The Liberty League

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[Questdog]

Note: In the above rosters, DNP stands for "Did Not Play", but it does not mean that the player did not play at all last year. It means that he did not play at the B Level or higher at all last year and only played in the low minors, which we don't keep stats for.

One other note: I spend a lot of time trying to get the stats right and I am confident that I have set good modifiers that will make the stats of the Liberty League be as close to the National League of 1879 as is possible in OOTP. However, with so few teams playing so few games, the chances of them randomly veering off course is pretty high.

[Questdog]

Opening Day 1879

Philadelphia at New Haven - In the bottom of the first inning, 3B Jack Meeks led off New Haven's first ever time at bat with a double over CF Bob Coulter's head. Who knows if the deceased Jim Kruppa may have been able to track it down? Then with one out, RF Bill Enright, the mega-signee from St. Louis, grounded a single into right field. Meeks tried to score on the play, but RF Jumbo Reeher threw him out at the plate. Enright went to second on the throw. The next better, lf Bill Rogers, singled to center and Enright scored New Haven's first ever run. And that was the last run of the contest for either team as the Nutmegs shocked the Centennials with a 1 to 0 victory. New Haven pitcher Charlie Charles held the vaunted Philadelphia attack to only 5 singles on the day, 2 of them by 3B Joe Carter. Centennial pitcher Paul Skinner held New Haven to 6 hits. LF Bill Rogers and 1b Sam Simpson each had a double and a single for New Haven. Philadelphia only made one error and New Haven made but 2. New Haven is happy to have signed RF Bill Enright. He is a great hitter, leading the Liberty League in career hits after 3 seasons, but is also somewhat of a bad-luck charm. Each team he has been on has disbanded after the season: The Boston Red Caps in 1876, the Troy Haymakers in 1877 and the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1878.

Brooklyn at Providence - In another upset, the Providence Grays beat the Brooklyn Atlantics 6 to 3 as Madison Coy held Brooklyn to 6 hits. 2B Fred Franklin had 3 hits and a double and scored 3 times. LF Jesse Austin had a double and a single and 3 RBIs. 2B Joe Ricketts was injured in the game for Brooklyn and is expected to miss 3 weeks.

Boston at Louisville - Boston scored a run in the top of the 9th and turned a double play in the bottom of the inning to take the game from Louisville by a score of 2 to 1. Boston pitcher John Taylor held Louisville to 4 hits. 3B Charlie Sparks had 2 doubles and scored both of Boston's runs. C Frank Shea had 2 hits and knocked in the decisive run in the top of the 9th. Louisville pitcher John Walker, the ex-Detroit hurler, held Boston to 7 hits.

Chicago at Cincinnati - Through 9 innings, pitcher Frank Carlucci shutout the Colts on 3 hits, but his teammates could not score off Colts pitcher Tom Newman either, so the game went into extra frames, where Chicago finally managed a run off Carlucci in the 11th inning and won 1 to 0. Carlucci had 6 strikeouts on the day. Newman held the Reds to 7 hits, none of them in the extra innings. He also had 2 hits himself. RF Porter Thorpe, had 2 hits for Chicago and scored the lone run of the game.

The Rest of April:

In the second game of the year, on April 9, Chicago committed 11 errors at Cincinnati, but won 9 to 8. LF Tommy Nichol had 3 hits, including a double and a triple and knocked in 5 runs. He did not make one of the 11 errors.

On April 12, Chicago made it a sweep of Cincinnati, beating them 3 to 1. Pitcher Tom Newman held the Reds to 4 hits. RF Porter Thorpe had 3 hits and scored 2 runs.

Also on April 12, Providence made it a sweep of Brooklyn by scoring a run in the bottom of the 9th to win 8 to 7.

On April 16, Cincinnati handed Brooklyn their 5th straight loss to start the season by scoring 4 times in the top of the 9th to win 6 to 5. 1b Bill Dudley had 4 hits, including a double and 2 triples, with 3 RBIs. His second triple was with 2 on in the 9th inning to tie the game and then he scored the winning run when LF Fred Campbell knocked him home.

