The Base Ball Intelligencer, Troy, NY - May 1, 1871:
The Season is upon us once again! The verdant fields of lush grass across this great land will resound with the sounds of balls proudly struck, of feet rushing around the bases and of cries of "Out!" and "Safe!"
Yes, dear reader, this dawning of another base ball season always causes this writer to wax poetic. But let us not get too far ahead of ourselves - the task at hand is to discuss the new amalgamation of base ball powers which have aligned themselves in a new organization, casting off the amateur shroud of the National Association of Base Ball Players. The nine member clubs (of the ten original signees, the Washington National Club has since struck its colors and headed for the hills) are embarking on the first purely professional campaign in base ball annals.
We'll start looking at the contenders by, as always, starting with our beloved Troy Club, which has cast off their title of 'Union Club' for the more earthy moniker 'Haymaker Club.'
TROY HAYMAKER CLUB
The Haymaker Club's pride is right outfielder Ernie Beall. Beall's large shadow continues to dominate the club despite his advanced age of 38 summers. Can he repeat on his 1870 performance which saw him lead the team in hits with 35 - ten of them two-basers - in a mere 92 times at bat?
ERNIE BEALL
CHICAGO WHITE STOCKING CLUB
The Association's best Club is probably that of the Chicagos. The White Stocking Club is a conglomeration of talent not seen since the hey day of the legendary Red Stocking Club of Cincinnati. The rich only got richer this off-season when the White Stocking backers secured the services of short fielder Clifford Campbell. The young Campbell (a Canadian hailing from the wintry fields of Alberta province), a mere slip of a lad of 21, has an abundance of speed, sure hands in the field - a must for someone plying his trade at the short 'stop' - and a determined clouter with the bat.
CLIFFORD CAMPBELL
BOSTON RED STOCKING CLUB
The standard-bearers for the former power in Cincinnati, these Red Stockings are not the old Club, but do bear a strong resemblance. Led by Ernie Biscan, the man who masterminded the creation of the professional circuit, the Red Stockings still feature the game's top player in Rube Pitman and another stalwart in Rit Withers. A trio of batsmen unequaled in any other nine, the Red Stockings could challenge Chicago for the crown this season.
ERNIE BISCAN
CLEVELAND FOREST CITY CLUB
The Forest City Club has not enjoyed the success of it's former in-state compatriots from the Queen City of Cincinnati. Not that the Club is bereft of talent - in the strangely monikered Orlander Pankovits the team has a top notch player - but a seemingly unending run of bad luck has anchored the team in mediocrity. Should their luck change, this could be the Forest City Club's year.
ORLANDER PANKOVITS
The other member clubs of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players:
Fort Wayne Kekiongas
New York Mutuals
Philadelphia Athletics
Rockford Forest Citys
Washington Olympics