The 1886 baseball season has changed the landscape of things across the leagues and parks of all the teams. The biggest diffrence this year is the incredible increase in the home run, and not many people are happy with this development.
There have been 580 home runs hit already this season league wide, already 150 more home runs then we saw all of last season. The leader in the long ball is Chief Roseman who became the first man ever to hit 20. Roseman is part of a group of players that are sacraficing a low average to swing for the fences, and some of those very fences are causing a stir in the game.
With a number of new ballparks going up this year and last, the configuireations of the parks have varied from city to city. One common trend however is the short fences in left field. Cities like Pittsburgh, Cinicnnati, Brooklyn, and St. Louis are all bringing the left field wall in much closer then usual allowing players to get the automatic home run much more easier. Some parks have made the home run less then 300 feet down the lines, somthing that many feel is hurting the pureness of the game.
3 home runs in one game!
On July 21st of this summer the league saw a first, all beit in an extra innings game. Second baseman Fred Pfeffer of the Cincinnati Reds hit three home runs in one game, somthing fans used to wait weeks for someone to accomplish in the past. Pfeffer has 17 home runs on the season making him second in the league, and his fence in Cincinnati was rumored to be at about 290 feet.
In response to all this a commitee is scheduled to meet after the season to discuss this very issue and its fairness to the integrity of the game. many expect new rules to soon be in place with minimum requirements for the ground rules in all profesional ball yards.
So many are saying under their breath "enjoy it while it lasts."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Whites Falling Fast
The Chicago National League team had a hard month of July going 9-15 and pushed them 11.5 games out of the pennant race. Injuries are continueing to come in an incredible pace as the team lost both their short stops in the month.
Fred Fennelly who was having a great season having driven in 58 runs went down with a sore shoulder and will be sidelined for the season. First year rookie Ed Herr then broke his elbow and will be sidelined for 5 ful months. If one can believe it the Whites have 9 players on their disabled list and six of them wont see action until 1887.
The team also made a move off the field that moved a well known and liked player. Ned Williamson started his career in Chicago back in 1877 and was frustrating at times becuase of his inconsistency. Still Williamson was part of two championship teams and was a well liked player aroudn the city and the park. The short stop was traded to the New York Giants this month for starting pitcher Tom Lovett. The Whites with all the injuries really had no one to take the mound on a consistent basis and an mmediate arm was needed. Ned for his part steped and fit right in the Giants lineup, including going 5-5 in his first week.
Ned Williamson
The team released this statement in response to the move:
"The entire team wishes Ned the best and we thank him for his immense contribution to the team and his overall standing as a gentlemen to all"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
League Notes