The Big Bang: A Larger Baseball Universe Starting From Nothing in 1857

[tm1681]

BOOTH GOES SIX FOR SIX IN OCEANIC LOSS
THIRD BASEMAN PUTS UP THIRD SIX-HIT GAME IN THE N.B.B.O. THIS YEAR

HARTFORD, CONN. (July 25, 1861) – The Oceanic Club was tasked with trying to tame St. John’s on Thursday. While the game ended rather unsurprisingly in a St. John’s win by the score of 11-9, the star of the game was Oceanic third baseman William Booth. Booth, who came into the game hitting .378, went six for six with the bat to raise his average to .392:

• BOT 1: Single to RCF off J. Raisbeck (scored)
• BOT 2: Single between 1B & 2B off J. Raisbeck
• BOT 4: Infield Single off J. Raisbeck
• BOT 6: 1-run Single to LF off J. Raisbeck
• BOT 8: Single to CF off J. Raisbeck
• BOT 9: Infield Single off J. Raisbeck (scored)
• TOTAL: 6/6 (all singles), 2 R, 1 RBI

Booth’s six for six was the third six-hit game in the N.B.B.O. this season, and the boost in average at gave him moved him up to fourth place in the N.E.L. Batting Championship race.

As for the teams involved, winning put St. John’s at 43-19 and five games clear of the Green Mountain & Sons of the Ocean combination, while Oceanic’s loss left them 30-32 – fifth place in the New England Championship.

[tm1681]

JENSEN'S HIT STREAK STOPPED AT 35 GAMES
BECOMES FOURTH PLAYER STOPPED 1-2 GAMES SHORT OF RECORD

HARTFORD, CONN. (July 26, 1861) – St. John’s Baseball Club took a very uncharacteristic 9-1 loss at the Oceanic Club on Friday afternoon. As part of that loss, start right fielder Konrad Jensen reached via Base on Balls but otherwise went 0/3 with the bat, ending his Hitting Streak at 35 games.

The end of Jensen’s streak makes him the fourth player to be stopped one or two games shy of the record established by Harold Miller with a cross-season Hitting Streak that started in the inaugural season and ended in May of 1858. Jensen and Kings County’s Jerald Peterson have made it to 35 games, while American’s Arthur Waltrip and St. John’s teammate Anderson MacGyver were stopped one game short at 36.

The end of his Hitting Streak leaves Jensen with a .389 average & .951 O.P.S. He is considered one of the top candidates for 1861 Northeastern League Batsman of the Year. He also has 87 runs, 110 hits, 59 R.B.I., and 45 steals.

The loss still leaves St. John’s four games clear atop the New England standings with seven games left to play, meaning they are extremely likely to continue their reign as the only winners of the New England Championship.

[tm1681]

N.E.L. TAKES THE ALL-STAR GAME W/ EARLY RUNS
ALLEGHANY’S BLAKE PUTS IN M.V.P. PERFORMANCE

NEW YORK CITY (July 29, 1861) – The third N.B.B.O. All-Star Game took place in front of a crowd of 15,000+ on Monday afternoon & evening at the Elysian Fields. The Northeastern League came out on top of this year’s late-season classic thanks to early runs and excellent defense:

The N.E.L. started the scoring early with three runs in the second inning thanks to a Stanford Topps (Reading) run-scoring single and a two-run hit by Susquehanna superstar Willie Davis. One more run in the top of the third via Joe Blake (Allegheny) and that was effectively enough, as the N.Y.L. could only manage single runs in the fifth, sixth, & eighth.

Blake, who took over in the middle infield for Anderson MacGyver, was named All-Star Game M.V.P. after going 2/3 from the plate with a run, three R.B.I., and a stolen base. He was also a key part of an N.E.L. defense that did not commit a single error over the course of the game.

In a losing effort, Orange shortstop Edward Huntley was 2/4 with a run and Gotham catcher Wilbert Schrader was 2/3.

[tm1681]

WILLIE DAVIS WITH ONE MORE SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE
SUSQUEHANNA STAR GOES 6/6 VS SPORTSMAN’S; RAISES AVERAGE TO .395

WILKES-BARRE, PENN. (August 3, 1861) – Willie Davis has arguably been the best player in the entire N.B.B.O. over the past two seasons, and he used the penultimate game of the 1861 season to put up one more special performance in his team’s 15-4 win against the Sportsman’s Club.

The Susquehanna Club superstar safely hit the ball every time he came up, and that was not all he did:

• BOT 1: Single past 2B off C. Carson (stole 2B, scored)
• BOT 1: 2-run Single between 1B & 2B off C. Carson
• BOT 2: Infield Single to 2B off F. Reed (scored)
• BOT 5: Single to RF off F. Reed (store 2B, scored)
• BOT 7: Single to RF off F. Reed (scored)
• BOT 8: Single past 2B off F. Reed
• TOTAL: 6/6 (all singles), 4 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB

Saturday’s matinee performance leaves Davis with a .395 average (2nd in N.E.L.), .540 Slugging % (1st), .973 O.P.S. (1st), 128 Hits (1st), 96 Runs (1st), 29 Doubles (1st), 63 Stolen Bases (1st), 175 Total Bases (1st), 5.0 W.P.A. (2nd), and 4.5 W.A.R. (2nd).

His scorching-hot batting to end the season – .423 (47/111) since July 1 – has left Davis THE favorite to win the Northeastern League’s Batsman of the Year award, which would be a repeat for the Susquehanna player.

If Davis does win B.o.t.Y. again it would be the third season in a row that he has won a major individual award, since he won the Northeastern League M.V.P. in 1859.

[tm1681]

ONE .400 HITTER IN EACH LEAGUE IN 1861
F.C.’S HODDLE & M.B.’S CHADWICK TAKE THE HONORS

ROCHESTER, N.Y. & BOSTON, MASS. (August 5, 1861) – For the second year in a row the National Base Ball Organization has seen the season end with a pair of batsmen topping the .400 mark. However, unlike last year there was one hitter in each league who did the deed instead of both 400 men coming from the Northeastern League.

In the New York League it was Flour City catcher James Hoddle who finished with a .402 average, although he did miss the final week of play due to an injury to his throwing hand. Hoddle was over .400 for all of July except for four games, and it was his .433 average in July (42/97) that helped put him over the magic mark.

Over in the Northeastern League Massachusetts Bay outfielder Lester Chadwick hit .404, although he needed some late heroics to get there. Going into the last two games of the season Chadwick’s average was .396, but after going 6/11 over the final two games he finished safely over the .400 mark. Unlike Hoddle, Chadwick needed a white-hot final month to take the N.E.L. Batting Championship as he entered July hitting .371. A .449 mark in July (35/78) and .538 (7/13) in August did it.

Chadwick was never injured but he actually started fewer games than Hoddle – 59 vs 65 – as the quality in the Mass. Bay outfield runs four deep, and that means the regulars are occasionally given a game off.

The closest player to .400 this season was St. John’s outfielder Konrad Jensen at .394 but, unlike 1860 near-miss Roy Jacobson, Jensen did not fall below .400 over the final two games. Outside of two games Jensen was actually between .390 and .400 at the end of every game after July 1st.

[tm1681]

THE 1861 PLAYOFF FIELD IS SET!
ONCE AGAIN, ONLY ONE CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED BY MORE THAN FIVE GAMES

NORTHEAST U.S.A (August 5, 1861) – The 1861 National Base Ball Organization season ended yesterday afternoon – Sportsman’s at Susquehanna being the final game to finish. Once again the six city & regional champions make the playoffs, and five of the six were chiseled in before the final day. Like last year, only one championship was decided by more than five games, but unlike last year no team won fifty or more games.

BROOKLYN – Kings County (49-22) ended the final week with a nine-game lead over Bedford, having long since asserted dominance over Brooklyn. They finished first – their fourth straight pennant – by those same nine games over Bedford.

NEW YORK CITY – Gotham (41-29) had a two-game lead over Orange and a three-game lead over Mutual going into the final week. They held everyone at bay to finish first by two over Orange by four over Knickerbocker & Mutual. This is the first time that base ball’s oldest existing club has made the N.B.B.O. playoffs.

UPSTATE – Syracuse & Utica were tied going into the final week. Syracuse won their first game, Utica lost their first, and both teams won their least four meaning that Syracuse (47-23) clinched the Upstate pennant by one game on the final day.

COASTAL – Port Jersey was tied with Trenton United for first two weeks ago, but their 2-8 finish allowed Trenton (44-26) to take the Coastal pennant by five games over Port Jersey & Shamrock.

INLAND – Reading was ahead of Alleghany by one game and Merrimack Mills by three going into the final week, but a 1 4 finish combined with five Alleghany wins meant the Pittsburgh club (46-24) took Inland by three games over Merrimack Mills & Reading.

NEW ENGLAND – At the halfway point St. John’s was tied for first with Green Mountain, but yet again STJ (49-21) pulled away and took New England – their fifth pennant in a row – by five games over Green Mtn. & Sons of the Ocean.

Here is what the 1861 playoffs, which begin tomorrow, will look like:

NEW YORK LEAGUE

Semi-Final: #3 Gotham Base Ball Club (N.Y.C: 41-29) vs. #2 Syracuse Base Ball Club (Upstate: 47-23)
Championship: Gotham or Syracuse vs #1 Kings County Base Ball Club (Brooklyn: 48-22)

NEW ENGLAND

Semi-Final: #3 Trenton United (Coastal: 44-26) vs. #2 Alleghany Baseball Club (Inland: 46-24)
Championship: Trenton Utd. or Alleghany vs #1 St. John’s Baseball Club (New England: 49-21)

TUCKER-WHEATON CUP

Northeastern League Champions vs New York League Champions

With no team having won fifty games this year, there is no solid favorite to take the Tucker-Wheaton Cup. That said, there are three hot teams going into the playoffs. Alleghany ended the season with seven wins in a row, and Syracuse with five wins in a row. St. John’s had won eight of nine before ending the season with a loss that mattered none, so they should be thrown into the mix as well.

The only team in legitimately worrying form going into the playoffs is Gotham, who went 4-6 over the season’s final two weeks. That might not be a surprise given that the team’s fortunes this season have rested on the shoulders of roughly half a dozen first-year players who were all highly talented, but untested.

