History Never Repeats: An Alternative Baseball History

[NYY #23]

Capitals and Cardinals leading league
July 1, 1897



The Washington Capitals are leading the Eastern League by 3 games over the Philadelphia Quakers. The Capitals have enjoyed playing at home this year, going 27-7 at home, but only 24-22 on the road.

The Cincinnati Cardinals hold a two and a half game lead over the Milwaukee Broncos out west. The Trolleys remain in the hunt, just four games out. The Chicago Pirates, who have only finished below .500 their first year in the Players League have fallen into last place.

The Browns have been one of the best teams in baseball the past two years, winning 108 and then 109 games, but all they got was a second place finish behind the World Champion Cleveland Trolleys, who have won three straight World Series. It remains to be seen whether the Browns can hold off the Trolleys this year.

Eastern League Notes
Chick Stahl of the New York Gothams was selected as Eastern League Batter of the Month after hitting .421 with 1 home run and 27 RBI. For the season Stahl is hitting .404 with 60 RBI in 67 games.

Doug Dickson of the Buffalo Bisons was named Pitcher of the Month after going 6-0 with 16 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA in 54 2/3 innings of work. For the year Dickson is 11-6.

Teammate Mike Flynn hit for the cycle in a 11-9 Bisons loss. Flynn homered in the second, singled in the fourth, tripled in the fifth, and doubled in the seventh, driving in 2 runs for the game.

Western League Notes
Honus Wagner of the Milwaukee Broncos was named Batter of the Month in June. Wagner hit .422 with 20 RBI and 23 runs scored to improve his average for the season to .345. During the month Wagner hit safely in 23 straight games before seeing his streak end after an 0-4 night yesterday.

Jocko Flynn of the Denver Grizzlies was named Pitcher of the Month after going 6-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 63 innings of work.

Draft Recap
1. Indianapolis Indians: SP - Tom Hughes
2. Newark Bears: SP - Jack Pfeister
3. Minnesota Millers: SP - George Winter
4. Syracuse Stars: SP - Bob Wicker
5. Boston Americans: SP - Otto Hess
6. Kansas City Blues: SP - Jack Harper
7. Detroit Wolverines: CF - Mike Donlin
8. Denver Grizzlies: SP - Cy Morgan
9. Brooklyn Wonders: SP - Walt Dickson
10. New York Gothams: 3B - Bill Bradley
11. Milwaukee Broncos: 2B - Larry Schlafy
12. Chicago Pirates: CF - Harry Bay
13. Pittsburgh Rebels: SS - Miller Huggins
14. Philadelphia Quakers: CF - Homer Smoot
15. Baltimore Terrapins: RF - Pop Foster
16. Cincinnati Cardinals: P - Walter Clarkson
17. Washington Capitals: 1B - Shad Berry
18. St. Louis Browns: LF - Josh Clarke
19. Buffalo Bisons: CF - Billy Maloney
20. Cleveland Trolleys: SS - Jimmy Mathison

[NYY #23]

Cardinals try to hold off Trolleys
August 1, 1897



For the Cincinnati Cardinals it must seem like déjà vu. The Cardinals are in the same position they were last season, moving into a first place lead halfway through the season and watch the Trolleys get hot. Last year the Cardinals couldn't hold off the Trolleys, who won their fourth straight World Series. This year the Cardinals are still clinging to a 1 1/2 game lead over the Trolleys, but it seems the Cardinals keep looking over their shoulder and have gone 3-7 in their last ten games.

The Washington Capitals remain in front in the Eastern League with a 2 1/2 game lead over the Brooklyn Wonders. The Quakers are four back, and Bisons are five back with no other team within 10 games.

Eastern League Notes
George Treadway of the New York Gothams was named Batter of the Month for July after hitting .444 with 2 home runs, 22 RBI, and 20 runs scored.

Pitcher of the Month was given to Frank Killen of the Philadelphia Quakers. Killen was 5-1 for the month in 61 innings of work with a 2.07 ERA. For the year Killen is 17-9 with a 3.31 ERA.

Harry Moore of the Boston Americans hit safely in 33 straight games before going 0-4 in a game against the New York Gothams. Moore is hitting .343 for the season.

The Americans got some good news when three time Hitter of the Year Tuck Turner agreed to return to Boston for the next three seasons. Fans in Boston have been afraid Turner would head to greener pastures, but Turner decided to come back to the only team he has ever known. Turner is having a down year this year by his standards, but is hitting .368 with 54 RBI and 66 runs scored.

Western League Notes
Mordecai 'Three Finger' Brown was named Western League Pitcher of the Month after going 5-2 with a 1.55 ERA. The Indianapolis Indians drafted Brown as the second overall pick in the 1895 draft, and Brown has been getting on the job training ever since. After finishing 0-4 his first season, Brown was 13-24 with a 4.04 ERA his second year. Still just 21 years old Brown looks like he is turning into the pitcher the Indians drafted, going 14-13 for the year with a 2.48 ERA this season.

Otis Stocksdale of the Chicago Pirates was named Batter of the Month. Stocksdale hit .402 with 2 home runs, scoring 23 and driving in another 19 runs. He is hitting .349 for the season.

[NYY #23]

Trolleys take narrow lead in Western League
September 1, 1897



The Cleveland Trolleys took a narrow one game lead in the Western League as they look to get back to the World Series for the fifth straight season. The Trolleys have won three games in a row and look to be heating up when it counts, overtaking the Cincinnati Cardinals.

In the Eastern League the Washington Capitals lead the Buffalo Bisons by 3 games. The Bisons lost the World Series last year, and the Capitals lost in 1894 and 1895.

Eastern League Notes
'Wee Willie' Keeler of the Buffalo Bisons was named Batter of the Month for August. It was the second time in his career that Keeler won the honor. Keeler hit .449 with 11 RBI and 22 runs for the month. For the season Keeler is hitting .382.

Teammate Al Atkinson was named Pitcher of the Month after going 6-1 with a 1.43 ERA in 63 innings pitched.

Emmet Heidrick of the Brooklyn Wonders hit safely in 33 straight games before his streak ended against the Washington Capitals.

Western League Notes
Cy Young of the Cleveland Trolleys was named Pitcher of the Month after finishing the month 6-1 with a 1.16 ERA. Since going to Cleveland Young has once again been one of the better pitchers in the league, winning the Pitcher of the Year award last season.

