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The Chronicle
March 1873
Edition 3.2
National League Preview
New York Mutuals
Manager: Joe Lemmens (49-43)
Record Last Season: 29-31
Definite down year for the defending pennant winners and building things back up is the goal of this proud club. No one took it well that their rivals from Brooklyn took the flag, and Joe Lemmens is sure to have a fire lit under his men. With Cal McVey, Dave Eggler and John McMullin prove the Mutuals bats are in good hands as also Bill Boyd and Jim Carleton are two new names fans should enjoy. The pressure surely falls no the shoulders of starter Candy Cummings and his curve ball. Many are starting to think that Cummings is nothing more then a novelty act as his 16 loses and 3.62 ERA would show, he is being trusted again this season to get it right.
Baltimore Marylands
Manager: Charlie Pabor (47-46)
Record Last Season: 34-27
Moving again the former Chicago/Middleton club will spend a year in Baltimore before the anticipated return back home. The collapse of the club last season was a major talking point and why the club went from so good to letting is all slip away. Cap Anson will be looked at to lead again and continue his remarkable run as the best hitter in the league last season. Manager Charlie Pabor says he will play more this year and Paul Hines has moved from catcher to second base in his second season. Al Pratt is another pitcher that will look to put together a complete season after fading late. The competition is fierce in the National League, and some are questioning if Pabor is the best man to get the team over the hump.
Brooklyn Atlantics
Manager: Bill Lennon (52-41)
Record last season: 35-26
Brining the pennant home last season is the beginning of what Brooklyn fans hope will be sustained success. The club returns with almost the exact same roster Davy Force and John Clapp lead the offense. Force hit .386 and established himself among the elite of the league. Pop Snyder is an 18 year old catcher with a bright future and on the mound is the unique presence of Cherokee Fisher. Fisher threw the most innings in the league at 426 and didnt flinch in doing so. It will be interesting to see what happens to his workload to try and keep him fresh for the end of the season.
Baltimore Canaries
Manager: Scott Hastings (39-53)
Record Last season: 27-33
A down year for the Canaries but there is some progress to latch in to. No bigger expectation can come then the drafting of the number one player in the land, pitcher Hugh Campbell. Campbell is expected to step right in and upgrade the team that had all types of trouble from the pitchers spot. John O'Rourke had a good year but more is expected from him beyond his 1.2 WAR while Chick Fulmer at short stop is also hopefully expected to take the next step in his career. Steve King remains the consummate professional after hitting .362 last year and the veteran on the club at 30 years old. Everyone expects this team to take a big step this season, and Campbell has the reigns to make that happen.
Philadelphia Whites
Manager: Lip Pike (52-40)
Record last season: 33-27
Deciding to leave Troy was not easy but the club looks for better revenue in one of the biggest markets in the country and now will call Philadelphia home. Of course the world champions are from the same city, but the Whites feel they have a good side as well, in fact they barely missed out on the pennant last season. Cy Bentley has all the talent to be one of the best pitchers around leading the league in strikeouts with 40 and even saving four games while winning 24. Jimmy Wood is one of the best players in the game yet often overlooked, his image will surely grow playing in the big city. Manager Lip Pike had a very bad season last year on the field hitting only .245 after winning the MVP, he will need to get back on track. Fergy Malone is a fine young catcher while Mike McGeary is a fire starter in the order. This team has all the makeup of a winner.
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