1st January 1887
The fans of the Nationals were looking to the owner to find a way to arrest the drop in form the team took last year. The owner decided not to rock the boat and left the front office to get on with things this off season.
The AL awards dinner saw only Germany Smith honoured with a Golden Glove from the Nationals.
The front office also decided to make no changes as they only player changes were retirements and the first year draft.
The retirements included journeyman Second Baseman John Galvin. Galvin spent 15 years in the major leagues playing for 5 teams. He did not pick up any awards in his career. He played 358 games and picked up 252 hits from his 995 at bats. He scored 129 runs with 115 RBI's for an average of .253. (real life stats 1 game, 0 average etc.)
Also retiring were bit part players John Sheppard who played 11 games for 2 runs, 1 hit and 1 RBI with an average of .200. (real life stats 3 games, 1 run and an average of 0). Also bit part player Centre Fielder Joe Kernan who managed 81 games from 14 years with 24 hits from his 83 at bats. He scored 15 runs with 22 RBI's for an average of .289 (real life stats 2 games, 1 run, 3 hits, 1 RBI for an average of .375). Kernan did pick up an MLB Championship medal with the 77 Boston Beaneaters.
The team drafted 5 players in the first year player draft. The first player drafted was Pitcher Gus Weyhing. The full draft log is given below.
All draftees signed by the deadline.