter in the league is George Gore of the Cincinnati Reds. Last edited by Nick Soulis; 04-07-2010 at 12:41 AM.