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HITTERS BY POSITION
FIRST BASE
(asterisked players will be free agents this offseason)
Ham Allen, Buffalo Bisons* (0-36-.253-0) - This 33-year-old had a relatively solid season in his first starting role in years, but he's not happy losing in Buffalo, and the team will probably want to upgrade the position anyway. He could probably still help a contender in a reserve role.
Dan Brouthers, Troy Trojans (2-49-.320-13) - This hulking 21-year-old rookie had a phenomenal first year, and looks like he has a bright career ahead of him in Troy.
Clipper Flynn, Cincinnati Reds (0-43-.267-2) - He had a productive but unspectacular year for Cincinnati, which is exactly what he does most seasons. A solid bat, but no one's idea of a star.
Jim Foran, Cleveland Blues (0-54-.286-4) - A good hitter, but he's never been able to fulfill the MVH-level potential he showed early in his career.
Everett Mills, Syracuse Stars* (0-44-.259-1) - For the second time, he came out of inactivity to start for a brand new team, and for the second time, he turned in a decent performance but nothing that's likely to land him a new starting job at age 34.
John Morrill, Boston Red Caps (1-36-.285-1) - He's been tried at various other infield spots, but he's a natural first baseman, so this year Cap Anson agreed to move over to third base to make room for him. He justified the move with a solid year at the plate.
Count Sensenderfer, Providence Grays* (1-26-.252-0) - Providence believed this veteran still had something left after a few years of struggling in St. Louis and Boston, so they brought him in a converted him to a first baseman to get his bat into the lineup. By and large, he proved that it probably wasn't worth the effort.
Joe Start, Chicago White Stockings (4-21-.250-1) - He went down to a season-ending abdominal injury midway through the year, had his least productive season in years, and turns 37 during the offseason. Don't expect too much from him in the future.
And the best-hitting first baseman for 1879 is... DAN BROUTHERS OF THE TROY TROJANS. The hot-hitting rookie breaks Anson's five-year run as the league's best first baseman.
First Base
1871 - Clipper Flynn, Troy Haymakers (0-20-.361-1)
1872 - Joe Start, New York Mutuals (1-51-.330-3)
1873 - Jim Foran, Philadelphia Whites (0-35-.400-7)
1874 - Cap Anson, Brooklyn Atlantics (0-44-.400-9)
1875 - Cap Anson, Brooklyn Atlantics (3-41-.417-14)
1876 - Cap Anson, Hartford Dark Blues (5-48-.383-6)
1877 - Cap Anson, Hartford Dark Blues (0-26-.375-8)
1878 - Cap Anson, Boston Red Caps (1-35-.343-8)
1879 - Dan Brouthers, Troy Trojans (2-49-.320-13)
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