October 1871
CHICAGO AND PHILLY TAKE FLAGS
It could not have been more close, but in the end the two teams most pundits expected took home the pennants. After a grueling season, the first of its kind, both divisions had to go to a one game playoff but the more established clubs came out on top.
In Philadelphia the league pennant was thought to be an afterthought for most of the summer until a slide in September brought Washington, and Cleveland to some extent, on their doorstep. The Olympics caught Philly and played them at home for all spoils. Washington actually seemed to have the game in hand winning 8-4 in the top of the ninth inning. The Athletics however put 8 runs on the board including a bases clearing triple by Ross Barnes.
The Rockford club heard all summer how they were not good enough to hold off Chicago. The White Stockings hid in the weeds before the final month but they did have a chance to clinch the flag on the final game of the season but lost in Cleveland 6-5 to force the tie.
In the playoff at the Union Grounds there was no competition as Chicago took the game 11-2 and secured their expected place. It is a bitter pill for teams like Rockford who in some cases needed the success just for survival of the club.
Now the country prepares for a relatively unknown event as two pennant winners face off in a single series. Many are already saying these by far are the two most talented teams in the game today. The Chicago lineup lead by John Bass and his 9 home runs as well as 19 year old Cap Anson who hits leadoff and has a .394 average.
Ross Barnes in the star in Philadelphia and manager Dick McBride feels his pitching staff lead by Rynie Wolters can handle the task at hand. It is bragging rights as well for the two leagues in what should be a watershed event in the game.