A Road Through Baseball History (1871-

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BATTING


PITCHING

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The new look Red Caps are being led by their newest addition Abner Dalrymple, whose .413 batting average is tops in the league. After finishing dead last their first 2 years in the NL, the Providence Grays are on track for a promising season. After putting together a 23-5 season last year for Chicago, pitcher Bill Stearns followed the money to Troy in the form of 3 years, $5,418. Well, it hasn't been working out too well so far as Stearns missed the first 2 weeks of the year, his record sits at 2-6 with a 4.97 ERA. The season is still very young as you can see, there are only 4.5 games separating first form last.

Batting Leaders
BA: Abner Dalrymple (BOS) .413
Hits: Tom York (BUF) 32
2B: Mike Dorgan (WOR), Ezra Sutton (CIN) 7
3B: Jimmy Wood (CHI) 4
HR: Tom York (BUF) 4
RBI: Paul Hines (CHI) 22
Runs: Tom York (BUF) 20
SB: Cap Anson (BOS) 4

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Pud Galvin (CLV) 1.64
Wins: Fred Corey (PRO) 8
Losses: Four tied with 6
SHO: Harry Arundel (CHI) 2
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 39

Injuries
CLV- P Pud Galvin (elbow tendinitis, 3 weeks)

Various News & Notes
5/9: Boston P Fred Goldsmith signed on for 2 more years with the club at a rate of $757 per year.
5/21: The Red Caps continue to burn through money as they locked up P Jim Britt with a 3 year, $3,242 extension. The 24 year old Britt has been in the big leagues for 8 years already, but still really hasn't gotten a chance to be the ace of a team.

Shutouts
5/10: CHI Harry Arundel (2-0 win over CIN, 2 hits, 2 K) 1st of season
5/20: CHI Harry Arundel (4-0 win over CLV, 5 hits, 1 K) 2nd of season
5/25: CIN Jim McCormick (6-0 win over CLV, 5 hits, 1 K) 1st of season
5/26: CIN Jack Neagle (1-0 win over CLV, 3 hits, 0 K) 1st of season

5 hit games
5/5: CHI LF Paul Hines (5 for 7, 2 RBI in 21-9 win over CIN)

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Batting Leaders
BA: Abner Dalrymple (BOS) .403
Hits: Abner Dalrymple (BOS) 62
2B: Four tied with 11
3B: Jimmy Wood (CHI) 7
HR: Tom York (BUF), Paul Hines (CHI), Pete Hotaling (CIN) 5
RBI: Paul Hines (CHI) 38
Runs: Paul Hines (CHI) 33
SB: Dan Brouthers (TRO) 8

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Harry Arundel (CHI) 1.72
Wins: Fred Corey (PRO) 16
Losses: Harry Arundel (CHI), Fred Corey (PRO), Jim McCormick (CIN) 11
SHO: Harry Arundel (CHI) 3
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 83

Injuries
NONE

Various News & Notes
6/17: Worcester trades 28 year old 1B Charlie Hautz to Chicago for 27 year old RF Martin Mullen.
6/28: Boston LF Abner Dalrymple was quite the pickup in the off season for the Red Caps. From the last game of the 1879 season to the Red Caps 32nd game of this season, Dalrymple had recorded a hit in every game. If you were counting, that is 33 straight games with a hit!! But, today that streak came to end against Cleveland as Abner went 0 for 4.

