1882 MID-SEASON
Both circuits featured tight races as the Baseball Alliance moved into the all-star break. In the League, the surprising Westminsters climbed to the top with an uncharacteristically strong hitting attack. Veteran catcher Henry Henwood led the way with a .331 average. The Peers' perch at the summit of the standings, however, was often precarious, and they were challenged, at one time or another, by London, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Bradford. London benefitted from a resurgent Michael Cluett, who was hitting .335 at the break, but the Bulldogs proved a streaky team that tended to win or lose in bunches: for instance, a 1-5 stretch at the beginning of June was followed by a seven-game winning streak. Early on, Birmingham looked like a strong contender to defend their League crown, but the Blue Stockings stalled in June when starter "Rough" Connor Parton went down with a shoulder injury. Newcastle sprinted past Birmingham, going 15-7 in June largely on the strength of their starting pitching. Rookie Pete Lambert compiled a 14-8 record and threatened to supplant Rio Minns as the team's premier starter. Canadian outfielder Gwenael "Deerfoot" Charlot has had an up-and-down career with Bradford over the past ten seasons, but he's having an "up" year in 1882, batting .333 and leading the team to second place. Matthew Muir, with fourteen wins, is now only thirteen away from three hundred for his career.
It was a two-team contest in the DA. Lambeth last finished higher than fifth place in 1872, so it was a shock when the Lambs went 17-4 to start the season. Although Hugh Burton and John Leighton turned in exceptional performances at the plate, it was Lambeth's pitching staff that carried the day. Keverne Anstey emerged as the Lambs' best starter, and was having the best year of his long career when the BA suspended play at mid-season. Islington could not match Lambeth's explosive start, but they kept up the pressure through the succeeding weeks, drawing closer to the top behind the hitting of Tobias Purcell and Richard Dyball. Left hander George Carruders, meanwhile, provided solid work in the box for the Owls. Leeds played .500 ball until 13 June, when they came alive with a 14-5 streak going into the mid-year hiatus. The defending champions Belfast suffered a crushing setback when star pitcher Albert "Old Stubblebeard" Courtier injured his elbow on 21 April -- team officials say he will be sidelined for the rest of the season. Conor Walden, called in from the bullpen to replace Courtier, pitched well, but premier starter Robert Turnock had trouble regaining the form that saw him win twenty-six games last year.
Birmingham hosted the All-Star Game for the third time, and it proved to be another lopsided affair this year. The visiting Dominions struck first with three runs in the top of the second off London starter William Hogarth, and then continued to add to their total until they had built up a 13-0 lead. The Empires meekly responded with three runs in the final three innings as their rivals coasted to a 13-3 triumph. Manchester outfielder Don Dinsmore had thee of the Dominions' seventeen hits, while Lambeth's Adam Piddocke, with two hits and three RBI, was named the game's best player.