Another Trolley, Hughie Jennings was named Batter of the Month. Jennings hit .442 for the month with 25 RBI and 28 runs scored. Jennings is hitting .375 for the season with 101 RBI.

[NYY #23]

Trolleys win 13 straight to take command in Western League
September 11, 1897

The Cleveland Trolleys proved one thing, they can't be counted out. After winning 13 straight games the Trolleys have taken control of the division with a commanding 8 1/2 game lead over the second place Cincinnati Cardinals.

The Trolleys spent more than half the year in second place or lower, but have managed to put everything together at the right time and appear poised to head back to the World Series for the fifth straight season. The Trolleys have won all four of their previous World Series appearances, and have won 16 of 20 World Series games they have appeared in.

[NYY #23]

Trolleys and Capitals to face off in World Series
October 3, 1897



The Washington Capitals will be returning to the World Series after an off year last year, finishing 107-55 and winning the Eastern League to take an a familiar foe, the Cleveland Trolleys. The Capitals lost both the 1894 and 1895 World Series to the Trolleys, and enter this series with a better record than the Trolleys (101-61), but a slight underdog due to the Trolleys string of four straight World Series titles.

The Capitals will feature an offense that scored more runs than any other team in the Eastern League, and a pitching staff that help opponents to the fewest runs in the Eastern League. The Capitals offense doesn't have a superstar, but features a balanced offense where 7 of their 8 regulars hit better than .300 for the season. George Davis is the leader of the offense, hitting .351 with 128 runs and 114 RBI and manning center field. Third baseman Jack O'Brien (.340, 76 RBI), rookie right fielder Danny Green (.340, 75 R, 64 RBI), and left fielder Jake Stenzel (.318, 94 RBI, 45 SB) form the core of the offense.

The Capitals pitching staff feature two youngsters - Clark Griffith (29-11, 2.98 ERA) and Pink Hawley (26-12, 2.34 ERA) and two veterans - Bert Dorr (23-9, 2.82 ERA) and former Trolley Jersey Bakely (21-15, 2.75 ERA).

The Trolleys had the second base offense in the Western League, and the best pitching staff. Hughie Jennings (.376, 132 RBI, 113 R), Jim Donnelly (.338, 100 RBI, 124 R), Reddy Mack (.309, 91 RBI, 104 R), and Ed Delahanty (.336, 110 RBI, 89 R) for the offensive core for the Trolleys.

Their rotation features a rejuvenated Cy Young (25-15, 2.22 ERA), veteran Dan Casey (23-14, 2.85 ERA), and a pair of 23 year olds - Ned Garvin (24-16, 2.92 ERA), and Ed Doheny (23-11, 3.38 ERA).

Eastern League Notes
24 year old Gene Demontreville of the Brooklyn Wonders was named Batter of the Month for September. For the month he hit .396 with 3 home runs, 18 RBI, and 27 runs scored. Demontreville raised his batting average for the season to .365, and has now driven in 102 runs and scored another 96.

Pitcher of the Month honors went to Clark Griffith of the Washington Capitals. Griffith was 7-0 for the month with a 1.13 ERA in 7 starts.

'Wee Willie' Keeler captured his first batting title after hitting .379. Keeler racked up 212 hits in 560 at bats and drove in 79 runs on his way to his first batting title.

Western League Notes
Honus Wagner of the Milwaukee Broncos took home Batter of the Month honors in the Western League. Wagner hit .413 with 2 home runs, 24 RBI, and 24 runs scored. For the season Wagner is hitting .359. The Broncos have begun using Wagner at his natural position of shortstop this season.

Cy Young of the Cleveland Trolleys took home his second straight Pitcher of the Month award. Young has been especially good down the stretch, going a perfect 6-0 in September with a 1.17 ERA to give him 12 wins in his last 13 decisions and heating up when the Trolleys needed him most.

John McGraw of the Chicago Pirates captured his second straight batting title after hitting .383.

Hughie Jennings of the Cleveland Trolleys compiled a 26 game hitting streak before an 0-4 night against the Kansas City Blues ended his streak.

When the Detroit Wolverines came into the league as an expansion team they knew they would need to draft well in order to become competitive, and the Wolverines decided to build their team based on pitching and used their first pick in the amateur draft to select the best young pitching available. They are beginning to see that philosophy rewarded this year with their first winning season. Top pick of the 1894 draft, Buttons Briggs finished 23-18 with a 2.84 ERA. Jim Buchanan came in the 1895 draft, and finished 16-17 with a 2.71 ERA. The Wolverines selected Ed Siever first in the 1896 draft and although Siever finished the season 15-18 with a 3.49 ERA, he has shown flashes of brilliance late in the season, most recently one hitting the St. Louis Browns in a 6-0 victory. While Detroit didn't draft a starting pitcher this season, their pick, 19 year old Mike Donlin, is already manning centerfield for Detroit and hit .307 in his first 35 starts. After finishing the season 86-76 and having three members of their starting rotation 21 years old or younger the future looks bright in Detroit.

[bwburke94]

Here we go again...

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by bwburke94

Here we go again...

I have to admit I'm getting sick of the Trolley's dynasty. I'm rooting for a change atop the leaders....

[NYY #23]

Capitals win game 1 in extra innings
October 5, 1897

In a pitching matchup between Cy Young of the Trolleys and Pink Hawley of the Capitals both teams knew that it would be tough to score runs today. The Trolleys got on the board first when Cy Young singled home the first run of the game to give the Trolleys the 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth the Capitals got a leadoff double by Jack O'Brien, who came home to score and tie the game up at one when Jake Stenzel singled him home. Henry Larkin put the Trolleys up by one run with a six inning single and Cy Young would hold on to that lead until the bottom of the eighth inning.

Rookie Danny Green of the Capitals smacked a two out double and came home to score the tieing run on Cy Young's throwing error that should have ended the inning. With both starters pitching well, the game remained tied until the bottom of the tenth inning when Danny Green again came up big, hitting a walk off single in the bottom of the tenth inning to send the Capitals home winners and take a 1-0 series lead. Pink Hawley earned the win for the Capitals after his complete game where he allowed just 2 runs.

Game 2 will feature Ned Garvin for the Trolleys, and Jersey Bakely for the Capitals.

