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legendsport · 06-13-2007, 07:10 AM

The Base Ball Intelligencer, Troy, NY, April 27, 1878:

KITTRIDGE: 'RED STOCKINGS WILL REIGN IN SEVENTY-EIGHT'

Uriah Kittridge is an old-time New Englander and has one firm belief - that anything he touches will turn to gold. A textile magnate, Kittridge has bought the Boston Baseball Club and promises to return them to their glory days. To that end, he was in a spending mood when three former League teams folded up following the '77 campaign. First order of business: the acquisition of Fred Morton, erstwhile centerfielder extraordinaire of the Brown Stocking club. Morton was paid handsomely to put his name on a Boston contract and began a series of signings which should put the Boston club in position to challenge Chicago for League supremacy. Also heading to Beantown were catcher Earl Walker (he'll man the first base in Boston), keystone turned shortstop Mike Feldbush and keytone-to-stay Ethan Marcello. All these players should contribute to the future success of Boston. Mr. Kittridge is "banking" on it, in more ways than one.

FRED 'MUTTON' MORTON

PITMAN RETURNS TO ROOTS
One of the reasons Uriah Kittridge signed Mike Feldbush was to fill the very large shortstop cleats left vacant by Rube Pitman when the latter departed Boston to return to the site of his professional debut, Cincinnati. The Red Legs, under new management, drew Pitman with a promise of managerial responsibility and by a pledge to return the Red Legs to the glory achieved by that first of the professional clubs, the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869. Pitman was the key member of that club, and will be the key member of this one as well, even if the new edition can not hope to achieve the lofty heights of the original. The British-born Pitman, whose speech still sounds as though he should be sipping tea with Queen Vicky, will manage the club - the first time he has ever taken on the responsibility. As long as he can put himself out there at shortstop every game, the Red Legs will have a fighting chance at victory.

RUBE PITMAN

WHITE STOCKINGS NOT READY TO LAY DOWN FOR BOSTON
The Chicago White Stockings, champions of the world, are not about to be caught napping by the vastly improved Boston club. Mr. Harrell pledges that his club will again rise to the top of the League and he has the players to back that boast up. With the core group of Clifford Campbell, Walker Rhoades, Klu Dolce and John Young on board and rising stars in keystone Jim McGregor and backstop Zane Guenther, it would be a foolish man who would bet against Chicago. Not that you would be betting, it being illegal and all...

KLU DOLCE

NEW LEAGUE CLUBS LOOKING FOR RESPECT
With three new clubs joining the ranks of the fast crowd in the big League, it's no surprise that most of the noise is being made about that other three - Boston, Chicago and Cincinnati. Not so fast, say the backers of Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Providence. These three clubs are all veterans of professional play, though they have yet to test their mettle against the leviathan clubs of Boston and Chicago. Of the three, it would appear that Providence is best suited to success in the league. The play in New England being of somewhat higher quality is one reason - another is the acquistion of veteran first baseman (and former Louisville star) Greg Dixon and second sacker Clement Reynolds (formerly of St. Louis) to anchor the lineup. These two are proven players who will provide a nucleus around which the younger Gray players can rally.

CLEMENT REYNOLDS

ALLIANCE IS NO MORE, NOW INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION IS LONE CHALLENGER TO 'THE LEAGUE'
The one-year experiment known as the League Alliance is no more. Realizing that their entrance fee bought them very little, the former members of the Alliance declined unanimously the chance to give the League further greenbacks. With both the tenuous New York and New England Associations no more, this leaves the International Association - now swollen to thirteen member clubs - to stand alone against the League. Though Mr. Harrell has pledged the League will not pilfer talent from the Association, one must wonder how long that will hold up. The Association boasts several talented clubs, such as the Stars of Syracuse, Lowell Ladies Men, Buffalo Bisons and Tecumseh of London, Ontario. There are also a fair amount of talented players on those rosters, with only the very thin coffers of the League's membership preventing full-scale raids on Association rosters. Nevertheless, should the going get tough, expect to see such Association stars as Syracuse's Blanco and Villanueva, or up-and-comers like Hornellsville's Mark Madsen or London's Mahan O'Faolan signed to a League contract.

