[Eckstein 4 Prez]

TEAM-BY-TEAM PROFILES - 1880 BEADLE BASE BALL PLAYER

BOSTON RED CAPS (56-28 in 1879)

What a difference a year makes. Boston has gone from being a perennially underachieving team to the presumptive champion for years to come. The year was a truly perfect convergence of two key factors: the stars had their usual great seasons, while several other key contributors (Dorgan, Morrill, O'Rourke, Foley) really came into their own. On the whole, things look very good for the defending champions going forward - the Big Three are going to be playing together for another three years (or more), and the supporting cast looks great. What's not to like?

8 C Cal McVey (0-62-.333-11) - As expected for the career leader in hits (905), he's remarkably consistent as well as remarkably talented. He is expected to continue dominating at the backstop position.
50 1B John Morrill (1-36-.285-1) - This solid young infielder can play all over the field, but he seems most comfortable at first, so they seem to have settled on playing him there.
11 2B/SS Ross Barnes (1-73-.354-3) - Another great season from this superstar. He will be playing both middle infield positions this year, depending on whether the team starts Wood or Houck next to him.
18 2B Jimmy Wood (3-34-.287-6) - Last season, he was 36 years old and coming off two straight subpar seasons, so he looked like he was done. Then he had this astonishingly good year. He is reportedly unhappy at having to share time with Houck in the middle infield.
29 SS/LF Sadie Houck (2-47-.243-0) - This slick-fielding 24-year-old played his way into a starting job last season, and as long as he can keep hitting well enough to justify his fielding-first approach, he'll probably keep it. Against left-handed pitchers, they will play him in left field.
5 3B Cap Anson (3-52-.389-14) - Certainly one of the top three players in the league. He seems satisfied with the move to third base, so they'll probably keep him there from now on.
37 LF/RF Mike Dorgan (4-65-.309-4) - In his third season, Dorgan really came into his own as an excellent hitter, giving Boston yet another element to their potent attack.
13 CF John O'Rourke (5-69-.298-1) - He may have been old for a rookie, but that didn't make him any less capable. He gives the Boston club an embarrassment of riches in hitting.
24 RF Jack Manning (1-29-.218-1) - Does he have some kind of blackmail material on Harry Wright? Orator Shaffer is the far superior player, but Manning continues to get the starting nod.

9 P Curry Foley (33-15, 2.33 as a rookie) - This 24-year-old Irishman had a very strong debut season, and now looks to build upon that success. Fortunately, he has a great team behind him.
44 P Foghorn Bradley (16-8, 3.45; lifetime 94-83 record) - Although he's no longer the primary starter, he'll still be counted upon to make many starts for the team this season.