British and Irish Baseball

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British Baseball News
Saturday 14 July 1888

After Kensington had moved a game clear by winning Wednesday's rescheduled game against Limehouse, there is a remarkable five-way tie at the top of the Metropolitan League tonight after the champions were beaten by Putney this afternoon. The win drew Putney level at the top, while Greenwich, Hackney and Woolwich all won as well to set up the biggest first-place tie ever seen at this stage of a season. Although they are sixth, the City of London Club are only two games behind and will fancy their chances of being involved in the title race as well. Two teams remain tied in the Suburban League after Croydon and Ealing each beat the other at home this week. Enfield could have joined them at the top had they won both against West Ham, but lost Wednesday's game to remain one behind. With two wins over last placed Kingston, one of them a record 26-0 shutout win, Wimbledon are also only one game back.

Two wins over lowly Irwell were enough to move Rochdale six games clear at the top of the Lancashire League, as chasers Blackburn and Liverpool split their two meetings. Liverpool moved level in second place by winning on Wednesday, only for Blackburn to edge ahead again by taking today's game. Ribble beat Burnley twice to join Liverpool in third as this season shapes up to be possibly their best so far. Halifax are four games clear at the top of the Yorkshire League after two wins over a Sanderson's Weir team who are enduring one of their worst runs in years. The leaders moved further clear because York lost to East of Hull on Wednesday, while champions Sheffield crashed at Woodhouse today and have now fallen five games off the pace in third.

Two defeats to Aston have cost Cannon Hill the outright lead in the Central League, although it could have been worse as Sherwood could only share their meetings with Derby. They join Cannon Hill at the top, but Leicester remain two games off the pace after losing twice at the hands of a Walsall team who now join them in a tie for third. Aston and Birmingham are only three behind, with more than half the league still having realistic title hopes. Only one team has any hope of the Northern Combination title, as Middlesbrough are now an enormous nine games clear at the top after two more wins this week, coupled with two defeats for second placed Sunderland. Wearmouth shared their games with Jesmond and that was enough to draw them level with Sunderland in a tie for second.

Tail o' the Bank's lead in the Caledonian League was trimmed to two games when they were beaten by Govan on Wednesday, before they dug out a narrow win in the return game today. White Cart are second after winning both their games against last placed Lanark-Renfrew, with Glasgow a further game behind in third after they shared two with The Grange. White Cart and Glasgow meet for two games this week, with Tail o' the Bank no doubt hoping they will win one each. It was a bad week for all the contenders in the Irish League's Belfast Section, with Sailortown and Clonard losing twice and Queen's Island having a win and a defeat. That one win though was enough to draw them level with Sailortown at the top, while Clonard sit one game behind. The gap in the Dublin Section is down to one after Kilmainham lost to Laganside on Wednesday, allowing Drumcondra to move closer with two wins.

The real talking point this week in the Western League was today's meeting between Bath and Cardiff, which looks set to be a preview of the championship play-off. Bath won the game to extend their winning run to nine, although their lead in the English Section remains at six games as Avon also recorded two wins this week. Cardiff's defeat did them no hard as nobody else in the Welsh Section even recorded one win this week, meaning that victory over Bristol on Wednesday extended Cardiff's lead to thirteen. It is just a question of when, rather than if, they secure first place and they could do so in just a few weeks time, possibly with around two months of the season still remaining.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 21 July 1888

All the leading contenders in the fascinating Metropolitan League title race continue to look strong, with the only defeat for any of the top five coming when Woolwich and Hackney met each other on Wednesday. Hackney won that game and won today as well, with Putney, Kensington and Greenwich also recording two wins. That means that the four are still tied at the top, with Woolwich one behind. Ealing remain as co-leaders of the Suburban League but are joined by Enfield rather than Croydon. Ealing shared their two games with Wimbledon, while Enfield enjoyed two wins over a Forest Gate team who have dropped down to a losing record after starting the season well. It was an awful week for Croydon, who led in the ninth inning of both their games against Hammersmith but lost both and now sit alongside Wimbledon, one game behind Ealing and Enfield.

Lancashire League leaders Rochdale fell to a rare defeat against Moss Grove this afternoon but they still end the week further ahead than they started, as Blackburn were beaten twice by St. Helens. Liverpool could have moved clear in second place but they lost to Burnley this afternoon. They and Blackburn are now joined in a four-way tie for second place by Oldham and Ribble. Having moved five games clear in the Yorkshire League by beating York on Wednesday, Halifax saw their lead cut back to four this afternoon when York took the return game. Sheffield failed to close the gap as they could only share their meetings with East of Hull, leaving the champions still five games back. Leeds are the only other team with a winning record, but they are seven behind after splitting their games with a much improved Huddersfield.

Sherwood's loss to Birmingham this afternoon means that Cannon Hill are out on their own again at the top of the Central League, having beaten struggling Wolverhampton twice. Champions Leicester are now three games back after losing to Derby today, but the team to watch out for at the moment are Walsall. They took both their games against last placed Trent Bridge to extend their winning run to five and move clear of Leicester in third place, just two games behind the leaders. Middlesbrough suffered just a fifth defeat of the season in the Northern Combination when they fell to Newcastle this afternoon, allowing Sunderland and Wearmouth to trim their lead ever so slightly. They remain tied for second after both won twice this week and the gap to the leaders is now down to eight games. The Hartlepools are on a fine run in fourth place having won their last six games.

The picture is much the same as a week ago in the Caledonian League after Tail o' the Bank lost to Leith on Wednesday but won the return game this afternoon. They are still two games clear at the top because chasers White Cart and Glasgow also shared their games, leaving White Cart still in second place and Glasgow a further game back in third. Leith share fourth with Moncreiffe Island, who beat Lanark-Renfrew twice, but they are both five games behind. Wins over Drumcondra and Kilmainham have moved Sailortown a game clear again in the Irish League's Belfast Section, as Queen's Island lost to Trinity this afternoon. They are one behind with Clonard two back, while last year's section winners Laganside are now just three behind in last place having won their last five. Kilmainham still lead Drumcondra by one game in the Dublin Section, as both teams suffered two defeats this week.

In the Western League, Bath still lead Avon by six games but have now won their last eleven and caught Cardiff for the best record in the league. Avon have won the last six themselves, but have a large gap to close. Bath moved on to the same record as Cardiff because the Welsh Section winners were beaten by Rhondda this afternoon, but with Newport also losing they remain a massive thirteen games clear in the standings.

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British Baseball News - Caledonian League Expansion
Monday 23 July 1888

The Caledonian League has announced the identity of the two new teams who will be joining the competition next year following a meeting in Edinburgh over the weekend. The announcement, which had been expected a few weeks earlier, confirms that the league will grow to twelve teams with the suggestion being made that the scheduling format will copy those of the Lancashire and Suburban Leagues. That however remains to be officially confirmed.

