The Liberty League, Est. 1876

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

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[Questdog]

Let's Meet Your Makers!

Pitcher
John Bendickson
Last year, Bendickson was on his way to having a season for the ages when he tore something in his shoulder and missed the last half of the season. He's back and says he's at 100%, but I'm having my doubts. Last year, he led the League in walking the fewest batters per game, but this Spring he had trouble getting the ball over the plate. He only walked 0.30 batters per 9 innings last year, but walked 1.20 per 9 in the practice games. Hopefully, it is just a matter of being rusty after having gone so long without pitching. In his last 3 starts of the Spring, he only walked 1 total and struck out 10. Abe Everette, who filled in admirably last year when Bendickson went out, will be back to start the occasional game and provide insurance should Bendickson prove to be ineffective.

Catcher
Eb Burke
For all 5 years that the National Association existed and the first year of the Liberty League, Jumbo Tilford caught every game his team played without ever missing a one. He was a wonder of physical endurance at a position that sustains regular abuse. But this Spring in a game against Pittsburgh, Silver Borresen bowled him over in an effort to score a run. Borresen was out. Tilford held on to the ball, but let go of his wits. For 3 days he was spouting prophesies of the Apocalypse. When he finally came to his senses, he couldn't remember who he was for another couple of days. The doctors advised him that another blow to his head might cause permanent brain damage, so he hung up his spikes.

And we were hurting for a catcher. Tilford's backup last year was Henry Newman, but at 23, I don't think he is ready to take over on a regular basis. His defense especially needs more polish. The veteran catchers we had at Syracuse had all become free agents and signed with other teams by the time Jumbo was injured. We had signed one fella, John Hulett, to be Newman's mentor at Rochester this year, but he's no major league catcher. The catcher we drafted from the B Leagues, Jerry Bern, looked like the only option. But his play in the Spring games left a lot to be desired. So I scoured the free agent ranks and came up with Eb Burke, a 29-year-old backstop who was a backup in Lynn last year. He hit pretty well in the few opportunities he had, but if he wasn't good enough to start in the International League, he's probably not going to set the Liberty League on fire with his bat. But he's a top-notch defender and very smart game-caller and if he just hits a little, we'll be fine with him behind the plate. He'll bat 8th.

First Base
Sol Popko
I am really excited to see what Poppy can do in a full season. Last year, I had him in Syracuse for the first part of the year while I honored my commitment to Tom Stanley. Once he came up here, he tore the League up and finished second in the Batting Title race. I'm hoping he'll finish second again this year (to me) and lead the League in RBIs. He's not the best fielder, but with his bat, he'll do. He'll bat 4th.

Second Base
Reddy Ricker
Yours truly. I'm on a mission this year to prove that my .266 average of last season was a fluke. I'm gonna win the Batting Title this year or die trying. I'll bat lead-off and lead the team in runs scored and stealing bases.

Shortstop
Bill Rush
Bill tore the League up in Spring Training last season with his bat and then quit hitting once the real games started. Jerry Ames took over and hit great for a while, but then he quit hitting too. Bill's the better fielder and he hit pretty good this Spring, so he's back in the lineup at least for a while. He'll bat 7th.

The kid I drafted from the B Leagues, Sam Cowan, looks like he's going to be a star, but he's only 21 and I think he could do with a little seasoning at Rochester. There's also a question about whether he can handle the fielding at short. He looks to me like he has all the tools to be a great fielding shortstop, but some are saying he takes a little too long to get rid of the ball. We'll see how he does at Rochester, but his bat will eventually get him into the lineup somewhere.

Third Base
Crazy Kelley
Crazy was the only Troy batter to be honored with a spot on the Liberty League All-Star team at the end of last year. He'll bat 5th and knock in the runners that Poppy misses.

Left Field
John Hagadorn
Hags has all the tools to be a great player, but his head is holding him back. He's not a stupid guy, but just seems hard-headed. He can knock the ball a mile and seems to try to every time up, no matter the situation. He strikes out quite a bit because of it. He also has a bad habit of grounding into double plays. And he's very fast, but gets thrown out quite a bit on the bases. But he's a great fielder and I look for him to win a Gold Glove one of these days. And I'll keep harping on how to play smart. Maybe it will eventually sink in. He'll bat 6th.