Also on April 16, Providence beat New Haven, 5 to 4, by scoring twice in the bottom of the 9th. Pitcher Madison Coy knocked in the winning run and improved his season's record to 4-0. He had 3 hits as a batter. Providence hit 2 home runs in the game, both with the bases empty. The first was by 1B Charlie Rice, who also had 2 singles. The second was by LF John Walker in the bottom of the 9th that tied the game. He also had a single and scored twice with 2 RBIs. RF Jesse Austin had 4 hits, including a double, for the Grays but could not score or drive in a run.

Also on April 16, John Taylor of Boston improved his record to 4-0 by handing Tom Newman of Chicago his first defeat. Boston won 1 to 0. Taylor held Chicago to 4 hits, while Boston could only get 6 from Newman, who had 6 strikeouts to his credit. The only run of the day was scored in the 6th inning when LF Ben Urban tripled with a man on base.

Also on April 16, Philadelphia beat Louisville, 7 to 6 in 10 innings. An error by 3B Monk Kelly allowed 2b Ed Fraser to score the winning run. Kelly was also hitless on the day. CF Frank Griffin had 5 hits, including 3 doubles, for Louisville. He scored twice. 2B John Ulstad had 4 hits for the Eclipse, scoring twice and knocking in a run. LF Dave Bigelow had 5 hits for Philadelphia, including a double. He scored twice and had 2 RBIs.

Also on April 16, Manchester defeated Rochester, 4 to 3, in 17 innings in a National Association game. CF Kid Lininger knocked in the winning run with 2 outs. Pitcher Bill Gillman pitched 7 shutout innings of relief to earn the victory.

On April 18, Philadelphia beat Louisville again in extra innings. This time they had to score a run in the 9th to tie it and another in the 11th to win 5 to 4. Pitcher Paul Skinner had 8 strikeouts as a pitcher and 2 hits, scoring twice, including the winning run in the 11th.

Also on April 18, Everett Bulthuis of Worcester in the National Association pitched the first no-hitter anywhere on the planet. He beat Utica 8 to 0, walking 1 and striking out 2.

On April 19, Pop Coleman of Boston handed Brooklyn their 7th straight loss to start the season. Coleman had 4 hits as a batter with 2 triples. He scored twice and had 2 RBIs.

Also on April 19, Jim Rebovich 4-hit the Chicago Colts in a 6 to 1 Philadelphia victory. He struck out 8 batters.

On April 21, Chicago scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to tied the game and beat Philadelphia 5 to 4 in 11 innings. RF Porter Thorpe knocked in the tying run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. He had 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Manager/SS Bob Rene led off the 11th with a triple and LF William Riser knocked him in to end the game.

On April 23, Brooklyn scored 3 times in the top of the 9th to tie their game at Boston, but lost their 9th straight to start the season when 3B Charlie Sparks hit a 2-out single, his 3rd hit of the day, in the bottom of the 9th to drive in the winning run. Boston out-hit Brooklyn 17 to 6.

On April 26, Brooklyn made it 10 losses in a row, when Philadelphia scored a run with 2-out in the bottom of the 9th to win 4 to 3. C Pidgey Weaver had the decisive hit, his third of the day. Pitcher Paul Pratt made his first start of the season for Brooklyn. He struck out 5 Centennials and had 2 of Brooklyn's 6 hits as a batter, including a double, and scored two of the Atlantics' 3 runs.

Also on April 26, John Taylor of Boston threw a 4-hit shutout against Providence. He struck out 5 and did not walk a batter.

On April 28, Paul Pratt held Philadelphia to 6 hits and Brooklyn made 14 against Paul Skinner, but lost anyway, 6 to 4, for their 11th straight defeat.

On April 30, Louisville pummeled Chicago and 40 year old pitcher Scott King, 19 to 1. Lew Meyerhoffer held Chicago to 4 hits and struck out 7. He also had a double and 4 hits as a batter. He scored twice and had 3 RBIs.

Also on April 30, Brooklyn finally won their first game, defeating Philadelphia, 8 to 4. Pitcher Bill Zalac besting Doc Lane. SS Fred Clapp had 3 hits and scored 3 times. cf Bob Coulter was injured for Philadelphia and is expected to miss a month of play.

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[Questdog]

May 1879

On May 3, Boston scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to beat Cincinnati, 3 to 2. Pitcher John Taylor had the game-winning hit with 2 outs.