The league received seven applications, from teams in Aberdeen, Ayr, Hamilton, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Partick and the Tollcross area of Glasgow. Initial speculation was that Partick were strong favourites to be elected, while Ayr and Hamilton were outsiders. The Aberdeen team were thought to have a strong bid but one which could be undermined by their geographical isolation and the length of train journeys required by visiting teams.

As we have seen with the English leagues, the process involved each existing member casting two votes, meaning that there were twenty available. With widespread support from teams in the western side of the country, Partick lived up to their billing as favourites and topped the ballot with six votes, earning a place in the league. The view of Ayr and Hamilton being outsiders was also proved correct, with one vote for Hamilton proving to be all they managed between them. Aberdeen were only able to persuade two teams, thought likely to have been Dundee and Moncreiffe as the two who would have had the shortest journeys, to support them.

That left the second place between Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy and Tollcross and in the end a second ballot proved to be necessary. Kilmarnock and Kirkcaldy tied on four votes each, with Tollcross one behind on three and therefore eliminated. All ten teams had to choose between Kilmarnock and Kirkcaldy, with the vote essentially coming down to those clubs who had supported both or neither in the first ballot.

Dramatically, the vote was split five each, with many speculating that it was purely based on geography as the two applicants were from opposite sides of the country. The tie meant that the league's directors had to make the final decision and they went with geography as well, giving Kirkcaldy the nod in order to have six teams from the west and six from the east.

Partick and Kirkcaldy will therefore join the league for the 1889 season, with the exact format of the season expected to be confirmed at the league's Annual General Meeting in January. League officials also announced that given the high level of interest in joining the league, it probably won't be too many more seasons before teams are invited to apply again.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 28 July 1888

Metropolitan League champions Kensington end the month of July as outright leaders after a perfect week in which they beat fellow contenders Greenwich and Hackney. With Putney losing to Woolwich this afternoon, those two teams share second place with Hackney, one game behind, while Greenwich have fallen two back after a stunning 12-4 thrashing at the hands of last placed Marylebone today. The champions also have a one game lead in the Suburban League, as Ealing beat Dartford twice while Enfield suffered a shock loss to last placed Kingston on Wednesday. They now find themselves in a three-way tie for second place as both Croydon and Wimbledon recorded two victories.

Very little has changed in the Lancashire League this week as leaders Rochdale won both their games, but so too did Blackburn, Liverpool and Oldham. That means that those three all stay seven games behind Rochdale, with Ribble the only team in the top half of the standings not to win twice. They shared their games with Irwell and now find themselves tied for fifth with St. Helens, eight games off the pace. Yorkshire League leaders Halifax suffered a surprise defeat to lowly Bradford today, but nobody could really take full advantage as York and Sheffield shared their two meetings during the week. York, who have lost on Wednesday and won on Saturday during every week of July, remain in second place but still four games behind Halifax, while Sheffield are five behind and need to catch up quickly if they are to hold on to the title.

Cannon Hill's position at the top of the Central League looks a lot more secure at the moment after they won two games against Derby. That moved them three clear at the top because Sherwood lost both of their crucial battles with champions Leicester. The two wins moved Leicester back into a tie for second, while Walsall are part of that tie as well after sharing two games with Aston, but Cannon Hill were the week's real beneficiaries. Sunderland's slim hopes of making Middlesbrough fight for the Northern Combination title are all but over after they lost both games between the two this week. Sunderland are now fully ten games behind, with champions Wearmouth clear in second place having won two against The Hartlepools. They are still eight games back though as Middlesbrough are already closing in on the crown.

The Caledonian League title race might come down to a straight fight between Tail o' the Bank and White Cart, neither of whom have taken the crown before, after they both won twice this week while Glasgow lost both their games against Arthur's Seat. Tail o' the Bank still lead by two from White Cart, but Glasgow are now five games back and really cannot afford to lose any more ground. In the Irish League, Sailortown had moved two games ahead in the Belfast Section on Wednesday but defeat to Drumcondra this afternoon allowed both Clonard and Queen's Island to close to within one. It was a similar story in the Dublin Section with Kilmainham moving two clear on Wednesday when Drumcondra lost to Clonard, only to hand the game back this afternoon when they slipped up against Queen's Island.

In the Western League, Bath and Cardiff continue their majestic progress towards a championship play-off against one another as both recorded two more wins this week. Bath now lead the English Section by eight games after Avon Gorge lost twice, including a defeat to Bath on Wednesday. Cardiff's advantage in the Welsh Section is now fourteen games after their win over Swansea today, although they must cope without injured first choice pitcher Elias Rowntree for the next few weeks. Nevertheless, it is starting to look ever more likely that they will win the section before the end of August.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 4 August 1888

After the top four teams in the Metropolitan League had all won on Wednesday, champions Kensington surrendered their outright lead this afternoon when they crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against last placed Marylebone. That gave Hackney, Putney and Woolwich the chance to draw level, but only Putney took advantage as Hackney slipped to an extra innings defeat against Westminster while Woolwich were beaten by the City of London Club. Hackney and Woolwich are therefore a game behind in a tie for third, with Greenwich a game further back after they also lost to the in-form City Club on Wednesday. In the Suburban League, Ealing also surrendered the outright lead in the standings when they slipped up against Tottenham this afternoon. Croydon and Wimbledon, who have both won their last four, join them at the top while Enfield could have done so as well but instead remain one behind after only sharing their games with Harrow.

Lancashire League leaders Rochdale were edged out by Ribble this afternoon but still lead the standings by seven games. The three teams closest to them at the start of the week, Blackburn, Liverpool and Oldham, all lost twice to fall further behind, allowing St. Helens to move into second place on their own for the first time ahead of their two games with Rochdale in the coming week. St. Helens have won their last eight and while they are surely too far back to have realistic title hopes, their position is a testimony to the work put in since they lost all but one of their first twenty-five games three seasons ago. Having lost the first of their two games with leaders Halifax, Yorkshire League champions Sheffield simply had to win today's return battle to keep alive their hopes of another title and they did so in extra innings, ending the week where they started it five games behind. Those teams sharing their games helped out second placed York, who beat Sanderson's Weir twice to close to within three of Halifax.

Cannon Hill are still three games ahead in the Central League after they, Sherwood and champions Leicester all recorded two wins during the past week. Cannon Hill's victories were over previously in-form Walsall, ending their recent charge and dropping them five games off the pace again, where they are joined in a tie for fourth place by Aston. Middlesbrough's run to the Northern Combination title has been in little doubt all year but they are really closing in on the crown now after beating The Hartlepools in both games this week while champions Wearmouth lost twice to Newcastle. That means that although there are still nineteen games to play, Middlesbrough lead by ten and have a chance of being champions before August is out. Third placed Sunderland are the only other team with a winning record, sitting one behind Wearmouth after sharing two games with Stockton this week.

