This Month In Baseball
June 1875
Edition 5.3
Pitching Dominates National League
Development Of Pitching Art Has Hitters Tied
With more persons playing the game of baseball more then at any other time in history, the game has and continues to see a great number of enhancements. At odds of course the game comes down to the most basic of confrontations between the pitcher and the batter. In the process both the arts of pitching and hitting have seen a constant evolutions but it now appears one skill is outperforming another.
When the league started in 1871 there were only a handful of great arms in the game like Dick McBride or Asa Brainard. Still the hitters did considerable damage as the ERA that first year was 5.14 and it was customary to see a club score 20 or even 25 runs in a game. s expected teams adapted, and the talent search for great arms brought fresh talent to the league and the craft began to improve.
Along came Mr. Candy Cummings of the New York club introducing a curve ball that hitters struggled with. Now a pitcher could change speed and the trend caught on across the league with variations of the Cummings throw taking shape.
Along with the new pitches, the club defense behind the pitchers has greatly improved. The fields that are playing in the league are much smoother then they used to be and the defensive miscue is not nearly as expected as it used to be. All of this has given the modern pitcher a greater confidence and the numbers clearly show it.
"They throw much harder now" said Chicago slugger Cap Anson who is one of many players that have seen his lofty batting numbers come back to earth. After hitting .451 in 1872 Cap is currently sitting at .276 and hit just and even .300 last season.
Other stars like Davy Force, Orator Schafer and Jimmy Wood have seen their averages dip below .250. While star arms like Jim Clinton, Tommy Bond, and Bill Stearns continue to get better. It is now time for the batters to respond and improve their skill and catch back up to the trend. Some are hoping the league will submit rule changes to make the game more exciting.
Hugh Campbell of New Haven looked smug when this idea was kicked around adding, "Who says pitching isnt exciting?"
Difficult Days For The Westerns
Keokuk Franchise Continues To Struggle No Matter Its Local
Coming into the league in 1872, the Brooklyn Eckfords won only 13 games but the prevailing view was to just give them some time to find their footing. The patience paid off in 1873 when manager Shamar Pate lead the Eckfords to dream season finishing second to the pennant on the last weekend of the season. Last season the club held its ground with a .433 winning percentage but the city of Brooklyn had grown quite indifferent about the club.
Enter 1875 and the city of Keokuk Iowa, the western most franchise in the league. The Eckfords made the long long trek to the midwest and took footing in the small town. The locals loved the club and the season looked to be one of promise.
As we start the summer Shamar Pate's team has a record of 9-28 and truly are playing uninspired. The team average in an unbelievable .202 and the lineup has yet to hit a single home runs while stealing just 24 bases. Oscar Bielaski who was the hope of the franchise is hitting just .194 with 6 RBI while the once proud arm of Frank Buttry is now full of frustration with a 1-10 record already.
Reasons for the demise are said to be many. Some say the ballpark that was promised to the club is short in a number of key areas and players can barely find a cup of water to drink. The team is 3-14 at Perry Park this season. Another factor not considered was the amount of travel the team would have to endure to play games on the east coast, especially with the new 96 game schedule. Players seem tired and delusioned on the field of play, and the manager seems helpless to much about it.
it seems like everyone is asking for a change, and already talk is arising that the Westerns will not survive another season in their current setting, but does it really matter? A poor club has been put together by owner Jordan Jackson and he as much as anyone else, should take the blame for its current condition. The club by many is considered an embarrassment to the professional ranks and the American League.