If going by #1 seeds, then the Tucker-Wheaton Cup will likely be a repeat of last year. However, past years have shown that anything can happen.

[tm1681]

THE 1861 TUCKER-WHEATON CUP
DEFENDING CHAMPS KINGS COUNTY TAKE ON DEBUTANTS ALLEGHANY

BROOKLYN, N.Y. & PITTSBURGH, PENN. (Late August, 1860) – The final series of the 1861 season featured one team looking to take home the Tucker-Wheaton Cup for the second year in a row, and one team who had never played for it before: Kings County B.B.C. & Alleghany B.C.

As in 1860, Kings County waited for the New York League Semi-final to play out before starting their postseason run. The semi-final winner was first-time playoff entrants Gotham, who scored 46 runs over their three wins against Syracuse. The playoff newcomers proceeded to give K.C. everything they could handle over five games, with K.C. needing to score in the double figures twice to make it to a fifth game, where they scored three in the bottom of the ninth – the winning run via Passed Ball – to make it to the Tucker-Wheaton Cup by the skin of their teeth.

Alleghany had the home field advantage for the Northeastern League Semi-final, and they needed it. Up 2-1 on Trenton they were thumped 11-3 in Game Four, but at home for Game Five they responded to a 7-7 tie after six innings by scoring once in the seventh and holding Trenton from there to advance. In the N.E.L. Championship Series they did the same thing Scranton did last year: stun everyone by winning Games 1 & 2 at St. John’s. The 12-0 Game Two win was especially jarring. However, like last year St. John’s roared back with a big Game Three win to set up a Game Four with a lot of déjà vu present. In the end, Alleghany was able to beat back the onrushing tides of fate and best St. John’s 12-11 in eleven innings to make it to the T.W.C. for the first time.

The 1861 Tucker-Wheaton Cup was a contest between the defending champions – a team with a scary lineup and the best pitcher in the N.B.B.O. – and a team that allowed fewer runs than any other team in the N.E.L. while committing the second-fewest errors. On paper this seemed like a matchup between elite offense and elite defense, with Kings County favored because they were defending cup champs and it was the New York League’s turn for home field advantage. Would K.C. ride those twin advantages to another cup win?

1861 TUCKER WHEATON CUP: Kings County B.B.C. (N.Y.L.) defeats Alleghany B.C. (N.E.L.) 3-2

• Game 1: ALL 9-10 K.C. – P.o.t.G: Soren Thomsen (RF, K.C.); 2/5, 2 R, 4 RBI
• Game 2: ALL 11-4 K.C. – P.o.t.G: Joe Blake (SS, ALL); 4/5, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, 1 DEF DP
• Game 3: K.C. 5-4 ALL (10 Inn.) – P.o.t.G: Per Olaf Bakken (SS, K.C.); 4/6, 1 RBI, 2 SB
• Game 4: K.C. 3-4 ALL – P.o.t.G: Eddie Morse (P, ALL); CG, 6 H, 3 R/0 ER, 3 K, 99 PIT
• Game 5: ALL 3-5 K.C. – P.o.t.G: Per Olaf Bakken (SS, K.C.); 3/5, 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, SB, 1 DEF DP
• M.V.P.: Per Olaf Bakken (SS, K.C.) – 10/23 (.435), 2 2B, 6 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB
• NOTABLE: 3/5 games in series decided by one run, another game decided by two

YES, but they needed every bit of the N.Y.L.’s home field advantage to win the series. This year’s T.W.C. was truly a back-and-forth affair, with the two teams alternating victories over the five games. Three of the five were decided by a single run, and Game Five had a two-run margin. Kings County had the M.V.P., but Alleghany had the batters with the highest average and most R.B.I. K.C. had the highest-profile pitcher, but Alleghany had the pitcher who put up the best results of the series. Kings County exited the series as repeat N.B.B.O. champions, but it EASILY could have gone Alleghany’s way.

GAME ONE – The opener in Brooklyn was a lively one early. Kings County scored three runs in the first, but Alleghany countered with four in the second and two more in the third to take a 6-3 lead after the early innings. After that, there was not much until the ninth, with lone K.C. runs in the fifth & eighth making it a 6-5 game. Alleghany scored three times in their half of the ninth to take a seemingly unassailable 9-5 lead, but K.C. scored FIVE in the bottom half and won the game on a two-run single by pinch hitter Franklin Groth. Alleghany were able to chase Grover Wright out of the opener after just four innings, but they were unable to make the most of a golden chance to start the series with a win.

GAME TWO – Kings County again started the scoring in the first, and they were 3-0 up after three innings. Alleghany woke up in the middle portion and battered Wright around once more, scoring three times in the fifth, twice in the sixth, and four more times in the eighth to take a 9-3 lead. They increased the margin to 11-3 in the ninth before K.C. ended the contest with a consolation run.

GAME THREE – With the series in Pittsburgh tied 1-1, Alleghany now had the home field advantage. However, it did not look to mean much as Kings County were enjoying a 4-0 lead after six innings thanks to steady work from Grover Wright, who was starting for the third game in a row. Alleghany were yet again able to find a way to break him down and leveled the score over the seventh & eighth, forcing extra innings. In the top of the tenth Per Olaf Bakken singled in Walter Goss to give K.C. the lead. In the bottom half Alleghany had men on second & third with two out but they went no further.

GAME FOUR – Another airtight contest in Pittsburgh. After each team scored once over the first three innings, Alleghany took the lead with a run in their half of the fifth only for Kings County to counter with two in the top half of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Alleghany tied the score in the sixth before taking the lead in the seventh via Harold Miller double that plated Charles Smalley. From there, Charles Morse and the defense held K.C. to the minimum six batters over the final two innings to even the series and force a Game Five in Brooklyn.

GAME FIVE – The cup-decider was back in Brooklyn, with Grover Wright starting for the fourth time in the series. This time, the pitcher who set multiple records during the 1861 season got it right. While holding Alleghany scoreless over the first six innings, the Kings County batsmen sent three home to take a 3-0 lead going into the final stanzas of 1861. Alleghany made it 3-2 after a throwing error on a steal attempt allowed runs to score from second & third, but the K.C. attack responded with two in their half of the seventh. Up 5-2, Wright would allow one run in the top of the eighth and that was it. Kings County had won the Tucker-Wheaton Cup for the second year in a row.

MOST VAULABLE PLAYER – Unlike last year, when Jerald Peterson torched opposing pitching, there was no standout batter for the victorious Kings County team in the cup series. Ultimately, the M.V.P. award went to shortstop Per Olaf Bakken, who was 10/23 with six runs, three stolen bases, important hits, and excellent defense. There were other K.C. batters who drove in more runs, but none hit like Bakken. Grover Wright started four games, but he struggled in three of them.

Had Alleghany taken the series, they had three very worthy M.V.P. candidates. Eddie Morse won both of his starts while allowing three Earned Runs over eighteen innings. Outfielder Hank Skolnik had the highest average of any player at .588 (10/17), scored four runs, and drove in four. There was also star shortstop Joe Blake, who hit .476 (10/21) with half a dozen runs & R.B.I. each while capping off his memorable Game Two performance with an Inside-the-Park Home Run.

This was perhaps the most even Tucker-Wheaton Cup series yet. With the teams alternating wins and nearly every game being decided by one or two runs, it was a thrilling five-game affair. Had some breaks gone the other way, this article would be celebrating Alleghany’s first time lifting the Tucker-Wheaton Cup. Instead, it is celebrating Kinga County’s continued dominance.

[tm1681]

1861 NEW YORK LEAGUE REVIEW

NEW YORK LEAGUE SEASON SUMMARY

The 1861 New York League season was a bit of a mirror image of the previous one: Kings County ran away with the Brooklyn Championship while New York City & Upstate took until the final days of the season to decide. On top of that, Grover Wright was the most successful pitcher and the toughest baseball again flowed through New York City.

The Brooklyn Championship played out almost identically to last year, as Kings County and Atlantic fighting for top spot at the halfway point – K.C. ahead by one game at 22-13. For the second season in a row K.C. pulled away late, though they did not need a sixteen-game winning streak to do it this time. They were six games up by mid-July and won the pennant K.C. by nine games over Bedford. Atlantic went 13-22 over the second half to slump to a fifth-place finish.

The New York City Championship was tighter at the end than it was last year. Metropolitan was in the lead at the halfway point, with four games separating the top five teams. Three weeks later Gotham had raced to the front of the pack with a four-game lead and never relinquished it, besting Orange by two games, and Knickerbocker/Mutual by four.

Surprisingly, the Upstate Championship, was a two-team race, with the two being Syracuse and Utica. The pair were tied with 23-12 records at the halfway mark, and with three weeks left they were both 35-20. Syracuse & Utica were still level with one week to play – both 42-23 – and the difference between them ended up being Syracuse going 5-0 over the final week versus Utica going 4-1. Niagara finished third at a dozen games back, an oddity in a subdivision that has had seasons where the spread of all eight teams at the end of a season has been as little as ten games.

Even though the base ball is tougher in New York City, Syracuse was seen as legitimate favorites in the [B[N.Y.L. Semi-final[/B] due to Gotham’s heavy reliance on first-year players to make the playoffs. However, that didn’t matter…

• GAME ONE (SYR 11-7) – Gotham started the series right, with three runs in the top of the first. Syracuse responded with two in the first, one in the second, and five in the third to lead 8-3. They scored three more times in the fifth, and an 11-3 lead was more than enough of a cushion to absorb some late Gotham runs.

• GAME TWO (GOT 24-4) – The second game in Syracuse saw an almighty Gotham comeback from their poor play in the opener. The visitors scored multiple runs in the first (3), second (2), fourth (7), seventh (5), eighth (2), & ninth (4), with one other run giving them a total of 24 on 26 hits. Seven players recorded three or more hits, while first-year outfielder Taliesin Buckley both scored and drove in five runs.

• GAME THREE (GOT 15-10) – Back in N.Y.C., Game Three again featured plenty of offense. Gotham was ahead 6-5 after three innings. Syracuse chipped away with five runs over the middle innings to take a 10-6 lead, but three Gotham runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and one in the eighth saw the hosts turn a four-run deficit into a five-run victory.

