BASEBALL MONTHLY
May 1896
'Dont Let Up For A Second'
Colts Good Lead In Division Commit Future To Two Stars
The Chicago Colts were in first place at the end of May last season but as history shows eventually fell to the wayside and June and saw the Boston Beanaters run away with the pennant. The team finds themselves in an even better spot this year at the end of the month as they have played outstanding baseball and lead the National League and more particular Boston, by six full games.
The big spot this month came at West Side Grounds in the middle of the month when the Colts swept the defending champions in three straight games and opened up their lead. The big diffrence for the team is the ability of their starting pitching staff to control games, the Colts lead the league with a 2.53 ERA. Charlie Geggus is fully recovered now from any arm issues and leads the league in ERA (1.76) and strikeouts (100). Al Orth and Geggus have combined for a 24-7 record on the season.
Chicago also opened up their pockets this month and signed third starter Amos Rusie who is a great compliment to the top two arms. Rusie signed for two years and the news is that the right hander came as a bargain. On the other Sam Thompson is deserving of top dollar. The Colts right fielder who is the biggest power bat in the game signed a lucrative three year contract that is said to be over $9,500. Thompson shows every day what he is worth as this year again he has his average at .399 and has driven in 47 runs.
Discussion is spreading throughout the league that the Colts are the best team in the game now as their top record would indicate, many are saying Boston's days of dominance are done. Still no such talk can be heard in the Chicago clubhouse.
Manager Al Spalding talked about the tone of the team, "Its only May and we know who is behind us, we cant let up even for a second."
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| Catchers | | # | B | Player | Pos | G | AB | H | HR | RBI | R | BB | K | .AVG | OBP | SLG | | 96 | R | Billy Earle | C | 44 | 176 | 53 | 1 | 24 | 19 | 11 | 24 | .301 | .346 | .369 | | 28 | S | Tub Welch | C | 8 | 33 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .303 | .324 | .394 | | 70 | R | Tom Kinslow | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
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League Notes For some reason star outfielder Ed Delahanty has not been playing in the starting nine for the Boston Beaneaters. Delahanty who is healthy is seen only on occasion as a pinchhitter even thougn he is batting .452. More to come on why the star isnt playing but Delahnaty is a .339 career hitter and former league MVP.
The upcoming draft pool has been revealed for the June draft. The top name is 22 year old Honus Wagner from Chartiers Pennsylvania. The Chicago White Sox have the first pick in the draft but havent committed to a pick, the second pick belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals. There is much excitement in the city as the prospect of seeing young Nap Lajoie play with Wagner would make quite a team for the future. Will the Sox pass on Wagner?
The great Dan Brouthers who has won 8 MVP awards reached a milestone this month. Big Dan recorded his 2500th hit of his career and is 2nd on the alltime list behind Cap Anson.
Dan Brouthers