Joining the UA in 1886, the Montreal Royals spent their first four seasons in the bottom half of the league, but by 1891, they finished second and grabbed the Union Cup. In 1892, Montreal was not just in line for a
double promotion, but the first to win back-to-back Cups in different leagues.
Short answer: they did, sweeping aside the Worcester Ruby Legs in four straight. (And, no, "Ruby Legs" will never not be funny.)
The Union Cup, meanwhile, was a battle from start to finish. The first two games in Allegheny, Pa., just across from Pittsburgh, were split. Syracuse took the opener, 4-3, despite getting just four hits off John Weyhing; Pittsburgh took Game 2 by a 4-2 count, with Joe Quinn's two-run homer in eighth being the difference. Moving to Newell Park in Syracuse, the Chiefs' Billy Rhines shut out Pittsburgh on three hits in Game 3, winning 2-0; in the third game, Tug Wilson scored two runs and drove in two more in a 6-5 win and a 3-1 series lead.
Pittsburgh wasn't done, though. Despite a regular-season .196 average, Dell Darling (yes, really) emerged as the hero in Game 5, scored three runs and drove in two in a 8-7 Alleghneys win, cutting the Chiefs series lead to 3-2. Back in Pennsylvania for Game 6, Syracuse were three innings away from the Cup as they led 3-2...then Pittsburgh exploded for seven runs in the seventh, including a two-run triple by Darling. The Alleghneys won, 10-3, and forced a seventh game.
In Game 7, Syracuse scored early, plating two runs in the second on RBI singles by Fred Roat and Lonnie Leahy. That was all that Chiefs hurler Billy Rhines needed, as he was well-nigh untouchable, not allowing a single base hit for eight innings. But Pittsburgh, trailing 3-0 going into the ninth,
still wouldn't give up. With one out, Leech Maskrey, sent a blast down the left field line...fair! The Alleghneys had their first hit
and first run, and threatened further when our man Darling drew a walk and went to second on a passed ball. But Pete Gilbert (who batted a sickly .154 for the Cup Final) grounded out to clinch the Cup for the Chiefs.