Also on May 3, with 2 outs and Pitcher Paul Skinner at the plate, Madison Coy uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Philadelphia to tie their game with Providence. In the bottom of the 11th pitcher Skinner knocked in the winning run for a 4 to 3 victory.

Also on May 3, Chicago scored twice in the top of the 9th to beat New Haven, 6 to 5. Manager/2B Bob Rene knocked in the winning run with a double.

On May 5, Chicago beat New Haven, 1 to 0, Tom Newman besting Charlie Charles. Each team only managed 4 hits. LF William Riser drove home the only run in the top of the 8th.

Also on May 5, Philadelphia won another game in their final time at bat against Providence, 4 to 3. This time Dick Dixon walked pitcher Paul Skinner with the bases loaded to end the game. Providence had scored 3 timed in the top of the 9th to tie it up.

On May 7, Lew Meyerhoffer and the Louisville Eclipse shut out Brooklyn, 5 to 0. Meyerhoffer allowed 5 hits.

On May 12, Cincinnati scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Philadelphia, 5 to 4. LF Dummy Gibson, a deaf-mute player, tripled to lead off the 9th and scored on a long fly out by 1b Bill Dudley. Gibson had two hits on the day and scored twice.

On May 14, Chicago scored 4 times in the bottom of the 9th to beat Brooklyn, 9 to 8. Pitcher Bill Zalac and the Atlantics did not retire a batter in the 9th inning. LF Tommy Nichol ended the game with a double.

On May 15, 21 year old Frank Griffin stepped down as manager of the Louisville Eclipse saying that he thought 29 year old pitcher John Walker was better qualified to run the team. Walker agreed and accepted the position.

On May 16, Paul Pratt held New Haven to 5 hits as Brooklyn won, 3 to 0. Pratt also had 2 hits as a batter, scoring a run and driving in 2.

Also on May 16, with the two teams tied for first place in the Liberty League, Boston defeated Philadelphia, 4 to 1. John Taylor held the Centennials to 6 hits and had 2 hits as a batter.

On May 17, Philadelphia beat Boston, 5 to 2, to draw back even in the standings with the Beaneaters. 1b Fred Palmer had 3 doubles and a single for the Centennials, scoring twice and driving in 2.

Also on May 17, New Haven scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to tie their game with Brooklyn and scored again in the 10th to win it, 5 to 4. SS Dave Perri had 2 doubles and 4 hits, including the game-ending single.

On May 19, Brooklyn scored twice in the top of the 9th to beat New Haven, 4 to 2. Paul Pratt held the Nutmegs to 4 hits. Charlie Charles held Brooklyn to 5 hits in the loss.

Also on May 19, in the rubber match of their 3-game series, Boston beat Philadelphia, 10 to 9, to take over sole possession of first place. C Joe Spencer had 3 hits and scored twice for Boston. 3B Joe Carter had 3 hits and a double and scored 4 times for Philly. RF Jumbo Reeher had 4 RBIs on a double and 2 singles for the Centennials. SS Cy Welch sprained his ankle and is expected to miss 6 weeks for Boston.

On May 21, Boston beat Louisville, 4 to 0. Pop Coleman held the Eclipse to 4 hits. RF Ben Duncan had a double and 3 hits and 2 RBIs for the Beaneaters.

On May 28, 2B Joe Neill had 5 hits, including a double, for New Haven as they beat Providence, 4 to 3 in 11 innings.

On May 31, Paul Pratt held Cincinnati to 2 hits as Brooklyn won, 4 to 0. Pratt struck out 5 and drove in a run with a single.

Also on May 31, Lew Meyerhoffer held Philadelphia to 4 hits as Louisville won 3 to 2. Meyerhoffer had 2 hits as a batter. The loss was Philadelphia's 3rd in a row.


On June 1st, I discovered an error in my settings. The Passed Ball modifier was entered incorrectly, being about a tenth of what it should be. It has been corrected with compensation, so that the final totals ought to end up close to where they should be.

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[Questdog]

June 1879

On June 4, Chicago beat Philadelphia 5 to 4. It is Philadelphia's 5th loss in a row. 3b Con Stone had 3 hits and scored twice for Chicago. CF Walter Byrne is injured for Philadelphia and is expected to miss 5-6 weeks.