Game 1:
Capitals 3, Trolleys 2
W: Pink Hawley (1-0)
L : Cy Young (0-1)

Capitals lead the series 1 game to 0

[NYY #23]

Trolleys tie the series in second straight extra inning affair
October 6, 1897

For nine innings the Capitals and Trolleys matched each other pitch for pitch, and run for run, ending regulation in a 3-3 tie. Both Ned Garvin of the Trolleys and Jersey Bakely of the Capitals were pitching well, both allowing only one earned run, and a pair of unearned runs.

The Trolleys exploded in the tenth inning though, hitting seven straight singles to score 4 runs off their former ace Jersey Bakely and even up the series. With the series heading back to Cleveland the Trolleys felt good about splitting the two games in Washington.

Game 3 will feature a rematch of game 1 between Cy Young of the Trolleys and Pink Hawley of the Capitals

Game 2:
Trolleys 7, Capitals 3
W: Ned Garvin (1-0)
L : Jersey Bakely (0-1)
HR: WAS - Tommy Dowd (1)

Series tied at 1 game each

[NYY #23]

Green Home Run puts Capitals ahead
October 7, 1897

With the score tied at 3 going into the sixth inning the Capitals Jack O'Brien singled to start a rally, which was followed by a Jake Stenzel single, and a big three run home run by rookie Danny Green to put the Capitals ahead 6-3 for good.

Once again Pink Hawley battled Cy Young and came out ahead. Hawley picked up the complete game win after allowing 3 runs. Cy Young took his second loss of the series for the Trolleys.

Game 4 will feature a rematch of game 2 between Ned Garvin of the Trolleys and Jersey Bakely of the Capitals.

Game 3:
Capitals 6, Trolleys 3
W: Pink Hawley (2-0)
L : Cy Young (0-2)
HR: WAS - Danny Green (1)

Washington Capitals lead the series 2 games to 1.

[NYY #23]

Garvin evens up series for Trolleys
October 8, 1897

With the Cleveland Trolleys down one game in the series they once again gave the ball to Ned Garvin, who limited the Capitals to 2 runs over 9 innings to pick up the win and even up the series for the Trolleys.

Ed Delahanty was 2-4 with an RBI for the Trolleys, while Heinie Peitz added an RBI single and Henry Larkin hit a sacrifice fly. It was the second straight game where former Trolley Jersey Bakely faced off against his former team and took the loss.

The upcoming starters for the series:
Game 5: Don Casey (CLE) vs Clark Griffith (WAS)
Game 6: Pink Hawley (WAS) vs Cy Young (CLE)
Game 7(If necessary): Jersey Bakely (WAS) vs Ned Garvin (CLE)

Game 4:
Trolleys 3, Capitals 2
W: Ned Garvin (2-0)
L : Jersey Bakely (0-2)

Series tied at 2 games each

[NYY #23]

Casey shuts down Capitals as Trolleys move within 1 win of fifth straight Championship
October 9, 1897

With the series tied up at two games apiece, both teams were looking to move ahead in the series and pull within one game of winning the World Series. With Don Casey on the mound for the Trolleys allowing just 4 hits all night and the Cleveland batters taking advantage of four Capital errors the Trolleys cruised to a 4-2 win to move within one game of winning their fifth straight World Championship.

The upcoming starters for the series:
Game 6: Pink Hawley (WAS) vs Cy Young (CLE)
Game 7(If necessary): Jersey Bakely (WAS) vs Ned Garvin (CLE)

Game 5:
Trolleys 4, Capitals 2
W: Don Casey (1-0)
L : Clark Griffith (0-1)

Cleveland Trolleys lead the series 3 games to 2

[NYY #23]

Cleveland can't hold lead as Capitals even up series
October 11, 1897

The Cleveland Trolleys came into the game knowing that they needed just one more win for an incredible fifth straight World Series Championship, and the Washington Capitals entered knowing that this was a must win game for them.

The Trolleys jumped out to the early 4-0 lead scoring four times in the top of the first, and with Cy Young on the mound the Trolleys had to have felt good about closing out the series.

The Capitals did not give up though, chipping away by scoring one run in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the fourth, with Pink Hawley on the mound shutting down the Trolleys after a rough first inning.

The Trolleys were going strong though, with Cy Young on the mound shutting down the Capitals and entering the bottom of the eighth inning with a 4-2 lead. It was in the eighth inning when Danny Green started the Capitals rally by singling, and capped off by a two run triple by catcher Fred Zahner that put the Capitals up for good, 6-4.

The upcoming starters for the final game of the series:
Game 7: Jersey Bakely (WAS) vs Ned Garvin (CLE)

Game 6:
Capitals 6, Trolleys 4
W: Pink Hawley (3-0)
L : Cy Young (0-3)

Cleveland Trolleys lead the series 3 games to 2

[NYY #23]

Capitals win first World Series
October 12, 1897

The Washington Capitals ended the Cleveland Trolleys four year reign as World Champions with a 4-3 win. With former Trolley Jersey Bakely on the mound, the Capitals jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Jake Stenzel homered in the bottom of the first inning. The Trolleys picked up a run in the third, but the Capitals added runs in the fifth with a Jack O'Brien RBI single, and another insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Jersey Bakely.

With the Capitals just three outs away from winning the World Series, the Trolleys made some noise in the top of the ninth, pulling to within one run before Jersey Bakely shut the door on his former team to pick up his first win of the series. Ned Garvin took the loss for the Trolleys.

It was the Capitals first World Series win in their third appearance. This was just the second World Series, and first since 1891 that the World Series went a full seven games.

Congratulations to the Washington Capitals!

Game 1:
Capitals 3, Trolleys 2
W: Pink Hawley (1-0)
L : Cy Young (0-1)

Game 2:
Trolleys 7, Capitals 3
W: Ned Garvin (1-0)
L : Jersey Bakely (0-1)
HR: WAS - Tommy Dowd (1)

Game 3:
Capitals 6, Trolleys 3
W: Pink Hawley (2-0)
L : Cy Young (0-2)
HR: WAS - Danny Green (1)

Game 4:
Trolleys 3, Capitals 2
W: Ned Garvin (2-0)
L : Jersey Bakely (0-2)

Game 5:
Trolleys 4, Capitals 2
W: Don Casey (1-0)
L : Clark Griffith (0-1)

Game 6:
Capitals 6, Trolleys 4
W: Pink Hawley (3-0)
L : Cy Young (0-3)

Game 7:
Capitals 4, Trolleys 3
W: Jersey Bakely (1-2)
L : Ned Garvin (2-1)
HR: WAS - Jake Stenzel (1)

