January 1st, 1882 - Four time pennant winner and multi-award winning shortstop/second baseman Ross Barnes announced his retirement today. In the league since 1871, Ross has spent the past several seasons battling a mysterious illness that has frequently robbed him of his strength and agility. Despite the illness, Barnes hit .320 last season and led the league with a .403 on base percentage. He leaves the game with the all time best career batting average of .349.