Also on June 4, New Haven scored twice in the top of the 9th to break a 1-1 tie with Louisville. Louisville scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game back up, but New Haven won in 11 innings, 4 to 3. RF Bill Enright had 3 hits and a double for the Nutmegs.

Also on June 4, Pop Coleman and the Boston Beaneaters beat Bill Zalac and the Brooklyn Atlantics, 5 to 4 in 16 innings. Both pitchers went the distance. Cole allowed Brooklyn only 8 hits in 16 innings. 3B Ben Urban had a triple and 4 hits for Boston.

On June 7, Louisville scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to tie their game with New Haven and won it in the 11th inning, 7 to 6. LF Dickie Mastracchio had a triple and 3 hits, including the 2-run 2-out single that tied the game in the bottom of the 9th.

On June 8th, Brooklyn sent pitcher Bill Zalac (2-12 3.94) to Albany and recalled pitcher Abe Lowe, the former Haymaker.

On June 14, Boston scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to beat Providence, 9 to 8. 2B John Greenwood drove in the winning run with a 2-out single. Starting pitcher Pop Coleman had to leave the game in the 7th inning with mild back spasms. Pitcher John Taylor relieved him, but after going 9 innings the day before, he did not have much in the tank. When he allowed a pair of runs in the top of the 9th, retiring only one of the 5 batters he faced, Manager Ben Urban put catcher Joe Spencer in the pitchers box and he retired both batters he faced. And when Boston won the game in the bottom of the inning, Spencer became the first non-pitcher to earn a win in the Liberty League.

Also on June 14, Louisville beat Chicago, 13 to 3. SS Jim Huth had 3 doubles in the game for the Eclipse. Louisville had 9 doubles in the game. They now have 79 on the season. The second best total belongs to New Haven with only 56. Louisville 2B John Ulstad was injured in the game and will miss 5-6 weeks.

On June 15, pitcher Tony Hughes of Cincinnati was injured in a bar brawl and is expected to miss 3 weeks. Cincinnati recalled Harry Mays from Manchester.

On June 16, Philadelphia scored a run in the top of the 9th to tie their game at Providence, but the Grays scored a run in the bottom of the inning to win. The Centennials are now 3-11 in their last 14 games.

Also on June 16, Chicago scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat New Haven, 11 to 10. Pinch-hitter Tommy Nichol singled home the winning run with 1 out. The win moved Chicago past the fading Centennials into second place.

Also on June 16, Gene Brandt, the former Haymaker farmhand, pitched a 2-hit shutout at Springfield. The 22 year old is now 11-1 on the season for Manchester, Cincinnati's affiliate in the National Association. He was 17-31 as a 21 year old last year for Syracuse.

On June 18, the Providence Grays scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to beat the spiraling Centennials, 5 to 4. Dick Dixon, who was 3-10 coming into this game, held Philadelphia to just 5 hits. SS John Banks hit a 2-out 2-run single to win the game. LF Jesse Austin hit his 3rd home run of the season for Providence. RF Jumbo Reeher was injured in the game and is expected to miss 6 weeks for Philly.

On June 21, Cincinnati scored a run in the 8th to tie the game and a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Boston, 3 to 2. With 1-out in the bottom of the 9th, ss Dick Komp reached base on an error by 1B Ed Vincent. He ended up at 3rd, when catcher Frank Shea made an errant throw on his steal of second base. He then scored the winning run when Shea let a pitch get by him for a passed ball. Losing pitcher John Taylor held Cincinnati to only 5 hits.

Also on June 21, C Cy Bates hit a 2-run home run in the 8th inning to break a 3-3 tie, as Providence handed Philadelphia yet another loss, 5 to 3. Paul Skinner allowed only 5 hits and struck out 7 for Philly, while Madison Coy allowed only 5 hits and struck out 2 for Providence.

Also on June 21, Paul Pratt tossed a 5-hit shut out against Louisville as Brooklyn won, 3 to 0. It was Pratt's League-leading 3rd shutout of the season. The win, combined with New Haven's loss at Chicago moved the Atlantics out of the Liberty League basement for the first time this season.

On June 23, 1b Ed Vincent, the leading batsman in the Liberty League, was injured in Boston's 7 to 4 win at New Haven. His sprained ankle is thought to keep him sidelined for about 3 weeks.

