The Liberty League, Est. 1876

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April 5, 1880

Opening Day!

Utica (4) at Troy (5) in 12 innings - John Bendickson over Tom Marshman. Bendickson allowed 9 hits, walked one and struck out 5 in 12 innings. Marshman allowed 9 hits, walked 3 and struck out 5 in 11.1 innings. New Manager/C Pop Buck singled home CF John Confair, who had doubled, with the winning run. Buck also had a double and a walk in the game and scored a run.

Cincinnati (5) at Worcester (7) - Pop Yurkovich over Jim Postema. Yurkovich allowed 10 hits, walked one and struck out 4. Manager/C Al Cannon had 3 hits with a home run, scored twice and knocked in 3.

Boston (7) at Providence (0) - Charlie Morlock over Sam Paul. Morlock allowed 4 hits, walked one and struck out 6. CF Charlie Warner had 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. Former MVP Pete Green, in his first game back after missing all of 1879, went 1 for 4. 3B Crazy Kelley, the ex-Haymaker, had 2 of the Grays' 4 hits, including a double.

Detroit (0) at Louisville (8) - Ted Ryther over Rufus Lee. Ryther allowed 2 hits, walked one and struck out 4. SS Marvin Frank had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. Louisville only made 1 error while Detroit was guilty of 9. ex-Haymaker 1B Tom Stanley had one of the Wolverines' 2 hits, but also added an error to the pile.

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April 1880

On April 7, in his first start after shutting out the Wolverines in their Liberty League debut, Louisville pitcher Ted Ryther allowed them 6 runs in the first inning and Detroit ending up winning 7 to 5. Ryther had to leave the game in the 6th inning with a sore elbow and will miss 3 weeks or so.

Also on the 7th, Cincinnati revenged their Opening Day loss to the Ruby Legs by pummeling them 14 to 4. CF Washington Macho had 4 hits with 2 triples, 2 stolen bases, 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. P Jim Postema held Worcester to 8 hits and had 3 with his bat, scoring 3 runs.

Also on the 7th, Utica defeated Troy, 7 to 1. New CF John Froom had 2 triples and scored 2 runs. P Tom Marshman held the Haymakers to 6 hits and struck out 4. The Pent Ups did not commit an error, while Troy had 7.

On April 12, Cincinnati CF Washington Macho, who was off to a hot start with 3 triples in his first 3 games, injured his shoulder in the Reds' 10 innings 7 to 6 loss to Louisville. He is expected to miss a month. Manager Pop Engleson of the Eclipse hit a 3-run homer in the game.

On April 16, Pop Yurkovich shut out the Haymakers as Worcester won, 6 to 0. He allowed 4 hits and struck out 5. RF Dummy Smith had a double. He has managed to hit safely in all 6 games so far and had ended last season with a 19 game hitting streak, so that he now has a 2-season streak of 25 in a row.

Also on the 16th, RF Willie Rudd hit a bases-loaded home run for Cincinnati in their 8 to 2 victory over Louisville.

On April 17, one day after shutting out Troy, Pop Yurkovich of Worcester held Louisville to 2 hits as the Ruby Legs defeated the Eclipse, 5 to 2. Louisville did not get their first hit until 1B Jim Booker led off the 7th with a triple. He scored on a passed ball. Yurkovich walked 2 and struck out 7. Rookie LF Dave Cunningham had 4 hits and 2 RBIs. RF Dummy Smith had 3 hits with a double to extend his hitting streak to 26 games.

On April 19, John Callaham of Worcester shut out Louisville, 5 to 0. He allowed 7 hits, walked one and struck out 2. RF Dummy Smith had 2 to extend his hitting streak to 27 games.

On April 21, Pop Yurkovich held Louisville to 2 hits in Worcester's 2 to 1 win. He walked one and struck out 4. In his last 3 starts, Yurkovich, who led the League in hits allowed last season, has allowed a total of 8 hits in 27 innings. For their part, the Eclipse lost their 5th straight game, having only scored 6 total runs in the 5 contests. RF Dummy Smith had 3 more hits to extend his hitting streak to 28 games.

On April 24, Louisville lost their 6th straight game when they were shut out by John Bendickson and the Haymakers, 5 to 0. Bendickson allowed 7 hits and struck out 2. The Eclipse have now scored 6 total runs in their last 6 games.

