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Nick Soulis · 03-17-2023, 11:43 AM

This Month In Baseball

1876 American League Preview

1. Boston Red Caps
1875 Record: 64-33 (World Champions)
Manager: Harry Wright
Ball Park: South End Grounds
Preseason Prediction: 54-42

The new image of the champions is now called the Red Caps and their devine feeling of a championship long overdue will propel them in 1876. Manager Harry Wright looks to win his third straight pennant and comes back with mostly the same elite group. Ezra Sutton and Jim Foran will continue to play winning ball and will be bolstered by George Wright, who says he is ready to play again this year Al Spalding and Jim Britt won a combined 46 games last year and are back for more. Boston expects to be there in the end once again and the city finally treats them with the high regard they deserve.

2. Hartford Dark Blues
1875 Record: 41-55 (5th)
Manager: Al Barker
Ball Park: Hartford Grounds
Preseason Prediction: 63-33

After a rough season, the Blues bring in a new manager to turn things around in Al Barker. Barker is 37 years old and replaces Bob Fergusen who will continue to play for the club. Lon White threw 271 innings last year and at 22 years old is the hope for immediate improvement. Scouts do like the team with Levi Meyerle and Joe Battin among the best at their position. The AL is not an easy league, and Hartford will need to hit the ground running and put a 55 loss season behind them.

3. Philadelphia Athletics
1875 Record: 55-41 (3rd)
Manager: Dick McBride
Ball Park: Jefferson Street Grounds
Preseason Prediction: 53-43

The Athletics finally got back to their winning ways after two seasons with losing records, but still were not at the level of Boston and Washington. Dick McBride at 28 years old can still play having won 86 games in his career but has really failed through the years to bring another good arm along with him; Tricky Nichols who was once a great hope, doesnt seem to have the arm for it. Joe McDermott is still a great two way talent and hit .350 last season while outfielder George Hall is another player with great skill that many wonder why he isnt better then his 2.0 WAR. The Athletics will need some luck and big seasons to keep their trajectory going, and with the crosstown Whites doing well, the pressure is on McBride.

4. Keokuk Westerns
1875 Record: 29-67 (5th)
Record: Shamar Pate
Ball Park: Perry Park
Preseason Prediction: 30-66

Unfortunately the Western franchise seems to be heading in the wrong direction, and being able to draft and find talent has been an issue since they joined the league. A talented catcher by the name of John Morrill is a great talent and could be a great one but other stars to be like Oscar Bielaski just havent panned out. With the lack of offense, John Greason won only seven games with a 1.93 ERA and Frank Buttry has been wasted as another competent starter. Keokuk is an interesting place for a ballclub, and maybe its the lack of pressure on the club and the manager that is showing in the field. Pate has a 102-175 career record.

5. St. Louis Brown Stockings
1875 Record: 33-63 (5th)
Manager: Jamari Arms
Ball Park: Grand Avenue Park
Preseason Prediction: 30-66

In only their second season, the Brown Stockings are trying to build their club in the proper way, and they are doing it by loading up on pitching. Three very good future prospects headed by Hugh O'Neil should make the Browns tough to score on. Pidgey Morgan at 22 years old lead the league in ERA at 1.88 and finally Charlie Mason is a good spot starter. The offense has been neglected for sure as Harry Berthwrong and Ed Duffy are just two of the names in the mix for an offense that is easy pickings for opposing pitchers. Patience is the name of the game for this franchise, but regardless losing is never easy.

6. Washington Nationals
1875 Record: 63-34 (2nd)
Manager: Nick Young
Ball Park: Olympic Grounds
Preseason Prediction: 64-32

Names like Barnes, White and Matthews roll off the tongue for any baseball fan as the great names of Washington return for another year. It was a bitter loss in a one game playoff to Boston where the Nats were run off the field that will drive this group. Nick Young finally got some help on the mound for Bobby Mathews as Joe Borden was picked up from Philadelphia. White won the MVP and Frank McCarton came into his own as a fine player leading the league in hits with 166. All eyes are once again on the pennant, and with talent like this, 1871 seems like a very very long time since this team has won something.