• GAME FOUR (GOT 7-2) – Gotham closed out the series in easy fashion. They scored four runs over the first three innings, and that was plenty as they went on to win 7-2 an advance to the N.Y.L. Championship Series.

The New York League Championship Series was Brooklyn vs New York City for the third year in a row, with this year’s series a much better contest than last year’s…

• GAME ONE (K.C. 12-7) – The opener in Brooklyn was close most of the way. Gotham was ahead 2-1 after three innings and 5-4 after the top of the sixth, but after that it all fell apart for the upstart visitors. K.C. scored twice in the sixth, five times in the seventh, and three more times in the eighth to exit the opener with a big win.

• GAME TWO (GOT 11-8) – Gotham decided to get the offense going early for antidote to the late-game jitters, and it led to a much better result in the second game. The visitors rushed out to a 5-1 lead after three innings and were still up by four (6-2) after six. Gotham then scored three in the top of the seventh, and with a 9-2 lead they were able with withstand another late-game Kings County rally while scoring a couple of insurance runs to even the series.

• GAME THREE (GOT 6-4) – In N.Y.C., Gotham ditched the late-game nerves and it led to another win. With the hosts up 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, Gotham scored three times to take a four-run lead that was easily able to take on two late Kings County runs. The playoff debutants were now one win from the Tucker-Wheaton Cup series.

• GAME FOUR (K.C. 16-12) – This was the most action-packed game of the series. Kings County never trailed. They scored twice in the top of the first, had a 6-2 lead after three, and were ahead 7-3 after six. The late innings provided most of the excitement. K.C. scored five in the seventh to run the score to 12-3, but Gotham responded with six runs to make it 12-9. K.C. scored once in the eighth and three times in the ninth to lead 16-9, which meant a Gotham rally during their last time at bat was nowhere close to enough to force extra innings.

• GAME FIVE (K.C. 6-5) – The final game was unforgettable, at least for the hosts. The score was even 2-2 after three before Kings County scored a run in the fourth to take the lead. Gotham then responded with two in the fifth to go ahead, and they scored once more in the seventh to go up 5-3. That was the score going into the bottom of the ninth. The way the game was unfolding it looked like Gotham would win, but two singles and a Passed Ball allowed a K.C. run and a Soren Thomsen double evened the score. With Soren Thomsen on second and John Francis at the plate, consecutive Passed Balls on first-year catcher Wilbert Schrader allowed the winning run to score. K.C. was going to defend the Tucker-Wheaton Cup, and Gotham was left to wonder if Schrader will ever mentally recover.

Kings County would play first-timers Alleghany in the Tucker-Wheaton Cup series, and it was a five-game classic. The two teams would alternate wins over the five games, with three of them decided by one run. In the end K.C. will thank their lucky stars that it was the N.Y.L.’s turn for home field advantage, as Game Five in Brooklyn provided K.C. with the boost they needed in the tightest of series, with Grover Wright finally settling down and pitching K.C. to a 5-3 win and a successful defense of the cup.

There was no clear-cut favorite for Batsman of the Year. Flour City catcher James Hoddle was the N.Y.L.’s only .400 hitter (.404) and drove in 58 runs. Teammate Thomas Branagh led the league in O.P.S. (.939) while finishing with a .393 average. Surprise Binghamton star Oliver Stein was #1 in Slugging % (.502) while hitting .393. Syracuse’s Edward Neyland was near the top in average (.379), R.B.I. (63), & W.A.R. (2.5). First-year Niagara outfielder Arvi Hämäläinen led the league in Home Runs (6) while driving in 59 runs and hitting .362.

With so many good candidates, that meant many voters defaulted to the .400 hitter: Hoddle, who became the first catcher to win Batsman of the Year in either league. Stein finished second, and Neyland finished third.

The Most Valuable Player vote saw the Writers Pool do something that hadn’t been done since the N.B.B.O.’s first season. There is still no Pitcher of the Year award, and during the season Kings County’s Grover Wright put up a 29-6 record while setting N.B.B.O. records for Innings, Complete Games, W.H.I.P., and Pitching W.A.R. That simply could not be overlooked, so even though Edward Huntley of Orange led the league in W.A.R. and Defensive Zone Rating once again it was Wright who was named M.V.P. – the first pitcher to win it since John Anderson won thirty games for Scranton in the N.E.L. during the inaugural season. Huntley was second, and Knickerbocker outfielder Zarek Polakowski finished third.

There was a cornucopia of candidates for Newcomer of the Year. After all, N.Y.L. finalists Gotham alone had half a dozen first-year players who were regular contributors: Hamish Barclay (2B), Wilbert Schrader (C), Sullivan Jackson (3B), and Taliesin Buckley (LF) to go with pitchers Ralph Dodson & William Titus. Other highly productive first-year regulars (1+ WAR for batters, 2+ WAR for pitchers) were William Strausbaugh (SS, N.C.), Arvi Hämäläinen (LF, NIA), Thomas Branagh (1B, F.C.), Wesley Leone (3B, EXC), Jonathan German (OF, UNI), Fred Beckwith (2B, K.C.), Gus Huber (RF, MET), Gennaro Calabresi (C, MIN), Nik Madsen (LF, N.C.), James Peters (P, EAG), & Charles Pittman (P, ECK).

Going into the season it seemed likely that the N.o.t.Y. would be one of Gotham’s six new talents. However, only one first-year player was named to his league’s Team of the Year, and that was Flour City first baseman Branagh thanks to his .393 average, 56 R.B.I. and league-leading .939 O.P.S. He took the award, with Gotham’s Titus & Schrader finishing 2nd & 3rd.

If there was an award for Performance of the Season, it would be tempting to give to Flour City outfielder James Hoyt since he was the only N.Y.L. player with six hits in a game. However, on May 22nd Empire Club center fielder Van Patterson was 5/6 with two doubles, four runs, and half a dozen R.B.I. His resulting Game Score of 106 earned Patterson top spot.

Looking ahead, Kings County will enter next season as the first N.Y.L. team to win the Tucker-Wheaton Cup twice in a row. They have also had the league’s best record each of the last three seasons. The main question that will be asked about them will be the same that was asked of St. John’s after they won the first two cups in 1857 & ’58: “What will it take to stop them, who will stop them, and how will it be done?”

NEW YORK LEAGUE STANDINGS





NEW YORK LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

SEMI-FINALS: #3 Gotham B.B.C. defeats #2 Syracuse B.B.C. 3-1

• Game 1: GOT 7-11 SYR – P.o.t.G: Oscar McNabb (2B, SYR); 2/5, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Game 2: GOT 24-4 SYR – P.o.t.G: Taliesin Buckley (LF, GOT); 3/7, 3B, 5 R, 5 RBI
• Game 3: SYR 10-15 GOT – P.o.t.G: Wilbert Schrader (C, GOT); 4/5, 3 R, 1 RBI
• Game 4: SYR 2-7 GOT – P.o.t.G: Hamish Barclay (2B, GOT); 3/5, 2 2B, 2 RBI
• M.V.P.: Taliesin Buckley (LF, GOT) – 10/21 (.476), 3 2B, 1 3B, 10 R, 8 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB
• NOTABLE: Gotham scored 46 runs over their three wins

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: #1 Kings County B.B.C. defeats #3 Gotham B.B.C. 3-2

• Game 1: GOT 7-12 K.C. – P.o.t.G: Brannigan Williams (C, K.C.); 3/5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 GOT CS
• Game 2: GOT 11-8 K.C. – P.o.t.G: John Fischer (SS, GOT); 4/5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 DEF DP
• Game 3: K.C. 4-6 GOT – P.o.t.G: Sullivan Jackson (3B, GOT); 2/5, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Game 4: K.C. 16-12 GOT – P.o.t.G: Declan Brice (CF, K.C.); 3/6, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI
• Game 5: GOT 5-6 K.C. – P.o.t.G: Soren Thomsen (RF, K.C.); 3/5, 2B, 1 R, 2 RBI
• M.V.P.: Per Olaf Bakken (SS, K.C.) – 13/26 (.500), 3 2B, 7 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB
• NOTABLE: Kings County won series with three runs in the bottom of the 9th of Game Five
• NOTABLE: K.C.’s winning run in Game Five scored via Passed Ball

TUCKER-WHEATON CUP: Kings County B.B.C. defeats Alleghany B.C. (N.E.L.) 3-2

• Three games were decided by one run, another decided by two
• K.C. SS Per Olaf Bakken (10/23, 6 R, 3 SB) named M.V.P.

NEW YORK LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

BATSMAN OF THE YEAR: James Hoddle – 31 y/o C, Flour City B.B.C.

• .402/.433/.476, .909 OPS, 53 R, 109 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 58 RBI, 0 SB, 129 TB, 3.2 WPA, 2.4 WAR
• Hit .433 (42/97) during June with 5 Doubles, 20 RBI, 1.6 WPA, & 1.0 WAR (22 Games)
• Oliver Stein (BING: .393, .502 SLG, 26 XBH, 52 RBI) 2nd, Edward Neyland (SYR: .362, 21 XBH, 2 HR, 63 RBI) 3rd

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Grover Wright – 31 y/o P, Kings County B.B.C.

• 29-6, 2.46 ERA, 329.1 IP, 36 GS, 30 CG, 3 SHO, 37 BB, 48 K, 1.12 WHIP, 6.6 WAR, 10.9 R9-WAR
• Set N.B.B.O. Records for Innings, Complete Games, WHIP, & Pitching WAR
• Became 1st player to pitch consecutive Shutouts on July 18th
• Edward Huntley (ORA: .337, 41 RBI, +21.1 ZR, 4.0 WAR) 2nd, Zarek Polakowski (KNI: .350, 50 RBI, 3.8 WPA, 2.9 WAR) 3rd

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Thomas Branagh – 28 y/o 1B, Flour City B.B.C.