What looked to be becoming a two-horse race in the Caledonian League is wider open again after Glasgow beat leaders Tail o' the Bank twice to close to within three games of first place. Glasgow are still third, but only one behind second placed White Cart now after they also lost twice at the hands of Govan. Leith and Moncreiffe both recorded two wins and suddenly find themselves only four games behind the leaders. Queen's Island are the new leaders of the Irish League's Belfast Section after a perfect week saw them win both their games while every other team in the section lost twice. That means they are now a game ahead of Sailortown instead of a game behind, while Clonard are two back and now have a losing record again. In the Dublin Section, champions Drumcondra were one of the teams to lose to Queen's Island, a result which allowed Kilmainham to move two games clear by winning twice.

It was a strange week in the Western League as neither Bath nor Cardiff recorded a win - albeit from only one game each as the league had a day off on Wednesday. Bath were beaten by Bristol this afternoon but still lead the English Section by eight games as Avon also lost, at the hands of Cheltenham. Cardiff crashed at home to Swansea to see their lead in the Welsh Section trimmed ever so slightly, to a still massive thirteen games. Swansea share second place with Newport, who beat Rhondda, but neither team is anywhere near an even record for the season.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 11 August 1888

Metropolitan League champions Kensington have a one game lead at the top of the standings again after Putney stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at lowly Angel this afternoon. Kensington won both of their games during the week, as did both Hackney and Woolwich and those two now join Putney in a three-way tie for second place. Greenwich seem to be losing touch though, as defeats to Putney and Clapham see them fall four games off the pace, meaning it may now be a four-horse race for the title. There are also outright leaders in the Suburban League after Wimbledon beat Enfield in both their meetings this week. The two losses drop Enfield three games back and they too may be seeing their chance slip away. Wimbledon are a game clear of Croydon and Ealing, who both lost on Wednesday before winning this afternoon. Ealing's win over Forest Gate today brought the second no-hit performance of star pitcher William Shotton's career, only the third man in any league to achieve the feat twice.

Rochdale are cruising towards a second Lancashire League title in three years after beating St. Helens twice. With none of the chasers able to match their two wins, the margin at the top is up to nine games. The battle for second place is fascinating, with Oldham's win over Liverpool this afternoon meaning that those two teams are tied with St. Helens, Blackburn and Ribble as five clubs share that position. The Yorkshire League was one of four competitions to have Wednesday off this week, but leaders Halifax extended their lead back to four games this afternoon when they edged Leeds in extra innings and York were beaten at home by West of Hull. Sheffield also needed an extra inning to beat last placed Huddersfield, but their win keeps them five games behind Halifax with still eighteen to play.

Leicester breathed new life into the Central League title race this afternoon by beating Cannon Hill 4-3 to close to gap at the top of the standings to two games. Sherwood are also only two back after they beat Aston and they face Cannon Hill themselves on Wednesday, giving them the chance to pull to within a single game. Middlesbrough beat Wearmouth in extra innings today to extend their lead in the Northern Combination to eleven games with eighteen remaining. They have dominated the competition in their debut season and could be just two or three weeks away from securing the title. The other remarkable story today came in Sunderland's loss to improving Jesmond, where Jesmond scored a record sixteen runs in a single inning on their way to a 21-4 success.

What looked like a two-horse race in the Caledonian League may well feature no fewer than five teams as Tail o' the Bank and White Cart continue to stumble. Tail o' the Bank slipped up against Moncreiffe Island today while White Cart lost a ninth inning lead and fell in extra innings to Leith, a third successive loss for both teams. Glasgow failed to join White Cart in second place when they lost to Govan, but the wins for in-form Leith and Moncreiffe mean that they now share third with Glasgow. Those teams are just three games behind the leaders and one behind White Cart in second. A crucial win for Clonard over Sailortown this afternoon means that just a single game separates three of the four teams in the Irish League's Belfast Section. Clonard moved level with Sailortown with the win, while Queen's Island lost to Laganside to keep them just a single game ahead. Drumcondra had moved within one game of Kilmainham in the Dublin Section on Wednesday, but their surprise defeat to last placed Trinity let Kilmainham move two ahead again by beating Rathmines.

Bath's stunning run of form in the Western League is well and truly over as they were beaten by Avon and Cheltenham this week to extend their losing run to three. Avon's win on Wednesday closed the gap at the top of the English Section standings to seven, but they could not get any closer today as they lost in extra innings to Bristol. Welsh Section leaders Cardiff were stunned by last placed Rhondda today but with Swansea losing to Newport, Cardiff's lead remains thirteen games with only seventeen to play. In theory, they could secure first place as soon as a week on Wednesday having completely dominated the Welsh Section in the competition's inaugural season.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 18 August 1888

Putney's hopes of regaining the Metropolitan League title that they lost a year ago suffered a blow this week as the six-time winners lost to Westminster on Wednesday and then crashed to fellow contenders Hackney in today's big game. Kensington remain a game clear at the top after two dominant shutout wins and now sit three games ahead of Putney. Their closest challengers remain Hackney and Woolwich, both a single game behind, with the top three all on four game winning runs. Wimbledon are looking good to regain the Suburban League crown at the moment as they beat West Ham twice this week to extend their winning run to right. Croydon are still chasing hard after two wins over surprise strugglers Forest Gate kept them within one of the leaders, but champions Ealing slipped two games back when they were shocked by Bexley Heath this afternoon. Enfield beat Hammersmith twice to remain three behind but four games with Croydon and Ealing in the next two weeks will determine whether they are still realistic contenders.

Rochdale's lead in the Lancashire League is back down to eight games after they shared two with Burnley this week while Liverpool were beating Moss Grove twice. The top two meet for two games this week with champions Liverpool surely having to win both to have any hope of a late challenge, but they seem to be too far behind. They are at least clear in second, after Blackburn, Oldham and St. Helens all had a mixed week while Ribble lost twice as they begin to fade. The Yorkshire League race is unchanged after a week in which the top three teams all won both their games. Leaders Halifax look in fine form after big victories over West of Hull and Woodhouse Lane, but York and Sheffield won't be giving up just yet. They remain four and five games behind respectively, while Leeds are the only other team with a winning record but they are a long way back having lost their last three.

Cannon Hill's defeat to Sherwood on Wednesday, combined with Leicester's crushing win over last placed Trent Bridge, had left three teams split by just one game at the top of the Central League. It all changed again today though, as Cannon Hill moved further clear by beating Trent Bridge themselves while Sherwood and Leicester were both beaten. They now drop two behind again, although there are still fifteen games left for them to catch up. Northern Combination leaders Middlesbrough were shutout by lowly Gateshead on Wednesday to suffer only their sixth defeat of the season, but they end the week where they started with an eleven game lead because Wearmouth also lost to Gateshead this afternoon. Two wins for Sunderland mean that they now share second place with Wearmouth once again, while behind them a pack of teams battle hard to get up to an even record.