03-17-2023, 11:43 AM	#70
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,258	This Month In Baseball 1876 American League Preview 1. Boston Red Caps 1875 Record: 64-33 (World Champions) Manager: Harry Wright Ball Park: South End Grounds Preseason Prediction: 54-42 The new image of the champions is now called the Red Caps and their devine feeling of a championship long overdue will propel them in 1876. Manager Harry Wright looks to win his third straight pennant and comes back with mostly the same elite group. Ezra Sutton and Jim Foran will continue to play winning ball and will be bolstered by George Wright, who says he is ready to play again this year Al Spalding and Jim Britt won a combined 46 games last year and are back for more. Boston expects to be there in the end once again and the city finally treats them with the high regard they deserve. 2. Hartford Dark Blues 1875 Record: 41-55 (5th) Manager: Al Barker Ball Park: Hartford Grounds Preseason Prediction: 63-33 After a rough season, the Blues bring in a new manager to turn things around in Al Barker. Barker is 37 years old and replaces Bob Fergusen who will continue to play for the club. Lon White threw 271 innings last year and at 22 years old is the hope for immediate improvement. Scouts do like the team with Levi Meyerle and Joe Battin among the best at their position. The AL is not an easy league, and Hartford will need to hit the ground running and put a 55 loss season behind them. 3. Philadelphia Athletics 1875 Record: 55-41 (3rd) Manager: Dick McBride Ball Park: Jefferson Street Grounds Preseason Prediction: 53-43 The Athletics finally got back to their winning ways after two seasons with losing records, but still were not at the level of Boston and Washington. Dick McBride at 28 years old can still play having won 86 games in his career but has really failed through the years to bring another good arm along with him; Tricky Nichols who was once a great hope, doesnt seem to have the arm for it. Joe McDermott is still a great two way talent and hit .350 last season while outfielder George Hall is another player with great skill that many wonder why he isnt better then his 2.0 WAR. The Athletics will need some luck and big seasons to keep their trajectory going, and with the crosstown Whites doing well, the pressure is on McBride. 4. Keokuk Westerns 1875 Record: 29-67 (5th) Record: Shamar Pate Ball Park: Perry Park Preseason Prediction: 30-66 Unfortunately the Western franchise seems to be heading in the wrong direction, and being able to draft and find talent has been an issue since they joined the league. A talented catcher by the name of John Morrill is a great talent and could be a great one but other stars to be like Oscar Bielaski just havent panned out. With the lack of offense, John Greason won only seven games with a 1.93 ERA and Frank Buttry has been wasted as another competent starter. Keokuk is an interesting place for a ballclub, and maybe its the lack of pressure on the club and the manager that is showing in the field. Pate has a 102-175 career record. 5. St. Louis Brown Stockings 1875 Record: 33-63 (5th) Manager: Jamari Arms Ball Park: Grand Avenue Park Preseason Prediction: 30-66 In only their second season, the Brown Stockings are trying to build their club in the proper way, and they are doing it by loading up on pitching. Three very good future prospects headed by Hugh O'Neil should make the Browns tough to score on. Pidgey Morgan at 22 years old lead the league in ERA at 1.88 and finally Charlie Mason is a good spot starter. The offense has been neglected for sure as Harry Berthwrong and Ed Duffy are just two of the names in the mix for an offense that is easy pickings for opposing pitchers. Patience is the name of the game for this franchise, but regardless losing is never easy. 6. Washington Nationals 1875 Record: 63-34 (2nd) Manager: Nick Young Ball Park: Olympic Grounds Preseason Prediction: 64-32 Names like Barnes, White and Matthews roll off the tongue for any baseball fan as the great names of Washington return for another year. It was a bitter loss in a one game playoff to Boston where the Nats were run off the field that will drive this group. Nick Young finally got some help on the mound for Bobby Mathews as Joe Borden was picked up from Philadelphia. White won the MVP and Frank McCarton came into his own as a fine player leading the league in hits with 166. All eyes are once again on the pennant, and with talent like this, 1871 seems like a very very long time since this team has won something. Last edited by Nick Soulis; 03-20-2023 at 01:24 PM.