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Haystacks · 10-08-2025, 07:46 PM

Season of 1879

Summary

The 1878–79 off-season was comparatively quiet when compered with recent years. The most contentious debate of the winter meetings arose from a petition by the amateur Union of Morrisania Base Ball Club, based in the New York area, seeking entry into the Association.

Representatives of smaller-market clubs raised concern that, if a second organization were permitted in New York, what would prevent similar duplication in less populous cities—potentially undermining their financial stability.

As a result, Clause XX of the constitution was amended to protect clubs located in cities with populations under half a million. Under the new provision, another organization may only play home games in such a city under exceptional circumstances (such as the destruction of or damage to their own ground), and no additional club may be admitted into a market of that size.

Union of Morrisania's petition was deferred for debate until the following annual general meeting whilst Clause XX was addressed. Rumour circulates that the amendment of this clause has actually inspired several clubs across these large markets to now petition for entry to the National Association's league system.

On the field, the New York Mutuals upended the established order of the previous two campaigns, capturing the Eastern pennant in a dramatic tie-breaker over the Baltimore Dark Blues, who have by now earned a reputation as perennial runners-up.

Likewise, in the Western League, the St. Louis Brown Stockings reversed their fortunes. After two years of middling play, they secured their first pennant—and their first winning record—while the previously dominant Cincinnati and Chicago clubs struggled to recapture 1878's form.

League Standings

Code:

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
New York Mutuals 42 29 .592 -
Baltimore Dark Blues 41 30 .577 1.0
Providence Grays 37 33 .529 4.5
Boston Red Stockings 36 34 .514 5.5
Philadelphia Quakers 33 37 .471 8.5
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 22 48 .314 19.5

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
St. Louis Brown Stockings 39 31 .557 -
Chicago White Stockings 38 32 .543 1.0
Cincinnati Originals 37 33 .529 2.0
Milwaukee Cream City 33 37 .471 6.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 32 38 .457 7.0
Detroit Wolverines 31 39 .443 8.0

National Championship Series
Eastern Champion: New York Mutuals
Western Champion: St. Louis Brown Stockings
Result: St. Louis defeats New York, five games to one
Series Silver Ball: Isaiah White, pitcher, St. Louis

League Leaders Combined – Batting

Code:

LEAGUE LEADERS AVG

Peter Johnson – NYM .369

Peter Flaherty – CWS .331

Robert Thompson – CIN .329

Peter Robinson – CIN .325

Robert Martin – PRV .322

LEAGUE LEADERS HR

Franz Moore – BOS 6

Sincere McTizic – CIN 4

William Nelson – MIL 4

William Taylor – SLB 4

2 tied with 3

LEAGUE LEADERS RBI

Frank Brown – CWS 57

William Harris – DET 56

Charles Wilson – BAL 53

Robert Martin – PRV 52

James Taylor – NYM 48

League Leaders Combined – Pitching

Code:

LEAGUE LEADERS W

Ivan Ibarra – BAL 23

James Hall – NYM 21

Edward Klein – CIN 20

Robert Cartwright – SLB 19

2 more tied with 19

LEAGUE LEADERS ERA

James Hall – NYM 1.77

Van Makeever – PRV 2.05

Isaiah White – SLB 2.06

Robert Wilson – PRV 2.11

John Hill – CIN 2.23

LEAGUE LEADERS K

Robert Wilson – PRV 135

James Hall – NYM 118

George Zettlein – BRK 114

Henry Hall – CWS 113

Francisco Santamaria – DET 111

Awards & Honors
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League – Peter Johnson, 3B, New York Mutuals – Batting AVG .369, Hits 114, RBIs 38
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League – Frank Brown, 2B, Chicago White Stockings – Batting AVG .310, Hits 95, RBIs 57

Season Notes
• First record of the Boston Red Stockings being referred to as the Boston Whalers.
• First ever tie-breaker game to decide a pennant.

