[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

June 1887

Welcome Young Billy Hamilton

An offense that is ranked first in most all offensive catagories except for home runs nary needs much help. In the June amatuer draft however the Chicago White Stockings by many accounts got fortunate with the 4th pick of the draft as they chose youn New Jersey outfielder Billy Hamilton.

Hamilton is considered the best hitting prospect to come out of the league in the past five years as the 21 year old has played very well in local New York amatuaer leagues. As most teams continue to stock up on pitching in these drafts Hamilton fell to Chicago, who wasted no time making him one of their own.

Hamilton bats from the left side and upon signing joined the Chicago starting lineup and with all the support looked like he had been there for years. Billy had 12 hits in his first 28 atbats and already drove in nine runs. Hamilton is a quiet kid but scouts are already raving and the city has embraced the young man, somthing that is all the more easy to do with the Whites again playing at the top of their game and in first place.

Chicago went 16-7 for the month and once again out did their run total in a single game by beating the lowly Pittsburgh Alleghenys 29-0 on June the 7th. The team as a whole is batting .305 and is playing in front of a fullhouse where ever they play. George Dandy Wood already has 81 RBI this season and is well on his way at topping the season record of 109 held by Dave Orr.

"Their offense is like trying to stop a locomotive" said the Boston manager this month.

In a headscratcher of a trade however Chicago bought the rights to a former player. The Only Nolan is back in Chicago and many wonder why the Whites keep taking a chance on this man who has bounced all around the league. Many feel like Chicago management have never recovered from their 1877 World Series loss where Nolan was brilliant, and feel that they are due some of that magic. Also Nolan and King Kelly have been long time friends for years. Chicago gave up young short stop prospect Ed Herr in the deal.
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American Association Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Cleveland Blues	41	29	.586	-
Boston Americans	41	30	.577	.5
Louisville Colonels	38	35	.521	4.5
Washington Nationals	36	33	.522	4.5
Baltimore Orioles	34	36	.486	7.0
Detroit Wolverines	35	37	.486	7.0
Philadelphia Athletics	32	39	.451	9.5
Chicago White Sox	25	43	.368	15.0

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago White Stockings	48	23	.676	-
Cincinnati Red Stockings	43	27	.614	4.5
Brooklyn Grays	39	30	.565	8.0
St. Louis Browns	39	31	.557	8.5
New York Giants	30	42	.417	18.5
Pittsburg Alleghenys	28	40	.412	18.5
Philadelphia Quakers	29	44	.397	20.0
Boston Beaneaters	26	45	.366	22.0

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League Notes

• The "Pick off move" has revolutionized the league running game as steal totals are way down and pitchers have finally found a way to control the huge jumps and leads runners were enjoying.
• Ross Barnes of the Boston club willmiss the remainder of the season with a bad concussion suffered on the field. No major concerns were showed over the stars career, but at 37 the star player isnt getting any younger.
• The Reds had their reasons for falling behind in the National League pennant race. George Gore will miss the remainder of the season as "piano legs" fractured his elbow and took a huge bat and leader out of the middle of their order.
• Ben Sanders the 22 year old right handed starter was the top pick by the Chicago White Sox who again are suffering through a horrible season. In their 6th season the Sox are 100 games under .500 at 150-250.