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Haystacks · 10-08-2025, 01:25 PM

Season of 1878

Summary

The most notable events of the 1877-78 off-season were the first ever player for player trade between Providence and Detroit and the Hartford club's change in ownership and move to Baltimore.

The Eastern League was a competitive affair again, Boston finishing only 1 game ahead of Baltimore, who continued to be a defensive fortress following their relocation.

The Western League was dominated by Cincinnati and Chicago, no other team coming close. The Originals won every game of their 16 games in June, boasting a 24-2 record on July 1. It is incredible Chicago were able to keep pace, only 5 games behind at that point. To put into perspective just how dominant both organizations were, at this stage Milwaukee sat in third, 12 ½ games behind.

League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
Boston Red Stockings 42 28 .600 -
Baltimore Dark Blues 41 29 .586 1.0
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 35 35 .500 7.0
New York Mutuals 32 38 .457 10.0
Philadelphia Quakers 32 38 .457 10.0
Providence Grays 28 42 .400 14.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
Cincinnati Originals 50 20 .714 -
Chicago White Stockings 45 25 .643 5.0
Milwaukee Cream City 33 37 .471 17.0
Detroit Wolverines 31 39 .443 19.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings 27 43 .386 23.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 24 46 .343 26.0

National Championship Series

Eastern Champion: Boston Red Stockings
Western Champion: Cincinnati Originals
Result: Cincinnati win the series, 5 to 2.
Series Silver Ball: John Hill, pitcher, Cincinnati.

Batting Leaders – Eastern League

Batting average – Samuel Jackson, Brooklyn - .343
Runs batted in – Wyatt Green, Boston - 51
Stolen Bases – Frederick Jackson, New York Mutuals - 65

Batting Leaders – Western League

Batting average – Daniel Soden, Cincinnati - .330
Runs batted in – William Harris, Detroit - 58
Stolen Bases – Daniel Soden, Cincinnati - 83

Pitching Leaders – Eastern League

Earned runs average – Van Makeever, Providence – 1.86
Wins – Hiram Martin, Boston - 23
Strikeouts – George Zettlein, Brooklyn - 146

Pitching Leaders – Western League

Earned runs average – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 1.87
Wins – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 31
Strikeouts – Henry Hall, Chicago - 120

Awards & Honors

Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League -
John Hall, 1B, Baltimore – Batting average - .321, hits - 85 RBIs - 42
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League -
Daniel Soden – Batting average - .330, hits - 105, RBIs - 36.

Season Notes

November 17, 1877 — the first recorded player trade in Association history, Detroit send Thomas Connor, Providence send Francisco Santamaria
February, 1878 – Hartford relocate to Baltimore.
There are currently 30 players that have played 210 games, meaning they have not missed a game since the league’s inception.

10-08-2025, 01:25 PM	#7
Haystacks Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 170	1878 Season Recap Season of 1878 Summary The most notable events of the 1877-78 off-season were the first ever player for player trade between Providence and Detroit and the Hartford club's change in ownership and move to Baltimore. The Eastern League was a competitive affair again, Boston finishing only 1 game ahead of Baltimore, who continued to be a defensive fortress following their relocation. The Western League was dominated by Cincinnati and Chicago, no other team coming close. The Originals won every game of their 16 games in June, boasting a 24-2 record on July 1. It is incredible Chicago were able to keep pace, only 5 games behind at that point. To put into perspective just how dominant both organizations were, at this stage Milwaukee sat in third, 12 ½ games behind. League Standings EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS W L PCT GB Boston Red Stockings 42 28 .600 - Baltimore Dark Blues 41 29 .586 1.0 Brooklyn Atlantic Club 35 35 .500 7.0 New York Mutuals 32 38 .457 10.0 Philadelphia Quakers 32 38 .457 10.0 Providence Grays 28 42 .400 14.0 WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS W L PCT GB Cincinnati Originals 50 20 .714 - Chicago White Stockings 45 25 .643 5.0 Milwaukee Cream City 33 37 .471 17.0 Detroit Wolverines 31 39 .443 19.0 St. Louis Brown Stockings 27 43 .386 23.0 Cleveland Lakeshore Club 24 46 .343 26.0 National Championship Series Eastern Champion: Boston Red Stockings Western Champion: Cincinnati Originals Result: Cincinnati win the series, 5 to 2. Series Silver Ball: John Hill, pitcher, Cincinnati. Batting Leaders – Eastern League Batting average – Samuel Jackson, Brooklyn - .343 Runs batted in – Wyatt Green, Boston - 51 Stolen Bases – Frederick Jackson, New York Mutuals - 65 Batting Leaders – Western League Batting average – Daniel Soden, Cincinnati - .330 Runs batted in – William Harris, Detroit - 58 Stolen Bases – Daniel Soden, Cincinnati - 83 Pitching Leaders – Eastern League Earned runs average – Van Makeever, Providence – 1.86 Wins – Hiram Martin, Boston - 23 Strikeouts – George Zettlein, Brooklyn - 146 Pitching Leaders – Western League Earned runs average – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 1.87 Wins – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 31 Strikeouts – Henry Hall, Chicago - 120 Awards & Honors Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League - John Hall, 1B, Baltimore – Batting average - .321, hits - 85 RBIs - 42 Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League - Daniel Soden – Batting average - .330, hits - 105, RBIs - 36. Season Notes November 17, 1877 — the first recorded player trade in Association history, Detroit send Thomas Connor, Providence send Francisco Santamaria February, 1878 – Hartford relocate to Baltimore. There are currently 30 players that have played 210 games, meaning they have not missed a game since the league’s inception.