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mjj55409 · 01-28-2011, 02:08 PM

One of the consequences of the 1884 war with the Union Association was the increasing power of organized base ball. In October of 1885, the National League and American Association signed a new National Agreement. The agreement called for a player's salary to be capped at a maximum of $2,000, and the reserved list was raised to twelve. In addition, it provided the general rule: "Once a league player, always a league player." What this meant is that any player attempting to sign a contract with an organization that is not a National Agreement signatory (which in this case is the National League, American Association, Northwestern League, and Eastern League) would be black-balled from all National Agreement associations.

These clauses, particularly the cap on the players' salaries, so angered a small group of New York players, led by short stop Horace Ferry, that they formed a secret organization called The Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players.

Horace Ferry

The National League's Providence and Buffalo franchises folded after the 1885 season. Buffalo, though fielding a competitive club, could not afford to continuing doing so. The bigger cities could provide the ticket sales that the smaller cities could not. More and more, base ball was evolving into a collection of "haves" and "have nots".

1886 National League Standings

Thus fittingly, the National League was again dominated by the Boston Red Caps, who won nearly 80% of their games. Boston (8.0 runs/game) had by far the best collection of batsmen, scoring nearly two runs per game more than their nearest opponent, New York (6.8 runs/game). Though it was the Gothams Frederich Schaefer (.364) who won the batting title ahead of Washington's Green Stearns (.356). Boston's Mark Stewart (.340) had a down year for him, but his team mate Patsy Deal (.339, 32 doubles, 109 rbi) again led the league in runs batted in.

Levi Callaway (27-17, 1.79 ERA, 353 strikeouts) had another fine season for the Maroons, again leading the league in strikeouts. Fuzzy Bradfield (39-7, 1.49 ERA) was the main beneficiary of the Boston offense.

l-to-r, Frederich Schaefer, Levi Callaway

The Association pennant chase was a little more competitive, coming down again to a race between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, with the pitching of Pittsburgh besting the bats of Cincinnati.

1886 American Association Standings

Cincinnati's Webster Mansfield (.327) won the batting title, narrowly edging out team mate Chris Parish (.324), while another Red, Duncan Hendrix (.244, 9 home runs, 101 rbi), lead the Association in home runs and runs batted in.

Both Cincinnati's Doc Langdon (40-16, 1.72 ERA) and Pittsburgh's Thomas Harbison (41-12, 1.28 ERA) won over 40 games, but it was Pittsburgh's one-two punch of Harbison and Egbert Robin (37-14, .97 ERA) that proved to be the difference maker.

l-to-r, Webster Mansfield, Duncan Hendrix

So the "World's Series" was a rematch of 1885, pitting Boston against Pittsburgh. When Boston opened with two victories, its fans immediately started celebrating. But Pittsburgh won the next three games, with Robin winning two of those games, to claim the title of World's Champion.

Egbert Robin

1886 Eastern League Standings

In the Eastern League, Hartford again finished in front of the Richmond club. The Dark Blues' Kary Woody (.333) was the batting champion. Hartford's Swede Larsson, who had played for Richmond during the latter's sole season in the National League, lead the league with 8 home runs.

Swede Larsson

01-28-2011, 02:08 PM	#47
mjj55409 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,166	1886 Recap One of the consequences of the 1884 war with the Union Association was the increasing power of organized base ball. In October of 1885, the National League and American Association signed a new National Agreement. The agreement called for a player's salary to be capped at a maximum of $2,000, and the reserved list was raised to twelve. In addition, it provided the general rule: "Once a league player, always a league player." What this meant is that any player attempting to sign a contract with an organization that is not a National Agreement signatory (which in this case is the National League, American Association, Northwestern League, and Eastern League) would be black-balled from all National Agreement associations. These clauses, particularly the cap on the players' salaries, so angered a small group of New York players, led by short stop Horace Ferry, that they formed a secret organization called The Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players. Horace Ferry The National League's Providence and Buffalo franchises folded after the 1885 season. Buffalo, though fielding a competitive club, could not afford to continuing doing so. The bigger cities could provide the ticket sales that the smaller cities could not. More and more, base ball was evolving into a collection of "haves" and "have nots". 1886 National League Standings Thus fittingly, the National League was again dominated by the Boston Red Caps, who won nearly 80% of their games. Boston (8.0 runs/game) had by far the best collection of batsmen, scoring nearly two runs per game more than their nearest opponent, New York (6.8 runs/game). Though it was the Gothams Frederich Schaefer (.364) who won the batting title ahead of Washington's Green Stearns (.356). Boston's Mark Stewart (.340) had a down year for him, but his team mate Patsy Deal (.339, 32 doubles, 109 rbi) again led the league in runs batted in. Levi Callaway (27-17, 1.79 ERA, 353 strikeouts) had another fine season for the Maroons, again leading the league in strikeouts. Fuzzy Bradfield (39-7, 1.49 ERA) was the main beneficiary of the Boston offense. l-to-r, Frederich Schaefer, Levi Callaway The Association pennant chase was a little more competitive, coming down again to a race between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, with the pitching of Pittsburgh besting the bats of Cincinnati. 1886 American Association Standings Cincinnati's Webster Mansfield (.327) won the batting title, narrowly edging out team mate Chris Parish (.324), while another Red, Duncan Hendrix (.244, 9 home runs, 101 rbi), lead the Association in home runs and runs batted in. Both Cincinnati's Doc Langdon (40-16, 1.72 ERA) and Pittsburgh's Thomas Harbison (41-12, 1.28 ERA) won over 40 games, but it was Pittsburgh's one-two punch of Harbison and Egbert Robin (37-14, .97 ERA) that proved to be the difference maker. l-to-r, Webster Mansfield, Duncan Hendrix So the "World's Series" was a rematch of 1885, pitting Boston against Pittsburgh. When Boston opened with two victories, its fans immediately started celebrating. But Pittsburgh won the next three games, with Robin winning two of those games, to claim the title of World's Champion. Egbert Robin 1886 Eastern League Standings In the Eastern League, Hartford again finished in front of the Richmond club. The Dark Blues' Kary Woody (.333) was the batting champion. Hartford's Swede Larsson, who had played for Richmond during the latter's sole season in the National League, lead the league with 8 home runs. Swede Larsson __________________ FABL -- Chicago Chiefs Last edited by mjj55409; 01-28-2011 at 02:10 PM.