Caledonian League leaders Tail o' the Bank got their title push back on track this week by beating Moncreiffe Island and Dundee to get over their recent poor run of form. Their lead at the top is back up to four games after Leith lost to Govan and Glasgow were beaten by Moncreiffe today, while White Cart lost both their games this week and have now dropped their last five. They are in a four-way tie for second with Leith, Glasgow and Moncreiffe. After Clonard had moved into a tie at the top of the Irish League's Belfast Section by beating Sailortown on Wednesday, they lost to Queen's Island today and slipped one game behind their opponents again. Sailortown are also one back after beating Laganside as the battle looks set to remain tight for the rest of the season. In the Dublin Section, leaders Kilmainham lost to Trinity this afternoon but still end the week further clear, as two defeats for Drumcondra mean that the gap has grown to three games.

In the Western League, Bath and Avon both enjoyed wins over Bristol and Cheltenham during the week, meaning that Bath's lead at the top of the English Section remains at seven games with just fifteen to play. While Bath are closing in on securing first place, Cardiff are almost there in the Welsh Section despite losing to Swansea on Wednesday. Second placed Newport closed the gap to twelve by winning both their games, but if Cardiff win the meeting of those two on Wednesday they will be able to secure first position if they win and Newport lose next Saturday.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 25 August 1888

The final Saturday of August brought the rare phenomenon of a team securing first place before we even reach September as Cardiff Arms Park ensured they would be the first winners of the Western League's Welsh Section. They beat Newport on Wednesday to set up the chance to clinch first position today, eventually doing so by beating Bristol as Newport lost to Cheltenham. Cardiff are section winners with fully thirteen games remaining and must now wait to see who they will play in the championship play-off. It should be Bath Spa, but their lead in the English Section is down to six games after defeat to second placed Avon on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, the Metropolitan League season reached the three-quarter mark today with Kensington Victoria restoring their one game lead at the top. They had been caught by Hackney and Woolwich after losing to the City of London Club on Wednesday, but won a tight game against Woolwich today. With Hackney losing in extra innings to Angel, they and Woolwich slip one game behind again. Putney are two back after two wins this week and they play Kensington next with the chance to close to within on, while the City Club are only three back now having won their last four. Wimbledon had moved two games clear in the Suburban League when Croydon lost to Enfield on Wednesday, but the leaders saw their nine-game winning run end at Tottenham this afternoon allowing Croydon to move back within one. Ealing beat West Ham twice and are also back within a single game ahead of two meetings next week with an Enfield team who are three behind.

Rochdale all but extinguished Liverpool's slim hopes of retaining the Lancashire League title by winning both of their meetings this week. Liverpool are now ten games behind Rochdale, having fallen one behind Oldham and Blackburn who share second after both winning twice this week. Liverpool share fourth with St. Helens, while Bolton are up to an even record after four successive wins but Ribble drop back to the same mark having lost their last five. The Yorkshire League title race took a big twist today when Halifax pitcher Frederick Sibley suffered an injury that could well end his season. His team seemed to have recovered from Wednesday's defeat to East of Hull when they beat second placed York, but Sibley's absence might prove costly. At the moment they lead by four from both York and champions Sheffield, who have won their last six and will be encouraged by the weakening of the leaders.

Central League leaders Cannon Hill saw their lead cut to one game when they lost in extra innings to St. Margaret's on Wednesday and with Sherwood winning twice this week, the leaders would have been caught today had they not ground out a narrow win over Wolverhampton. Instead they remain a game clear of Sherwood and two ahead of Leicester, who themselves slipped up against Wolverhampton on Wednesday. Two defeats for Walsall drop them five off the pace and their hopes seem to be over. Middlesbrough had to work hard in both their games this week but the Northern Combination leaders won twice and with Wearmouth losing today and Sunderland losing both their games, they are now on the brink of the title. Their lead is twelve games with fourteen to play, meaning that they will be champions next Saturday if they win twice this week and Wearmouth lose either of their games.

If Tail o' the Bank thought they had got over their recent struggles, they were proved wrong this week as the Caledonian League leaders lost to both Dundee and White Cart. White Cart's win was one of two in the week as they closed to within two games again, as did Moncreiffe Island with two wins of their own. White Cart have a chance to move within one when they play Tail o' the Bank again on Wednesday. Glasgow and Leith are tied for fourth place, three games behind with thirteen remaining. The other big story at the moment is the hitting streak of Govan's Nicholas Caunce, which has now tied Nicholas Robson's league record of thirty-five successive games. After Wednesday's play had left three of the four teams tied for first place in the Belfast Section, today's Irish League games brought a vital win for Queen's Island over Sailortown. With Clonard beating Laganside, they and Queen's Island now share first place with Sailortown one behind. Champions Drumcondra kept their hopes alive in the Dublin Section by beating leaders Kilmainham today to close the gap at the top to two games. With another meeting to come on Wednesday, they might soon be back to within a single game.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 1 September 1888

September began with a day on which two teams could have clinched their respective league titles but in the end neither were able to do so. It was always going to be tough for Rochdale to secure the Lancashire League crown this afternoon, even though they beat Blackburn for the second time this week, as they needed St. Helens, Oldham and Liverpool all to lose. St. Helens and Oldham did, but Liverpool beat Irwell to keep hope alive at least mathematically for another week. One more win will be enough for Rochdale though, as it would have been today for Middlesbrough in the Northern Combination after they won and Wearmouth lost on Wednesday. Leading The Hartlepools 2-0 with two men out in the ninth inning, it seemed secure but an uncharacteristic collapse saw Middlesbrough give up five runs and lose the game 5-2. Sunderland and Wearmouth both won to close the gap to twelve games, but with just twelve to play Middlesbrough are still just one win away.

After a day off on Wednesday, the Metropolitan League clubs began the last complete round of fixtures this afternoon and champions Kensington surrendered their outright lead in the standings again as they lost 3-2 at Putney. Putney are just one game behind them now, while Woolwich and Hackney have both drawn level at the top after beating Marylebone and Peckham respectively. The City of London Club could have moved within two games but lost at Clapham and may struggle to overhaul all four teams ahead of them. There is also once again a tie in the Suburban League, after Wimbledon crumbled in the ninth inning to lose at Dartford on Wednesday. Although they edged the return game today, Croydon have joined them at the top after beating West Ham twice. Ealing are one game behind after sharing two with Enfield, who are three back. Enfield's big chance of catching up lies in the fact that the three teams ahead of them all have to meet each other twice, while Enfield have no more games against teams with winning records.