• .393/.447/.492, .939 OPS, 69 R, 99 H, 18 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 56 RBI, 8 SB, 124 TB, 3.4 WPA, 2.8 O-WAR, 1.7 WAR
• Only Newcomer to be named in either league’s Team of the Year
• William Titus (GOT: 23-7, 2.97, 23 CG, 6.0 WAR) 2nd, Wilbert Schrader (GOT: .352, 105 H, 61 RBI, 1.9 WAR) 3rd

GOLDEN GLOVES

P: Henry Oliver (F.C.) – 79 TC, 3 DP, 7 E, 2.2 RNG, +6.3 ZR, 1.13 EFF
C: Martin Elson (UTI) – 89 PB, 41.7 CS%, 2.73 CERA, +18.2 ZR, 0.98 EFF
1B: Grover Curran (EMP) – 693 TC, 56 AST, 13 DP, 11 E, +9.4 ZR, 1.13 EFF
2B: Henry Ciccone (MET) – 492 TC, 183 PO, 266 AST, 43 DP, 31 E, 6.8 RNG, +20.6 ZR, 1.16 EFF
3B: Jerrick Stoner (CON) – 281 TC, 50 PO, 199 AST, 14 DP, 32 E, 3.8 RNG, +8.7 ZR, 1.09 EFF
SS: Edward Huntley (ORA) – 408 TC, 108 PO, 263 AST, 25 DP, 37 E, 5.8 RNG, +19.1 ZR, 1.19 EFF
OF: Jasper Carrell (HAR) – 234 TC, 182 PO, 4 AST, 1 DP, 48 E, 2.8 RNG, +6.4 ZR, 1.09 EFF
CF: Declan Brice (K.C.) – 256 TC, 228 PO, 5 AST, 1 DP, 23 E, 3.4 RNG, +7.6 ZR, 1.09 EFF
OF: Raleigh Altstadt (MUT) – 213 TC, 175 PO, 7 AST, 0 DP, 31 E, 3.4 RNG, +8.6 ZR, 1.09 EFF

TEAM OF THE YEAR

P: Grover Wright (K.C.) - 29-6, 2.46 ERA, 329.1 IP, 30 CG, 3 SHO, 37 BB, 48 K, 1.12 WHIP, 6.6 WAR, 10.9 R9-WAR
C: James Hoddle (F.C.) - .402/.433/.476, 53 R, 109 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 58 RBI, 0 SB, 3.2 WPA, 2.4 WAR
1B: Thomas Branagh (F.C.) - .393/.447/.492, .939 OPS, 69 R, 99 H, 18 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 56 RBI, 8 SB, 3.4 WPA, 2.8 WAR
2B: Joseph Bentley (NIA) - .366/.423/.432, 64 R, 107 H, 13 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 46 RBI, 27 BB, 7 SB, 1.6 WPA, 2.5 WAR
3B: Jerald Peterson (K.C.) - .357/.395/.439, 76 R, 112 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 41 RBI, 9 SB, 1.5 WPA, 2.0 WAR
SS: Carl Keener (MIN) - .364/.384/.449, 78 R, 117 H, 15 2B, 6 3B, 0 HR, 41 RBI, 18 SB, 4.4 WPA, 2.7 WAR
OF: Oliver Stein (BING) - .393/.424/.502, 56 R, 116 H, 20 2B, 6 3B, 0 HR, 52 RBI, 7 SB, 3.6 WPA, 2.8 WAR
CF: Wilson Clark (HAR) - .355/.386/.454, 57 R, 108 H, 20 2B, 5 3B, 0 HR, 42 RBI, 19 SB, 1.4 WPA, 2.5 WAR
OF: Edward Neyland (SYR) - .362/.379/.455, 72 R, 109 H, 16 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 63 RBI, 8 SB, 3.0 WPA, 2.5 WAR
MGR: David Evans (EXC) - 38-32; Excelsior doubled their win total & improved from 8th (last) to 3rd in Brooklyn

[tm1681]

1861 NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE REVIEW

NORTHEASTERN SEASON SUMMARY

The 1861 Northeastern League Season was another in which the teams were more aggressive and arguably more exciting than their New York counterparts. The league finished the year with the N.B.B.O. leaders in Batting Average, Slugging %, O.P.S., Runs, Hits, Extra-Base Hits, R.B.I., Stolen Bases, W.P.A., W.A.R., and Defensive Zone Rating. In similar fashion, even though two of the three regional championships were won by familiar faces the pennant races in all three were close.

The Coastal Championship was a two-team race at the halfway point, with twin surprises Port Jersey & Trenton United 24 11 and five games in the clear. The two remained tied and five games up on Shamrock going into the final two weeks, but a disastrous 2-8 finish by Port Jersey handed Trenton the pennant. The P.J. finish was so rough that they were pipped to second place by Shamrock on Run Differential.

The Inland Championship looked to be all Allegany at the halfway mark, as they sported an N.B.B.O-best 25-10 record while allowing the fewest runs and having the best defense. However, .500 baseball over the next month saw them slip back into a tie with Reading, and with two weeks left Reading was two games in front. Alleghany righted the ship just in time to win their final seven games, and that combined with Reading’s 3-7 finish saw the Pittsburgh club take Inland by three games.

The New England Championship was three-way chase involving Green Mountain, Sons of the Ocean, & St. John’s for the second year in a row. At the halfway point Green Mtn. & St. John’s were 23-12, with S.o.t.O. two games back. Once again, St. John’s cranked up the late-season form and a month later they were four games in front, eventually winning New England by five over the other two teams.

The Northeastern League Semi-Final favored Alleghany on paper, but in reality it was a five-game nailbiter in which the Inland champs could not relax for a single inning…

• GAME ONE (T.U. 11-8 in 10) – The opener was mundane over the first six innings, with Alleghany exiting ahead 4-3. In the top of the eighth Trenton scored five to go up 8-4 and become likely victors, but in the bottom of the ninth Alleghany plated four to force extra innings. Trenton came up in the tenth and scored three runs thanks to a single and a Wild Pitch, and that earned the visitors the win.

• GAME TWO (ALL 5-0) – A defensive duel in Pittsburgh, the hosts only scored twice over the first seven innings but it did not matter, as pitcher Eddie Morse and defense were cruising to an eventual shutout. Three more runs in the eighth erased all doubt as to whether Alleghany would even the series.

• GAME THREE (ALL 4-3) – Another tight contest, the hosts went ahead with two runs in the first and held the lead until Alleghany scored twice in the sixth to make it a 3-2 game. The visitors scored again in the eighth to make it 4-2, and while Trenton scored once in the eighth they failed to move anyone past second base in the ninth.

• GAME FOUR (T.U. 11-3) – The first three innings were scoreless, but six runs by Trenton United in the bottom of the fourth effectively decided the result. They piled on five more runs, while Alleghany could only manage a few consolation tallies in the late innings.

• GAME FIVE (ALL 8-7) – This was the game that took nails to the quick. With the score level 3-3 after three, Alleghany scored four times in the fourth only for Trenton United to come back with four in the fifth to even the score a 7-7. That was almost the last of the offense in the game. In the bottom of the seventh pinch hitter Chester Phillips came through with a run-scoring single, putting the hosts up 8-7 and making for an incredibly tense final two innings. Trenton put the tying run on first base in the ninth but that was it, and Alleghany was moving on.

With Alleghany having to fight to the end to advance to the N.E.L. Championship Series, many had St. John’s advancing in three or four games. That was not to happen…

• GAME ONE (ALL 8-6 in 10) – Alleghany gave the opener away, and then took it back. The visitors were ahead 5-0 after the top of the sixth, and that was when St. John’s started their comeback. After scoring once in the sixth & seventh, the five-time New England champs scored three in the ninth to force extra innings. Alleghany was able to throw off the nerves and score three in the tenth, and that was enough to take the opener.

• GAME TWO (ALL 12-0) – It has long been thought that the best way to beat St. John’s is to hit them as hard as possible early and force them to play catch-up. Would scoring seven times in the top of the first do that for Alleghany? Absolutely, as St. John’s could muster just five hits in a shocking Game Two loss that put them in the same position they were in last year. This result was Eddie Morse’s second Shutout of the playoffs.

• GAME THREE (STJ 9-2) – Like last year, St. John's came up big after two stunning home losses to start the N.E.L.C.S.. With the scored tied 2-2 heading into the eighth innings, St. John’s scored four runs to take the lead and then added three more in the ninth to keep their season going for another day.

• GAME FOUR (ALL 12-11 in 11) – This game had drama, and plenty of it. St. John’s scored twice in the first & third, but a six-run rally for the hosts in the second followed up by two in the third meant the score was 8-4 to Alleghany after the early innings. St. John’s then scored six times in the middle innings versus just one for Alleghany, and the score was 10-9 going into the high stakes frames. Alleghany scored twice in the eighth to go up 11-10, but a St. John’s double in the top of the ninth evened the score and left the home fans fearful that the men from Providence would find a way to force another Game Five. After two innings of scoreless baseball, Willie Smith came up in the bottom of the eleventh, singled in Charles Smalley, and won the series for Alleghany.

Alleghany was going to the Tucker-Wheaton Cup for the first time, where they would take on the defending cup champions: Kings County. The New York League’s finest had advantages in they played cup baseball last year and it was the N.Y.L. team’s turn to host three of five games, but Alleghany gave K.C. a five-game series in which only one game was a rout. Three of the first four games were decided by one run – Alleghany won Game Two 11-4 – and with Game Five in Brooklyn the Alleghany team was not quite good enough as they lost 5-3 and say K.C. lift the cup for the second year in a row.

Halfway through the season Batsman of the Year was a wide-open race. However, Susquehanna superstar Willie Davis hit .417 after July 1st, leaving him with not only the third-best average in the N.E.L. at .393 but he led the league in Slugging %, O.P.S., Runs, Hits, Doubles, Extra-base Hits, Stolen Bases, and Total Bases. There was no question who the B.o.t.Y. was: it was Davis for the second year in a row. Konrad Jenson of St. John’s, who hit .393 and stole 50 bases, finished second. N.E.L. Batting Champion Lester Chadwick of Mass. Bay, who hit .404, finished third.

The Most Valuable Player vote was between three stars. First was Davis, clearly the best player in the sport now. Second was Green Mountain infield wizard Anthony Mascherino – last year’s M.V.P. who improved his batting, had a Zone Rating over +30 once again, and set a record with 5.8 W.A.R. The other main candidate was Sons of the Ocean third baseman, who easily led the league with a 5.3 W.P.A. while finishing in the top five in Average, On-Base %, Slugging %, O.P.S., Triples, Total Bases, and W.A.R. Who would win? The best player, the best defender, or the star who was also the biggest contributor to victories?

