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July 15, 1876 Report
Boston Red Caps 27-9
New York Mutuals 20-14
Chicago White Stockings 21-15
Hartford Dark Blues 18-15
Philadelphia Athletics 18-17
Cincinnati Reds 14-21
St. Louis Brown Stockings 13-22
Louisville Grays 9-27
League Leaders:
Batting - Holly Hollingshead, Chicago White Stockings, .459
Home Runs - Holly Hollingshead, Chicago and Ezra Sutton, Philadelphia, 2 each
Runs Batted In - Joe Start, New York Mutuals, 33
Runs Scored - "Black Jack" Burdock, Chicago White Stockings, 35
Hits - Holly Hollingshead, Chicago White Stockings, 67
Doubles - John Bass, Hartford Dark Blues, 18
Triples - Lip Pike, Hartford Dark Blues, 5
Stolen Bases - Dickie Flowers, New York Mutuals, 17
Wins - Asa Brainard, New York Mutuals, 11
ERA - Hugh Campbell, Boston Red Caps, 2.27
Strikeouts - Asa Brainard, New York Mutuals, 17
Opponent Average - Lon Knight, Philadelphia Athletics, .238
After about six weeks of playing only the strong eastern teams, Chicago is finally starting to fade. They just got swept at home in a three-game series by the Red Caps, and it looks as though mighty Boston is on track to win their fifth consecutive base ball championship. Although the team does not have one player in particular who is starring this season, they are batting .318 as a team, and have some of the league's best fielders.
One interesting side note this off-season will be the agreement the players and owners have reached to allow for freer movement for players. After several years of disagreeing over whether players should be bound to their original teams, the sides have agreed that for the first six years of a player's career, he is bound to resign with his original team if that team wants to sign him. Following a player's sixth season, he is allowed to enter "free agency," and may sign with any team he chooses.
This could have a real impact on the Red Caps this year, as first baseman Charlie Gould, second baseman Ross Barnes, shortstop George Wright, third baseman Harry "Silk Stockings" Schafer, outfielder Joe Simmons, catcher Cal McVey, and pitchers Cherokee Fisher and Al Spalding all could potentially declare themselves "free agents" this season. Boston management insists that all of the players will be back next year if they win the championship again this year, but it remains to be seen if this could be the force that finally breaks up the long-time champions.
In other news, this season Jimmy Wood of the St. Louis Brown Stockings became the first player ever to hit 10 home funs for his career. For his slugging achievements, he'll be the new avatar for the time being....
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