Halifax got through their first week without star pitcher Frederick Sibley with their four game lead in the Yorkshire League still intact. Having beaten Sanderson's Weir on Wednesday, they lost to champions Sheffield today but all that did for Sheffield was undo the damage of a defeat to Woodhouse Lane earlier in the week. York could have closed to within three today, but they lost to Sanderson's Weir and are now tied for second with Sheffield, still four behind. There was no change at all in the Central League this week, as Cannon Hill, Sherwood and Leicester all recorded two wins. Cannon Hill still lead by one from Sherwood while champions Leicester are two behind, with the two chasers set to meet on Wednesday and Cannon Hill probably hoping for a Leicester win, which would give them the chance to move further clear.

Tail o' the Bank crashed to another defeat at the hands of second placed White Cart on Wednesday to see their lead in the Caledonian League reduced to a single game. They held on to the advantage after edging a tight game with last placed Lanark-Renfrew today, but White Cart look to be the form team having recovered from their own poor run a few weeks ago. Glasgow and Leith are charging too after they both won twice this week to move within two of the leaders, while Moncreiffe are also two behind despite losing to Govan this afternoon. Govan have won their last five, helped by the hitting streak of Nicholas Caunce which is now a league record thirty-seven games, the second longest such streak seen in any league and only two behind the record of thirty-nine held by Putney's Edward Harding.

Irish League teams did not play today, but Wednesday's action saw Clonard move a game ahead at the top of the Belfast Section by beating Laganside. The other game in the section ended in a win for Sailortown over Queen's Island, which leaves those two teams tied for second, one game behind Clonard. In the Dublin Section, Drumcondra beat Kilmainham for the second successive game to turn what was a three game lead ten days ago into just a single game advantage now. Having lost to both Newport and Swansea, Bath's lead in the English Section of the Western League is down to five games. It could have been reduced to four, but having beaten Cardiff on Wednesday, Avon Gorge slipped up against Rhondda this afternoon. The Welsh Section is of course already decided, with Cardiff still fourteen games clear despite that loss to Avon.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 8 September 1888

On the day that the first association football league in this country began play, two baseball league championships were decided although neither race had been close for a very long time. With no games on Wednesday in the Lancashire League, Rochdale had to wait for this afternoon to have a chance to clinch the crown but they made no mistake when the time came, beating Irwell 4-0 to regain the title a year after losing it. Outgoing champions Liverpool have paid for a poor start to the year but they remain second, just ahead of St. Helens. With Blackburn and Oldham on three game losing runs, it may be between Liverpool and St. Helens for second. Middlesbrough missed another chance to clinch the Northern Combination title on Wednesday when they lost to second placed Sunderland, the first time all year that had lost consecutive games, but they made no mistake today with an extra innings win over Stockton. They become only the second team to win an established league in their debut season, after Moss Grove in the Lancashire League nine years ago, ending Wearmouth's four year run as champions. Having lost both their games this week, Wearmouth may struggle to finish second as they are now two behind a Sunderland team who have won their last four.

As for the other leagues, the Metropolitan League began the week with a three-way tie at the top and ends it in the same way, but it isn't the same three teams there. Hackney took an outright lead on Wednesday when they won and Woolwich and Kensington were beaten, but they faltered today in losing at Limehouse. Champions Kensington took advantage to draw level again, but Woolwich could not and they stay a game behind having lost twice during the week. The third team at the top is now Putney, who edged the City of London Club in extra innings to extend their winning run to five and they now look the form team. Suburban League teams also had Wednesday off but in today's action, Croydon dealt a blow to Ealing's hopes of retaining the title with a 2-1 win in the first of their two meetings. Ealing will be desperate to win Wednesday's return game as they are now two behind both Croydon and a Wimbledon team who beat last placed Kingston. Enfield lost to West Ham and are now four back, probably too much to make up.

Yorkshire League leaders Halifax are trying desperately to hold on to their advantage without injured pitcher Frederick Sibley. While they ground out a win over Bradford on Wednesday, they could not do so against last placed Huddersfield this afternoon, crashing to a defeat which allows Sheffield to close the gap. The champions won both their games this week and are now within three with ten to play. One of their wins was a vital one against York, a result which means that York are still four behind Halifax in third place. Central League champions Leicester are battling to try to hold on to their crown and they earned a vital win over fellow contenders Sherwood on Wednesday, drawing level with them in second place. Both teams won today, but they couldn't get any closer to leaders Cannon Hill who won both of their games during the week and now lead both of the chasers by two games.

There is a tie at the top of the Caledonian League after Tail o' the Bank, who were four games clear a few weeks ago, lost a wild game to last placed Lanark-Renfrew on Wednesday. They recovered to beat Arthur's Seat today, but in-form White Cart took both their games to extend their winning run to six and draw level in first place. There could have been just one game separating four teams, but Glasgow and Moncreiffe lost this afternoon and now share third with Leith, two games back. Elsewhere this week, Govan's Nicholas Caunce has equalled the all-time national record for the longest hitting streak at thirty-nine, joining Putney's Edward Harding who set the mark six years ago. There are no games on Wednesday this week, but Caunce will have the chance to be the first man to get to forty games when Govan play The Grange next Saturday.

In the Irish League, Clonard let slip the outright lead in the Belfast Section when they lost to Queen's Island today, a vital win for Queen's Island after they had slipped two off the pace on Wednesday. Sailortown join Clonard at the top by beating Laganside, with Queen's Island just one behind. In the Dublin Section, Drumcondra's hopes of another title were damaged by two defeats against Rathmines. They were fortunate that Kilmainham only shared their games with Trinity, so the gap at the top is only two games, not three. Little changed in the Western League this week, as there were no games today and on Wednesday, Bath and Avon both won so Bath's lead at the top of the English Section is still five games. Bath's victory over Welsh Section winners Cardiff means that Cardiff are only one game better off now which may prove relevant to how the game venues work out if they meet in the championship play-off.

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British Baseball News - Midweek Update
Wednesday 12 September 1888

Hackney are the outright leaders of the Metropolitan League tonight after a dramatic win over Rotherhithe, while Kensington and Putney both lost their games. They share second place with Woolwich, who beat Clapham. There is a pivotal day coming up on Saturday as Hackney face Kensington while Putney take on Woolwich. Champions Ealing are three games back in the Suburban League after a second successive loss to Croydon, who continue to share first place with Wimbledon. Ealing now take on Wimbledon in their next two games and need to win both to start catching up.

Sheffield continue to reel in Halifax at the top of the Yorkshire League, beating Sanderson's Weir today to close to within two as a result of Halifax's defeat to Huddersfield. York are one game further back after beating Bradford. In the Irish League, Sailortown moved a game clear in the Belfast Section after beating Clonard, while Queen's Island lost to Laganside and are two behind. Kilmainham's defeat at Rathmines means that Drumcondra are back within a single game in the Dublin Section.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 15 September 1888

With eight to play, Hackney lead the Metropolitan League by a single game after inflicting a second successive defeat on champions Kensington this afternoon. Kensington are now two behind the leaders, alongside Woolwich, who lost the day's other big game to a Putney team who are now on their own in second place. Ealing's hopes of holding on to the Suburban League title look to be almost over after an extra innings loss at Wimbledon dropped them three behind with only seven remaining. Wimbledon remain tied with Croydon, who beat Hammersmith to extend their winning run to sixth, with the race possibly going to be determined by the two games between Croydon and Wimbledon which will be played on the next two Saturdays.

