[mjj55409]

Approaching Inauguration of the Season
New York Times, March 1, 1871
It will be but a few weeks hence when the ball-fields of the Metropolis will again become the scene of the interesting contests of the base-ball season, and the promise is that we are to have the most exciting trials of skill on record in all the principal cities of the Union. The White Stockings of Chicago will again be on the field, after vigorously claiming the championship whip pennant of 1870. The Red Stockings club of Cincinnati after a decade or more of prominence will not be fielding a professional nine this year. The representatives of that club have indicated their displeasure with the monetary demands being made by certain players, and as a group they have refused to incur a debt to field a nine.

In all there are nine clubs that have declared their intention for championship match play in the coming year. Their organization is as follows.

White Stockings, Chicago
Players.....................Position
1. Charlie Hodes.........Catcher
2. George Zettlein.....Pitcher
3. Bub McAtee...........First base
4. Jim Wood..............Second base
5. Ed Pinkham............Third base
6. Ed Duffy................Short stop
7. Fred Treacey..........Left field
8. Tom Foley..............Centre field
9. Joe Simmons...........Right field

Olympics, Washington
Players....................Position
1. Doug Allison..........Catcher
2. Bill Stearns............Pitcher
3. Everett Mills..........First base
4. Tom Beal..............Second base
5. Fred Waterman......Third base
6. Davy Force...........Short stop
7. Harry Berthong.......Left field
8. George Hall............Centre field
9. John Glenn.............Right field

Red Stockings, Boston
Players...................Position
1. Cal McVey...........Catcher
2. Al Spaulding.........Pitcher
3. Charlie Gould........First base
4. Ross Barnes.........Second base
5. Harry Schafer.......Third base
6. George Wright......Short stop
7. Fred Cone............Left field
8. Harry Wright.........Centre field
9. Dave Birdsall.........Right field

Mutual, New York
Players.....................Position
1. Dick Higham...........Catcher
2. Rynie Wolters.........Pitcher
3. Joe Start...............First base
4. Robert Ferguson.....Second base
5. Charles Smith.........Third base
6. Dickey Pearce........Short stop
7. John Hatfield..........Left field
8. Dave Eggler...........Centre field
9. Chas Mills..............Right field

Athletic, Philadelphia
Players.......................Position
1. Fergy Malone...........Catcher
2. Dick McBride............Pitcher
3. Wes Fisler...............First base
4. Al Reach.................Second base
5. Levi Meyerle............Third base
6. John Radcliff............Short stop
7. George Bechtel.........Left field
8. Sensenderfer...........Centre field
9. George Heubel...........Right field

Forest City, Cleveland
Players...............Position
1. Deacon White..Catcher
2. Al Pratt...........Pitcher
3. Jim Carleton.....First base
4. Gene Kimball.....Second base
5. Ezra Sutton......Third base
6. John Bass.........Short stop
7. Charlie Pabor.....Left field
8. Art Allison.........Centre field
9. Elmer White.......Right field

Kekionga, Fort Wayne
Players.......................Position
1. Frank Selman...........Catcher
2. Bobby Mathews........Pitcher
3. Jim Foran.................First base
4. Tom Carey...............Second base
5. Henry Kohler.............Third base
6. Jimmy Hallihan...........Short stop
7. Ed Mincher................Left field
8. Joe McDermott...........Centre field
9. William Kelly...............Right field

Forest City, Rockford
Players......................Position
1. Chick Fulmer...........Catcher
2. Cherokee Fisher.......Pitcher
3. Clipper Flynn...........First base
4. Bob Addy...............Second base
5. Cap Anson..............Third base
6. Denny Mack............Short stop
7. Ralph Ham...............Left field
8. Scott Hastings.........Centre field
9. Gat Stires...............Right field

Haymakers, Troy
Players...................Position
1. Bill Craver...........Catcher
2. Lefty McMullin......Pitcher
3. Ned Connor.........First base
4. Lip Pike...............Second base
5. Steve Bellan........Third base
6. Mike McGeary.......Short stop
7. Steve King...........Left field
8. Tom York.............Centre field
9. Pete Donnelly........Right field