Also on the 24th, RF Dummy Smith was held hitless by Charlie Morlock and the Red Caps, ending his hitting streak at 28 games. P Pop Yurkovich, who had only allowed 8 total hits in his previous 3 starts, gave Boston 11 safe knocks in 7 innings as Worcester lost, 11 to 5. 1B Pete Bucolo had 3 hits with a triple and stole 4 bases. He scored 3 times and knocked in 2 runs.

On April 26, Louisville continued their pathetic offensive output when the could only manage 5 hits and 1 run off John Bendickson of Troy. However, P Buck Richards held the Haymakers scoreless and the Eclipse won, 1 to 0. Richards allowed 7 hits and struck out 5.

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May 1880

On May 1, John Bendickson of Troy shut out the Detroit Wolverines, 3 to 0. He allowed 3 hits and struck out 4. Manager/C Pop Buck hit a 1st-inning 2-run home run.

On May 3, Jim Postema and the Reds shut out the Grays, 3 to 0. He allowed 6 hits, walked one and struck out 5.

Also on the 3rd, Troy shut out Detroit for the second game in a row, 4 to 0. Abe Everette picked up his first win of the season by allowing only 5 hits and striking out one. Detroit P Rufus Lee also only allowed 5 hits, but Detroit made 7 errors, while Troy did not make any. Detroit 2B Joe O'Neill tore something in his shoulder and will be out 3 to 4 months.

Also on the 3rd, Boston 3b Paul Fenner was knocked so hard on his noggin in the Red Caps' 6 to 5 loss to Louisville that he is expected to miss 5 weeks of action.

On May 5, Boston defeated Louisville, 11 to 8. Charlie Moss improved his record to 5-0. C Kip Kraft had 3 doubles and scored 3 runs with an RBI. For Louisville, Manager/CF Pop Engleson had 2 doubles and a home run, scoring 2 runs and knocking in 4.

On May 6, C Al Cannon was relieved of his managerial duties in Worcester. His backup, C Willie English was given the job.

On May 10, Charlie Morlock of Boston prevailed in a 15-inning duel with John Bendickson of Troy, 2 to 1. Troy scored a run in the first inning and Boston tied the game with a run in the second. Both pitchers were stingy from that point on until the bottom of the 15th. LF George Zech led off for Boston with a double and then scored when he stole third base and Manager/C Pop Buck's throw sailed into left field. Morlock allowed 9 hits, walked one and struck out 10 in 15 innings. Bendickson allowed only 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4. LF John Strother had 4 hits for Troy but did not score a run or drive one in. Morlock's teammates played the whole 15 innings without making an error behind him, though he himself did commit one.

Also on the 10th, Cincinnati scored 4 times in the top of the 9th to defeat Detroit, 7 to 6. P Jim Postema improved his record to 11-1. Detroit 3B Billy Little hit a 2-run home run.

On May 14, P Bill McClean of Providence held Louisville to 4 hits in 12 innings of work, but lost 3 to 2. He is now 1-5 with an ERA of 1.82 on the season. The Grays committed 7 errors. Ted Ryther got the win for the Eclipse by allowing 7 hits and striking out one in 11.2 innings.

On May 15, 39-year-old Charlie Moss improved his record to 6-1 by holding Utica to 5 hits in Boston's 11 to 3 victory. He went 3 for 5 at the plate, scoring 3 runs with an RBI. Boston stole 8 bases without getting caught in the game.

Also on the 15th, Cincinnati C Jake Houghton hit his second home run of the season in the top of the 10th inning to give Cincinnati a 5 to 4 win at Troy. It was Houghton's 8th career home run, the most in the Liberty League. 5 of the 8 have been hit against Troy.

On May 19, Abe Everette tossed his second shut out of the season, beating Utica 11 to 0. He allowed 5 hits and did not walk or strike out a batter. Utica committed 13 errors in the game, led by C Michael Tonnies with 6. Utica CF John Froom strained a rib cage muscle in a collision at the plate and will miss a month. He was leading the team in runs scored.

