BASEBALL MONTHLY
December 1897
Hall Of Fame Class Of 97
Ross Barnes
Third Base
1871-1892
.342.....1130 R....350 SB....330 2B...175 3B....942 RBI
Ross Barnes was considered the first superstar of the game and the most consistent hitter of the first playing era. Barnes was part of the first real dominant team of baseball, the Boston Red Stockings. Ross won two World Championships in 1873 and 1874.
Barnes was a career .342 hitter putting him fourth on the alltime hitting list. He was a master of the bunt and scored 1130 runs. Barnes was MVP of the league on three diffrent occassions.
Barnes is the first position player ever to be elected to the new Hall of Fame.
Cy Bentley
Pitcher
1871-1892
326-282....938 K....23 SH....472 CG....2.34 ERA
Sly Cy Bentley was also part of the dominant Bosoton team of the 1870's and became known as an inovator on the mound in his early career. Bentley won 326 games in his career including over 30 three diffrent times. His 2.34 career average is almost as impressive as his 472 complete games in days where bullpens did not exist.
Bentley was pitcher of the year a record 8 times and had a stretch where no one wanted to face the right hander. Bentley had 23 shutouts and had a fine close to his career out of the bullpen.
It was nice for Bentley and Ross Barnes to go into the Hall together as both are good friends and former teamates.