Center Field
Bobby Hubbard
Bobby missed half the season last year and when he eventually came back he was not 100% and his play suffered. But he is healthy this Spring and back to pounding the ball with regularity and chasing down fly balls that look like sure doubles. He'll bat 2nd.

Right Field
Jimmy Gerber
Jimmy only played 14 games last year. He's our best hitter and if he can make it through the whole season, the Haymakers will not be hurting to score runs. He's also a great defender in right. He did not hit much this Spring, but hopefully that is only rust. He'll bat 3rd.

We're only playing 60 games this year, so the Haymakers will be hard-pressed to win as many as we did in '76. Plus, all the other teams have gotten quite a bit better by signing the ex-Chicago and New York players. Especially, Philadelphia. They look to be loaded for bear this year and I think the Haymakers are going to be in a dogfight to defend their title. But we are going to be better, too, if the guys that missed big chunks of last season stay healthy this year. That will more than make up for the loss of Jumbo Tilford.

[Questdog]

Monday April 2, 1877, at St. Louis Brown Stockings (36-34 3rd place in the Liberty League last season)

Opening Day!

John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 22-8 1.39 last year in the Liberty League) vs. Fred Cline, St.L. (34 R 17-19 2.66 last year in the Liberty League)

Fred Cline strained his back in the first inning and had to leave the game. They say he'll be fine in a few days. So, 27-year-old rookie Jim Postema made his debut a little sooner than anticipated. He's a Dutchman from Amsterdam, throws right-handed and was 32-20 with a 2.04 ERA in the B Leagues last year. He's a very hard thrower. He was 10-2 in the Spring practice games, which included a game against us where he pitched 8 innings without allowing a run and only gave us 4 hits. So, we were not exactly excited to see Cline get hurt.

Bendickson was pretty shaky in the 1st, giving up a pair of doubles to SS Frank Young and C Bumpus Dowdy. 3B Crazy Kelley made an errant throw on the first ball hit his way in 1877 and we were lucky to escape the first with only a 1 to 0 deficit.

Postema walked the first batter he faced (Kelley), but then LF John Hagadorn decided it was a good time for his patented specialty, the ground ball double play.

Lost - 5 to 2

Bendickson just did not have it today, allowing 11 hits, 4 of them doubles. Postema allowed us only 7 hits in his 8 innings to get the win. Pus he had 2 hits and scored a run. I had 2 hits with a triple and scored a run, but made 2 errors. Bobby Hubbard had 2 hits with a double and knocked me in, but came up in the 9th with the bases loaded and 2 outs and flew out to center to end the game. Our 3-4-5 hitters went 0 for 11.

Other Games:
Philadelphia (4) at Washington (1) - Charlie Moss (1-0) over Cal Wright (0-1). Moss walked and hit a double. 1B Joe Smith had 3 hits, but no runs or RBIs and made Philadelphia's only error of the game. RF Lou Landaal had 2 hits, stole 2 bases and scored 2 runs.

Pittsburgh (3) at Boston (4) in 10 innings - Charlie Morlock (1-0) over Bones Lane (0-1). Lane held Boston to only 8 hits. Boston scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game with RF Sandy Perkes' 1-out single. But with the bases still loaded, they could get no more. Perkes had 2 hits with a double in the game. In the bottom of the 10th with 1 out, Manager/RF Pete Green singled and went to second when LF Silver Borresen flubbed the pickup. He went to third on a passed ball. When CF George Kunz grounded to 2b George Brantner, Green busted for home and just beat Brantner's throw to win the game. C Jake Houghton had 4 hits for Pittsburgh, but did not score or drive in a run.

Down in the International Association, the Rochester Maroons opened their season with a 14 to 4 pasting of Pop Yurkovich and the Guelph Maple Leafs. B League draftee Billy Jenkins took the win. The Maroons only had 9 hits, but 15 errors by the Maple Leafs greatly enhanced the scoring possibilities. Manager Jim Padgett has several players trying to learn new positions this season and it seems they have not quite got the handle on them yet. SS Sam Cowan had 1 hit, scored a run and knocked in 2. He did not make an error and participated in 3 double plays. He started one and was the middle man on 2 others. Looks to me like his release time is quick enough. Other notables: B League draftee RF Bill Hammack had 2 hits and 3 RBIs. C Henry Newman was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts, but threw out the only baserunner who tried to steal against him. Jerome Ames, who we are trying to get to learn third base, since Cowan is playing short, had 2 hits and scored 4 runs, but made a pair of errors.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, April 4, 1877, at St. Louis Brown Stockings (1-0 tied for 1st place in the Liberty League)

I like this new schedule where we play 3 games in a row against an opponent before moving on; gives us a chance at quick revenge.