Also on the 19th, Worcester scored twice in the top of the 10th at Cincinnati but lost the game when the Reds' 3B Fred Young hit a 1-out bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the inning. Rookie P John Stevens held the Ruby Legs to 6 hits in 10 innings to improve his record to 5-1.

On May 22, Detroit SS Horace Hays hit a bases-loaded home run in the Wolverines' 8 to 7 win over Louisville. He had 2 hits and scored 2 runs.

Also on the 22nd, Tory made it 2 shutouts in a row over Utica when they won, 1 to 0. John Bendickson held the Pent Ups to 8 hits and struck out 4. He also scored the only run of the game in the top of the 9th inning. It is the second time this month that Abe Everette and John Bendickson have tossed back-to-back shutouts. Utica P Tom Marshman held Troy to only 6 hits and struck out 3. Utica did not make an error in the game.

On May 24, Jim Postema improved his record to 13-3 when he and his Reds' teammates shutout Worcester at home, 2 to 0. He allowed 4 hits, walked 3 and struck out 5. 2B Jim Ware hit 2 triples and scored both runs. Pop Yurkovich allowed 7 hits and struck out 3 in taking the tough loss.

Also on the 24th, CF Charlie Warner hit a 2-run home run in the 6th to account for all the Red Caps' runs in a 2 to 1 win against Providence. Charlie Morlock held the Grays to 7 hits, walked one and struck out 6. Bill McClean allowed 7 hits, walked one and struck out 2. His record fell to 2-7, though he has an ERA of 1.93.

On May 26, Boston scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th to beat Detroit, 5 to 4. Charlie Moss injured his arm and had to leave in the 2nd inning. He is expected to miss 2 to 3 weeks. Since Charlie Morlock only had the gas to go a few innings, SS Mike Stables pitched the final 4 innings allowing no runs and picking up the win. The Wolverines only managed 2 hits and a walk off him.

On May 31, Charlie Morlock and the Red Caps shut out Detroit, 4 to 0. Morlock held the Wolverines to 7 hits and struck out 4. 1B Pete Bucolo was knocked unconscious in a collision at second base and is expected to miss 6 weeks. After missing most of last season with an injury, he was off to a great start this season, batting .319 with 18 RBI and 18 R in 27 games. He had 9 doubles and 2 triples and 10 walks.

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Editor's Note: 1968 was known as the Year of the Pitcher and rightly so, since it hat the lowest overall batting average of all time, but 1880 was even a better pitcher's paradise with the lowest OBP and OPS of all time.

It also was the lowest scoring season ever until 1902 and the Dead Ball Era arrived.

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June 1880

On June 5, Rufus Lee of Detroit shut out Utica, 5 to 0. Lee allowed 4 hits, walked one and struck out 3.

On June 7, Cincinnati defeated Boston, 3 to 2, completing a 3 -game sweep of the Red Caps. All 3 games were decided by only one run. Cincinnati has won 9 games in a row and now holds a 3-game lead over 2nd place Boston and 7 game lead over 3rd place Troy.

On June 11, Pop Yurkovich held Boston to 2 hits as the Ruby Legs defeated the Red Caps, 8 to 2. Yurkovich walked one and struck out 3. It is the 5th straight loss for Boston. Rookie LF Dave Cunningham had 2 hits with a home run, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBIs.

Also on the 11th, John Bendickson shutout Louisville, 1 to 0. Bendickson held the Eclipse to 3 hits, walked 2 and struck out one. Louisville P Ted Ryther held Troy to the exact same totals. Louisville made 4 errors to 2 for Troy. It is the League-leading 4th shutout of the season for Bendickson.

On June 12, Boston ended their 5 game losing streak by besting Worcester at home, 5 to 4 in 16 innings. The Ruby Legs scored a run in the top of the 16th, but the Red Caps scored twice in the bottom of the inning to win. SS Mike Stables doubled home RF Pete Green with the tying run and scored the winner on a ground out, the throw to the plate not being in time. Stables had 3 hits with 2 doubles. Charlie Morlock pitched the full game, allowing 10 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8 in 16 innings.

On June 14, Jim Postema tossed his 3rd shutout of the season as Cincinnati defeated Providence, 3 to 0. Postema allowed 3 hits, walked one and struck out 3. He improved his record to 19-3.

