[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

July 1887

Derby Lost For Season; Whites Remain Positive

The storylines continue to grow for the first place Chicago White Stockings as they head into the final stage of the season still with the best record in the game. Chicago went 18-8 in the month of July and continue to set a record pace in runs with 765.

George Derby was having one of his finest season's in 1887 but will be out of action for the remainder of the title chase. Derby in fact will have a long road back from a serious injury. Derby tore his labrum and is facing a 10 month recovery plan, at 30 years of age their is still hope for a full recovery. More then anything Derby's leadership ability may be missed the most by the young Chicago staff.

"Even though I wont be pitching I still will be close to the guys" said Derby, "I will spend time at the ballpark and will be sharing ideas and advise, these guys can still win without me."

To add to some of the drama for the month cpatain/manager and leader Cap Anson went down in pain as well. Anson has been extremely durable in his career having played in over 1200 games, most of all time. Anson did strain a hamstring and missed most of the month, being 35 years of age his iron man days may be over. Anson was having an outstanding season rebounding very well from a poor 1886. Anson is batting .369 and has scored 88 runs. His return will be much needed.

Two players who are taking the league by storm are King Kelly and George Wood. Dandy Wood has already broke the single season record in RBI with 106 and still has a ton of games left, no one gets the hits more often with runners on then Wood. Mr. Kelly is truly flirting with the elusive .400 mark, King Kelly is batting exactly .400 for the year. Still he only has 125 atbats so qualifying for the batting title could be a challange.

With all the storylines the bottom line is that Chicago looks to be the eventual pennant winners this season with a current 7.5 game lead.

"We are right back where we belong" says pitcher Art Hagan.

Who's Hot? C King Kelly .500, 0 HR Last 5 games RF Billy Hamilton .500, 0 HR Last 6 games LF George Wood .500, 0 HR Last 5 games Who's Not?

Pitching Staff Role T Pitcher G GS W L SV ERA WHIP Status Starter R Adonis Terry 33 33 22 8 0 2.65 1.48 Rested Starter R Tom Lovett 11 10 7 4 0 3.10 1.45 Rested Starter L Steve Toole 6 5 3 1 0 5.27 1.93 Rested Middle Reliever R The Only Nolan 4 3 0 2 0 5.57 2.00 Rested Setup Reliever R Tom Sullivan 6 0 1 1 1 3.18 2.06 Rested Setup Reliever R Art Hagan 7 0 2 0 4 4.20 2.00 Rested Closer R Tricky Nichols 11 0 1 2 7 1.89 1.53 Rested

Catchers # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 40 R King Kelly C 43 175 70 2 32 51 38 24 .400 .505 .543 31 R Pop Snyder C 50 208 45 0 34 26 13 50 .216 .265 .288 81 R Stud Bancker C 30 110 28 0 22 18 11 12 .255 .315 .327

Infielders # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 34 L Cupid Childs 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 21 R Mike Burke 3B 5 13 1 0 1 3 1 2 .077 .143 .154 96 R Fred Dunlap 2B 91 355 112 0 83 56 54 63 .315 .401 .403 87 R Frank Fennelly SS 97 384 93 0 55 89 83 75 .242 .375 .362 57 L Otto Schomberg 1B 93 340 117 1 93 101 105 29 .344 .496 .482 47 L Billy Reid 2B 5 17 2 0 1 2 4 2 .118 .286 .176

Outfielders # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 4 L Billy Sunday CF 46 185 60 0 41 31 21 33 .324 .390 .389 45 L Billy Hamilton RF 33 126 46 0 20 37 35 9 .365 .506 .484 19 S Charlie Hall CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 68 L Bill Hughes RF 3 12 2 0 4 0 1 3 .167 .231 .333 64 L George Wood LF 85 346 112 1 106 76 51 56 .324 .405 .445 65 R Dave Foutz LF 41 172 60 2 40 33 14 23 .349 .389 .494 95 L Pete Hotaling CF 85 365 105 0 49 88 56 70 .288 .382 .395

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American Association Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Boston Americans	58	39	.598	-
Cleveland Blues	54	41	.568	3.0
Louisville Colonels	52	45	.536	6.0
Washington Nationals	51	44	.537	6.0
Detroit Wolverines	48	48	.500	9.5
Philadelphia Athletics	46	51	.474	12.0
Baltimore Orioles	42	54	.438	15.5
Chicago White Sox	33	62	.347	24.0

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago White Stockings	66	31	.680	-
Cincinnati Red Stockings	58	38	.604	7.5
St. Louis Browns	53	42	.558	12.0
Brooklyn Grays	51	44	.537	14.0
New York Giants	41	55	.427	24.5
Philadelphia Quakers	41	56	.423	25.0
Boston Beaneaters	38	59	.392	28.0
Pittsburg Alleghenys	36	59	.379	29.0

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League Notes

• The biggest moment of the month came from Elmer Smith of the Chicago White Sox who threw a no hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. Smith did walk six men in the game but also struck out six and earned the 5th no no in league history and the first in three years.
• The Cincinnati Reds traded a star player Jim ORourke will take his .350 average to New York. The Reds get two average young players back but many are wodering why the Reds let go of one of their stars.
• Things couldnt get much worse for Frank the Shadow Gilmore of the Alleghenys. The young 23 year old hurler will be out for over a year after he tore a flexor tendon in his elbow. Things were tough even before the injury for Gilmore who was a poor 1-13 on the season and just couldnt get a win.