Shutouts
6/28: CHI Harry Arundel (15-0 win over WOR, 4 hits, 6 K) 3rd of season

5 hit games
6/24: BUF CF Tom York (5 for 5, RBI in 7-4 win over BOS)

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Batting Leaders
BA: Abner Dalrymple (BOS) .373
Hits: Abner Dalrymple (BOS) 85
2B: Abner Dalrymple (BOS), Paul Hines (CHI), Lip Pike (BOS) 16
3B: Jimmy Wood (CHI) 9
HR: Pete Hotaling (CIN) 7
RBI: Paul Hines (CHI) 54
Runs: Paul Hines (CHI), George Gore (CHI) 48
SB: Dan Brouthers (TRO), George Wright (TRO) 12

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Fred Corey (PRO) 1.95
Wins: Fred Corey (PRO) 24
Losses: Jim McCormick (CIN), Len Lovett (BUF) 17
SHO: Harry Arundel (CHI) 3
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 132

Injuries
BOS- CF George Hall (fractured thumb, 2 weeks)

Various News & Notes
7/3: The White Stockings locked up their ace pitcher for another 3 years as Harry Arundel agreed on a 3 year, $5,334 extension. Through the end of July, Arundel has compiled a 23-14 record with a 1.99 ERA.
7/6: Boston lost a key component of their offense as CF George Hall suffered a fractured thumb diving for a ball in the outfield. The diagnosis is 5 to 6 weeks. For the season, Hall is batting .298 with 24 RBI.
7/11: The Red Caps locked up their catcher King Kelly for 2 more years as he is set to earn $1,932 per year.

Shutouts
7/3: CLV Pud Galvin (6-0 win over WOR, 6 hits, 1 K) 1st of season
7/13: CIN Jim McCormick (5-0 win over BUF, 2 hits, 2 K) 2nd of season

5 hit games
7/5: BUF RF Bill Harbidge (5 for 5, 2 RBI in 15-11 win over WOR)

[AZTarHeel]

enjoying this one ... i'm not caught up all the way yet but i like detailed historical dynasties like this. always interesting to see how the "real" guys do in other people's leagues ...

[Powderguy]

Chicago and Boston look to be headed towards another 1-2 finish atop the standings, but this year it appears the White Stockings will get the best of the Red Caps for the 2nd straight year. It will be tough for the Red Caps to make up substantial ground considering the two clubs do not play at all in the month of September. Meanwhile, the Providence Grays will avoid finishing dead last in the league for the 3rd straight year as they have a legitimate shot at being over .500. The newly formed Worcester club seems to have no clue who to put on the mound as Mike Golden and Joe Borden both have 7 wins among the team's 25.

Batting Leaders
BA: Abner Dalrymple (BOS) .359
Hits: Abner Dalrymple (BOS), Ross Barnes (BOS) 108
2B: Lip Pike (BOS) 23
3B: John Hatfield (CIN) 10
HR: Joe Hornung (BUF), Tom York (BUF) 8
RBI: Cap Anson (BOS) 61
Runs: Tom York (BUF) 62
SB: Dan Brouthers (TRO), George Wright (TRO) 16

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Fred Corey (PRO) 2.18
Wins: Harry Arundel (CHI) 31
Losses: Jim McCormick (CIN) 22
SHO: Harry Arundel (CHI) 3
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 167

Injuries
TRO- RF Henry Austin (partially torn labrum, 3 months)

Various News & Notes
8/9: The Red Caps continue to lock up members of their club as LF Abner Dalrymple signed on for 2 more years at $1,913 per year.
8/12: Worcester 1B Harry Stovey went 0 for 3 against Cleveland ending his hitting streak at 22 games.

Shutouts
8/19: PRO Charley Radbourn (3-0 win over CIN, 4 hits, 1 K) 1st of season

5 hit games
8/18: PRO C Jim O'Rourke (5 for 5, 3 RBI in 10-6 win over CIN)
8/21: BUF CF Tom York (5 for 6, HR, 4 RBI, 14-1 win over WOR)
8/24: BOS RF Lip Pike (5 for 6, 2 RBI, 15-1 win over BUF)

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Twice As Nice!! White Stockings Edge Red Caps For 2nd Straight Year!