It was an incredibly close vote, but Kessler took home the M.V.P. award, with Mascherino finishing second and Davis third. There were very passionate arguments on all sides, and any one of the three could have justifiably taken home the trophy. Mascherino will likely feel the most aggrieved as he had his best season yet, but one has the feeling that the 22-year-old will become even better in upcoming seasons.

When it came time to decide Newcomer of the Year there were plenty of quality batsman candidates (1+ WAR): Golden Glove defender Leslie Arnett (2B, M.M.), Silvestro Masci (CF, M.M.), Henry Konrad (2B, PORT), Fredo Eccelino (LF, NEW), William Booth (3B, OCE), Ed Bienstock (2B, OCE), Cesar Thyregood (SS, Q.S.), Albert Brock (SS, S.o.t.O.), & Damiano Pierotti (CF, P.J).

However, it was a pair of pitchers that was the center of discussion. One was Bengt Laudrup of Merrimack Mills, who won his last eight starts to finish 21-12 with a 2.84 E.R.A. and 5.2 W.A.R. The other was Trenton United’s Alistair Richardson, who was 21-12 with a 3.32 E.R.A. and 4.0 W.A.R. Laudrup had the better numbers, but Richardson was the only one to be named to the All-Star Game and the only one to pitch in the playoffs. That earned him N.o.t.Y., with Laudrup and Merrimack teammate Arnett taking the other two finalist places.

There were two N.E.L. batsmen who had six hits in a game this season: Oceanic’s William Booth (July 25th vs St. John’s) and Willie Davis (August 3rd vs Sportsman’s). However, the Performance of the Season goes to Newark newcomer Fredo Eccelino, who was 4/5 with a double, home run, five runs, five R.B.I., and a stolen base in Newark’s 25-6 win at Quaker State on May 17th. His 108 Game Score was the highest for any performance in an N.B.B.O. game this season.

Looking ahead, St. John’s has now lost twice in the N.E.L. Championship Series. However, this year’s loss to Alleghany did not feel like a massive upset. If the rest of the N.E.L. has finally figured out how to deal with St. John’s in a playoff situation, then the Northeastern League will be a wide-open competition going forward.

NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS





NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

SEMI-FINALS: #2 Alleghany B.C. defeats #3 Trenton United 3-2

• Game 1: 11-8 ALL (10 Inn.) – P.o.t.G: Edward Naughton (LF, T.U.); 3/5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• Game 2: T.U. 0-5 ALL – P.o.t.G: Eddie Morse (P, ALL); CG, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K; 4/4, 1 RBI
• Game 3: ALL 4-3 T.U. – P.o.t.G: Milton Eckhart (LF, ALL); 3/4, 1 R, 1 RBI
• Game 3: ALL 2-11 T.U. – P.o.t.G: Edward Naughton (LF, T.U.); 3/3, 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB
• Game 3: T.U. 7-8 ALL – P.o.t.G: Henry Fowler (1B, ALL); 4/4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
• M.V.P.: Henry Fowler (1B, ALL) – 11/22 (.500), 2 2B, 7 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SB
• NOTABLE: Alleghany took Game Five lead via Chester Phillips single in the bottom of the 7th

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: #2 Alleghany B.C. defeats #1 St. John’s B.C. 3-1

• Game 1: ALL 8-6 STJ (10 Inn.) – P.o.t.G: Milton Eckhart (LF, ALL); 4/5, 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI
• Game 2: ALL 12-0 STJ – P.o.t.G: Eddie Morse (P, ALL); CG, 5 H, 1 BB; 1/5, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 SB
• Game 3: STJ 9-2 ALL – P.o.t.G: Collin Henderson (1B, STJ); 3/5, 2 R, 4 RBI
• Game 4: STJ 11-12 ALL (11 Inn.) – P.o.t.G: Willie Smith (2B, ALL); 3/7, 2B, 1 R, 4 RBI
• M.V.P.: Milton Eckhart (LF, ALL) – 8/19 (.421), 1 2B, 5 R, 3 RBI, 1 SB
• NOTABLE: Alleghany won series via Willie Smith single in the bottom of the 11th of Game Four

TUCKER-WHEATON CUP: Alleghany B.C. defeated by Kings County B.B.C. (N.Y.L.) 3-2

• Three of first four games decided by one run, Game Five decided by two
• Henry Skolnik (10/17, .588) had the highest Batting Average of any T.W.C. player
• Joe Blake (10/21, 1 HR, 6 RBI) hit the T.W.C’s only Home Run and led all players in R.B.I.

NEW YORK LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

BATSMAN OF THE YEAR: Willie Davis – 24 y/o CF, Susquehanna Baseball Club

• .393/.432/.537, .969 OPS, 96 R, 129 H, 29 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 42 RBI, 63 SB, 176 TB, 4.9 WPA, 4.5 WAR
• Led Northeastern League in SLG, OPS, R, H, 2B, XBH, SB, & TB; #3 in AVG
• Won Batsman of the Year for the second consecutive season
• Konrad Jensen (STJ: .394, 63 RBI, 50 SB, 4.0 WAR) 2nd, Lester Chadwick (M.B: .404, 21 XBH, 40 RBI, 2.3 WAR) 3rd

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Samuel Kessler – 25 y/o 3B, Sons of the Ocean

• .389/.438/.518, .956 OPS, 85 R, 117 H, 19 2B, 10 3B, 0 HR, 48 RBI, 19 SB, 156 TB, 5.3 WPA, 3.7 WAR
• Top five in AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, 3B, TB, WPA, & WAR
• Anthony Mascherino (G.M.: .383, 31 SB, +33.6 ZR, 5.8 WAR) 2nd, Willie Davis (SUS: .393, 42 RBI, 63 SB, 4.9 WPA) 3rd

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Alistair Richardson – 28 y/o P, Trenton United

• 21-12, 3.32 ERA, 281.2 IP, 35 GS, 22 CG, 4 SHO, 45 BB, 28 K, 1.32 WHIP, 4.0 WAR, 6.1 R9-WAR
• Only first-year pitcher in the N.E.L. to play in both the All-Star Game & the playoffs
• Leslie Arnett (M.M: .333, 42 RBI, +21.6 ZR, 3.3 WAR) 2nd, Bengt Laudrup (M.M: 21-12, 2.84, 1.26 WHIP, 5.2 WAR) 3rd

GOLDEN GLOVES

P: Walter Rose (Q.S.) – 72 TC, 1 DP, 4 E, 2.2 RNG, +7.0 ZR, 1.24 EFF
C: Dag Nielsen (REA) – 116 PB, 31.8 CS%, 3.02 CERA, +10.3 ZR, 1.05 EFF
1B: Milton Stewart (S.o.t.O.) – 580 TC, 47 AST, 20 DP, 15 E, +3.5 ZR, 1.09 EFF
2B: Leslie Arnett (M.M.) – 479 TC, 171 PO, 275 AST, 34 DP, 33 E, 6.7 RNG, +21.6 ZR, 1.19 EFF
3B: Fred Whatley (G.M.) – 276 TC, 47 PO, 213 AST, 14 DP, 16 E, 3.8 RNG, +14.0 ZR, 1.14 EFF
SS: Anthony Mascherino (G.M.) – 466 TC, 120 PO, 298 AST, 26 DP, 48 E, 6.0 RNG, +33.6 ZR, 1.26 EFF
OF: William Johnson (STJ) – 194 TC, 173 PO, 5 AST, 0 DP, 21 E, 2.6 RNG, +7.4 ZR, 1.07 EFF
CF: Willie Davis (SUS) – 336 TC, 296 PO, 8 AST, 4 DP, 32 E, 4.3 RNG, +10.3 ZR, 1.06 EFF
OF: Leslie Wolf (REA) – 235 TC, 201 PO, 8 AST, 1 DP, 26 E, 3.1 RNG, +7.1 ZR, 1.05 EFF

TEAM OF THE YEAR

P: John McGowan (STJ) - 25-10, 2.74 ERA, 305.1 IP, 23 CG, 0 SHO, 49 BB, 38 K, 1.33 WHIP, 5.2 WAR, 6.6 R9-WAR
C: Alistair Hewitt (G.M.) - .382/.403/.474, 59 R, 117 H, 19 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 71 RBI, 5 SB, 4.4 WPA, 2.7 WAR
1B: Frank Krillenberger (T.U.) - .380/.410/.463, 44 R, 109 H, 19 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 64 RBI, 2 SB, 3.7 WPA, 2.3 WAR
2B: Willie Smith (ALL) - .345/.395/.409, 66 R, 102 H, 13 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 53 RBI, 12 SB, 2.3 WPA, 2.1 WAR
3B: Samuel Kessler (S.o.t.O.) - .389/.438/.518, 85 R, 117 H, 19 2B, 10 3B, 0 HR, 48 RBI, 19 SB, 5.3 WPA, 3.7 WAR
SS: Anthony Mascherino (G.M.) - .383/.422/.466, 91 R, 119 H, 21 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 37 RBI, 31 SB, 3.8 WPA, 5.8 WAR
OF: Lester Chadwick (M.B.) - .404/.430/.508, 54 R, 101 H, 17 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 40 RBI, 6 SB, 1.8 WPA, 2.3 WAR
CF: Willie Davis (SUS) - .393/.432/.537, .969 OPS, 96 R, 129 H, 29 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 42 RBI, 63 SB, 176 TB, 4.9 WPA, 4.5 WAR
OF: Konrad Jensen (STJ) - .394/.443/.519, 94 R, 123 H, 25 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 63 RBI, 50 SB, 3.2 WPA, 4.0 WAR
MGR: Ryan Glover (ALL) - 46-24; Alleghany won 14 more games, went from 6th to 1st in Inland, & won N.E.L. Championship Series

[jasg224]

Nice reading as always!

[tm1681]

Originally Posted by jasg224

Nice reading as always!

Thanks again! I'll be slowed down a bit over the next month since the international transfer window for soccer around the world is open and thus my database work for Sports Interactive is picking way up.

However, I'll try to post new stuff every few days until things slow down.

[jasg224]

Originally Posted by tm1681

Thanks again! I'll be slowed down a bit over the next month since the international transfer window for soccer around the world is open and thus my database work for Sports Interactive is picking way up.

However, I'll try to post new stuff every few days until things slow down.

