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April 25, 1876 also saw Chicago play its first game of the season, and it was a fine rivalry game as they opened the season in Louisville against their former "ace" pitcher Dan Collins. Chicago's goal for the season was to take over the base ball title from Boston, but that will be much harder without their top pitcher. The lineups for the game:
Chicago White Stockings
Paul Hines, cf (.275 in 1875)
Davy Force, ss (.324 in 1875)
Levi Meyerle, 3b (.344 in 1875)
George Hall, rf (.377 in 1875)
Jim Foran, 1b (.301 in 1875)
Jim Tipper, lf (.362 for New Haven in 1875)
Fergy Malone, c (.292 in 1875)
Joe Quest, 2b (.259 for Phil. Centennials in 1875)
Asa Brainard, p (15-4 with New York in 1875)
Louisville Grays
George Bechtel, rf (.267 with Phil. Centennials in 1875)
Jim Clinton, cf (.280 with New York in 1875)
Jim Devlin, 1b (.344 with Chicago in 1875)
Tom York, lf (.340 with Keokuk in 1875)
Scott Hastings, c (.275 with Hartford in 1875)
Chick Fulmer, ss (.337 with Phil. Whites in 1875)
Joe Gerhardt, 2b (3 AB with Boston in 1875)
Bill Hague, 3b (.199 with St. Louis Browns in 1875)
Dan Collins, p (28-5 with Chicago in 1875)
The game began in a particularly frustrating way for Chicago, as both Paul Hines and Levi Meyerle were struck out by Dan Collins in the first inning. However, this was something of an anomaly - while both defenses played well and kept the score low, through seven innings Collins still had only those two strikeouts. Chicago scored one run in the second inning and Louisville got two of their own. Each club added a run in the middle innings and going into the eighth inning Louisville held a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Chicago got a man into scoring position on an error by Louisville center fielder Big Jim Clinton but failed to bring him in. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the inning Tom York hit a double and scored on a two-out error by Jim Foran. It was 4-2 Louisville.
In the top of the ninth inning, first John Glenn flied to left, then Paul Hines popped out to first. Dan Collins was one out away from defeating his former club. However, Davy Force got a base hit, then Levi Meyerle did the same. With two on and two out, star hitter George Hall stepped to the plate. He hit Collins's 2-1 pitch WAY out to right field, over everyone's head, and when the dust settled Hall had a three-run home run and Chicago had a 5-4 lead. Louisville was held scoreless in the ninth, and Chicago had beaten Dan Collins and Louisville to win their Opening Day game.
Chicago 5, Louisville 4
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