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Folded
-Cincinnati Reds

Joined
-Detroit Wolverines

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Boston, MA -- For the past couple of seasons, the Boston Red Caps have had the most explosive offense in the NL as they have in fact batted over .300 as a team in 3 of the past 4 seasons. This past season (1880), the club's big additions were Abner Dalrymple and King Kelly. Both men performed superb as Kelly batted .300 with 5 HR and 45 RBI in 75 games behind the plate. Meanwhile, all Dalrymple did was capture the league MVP as he batted .366 with 3 HR and 73 RBI while playing 86 games in left field.

Obviously, that explosive offense hasn't brought them a title the past 2 seasons, so the Red Caps went out and signed 2 more big names in Dan Brouthers and George Gore. Meanwhile, Levi Meyerle moves on and heads to Detroit for the upcoming campaign.

Back to Dan Brouthers, he put together a terrific first 2 years playing for the Troy franchise. In 161 games, he batted .310 with 220 hits while driving in 123 runs and smashing 8 homers.

Onto 22 year old CF George Gore who spent his first 2 seasons playing for the champion Chicago White Stockings. After batting .350 in 50 games in his rookie season, Gore's offensive production sky rocketed while his batting average took a dip. His numbers read: .306, 75 R, 115 H, 2 HR, 72 RBI

Unfortunately with new arrivals, that means some players may get squeezed out of playing time and that appears to be the case especially with George Hall. The 31 year old who has spent the past 3 seasons in Boston appears to be stuck behind Gore and new acquisition Pete Hotaling. Hall has 3 years left on his contract and will not be pleased to be riding the pine, so expect a mid season swap of clubs for him. As for Hotaling, he signed on for a 1 year deal, then immediately signed a 2 year extension thus locking him in a Red Caps uni for 3 years. Meanwhile, Gore's deal is only for 1 year, so it will be interesting to see how the Red Caps play this.

If you became confused by reading all that, here is what the expected Red Caps lineup will look like: CAREER NUMBERS IN (PARENTHESES)

3B: Cap Anson (634 G, .336 BA, 729 R, 986 H, 67 HR, 702 RBI, 127 SB)
CF: George Gore (134 G, .319 BA, 165 H, 3 HR, 95 RBI)
SS: Ross Barnes (600 G, .366 BA, 588 R, 1021 H, 65 3B, 11 HR, 532 RBI, 96 SB)
1B: Dan Brouthers (161 G, .310 BA, 220 H, 8 HR, 123 RBI)
LF: Abner Dalrymple (229 G, .349 BA, 359 H, 4 HR, 184 RBI)
C: King Kelly (217 G, .304 BA, 8 HR, 144 RBI)
2B: Lip Pike (600 G, .326 BA, 592 R, 897 H, 168 2B, 69 3B, 23 HR, 574 RBI, 101 SB)
RF: Sadie Houck (71 G, .370 BA, 3 HR, 36 RBI)

[Powderguy]

After being out of the rotation for some reason last year, Cleveland's Cy Bentley is showing he deserves to be the ace of the team as he has led them to a front spot through a month of the season. It is a cluster at the top as the first year club from Detroit holds an 11-8 mark sitting just 1 game out of first. They have veteran sluggers Levi Meyerle (.310, 16 RBI) and Ezra Sutton (.298, 15 RBI). After having Fred Corey start a majority of their games last year and lead them to 1 game above .500, the Providence Grays elected to let J. O'Neill begin the season on the mound for the club and that was disaster. O'Neill went 3-9 with 2.99 ERA thus relegating him to the dugout.