It's really cool you do database stuff for SI, I've always wondered how one gets into that since I have a handful of gripes with the Mexican databse haha.


Really off topic from the original thread, but I'm guessing you watch a decent amount of MLS, so I'd like to know if you think Brandon Vazquez and Cade Cowell will be able to succeed in Liga MX? I know here we still think of the MLS as an inferior league with non existing defense/goalkeepers and I don't really watch MLS clubs asides from when they get trashed in CONCACAF competitions by Liga MX teams.

[a_bit_of_a_misnomer]

Hey! Is there any update on the quickstart? The league is so fleshed out now and I can't wait to play it myself!

[RMc]

This ^

Also, what happens to your baseball universe when the shooting starts at Fort Sumter...?

[tm1681]

Sorry I haven't replied. I really needed to buckle down and focus on the Football Manager database work for the Winter Update since this is when the American clubs bring in all of their new players for the upcoming season, and if you know anything about "minor league" soccer, some teams undergo almost total roster turnover from one year to the next.

I've also just added some other remote work that I had to jump head-first into. For the first time since I lost most of my Sports Information Research & Analysis work in 2020 due to Covid things are really starting to pick up again.

Originally Posted by jasg224

It's really cool you do database stuff for SI, I've always wondered how one gets into that since I have a handful of gripes with the Mexican databse haha.


Really off topic from the original thread, but I'm guessing you watch a decent amount of MLS, so I'd like to know if you think Brandon Vazquez and Cade Cowell will be able to succeed in Liga MX? I know here we still think of the MLS as an inferior league with non existing defense/goalkeepers and I don't really watch MLS clubs asides from when they get trashed in CONCACAF competitions by Liga MX teams.

To get into FM database work, you basically have to get in touch with other people who do research on the game and let them know what areas you want to help out in. They would then put you through to the correct people and let you know if there is work needed in those areas.

It is easier than ever to become an Assistant Researcher for the game since the database is centrally hosted now. You simply have to be approved, given login credentials, and informed of what permissions you have in the database. Years ago we did everything in MS Access, and getting things to and from assistants could be an ENORMOUS pain.

Originally Posted by a_bit_of_a_misnomer

Hey! Is there any update on the quickstart? The league is so fleshed out now and I can't wait to play it myself!

We've just hit the "wrap it up" point on data work ahead of the FM Winter Update, so I can go back to playing OOTP while watching the three-year-old. The new version of the 1800s universe is five seasons in, so based on my plans that means two more to go before I attempt to release a quickstart.

Originally Posted by RMc

Also, what happens to your baseball universe when the shooting starts at Fort Sumter...?

I sort of answered this on a previous page, but basically there are two options due to how the database is structured:

OPTION 1: No games from 1862-65
OPTION 2: Normal schedule from 1862-65

Making the in-game environment similar to what was in place for baseball during major conflicts such as World War II and the Korean War is quite complicated. It would involve making alterations to the Injuries.txt file to create some kind of "Military Service" absence that lasts for exactly 365 days. If you really wanted to maximize immersion you'd also make it so that they could suffer "setbacks" that means they'll be out longer, similar to being wounded in action.

What makes that more difficult is that you'd then have to keep or create multiple versions of the injury file and swap them out depending on where in wartime the in-game universe is at. If you wanted to do something similar to having everyone return at the end of hostilities, the only way to do it would be to - in Commissioner Mode - go into the Editor of every player who's still away on the created "Military Service" absence and click either "Move to Injury History" or reduce the remaining length of the absence to some thing like 7-14 days.

Ultimately this is a fictional universe, and I am still quite busy (bleeding ulcers, Long Covid, toddler), so I think the way to deal with this is that my fictional world either won't have large-scale conflict or baseball players will magically be exempt from military service.

[tm1681]

DISCONTENT LEADS TO PLAYOFF CHANGES
N.Y.C. & COASTAL CLUBS FELT OTHERS HAD IT TOO EASY

NEW YORK CITY (Oct. 10, 1861) – The National Base Ball Organization's postseason meetings are currently ongoing at the St. Nicholas Hotel in New York City, and one topic has dominated conversation during the two and a half days of talks amongst the executives and owners of the 48 members clubs: the state of the playoffs.

The Northeastern League has taken the Tucker-Wheaton Cup twice – both times by St. John’s – while the New York League has taken it three times. The results have been even, but some of the league’s member clubs feel that there are major issues with the structure of the playoffs. The reasons are simple on paper, but more complex in reality.

During the meetings, it has been clubs from the New York City and the Coastal Championship that have raised the loudest objections. On the face of it, the playoff format is straight-forward: the club with the best record from each league waits for the other two other regional championship winners to finish their five-game series, and then they take on the winner in a five-game series for the right to play for the Tucker-Wheaton Cup. The complications come from the makeup of the city & regional championships themselves.

The New York City Championship has the oldest clubs in existence and five of the seven most moneyed clubs in the sport. The Coastal Championship has five of the seven biggest clubs in the Northeastern League in terms of money, facilities, and venues. The concentration of big clubs in both subdivisions has led to tough competition every year, with the lone exception the Knickerbocker Club’s 51-19 season in 1858. In turn, that has led to the winner of both to be the #3 seed in the playoffs in three of five years. The N.Y.C. champ has been the #2 seed once, and the Coastal champ the #2 seed in the other two years. The fierce competition amongst their clubs, they argue, leads to their subdivision winners having lower seeds and thus a built-in disadvantage come playoff time.

To take a sample for contrast, St. John’s is the only “big” club in New England, and the only one that even has an average-sized venue. The dissenters’ argument is that if it were not for Green Mountain & Sons of the Ocean being so well-run, St. John’s would take the N.E.C. by 10-15 games every year and be guaranteed a #1 seed annually.

So, what could be done to lower the hackles of a third of the league’s members? First, the league took stock of the markets, resources, and venues of the various clubs throughout the N.B.B.O. and figured the breakdown of “big” clubs was as follows:

• BROOKLYN: Atlantic, Eckford, Excelsior, & Kings County (4)
• NEW YORK CITY: Gotham, Knickerbocker, Metropolitan, Mutual, & Orange (5)
• UPSTATE: Flour City, Minuteman, & Niagara (3)
• COASTAL: American, Mass. Bay, Newark, Quaker St, & Shamrock (5)
• INLAND: Alleghany (1)
• NEW ENGLAND: St. John’s (1)

The Commissioner thought that, given the overall strength of the New York League, the New York City clubs were perhaps going just a bit too far into whining territory. On the other hand, it looked like the Coastal Clubs had a legitimate gripe.

Next, a solution had to be prepared. What would that look like? Here were the plans discussed:

• THE ROTATION PLAN – Instead of going by record, the seeds would be rotated among the subdivisions in each league so that the winner of each would be the #1 seed once every three years. The order for a subdivision would go 3-2-1, and then back to the start. The thinking was that since home field advantage for the Tucker-Wheaton Cup is rotated, the playoff seeds can be rotated too.

• THE FOUNDATION PLAN – Since the New York City & Coastal championships had the oldest and most powerful members of each league, they would receive the #1 seeds each year since the games played there were arguably the toughest to win.

• THE WILD CARD PLAN – Send the best second-place finisher to the playoffs, which would allow for two semi-final series. This would eliminate the bye for the #1 seed and force all playoff teams to start their postseasons at the same time.

• THE JULY PLAN – Similar to the Wild Card Plan in that it would add an extra team to the playoffs and thus have all teams start at the same time, but instead the team with the best record after July 1st – the last five weeks of play – not already in the playoffs would be added.

• THE ORIGINAL “PLAN B” – At the creation of the N.B.B.O. two types of playoff formats were discussed. The first one was the one that was currently in place. The second one was a plan in which all six city & regional championship winners would be thrown into a group, and from there each team would play every other team twice for a total of ten games over eleven days. The team with the best record would be cup winners and N.B.B.O. champions.

The “Rotation” plan fell flat – clubs felt it was too arbitrary of a measure. The “Foundation” plan ran into immediate pushback from clubs in the other four regional championships. The “Wild Card” plan was opposed by Coastal clubs and others because it could lead to a “weaker” subdivision receiving two playoff bids, or a #1 seed having to immediately duel the second-place finisher from their subdivision when they proved to be the better side during the season. The “July” plan gained more traction than the previous three, but it did not receive the opt-in of the 3/4 of clubs required to make it official.

That left “Plan B”. It was a complete departure from the playoff format mirroring the five-game series that took place during the season, but at the same time it satisfied the following requirements:

• Every team started the playoffs at the same time.
• Every team would have equal opportunity for a home field advantage.
• Every team would play the same number of games, or close to it.

On the afternoon of October 9th, more than forty of the 48 clubs voted in favor of Plan B. Kings County were the lone holdouts in the New York League, with Alleghany, Green Mountain, Reading, Scranton, Sons of the Ocean, & St. John’s from the Northeastern League voting against.

The discussion then turned to the matter of the makeup of the N.B.B.O. itself. If the six playoff teams would be thrown together at the final stage of the yearly competition, did it still make sense for the New York League & Northeastern League to exist?

The clubs quickly concluded that, yes, the N.Y.L. & N.E.L. should remain in place. After all, while it was true that all 48 teams were playing by the same set of rules, the N.B.B.O. was born after other variants of the sport in the Northeast came together. There was the “New York Style” of base ball that was codified in the Knickerbocker Rules in 1845. New England had its own version of base ball called the “Massachusetts Game”. In coastal Pennsylvania, “Philadelphia Town Ball” was another popular version of the sport. It was Doc Adams' "Laws of Base Ball" that tied it all together.

What the above meant was that the annual All-Star Game would remain a staple, two sets of awards would continue to be given out every season, two slightly different styles of play would remain, and there would still be arguments about which league had the better talent.

A brand-new playoff format was in the works for the Tucker Wheaton Cup and, though it might take the fans some getting used to, if nothing else it would mean more postseason base ball overall. That can only be a good thing for the sport going forward.

[tm1681]

FIVE YEARS OF THE N.B.B.O.
BASE BALL HISTORY TAKES SHAPE OVER THE FIRST YEARS OF ORGANIZED COMPETITION

NEW YORK CITY (Dec. 25, 1861) – The end of the 1861 season meant that the National Base Ball Organization had made it through the end of five years of play. As the clubs’ various executives, coaches, and players sat at home over the Christmas holiday, no doubt many were pondering what might be in store for the years ahead.