Players League - World Series Winners
1897 - Washington Capitals (107-55) defeated the Cleveland Trolleys (101-61) 4 games to 3
1896 - Cleveland Trolleys (109-53) defeated the Buffalo Bisons (98-64) 4 games to 1
1895 - Cleveland Trolleys (124-38) defeated the Washington Capitals (99-63) 4 games to 1
1894 - Cleveland Trolleys (123-39) defeated the Washington Capitals (96-67) 4 games to 1
1893 - Cleveland Infants (94-56) defeated the New York Giants (82-68) 4 games to 1
1892 - Buffalo Bisons (86-64) defeated the Chicago Pirates (92-58) 4 games to 1
1891 - Baltimore Terrapins (91-59) defeated the Columbus Solons (90-61) 4 games to 3
1890 - Pittsburgh Burghers (82-58) defeated the Brooklyn Ward Wonders (90-50) 2 games to 0

[NYY #23]

Jennings captures second Batter of the Year award
November 1, 1897

George Davis of the Washington Capitals was named Eastern League Batter of the Year after hitting .351 with 42 doubles, 17 triples, 8 home runs, and 114 RBIs. The 27 year old switch hitting center fielder finished his fifth season with the Capitals, and has driven in 100 runs for the fourth straight season.

Over in the Western league, Hughie Jennings of the Cleveland Trolleys captured the Batter of the Year award after hitting .376 with 266 hits, 31 doubles, 19 triples, 3 home runs, 132 RBI, and 114 runs scored. It was Jennings second Batter of the Year award in his career.

Teammate Cy Young won his second straight Pitcher of the Year award, winning 25 games against 15 losses with a 2.22 ERA in 349 1/3 innings. In his second season with the Trolleys Young has turned into one of the best pitchers in the league, after struggling in Pittsburgh. For his career Young has improved to 167-172 and lowered his ERA to 2.89 for his career.

21 year-old right fielder John Titus captured Rookie of the Year honors playing for the Denver Grizzlies in the Western League. Titus hit .311 while driving in 78 runs and scoring 91 times.

Rebel fans got a glimpse of their future when Roy Patterson made his debut for Pittsburgh at the age of 20, and captured Rookie of the Year honors after going 20-14 with a 2.75 ERA in 327 2/3 innings pitched.

Pink Hawley, fresh off celebrating his first World Series title with the Washington Capitals received more good news after winning the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. For the year, Hawley finished 26-12 while posting a 2.34 ERA, holding opponents to a .249 average.

For most players getting their name in the record books is an honor. For George Van Haltren of the Syracuse Stars it was a dubious honor, after getting caught stealing 66 times, most ever in the Players League. Van Haltren stole 60 bases.

Phil Wisner of the Newark Bears set a single season record after tripling 27 times.

The gold glove winners were also handed out to the following players:
Eastern League:
Pitcher: Bill Day (Newark Bears)
Catcher: Art Twineham (Boston Americans)
First Baseman: Ira Davis (Brooklyn Wonders)
Second Baseman: Bill Eagan (Boston Americans)
Third Baseman: Gene Steere (Syracuse Stars)
Shortstop: Ben Ellis (Washington Capitals)
Left Fielder: Jake Stenzel (Washington Capitals)
Center Fielder: Frank Quinn (Buffalo Bisons)
Right Fielder: Fred Odwell (Newark Bears)

Western League:
Pitcher: Kaiser Wilhelm (Denver Grizzlies)
Catcher: Bert Blue (Milwaukee Broncos)
First Baseman: Hughie Jennings (Cleveland Trolleys)
Second Baseman: Otis Stocksdale (Chicago Pirates)
Third Baseman: Pat Flaherty (Kansas City Blues)
Shortstop: Bill Kissinger (Cleveland Trolleys)
Left Fielder: Joe Peitz (Detroit Wolverines)
Center Fielder: Algie McBride (St Louis Browns)
Right Fielder: Hugh Duffy (Chicago Pirates)

[NYY #23]

1897 Hall of Fame Check-in


I thought it would be an interesting exercise to check in an see how the real Hall of Famers were doing in my universe. This will be a regular feature from time to time, i.e., whenever I get around to updating. Here is the first batch:

Cap Anson - one of the first superstars in baseball, and one of the best baseball players in his era. Anson collected 3418 hits in real life, hitting .333 with 2076 RBI. Anson played from 1871-1897 in real life, and was a victim of timing in my universe, as his career was winding down in 1890. Anson stuck around for just three seasons, collecting 183 hits in the Players League playing for the Baltimore Terrapins.

Dan Brouthers - Brouthers was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1945, and was perhaps the greatest slugger of his era, as the home run king from 1887-1889. Brouthers played for ten different team from 1879-1904. Brouthers has played 8 seasons in the Players League so far, all for the Boston franchise (first the Reds, and later the Americans). A solid player, collecting 1264 hits, 34 home runs, 675 RBI, and scoring 709 runs, while hitting .328. Robbed of about half his career in the Players League, Brouthers was about halfway to his career totals. In real life Brouthers collided with a player while covering home plate, who later died from head injuries. Going into next season at 39 Brouthers had a solid career, but due to his missed time won't be considered for the Players League Hall of Fame.

Charley Radbourn - Radbourn was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939 after going 309-195 in a career that lasted from 1880 to 1891. Radbourn struck out 1830 and posted a 2.67 ERA. 'Old Hoss' was another one of the early players who suffered from bad luck regarding timing, and he played in just one season in the Players League, going 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 66 2/3 innings pitched for Boston before retiring.

King Kelly - Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1945, and hit .308 with 1357 runs scored and drove in 950 runs. Kelly was the first baseball player to publish his autobiography. Kelly played and managed the Boston Reds during their real life one year Player League stint. In my universe Kelly played five season for Boston, and another pair for the expansion Wolverines before hanging up his cleats. His career totals included a .281 batting average, 235 RBI, and 282 runs scored in his "shortened" career.

John Clarkson - Clarkson was another member of the Hall of Fame elected by the Veteran's Committee in 1963, winning 328 games while losing 178 and posting a 2.81 ERA. Clarkson began his career in 1882 with the Worcester Ruby Legs and finished in 1894 for the Cleveland Spiders. Clarkson played just one season in my universe, winning 23 games while losing 34.