Although Halifax still lead the Yorkshire League by one game, at the moment their title hopes look to be over after West of Hull inflicted a second heavy defeat of the week on them. Struggling for pitching without the injured Frederick Sibley, their batting line-up is now off form as well and with Sheffield thrashing Bradford today to extend their winning run to five, the champions must be considered favourites at the moment. York are not really taking full advantage of Halifax's struggles, as they lost to Huddersfield today and remain three games back. In the Central League, Sherwood's unexpected challenge may be over after they were beaten by neighbours Trent Bridge this afternoon. Title rivals Cannon Hill and Leicester both won, meaning that Sherwood are now three behind with eight to play. Cannon Hill still lead Leicester by two, but face Sherwood on Wednesday before playing Leicester next Saturday.

Wins are hard to come by for Tail o' the Bank at the moment but they battled to a 6-5 success over Arthur's Seat in the Caledonian League today. With White Cart extending their winning run to seven by beating Moncreiffe, the two remain tied with eight games remaining. Leith are clear in third after beating Glasgow and sit two behind the co-leaders. Elsewhere, Govan's Nicholas Caunce became the first man in any league to achieve a forty-game hitting streak with three hits in his team's win over The Grange. In the Irish League, Sailortown look like potential Belfast Section winners at the moment after recording back-to-back one-run wins over Clonard this week. That earned them a two game lead, while Queen's Island are three back having lost twice to Laganside. After their lead in the Dublin Section came down to one on Wednesday, Kilmainham are two ahead again after beating Rathmines today while Drumcondra lost to Trinity. The two contenders have four of their last eight games against each other, two in the coming week and two in the final week of the season.

Bath could secure first place in the Western League's English Section next Saturday despite losing to Rhondda this afternoon. They beat Newport on Wednesday and with Avon losing both their games, Bath lead by six with eight to play. Two wins this week will be enough should Avon lose either of their games. Cardiff are now sixteen games better than anyone else in the Welsh Section after they won twice and Newport lost both their games. In the leagues already decided, Rochdale have now won their last eight Lancashire League games to remain ten clear of Liverpool, who are looking increasingly secure in second place. Rochdale are now battling Middlesbrough for the top seeding in the Alliance play-offs, after Middlesbrough crashed to a third defeat in four games against Stockton on Wednesday. Middlesbrough do still just gave a better winning percentage than Rochdale having beaten Gateshead today.

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British Baseball News - Midweek Update
Wednesday 19 September 1888

Of the leagues still to be decided, the big change today was Croydon taking a one game lead in the Suburban League when they beat Hammersmith in extra innings, while Wimbledon lost to Ealing. Wimbledon have an immediate chance to draw level again though as they play Croydon on Saturday. Hackney still lead the Metropolitan League by one game as all the title contenders won today, while Cannon Hill still lead Leicester by two in the Central League ahead of their meeting on Saturday.

Despite their recent problems, Halifax extended their lead back to two in the Yorkshire League as they beat Leeds while Sheffield lost at last placed Huddersfield. In Scotland, Tail o' the Bank and White Cart are still tied at the top after both lost, but their defeats mean that Leith are now only one behind. Sailortown stayed two clear in the Irish League's Belfast Section, but Drumcondra closed Kilmainham's lead to one in Dublin by winning the first of their two meetings this week. In the Western League, Bath cannot now clinch first place in the English Section this week as they lost today while Avon won to close to just five behind.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 22 September 1888

With three weeks of the regular season to go, there is once again a tie at the top of the Metropolitan League after Hackney were beaten at Westminster this afternoon, while Putney produced a late turnaround to beat lowly Rotherhithe. Kensington and Woolwich could not take advantage to move to within a game of the leaders though as they were both beaten, leaving them two games behind Hackney and Putney with only six remaining. In the Suburban League, Croydon have the title very much in their own hands after a vital win over Wimbledon this afternoon. The victory moved them two games clear with only five to play, meaning that Wimbledon simply must win the return fixture next Saturday. Defeat at Harrow this afternoon has all but eliminated champions Ealing from the race, as they are now five games behind Croydon.

Halifax's hopes of clinging on to first place in the Yorkshire League suffered a blow when they lost at East of Hull this afternoon. Sheffield beat Leeds to move back within one game, although the consolation for Halifax is that they are in the same position now as a week ago only with two games fewer remaining. York beat Woodhouse Lane to stay three behind with six to play. Cannon Hill are closing in on a third Central League title, which would end Leicester's three-year reign as champions, after edging an incredibly tense game between the two 2-1 this afternoon. The win moves them three games clear with six remaining and keeps them four ahead of Sherwood, who beat Aston Manor but are surely too far back to have a realistic chance.

There are outright leaders in the Caledonian League as White Cart moved clear despite only sharing their two meetings with last placed Lanark-Renfrew this week. They were helped by Tail o' the Bank losing twice to Govan, as they continue to fade away in a title race that they were in full control of a few weeks ago. Leith are now into a share of second place and having won their last four, including two against Dundee this week, they look to be the form team. Just as Sailortown looked set to move clear in the Irish League's Belfast Section, they lost to Queen's Island this afternoon and with Clonard beating Laganside, the gap at the top is back down to one. There is no gap at all in the Dublin Section though, as champions Drumcondra beat Kilmainham in both this week's meetings to draw level at the top.

In the Western League, Bath's win over Swansea today kept them five games clear in the English Section and they can clinch first place if they win and Avon lose on Wednesday. If not, they will have another chance when they play Avon on Saturday. In Wales, Cardiff are now seventeen games better than anyone else after two more wins this week. Rochdale are now in position to take the top seeding in the Alliance play-offs after extending their winning run in the Lancashire League to ten, now sitting fully twelve games ahead at the top after Liverpool lost to both Burnley and Toxteth to drop into a second place tie with St. Helens. Defeat to Jesmond this afternoon means that Middlesbrough now have a lower winning percentage than Rochdale, but the Northern Combination champions also have a twelve game lead after Sunderland lost both their games.

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British Baseball News - Midweek Update
Wednesday 26 September 1888

With no games in the Lancashire or Suburban Leagues today, it is easier to remember how much of the season is left because all leagues now have the same number of fixtures remaining, five for every club. With Avon losing to Bristol, Bath Spa could have secured first place in the Western League's English Section had they beaten Cheltenham today, but they lost in extra innings and must wait at least until their game against Avon on Saturday. Elsewhere today, Hackney and Putney remain tied at the top of the Metropolitan League after they both won, as did chasers Kensington and Woolwich to remain two behind.

