The Base Ball Intelligencer, Troy, NY - November 1, 1871:
RED STOCKINGS & MUTUALS TOP THE STANDINGS
Code:
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Boston Red Stockings 22 9 .710 - 19-12 3 13-4 9-5 3-0 7-3 - L1 6-4
New York Mutuals 22 11 .667 1.0 20-13 2 15-4 7-7 1-2 6-5 W1 4-6
Cleveland Forest Citys 16 13 .552 5.0 17-12 -1 5-6 11-7 4-0 3-6 W1 6-4
Chicago White Stockings 14 12 .538 5.5 11-15 3 9-7 5-5 2-2 6-1 W1 3-7
Fort Wayne Kekiongas 10 9 .526 6.0 11-8 -1 4-5 6-4 0-3 2-4 L2 6-4
Troy Haymakers 14 14 .500 6.5 14-14 0 11-7 3-7 1-4 5-5 L2 6-4
Philadelphia Athletics 11 16 .407 9.0 12-15 -1 8-6 3-10 1-1 5-1 L1 7-3
Washington Olympics 10 22 .313 12.5 14-18 -4 5-9 5-13 0-1 2-9 L3 3-7
Rockford Forest Citys 6 19 .240 13.0 8-17 -2 2-5 4-14 2-1 1-3 W1 3-7
With 22 victories, both the Boston Red Stocking Club and the New York Mutual Club have staked a claim on the right to call themselves the 1871 world's champions. The Bostons are seen to have an edge in that they lost fewer contests than the New York nine did. This gives them a legitimate claim on the title, thought the controversy will never die down as neither club was willing to play a final game to settle the dispute. According to Rube Pitman, "The weather is just not warm enough for another contest." Someone suggested traveling to warmer environs in the southland. Pitman laughed it off as not worth the expense of rail travel into what he called "the former slaveocracy."
The Chicago White Stocking Club, an early season favorite, struggled mightily this summer and because of the Great Fire which ravaged their city just weeks ago, may not be able to participate in the 1872 championship season because their home - like that of 90,000 or so other Chicago denizens - was destroyed by the immense blaze. One bright spot in an otherwise dreary campaign for the Chicago nine was the play of rookie Clifford Campbell, who has earned a spot in the Club's plans for the future, wherever that may be, after recording 30 safeties in 99 times at the bat.
TOP BATSMAN
Boston's Rube Pitman was honored by the Association as its top batsman for the 1871 season. Pitman notched 61 base hits in just 31 games, a mark good for a Chadwick batting average of .421 this year. He added in eight two-basers for the Red Stocking Club and was a key ingredient in the Club's success.
TOP CHUCKER
The best man in the box this season was the Mutual Club's Andy Sanford. Sanford recorded 21 of his Club's 22 victories, best among Association pitchers and also allowed just 86 runs in his 33 games with an "earned run average" of 2.73.