John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 0-1 2.25) vs. Jim Postema, St.L. (27 R 1-0 1.13 1st career start)

Bendickson started out rough again, giving up 5 runs in the first 4 innings. He settled down after that and did not allow another run to score, but St. Louis did not need any more.

Lost - 5 to 4

Postema held us to 7 hits. Bendickson was all we had on offense today. He had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had 2 RBIs. CF Ed Radle had 3 hits with a triple, scored twice and had an RBI for St. Louis.

Not the way I envisioned us beginning the defense of our title.

Other Games:
Philadelphia (8) at Washington (7) - Charlie Moss (2-0) over Cal Wright (0-2). CF John Froom had 4 hits, scored a runs and had an RBI. He also stole a base, but was caught twice by the appropriately named C Al Cannon. For Washington, ss Joe O'Neill had 3 hits with 3 doubles, scored twice and knocked in 2.

Pittsburgh (11) at Boston (9) in 10 innings - George Dennis (1-0) in relief of Bones Lane over Charlie Morlock (1-1). Each team had 17 hits, but George Dennis only allowed 5 in his 4 innings of work and struck out 3. 2B George Brantner had 3 hits with a double and scored a run, but made 2 errors. SS Fred Orlando had 3 hits with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs and 1 error.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 7, 1877, at St. Louis Brown Stockings (2-0 tied for 1st place in the Liberty League)

I do not like this new schedule where we play 3 games in a row against an opponent before moving on; it gives us a chance at utter humiliation.

John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 0-2 2.81) vs. Fred Cline, St.L. (34 R 0-0 0.00)

Won - 9 to 4

Glad Cline was healthy enough to give it a go. I had 2 hits with a triple, scored a run and had 2 RBIs. Great, but I had the worst fielding game at second base that I have every had, even going back to my days playing with the town boys in North Potomac, Maryland. 4 balls got by me for hits and the only two I could track down all day, I made bad throws on for errors. Just horrible. SS Bill Rush had 2 hits with a double, scored twice and had an RBI. C Eb Burke had 3 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Cupid Doyle got into the game as a defensive replacement for Popko and tripled in 2 runs in his only at bat. RF Jimmy Gerber and 1B Sol Popko were 0 for 9 in the game. Our 3-4 hitters had 2 hits between them in the 3 game series. If they don't start hitting, we aren't going to win a lot of games.

Other Games:
Philadelphia (6) at Washington (7) - Cal Wright (1-2) over Charlie Moss (2-1). Each pitcher walked 4 batters in the game. Washington scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to win the game. 3 Philadelphia errors in the inning greatly assisted the Olympics' cause. The finale runs scored when LF Henry Tucker, making his Liberty League debut as a late-inning defensive replacement dropped a fly ball. SS Joe O'Neill had 3 hits and a walk and scored twice.

Pittsburgh (1) at Boston (2) - John Callaham (1-0) over Bones Lane (0-2). Callaham was signed by Boston just a few days ago and Manager Pete Green installed him as the #1 pitcher, displacing Charlie Morlock. Callaham was Philadelphia's #2 pitcher last season, but found himself out of a job there when they signed Charlie Moss and Will Taylor. He held Pittsburgh to 5 hits in his debut without the benefit of Spring Training. Manager/RF Pete Green had 3 hits, stole a base and scored a run.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 10, 1877, vs. Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1-2 tied for 4th place in the Liberty League)

Our Home Opener. Let's pretend that trip to St. Louis never happened.

Bones Lane, Pitts. (34 L 0-2 1.93) vs. John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 1-2 2.16)

Lost - 5 to 4

We out-hit Pittsburgh 12 to 11 and made fewer errors than they (3 to 4), but lost. Part of the reason is that 5 of their hits were doubles. 3 of them by 3B Bill Spaeth to tie the record. He scored a run and had 2 RBIs. SS Bill Rush had 3 hits for us with a triple and an RBI. John Bendickson had 2 hits and a walk and scored a run. Wish he would start pitching as well as he is hitting. RF Jimmy Gerber was 0 for 5 and is now 1 for 19 on the season. 1B Sol Popko finally had his second hit of the season in the 9th inning but got thrown out at the plate to end the game. You can't win when your 3 and 4 hitters go 3 for 36. They're will be some lineup rearranging next game.

