FINAL STANDINGS:
Code:
National League Standings :
Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA
Providence 67 43 .609 -- .279 3.72
Detroit 63 45 .583 3 .266 3.10
New York (N) 64 48 .571 4 .253 3.13
Philadelphia (N) 57 53 .518 10 .271 4.08
Chicago 57 55 .509 11 .258 3.52
Buffalo 51 61 .455 17 .258 4.12
Boston 49 63 .438 19 .249 4.14
St. Louis (N) 34 74 .315 32 .227 4.66
American Association
Name W L PCT GB AVG ERA
Brooklyn (A) 72 40 .643 -- .237 2.32
Cincinnati 70 42 .625 2 .257 2.61
Pittsburgh 68 43 .613 3.5 .230 2.13
St. Louis (A) 60 52 .536 12 .263 3.04
Philadelphia (A) 52 60 .464 20 .238 2.82
Baltimore 48 61 .440 22.5 .214 3.37
Louisville 44 68 .393 28 .240 3.50
New York (A) 30 78 .278 40 .224 4.00
RECAP:
The shape of base ball in 1885 was molded in large part by the Union Association's failed attempt to become the third major league a year earlier. The magnates ruling the National League and American Association learned that the reserve system must be maintained, that three leagues were too many (but two worked if they cooperated with each other), and that top players must be satisfied, but the majority of the players can be ruled with an iron fist.
Over-hand pitching was now allowed, and the effects began to be felt. Where pitchers were piling up high numbers of starts and innings, now the limitations of the human arm began to be felt. Several teams were using three starters and the remainder were likely heading that way.
But the largest fallout was the players themselves. Where did the Union players go? Who owned their reserve rights? Eventually, things settled out, of course. The good players found jobs of course. Many players found themselves left out after what had been 28 major league teams became 16 once again.
The leagues themselves changed too, Cleveland was gone from the National League, replaced by the former Union Association club in St. Louis. The American Association contracted from 12 to 8 teams, with only Brooklyn remaining of the four new teams added in 1884. Interestingly, Brooklyn won the 1885 American Association, so their presence was certainly warranted.
The Providence Grays won the NL pennant in what proved to be the club's swan song. Financial difficulties resulting from the 1884 war and increased salaries to their players forced the club to fold after the season. But the Grays went out on top, winning three pennants and finishing second three other times in an eight-year stint in the League. Buffalo, in a similar financial state, also gave up the ghost after the season, leaving behind a less illustrious history.
LEADERS:
TOP 5 in BATTING AVG :
.350 Tom Ewart(BFN)
.343 Jasper Kent(LS2)
.339 Otto Bentz(CN2)
.336 Carpetbagger Jenkins( PHI)
.332 Israel Thompson(BSN)
TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :
13 Alexander Faulk(PRO)
12 Ron Lynn(BR3)
6 John Casey(BSN)
6 Walker Weaver(BSN)
6 John Heyward(LS2)
TOP 5 in RBI :
95 Jack Cogburn(PRO)
88 Jack McKinley(PRO)
86 Ron Moore(DTN)
84 Tom Ewart(BFN)
82 Rick Morrison( DTN)
TOP 5 in ERA :
1.97 Preston Applegate( PT1)
2.13 Luke Johnson( PT1)
2.26 Thomas Goss (CN2)
2.28 Stretch North (BR3)
2.35 Bulldog Ayers (BR3)
TOP 5 in WINS :
43 Thomas Goss( CN2)
38 Paul Trail(DTN)
38 Bulldog Ayers(BR3)
38 Jonathan Montgomery(SL4)
36 Jim Durr(PRO)
AWARDS:
Batter of the Year:
Tom "The Erie Eel" Ewart, Buffalo Bisons, .350 average, 20 doubles, 22 triples, 4 home runs, 84 RBI
Pitcher of the Year:
Thomas "The Winter Goose" Goss, Cincinnati Red Stockings, 43-19 record, 2.26 ERA, 558 innings, 360 strikeouts
CREATED PLAYER NOTES:
John "The Mighty" Casey established career highs with 12 triples and 6 home runs and finished with a .265 average, 32 doubles, and 74 RBI for Boston.
Tommy Bernard came back to earth in 1885 following his Batter of the Year season in '84. His average was .269 with 7 doubles, 3 triples and 5 homers, but he still drove in 72 and scored 103 runs for the champion Providece club.
Black Jack McKinley continued to be a master of consistently strong production. He hit .292 with 23 doubles, 7 triples and 2 home runs, scoring 93 runs and driving in 88.
Shane Day drove in 57 runs, hitting .289 with 16 doubles and 10 triples with no home runs.
Wild Willy Williamson may have lived up to his nickname, walking 228 batters in 1885, but that figure is somewhat misleading as walks were up all over baseball, and his total ranked 8th overall in 1885. The Baltimore hurler finished 27-37 with a 3.74 ERA.
Virgil Pendergrass turned it around in his third season as a professional. He hit .270, adding 52 points to his 1884 average, driving in 69 runs (up from 49) and recording 13 doubles, 8 triples and 3 home runs.
Ajax McFadden found himself without a job when the Cleveland club folded after 1884. That didn't last long as "The Scholar" landed in Chicago with the White Stockings. He hit .314 in the Windy City, with 16 doubles, 16 triples and 2 home runs and posted career highs with 83 runs and 57 driven in.
Cincinnati's
Otto Bentz had a great year in 1885. "Tiny" hit .339 with 18 doubles, 8 triples and 1 home run. He stole 25 bases, scored 72 runs and drove in 77. He also played a very solid season at shortstop, though he was not the Gold Glove winner (that went to the great Napoleon Crane, his 6th GG).
His solid 1884 season was probably the biggest reason, but
Bill Bartholomew was surprisingly not out of a job due to his skin color in 1885. Bartholomew was back with Pittsburgh of the AA and hit .273 with 15 doubles and 7 triples. With his stats respectable, but down from his past performance, and with grumblings from players on other clubs, 1885 may prove to be Bartholomew's last at the game's top level.
William "Meat" Poole joined the New York Giants in 1885, appearing in 89 games at third base and hitting .239 with 6 doubles and 5 triples (no HRs). At just 21, Poole has plenty of time to improve and has shown good talent.