FINAL STANDINGS
Code:
National League Standings :
(Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA)
Chicago 46 20 .697 -- .311 2.36
Philadelphia 39 21 .650 4 .293 2.49
New York 34 23 .596 7.5 .312 2.42
Louisville 34 35 .493 13.5 .260 3.29
Boston 33 37 .471 15 .268 2.85
St. Louis 26 38 .406 19 .263 3.05
Hartford 26 43 .377 21.5 .280 3.50
Cincinnati 22 43 .338 23.5 .239 2.88
RECAP:
The 1876 season saw the debut of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, replacing the National Association of Professional Base Ball
Players which had proven too disorganized to succeed. Under the League, the clubs reigned supreme and central authority - in theory at least - rested with the League itself. This central ideal would be tested at the end of the season, when the New York and Philadelphia clubs, losing money, decided not to make their final road trips... and were expelled from the League.
But before that came to pass, the 1876 season itself was a resounding success. Things got off to a rocky start when the heart of the Association's Boston club followed team mate Ralph Eanes to Chicago to sign on with the League's White Stocking club. The transplants proved wildly successful in their new locale, as the White Stockings were clearly the class of the League, winning 46 games to claim the initial National League pennant. Eanes was in the middle of things, with a .383 average. Other key contributors were fellow Boston expatriate (.331) and Washington refugee Travis Pearson, who led the club with a .399 average. A pair of newcomers: catcher Roger "Tobacky" Leaf and pitcher Howard Bloomer were also key cogs in the Chicago machine.
LEADERS
TOP 5 in BATTING AVERAGE:
.399 Travis Pearson( CHN)
.396 Ron Catlin( NY3)
.387 Jake Noble( NY3)
.387 Steve Columbus( PHN)
.384 Henry MacPherson( PHN)
TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :
4 Joe Poon( BSN)
3 Glenn Felty( HAR)
2 Paddy McKeehan( LS1)
2 Carey Edgerton( LS1)
1 Nick Wagner( HAR)
TOP 5 in RBI :
53 Henry MacPherson( PHN)
49 Travis Pearson( CHN)
46 Ralph Eanes( CHN)
41 Joe Poon( BSN)
40 Tim Peterson( CHN)
TOP 5 in ERA :
1.58 Pat Manke( SL3)
1.60 Howard Bloomer( CHN)
2.10 Johnny Hartman( PHN)
2.12 Rich Deem( BSN)
2.17 Jim Smothers( NY3)
TOP 5 in WINS :
27 Johnny Hartman( PHN)
21 Howard Bloomer( CHN)
21 Ken Hanner( LS1)
19 Pat Manke( SL3)
18 Jeff Rainwater( NY3)
AWARDS:
Batter of the Year: Travis Pearson, Chicago White Stockings, .399 average, 49 RBI
Pitcher of the Year: Johnny Hartman, Philadelphia Athletics, 27-7 record, 2.10 ERA, 321.3 innings