Batting Leaders
BA: Jack Glasscock (CLV) .398
Hits: Jack Glasscock (CLV) 33
2B: Roger Connor (TRO) 10
3B: Jack Glasscock (CLV) 3
HR: Ned Williamson (CLV) 7
RBI: Tom Burns (CHI) 25
Runs: Dan Brouthers (BOS) 24
SB: Hugh Nicol (CHI) 7

Pitching Leaders
ERA: George Derby (DTN) 1.62
Wins: Cy Bentley (CLV) 8
Losses: J. O'Neill (PRO) 9
SHO: Three tied with 1
K's: Lee Richmond (WOR) 46

Injuries
BOS- SS Ross Barnes (fractured hand, 5-6 weeks)
BUF- SS George Wright (torn groin, 2 weeks)
CHI- CF Paul Hines (torn shoulder labrum, 3 months)
PRO- 2B Jimmy Wood (sprained ankle, 3 weeks)

Various News & Notes
5/3: Two games into the season and the Buffalo Bisons are already sighing after watching SS George Wright limp off the field with what is being called a "torn groin muscle". The 33 year old is expected to miss up to 6 weeks of action. He was off to a 5 for 6 start at the plate.
5/6: After only signing a 1 year deal to come to Boston, CF George Gore inked a 2 year extension worth an additional $1,468 per year.
5/9: Another big name is out of a team's lineup as Chicago CF Paul Hines suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder while diving for a ball. A serious blow for the White Stockings as Hines is expected to miss 4 months.
5/10: The very next day Boston SS Ross Barnes suffered a fractured hand after being hit by an errant pitch. It is expected the all time batting average leader will miss 2 months.
5/26: Since having a phenomenal 1872 NA season, Providence 2B Jimmy Wood has flown under the radar as he hasn't put together any huge season since then. Well, today he was in the papers after suffering a sprained ankle while the rounding the bases. It's expected to cost him 4 weeks.
5/28: Cleveland SS Jack Glasscock, who's leading the league in hitting so far, picked up a hit in his 25th straight game dating back to last year. The all time mark is 33 set by Abner Dalrymple.

Shutouts
5/3: TRO Bill Stearns (9-0 win over WOR, 5 hits, 5 K) 1st of season
5/19: BUF Len Lovett (3-0 win over PRO, 6 hits, 3 K) 1st of season
5/23: DTN Jim McCormick (8-0 win over PRO, 4 hits, 5 K) 1st of season

5 hit games
5/18: WOR SS Arthur Irwin (5 for 5, RBI in 10-7 win over CHI)

[Powderguy]

The White Stockings are being motivated by their drive for a 3rd straight championship. That is obvious by their 15-1 record they put together this past month. Harry Arundel is the beneficiary of this dominance as he has a 19-6 record, despite a 3.83 ERA. Their offense is being led by 2nd year player Tom Burns (.373, 4 HR, 36 RBI) and rookie Hugh Nicol (.366, 16 RBI). The 2nd place Cleveland Blues are being led by their offensive trio of Ned Williamson (.309, 7 HR, 35 RBI), Jack Glasscock (.348, 30 RBI), and Buttercup Dickerson (.323, 5 HR, 28 RBI). Meanwhile, all the money that is the Boston Red Caps has them sitting just 2 games above the .500 mark. At 28 years old, most will say Cap Anson is entering the prime of his career and that may be evident by his numbers already this year, a .348 average with 9 HR and 47 RBI. Once again, the issue is with the pitching as Fred Goldsmith (13-14, 3.00 ERA) just hasn't got the job done.

Batting Leaders
BA: Tom Burns (CHI) .373
Hits: Tom Burns (CHI) 57
2B: Roger Connor (TRO), Dickie Flowers (DTN) 13
3B: Ecky Stearns (BUF) 6
HR: Cap Anson (BOS), Joe Hornung (BUF) 9
RBI: Cap Anson (BOS) 47
Runs: Dan Brouthers (BOS) 44
SB: Hugh Nicol (CHI) 10

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Bill Stearns (TRO) 1.98
Wins: Harry Arundel (CHI) 19
Losses: Fred Goldsmith (BOS) 14
SHO: Five tied with 1
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 103

Injuries
BOS- SS Ross Barnes (fractured hand, 6 days)
CHI- CF Paul Hines (torn shoulder labrum, 2 months)
DTN- RF Candy Nelson (post-concussion syndrome, 4 months)