John Montgomery Ward - rounding out the first batch of Hall of Fame check-ins is John Montgomery Ward, one of the inspirations for this alternative trek down baseball history. It was Ward and his connections to the business community that was responsible for the original Players League, and he was the manager and player for the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders in the only Players League season. Ward was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964 by the Veteran's Committee , and was 164-102 as a pitcher, once pitching a perfect game on 6/17/1880. Ward also hit .275 with 2104 hits during his career. In five seasons in my universe Ward never performed too well on the field, hitting .247 for his career, collecting just 361 hits and driving in 131 runs. Ward still holds the record for most stolen bases in a season, with 109, but his biggest contribution to the Players League will be the inspiration of this alternative reality as a founding father of the Players League.

That should be a good starting point. I'll be back next year with some more updates, and decide whether I should include active players in the updates next year or not.

[NYY #23]

Eight down
April 1, 1898

Its been eight years since we began, and 1898 brings the beginning of our new division structure with the introduction of the Eastern League North and South, and the Western League North and South. After eight seasons I decided to experiment a little bit with the format. We'll see how it works out and make adjustments as necessary. I am going to begin with a quick look back as we prepare for the 1898 season.

EL North
Boston Americans -
History:
An original member of the Players League, as the Boston Reds, the Americans have finished 519-719 in eight seasons. There best season was a 78-72 third place finish (their only winning season), and in 1895 had a .346 winning percentage, losing more than 90 games in a season five times, and more than 100 twice in their disappointing history.

Draft History:
1892 - LF - Tuck Turner (#1)
1893 - SP - Pop Williams (#5)
1894 - C - Johnny Kling (#14)
1895 - SP - Ed Killian (#6)
1896 - SP - Mike O'Neill (#5)
1897 - SP - Otto Hess (#5)

You can't draft much better than Tuck Turner, a three-time Batter of the Year, but Pop Williams (47-103) and Kling (.245 BA) have failed to inspire in the big leagues, while the jury is still out on the trio of recently drafted hurlers.

What to look forward to:
Turner (.364, 99 RBI, 244 H), shortstop Harry Moore (.345, 117 R, 220 H), and CF Billy Hamilton (.348, 94 RBI, 197 H) make up a good middle of the line-up, and with a focus on pitching the last three drafts the Americans hope to give up less than 1000 runs for the first time in the past five years. With their poor history the Americans have nowhere to go but up.

Brooklyn Wonders -
History:
Another charter member of the Players League, the Wonders, originally known as the Ward's Wonders finished in first place their first season with a 90-50 record, but lost a disappointing Championship series to the underdog Pittsburgh Burghers. With a 657-581 record, they never managed to finish higher than third after dropping "Ward's" from their nickname, but also have never finished with a winning percentage lower than .467.

Draft History:
1892: C - Ed McFarland (#5)
1893: SS - Gene Demontreville (#8)
1894: SP - Brownie Foreman (#9)
1895: RF - Emmet Heidrick (#12)
1896: LF - Harry Steinfeldt (#12)
1897: SP - Walt Dickson (#9)

The Wonders have managed to draft three starting position players, and a starting pitcher, with both Steinfeldt and Dickson almost ready to contribute. McFarland became the starting catcher for the Wonders at the age of 18, and has hit .314 for his career, while collecting over 150 hits and driving in 64 runs in each of the past five season. Demontreville has become the starting shortstop, hitting .337 and driving in 100 runs in each of the past five seasons. Heidrick has hit .323 during his first two seasons in the majors, while Foreman has had mixed results in the majors (winning 21 games in his debut season, but being sent down after posting a 5.19 ERA last season.)

What to look forward to:
Coming off a strong third place finish, the departure of the World Champion Washington Capitals should make for an interesting race for the title between the Wonders and Buffalo Bisons.

Buffalo Bisons
History:
The Bisons have won more games (672) than any other team in the Eastern League, have went to the playoffs twice, and are one of only five teams to have won the World Series. The Bisons were an original Players League team, and had losing seasons in each of their first two seasons, but have had winning seasons each of the past six seasons.

Draft History:
1892: SP - Chick Fraser (#6)
1893: P - Ed Buckingham (#14)
1894: C - Farmer Steelman (#16)
1895: C - Fred Jacklitsch (#10)
1896: SP - Tex Neuer (#14)
1897: CF - Billy Maloney (#19)

Whether a product of their success and drafting in the bottom half of the draft, or poor draft skills, the Bisons don't have much to show for their drafting outside of Fraser, who has gone 96-62 with a 3.70 ERA. Buckingham has been relegated to the bullpen at this point in his career, and their pair of catchers have done no more than manage backup status.

What to look forward to:
With a solid nucleus returning, including Willie Keeler (.379, 212 H), Sy Sutcliffe (.356, 181 H), and Bill Dahlen (.343, 237 H) the Bisons are coming off a strong second place finish, and under the new divisional structure are favorites to win the division and return to the playoffs.

New York Gothams
History:
The Gothams started their history in the Players League as the Giants in 1890 with a forgettable 55-85 season and got better in each of their next three seasons capped off with World Series birth following a 82-68 season, before going downhill in each of their last four seasons following their name change to the Gothams and have been the worst team based on New York since the Players League began.

Draft History:
1892: RF - Chick Stahl (#4)
1893: 2B - Nap Lajoie (#6)
1894: SP - George Gillpatrick (#17)
1895: CF - Ginger Beaumont (#9)
1896: LF - George Stone (#9)
1897: 3B - Bill Bradley (#10)

The Gothams have had success drafting position players with Stahl (.360, 828 hits, 401 RBI) turning into one of the better players in the league, Lajoie (.294), Beaumont (.372), and George Stone who has hit .400 in limited action in the majors, but haven't had success drafting a pitcher, with Gillpatrick failing to crack the team.

What to look forward to:
Are the Gothams the unluckiest team in the league? Last season the Gothams outscored their opponents 903-884, and the season before outscored opponents 1075-985. For their efforts they have two straight losing seasons finishing 78-84 and 75-87. With a strong outfield of Ginger Beaumont (.372, 75 RBI), Chick Stahl (.370, 105 RBI) and George Treadway (.315, 103 RBI) leading the offense the Gothams have a talented core that is better than their record indicates.

Syracuse Stars
History:
The Syracuse Stars began 1890 as part of the American Association and joined the Players League at the beginning of the 1891 season. The Stars finished their first five seasons above .500 each year, but haven't won more than 69 games in a season since and have a 604-636 record, never finishing higher than third place.