Also on June 23, Philadelphia's Paul Skinner held Cincinnati to 4 hits as the Centennials won, 10 to 6. LF Dave Bigelow had a double and 4 hits. He scored twice and had 2 RBIs. 2b Ed Fraser had 3 hits, including his 3rd home run of the year. He scored twice and had 3 RBIs.

On June 25, Brooklyn scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to tie their game with Chicago. The Colts scored in the top of the 11th to go up a run, but RF Vic Wilcox, singled with 2-outs to tie the game back up in the bottom of the 11th. The next batter, cf Henry Theroux hit a 2-run home run to win it. Abe Lowe pitched the complete game for Brooklyn to earn his 3rd win against only 1 loss.

On June 29, in a National Association game, Jim Rebovich of Washington and John Chambers of Rochester both pitched 3-hitters, but Chambers won, 1-0.

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[Questdog]

July 1879

On July 2, Cincinnati scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Louisville, 4 to 3. 38 year old Harry Mays held Louisville to 5 hits in the game and had 2 hits as a batter. He also scored the winning run when 2b Pat Lee doubled him home. 1B Jesse Abegg hit a home run for Louisville.

On July 5, Cincinnati beat Louisville, 2 to 1. Frank Carlucci held Louisville to 5 hits and knocked in a run with a single. 1B Jesse Abegg hit his second home run in as many games for Louisville. He is the second player to hit home runs in consecutive games in the Liberty League. Buck Freeman did it in 1876 for St. Louis.

On July 7, Chicago beat Cincinnati, 7 to 5, in 12 innings. RF Porter Thorpe had 4 hits, including 3 doubles and a triple. He scored twice and drove in a run. Pitcher Tom Newman held the Reds to 6 hits in 12 innings of work.

Also on July 7, Paul Pratt tossed his League-leading 4th shutout, beating Providence, 4 to 0. He allowed only 3 singles and struck out 6. 1B Art Bourque had 3 hits, including 2 doubles for Brooklyn.

On July 8, John Walker relinquished his manager duties for Louisville. He said the club needed a new manager to infuse some life into it. Since taking the reigns from young Frank Griffin when the Eclipse were 9-9, Walker managed Louisville to an 11-14 mark. 3B Monk Kelly was voted into the job.

On July 9, Doc Lane shut out New Haven as Philadelphia won, 8 to 0. Lane allowed 6 hits. 3B Joe Carter had 3 hits, including 2 doubles, and scored twice. RF Joe Wilcox had 4 hits and 3 RBIs.

Also on July 9, Harry Mays, back at Manchester since Tony Hughes' return to Cincinnati, pitched his second straight shutout, a 1-hitter against Worcester. The lone hit was a single by C Tony Taliani in the 6th inning.

On July 10, after only one game as their player/manager, a 7 to 5 loss against Boston, Monk Kelly quit the job, saying he had enough to worry about with his hitting woes. SS Jim Huth was then given the job that no one apparently wanted.

On July 11, Philadelphia beat New Haven, 21 to 4, for their 5th straight win. Paul Skinner held New Haven to 5 hits and had 2 himself, including a double and 3 RBIs. CF Bob Coulter had 5 hits, scoring 3 times and knocking in 3.

Also on July 11, Chicago out-hit Cincinnati 17 to 8, but lost 4 to 3 in 14 innings. SS Dick Komp hit a 2-out single in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game and the winning run was scored on a passed ball. 3B Con Stone had 5 hits, including 2 doubles, for Chicago, but did not score or drive in a run.

On July 12, Dan Barnes made his first appearance of the year for Brooklyn in place of the injured Abe Lowe, who is only out for a week or so. The Atlantics were at home against Cincinnati. They lost, 22 to 10. The Reds scored 7 in the first inning and 10 in the 4th. 13 errors by Brooklyn did not help Barnes' cause, though 2 of the errors were his own. 3b August Kessler had 4 hits for the Reds, including 2 triples. He had 7 RBIs, tying the Liberty League record set by Chicken Evarts in 1876 while with the New York Mutuals. CF Henry Theroux did not make an error for the Atlantics and had 3 hits, including his 2nd home run of the season.

On July 13, with his club buried in last place, manager Jim Migliore was given the boot by New Haven owner Shad Clark. Star RF Bill Enright will assume the duties for the rest of the season.

