1884 Union Association stats/stars

Hekeziah · 05-30-2025, 09:13 PM

I was just reading the essay in The New Bill James' Historical Baseball Abstract on the UA and if it REALLY should be considered a major league (likely not on merit, but yes based on tradition) when I played the 1884 season in my game (semi-historical start from 1871).

I didn't have the UA in my game, but did have the players (most of whom played the year in my Class B leagues). I noticed many of the UA "stars" that the James essay called out have some bumps from their UA days that probably make them better in the game than in life.

Not a huge deal for me - my game isn't a strict historical replay in the first place, but it was interesting context on players who were fresh in my mind from gameplay.

Specific players whom James called out (and their careers through 1884 in my game)

Henry Boyle - P, spent most of 1884 at Class B New Orleans; he got a late-season call-up and had a 0.69 ERA in 6 games. Ranked as #7 prospect in the MLB.
Jack Clements - C, was the starting catcher for Philadelphia (NL), 2.8 WAR in his age-19 season.
Buttercup Dickerson - OF, debuted in my league in 1878, career .262 hitter and 4.4 career WAR in 787 career games in seven seasons since, as a Second Division Starter (a bit better than reality)
Fred Dunlap - 2B - In five years in my league, he's racked up the awards (1880 Rookie of the Year, 1884 MVP, 3-time gold glove winner, 4-time silver slugger) and 37.6 WAR in 752 career games - he's on a HOF trajectory, unlike reality, where he was a good, but not great player every year BUT 1884.
Will Foley - OF, 354 career games (and 0.3 WAR) in four years in the league; pretty much stuck in Class A now (but still better than he was in reality)
Jack Gleason - 3B, 14.6 WAR in 473 career games (4 years), plus a silver slugger, already surpassing his real-life numbers.
Joe Gunson - OF. Spent 1884 at Class B Keokuk. #91 prospect.
Buster Hoover - SS, 2.6 WAR and a Silver Slugger award in his rookie age-20 year.
Bill Hutchison - P, Spent 1884 at Class B Memphis. #31 prospect in the MLB
Tommy McCarthy - OF, Spent 1884 at Class B Peoria. #3 prospect in MLB.
Jim McCormick - P, 175-179, 2.97 ERA and 25.6 WAR in 361 career starts (5+ years in the league) (not as good as reality)
Tim Murnane - OF, retired after the 1879 season after seven+ years in the league with 6.8 WAR (far superior to reality)
Frank Olin - OF, 1.1 WAR as a backup outfielder, #63 prospect. In real life, he retired to become an industrial tycoon.
Joe Quinn - 2B, Spent 1884 at Class B New Orleans; #14 prospect in MLB.
Yank Robinson - 2B, 5.5 in 331 career games (2+ years), trending ahead of his reality.
Jumbo Schoeneck - 1B, won 1884 Rookie of the Year with 3.3 WAR.
Emmett Seery - OF, solid 2.8 WAR in his Rookie season
Germany Smith - SS, strong 4.6 WAR in his Rookie season (albeit driven by strong defense, only 88 OPS+)
George Strief - SS, negative WAR utility infielder (3 yrs in MLB), now at Class A.
Sleeper Sullivan - OF, hit .130 his only year in MLB, last two years at Class A.
Bollicky Billy Taylor - P, 7-4, 2.51 in 11 late-season starts (1884 was his only full year (and career year) in the real MLB
Peak-A-Boo Veach - P, 12-5, 2.17 in 43 games as a change pitcher for Louisville, a key part of their Championship run.

Curious how they turned out for others.

05-30-2025, 09:13 PM	#1
Hekeziah Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2024 Posts: 51	1884 Union Association stats/stars I was just reading the essay in The New Bill James' Historical Baseball Abstract on the UA and if it REALLY should be considered a major league (likely not on merit, but yes based on tradition) when I played the 1884 season in my game (semi-historical start from 1871). I didn't have the UA in my game, but did have the players (most of whom played the year in my Class B leagues). I noticed many of the UA "stars" that the James essay called out have some bumps from their UA days that probably make them better in the game than in life. Not a huge deal for me - my game isn't a strict historical replay in the first place, but it was interesting context on players who were fresh in my mind from gameplay. Specific players whom James called out (and their careers through 1884 in my game) Henry Boyle - P, spent most of 1884 at Class B New Orleans; he got a late-season call-up and had a 0.69 ERA in 6 games. Ranked as #7 prospect in the MLB. Jack Clements - C, was the starting catcher for Philadelphia (NL), 2.8 WAR in his age-19 season. Buttercup Dickerson - OF, debuted in my league in 1878, career .262 hitter and 4.4 career WAR in 787 career games in seven seasons since, as a Second Division Starter (a bit better than reality) Fred Dunlap - 2B - In five years in my league, he's racked up the awards (1880 Rookie of the Year, 1884 MVP, 3-time gold glove winner, 4-time silver slugger) and 37.6 WAR in 752 career games - he's on a HOF trajectory, unlike reality, where he was a good, but not great player every year BUT 1884. Will Foley - OF, 354 career games (and 0.3 WAR) in four years in the league; pretty much stuck in Class A now (but still better than he was in reality) Jack Gleason - 3B, 14.6 WAR in 473 career games (4 years), plus a silver slugger, already surpassing his real-life numbers. Joe Gunson - OF. Spent 1884 at Class B Keokuk. #91 prospect. Buster Hoover - SS, 2.6 WAR and a Silver Slugger award in his rookie age-20 year. Bill Hutchison - P, Spent 1884 at Class B Memphis. #31 prospect in the MLB Tommy McCarthy - OF, Spent 1884 at Class B Peoria. #3 prospect in MLB. Jim McCormick - P, 175-179, 2.97 ERA and 25.6 WAR in 361 career starts (5+ years in the league) (not as good as reality) Tim Murnane - OF, retired after the 1879 season after seven+ years in the league with 6.8 WAR (far superior to reality) Frank Olin - OF, 1.1 WAR as a backup outfielder, #63 prospect. In real life, he retired to become an industrial tycoon. Joe Quinn - 2B, Spent 1884 at Class B New Orleans; #14 prospect in MLB. Yank Robinson - 2B, 5.5 in 331 career games (2+ years), trending ahead of his reality. Jumbo Schoeneck - 1B, won 1884 Rookie of the Year with 3.3 WAR. Emmett Seery - OF, solid 2.8 WAR in his Rookie season Germany Smith - SS, strong 4.6 WAR in his Rookie season (albeit driven by strong defense, only 88 OPS+) George Strief - SS, negative WAR utility infielder (3 yrs in MLB), now at Class A. Sleeper Sullivan - OF, hit .130 his only year in MLB, last two years at Class A. Bollicky Billy Taylor - P, 7-4, 2.51 in 11 late-season starts (1884 was his only full year (and career year) in the real MLB Peak-A-Boo Veach - P, 12-5, 2.17 in 43 games as a change pitcher for Louisville, a key part of their Championship run. Curious how they turned out for others.