BASEBALL MONTHLY
July 1890
The Mystery Of Bob Black
Call the fans of Chicago fickle if you like, but ace pitcher Bob Black isnt having the most comfortable season pitching on the mound for the Colts. Black did win the Pitcher of the Year award last season and remains talent blessed with an excellent fastball as well as a deceptive screwball.
Still Bob Black has begun to hear the whistles and boos at the West Side Ground for one simple reason, the team doesnt win consistently when he takes the hill. Black has been accused of not getting his teamates to play for him and fails to make the big pitch when he needs to. This season Black with all his talents is only 16-16 and has a career high 2.79 ERA.
Some question his effort on the mound, is he always tuned in or does he pitch when he feels like it? No one can really explain why Black had his best seasons in Boston and since joining Chicago last season his ERA has steadily climbed. One source close to the team said that Black "just isnt a leader" and that "his teamates havent really taken him in to their circle in the clubhouse".
Black went 4-3 this month with an eyeopening 3.57 ERA and is a big contributor to why the Colts have greatly disapointed again this season sitting a long 10 games back heading into the final two months of the season. Here is a look at the career line of Bob Black including his seasons in Boston which remain some of the most dominant the game has ever seen, why not the same when in the Windy City?
| Career Pitching Stats |
| Year/Team/League | Age | G | GS | W | L | SV | ERA | IP | HA | R | ER | HR | BB | K | CG | SHO | WHIP | BABIP | VORP | ERA+ | | 1884 Boston - NL | 21 | 56 | 56 | 38 | 15 | 0 | 0.58 | 485.0 | 312 | 139 | 31 | 1 | 54 | 579 | 49 | 7 | 0.75 | .250 | 107.2 | 277 | | 1885 Boston - NL | 22 | 55 | 55 | 22 | 28 | 0 | 1.48 | 463.0 | 387 | 226 | 76 | 3 | 93 | 361 | 37 | 4 | 1.04 | .263 | 72.1 | 128 | | 1886 Boston - NL | 23 | 35 | 35 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 1.66 | 286.2 | 262 | 182 | 53 | 7 | 32 | 13 | 23 | 0 | 1.03 | .231 | 43.2 | 118 | | 1887 Boston - NL | 24 | 41 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 0 | 1.51 | 357.0 | 258 | 113 | 60 | 5 | 93 | 416 | 35 | 5 | 0.98 | .286 | 101.2 | 186 | | 1888 Boston - NL | 25 | 25 | 25 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1.57 | 223.0 | 178 | 82 | 39 | 5 | 49 | 140 | 20 | 3 | 1.02 | .256 | 44.3 | 141 | | 1889 Chicago - NL | 26 | 49 | 49 | 27 | 17 | 0 | 2.20 | 430.1 | 432 | 227 | 105 | 8 | 114 | 268 | 41 | 2 | 1.27 | .301 | 77.9 | 133 | | 1890 Chicago - NL | 27 | 35 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 2.79 | 303.1 | 332 | 195 | 94 | 2 | 134 | 188 | 28 | 0 | 1.54 | .323 | 41.7 | 108 | | Total NL | | 296 | 296 | 171 | 102 | 0 | 1.62 | 2548.1 | 2161 | 1164 | 458 | 31 | 569 | 1965 | 233 | 21 | 1.07 | .273 | 487.6 | 163 |
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Stump Wiedman back in Chicago
Pitcher Stump Wiedman has come back to Chicago to play for the Colts. Chicago again is looking to improve on a pitching staff that still has the higest ERA in the National League.
Wiedman was acquired from the first place New York Giants in place of Jim Brennan who was not seeing much time at catcher with Billy Earle and King Kelly dominating the position.
Wiedman played in two and a half seasons for Chicago winning 28 games including a 15-10 record in 1885. Wiedman of course was also a member of the 1884 championship team.
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League NotesThe Pittsburgh Alleghenys have cleaned out their front office in the middle of the season. The team has replaced its manager King Allen and most of his staff. The Alleghenys are once again struggling with a 40-67 record.
The count is out for a while in Cleveland. With his trademark mustache and extrovert personalaty, Count Campau will miss sic weeks due to a quad strain. The Spiders are 20 games over .500 and in a mad pennant race with the Detroit Tigers.
Bill Sweeney continues an excellent career. The 30 year old Boston pitcher won his 200th game this month and his 21st this season. Sweeney was won more then 20 games in 7 of his 10 seasons.