Halifax earned a vital win over Woodhouse Lane to remain a game clear of Sheffield in the Yorkshire League, having signed inexperienced pitcher Jimmy Scaife earlier in the week to try to help them over the line. Cannon Hill gained a ninth successive win in the Central League to keep them three games ahead of Leicester with only five to play. Caledonian League leaders White Cart lost at Glasgow and they are tied again with Tail o' the Bank, who beat in-form Leith. In the Irish League, Sailortown are closing in on winning the Belfast Section after beating Clonard to move two games clear, but Kilmainham and Drumcondra remain tied in Dublin after both won.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 29 September 1888

September ends with four rounds of games still to play and several league championships still wide open. One more issue was decided today, with Bath's win over Avon in the Western League securing first place in the English Section. Bath will play runaway Welsh Section winners Cardiff, who extended their winning run to six games this week, in a best-of-three play-off for the inaugural league title. The champions will not enter the Alliance play-offs however, in keeping with past practice of new leagues having to wait a year before being invited. On that note, it was announced this week that the champions of the Irish League were invited to take part, but turned down the opportunity in view of the success of last year's 'Celtic Challenge' against the Caledonian League winners. With no sign of a resolution to the issue of the Caledonian League joining the Alliance, the Irish League has chosed also to stay out for the time being.

This week's play in Ireland saw Sailortown move to the brink of securing first place in the Belfast Section, as they beat Clonard again today to move three games ahead with just four to play. Two wins over last placed Laganside in the coming week will be enough to take them into the championship play-off. The Dublin Section is closer, but Kilmainham's defeat to Rathmines today saw them slip one game behind champions Drumcondra, who beat Trinity. Up in Scotland, Tail o' the Bank have revived their title challenge just as they seemed to be out of the running, beating Leith for the second successive game today. They are tied with White Cart at the top, after White Cart beat Glasgow to ensure a share of the week's games. Leith, who had been in wonderful form, drop two behind alongside Moncreiffe Island, who they will face for two games next week. Glasgow are three behind, probably too much to make up, alongside a Govan team who have won their last six but finally saw the record hitting streak of Nicholas Caunce end today after a remarkable forty-three games.

As for the other English leagues, Putney and Hackney continue to share first place in the Metropolitan League after wins over Angel and the City of London Club respectively. The two meet next Saturday, with Wednesday's games to decide whether either will take a one game lead into that battle. Kensington and Woolwich aren't out of the running yet after they both won twice this week, but they remain two games behind with just four remaining. Nine years on from their only title, Croydon are on the brink of becoming Suburban League champions for the second time after a big win at Wimbledon today moved them three games clear at the top. Champions Ealing beat Harrow this afternoon but it was too late as Croydon's victory ends any hope they had of retaining the crown. Croydon now need at most two wins from their remaining four games to be champions.

After beating Sanderson's Weir today, Halifax are clinging on to their one game lead at the top of the Yorkshire League, having recorded successive wins for the first time since pitcher Frederick Sibley suffered a season-ending injury. Sheffield are still right behind them after beating Woodhouse Lane, while York also won but they might have too much to do being three games behind with four to play. All the top three still have to meet one another though, starting with York's trip to Halifax on Wednesday. In the Central League, Cannon Hill are almost at the winning line after extending their winning run to ten games by beating last placed Trent Bridge. That win officially eliminated Sherwood from the race and while champions Leicester are still in it, they remain three games back and know that they need Cannon Hill to lose at least three of their remaining games, something which looks highly unlikely.

The Lancashire League and Northern Combination were of course decided some time ago, with Rochdale looking on course to be number one seeds in the Alliance play-offs after beating Oldham today to extend their winning run to eleven. With St. Helens losing to Ribble, last year's champions Liverpool moved a game clear in second place again by beating neighbours Toxteth. Middlesbrough's form has dipped a little of late but they did win both their games this week and look sure to have a bye to the play-off semi-finals. They remain twelve clear of deposed champions Wearmouth, who are now two ahead of Sunderland in second place as Sunderland have now lost their last four games.

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British Baseball News - Midweek Update
Thursday 4 October 1888

The third team to qualify for this year's Alliance play-offs was decided yesterday as Cannon Hill's win over Aston, combined with Leicester losing to Walsall, ended the race for the Central League title. Leicester's defeat ends their three year run as champions, while moving Cannon Hill level at the top of the all-time list with their own third title. Elsewhere, Hackney took control of the Metropolitan League race after they won at Clapham while Putney were beaten at home by Westminster. Hackney have a one-game lead ahead of their meeting with Putney on Saturday, which the six-time champions simply must win.

Croydon's march to the Suburban League title was halted with a home defeat at the hands of Harrow, allowing Wimbledon to close to within two games, but Croydon are still very much in control. Sheffield have caught Halifax at the top of the Yorkshire League after the long-time leaders lost to York yesterday, while Sheffield beat East of Hull today in a game delayed a day by rain. White Cart are a game clear again in the Caledonian League after beating Dundee, while Tail o' the Bank lost to The Grange. In Ireland, Sailortown's lead in the Belfast Section is down to two after they lost to Laganside and Clonard beat Queen's Island, while Drumcondra still lead the Dublin Section by one after they and Kilmainham both lost.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 6 October 1888

Four league championships, plus the Dublin Section of the Irish League, remain to be decided with just one week of the regular season to play. The Hackney Exiles have never won the Metropolitan League and almost nobody expected them to do so this year, but they are just one win away after a shutout win over Putney this afternon moved them two games clear. Kensington and Woolwich both won to join Putney in second place, but if Hackney win either of their remaining games there is nothing that the chasing pack can do. The Suburban League race is very much back on after Croydon suffered a second loss in the week at the hands of Harrow. With Wimbledon beating Hammersmith for a second time, the gap at the top is back down to a single game. Croydon are still favourites as their two remaining games are against last placed Kingston, but should they continue to falter Wimbledon are right behind them.

After Halifax were caught by Sheffield in midweek, the Yorkshire League race took another twist today when Sheffield lost at third placed York. Halifax beat lowly Bradford to move a game ahead again, meaning that they will clinch the title if they can overcome their recent pitching problems one more time and beat Sheffield on Wednesday. Should they lose, the two will be tied going to the final day. If York win on Wednesday as well, there might be three teams split by just one game on the final day. The other league which will be decided in the final week is the Caledonian League, where White Cart beat Dundee today to remain one game clear. Tail o' the Bank and Leith both also won, but the title is in White Cart's hands with two games to play. Leith need quite a combination of results to catch up, as they are two behind, with Tail o' the Bank best placed to take advantage should White Cart slip up.

