BASEBALL MONTHLY
May 1891
The Void Cant Be Fillied
Two months into the new season and few teams have barely found their identity much less given anything up. This version however of the Chicago Colts has a different feel to it all together. The proud franchise is most likely suffering its most difficult stretch ever.
The team has a record of 25-29 and sit 12 games out of first place already. It is not only the record however, the team doesnt seem to compete or really have much of a chance against the better sides in the league like first place Boston or even Brooklyn or Pittsburgh. The team over everything is last in baseball in hitting with a .227 average, the worse average the franchise has ever seen at this stage of the season.
The void of Billy Hamilton cant be understated. It is one thing if you expect the star player to come back soon from an injury, and it is another thing all together to know he wont be coming back at all. Stars like Cap Anson whom everyone looks up to are trying to keep the team focused, but age is showing for old Pops who at 37 years old is batting only .248.
But Anson isnt the only one; other players are faring even worse as Oyster Burns bats .208 or Bill Eagen .199. The team has 5 home runs total and only 52 stolen bases. The 209 runs scored is also last in the league.
The pitching isnt a whole lot better and many feel Charles Comiskey is doing wonders with this side to have them only four games under .500. Charlie Geggus is truly the only bright spot on the team as the new pitcher dominated the league again winning an incredible 15 games in two months and winning pitcher of the month acclaims.
The Colts hope to get much needed help in the upcoming June amatuer draft.
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League News The only other pitcher as dominant as Charlie Geggus has been Bob Black of the first place Boston Beaneaters. Black finally had his scoreless inning streak end at 36.2 innings. Black however has suffered an injury with a sore elbow and has missed 4 weeks.
The struggling Cincinnati Reds (19-37) traded one of their stars in Jack Glasscock. Glasscock will head to St. Louis in exchange for right fielder Vince Dailey. Dailey is a rising star and most experts like this deal for the Reds.
Jack Clements of the Baltimore Orioles is a rich man. The lefthanded 26 year old catcher has signed an extension with the club that will earn him over $2400 over three years. Clements is a .285 career hitter.