Various News & Notes
6/6: After recording a hit in 28 straight games, Cleveland SS Jack Glasscock went 0 for 4 against Providence thus ending his streak.
6/9: The Boston Red Caps have inked another one of their superstars to an extension as 1B Dan Brouthers signed on for an additional 2 years at a total of $4,402.
6/22: As was expected before the season began, veteran outfielder George Hall was being squeezed out of a starting spot in the lineup. Today, Hall went public to the press as he demanded a trade out of town. He has only appeared 10 games totaling 10 at bats.
7/1: Two players that broke into the start of professional baseball back in the NA days in 1871 were traded today. Providence sent 35 year old 1B Ned Cuthbert (.243, 4 RBI) to Troy for 33 year old LF Charlie Pabor (.235, 3 RBI). Both men are nearing the end of their careers and their numbers are on the decline.

Shutouts
6/9: DTN George Derby (4-0 win over TRO, 7 hits, 2 K) 1st of season
6/27: CHI Harry Arundel (2-0 win over PRO, 6 hits, 8 K) 1st of season

5 hit games
6/2: CLV CF Ned Hanlon (5 for 7, 3 RBI in 21-6 win over BOS)

[Powderguy]

After winning a title the previous 2 years and looking good through the first 2 months of this campaign, White Stockings faithful didn't think it would be that easy to three-peat, did they? Well, a 7-9 mark in July saw the team's lead cut down to a half game. Meanwhile, the team that seems to print money to re-sign all this talent, the Boston Red Caps made up 6 games in the standings as they are right on the heels of Chicago after a 13-3 month that included a 3 game sweep of Chicago to start the month. Also in the hunt are the Cleveland Blues and the main reason for this is the club's league leading team ERA of 2.25. They are led by Cy Bentley (40 GS, 21-18, 2.30) who has logged 80% of the team's starts.

Batting Leaders
BA: Tom Burns (CHI) .397
Hits: Tom Burns (CHI) 87
2B: Dickie Flowers (DTN) 17
3B: Ecky Stearns (BUF) 7
HR: Cap Anson (BOS) 12
RBI: Cap Anson (BOS) 69
Runs: Dan Brouthers (BOS) 63
SB: Hugh Nicol (CHI) 13

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Bill Stearns (TRO) 1.93
Wins: Harry Arundel (CHI) 22
Losses: Cy Bentley (CLV) 18
SHO: Cy Bentley (CLV), Jim McCormick (DTN) 2
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 119

Injuries
CHI- CF Paul Hines (torn shoulder labrum, 4-5 weeks)
DTN- RF Candy Nelson (post-concussion syndrome, 3 months)

Various News & Notes
7/21: Over the past few months, the Red Caps have been locking up key pieces of their team and today they re-signed the biggest one of all. Cap Anson was seen leaving the South End Grounds club office with a huge smile on his face. I guess I would be to after just agreeing to a 6 year, $12,731 extension that will run until the end of the 1887 season.
7/23: The Troy Trojans locked up one of the bright young stars in the game today as 1B Roger Connor signed a 3-year extension that will pay him $2,136 per season. With this being Connor's 2nd season in the league, he hasn't gotten much attention being that he has played for Troy who hasn't done all that great. He is currently batting .373 with 4 HR & 38 RBI through the end of the month.
7/28: Worcester 1B Harry Stovey accomplished a feat today that no one in the National League had ever seen done. In the 2nd, he doubled, smacked an RBI triple in the 3rd, followed that up with a solo homer in the 6th, and topped it off with a 2 run single in the 7th. Add it all up and that equals out to a CYCLE!! In this history of pro ball, it was only ever accomplished one other time as Jimmy Wood did it on 6-10-1875 in the now defunct National Association.