10-08-2025, 07:46 PM	#10
Haystacks Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 170	1879 Season Summary Season of 1879 Summary The 1878–79 off-season was comparatively quiet when compered with recent years. The most contentious debate of the winter meetings arose from a petition by the amateur Union of Morrisania Base Ball Club, based in the New York area, seeking entry into the Association. Representatives of smaller-market clubs raised concern that, if a second organization were permitted in New York, what would prevent similar duplication in less populous cities—potentially undermining their financial stability. As a result, Clause XX of the constitution was amended to protect clubs located in cities with populations under half a million. Under the new provision, another organization may only play home games in such a city under exceptional circumstances (such as the destruction of or damage to their own ground), and no additional club may be admitted into a market of that size. Union of Morrisania's petition was deferred for debate until the following annual general meeting whilst Clause XX was addressed. Rumour circulates that the amendment of this clause has actually inspired several clubs across these large markets to now petition for entry to the National Association's league system. On the field, the New York Mutuals upended the established order of the previous two campaigns, capturing the Eastern pennant in a dramatic tie-breaker over the Baltimore Dark Blues, who have by now earned a reputation as perennial runners-up. Likewise, in the Western League, the St. Louis Brown Stockings reversed their fortunes. After two years of middling play, they secured their first pennant—and their first winning record—while the previously dominant Cincinnati and Chicago clubs struggled to recapture 1878's form. League Standings Code: EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS W L PCT GB New York Mutuals 42 29 .592 - Baltimore Dark Blues 41 30 .577 1.0 Providence Grays 37 33 .529 4.5 Boston Red Stockings 36 34 .514 5.5 Philadelphia Quakers 33 37 .471 8.5 Brooklyn Atlantic Club 22 48 .314 19.5 WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS W L PCT GB St. Louis Brown Stockings 39 31 .557 - Chicago White Stockings 38 32 .543 1.0 Cincinnati Originals 37 33 .529 2.0 Milwaukee Cream City 33 37 .471 6.0 Cleveland Lakeshore Club 32 38 .457 7.0 Detroit Wolverines 31 39 .443 8.0 National Championship Series Eastern Champion: New York Mutuals Western Champion: St. Louis Brown Stockings Result: St. Louis defeats New York, five games to one Series Silver Ball: Isaiah White, pitcher, St. Louis League Leaders Combined – Batting Code: LEAGUE LEADERS AVG Peter Johnson – NYM .369 Peter Flaherty – CWS .331 Robert Thompson – CIN .329 Peter Robinson – CIN .325 Robert Martin – PRV .322 LEAGUE LEADERS HR Franz Moore – BOS 6 Sincere McTizic – CIN 4 William Nelson – MIL 4 William Taylor – SLB 4 2 tied with 3 LEAGUE LEADERS RBI Frank Brown – CWS 57 William Harris – DET 56 Charles Wilson – BAL 53 Robert Martin – PRV 52 James Taylor – NYM 48 League Leaders Combined – Pitching Code: LEAGUE LEADERS W Ivan Ibarra – BAL 23 James Hall – NYM 21 Edward Klein – CIN 20 Robert Cartwright – SLB 19 2 more tied with 19 LEAGUE LEADERS ERA James Hall – NYM 1.77 Van Makeever – PRV 2.05 Isaiah White – SLB 2.06 Robert Wilson – PRV 2.11 John Hill – CIN 2.23 LEAGUE LEADERS K Robert Wilson – PRV 135 James Hall – NYM 118 George Zettlein – BRK 114 Henry Hall – CWS 113 Francisco Santamaria – DET 111 Awards & Honors Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League – Peter Johnson, 3B, New York Mutuals – Batting AVG .369, Hits 114, RBIs 38 Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League – Frank Brown, 2B, Chicago White Stockings – Batting AVG .310, Hits 95, RBIs 57 Season Notes • First record of the Boston Red Stockings being referred to as the Boston Whalers. • First ever tie-breaker game to decide a pennant. Last edited by Haystacks; 10-10-2025 at 07:06 AM. Reason: Retcon my population requirements