Other Games:
Boston (4) at Philadelphia (5) - Charlie Moss (3-1) over John Callaham (1-1). SS Jimmy Mark had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. CF John Froom, who'd hitting over .500 on the season, pulled a muscle and will be out for 2-3 weeks. Boston 2B Bill Thompson was injured in a collision at the plate and will miss a couple of weeks.

Washington (9) at St. Louis (15) - Fred Cline (1-1) over Cal Wright (1-3). 35 hits and 18 errors in this one. 2B Bub Crawford had 4 hits with a double, scored twice and knocked in 3. RF Joseph Thompson had 5 hits, scored 4 runs and had 2 RBIs. Tied the record for hits and runs in a game. For Washington, Manager/3B Matthias Haak had 3 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBIs.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 14, 1877, vs. Pittsburgh Alleghenys (2-2 tied for 3rd place in the Liberty League)

New Lineup just for today: Wash Horsfall playing short and leading off, me second, John Hagadorn 3rd. Moved Gerber to 6th and Hubbard to 7th. Just trying to shake things up.

Bones Lane, Pitts. (34 L 1-2 1.95) vs. John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 1-3 2.38)

New lineup worked like a charm in the first: Horsfall and I led off with back-to-back doubles. I then stole third and Popko singled me home. Kelley singled and Hubbard and C Eb Burke singled in runs. 4 runs in the first.

Won - 8 to 4

18 hits. 4 of them by me with 2 doubles. Scored twice and had an RBI. Bendickson had his best game yet with 5 hits allowed in 7 innings. Had 1 bad inning, the second, where he gave up 3 runs. I let Abe Everette pitch the last two innings and emptied the bench.

Other Games:
Boston (8) at Philadelphia (4) - John Callaham (2-1) over Charlie Moss (3-2). Callaham had 2 hits, scored a run and had 2 RBIs. 24-year-old 2B Billy Little, called up from Lynn to fill in for the injured Bill Thompson, had 2 hits, scored a run and had 2 RBIs.

Washington (2) at St. Louis (10) - Fred Cline (2-1) over Cal Wright (1-4). Cline held Washington to 6 hits. C Bumpus Dowdy had 3 hits with a double, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. LF Guy Monaghan had 5 hits, scored twice and knocked in 2.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, April 18, 1877, vs. Pittsburgh Alleghenys (2-3 tied for 4th place in the Liberty League)

29-year-old rookie Jerry Bern and 31 year-old rookie Ed Morgan both get their first starts today. Bern will catch and Morgan is in right.

Bones Lane, Pitts. (34 L 1-3 2.90) vs. John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 2-3 2.63)

Won - 4 to 3

6 hits. 2 of them by 3B Crazy Kelley. CF Bobby Hubbard was the star of the game, however, even though he went hitless. He threw out the tying run at the plate twice, the second time in the 9th inning.

Other Games:
Boston (6) at Philadelphia (5) - John Callaham (3-1) over Charlie Moss (3-3). LF/Manager Pete Green had 2 doubles and 3 RBIs and did not make one of Boston's 9 errors. 1B Frank Helms had 2 hits, including the first home run in the Liberty League for 1877.

Washington (2) at St. Louis (9) - Fred Cline (3-1) over Cal Wright (1-5). 2B Bub Crawford had 2 doubles and scored 2 runs. Washington's All-Star 2B Calvin Biron sprained his wrist and is likely to miss the next 2 weeks.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 23, 1877, at Boston Red Caps (5-2 2nd place in the Liberty League)

John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 3-4 2.33) vs. John Callaham, Bos. (28 R 4-1 2.05)

Lost - 5 to 4

We went down in order in the first. Boston led off with back-to-back doubles by 2B Billy Little and 3B Sandy Perkes. LF Fred Swanger would have made it 3 in a row, but RF Jimmy Gerber made an awesome catch to rob him. Bendickson is just not the same guy anymore since the shoulder injury.