Draft History:
1892: LF - John Anderson (#13)
1893: P - Farmer Bell (#9)
1894: C - Fred Fagin (#13)
1895: 3B - Jimmy Williams (#13)
1896: SP - Alex Pearson (#7)
1897: SP - Bob Wicker (#4)
Drafting hasn't been the Stars forte, as they have failed to produce one regular in six years. Bell, Pearson, and Wicker have combined to win just 34 games, and Anderson, Fagin, and Williams have combined to play in less than 200 games.

What to look forward to:
After finishing 42 games back last season, and being outscored 1050 to 847 Syracuse fans should take comfort that there is only one way to go.

[NYY #23]

EL South
April 1, 1898

EL South
Baltimore Terrapins -
History:
The Baltimore Terrapins came into the Players League in 1891 after playing in the American Association as the Brooklyn Gladiators during the 1890 season. In their first season in the Players League the Terrapins finished in first place and won the World Series in seven games over the Solons. With a 624-614 record the Terrapins have had three winning seasons, finishing first, second, and third, while losing more than 90 games twice.

Draft History:
1892: 3B - Tom O'Brien (#16)
1893: SP - Jesse Tannehill (#2)
1894: SP - Jerry Nops (#7)
1895: SP - Gus Dorner (#7)
1896: LF - Germany Schaefer (#15)
1897: RF - Pop Foster (#15)
Outside of Tannehill, who has won 21 games for three straight seasons, the Terrapins haven't drafted any impact players. Nops has shown signs of promise, but no other player drafted has received significant playing time in Baltimore.

What to look forward to:
The Terrapins have been in a steady decline over the past three seasons, falling to seventh place and sport an anemic offense who scored less runs than any other team in the league. Baltimore fans hope that Schaefer and Foster can bring some much needed offense to Charm City.

Newark Bears -
History:
Sporting a 457-643 record, the Bears hold the lowest winning percentage of any Eastern League team (.415) and only the four new 1894 entries have a worse winning percentage than the Bears. With just one winning season under their belt, the Bears have already moved once, after playing four seasons as the Philadelphia Athletics the Athletics left town after a 65-85 record and haven't been missed. The city of Newark welcomed the Bears and their 58-104 record in 1894 and the team rewarded their fans with 96, 100, and 111 loss seasons. With the lowest attendance in the league after finishing 56 games out of first place the Bears may be wearing out their welcome in Newark.

Draft History:
1892: SP - Dan McFarlan (#9)
1893: SP - Doc McJames (#11)
1894: SP - Vic Willis (#3)
1895: SP - Fred Glade (#5)
1896: SP - Gus Thompson (#6)
1897: SP - Jack Pfeister (#2)
McFarlan (10-40, 4.40 ERA), McJames (5-11, 6.40 ERA), Willis (43-97, 4.45 ERA), and Thompson (0-1, 10.50 ERA) have failed to pan out so far. Glade (18-22, 3.90 ERA) and Pfeister (0-1, 2.35 ERA) have shown the most promise. Until their picks start to pan out, the Bears will continue to have trouble.

What to look forward to:
The Bears gave up 100 more runs than the next worst team, and had the second worst offense in the league. With an average age of 25 the Bears are a young team, and hopefully will start to develop together.

Philadelphia Blue Jays -
History:
Philadelphia will be entering a new era for the 1898 season as they are changing their name to the Blue Jays, after eight seasons as the Quakers. With an overall record of 640-599 the Blue Jays are coming off their second straight fourth place season and their 91 win total last year was their second 90 plus win season in their history.

Draft History:
1892: SP - Jack Sutthoff (#8)
1893: SP - Bill Duggleby (#3)
1894: 1B - Walter Thornton (#10)
1895: 2B - Danny Murphy (#14)
1896: 1B - Frank Chance (#8)
1897: CF - Homer Smoot (#14)
Outside of Sutthoff, who has made just 9 starts since being drafted, it is hard to fault Philadelphia's draft. Duggleby has won 93 games against 65 losses since joining the rotation. Thornton (.325 BA), Murphy (.319 BA), and Chance (.328 BA) have made the most of their opportunities so far.

What to look forward to:
Coming off a strong season, the Blue Jays will benefit from the new divisional structure with only the World Champion Capitals having a better record last year in the new EL South division. The Blue Jays offense matches up well with the Capitals, but the Capitals hold a small edge in pitching. If the Blue Jays can find a way to close that gap they will be poised for their first playoff appearance.

Pittsburgh Rebels -
History:
The Rebels captured the first Players League championship, playing as the Pittsburgh Burgers and knocking off the favored Brooklyn Ward's Wonders. The Rebels have been a solid team, posting winning records in all but the 1893 season when they went 60-90. Their overall record of 643-595 is eighth best out of all Players League teams, so while the Rebels have a winning record they haven't dominated.

Draft History:
1892: 1B - George Mahoney (#11)
1893: SP - Wiley Piatt (#13)
1894: SP - Noodles Hahn (#1)
1895: SP - Roy Patterson (#8)
1896: CF - Roger Bresnahan (#10)
1897: SS - Miller Huggins (#13)

With Jake Beckley entrenched at first base, Mahoney has seen very limited action in the Players League, which has been the case with most of Pittsburgh's draft picks. The one exception has been Noodles Hahn, who has posted 63 wins against 50 losses and a 3.19 ERA before his nineteenth birthday. Roy Patterson made his debut last season and looks to be ready for regular action after posting a 2.75 ERA. The Rebels have a group of highly touted prospects, and many feel it is time for the Rebels to give them a shot and see what they can do.

What to look forward to:
A changing of the guard, so to speak, will be occurring in Pittsburgh. As veterans like Toad Ramsey make way for the youngsters like Roy Patterson the Rebels will need to prove they can be more than a middle of the pack team.

Washington Capitals
History:
The Capitals 634-466 record has been the best in the Eastern League, and their four playoff appearance have been second only to the Trolley's juggernaut. The Capitals have had five straight winning seasons, and will look to continue that success as defending World Champions finally getting past the Cleveland Trolleys.

Draft History:
1892: LF - Billy Lush (#15)
1893: SP - Jack Powell (#7)
1894: 1B - Kitty Bransfield (#11)
1895: RF - Danny Green (#15)
1896: C - Peaches Graham (#16)
1897: 1B - Shad Berry (#17)
The biggest problem with Washington's draftees is finding a place to play them. Lush has hit .322 in five seasons in the majors as the fourth outfielder, and has shown good promise. Denny Green has also seen limited time in the outfield, but hit .336 for his career. Nobody else has seen any time in the majors, but so far this hasn't hurt the Capitals.

