[Eckstein 4 Prez]

1877 Preview:

BOSTON RED CAPS: Although the uniforms are the same, the team is completely different, as “Orator Jim” O’Rourke is the only everyday player returning as a starter for 1877. The “new look” Red Caps should be a contender, as they signed some good players (including nearly the entire starting roster from 1876 second-place finishers New York), but they won’t be cruising to the championship this year.

1B – Charlie Hautz (1-41-.318-1 for 1 SB with St. Louis, lifetime .323 hitter)/Joe Simmons (0-45-.295-4 for 5 SB)
2B – Bill Craver (0-19-.240-9 for 9 SB with New York, lifetime .309 hitter)
SS – John Bass (1-36-.315-0 for 0 SB with Hartford, lifetime .297 hitter)
3B – Cap Anson (1-42-.339-4 for 6 SB with New York, lifetime .326 hitter)
LF – George Hall (0-39-.350-0 for 0 SB with New York, lifetime .366 hitter)
CF – “Orator Jim” O’Rourke (1-46-.281-7 for 12 SB)
RF – Dick Higham (0-31-.312-1 for 5 SB with New York, lifetime .316 hitter)
C – Charlie Hodes (0-34-.326-0 for 0 SB with New York, lifetime .302 hitter)

P – Frank Buttery (17-9, 2.56, lifetime 65-30)
P – Hugh Campbell (2-3, 1.92, lifetime 19-21)
P – Jim Britt (2-1, 2.06 with New York, lifetime 39-70)

CHICAGO WHITE STOCKINGS: This could finally be the breakthrough year for the White Socks. Their standout players Hollingshead, Clapp, Burdock and Sager are back for 1877, and they added several new stars, such as Charlie Gould, Davy Force, Al Spalding and Candy Cummings. Look for them to battle for the top spot in the National League all season.

1B – Charlie Gould (0-44-.358-10 for 11 SB with Boston, lifetime .331 hitter)
2B – “Black Jack” Burdock (0-40-.315-11 for 13 SB)
SS – Pony Sager (1-36-.276-13 for 22 SB)
3B – Davy Force (0-13-.287-2 for 5 SB with St. Louis, lifetime .312 hitter)
LF – Tom Foley (batted .436 as New York substitute; lifetime .300 hitter)
CF – Holly Hollingshead (2-39-.402-0 for 2 SB)
RF – Elmer White (1-52-.279-1 for 2 SB)
C – John Clapp (0-38-.345-0 for 0 SB)

P – Al Spalding (13-4, 3.26 with Boston, lifetime 84-53)
P – Candy Cummings (9-9, 3.01 with New York, lifetime 41-41)
P – “Uncle Al” Pratt (14-10, 2.73, lifetime 72-67)

CINCINNATI REDS: In its second year, this team has made some great strides. With Murnane and Ferguson plus the imported double play combination from Boston, they have what might be the best infield ever assembled. However, they still have big holes in the outfield, so look for them to finish around the middle of the pack unless all four infielders have career years.

1B – Tim Murnane (0-51-.373-6 for 9 SB)
2B – Ross Barnes (0-52-.345-7 for 8 SB with Boston, lifetime .344 hitter)
SS – George Wright (1-46-.320-8 for 11 SB with Boston, lifetime .334 hitter)
3B – Bob “Death to Flying Things” Ferguson (1-45-.339-0 for 1 SB)
LF – Tom York (in New York organization in 1875, lifetime .235 hitter)/Steve King (0-17-.384-0 for 0 SB with Philadelphia, lifetime .315 hitter)
CF – George Bird (1-45-.306-0 for 0 SB with Philadelphia, lifetime .313 hitter)
RF – George Heubel (0-30-.271-1 for 1 SB with Philadelphia, lifetime .313 hitter)
C – Scott Hastings (2-31-.258-9 for 10 SB with Philadelphia, lifetime .298 hitter)

P – Lon Knight (4-5, 2.84 with Philadelphia, lifetime 6-6)
P – Cherokee Fisher (10-3, 2.94 with Boston, lifetime 81-38)
P – Rynie Wolters (7-1, 3.27 with New York, lifetime 68-57)

HARTFORD DARK BLUES: Surprisingly, this up-and-coming team did not aggressively sign many of the newly freed players, leading some observers to question their long-term financial stability. Whatever the reason, this team was a solid but not overpowering team last season, and since they didn’t improve much, they look to finish somewhere below the .500 mark this season.