We did not get out first hit until I singled in the 4th. Let me tell you that I am on a tear. I had 3 hits with a double and a triple and 2 RBIs. That gives me 7 extrabase hits in 7 games. Leads the League. Bobby Hubbard threw another runner out at the plate. With the game tied as 4 apiece in the bottom of the 9th, Bendickson gave up a leadoff single and then 1B Frank Helms tripled to end the game.

If Bendickson does not have a good game next time, we'll give the job to Abe Everette.

Other Games:
Washington (5) at Pittsburgh (14) - Bones Lane (2-4) over Cal Wright (1-6). Lane held Washington to 7 hits. He had 3 hits with his bat, scored a run and had 4 RBIs. SS Fred Orlando had 3 hits, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. RF Arther Purfield had 3 hits with a double, scored 3 times and had 2 RBIs.

St. Louis (4) at Philadelphia (1) - Fred Cline (4-1) over Charlie Moss (3-4). Each team only had 7 hits. St. Louis is the hottest team in the League, winning 6 of their first 7 now.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 23, 1877, at Boston Red Caps (5-2 2nd place in the Liberty League)

John Bendickson, Troy (25 R 3-4 2.33) vs. John Callaham, Bos. (28 R 4-1 2.05)

Lost - 11 to 3

Bendickson is just not right. When P Callaham doubled off him in the 3rd , I took him out. Abe Everette will be able to show what he can do. We actually out-hit Boston 13 to 12, but never could get a hit with runners in scoring position.

Other Games:
Washington (5) at Pittsburgh (4) in 10 innings - Dick Wheeler (1-0) over George Dennis (1-1). Wheeler had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. Manager/3B Matthias Haak had 4 hits with 2 triples, 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

St. Louis (12) at Philadelphia (11) in 11 innings - Charlie Hertzberg (1-0) over Will Taylor (0-1) in relief of Charlie Moss. The 30-year-old Hertzberg walked 6 and gave up 16 hits in his Liberty League debut, but got out of a base-loaded 1-out jam in the bottom of the 10th and set them down in order in the bottom of the 11th to make himself a winner. Taylor only allowed 2 hits and 1 unearned run in his 4 innings of relief, but was tagged with the loss. CF Dick Bailey had 4 hits, scored a run, had 2 RBIs and 2 errors. RF Guy Monaghan hit a home run.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 26, 1877, at Boston Red Caps (6-2 2nd place in the Liberty League)

Abe Everette, Troy (28 L 0-0 3.68) vs. John Callaham, Bos. (28 R 5-1 2.21)

Won - 4 to 3

Through 7 innings we only had 1 hit (by me) and no runs. We scored twice in the 8th, thanks to a couple of Boston errors and a John Hagadorn 2-run single. We scored 2 more in the top of the 9th on a Crazy Kelley double and a Wash Horsfall single. Abe Everette cruised through the first 8 innings, but suddenly started giving up hits in the 9th. RF Jimmy Gerber saved the day, though, by throwing out the tying run at the plate to end the game.

Other Games:
Washington (2) at Pittsburgh (11) - Bones Lane (3-4) over Cal Wright (1-7). LF Silver Borresen had 2 hits with a triple and scored twice. RF Arther Purfield had 2 hits with a double, walked twice, scored twice and drove in a run.

St. Louis (9) at Philadelphia (7) - Fred Cline (5-1) over Charlie Moss (3-5). SS Frank Young had 3 hits, stole a base, score 2 runs and had 2 RBIs and made 2 errors. 2B Bub Crawford had 2 hits with a home run and scored twice.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 28, 1877, at Washington Olympics (2-7 6th place in the Liberty League)

I sent John Bendickson to Rochester to see if he can get himself right. I really want him to be our main pitcher for the next 10 years and as soon as he shows he is back to 100%, he will return to Troy. I called up rookie Billy Jenkins who was 4-2 with a 1.43 ERA at Rochester. He'll be the #2 man behind Everette and we'll try to get him a few innings in blowouts. He's 24 and is 43-19 in his minor league career so far.

Jimmy Gerber and his 4 for 34 batting line will be the next candidate for a rehabilitation assignment to Rochester.

The way Washington has been drubbed so far, I fear that they are about to turn things around.

