04-11-2010, 12:31 AM
|
#98
|
|
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 4,350
|
BASEBALL MONTHLY
August 1879
Fists Fly As American Race Heats Up
Over the years competition in this relatively young league has reached a fever pitch and the rules of winning seem to include an anything goes attitude. The intensity couldnt be any higher in the American League as the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Athletics are tied in first place with a month of the season remaining.
Boston has all but wrapped up the National League for weeks now.
Things boiled completely over in a recent game in on August 16th in the intense heat of Newington Park in Baltimore. In a tight game between the Orioles and the Cleveland Blues George Bradley plunked Oriole third baseman Jimmy Halinan and after exchanging some words, the Oriole batter charged the mound. With little control and one of the ugliest incidents in league history, both benches and some fans cleared the and a free for all insued. It took a good 20 minutes for order to be restroed and the game to continue.
The league had to react accordingly and suspended both Halinan and Bradley for 2 games each. Players on the Oriole team were sure that Cleveland was working for Philadelphia and trying to injure one of their players.
The season now boils to the limit as both teams go forward and the two teams will meet 6 more times including the final three games of the season.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO HAS GOOD MONTH
The White Stockings got back on track a bit and went 10-4 in the month. Chicago is only one game under .500 and has refused to quit even though the season may be lost.
Al Spalding may not be a White for very long because of his contract, but he is sure making a good case to stay. Spalding was pitcher of the month and pitched two shutouts, including one against the Boston Red Caps. Fred Dunlap is also coming around, the rookie was named rookie of the month and is batting .311 in his first season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
League Tidbits Cal McVey suffered an injury for the Cleveland Blues. Mcvey will likely miss the rest of the season with a strained obliques. McVey was having an outstanding season batting .320. Cincinnati has had quite a fall since their dominant early season effort. The Reds who started the season 11-2 have gone 22-32 the rest of the way.
|
|
|