On June 16, Detroit humiliated Troy and John Bendickson, 14 to 7. Troy made 11 errors, including 4 by SS Sam Cowan. 2B Reddy Ricker hit 2 triples, but injured himself sliding on the second one and will miss 5 weeks.

On June 19, Detroit defeated Troy, 6 to 2, completing a 3-game sweep of their series. Rufus Lee held Troy to 5 hits and struck out 6. The Haymakers committed 30 errors in the 3 games.

On June 21, Utica bested Louisville, 7 to 6 in 11 innings. SS Charlie Taylor had 5 hits with 3 doubles, scored the winning run and had an RBI.

Also on the 21st, Detroit won their 5th game in a row and 8th of their last 9, by handing Cincinnati its first defeat in over a month, 6 to 2. The Reds had not lost since April 17, winning 15 games in a row before today's shocker. Cincinnati out-hit Detroit 11 to 8, but made 6 errors to only 1 for the Wolverines.

On June 23, P Pop Yurkovich of Worcester had to leave in the first inning of the game against Providence with a sprained ankle. He is expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks.

On June 28, Abe Everette pitched his 3rd shutout of the season as he out-dueled Jim Postema of the Reds, 1 to 0. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 3.

Also on the 28th, 1B Henry Ivy hit his 3rd home run of the season in the top of the 8th inning to give Worcester the lead in their 5 to 1 win over Detroit. Before this season, Ivy had never hit a home run at any level of competition.

On June 30, Charlie Morlock of Boston shut out Utica, 4 to 0, on 4 hits. He struck out 5. It is the 3rd shutout of the season for Morlock.

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July 1880

On July 3, Utica defeated Boston at the South End Grounds, 5 to 1. Tom Marshman held the Red Caps to 3 hits and struck out 3. SS Charlie Taylor became the first player to ever hit 3 triples in a game. He also added a double and was walked once. He scored twice and knocked in 2 runs. For Boston, RF Pete Green strained a rib cage muscle and will miss 3 to 4 weeks. 2B Bill Thompson wrenched his back and will have to sit for about 3 weeks.

On July 7, Cincinnati C Jake Houghton pulled a muscle in the Reds 6 to 5 win at Worcester and will miss about 2 weeks.

Also on the 7th, rookie Haymaker LF Jake Howard pulled a muscle and will have to sit for a month. He was leading the team in SLG. In the game, Troy lost at home to Utica, 8 to 5. The Pent Ups hit 2 home runs off John Bendickson. One by LF Elbert Fuccillo and one by 3B John Schlosser.

On July 10, Detroit defeated Boston, 4 to 3, in 10 innings. Rookie 1B John Yarbro had 4 hits, including a 9th inning home run to tie the game. 2B Jack Warren, a former Red Cap, had 3 hits with a double and a triple and scored 2 runs. Rookie John Ritch earned his first victory by holding Boston to 8 hits in 10 innings and striking out 2.

Also on the 10th, Providence beat Utica, 10 to 7, but Pent Up 1B Lou Knight was not to blame. He had 5 hits with 2 doubles, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBIs.

On July 11, C Pop Buck was fired as manager of the Haymakers. Abe Everette was asked by owner Frank Phillips to take the reigns and he agreed.

On July 12, Charlie Morlock of Boston won his 20th game of the season by shutting out the Detroit Wolverines, 5 to 0. He allowed but 2 hits and a walk and struck out 5. It was his 4th shutout of the season, tying him with John Bendickson of Troy for the League lead.

On July 17, Worcester C Al Cannon ended his season in a collision at home plate. He tore something in his shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. The Ruby Legs beat Louisville, 9 to 3, in the first game back for P Pop Yurkovich since he was injured on June 23. He allowed 8 hits and struck out 1.

On July 19, Cincinnati rookie P John Stevens shut out Boston, 2 to 0. He allowed 4 hits and a walk and struck out 4. The win extended the Reds lead over 2nd place Boston to 7 games. It was Stevens first shutout of the season and his record is now 17-4.

Also on the 9th, Troy C Pop Buck injured his ankle and will miss 3 to 4 weeks. He was leading the Haymakers in RBIs.

Utica's Fred Barrow made his Liberty League debut with a 4-hit, 3 to 1, victory over Cincinnati. He walked one and struck out 4. He was a former Haymaker B League draft pick.

