[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

June 1897

Chicago Welcomes California Kid

Sometimes its hard to remember, but baseball is played throughout the country including out west even if there is no Major League team west of St. Louis. The Colts proved this fact by drafting their first player who calls California home when they chose catcher Frank Chance.

Chance is a 20 year old handsome kid who they have begin to call "Husk" in the clubhouse. The Colts were quite happy the Chance had dropped to them late in the first round after many teams had not actually been able to see him play since few scouts venture out so far West.

Chance will be playing behind Billy Earle of course who has been a mainstay at the position. Still Chance started one game in the month and went 2-4 while scoring a run; Chance seems to have fit in well and fans are beginning to ask to see him get some more chances.

"They are a bit of a diffrent type coming from out west" said Cap Anson, "But I told the kid I was playing for this team long long before even his mommy and daddy even met."

Chance has made a good friendship with Cubs second baseman Hughie Jennings who is quite an outspoken character himself.

On the field the Colts are preparing for a huge series to open July against the Pirates at the West Side Park. The Pirates caught the Colts and actually passed them for a short while before the Colts ended the month a game up. Pittsburgh is having quite a season and has true aspirtions at their first pennant. Dan Brouthers of course is the new star in town but its also Dusty Miller who is having a dream season. Miller is leading all of baseball with a .427 average.

Injuries also continue to plague Chicago a bit. Bill Everett will miss four weeks due to a bad back and Fred Clarke has missed most of June but is due back soon with a sprained knee.

Jocko Halligan had quite a month that included a 28 game hitting streak. Charlie Geggus also was named pitcher of the month of June, the 11th time in his career he has achieved this.
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Western League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Boston Americans	52	29	.642	-
Cleveland Spiders	47	34	.580	5.0
Louisville Colonels	40	41	.494	12.0
Washington Senators	39	42	.481	13.0
Chicago White Sox	38	43	.469	14.0
Detroit Tigers	37	44	.457	15.0
Philadelphia Athletics	36	45	.444	16.0
Baltimore Orioles	35	46	.432	17.0

National League 1 Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago Colts	52	29	.642	-
Pittsburgh Pirates	51	30	.630	1.0
Brooklyn Bridegrooms	42	39	.519	10.0
Boston Beaneaters	42	39	.519	10.0
St. Louis Browns	39	42	.481	13.0
New York Giants	39	42	.481	13.0
Cincinnati Reds	30	51	.370	22.0
Philadelphia Phillies	29	52	.358	23.0

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1887 Draft Results

Round 1, Pick 1 - Philadelphia Athletics: SP Joe Yeager

Round 1, Pick 2 - Cincinnati Reds: RF Elmer Flick

Round 1, Pick 3 - Brooklyn Bridegrooms: CF Tom O'Brien

Round 1, Pick 4 - New York Giants: SP Sam Leever

Round 1, Pick 5 - Chicago White Sox: SP Wiley Piatt

Round 1, Pick 6 - Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Cowboy Jones

Round 1, Pick 7 - Baltimore Orioles: RF Emmet Heidrick

Round 1, Pick 8 - Louisville Colonels: SP Vic Willis

Round 1, Pick 9 - St. Louis Browns: SP Jay Hughes

Round 1, Pick 10 - Philadelphia Phillies: SP Frank Kitson

Round 1, Pick 11 - Chicago Colts: C Frank Chance

Round 1, Pick 12 - Boston Beaneaters: SP Harry Howell

Round 1, Pick 13 - St. Louis Browns: SP Bill Dinneen

Round 1, Pick 14 - New York Giants: SP Bill Phyle

Round 1, Pick 15 - Cincinnati Reds: SP Jack Taylor

Round 1, Pick 16 - Detroit Tigers: MR Jack Katoll

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League Notes

• New York young star Honus Wagner will miss the next three weeks with a strained oblique. Wagner has played well this year but the Giants as a team once again have been a huge disapointment with their 39-42 record.
• Monte Cross of the Philadelphia Athletics was suspended by the league for four games after he attaked an umpire after the last out of a game against Washington. Cross felt the umpire was less then fair through the game.
• The Phillies and the Beanaters made a trade this month in hopes to try and improve their fortunes before the season was too old. The Beaneaters sent second baseman Jake Virtue to the Phillies for right fielder Bob Caruthers.
• After starting the season 0-11, Detroit's Cy Young won seven of his last eight starts.