The Base Ball Intelligencer, Troy, NY, August 3, 1876:
AS TEMPERATURES RISE, SO DO DARK BLUES
The Hartford Dark Blues, a club nearly wiped out of existence at the formation of the National League this past winter, now stands atop the circuit ahead of such worthys as the Stockings (Red, White and Brown) and both Mutual and Athletic. How did such a thing come to pass? Certainly the superb stick of Taylor Pollock has been a key ingredient in the Hartford club's recipe of success. The 24-year-old Pollock is hitting a robust .353 (after a .299 percentage in his inauguaral season a year ago) and Steven Assenmacher is contributing a .348 mark. And young Rick Barney has supplanted Cannonball Hebron as the Dark Blue Club's hurler of choice - and his 2.61 earned run average proves that was a wise decision.
TAYLOR POLLOCK
Only a fool would count out the White Stockings, however. Four other clubs (Mutual, Athletic, Red Stocking and Gray) are clumped in the middle of the league's table, while the Brown Stockings and Red Legs are essentially out of the race for the title.
Code:
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Hartford Dark Blues 27 9 .750 - 24-12 3 11-5 16-4 2-1 8-2 30 W5 9-1
Chicago White Stockings 28 14 .667 2.0 24-18 4 18-6 10-8 1-1 12-3 W5 7-3
Philadelphia Athletics 21 17 .553 7.0 24-14 -3 13-8 8-9 0-2 3-11 L1 4-6
New York Mutuals 21 19 .525 8.0 22-18 -1 12-8 9-11 1-0 6-7 W3 6-4
Boston Red Stockings 21 20 .512 8.5 22-19 -1 12-9 9-11 0-1 4-7 L5 2-8
Louisville Grays 22 23 .489 9.5 23-22 -1 11-9 11-14 1-0 6-4 W2 6-4
St. Louis Brown Stockings 15 26 .366 14.5 18-23 -3 9-14 6-12 3-1 4-8 L2 4-6
Cincinnati Reds 7 34 .171 22.5 8-33 -1 3-14 4-20 0-2 3-4 L5 2-8
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION CLOSE KNIT GROUP
The standings table of the Canadian Association shows how tightly grouped the talent in the new circuit really is. Tecumseh (London) continues to head the victory tabulations, but by the barest of margins, keeping the loop's championship very much in question.
Code:
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
London Tecumsehs 8 5 .615 - 7-6 1 4-3 4-2 1-1 3-2 3 L3 6-4
Kingston St. Lawrences 7 6 .538 1.0 7-6 0 3-3 4-3 0-2 3-2 W1 4-6
Toronto Clippers 6 6 .500 1.5 6-6 0 5-1 1-5 2-0 2-2 W2 5-5
Guelph Maple Leafs 6 7 .462 2.0 7-6 -1 3-3 3-4 1-1 3-4 L1 5-5
Hamilton Standards 5 8 .385 3.0 6-7 -1 3-4 2-4 0-0 1-2 W1 4-6
STAR OF SYRACUSE NEW YORK'S BRIGHTEST LIGHT
The Star Club of Syracuse is dominating the New York State Association in this inaugural campaign. With sixteen victories against a mere two losses, the Star Club is in firm control of the NYSA's championship race. Buffalo and Binghamton are the only clubs to have dented the Syracuse nine's armor. Among the other four clubs, only Binghamton has garned more victories than losses.
Code:
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Syracuse Stars 16 2 .889 - 14-4 2 9-0 7-2 2-0 3-1 25 W9 9-1
Binghamton Crickets 10 8 .556 6.0 11-7 -1 6-3 4-5 0-2 3-1 L3 6-4
Buffalo Bisons 9 9 .500 7.0 7-11 2 7-3 2-6 2-1 3-1 W2 4-6
Rochester Flour Citys 6 11 .353 9.5 8-9 -2 4-4 2-7 1-0 0-5 L1 4-6
Auburn Franklins 4 15 .211 12.5 5-14 -1 3-6 1-9 0-2 1-2 L2 2-8