1B – Clipper Flynn (0-39-.325-3 for 4 SB)
2B – Candy Nelson (0-36-.310-11 for 14 SB)/Joe Kernan (0-10-.312-0 for 0 SB with Philadelphia as rookie)
SS – Steve Bellan (6 for 28 as reserve, lifetime .273 hitter)/Nelson
3B – Ed Pinkham (1-42-.248-8 for 18 SB)
LF – John Glenn (0-36-.322-0 for 0 SB)
CF – Lip Pike (1-41-.309-31 for 43 SB)
RF – Orator Shaffer (1-35-.327-6 for 7 SB)
C – Bill Harbidge (0-7-.234-0 for 0 SB)/Fred Waterman (1-36-.277-16 for 25 SB)

P – Mike Golden (15-9, 3.04, lifetime 20-17)
P – John “Lefty” McMullen (17-9, 2.91, lifetime 80-71)
P – Asa Brainard (14-7, 3.03 with New York, lifetime 67-47)

LOUISVILLE GRAYS: They’ve got some decent hitting, especially with the additions of Radcliff, Sutton and Thake, but their pitching is still the league’s worst and they will probably still struggle this season. If they are going to finish outside the cellar this season the hitters will have to get them there.

1B – Jim Foran (0-36-.282-0 for 1 SB)
2B – Mike McGeary (0-32-.271-16 for 17 SB)
SS – John Radcliff (0-23-.308-14 for 14 SB with Philadelphia, lifetime .322 hitter)
3B – Ezra Sutton (2-35-.317-17 for 22 SB with Philadephia, lifetime .332 hitter)
LF – Al Thake (0-41-.293-1 for 2 SB with New York, lifetime .315 hitter)
CF – Paul Hines (0-25-.290-4 for 6 SB)
RF – Gat Stires (2-38-.260-3 for 9 SB)
C – Pop Snyder (0-10-.265-4 for 5 SB)

P – J. O’Neill (5-15, 3.00 as rookie)
P – NFN O’Rourke (6-16, 3.54, lifetime 11-24)
P – Martin Malone (6-11, 5.27, lifetime 12-14)

ST. LOUIS BROWN STOCKINGS: They’ve improved a little with the addition of veterans Joe Start and Dick McBride, but probably not by enough to be considered a real contender this season. Look for them to finish around the middle of the pack.

1B – Joe “Old Reliable” Start (0-43-.378-3 for 6 SB with New York, lifetime .353 hitter)
2B – Jimmy Wood (1-42-.309-7 for 13 SB)
SS – Dickie Flowers (0-30-.270-24 for 33 SB with New York, lifetime .309 hitter)
3B – “Long Jim” Holdsworth (0-25-.311-0 for 0 SB)/Chick Fulmer (0-7-.286-0 for 0 SB with Boston, lifetime .289 hitter)
LF – Andy Leonard (0-37-.333-11 for 14 SB)
CF – Dave Eggler (0-7-.346-1 for 1 SB with New York, lifetime .278 hitter)
RF – Deacon White (1-38-.362-1 for 1 SB)
C – Rit Harrison (0-29-.297-0 for 1 SB)

P – Dick McBride (10-14, 3.54 with Philadelphia, lifetime 80-54)
P – Tricky Nichols (12-12, 3.31, lifetime 24-28)
P – Len Lovett (6-11, 4.70, lifetime 11-18)

OPENING DAY ODDS TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIP:

Chicago – 4 to 3
Boston – 5 to 2
Cincinnati – 5 to 1
Hartford – 10 to 1
St. Louis – 10 to 1
Louisville – 20 to 1