On July 14, Providence hit 3 home runs in their 6 to 3 win at home against New Haven. C Cy Bates and RF Charlie Rice each hit their third of the year and Manager/CF Buck Freeman hit his first. No one was on base when any of the home runs were struck.

On July 16, Dan Barnes of Brooklyn got a second chance against Cincinnati and this time held them to only 4 hits. He lost anyway, 4 to 2. CF Henry Theroux injured his knee in the game and will miss 3 to 4 weeks.

On July 19, Chicago scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to beat Philadelphia, 11 to 10. CF William Riser drove in the winning run with a 1-out single. RF Porter Thorpe had 3 hits, including 2 doubles for Chicago. He scored twice, including the tying run in the 9th, and had 2 RBIs.

On July 21, Manger/3B Adolph Marr hurt his back in Brooklyn's 6 to 2 win at Boston. He is expected to miss 6 weeks.

On July 23, Cincinnati beat Providence, 16 to 3. C Gene Murray had 5 hits for the Reds and scored 4 times. He had a double and 2 RBIs.

On July 26, Providence scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to hand Boston their 4th straight loss. C Cy Bates' 2-out single was the game winner. 2B Fred Franklin had a triple and his 2nd home run for 2 RBIs.

Also on July 26, Cincinnati out-hit New Haven 9 to 3, but lost 3 to 2 in 12 innings.

On July 30, Cincinnati scored 8 times in the bottom of the 9th, but lost at home against New Haven, 9 to 8. They had the tying run at second base with only 1 out, but could not score again.

Also on July 30, Brooklyn defeated Philadelphia, 5 to 4. Abe Lowe started the game for the Atlantics, but had to leave in the 2nd inning with an injured shoulder. He is out for the rest of the year. Pitcher Paul Pratt came in but only had the gas to go 2+ innings. Manager Adolph Marr put reserve ss Al Donnelly in the box as pitcher and the 26 year old shut the Centennials out for the final 5.1 innings, allowing only 5 hits and not walking or striking out anyone.

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[Questdog]

August 1879

On August 6, Boston beat Cincinnati, 12 to 1, to complete the 3 game sweep of the series between the 1st and 2nd place clubs in the Liberty League. With the win, Boston now has an 8 game lead with 27 games to go. C Frank Shea had 4 hits, including 2 doubles, and 3 RBIs in the game. The Ben Brothers, Ben Duncan and Ben Urban, who bat 3rd and 4th in the Beaneaters' lineup, had 5 hits between them. They each scored twice and Urban had 2 doubles for 2 RBIs.

On August 16, New Haven lost to Brooklyn, 9 to 8. Pitcher Charlie Charles suffered his 31st defeat of the season to set a new mark for failure in the Liberty League. He breaks Pete Tyson's record of 30 losses for Washington in 1876. Tyson has since been banned from the league for throwing games. Charles has won but 11 times this season.

On August 17, even though the team had gone 13-5 since he took the helm, rising from 6th in the standings to 2nd place, SS Jim Huth stepped down as manager of the Louisville Eclipse. He cited grumblings among the players about his methods. 23 year old infielder Dickie Mastracchio volunteered to take the position and no one objected. He becomes the 5th player to hold the manager's reigns this season for the Eclipse.

On August 25, Sam Simpson singled home a run in the top of the 9th inning and New Haven held on to beat Philadelphia, 1 to 0. Charlie Charles held the Centennials to 5 hits.

Also, on August 25, Louisville beat Boston, 6 to 5. It was the first time that Louisville had beaten Boston this season and it was the final game scheduled between the two teams. Boston won the first 11 meetings. Louisville won despite only getting 4 hits.

On August 27, Charlie Charles pitched his second straight shutout, holding Providence to 5 hits in a 5 to 0 win. Charles is now 13-34 on the year.

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

September 1879

On September 1, New Haven scored 4 times in the bottom of the 9th to beat Providence, 10 to 9. It is the Nutmegs' 4th win in a row. 164 fans paid their 50 cents to see it. LF Bill Rodger hit a 2-run triple to tie the game and with 1 out he sprinted for home on Ed Rucker's groundball to short. John Banks' throw to the plate was just a tad late. Providence's pitcher Dick Dixon suffered the loss and is now 4-22 on the season.

On September 5, Boston beat Brooklyn, 6 to 2, to clinch the Liberty League Championship for 1879. There is still a month of games left.