It has not been the smoothest of sailing for the N.B.B.O. to make it through its first five seasons. Ground rules have had to be changed, player registration rules have needed clarification, there have been arguments over what constitutes a fly ball out, and most recently the postseason has received an overhaul.

Nonetheless, attendance continues to make a slow rise and the general public appears to have given baseball a permanent space in the United States’ entertainment showcase. The 1861 season saw Kings County’s Grover Wright and Susquehanna’s Willie Davis establish themselves as the sport’s first bonafide superstar pitcher & batter respectively. The Kings County team’s repeat Tucker-Wheaton Cup victory saw them become the first club to see crowds of more than five thousand people show up to numerous home games. Base ball games are now seen as more than just semi-formal contests between men doing something with their spare time, and the men who play the game are starting to wonder if the sport is something they could turn into a legitimate profession in the near future.

As things stand, the National Base Ball Organization is on solid footing. Thanks to the inclusion of clubs from all over the Northeastern United States at its foundation, the N.B.B.O. has been able to weather any organizational issues and inter-club disputes with relative ease, with the recent reconfiguration of the playoffs at the postseason meetings serving as an example of a ruling body that can turn dissent into conversation and enact meaningful change.

In the years ahead expect the N.B.B.O. to do more to solidify amateur base ball in the United States, and if there comes a time when it looks like base ball can become a profession on its own, there is little doubt that they can adapt.

THE CHAMPIONS

NEW YORK LEAGUE

1857 – Victory Base Ball Club (44-26, beat Nassau County 3-1 in N.Y.L.C.S.)
1858 – Knickerbocker Base Ball Club (51-19, beat Kings County 3-1 in N.Y.L.C.S.)
1859 – Orange Base Ball Club (45-25, beat Kings County 3-2 in N.Y.L.C.S.)
1860 – Kings County Base Ball Club (54-16, beat Mutual 3-0 in N.Y.L.C.S.)
1861 – Kings County Base Ball Club (48-22, beat Gotham 3-2 in N.Y.L.C.S.)

NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE

1857 – St. John’s Baseball Club (41-29, beat Allehgany 3-2 in N.E.L.C.S.)
1858 – St. John’s Baseball Club (51-19, beat Reading 3-0 in N.E.L.C.S.)
1859 – Shamrock Baseball Club (46-24, beat St. John’s 3-2 in N.E.L.C.S.)
1860 – St. John’s Baseball Club (49-21, beat Scranton 3-2 in N.E.L.C.S.)
1861 – Alleghany Baseball Club (46-24, beat St. John’s 3-1 in N.E.L.C.S.)

TUCKER WHEATON CUP

1857 – St. John’s defeated Victory 3-0
1858 – St. John’s defeated Knickerbocker 3-2
1859 – Orange defeated Shamrock 3-2
1860 – Kings County defeated St. John’s 3-1
1861 – Kings County defeated Alleghany 3-2

THE AWARD WINNERS

BATSMAN OF THE YEAR

1857 N.Y.L – Joseph Bentley (NIA) – .416/.450/.473, 80 R, 131 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 42 RBI, 7 SB, 2.4 WPA, 2.7 WAR
1857 N.E.L – William Johnson (STJ) – .370/.411/.482, 83 R, 115 H, 27 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 61 RBI, 42 SB, 3.1 WPA, 3.1 WAR
1858 N.Y.L – Albert Jones (KNI) – .393/.401/.570, 70 R, 127 H, 31 2B, 10 3B, 2 HR, 65 RBI, 28 SB, 4.4 WPA, 3.9 WAR
1858 N.E.L – Joseph Forrest (QUI) – .417/.460/.517, 68 R, 120 H, 18 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 64 RBI, 2 SB, 3.5 WPA, 2.3 WAR
1859 N.Y.L – John Francis (K.C.) – .371/.391/.505, 77 R, 122 H, 22 2B, 11 3B, 0 HR, 65 RBI, 22 SB, 3.7 WPA, 2.2 WAR
1859 N.E.L – Anderson MacGyver (STJ) – .395/.439/.529, 106 R, 130 H, 31 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 73 RBI, 33 SB, 5.6 WPA, 4.2 WAR
1860 N.Y.L – Jerald Peterson (K.C.) – .363/.419/.515, 70 R, 107 H, 25 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 68 RBI, 9 SB, 3.4 WPA, 2.6 WAR
1860 N.E.L – Willie Davis (SUS) – .403/.428/.541, 85 R, 129 H, 26 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 52 RBI, 42 SB, 4.5 WPA, 4.6 WAR
1861 N.Y.L – James Hoddle (F.C.) – .402/.433/.476, 53 R, 109 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 58 RBI, 0 SB, 3.1 WPA, 2.4 WAR
1861 N.E.L – Willie Davis (SUS) – .393/.432/.537, 96 R, 129 H, 29 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 42 RBI, 63 SB, 4.9 WPA, 4.5 WAR

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

1857 – Not given in either league
1858 N.Y.L – James Kyle (KNI) – 24-8, 2.55 ERA, 27 K, 306.2 IP, 24 CG, 0 SHO, 1.21 WHIP, 4.6 WAR, 8.5 R9-WAR
1858 N.E.L – Anderson MacGyver (STJ) – .382/.405/.494, 89 R, 126 H, 25 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 56 RBI, 33 SB, 4.3 WPA, 3.2 WAR
1859 N.Y.L – Anthony Littleton (NIA) – .367/.379/.467, 84 R, 122 H, 25 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 36 RBI, 22 SB, 1.9 WPA, 2.5 WAR
1859 N.E.L – Hawk Peterson (M.M.) – .396/.435/.505, 63 R, 124 H, 25 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 63 RBI, 23 SB, 3.1 WPA, 3.2 WAR
1860 N.Y.L – Charles Schuster (MUT) – .360/.405/.449, 56 R, 105 H, 18 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 59 RBI, 5 SB, 2.4 WPA, 2.6 WAR
1860 N.E.L – Dag Nielsen (REA) – .353/.393/.430, 53 R, 101 H, 20 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 33 RBI, 3 SB, 1.0 WPA, 2.9 WAR
1861 N.Y.L. – Thomas Branagh (F.C.) – .393/.447/.492, 69 R, 99 H, 18 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 56 RBI, 8 SB, 3.4 WPA, 1.7 WAR
1861 N.E.L – Alistair Richardson (T.U.) – 21-12, 3.32 ERA, 28 K, 281.2 IP, 22 CG, 4 SHO, 1.32 WHIP, 4.0 WAR, 6.1 R9-WAR

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

1857 N.Y.L. – Lee Wood (MUT) – .400/.436/.505, 78 R, 118 H, 23 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 43 RBI, 25 SB, 4.9 WPA, 3.3 WAR
1857 N.E.L – John Anderson (SCR) – 30-8, 2.30 ERA, 25 K, 309.0 IP, 28 CG, 3 SHO, 1.20 WHIP, 5.0 WAR, 8.9 R9-WAR
1858 N.Y.L – Albert Jones (KNI) – .393/.401/.570, 70 R, 127 H, 31 2B, 10 3B, 2 HR, 65 RBI, 28 SB, 4.4 WPA, 3.9 WAR
1858 N.E.L – Fred Fowler (M.B.) – .391/.443/.464, 85 R, 118 H, 20 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 51 RBI, 16 SB, 4.5 WPA, 2.8 WAR
1859 N.Y.L – Edward Huntley (ORA) – .362/.404/.439, 77 R, 113 H, 13 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 41 RBI, 31 SB, 3.1 WPA, 4.4 WAR
1859 N.E.L – Willie Davis (SUS) – .394/.435/.521, 83 R, 124 H, 27 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 57 RBI, 43 SB, 5.7 WPA, 3.8 WAR
1860 N.Y.L – Juriaan Kerstens (BED) – .349/.386/.451, 61 R, 110 H, 25 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 67 RBI, 1 SB, 4.7 WPA, 2.1 WAR
1860 N.E.L – Anthony Mascherino (G.M.) – .342/.374/.453, 83 R, 105 H, 21 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 60 RBI, 19 SB, 3.4 WPA, 4.8 WAR
1861 N.Y.L – Grover Wright (K.C.) – 29-6, 2.46 ERA, 48 K, 329.1 IP, 30 CG, 3 SHO, 1.12 WHIP, 6.6 WAR, 10.9 R9-WAR
1861 N.E.L – Samuel Kessler (S.o.t.O.) – .389/.438/.518, 85 R, 117 H, 19 2B, 10 3B, 0 HR, 48 RBI, 19 SB, 5.3 WPA, 3.7 WAR

GOLDEN GLOVE WINNERS

New York League

• P: James Raisbeck (1857), Art Maxwell (1858), Clydesdale Jackson (1859), James Price (1860), Henry Oliver (1861)
• C: Ulysses Gallagher (1857), Irving Heywood (1858), Archie McClain (1859), Martin Elson (1860-61)
• 1B: Roland Powell (1857), Albert Canepa (1858), Will Robbins (1859), John Childress (1860), Grover Curran (1861)
• 2B: Henry Ciccone (1857-59, 61), Roy Gregg (1860)
• 3B: Ed Huntley (1857), John Deschenes (1858), Bruce Kruk (1859), Hugh Stephens (1860), Jerrick Stoner (1861)
• SS: William Reasner (1857), Chester Sauls (1858), Ed Huntley (1859-61)
• CF: William Casilli (1857), Callum Barr (1858), Charlie Rumbaugh (1859), David Copeland (1860), Declan Brice (1861)
• OF: Millard Root (1857), Will Bennett (1857), John Murphy (1858), Chatham Richter (1858, 60), Van Patterson (1859), John Carlton (1859), George Anderson (1860), Jasper Carrell (1861), Raleigh Altstadt (1861)