Over in Ireland, the Belfast Section is decided after Sailortown beat Laganside this afternoon, while Clonard lost in extra innings at Queen's Island. That means that Sailortown qualify for the championship play-off, but the identity of their opponents remains unclear. Drumcondra's defeat to Rathmines today, coupled with a win for Kilmainham over Trinity, means that the two are tied ahead of their two meetings in the final week. Either side can clinch first place by taking both games, but if they are split a tiebreaker will be needed. One other thing that we now know is that the Western League's championship play-off will begin in Cardiff, as they have now guaranteed finishing with a better record than Bath. Bath, who lost both their games this week, will host the second game with a decider back in Wales if needed.

In the leagues already decided, Middlesbrough moved to the brink of securing the top seeding for the Alliance play-offs by winning both of their games this week. They are now thirteen games better than anyone else in the Northern Combination and clear of Rochdale in the battle for seedings. Rochdale's recent superb run ended with two defeats to Bolton, although they have already done enough to guarantee a bye to the play-off semi-finals. Nobody will want to meet Cannon Hill in the play-offs, as the Central League winners have now won their last twelve after beating Wolverhampton today. Outgoing champions Leicester now only share second place with Sherwood, after a miserable week in which they not only lost their title but also lost both their games, against Walsall and Derby.

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British Baseball News - Midweek Update
Wednesday 10 October 1888

Several issues remain to be decided on what should be the final day of the regular season on Saturday, any possible tiebreaker games notwithstanding. Only one team was able to clinch a championship today, with Halifax Beacon making it over the line in the Yorkshire League. Since the injury to their star pitcher Frederick Sibley in late August, they had seen a four-game lead whittled away but dug deep and earned a 4-1 win at Sheffield this afternoon that ended their opponents' two-year reign as champions. It also ended a run of eight successive years in which the title had gone to either Sheffield or their city rivals Sanderson's Weir, taking the crown out of that city for the first time since Leeds were champions nine years ago.

Elsewhere, Hackney were four outs away from winning the Metropolitan League when they led Greenwich 3-1 in the eighth inning, but crumbled to lose 6-4. Putney were eliminated from the race after losing to Limehouse, but both Kensington and Woolwich won to cut the gap to one game. Fascinatingly, those two teams meet on the final day so Hackney know that while they can claim the crown if they win at Angel, defeat will certainly condemn them to a tiebreaker against the winner of the Kensington v Woolwich game. In the Suburban League, Croydon have utterly collapsed in sight of the winning post as they too let slip an eighth inning lead and lost to last placed Kingston today, allowing Wimbledon to move level by beating Harrow. If both teams win or both lose on Saturday, there will be a tiebreaker in the Suburban League for the third successive year.

Up in Scotland, Tail o' the Bank's defeat to Glasgow meant that White Cart would be champions if they beat Govan, but they lost 4-3 to keep the race alive. Leith joined Tail o' the Bank in a tie for second by beating Lanark-Renfrew, both teams now a game behind going into the final day. White Cart will be champions with a win, but a defeat could well mean a tiebreaker, possibly a three-way tie. In the Irish League, Kilmainham took a one game lead in the Dublin Section by beating champions Drumcondra, but the two meet again on Saturday with Drumcondra needing a win to force a tiebreaker. Should that happen, Drumcondra will host the extra game as they have had the better of the season's meetings.

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British Baseball News
Saturday 13 October 1888

After a day of astonishing drama across England, Scotland and Ireland, the regular season is still far from over as two leagues will need tiebreaker games to decide their champions. One which will not is the Suburban League, where Croydon won their first title in nine years despite the late collapse which had allowed Wimbledon to draw level. Wimbledon lost at home to Harrow today, meaning that Croydon would be champions by beating Kingston, but they did it the hard way after coming back from 3-0 behind and eventually winning 4-3 in sixteen innings, with the winning run scoring on a passed ball. There will be a tiebreaker in the Metropolitan League though, as Hackney let slip another late lead. They were ahead in the seventh inning against Angel, but lost 4-3 and face another game against champions Kensington, who beat Woolwich to keep their title defence alive. With the teams sharing their four meetings, a coin was tossed for home advantage. Kensington called heads but it came down tails, so the tiebreaker will be played at Hackney on Wednesday and the start of the Alliance play-offs pushed back to Saturday.

There will be tiebreaker games in Scotland too, but more than one after three teams finished tied at the top. Tail o' the Bank and Leith edged to one-run victories over Glasgow and Lanark-Renfrew respectively, meaning that White Cart had to beat Govan to clinch the crown. That game finished long after the others because of a rain delay and White Cart were two outs from the title when they led in the ninth, but they let it slip away and lost in ten innings. This is only the second three-way tie in any league and it has been announced that the same method will be used as in the other example, in the Suburban League eight years ago. The team with the best combined record against the other two, Tail o' the Bank, get a bye through the first game. In that game, Leith will be at home against White Cart having won four of their six meetings. The first game will be on Wednesday and the second on Saturday.

With the winners of the Caledonian League set to play the Irish League champions in the Celtic Challenge, the tiebreakers should finish around the same time as the Irish League's championship play-off, especially if it needs all three games to decide a winner. We now know that Sailortown will face Kilmainham for the title, after Kilmainham ended Drumcondra's title defence by scoring a ninth inning run to win their final day meeting 3-2 and claim first place in the Dublin Section. The championship play-off starts on Tuesday at Sailortown, with the second game at Kilmainham on Thursday. Any decider will be back at Sailortown on Saturday, with the Celtic Challenge getting underway a week on Tuesday.

The Western League's first championship play-off will be played on the same days as the Irish League, with Cardiff hosting Bath in the first game on Tuesday and the second game being played at Bath on Thursday. A decider would be at Cardiff on Saturday. Bath ended the regular season five games clear of both Avon and Cheltenham in the English Section, after Cheltenham earned a tie for second by winning their meeting today. Cardiff's final winning margin in the Welsh Section was a massive eighteen games, after they beat Swansea on the final day.

Of the other leagues, Halifax ended up just one ahead of Sheffield in the Yorkshire League after they lost to Huddersfield today, while Sheffield beat Sanderson's Weir. York beat Bradford to end up just two games back in third. In the Lancashire League, Rochdale finished with four successive defeats after losing to Manchester twice this week and will need to bounce back quickly in the Alliance play-offs. They end up nine games ahead of Liverpool, while remarkably Blackburn, Oldham and St. Helens share third for the second successive year with exactly the same win-loss record as last season. In the Central League, Cannon Hill's midweek defeat to Derby meant that they ended up four games clear of Leicester and five ahead of Sherwood, while Middlesbrough's winning margin in the Northern Combination was thirteen after they lost to The Hartlepools in midweek but beat Stockton today. Ousted champions Wearmouth end up in second place, two games clear of Sunderland.