What to look forward to:
Under manager Ralph Ham, the Capitals improved from an eighth place team to a team that has made the playoffs in three of the four seasons, and is coming off a World Series win. During the offseason the Capitals announced that Ham will be returning as manager for the next three seasons. With minor moves during the offseason, Capitals fans will be looking forward to the Capitals title defense.

[NYY #23]

WL North
April 1, 1898

WL North
Chicago Pirates -
History:
The Pirates were one of the original Players League teams in 1890 and have had winning seasons every year except their first year in the league, and last year. Their 706-533 record gives them more wins than any other team but the Cleveland Trolleys. The Pirates appeared in one World Series, losing to the Buffalo Bisons, and despite winning 106 games in both 1894 and 1895 haven't been back.

Draft History:
1892: SP - Red Donahue (#14)
1893: SP - Jim Gardner (#16)
1894: C - Billy Sullivan (#19)
1895: SP - Bill Donovan (#18)
1896: SP - Norwood Gibson (#17)
1897: CF - Harry Bay (#12)
Drafting hasn't been one of the strengths of the Pirates, although picking towards the end of the round hasn't helped. Only one player, Jim Gardner has made much of an impact in the Players League, winning 35 games against 36 losses with a 3.25 ERA.

What to look forward to:
Were last season's struggles by starting pitchers Bill George and Silver King signs of aging, or can they rebound this year? Gardner is coming off his best season and appears ready to take his place at the top of the Pirates rotation for years to come. With three position players over the age of 30 the Pirates will need to have some young players step up.

Cleveland Trolleys
History:
In the short history of the Players League no team has been as good as the Cleveland Infant/Trolley dynasty. The Trolleys have the most wins (778), highest winning percentage (.627), playoff appearances (5), and World Championships (4). The Trolleys had one losing season (71-79) in 1891, but won four straight World Series, before losing last season's World Series in 7 games. The Trolleys have the three highest win totals in a season (124, 123, and 109), the three highest winning percentages, and sit atop the team leaderboard in most categories for batting and pitching.

Draft History:
1892: SP - Ed Doheny (#7)
1893: SP - Ned Garvin (#12)
1894: SS - Dan Coogan (#20)
1895: SP - Nick Altrock (#20)
1896: C - Henry Wilson (#20)
1897: SS - Jimmy Mathison (#20)
It is hard to pinpoint just one reason for the Trolley's success, but drafting has been a strength especially considering where the Trolleys have drafted. Doheny has won 20 games in each of his seasons in the Players League, and Garvin has won 28, 24, and 24 respectively during his three seasons. Drafting last in the draft, the Trolleys have managed to nab useful players like Coogan, who has filled in at each of the infield positions, and have three players who the Trolleys expect to contribute soon drafted last in each of the past three drafts.

What to look forward to:
No team in the Western League has been able to stop the Trolleys over the past five years, and until someone proves they can Cleveland is the team to beat. The Trolleys have never been afraid of making bold moves, letting ace pitcher Jersey Bakely leave via free agency following the 1895 season and giving a second chance to Cy Young who awarded them with two Pitcher of the Year seasons. The Trolleys brought aboard veteran first baseman Dan Brouthers during the offseason and are still the team to beat in the West.

Cincinnati Cardinals -
History:
The Cardinals have never finished less than 12 games outside of first place and have a 558-540 record over their history. The Cardinals have finished better than .500 each of the past four years, including a second place finish last year, never making the playoffs

Draft History:
1892: SP - Jake Weimer (#3)
1893: SP - Tully Sparks (#4)
1894: SP - Bill Dineen (#4)
1895: SP - Jimmy Wiggs (#11)
1896: SP - Alex Hardy (#11)
1897: P - Walter Clarkson (#16)
The Cardinals have gone with pitching in each of the drafts, and have had some good success with Weimer (80-58, 3.63 ERA), Sparks (41-29, 3.37 ERA), and Dineen (37-39, 4.19 ERA). Cincinnati quickly gave up on Wiggs, who was released and is now pitching in Syracuse, making 40 starts at the age of 20. The jury is still out on both Hardy and Clarkson, but the Cardinals have made drafting pitching a priority in their short history.

What to look forward to:
The Cardinals are looking to build on their second place finish, with Cy Seymour back for a second season after signing on as a free agent. Seymour hit .356 last season with 100 RBI and 113 runs scored to lead the offense. The Cardinals hope their young pitching will continue to develop.

Detroit Wolverines
History:
As one of the four teams to enter the Players League in the 1894 season, the Wolverines have suffered through their share of growing pains, going 255-393. After a dismal debut season where the Wolverines went 41-121, they became the first of the four teams to have a winning record after going 86-76 last season, giving fans hope for their future.

Draft History:
1894: SP - Buttons Briggs (#5)
1895: SP - Jim Buchanan (#4)
1896: SP - Ed Siever (#2)
1897: CF - Mike Donlin (#7)
The Wolverines have demonstrated a knack for drafting in their short history, going with pitching their first three seasons and adding promising center fielder last season, who hit .307 in limited action last season. Briggs has improved from 9-29 to 18-22, to 23-18 over his first three seasons while lowering his ERA from 4.78 to 2.84. Buchanan posted a 16-17 record last season with a 2.71 ERA, and Siever went 15-18 in his first season in the majors.

What to look forward to:
The Wolverines brought aboard 21 game winner Sam Leever when they signed the free agent to a 3 year contract giving them tremendous pitching depth and a bright future.

Indianapolis Indians
History:
The Indians were one of four independent teams that entered the league prior to the 1894 season, and suffered through three 100 plus loss seasons (45-117, 40-122, 58-104) before improving to 73-89 last season. In four seasons the Indians have compiled a 216-432 record.

Draft History:
1894: SP - Dummy Taylor (#6)
1895: SP - Mordecai Brown (#2)
1896: SP - Irv Young (#1)
1897: SP - Tom Hughes (#1)
The only way to describe the Indians draft strategy has been one word - pitching. While the Indians young pitching has struggled they have a lot of potential and have shown improvement. Taylor has lowered his ERA from 5.03 to 4.35 to 3.35 in his three years in the majors. In two years Brown has lowered his ERA from 4.04 to 3.06, and Young had a strong debut season with a 11-13 record and a 3.50 ERA, and Hughes has won 9 games since being drafted as they have seen their runs allowed drop from 1400 in 1894 to 808 last season.

