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Chadwick Sports Newsletter

April 1873

National Association Preview

For this new season, the financially stable clubs – Boston, Mutual, Atlantic, Lord Baltimore and Athletic – returned to battle for national supremacy, and they were joined by four new clubs. Of these, the one that looks most stable is the Philadelphia Whites. This new Philly team poached many of the top players from their crosstown rivals, which should help them, but might cause further struggles with Athletic. These six clubs all have hopes to compete for the title this season, and they are joined by three clubs that would be fortunate to simply survive the year. Elizabeth, New Jersey has apparently not learned the lesson of such small cities as Rockford, Middletown and Fort Wayne, and their Resolute club will contest the season. The new Washington Blue Legs club will fill the void left by the collapse of both of the Association clubs from the nation’s capital, and the Baltimore Marylands will try to compete as the second-best club in Baltimore.

The projected starters for the big six clubs:

Lord Baltimore:

C – Dick Higham (.281 in 1872)
1B – Jim Carleton (.202 in 1872 with Cleveland)
2B – Tom Carey (.242 in 1872)
SS – John Radcliff (.309 in 1872)
3B – Frank Norton (played in 3 games in 1871-72 with Olympic)
LF – George Hall (.286 in 1872)
CF – Lip Pike (.335 in 1872)
RF – Phonney Martin (.288 in 1872 with Troy)
P – Asa Brainard (3-6 in 1872 with Olympic)

Boston:

C – Cal McVey (.362 in 1872)
1B – Charlie Gould (.311 in 1872)
2B – Ross Barnes (.394 in 1872)
SS – George Wright (.269 in 1872)
3B – Deacon White (.307 in 1872 with Cleveland)
LF – Steve King (.376 in 1872 with Troy)
CF – George Bird (.252 in 1872 with Eckford)
RF – Gat Stires (.309 in 1872 with Eckford)
P – Al Spalding (30-14 in 1872)

Atlantic:

C – Tom Barlow (backup catcher in 1872 for Atlantic)
1B – Herman Dehlman (.276 in 1872)
2B – Jack Burdock (.227 in 1872)
SS – John Bass (.309 in 1872)
3B – Bob Ferguson (.336 in 1872)
LF – Ralph Ham (.345 in 1872)
CF – Jack Remsen (.288 in 1872)
RF – Frank Buttery (rookie)
P – Jim Britt (20-15 in 1872)

Mutual:

C – Nat Hicks (.311 in 1872)
1B – Joe Start (.338 in 1872)
2B – John Hatfield (.293 in 1872)
SS – Dickey Pearce (.253 in 1872)
3B – Bill Boyd (.269 in 1872)
LF – Harry Berthrong (.316 in 1872)
CF – Dave Eggler (.364 in 1872)
RF – Caleb Johnson (.274 in 1872 with Cleveland)
P – Candy Cummings (4-1 in 1872)

Athletic:

C – William Bestick (rookie)
1B – Adrian “Cap” Anson (.265 in 1872 with Mansfield)
2B – Wes Fisler (.313 in 1872)
SS – Dickie Flowers (.266 in 1872 with Troy)
3B – Charlie Smith (.432 in 1872 with Olympic)
LF – Ed Mincher (.317 in 1872 with National)
CF – Count Sensenderfer (.291 in 1872)
RF – Al Reach (.259 in 1872)
P – Dick McBride (15-29 in 1872)

Philadelphia Whites:

C – Fergy Malone (.266 in 1872 with Athletic)
1B – Clipper Flynn (.288 in 1872 with Troy)
2B – Jimmy Wood (.306 in 1872 with National)
SS – Chick Fulmer (.250 in 1872 with Lord Baltimore)
3B – Levi Meyerle (.332 in 1872 with Athletic)
LF – Fred Treacey (.269 in 1872 with Lord Baltimore)
CF – Tim Murnane (.308 in 1872 with Mansfield)
RF – George Bechtel (.270 in 1872 with Athletic)
P – George Zettlein (8-3 in 1872 with National)

The official Chadwick predictions for the Association this season: Boston first, Mutual second, Philadelphia Whites third.