1st January 1881
After a second season of success but also disappointment the fans are looking to the owner to find the solution to winning the MLB Championship this year. The Owner decided the solution was to not touch the front office and to let them get on with bringing in the final players that would take them all the way.
Manager Raul Otero was honoured this year by being awarded the AL Manager of the Year award.
The team found that while they may have a pennant to their name they are not the most favoured individuals as not one of them got to go to the AL awards dinner as they all missed out on any prizes.
The front office decided that the following players trades were what is needed to get the team that elusive MLB title.
They traded 24 year old Second Baseman John Haldeman and 20 year old minor league First Baseman Bill White to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for 30 year old Right Fielder Fraley Rogers. The fans will be looking forward to seeing what Rogers can do in a Blues Jersey.
The front office also traded 19 year old minor league Second Baseman Tom Kearns to the Brooklyn Atlantics in return for 31 year old Short Stop Ralph Ham. Ham, the former Boston and Brooklyn, player should bring solid back up play to the team.
The fans were shocked at how many of their favourites decided that the season just gone was their last.
The first player to elect to hang up his cleats is 2 time all star Left Fielder Ned Cuthbert. Cuthbert joined the Blues in 1871 and played his whole career here. He started 178 of the 275 major league games he played. This gave him 243 hits, 155 runs and 127 RBI's for an average of .265. (real life stats 452 games, 537 hits, 453 runs and 179 RBI's for an average of .254)
The next to announce their retirement was Short Stop Ed Duffy, Duffy picked up 1 all star appearance in 1875 as he spent 10 good years with the Cleveland Blues. He started 184 of the 242 games he played for the team. Along the way he collected 207 hits, 125 runs and 106 RBI's for an average of .263 (real life stats 26 games, 28 hits, 30 runs and 15 RBI's for an average of .231)
The third of the 6 players to retire was Left Fielder Steve King. The likeable King also spent his whole 10 year career in Cleveland. This 3 time all star played 289 times for the Blues but only started 76 times. He picked up 128 hits, 92 runs and 84 RBI's on his way to an average of .245. The fans and players alike will miss him from the teams bench next season. (real life stats 54 games, 96 hits, 78 runs and 55 RBI's for an average of .353)
The last major player to retire could be classed as back up player at best. He was Tom Patterson who made 45 appearances for the big club, 33 of those as a starter including 30 in the inaugural 1871 season. He had 36 hits, 23 runs and 15 RBI's for an average of .257 (real life stats 57 games for 51 hits, 41 runs and 23 RBI's and an average of .206)
The last 2 were John Stedronsky and Alamazoo Jennings. Neither made it to the major leagues and spent their whole time in the minors. (Stedronsky real life stats 4 games 1 hit, 0.83 average and Jennings real life stats 1 game no hits etc. 0 average)
The team were a full participant in this years first year player draft and selected 3 players. Thefirst round draft choice was Right Fielder Ed Swartwood. The full draft log is shown below
The team failed to sign their first round draft pick meaning Swartwood will go back into next seasons draft. All others signed by the deadline.