What to look forward to:
The Indians have the second and third top prospects in baseball, with starting pitchers Irv Young and Tom Hughes and went out and signed free agent outfielder Duff Cooley to a 3 year contract after Cooley hit .369 last season. With young starting pitching and the addition of Cooley in the line-up, things are beginning to look up for Indians fans.

[NYY #23]

WL South
April 1, 1898

WL South

Denver Grizzlies -
History:
The Denver Grizzlies began their history in Louisville as the Colonels, never having a winning season before moving to Denver. The Grizzlies responded well to the move out west, winning 101 games in their first season in Denver. During their second season in Denver the Grizzlies finished a respectable 90-72 before going downhill. During their history the Grizzlies have finished 508-590.

Draft History:
1892: SP -Bill Reidy (#2)
1893: SP - Jack Chesbro (#1)
1894: SP - Eddie Plank (#2)
1895: RF - John Titus (#17)
1896: SP - Edward Murphy (#13)
1897: SP - Cy Morgan (#8)
Jack Chesbro has gone 22-22 with a 3.41 ERA in parts of two seasons with the Grizzlies, and John Titus hit .311 with 78 RBI and 91 runs scored in his first season with the Grizzlies. Other than that, the Grizzlies have yet to receive contributions from any of their draft picks, although Reidy, Plank, and Morgan are still highly rated prospects based on their potential.

What to look forward to:
23 year-old Bobby Wallace drove in a career high 105 runs last season to lead the team, and 21 year-old John Titus drove in 78, second highest on the team. The Grizzlies need someone else to step up offensively to help improve the second worst offense in the Western League.

Kansas City Blues
History:
The Blues have won 246 games and lost 402 in their short history, improving each year and finished 75-87 last season. After finishing 75 games out of first place two straight years, the long journey to respectability is in motion.

Draft History:
1894: SP - Chappie McFarland (#15)
1895: LF - Elmer Flick (#3)
1896: LF - Jimmy Sheckard (#3)
1897: SP - Jack Harper (#6)
The Blues have had mixed success at the draft, with starting pitcher McFarland yet to start a game for Kansas City, Blues' fans hope that Jack Harper doesn't suffer the same fate. Both Flick (.350) and Sheckhard (.333) have shown promise in the outfield. The Blues haven't shown they can draft pitching yet, which could be problematic for their long term success.

What to look forward to:
Unfortunately for the Blues, it looks like their best chance is to outscore opponents, which won't be an easy task because of their poor pitching. The Blues gave up almost 6 runs per game last year, which is hard for any offense to overcome.

Milwaukee Broncos
History:
The Broncos have won 610 games in the Players League, against 488 losses. With just one losing season under their belt (73-77), the Broncos have been successful in both Rochester and Milwaukee, but the Broncos have never made the playoffs, finishing no better than 3rd place. Throughout their history, the Broncos have had trouble drawing fans to the ballpark, both before and after their move to Milwaukee. Last season the Broncos drew their biggest crowds in their history, and they hope with the move to the WL South and a playoff battle will fill seats in Milwaukee.

Draft History:
1892: 1B - Harry Davis (#12)
1893: SS - Honus Wagner (#10)
1894: LF - Jimmy Barrett (#8)
1895: RF - Charlie Hemphill (#16)
1896: C - Bert Blue (#18)
1897: 2B - Larry Schlafy (#11)
The Broncos have used the draft to their advantage, perhaps better than any other team in the Players League. At the end of the 1897 season the Broncos had all six of their first round picks playing in Milwaukee. No pick has been better than Wagner, who has hit .367 for his career, scoring more than 100 runs in every year he has played, and collecting 200 hits while driving in over 100 runs in each of the past three years, including a Batter of the Year award. Davis (.344, 318 RBI, 259 R), Jimmy Barrett (.335, 372 R), Hemphill (.326), Blue (.273), and Schlafy (.308) all have performed in the majors.

What to look forward to:
The Broncos have one of the top hitters in the league in Wagner, and also one of the top pitchers in the league in John Healy (25-15 last season). The Broncos are predicted to battle the Browns for the division crown.

Minnesota Millers
History:
As part of the class of 1894, the Millers set the bar of success lowest, going 41-121 and finishing a whopping 82 games behind the Cleveland Trolleys. With only the slightest edge in winning percentage (.343 - .335) over the Indians, the Millers have the second worst winning percentage in the Players League, going 222-426 in four seasons. While the Millers have shown improvement, their 65-97 record last season was the worst in baseball, and they still finished 36 games out of first place.

Draft History:
1894: SS - Charlie Ziegler (#18)
1895: SP - Rube Waddell (#1)
1896: SP - Ham Iburg (#4)
1897: SP - George Winter (#3)
While it is too early to judge the Millers drafting skills, you can definitely say they haven't been as fortunate as their counterparts who entered the league in 1894. Ziegler has struggled at times, hitting .287 in his career. Rube Waddell finished last season 14-24 with a 4.02 ERA, and Ham Iburg went 18-18 with a 3.85 ERA in his first season. George Winter has yet to pitch for the Millers.

What to look forward to:
Things are improving in Minnesota at a slow pace, and fans are either quickly growing impatient or not showing up. The Millers need their young players to produce and quick if they expect to draw fans in Minnesota.

St. Louis Browns -
History:
The Browns with their 646-452 record have the second best winning percentage in the Players League, and have to be excited to be playing in a different division than the Cleveland Trolleys. The Browns have never had a losing season, but have had the misfortune of playing in the same division as the Cleveland Trolleys.

Draft History:
1892: RF - Duff Cooley (#10)
1893: P - Cy Vorhees (#15)
1894: RF - Dave Fultz (#12)
1895: 3B - Tommy Leach (#19)
1896: C - Tacks Latimer (#19)
1897: LF - Josh Clarke (#18)
Duff Cooley departed via free agency to the Indianapolis Indians following last season, which was the best of his career (.369, 75 RBI, 97 R), which has left the Browns without much to show from their past drafts.

What to look forward to:
With their move to the South division the Browns will not have to chase the Trolleys this season, and have a good shot at making the playoffs for the first time in the Players League if they can hold off the Milwaukee Broncos.