MAHAN O'FAOLAN

06-13-2007, 07:10 AM	#92 (permalink)
legendsport Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Behind The Lens Posts: 2,158 Thanks: 3 Thanked 8x in 8 posts	1878 Season Preview The Base Ball Intelligencer, Troy, NY, April 27, 1878: KITTRIDGE: 'RED STOCKINGS WILL REIGN IN SEVENTY-EIGHT' Uriah Kittridge is an old-time New Englander and has one firm belief - that anything he touches will turn to gold. A textile magnate, Kittridge has bought the Boston Baseball Club and promises to return them to their glory days. To that end, he was in a spending mood when three former League teams folded up following the '77 campaign. First order of business: the acquisition of Fred Morton, erstwhile centerfielder extraordinaire of the Brown Stocking club. Morton was paid handsomely to put his name on a Boston contract and began a series of signings which should put the Boston club in position to challenge Chicago for League supremacy. Also heading to Beantown were catcher Earl Walker (he'll man the first base in Boston), keystone turned shortstop Mike Feldbush and keytone-to-stay Ethan Marcello. All these players should contribute to the future success of Boston. Mr. Kittridge is "banking" on it, in more ways than one. FRED 'MUTTON' MORTON PITMAN RETURNS TO ROOTS One of the reasons Uriah Kittridge signed Mike Feldbush was to fill the very large shortstop cleats left vacant by Rube Pitman when the latter departed Boston to return to the site of his professional debut, Cincinnati. The Red Legs, under new management, drew Pitman with a promise of managerial responsibility and by a pledge to return the Red Legs to the glory achieved by that first of the professional clubs, the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869. Pitman was the key member of that club, and will be the key member of this one as well, even if the new edition can not hope to achieve the lofty heights of the original. The British-born Pitman, whose speech still sounds as though he should be sipping tea with Queen Vicky, will manage the club - the first time he has ever taken on the responsibility. As long as he can put himself out there at shortstop every game, the Red Legs will have a fighting chance at victory. RUBE PITMAN WHITE STOCKINGS NOT READY TO LAY DOWN FOR BOSTON The Chicago White Stockings, champions of the world, are not about to be caught napping by the vastly improved Boston club. Mr. Harrell pledges that his club will again rise to the top of the League and he has the players to back that boast up. With the core group of Clifford Campbell, Walker Rhoades, Klu Dolce and John Young on board and rising stars in keystone Jim McGregor and backstop Zane Guenther, it would be a foolish man who would bet against Chicago. Not that you would be betting, it being illegal and all... KLU DOLCE NEW LEAGUE CLUBS LOOKING FOR RESPECT With three new clubs joining the ranks of the fast crowd in the big League, it's no surprise that most of the noise is being made about that other three - Boston, Chicago and Cincinnati. Not so fast, say the backers of Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Providence. These three clubs are all veterans of professional play, though they have yet to test their mettle against the leviathan clubs of Boston and Chicago. Of the three, it would appear that Providence is best suited to success in the league. The play in New England being of somewhat higher quality is one reason - another is the acquistion of veteran first baseman (and former Louisville star) Greg Dixon and second sacker Clement Reynolds (formerly of St. Louis) to anchor the lineup. These two are proven players who will provide a nucleus around which the younger Gray players can rally. CLEMENT REYNOLDS ALLIANCE IS NO MORE, NOW INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION IS LONE CHALLENGER TO 'THE LEAGUE' The one-year experiment known as the League Alliance is no more. Realizing that their entrance fee bought them very little, the former members of the Alliance declined unanimously the chance to give the League further greenbacks. With both the tenuous New York and New England Associations no more, this leaves the International Association - now swollen to thirteen member clubs - to stand alone against the League. Though Mr. Harrell has pledged the League will not pilfer talent from the Association, one must wonder how long that will hold up. The Association boasts several talented clubs, such as the Stars of Syracuse, Lowell Ladies Men, Buffalo Bisons and Tecumseh of London, Ontario. There are also a fair amount of talented players on those rosters, with only the very thin coffers of the League's membership preventing full-scale raids on Association rosters. Nevertheless, should the going get tough, expect to see such Association stars as Syracuse's Blanco and Villanueva, or up-and-comers like Hornellsville's Mark Madsen or London's Mahan O'Faolan signed to a League contract. MAHAN O'FAOLAN __________________ The Baseball Chronicle - Swinging thru History! The Football Chronicle - Hitting Hard Historically (PFS - 1962) Alternate Universe Football (FOF - 1994)