Abe Everette, Troy (28 L 1-0 3.31) vs. Cal Wright, Wash. (32 R 1-7 5.46)

Won - 8 to 7 in 10 innings

I learned a valuable lesson today as a manager: No lead is big enough when you are contemplating putting a rookie in the game for his major league debut. We were up 7 to 2 going into to bottom of the 8th and I had the bright idea to put Billy Jenkins in to give him a couple of innings. He is a pitcher of obvious talent and I figured the odds were very small that he could give up 5 runs in 2 innings. But I forgot to take into account the butterflies of a first appearance. 3 of the first 4 batters he faced doubled and he gave up 5 runs to tie the game in his first inning and he still had another inning to go. After that he settled down and held them scoreless his next 2 innings.

Wash Horsfall playing for me at 2nd had 3 hits with a run scored and an RBI. He made an error but also made two outstanding plays. I really like him and have decided to make him a semi-starter, letting him give me, Bill Rush at short and Crazy Kelley at third days off. Rush had 2 doubles, but also made 3 errors. Matthias Haak pinch-hit for Wright in the 8th and Dick Wheeler cam in an earned the loss.

Other Games:
Philadelphia (4) at Pittsburgh (2) - Charlie Moss (4-5) over Bones Lane (3-5). Moss held Pittsburgh to 7 hits. He also tripled and scored a run. C Mike Tonnies had 3 hits, scored a run and had 2 RBIs. CF John Froom, in his first game back after missing a few weeks with a pulled muscled, sprained his ankle and will be gimpy for a couple more weeks, but will likely play.

Boston (10) at St. Louis (11) in 13 innings - Charlie Hertzberg (2-0) in relief of Fred Cline over Charlie Morlock (1-2) in relief of John Callaham. 39 hits in this one. Boston scored 3 times in the top of the 9th to tie the game. Morlock pitched 5.1 innings of relief, only allowing 3 hits and 1 unearned run, but it was the game-ender, scored when 2B Bill Thompson booted a groundball. SS Fred Young had 4 hits and scored 3 runs, but also made 3 errors. 27-year-old rookie 1B John Hiscock had 3 hits with a double, scored twice and had 3 RBIs along with an error.

John Bendickson's first start at Rochester was not encouraging. Less said, the better.....

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

[Questdog]

Tuesday, May 1, 1877, at Washington Olympics (2-8 6th place in the Liberty League)

I sent Jimmy Gerber to Rochester to see if he can ever get back to 100% after all the injuries last year. 4 for 39 from the fellow I know was the best hitter we had on the team before 3 trips to the Disabled List made him a shell of his former self.

I called up rookie Bill Hammack, who was hitting .318 at Rochester. He's 24 and seems to be an awesome hitter, but not the greatest fielder. He has a good arm for right, but limited range due to lack of foot-speed.

Abe Everette, Troy (28 L 1-0 2.70) vs. Cal Wright, Wash. (32 R 1-7 4.93)

Won - 6 to 2

Going in to the 9th inning, we were only up 3 to 2. Abe Everette, John Hagadorn and me loaded the bases up with no outs and our 3-4-5 hitters coming up. Bobby Hubbard came up and grounded to 2B Ed Sumerlin who threw home to get the force out at the plate. Sol Popko then grounded one to SS Joe O'Neill who threw home to get the force out. Crazy Kelley came up and I'm getting mad that we had not scored in this situation. Crazy then drills one into right center for a base-clearing triple and all was good in the world.

Bobby Hubbard lined into a triple play in this game. He ended up hitless and his average has fallen under .200. But I don't really have anyone that can cover the ground he does in center, even if his injury from last year has slowed him up some. And he tore the League up in Spring Training, so I think he's just having a tough luck spell.

John Hagadorn and me each had 3 hits. I scored a run and had 2 RBIs. Bill Hammack had 2 hits in his debut and caught the only two balls hit in his direction.

Washington only had 7 hits, 3 of them by 1B Lou Knight, who also drove in both their runs.

Other Games:
Philadelphia (7) at Pittsburgh (8) - Bones Lane (4-5) over Charlie Moss (4-6). Philadelphia out-hit Pittsburgh, 13 to 9, but made 9 errors. LF Silver Borresen had 4 hits with a double and a triple, stole 2 bases, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. He's the bum that ended Jumbo Tilford's career.

