The (English) Baseball League (est. 1888): A History

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Baseball League 1899
First Division Top Game Performances

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Baseball League 1899
First Division Top 20 Batsmen and Pitchers

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Baseball League 1899
First Division Financial Report

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Baseball League
First Division Single Season and Career Records
1888 through 1899

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division Results

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Baseball League 1899

Second Division Promoted Team: Preston North End Lilywhites

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Baseball League 1899

Second Division Promoted Team: Burslem Port Vale Valiants

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division Final Table

The three League sides facing re-election came up against five non-league sides in the vote for the three League places. Voting (number of votes):

29      Everton            Re-elected to the League
28	Stockport County   Re-elected to the League
24	New Brighton Tower Elected to the League
5	Barnsley	   Not elected to the League
3	Leicester Fosse    Not re-elected to the League
2	Luton Town         Not elected to the League
1	Stalybridge Rovers Not elected to the League

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division Team Batting and Pitching

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division League Leaders

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division Top Game Performances

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division Top 20 Batsmen and Pitchers

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Baseball League 1899
Second Division Financial Report

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Baseball League
Second Division
Single Season and Career Records
1888 through 1899

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1899 News and Notes

The Wanderers from both Bolton and Burton were certainly wandering all over the bases this year, as the sides finished #1 and #2 respectively in stolen bases, and by a long shot. Bolton had 284 (in 102 games); Burton followed up with 256. Newcastle United were a distant third with 186 ... Speaking of Bolton, Alistair Bolton of Liverpool made himself known very loudly in Division 1 by clubbing 20 home runs, the first hitter in Division history to do so, smashing the previous record of 17 set just the prior season by Charles Wright of Newcastle ... Despite playing only 70 games because of a season-ending ACL injury on 10 August, Bolton also had the highest HR/100 AB of any hitter in Division history with 6.99, beating Frederick Dowell's 1890 record of 6.32 set with Blackburn Rovers. Since Bolton also led D2 in home runs back in 1897, his power is definitely for real, if he can only stay healthy ... Harrison Whittington became the first Triple Crown winner in League History for the Glossop Hillmen, batting, .390, slugging 14 homers, knocking in 99 runs. And it wasn't even close, given how he outpaced his competition ... Speaking of Glossop, they were the victims of one of the greatest hitting performances by a player in a single game, as Edward Howard of D2's Crewe Alexandra went 4-for-4 with two homers (including a 437-foot shot to dead centre), plus two walks, scored four runs and knocked in seven in a 19-9 laugher against the Hillmen in Glossop on 15 June. The performance resulted in a game score of 97 for Howard. In case you were wondering, the wind was blowing out ... William Smith came storming into the League with Bristol City and in his first year delivered a century of nicked bases, 101 to be exact, in only 102 games, obliterating the previous record of 79 set by Edwin Stevenson for Ardwick (now Manchester City) in 1893. He also got nabbed only 54 times, a success rate of 65%, far better than Division average of 55%.

Records set in 1899

First Division:
Runs scored: Alan Perrin, Small Heath, 116
Slugging Pct.: Bolton, Liverpool, .696
OPS: Bolton, Liverpool, 1.122
Stolen bases: Fred Brook, Bolton, 78
Home Runs: Bolton, Liverpool, 20
BB/9: Harold Gamble, Burnley, 0.75
Team Wins: Newcastle United, 71
Team Losses: West Bromwich Albion, 74
Team Hits: Small Heath, 1,194
Team Stolen Bases: Bolton, 284

Second Division:
WAR: Archibald Hill, Bristol City, 7.9
Stolen bases: Smith, Bristol City, 101
Hits: Whittington, Glossop, 159
VORP: Whittington, Glossop, 71.1
RBI: Whittington, Glossop, 99
Team BB: Preston North End, 530

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The 1900 League Season is About to Commence

We are not quite into the new century, as that will turn with the end of this year’s calendar, but the feeling of newness and optimism is apparent among the clubs of both the Baseball League and the lesser leagues as the season begins to-day.

The past two seasons have been rather trying from a business perspective, as attendance has been down for the First Division by some three hundred thousand spectators, or fifteen per cent, since 1897. The Second Division fared better last year, up over three hundred thousand over 1898, but is still down over one hundred thousand from two seasons ago.

There are signs that British industry is improving, which means more jobs, fewer layoffs and dismissals, more money and, hopefully, better attendance for the League. And we should hope so as we expect more marvellous baseball to be played this year.

Bolton Wanderers appear to be the class of the League with a sharp attack led by Jack Simpson and Jay Jones at the plate and on the bases. Blackburn, Notts County, Newcastle United, Stoke and Sunderland should be their most ardent pursuers, all with players well in their prime and ready to contend for the Cup. On an individual basis, the powerful exploits of Alistair Bolton of Liverpool should enthral all who watch him, provided he can remain healthy enough to exceed twenty home runs again, which he should easily do given a full season.

The Second Division favourites as of to-day appear to be Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Walsall and Crewe Alexandra, and while the team out of Grimsby likely won't be contenders for promotion, their premier batsman, twenty seven year old Harrison Whittington, who led the loop in home runs and hits average last season, looked to be in fine form during the practice period before the season and we should not rule out a repeat of his exploits from 1899.

The club representing New Brighton Tower, newly arrived from out of the collapsing Lancashire League, are an interesting case. They are extremely strong on the pitch to all appearances equally weak in the front office. They are owned by the New Brighton Tower and Recreation Company, currently embroiled in a £7,700 lawsuit charging liability of non-payment for labour performed in connection with the Tower being built to rival Blackpool’s own. The general impression is that the Company are overreaching a bit, with too many irons in the fire. Despite this, they field a stupendous team that might well stand for promotion by the time the 17th of September arrives.

Speaking of the Lancashire League, while still strong in football, the baseball version has been considerably weakened by the defection of six of its clubs to the surging Central League, now twenty strong. The CL already have several of the best of London and other southern clubs, and have made no bones about joining the Baseball League, perhaps as a third division, as their merging into the current two divisions would render an unwieldy thirty or so teams.

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Baseball League 1900: Clubs

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Baseball League 1900: Club Locations


First Division



Second Division
(New Brighton Tower Hidden)

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Baseball League 1900 Top Prospects

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Baseball League 1900
First Division Results