On July 31, Cincinnati lost their 5th game in a row by dropping a 4 to 2 decision against Providence. The Grays scored 3 times in the top of the 9th to win. Bill McClean held the Reds to 4 hits. The Reds' lead over Boston has dwindled to 3 games.

Also on the 31st, Worcester Manager/C Willie English injured his foot in a loss at Utica and will have to miss 3 weeks. The Ruby Legs have already lost their starting catcher, Al Cannon, for the season.

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[Westheim]

In some way, I don't want the Haymakers to win the title if Reddy ain't at the helm.

Strange, huh?

[Questdog]

August 1880

On August 4, Tom Marshman of Utica shut out Worcester, 3 to 0. He allowed 5 hits and struck out 3.

Also on the 4th, Will Taylor of Providence shut out Cincinnati, 1 to 0. He allowed 10 hits and struck out 4. Jim Postema took the loss, allowing 5 hits and 4 walks while striking out 3. It is the 5th straight loss for Postema. He is 1-6 since winning his 20th game. The lone run of the game was scored in the top of the 9th when CF Lou Landaal led off with a double and later scored on a passed ball.

On August 7, 2B Reddy Ricker was injured in the Haymakers' 5 to 4, 10-inning win at Boston. He will miss the next 6 weeks.

Also on the 7th, Providence CF Lou Landaal's season ended when he tore up his knee in an 8 to 2 loss to Worcester.

On August 9, Boston destroyed the Haymakers, 12 to 2. 1B Pete Bucolo scored 4 runs. He had 3 hits with a triple and an RBI. He also stole 2 bases.

Also on the 9th, Providence rookie Sam Paul shut out Worcester in 10 innings, 1 to 0. He allowed 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 5. He also drove in the only run of the game in the bottom of the 10th for the win. LF Martin Griffin had 3 hits with a double and a triple and scored the one run.

Also on the 9th, Ted Ryther of Louisville shut out Utica, 10 to 0. He allowed 5 hits and struck out 2.

On August 11, Boston beat Utica, 10 to 7. RF Pete Green scored 4 runs. He had a double and a single and an RBI. He also stole 2 bases. Rookie LF John Tomlinson had 4 hits with a triple and 2 RBIs. He is now batting .412 in 97 at bats.

On August 14, rookie Sam Paul of Providence shut out Louisville, 5 to 0. He held them to 5 hits and struck out 3. It is his second straight shut out and he now has a string of 23 scoreless innings going.

Also on the 14th, Rufus Lee of Detroit shut out Worcester, 8 to 0. He allowed 7 hits and 2 walks and struck out 5.

On August 21, Worcester scored twice in the top of the 9th to tie their game at Cincinnati and eventually won in 17 innings, 6 to 5. John Callaham picked up the win by tossing 7 shutout innings of relief. Jim Postema took the loss in relief, his 7th loss in his last 8 decisions. 23-year-old rookie John Stephens has taken over the #1 pitcher's role for the Reds. 3B Fred Yong had 3 hits for Cincinnati but had to leave the game with a bum knee and will miss about a month of action.

On August 28, Providence defeated Utica, 5 to 4. Rookie 1B Willie Burton had 4 hits, giving him 11 over his last 3 games. Utica SS Charlie Taylor hit 3 triples for the second time this season. He is the only player to do it once ever. Rookie Fred Barrow took the loss to drop his record to 4-8. He started out by winning his first 4 decisions. The loss was Utica's 10th in a row.

Also on the 28th, Cincinnati lost at Louisville, 8 to 2. It is the Reds 4th straight loss and 6th in their last 7 games. Boston won at Detroit in 12 innings, 6 to 4, to pull into a tie for first place with 16 games to go. Troy also won, their 7th victory in a row, to pull within two games of the lead.

On August 30, Boston scored 4 times in the 9th to break a 1-1 tie at Detroit and Cincinnati lost again at Louisville to give Boston sole possession of 1st place. On July 20, Boston was 7 games behind the Reds.

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Originally Posted by Westheim

In some way, I don't want the Haymakers to win the title if Reddy ain't at the helm.

Strange, huh?

Me neither....

[Honorable_Pawn]