Boston (3) at St. Louis (11) - Fred Cline (6-1) over Charlie Morlock (1-3). St. Louis pounded out 19 hits. That they are a surprise this season is an understatement. They are now 10-1 and us beating them once in three tries in the opening series of the year doesn't look as bad now as it did then. This was their 8th win in a row. Rookie 1B John Hiscock, one of the very few rookies getting playing time this season in the Liberty League, had 3 hits with a double, scored twice and knocked in 2. With all the players from Chicago and New York looking for jobs, there just wasn't much room for rookies. LF Pete Bucolo had 3 hits, scored a run and knocked in 2 while making an error. Manager/RF Pete Green is doing his part for Boston. He had 3 hits today to raise his season's average up over .500.

[Questdog]

Saturday, May 5, 1877, at Washington Olympics (2-9 6th place in the Liberty League)

We are finally over .500 on the season, but need a win today to keep it that way.

An interesting tidbit for today is that the top 3 hitters in the Liberty League in OPS right now are all player-managers. Pete Green at Boston, Matthias Haak at Washington and me.

Abe Everette, Troy (28 L 2-0 1.95) vs. Cal Wright, Wash. (32 R 1-8 4.46)

Won - 5 to 0

3 hit shutout for Everette! He struck out 3 and didn't walk anyone. First shutout of the season in the Liberty League. We only got 8 hits, 2 of them by reserve C Jerry Bern, who also had 2 RBIs. LF John Hagadorn also had 2 hits. RF Bill Hammack had a double. Bobby Hubbard went 0 for 5 and even I have to admit that he has to be moved out of the #3 hole.

Other Games:
Philadelphia (8) at Pittsburgh (6) - Charlie Moss (5-6) over Bones Lane (4-6). Philadelphia out-hit Pittsburgh, 17 to 9, but had to score 4 times in the top of the 9th to win it. SS Dan Mitchell had 3 hits with a triple, scored twice and knocked in 4 and made 2 errors. 1B Joe Smith had 3 hits with a double and 2 RBIs.

Boston (9) at St. Louis (3) - Charlie Morlock (2-3) over Fred Cline (6-2). Morlock, who has won his job back from John Callaham, finally put the ice on the St. Louis attack. LF Ike Noel had 2 hits with a double, scored twice and knocked in 3.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, May 8, 1877, vs. Philadelphia Centennials (5-7 tied for 4th place in the Liberty League)

Philadelphia is a sleeping giant and I hope we do not wake them.

Wash Horsfall spells Crazy Kelley at third today and I put him in the #2 hole and moved myself to the third spot. Hubbard is at #7.

Charlie Moss, Phil. (36 R 5-6 3.20) vs. Abe Everette, Troy (28 L 3-0 1.52)

We were up 2 to 1 in a pitcher's duel through 6 innings. In the top of the 7th, 26-year-old rookie 1B Jack "In-The" Green, making his first ever start, swatted a home run to tie the game. Neither team could get anything else going until we batted in the bottom of the 9th. With 1 out, we managed to load the bases and as luck would have it, it was my turn to bat. I strode to the plate with visions of glory swirling in my head and envisioned the fans carrying me off the field on their shoulders and/or showering me with five dollar bills after I knocked in the winning run to break the 2-2 tie.

Charlie Moss threw me a good pitch and I took it for strike one.....

I choked up just a little on the bat to give me better control of the stick and waited for his second delivery with every intention of pulverizing it to kingdom come. Up in the air and deep is all I needed. Moss started his delivery and let go of a high hard one that sailed over my head and past the catcher. In scampered Abe Everette from third and we won the game.

However, no one carried me off the field, they all were clamoring around Abe.....

Won - 3 to 2

I had an O'fer day; only my third of the season, but the second one in a row. John Hagadorn and Eb Burke each had 2 hits. Hagadorn had a double and an RBI. Rookie Bill Hammack, who was playing in right field for our dearly departed injury-prone star got injured and will miss two weeks with a stiff back. Abe Everette was once again superb in the box, giving the heavy hitting Philadelphia Centennials only 7 hits and striking out 3.

Other Games:
Washington (2) at Boston (4) - Charlie Morlock (3-3) over Cal Wright (1-10). Wright held Boston to 5 hits, but somehow managed to give up 4 runs. Washington only made 4 errors. Morlock struck out 5. LF Ike Noel and 1B George Zech each had 2 hits and scored a run.

Pittsburgh (4) at St. Louis (3) - Bones Lane (5-6) over Fred Cline (6-3). LF Silver Borresen had 4 hits with a triple, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBIs and stole a base.