Northeastern League

• P: Clarence Griffiths (1857), Joe Cerra (1858), Joe Jefferson (1859), Walter Rose (1860-61)
• C: Jimmy Reardon (185-59), Clayton Gibbons (1860), Dag Nielsen (1861)
• 1B: Art Holton (1857), Collin Henderson (1858), Frank Krillenberger (1859), Doc King (1860), Milt Stewart (1861)
• 2B: Willard Krone (1857, 59), Carlson Tullar (1858), Lonnie Lester (1860), Leslie Arnett (1861)
• 3B: Fred Whatley (1857-58, 61), Birk Jorgensen (1859), Sam Kessler (1860)
• SS: Anthony Mascherino (1857-61)
• CF: John Terry (1857-58), Raleigh Altstadt (1859), Willie Davis (1860-61)
• OF: Eugene Cruise (1857), Clive Wise (1857), Will Johnson (1858-61), Charles Owens (1858), Leslie Wolf (1859, 61), John Terry (1860)

TEAM OF THE YEAR MEMBERS

New York League

• P: Dave Roberts (1857), James Kyle (1858), Cliff Holmes (1859), Grover Wright (1860-61)
• C: Matt Hample (1857), Ruby Watson (1858), Jackson Smith (1859-60), James Hoddle (1861)
• 1B: Garrett Turner (1857), Ted Short (1858), John Bateman (1859-60), Thomas Branagh (1861)
• 2B: Joseph Bentley (1857-58, 61), Henry Ciccone (1859-60)
• 3B: Joe Paige (1857), Leroy Weld (1858), Jerald Peterson (1859-61)
• SS: Carl Keener (1857-58, 61), Ed Huntley (1859-60)
• CF: Charlie Rumbaugh (1857), Al Jones (1858), John Francis (1859), Art Kiessling (1860), Wilson Clark (1861)
• OF: Chester Ellis (1857, 59), Lee Wood (1857), George Israel (1858), Will LaValliere (1858), James Robertson (1859), Walt Driscoll (1860), Soren Thomsen (1860), Oliver Stein (1861), Ed Neyland (1861)

New York League

• P: John Anderson (1857), John Lissey (1858), John McGowan (1859-61)
• C: Joe Feuerstein (1857), Roy Jacobson (1858-60), Alistair Hewitt (1861)
• 1B: George Blair (1857), Frank Krillenberger (1858, 61), Collin Henderson (1859), Will Rich (1860)
• 2B: Daragh Adams (1857), Anderson MacGyver (1858-60), Willie Smith (1861)
• 3B: Sam Kessler (1857-58, 60-61), Hawk Peterson (1859)
• SS: John Williams (1857), Joe Blake (1858), Anthony Mascherino (1859-61)
• CF: Curtis Bowman (1857), Richard Kenton (1858), Willie Davis (1859-61)
• OF: Will Johnson (1857), Ray Clough (1857), Joe Forrest (1858), Clive Wise (1858), Thomas Maloney (1859-60), Konrad Jensen (1859-61), Les Chadwick (1861)

THE RECORD HOLDERS (BATTERS)

BATTING AVERAGE
• Season – .420 by Frank Krillenberger (T.U.) in 1858
• Career – .379 by Willie Davis (SUS 1858-61) & Anderson MacGyver (STJ 1858-61)

ON-BASE + SLUGGING
• Season – .977 by Joseph Forrest (QUI) in 1858
• Career – .925 by Willie Davis (SUS 1858-61)

RUNS
• Game – 6 by three players, most recently by William Karras (MET) on May 19, 1860
• Season – 106 by Anderson MacGyver (STJ) in 1859
• Career – 437 by William Johnson (STJ 1857-61)

HITS
• Game – 7 by Archie Stewart (UTI) on June 18, 1859 (extra-inning game)
• Season – 131 by Joseph Bentley (NIA) in 1857
• Career – 571 by James Robertson (SYR 1857-61)

DOUBLES
• Game – 4 by Samuel Kessler (S.o.t.O.) on June 18, 1859
• Season – 32 by Andrew Bidwell (GOT) in 1858
• Career – 120 by William Johnson (STJ 1857-61)

TRIPLES
• Game – 2 by numerous players
• Season – 11 by John Francis (K.C.) in 1858
• Career – 39 by John Francis (K.C. 1857-61)

HOME RUNS
• Game – 3 by Friedrich Becker on June 30, 1860 (all Inside the Park)
• Season – 6 by Joseph Paige (VIC) in 1857 & Arvi Hämäläinen (NIA)
• Career – 12 by James Shea (NIA 1857-69, N.C. 1860-61)

RUNS BATTED IN
• Game – 8 by Joseph Paige (VIC) on July 2, 1857
• Season – 77 by Arthur Holton (M.B.) in 1860
• Career – 308 by Arthur Holton (M.B. 1857-61)

STOLEN BASES
• Game – 5 by Jasper Carrell (HAR) on July 5, 1857 & Charles King (EAG) on July 22, 1857
• Season – 66 by Konrad Jensen (STJ) in 1860
• Career – 217 by William Johnson (STJ 1857-61)

WINS ABOVE REPLACEMENT
• Season – 5.8 by Anthony Mascherino (G.M.) in 1861
• Career – 22.1 by Anthony Mascherino (G.M. 1857-61)

THE RECORD HOLDERS (PITCHERS)

WINS
• Season – 30 by John Anderson (SCR) in 1857
• Career – 103 by John McGowan (STJ 1857-61)

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (70 Innings for Season, 350 for Career)
• Season – 1.93 by Arthur Maxwell (UTI) in 1861 (144.2 IP)
• Career – 2.87 by John McGowan (STJ 1857-61, 1,237.1 IP)

STRIKEOUTS
• Game – 7 by James Price (HILL) on July 9, 1857
• Season – 56 by Jim Creighton (EXC) in 1861
• Career – 198 by Henry Oliver (F.C. 1857-61)

INNINGS PITCHED
• Season – 329.0 by Grover Wright (K.C.) in 1861
• Career – 1,460.0 by Carl Bancroft (UTI 1857-61)

COMPLETE GAMES
• Season – 30 by Grover Wright (K.C.) in 1861
• Career – 116 by David Roberts (VIC 1857-61)

SHUTOUTS
• Season – 4 by four pitchers, most recently by Alistair Richardson (T.U.) in 1861
• Career – 7 by Willie Hall (PORT 1857-61) & Harold Perry (T.U. 1857-61)

WALKS + HITS / INNINGS (70 Innings for Season, 350 for Career)
• Season – 1.12 by Grover Wright (K.C.) in 1861 (329.0 IP)
• Career – 1.26 by Grover Wright (K.C. 1858-61; 1,222.2 IP)

WINS ABOVE REPLACEMENT
• Season – 6.6 by Grover Wright (K.C.) in 1861
• Career – 27.0 by Bernard Schmidt (NIA 1857-61)

[jasg224]

Great to see you back tm!

The new playoff format sounds exciting, knockouts are fun but one bad game can have you out of it completely and this format will prove who's consistently the better team. Good reading as always!

[tm1681]

WRIGHT STUNS KINGS COUNTY & MOVES UPSTATE!
RECORD-SETTING PITCHER LEAVES TWO-TIME CUP WINNERS, JOINS NIAGARA CLUB

BROOKLYN & BUFFALO, N.Y. (Sep. 29, 1861) - BROOKLYN & BUFFALO, N.Y. (Sep. 29, 1861) – The base ball fans of New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area were left in shock on Sunday afternoon as Grover Wright, New York League Most Valuable Player and key member of cup champions Kings County B.B.C., announced that he was packing up his young family and moving upstate to Buffalo, where he would join Niagara B.B.C. starting next year.

Wright announced his move just a month after leading Kings County B.B.C. to their second consecutive Tucker-Wheaton Cup triumph. While pitching for Kings County in 1861, Wright set the N.Y.L. record for Wins (29-6) and set N.B.B.O. records for Innings Pitched (329.0), Complete Games (30), WHIP (1.12), and Pitching WAR (6.6). He started nearly twice as many games as any other K.C. pitcher and was considered the most important player in the star-studded Kings County roster by some measure.

Publicly, Wright stated that his move has come about thanks to a job offer to work in the lucrative Upstate New York shipping industry, in which Buffalo’s ports take part in nearly one quarter of all industrial freight traffic on Lake Erie. However, the private scuttlebutt is that while the job offer to Wright was indeed lucrative, it instead came via the promise of roughly a thousand dollars’ worth of under-the-table cash, in addition to the seasonal stipend, from Niagara G.M. Travis Schulz to play for the team for two seasons.

If the latter is indeed the case, it would not only be a significant breach of N.B.B.O. rules by the Niagara Club but it would also signal the beginning of the sport of baseball as a profession for its most talented practitioners, instead of merely a game & a hobby.

There is nothing to prevent players from changing clubs, so as of this dispatch no National Base Ball Organization executive has had anything to say about the sudden move of one of the young sport’s new stars. Under the surface, the lack of comment could also mean that the men in N.B.B.O. headquarters are looking into the “pay for play” rumors and discussing their possible avenues of response if indeed Wright is being given bags full of cash.

In any event, Wright’s move to Buffalo greatly upsets the balance of power in the New York League and especially in the Brooklyn Championship, which Kings County has won for each of the past four seasons. His decision has seemingly caught everybody outside of his own family & Niagara Club offices off-guard, and it is sure to make the 1862 season more interesting.

[tm1681]

Originally Posted by jasg224

It's really cool you do database stuff for SI, I've always wondered how one gets into that since I have a handful of gripes with the Mexican databse haha.


Really off topic from the original thread, but I'm guessing you watch a decent amount of MLS, so I'd like to know if you think Brandon Vazquez and Cade Cowell will be able to succeed in Liga MX? I know here we still think of the MLS as an inferior league with non existing defense/goalkeepers and I don't really watch MLS clubs asides from when they get trashed in CONCACAF competitions by Liga MX teams.

I just realized that I never responded to the second part of your post.

Vazquez should be fine - he's started off playing really well for Monterrey - because even though his professional career to date has been in MLS he was a product of the Tijuana youth system. He's already fimiliar with Mexican football and theoretically needs minimal adjustment.

Cowell is more interesting because grew up in California, is half-Mexican, had never played in Mexico, and only gained Mexican citizenship just before joining the one club in Mexico that prides itself on signing full-blooded Mexicans. He's extremely talented but at the same time the pressure on him is that much higher, because if he doesn't perform then the xenophobic types in the Chivas fanbase will absolutely turn on him. He's been in the USMNT since he was 18 so he easily has the talent to succeed, but I think it will take him more time to adjust.