OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - History of Major League Base Ball (revised)

Eckstein 4 Prez · 09-13-2020, 08:46 PM

1877 Opening Day - May 8, 1877
Hartford Dark Blues at Chicago White Stockings

On May 8, 1877, the National League's second season began with two games. It appears to be a wide open race with New York having been expelled from the National League, so let's take a look at the first games.

Opening Day lineups

Hartford Dark Blues

Andy Leonard, 2b (.293 in 1876)
Clipper Flynn, rf (.265 for Philadelphia in 1876)
Steve King, lf (.275 for New York in 1876)
Deacon White, c (.278 for Philadelphia in 1876)
Everett Mills, 1b (.310 in 1876)
Tom Carey, ss (.261 in 1876)
Joe Battin, 3b (.282 in 1876)
Holly Hollingshead, cf (.281 in 1876)
Hugh Campbell, p (17-6, 1.50 with New York in 1876)

Chicago White Stockings

John Glenn, lf (.307 in 1876)
George Hall, rf (.296 in 1876)
Dick Higham, c (.409 with New York in 1876)
Levi Meyerle, 3b (.373 in 1876)
Jim Foran, 1b (.367 in 1876)
Davy Force, 2b (.282 in 1876)
Paul Hines, cf (.285 in 1876)
John Peters, ss (.299 in 1876)
Asa Brainard, p (17-16, 2.25 in 1876)

Hartford jumped out to an early lead, as Deacon White and Everett Mills got back-to-back two-out RBI doubles to make it 2-0. From there things stayed scoreless for the next few innings, until John Peters of Chicago doubled then scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 2-1.

Steve King, Hartford's newest signing, singled home Andy Leonard in the top of the seventh to make it 3-1. A Clipper Flynn throwing error in the bottom of the inning made it 3-2 going into the eighth inning. Both clubs were retired easily in the eighth, keeping the score 3-2 heading into the final inning.

Hartford went down pretty easily in the ninth, with just one single in the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, John Peters led off and grounded to shortstop Tom Carey. Jim Tipper came up to pinch-hit for pitcher Asa Brainard and he singled to right. John Glenn singled to center, and Chicago had runners on first and second with one out. George Hall hit a simple ground ball to second, but Andy Leonard flubbed the ball and the bases were loaded at the end of the play.

Up came Dick Higham, the new star signed from New York. Higham hit a floating single to left, Tipper scored and Glenn came around to score as well and Chicago had a 4-3 win thanks to Higham's heroics.

Chicago 4, Hartford 3

09-13-2020, 08:46 PM	#90
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 6,358	1877 Opening Day - May 8, 1877 Hartford Dark Blues at Chicago White Stockings On May 8, 1877, the National League's second season began with two games. It appears to be a wide open race with New York having been expelled from the National League, so let's take a look at the first games. Opening Day lineups Hartford Dark Blues Andy Leonard, 2b (.293 in 1876) Clipper Flynn, rf (.265 for Philadelphia in 1876) Steve King, lf (.275 for New York in 1876) Deacon White, c (.278 for Philadelphia in 1876) Everett Mills, 1b (.310 in 1876) Tom Carey, ss (.261 in 1876) Joe Battin, 3b (.282 in 1876) Holly Hollingshead, cf (.281 in 1876) Hugh Campbell, p (17-6, 1.50 with New York in 1876) Chicago White Stockings John Glenn, lf (.307 in 1876) George Hall, rf (.296 in 1876) Dick Higham, c (.409 with New York in 1876) Levi Meyerle, 3b (.373 in 1876) Jim Foran, 1b (.367 in 1876) Davy Force, 2b (.282 in 1876) Paul Hines, cf (.285 in 1876) John Peters, ss (.299 in 1876) Asa Brainard, p (17-16, 2.25 in 1876) Hartford jumped out to an early lead, as Deacon White and Everett Mills got back-to-back two-out RBI doubles to make it 2-0. From there things stayed scoreless for the next few innings, until John Peters of Chicago doubled then scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 2-1. Steve King, Hartford's newest signing, singled home Andy Leonard in the top of the seventh to make it 3-1. A Clipper Flynn throwing error in the bottom of the inning made it 3-2 going into the eighth inning. Both clubs were retired easily in the eighth, keeping the score 3-2 heading into the final inning. Hartford went down pretty easily in the ninth, with just one single in the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, John Peters led off and grounded to shortstop Tom Carey. Jim Tipper came up to pinch-hit for pitcher Asa Brainard and he singled to right. John Glenn singled to center, and Chicago had runners on first and second with one out. George Hall hit a simple ground ball to second, but Andy Leonard flubbed the ball and the bases were loaded at the end of the play. Up came Dick Higham, the new star signed from New York. Higham hit a floating single to left, Tipper scored and Glenn came around to score as well and Chicago had a 4-3 win thanks to Higham's heroics. Chicago 4, Hartford 3 __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out my dynasty thread, The Dawn of American Professional Base Ball, 1871.