Shutouts
7/7: CLV Cy Bentley (6-0 win over PRO, 5 hits, 3 K) 1st of season
7/19: DTN Jim McCormick (5-0 win over CLV, 5 hits, 2 K) 2nd of season
7/30: CLV Cy Bentley (10-0 win over CHI, 7 hits, 2 K) 2nd of season

5 hit games
NONE

[Powderguy]

Cleveland, OH -- As fans filed into Kennard Street Park this afternoon, they were watching their NL leading Cleveland Blues take on a sub par Buffalo Bisons squad who had finished under .500 their first two years in the league. Going against the hometown Blues was 34-year old Irishman Hugh Campbell, who has been in professional ball since 1873. Well, fans will never forget what they would witness during the next 2+ hours of baseball as Hugh Campbell would TOSS THE LEAGUE'S FIRST EVER NO HITTER!! Only an error in the 2nd inning kept Campbell from tossing a perfect game as he faced only 1 over the minimum for the game.




Campbell's only real time where he was the top pitcher on a team came in 1874 when he started 58 games for the NA Philadelphia Whites. It's a wonder how Campbell was able to hold onto a roster spot for this long, but it's all history now as he will now be known as the man that threw the first NO HITTER.

[Powderguy]

Since coming into the league 3 years ago, the Cleveland Blues have made a steady improvement going from 6th in 1879 to 3rd in 1880 and now leading the league by three games with a month to go. They played all 16 of their games in August against Detroit (4-2) and Buffalo (8-2), two below .500 teams. It has been an odd month as the club had a 9 game winning streak snapped by Buffalo's Hugh Campbell who tossed the league's first ever NO HITTER against them. Cy Bentley was a horse on the mound going 11-1 with a 1.78 ERA while tossing 2 shutouts and it should be noted it was not on the hill for the club when they were no hit. Looking ahead to September, the Blues play Boston the final 3 games of the season. Could that possibly decide the champion of the National League?

Batting Leaders
BA: Roger Connor (TRO) .375
Hits: Roger Connor (TRO) 109
2B: Dickie Flowers (DTN), Dan Brouthers (BOS) 22
3B: Ecky Stearns (BUF) 7
HR: Cap Anson (BOS) 14
RBI: Cap Anson (BOS) 74
Runs: Dan Brouthers (BOS) 83
SB: Hugh Nicol (CHI) 19

Pitching Leaders
ERA: Tommy Bond (BOS) 2.07
Wins: Cy Bentley (CLV) 32
Losses: Len Lovett (BUF), J. O'Neill (PRO) 21
SHO: Cy Bentley (CLV) 4
K's: Harry Arundel (CHI) 167

Injuries
CLV- LF Buttercup Dickerson (oblique strain, 2 weeks)
DTN- RF Candy Nelson (post-concussion syndrome, 8 weeks)
WOR- P Lee Richmond (hip strain, 4 weeks)

Various News & Notes
8/4: Chicago SS Tom Burns went 0 for 4 against Buffalo as his hitting streak ended at 22 games.
8/9: Another day, another 20+ game hit streak over for a Chicago hitter. This time it was LF Fred Treacey who had recorded a hit in 21 straight games until going 0 for 4.

Shutouts
8/6: CLV Cy Bentley (9-0 win over DTN, 6 hits, 4 K) 3rd of season
8/9: CLV Cy Bentley (7-0 win over BUF, 3 hits, 2 K) 4th of season
8/11: DTN Jim McCormick (4-0 win over CHI, 6 hits, 2 K) 3rd of season
8/25: BUF Hugh Campbell (5-0 win over CLV, 0 hits!!, 3 K) 1st of season
8/27: PRO J. O'Neill (6-0 win over WOR, 6 hits, 3 K) 1st of season

5 hit games
8/31: BUF 1B John Reilly (5 for 5, HR, 3 RBI in 9-1 win over CLV)

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White Stockings Maintain Half Game Lead For Final Week, Capture 3rd Straight Title!

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