Also on September 5, New Haven beat Louisville, 5 to 4, for the 6th win in a row for the last place Nutmegs. RF Bill Enright had a double and 3 hits and 2B Joe Neill had a double and 2 hits and scored 3 times.

On September 6, New Haven beat Louisville again, 7 to 5, for their 7th win in a row. RF/manager Bill Enright again had 3 hits. Pitcher Fred Wood had one hit and 3 RBIs. The Nutmegs are still 2 games behind 7th place Providence.

Also, on September 6, Philadelphia lost to Chicago, 9 to 7, but 2B Ed Fraser hit his 4th home run of the season to tie the record set by Buck Freeman in 1876 for St. Louis.

On September 8, Cincinnati ended New Haven's winning streak by beating them 20 to 0. Frank Carlucci held the Nutmegs to 4 hits. New Haven made 17 errors to Cincinnati's 1. 3b Dummy Gibson had a double, two triples and a single. He had 3 RBI's and scored 3 times. LF Warren Ware had 5 hits with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

On September 15, New Haven beat Chicago, 25 to 22, in 13 innings. New Haven pounded out 32 hits. Neither team used a non-pitcher in the box. The two teams combined to make 32 errors. The Nutmegs scored 11 runs in the first inning off Hurler Trophy and Rookie of the Year candidate Tom Newman. For the Nutmegs: CF Ezra Martin had 6 hits with 3 doubles, 2 runs and 2 RBIs. 3B Jack Likens had 5 hits with 3 doubles, 5 runs and 3 RBIs. RF Bill Enright had 6 hits with 2 doubles, 5 runs and 5 RBIs. For Chicago, RF Porter Thorpe had 6 hits with a double, 4 runs and a new record 8 RBIs. Thorpe's final hit was number 111 on the season, also a new record.

On September 17, Lew Meyerhoffer of Louisville struck out 9 Brooklyn Atlantics in a 7 to 0 win to tie Paul Skinner's mark set last season. He also had 3 hits and 2 RBIs in the game.

Also on September 17, Ed Fraser of Philadelphia hit his record breaking 5th home run of the season in an 8 to 3 win at Providence.

Also on September 17, Dan Melvin, the ex-Haymaker, won his 40th game of the year for Minneapolis in the B Leagues. He is the first pitcher to accomplish the feat at any level of ball.

On September 27, Boston beat New Haven, 5 to 1, to hand Nutmeg hurler Charlie Charles his 40th loss of the season.

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[Questdog]

Winter 1879 - Spring 1880

After the season was over the Providence Grays withdrew from the league, citing financial difficulties. The Pittsburg Alleghenys owned by Felix Lattig, 49, were recruited to take their place. Al Dworaczyk, who led Worcester to the championship of the New England League in 1877 was hired to assemble a crack group of players and handle the field manager duties.

All was not rosy in Championsville. Boston Player/Manager Ben Urban thought he deserved two salaries, one for playing and one for managing. Owner Tom Schlomann disagreed and relieved him of his manager duties. He appointed catcher Frank Shea to run the team on the field. In Philadelphia, Dave Watford stepped down as manager. He was the longest tenured field boss in the Liberty League. 41-year-old Edward "Stampy" Sampieri was hired to take his place.

The Reds built themselves a new park, the Bank Street Grounds.

New Bedford withdrew from the National Association, having lost their sponsor, the Grays. Pittsburg decided to field its affiliate in Baltimore.

A few new rules were voted in this year:

If a base runner is hit by a batted ball, he will be out.

The catcher must catch the third strike on the fly for it to be a putout.

It will now only take 8 balls to walk a batter, instead of 9.

Editor's Note: In real baseball, they made a rule that the home team did not need to bat in the last half inning if they were already winning the game. Previously, the games were played out to the bitter end, even though the decision was already in stone. Of course, the Liberty League has had this rule since the beginning. I try to implement all the old rules I can, but I could not figure out how to work this one into OOTP.....

Also at the Annual Meeting in December, the B League draft was held. Here is the result of the first round (and yes, the other owners had a good chuckle over Brooklyn's first round pick, but Green DID bat .235 for Boston in the Liberty League back in 1876. He is an awesome fielder, but a 38 year old with your first pick?):

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