1892
Code:
Team W L % GB
Cleveland Spiders 86 54 .614 -
Chicago Colts 80 60 .571 6
New York Giants 80 60 .571 6
Brooklyn Grooms 77 63 .550 9
Cincinnati Reds 72 68 .514 14
Boston Beaneaters 70 70 .500 16
Pittsburgh Pirates 70 70 .500 16
Philadelphia Phillies 69 71 .493 17
Louisville Colonels 58 82 .414 28
Baltimore Orioles 38 102 .271 48
Cleveland Spiders
The Spiders had everything going in their favor as they won their 3rd pennant in 4 years. They had the top rated offense and #2 pitching staff. RF Sam Thompson officially led the team with a .328 average although 2B Sam Trott hit .339 in 363 AB. Thompson's 80 RBI were second on the team to Buttercup Dickerson's 87. Four other regulars hit between Thompson's .328 and Dickerson's .293, and the team hit .301 as a whole.
The rotation was outstanding yet again. Cy Young was the best, going 25-7 with a 2.23 ERA and winning the Top Pitcher Award. Lady Baldwin was 20-13, 2.69 and George Derby was 18-13, 2.70. Rookie George Davies went 6-2, 2.65 but got only 54.1 innings of work. Expect to see more of him next season.
Chicago Colts
In contrast to past Chicago teams, pitching was the Colts' biggest strength this season. In his first season as a regular starter, Pat Luby went 22-11, 2.79 to lead the rotation. Mark Baldwin was 13-6 with a 3.06 ERA but no other starter had a winning record. Catcher Sy Sutcliffe led the offense with a .339 average. After 5 pro seasons, Sy has a .318 career average and has never hit below .303. Jimmy Ryan hit .339 as well but also added 15 HR and 97 RBI to win Top Batter honors. No other Colt had more than 6 HR's or 63 RBI.
New York Giants
The Giants made a late push for the pennant before slumping at the end. 23-year-old LF Jesse Burkett continues to be a dominant player, hitting .349 with 10 HR and 75 RBI. CF Silent Mike Tiernan was anything but silent, driving in 91 RBI with his .315 average. Bill George led the rotation with a 2.69 ERA but finished with just a 16-17 record. Meanwhile, John Ewing (21-14, 3.32), Harry McCormick (19-13, 3.03) and Ed Begley (16-8, 3.57) all had winning records with higher ERA's.
Brooklyn Grooms
Deaf CF Dummy Hoy hit .311 with 51 stolen bases. No other regular Groom hit over .300. RF Oyster Burns hit .270 and led the team with 86 RBI. Charlie Sweeney had a great season from the mound, going 22-13 with a 2.62 ERA. George Keefe went 17-12 with a 3.32 ERA.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds had the 2nd most effective offensive attack in the NL. Rookie LF Willie Murphy led the team with a .342 average. SS JAck Glasscock hit .333 and led the team with 73 RBI. However, pitching was a big problem. Billy Rhines managed a 20-15 record with his 3.54 ERA. Amos Rusie led the team with a 3.01 ERA and had just a 16-15 record. Rookie Elton "Icebox" Chamberlain went 13-13 and led all rookies with a 3.13 ERA.
Boston Beaneaters
Boston was also all about offense, finishing 3rd. 3B Billy Nash hit .355 with 9 HR and 78 RBI. RF Steve Brodie hit .327. 2B Bobby Lowe hit .296 with a team high 90 RBI. SS Herman Long hit .295 with 14 HR and 67 RBI. On the pitching front, Joe Borden had a spectacular 25-9 record despite a 3.47 ERA at age 38. He is now 262-171 with a 2.79 ERA in his 17-year career.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Similar to the two teams above them, Pittsburg was also led by offense (4th overall) but lacked in pitching. CF Pete Browning hit .339 with 65 RBI. 1B Jake "Eagle Eye" Beckley hit .321 with 62 RBI. Pitchers Pud Galvin (19-16, 3.69), Ed Morris (19-16, 3.76) and rookie Red Ehret (18-14, 3.55) all had winning records despite high ERA's.
Philadelphia Phillies
LF "Sliding Billy" Hamilton continued his excellent play in his second season. He hit .343 with 63 RBI and 61 steals. RF Dan Brouthers hit .326 with 68 RBI. CF Joe Knight hit .314 and led the team with 86 RBI. Bill Vinton had an outstanding season, going 23-11 with a league leading 2.18 ERA. Rookie "Rubber Arm Gun" Gus Weyhing had a respectable 3.26 ERA and a 17-17 record.
Louisville Colonels
Not much was expected out of the new teams added to the NL and that's what they provided. 1B Henry Larkin led the Colonels with a .308 average and 66 RBI. Rookie pitchers Scott Stratton (13-23, 3.14) and Fritz Clausen (14-14, 3.15) had solid ERA's but struggled to get wins.
Baltimore Orioles
In their debut season, the Orioles set a NL record with 102 losses. Catcher Wilbert Robinson led the team with a .287 average. 3B John McGraw's .279 average was 2nd, and he added 51 steals. SS "Voiceless Tim" O'Rourke hit just .244 but led the team with 61 RBI. Bill Hawke (8-27, 3.62), Pink Hawley (9-24, 4.06) and Ted Breitenstein (7-21, 3.63) all lost over 20 games.
Batting AVG
.355 Billy Nash, BSN
.349 Jesse Burkett, NYG
.343 Billy Hamilton, PHI
.342 Willie Murphy, CIN
HOMERUNS
15 Jimmy Ryan, CHC
14 Herman Long, BSN
10 Jesse Burkett, NYG
10 Danny Richardson, NYG
RBI
97 Jimmy Ryan, CHC
91 Mike Tiernan, NYG
90 Bobby Lowe, BSN
87 Buttercup Dickerson, CLS
OPS
.889 Jimmy Ryan, CHC
.872 Jesse Burkett, NYG
.872 Billy Nash, BSN
.860 Billy Hamilton, PHI
.841 Mike Tiernan, NYG
STEALS
65 Mike Tiernan, NYG (65-29, 69.16%)
64 Hub Collins, BRO (64-19, 77.11%)
61 Billy Hamilton, PHI (61-33, 65.59%)
59 Dave Foutz, BRO (59-13, 81.94%)
57 Bill Joyce, BRO (57-17, 77.03%)
ERA
2.18 Bill Vinton, PHI (23-11)
2.23 Cy Young, CLS (25-7)
2.62 Charlie Sweeney, BRO (22-13)
2.69 Lady Baldwin, CLS (20-13)
2.69 Bill George, NYG (16-17)
WINS
25 Joe Borden, BSN (25-9, 3.47)
25 Cy Young, CLS
23 Bill Vinton, PHI
22 Pat Luby, CHC (22-11, 2.79)
22 Charlie Sweeney, BRO
STRIKEOUTS
185 Joe Borden, BSN
179 Lady Baldwin, CLS
178 Bill Vinton, PHI
173 Bill Daley, BSN (13-12, 3.36)
168 Bill George, NYG
POY: Cy Young, CLS, 25-7, 2.23 ERA, 15 BB, 153 K, .256 OAVG, 1.05 WHIP
BOY: LF Jimmy Ryan, CHC, .339, 15 HR, 97 RBI, 23 SB, .889 OPS
ROY: Red Ehret, PIT, 18-14, 3.55 ERA, 52 BB, 93 K, .267 OAVG, 1.21 WHIP