March 4, 1872
The National Association holds it's annual conference in Cleveland. Eight teams are represented, only five of them returning from last season. The Forest Citys of Rockford disband along with the Washington Olympics and Chicago White Stockings. Replacing them in the NA are the Baltimore Canaries, the Brooklyn Eckfords and the Brooklyn Atlantics. Bob Ferguson signs with the Brooklyn Atlantics and takes over as National Association President.
Rule changes now allow for the use of the wrist in pitching. The schedule is expanded from 30 to 44 games, the season will still begin on August 1st.
March 31, 1872
C Mike McGeary from Troy to Baltimore
C Scott Hastings from Baltimore to Cleveland
August 1, 1872
The season opens in Philadelphia as the Athletics beat the Brooklyn Atlantics, 12-4
August 6, 1872
Troy LF Lip Pike becomes the first player in National Association history to hit for the cycle following a 2 run double off Cleveland ace Al Pratt.
August 28, 1872
Troy CF Count Gedney hits 3 home runs against the Brooklyn Eckfords. Gendey's second home run came in the 7th inning, and he followed it up one inning later with a grand slam. In addition to the single game home run mark, Gedney's 8 RBI's also set a record.
September 16, 1872
Troy P George Zettlein records a record 17 strike outs in a 7-5 win over Brooklyn.
September 20, 1872
Fred Treacey of Philadelphia uncorks 5 hits and hits for the cycle, becoming the second player in history to do so.
September 21, 1872
Boston closes out the regular season by trouncing the Brooklyn Eckfords 17-5. Al Spalding, the Red Stockings starter in all 44 games this season wins his 33rd game allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 4.
October 3, 1872
The Boston Red Stockings take advantage of their second chance and beat the Troy Haymakers in 7 games after trailing 3 games to 2 to take the 1872 World Series title.
October 4, 1872
16 year old Jim Britt, the sole starter for the Brooklyn Atlantics and Doug Allison of Troy were named Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues. Britt pitched all 44 games to completion, compiling a record of 17-27 with an ERA of 3.76. Allison started in 15 games for Troy racking up an impressive 14-1 record with a 2.62 ERA.
Boston 2B Ross Barnes was awarded the NA1 MVP Award. Barnes compiled a .402 batting average, leading all players
Barnes counterpart, Lip Pike won the NA2 MVP Award. Pike batted .355 while driving in 51 and hitting 6 home runs, Pike missed out on the triple crown by losing the batting race to last year's MVP winner Ezra Sutton who batted .378.
Al Spalding and Al Pratt win the Pitcher of the Year Award for the second straight season. Spalding's 33 wins set a National Association record while Pratt was the first player to break 200 strike outs in a season.
October 15, 1872
New York Mutuals LF John Hatfield wins a contest by throwing a ball 401 feet, 10 1/2 inches on the fly from centerfield towards home plate at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn, breaking his own record of 396 feet set in 1868.
October 19, 1872
Despite finishing second, The Forest Citys of Cleveland disband after club goals were not met.
1872 Final Season Standings
NA1 W L Pct. GB
Boston 33 11 .750 *
Baltimore 19 25 .432 14
Philadelphia 19 25 .432 14
BrooklynA 17 27 .386 16
NA2 W L Pct. GB
Troy 37 7 .841 *
Cleveland 23 21 .523 14
New York 19 25 .432 18
BrooklynE 9 35 .205 28
League Leaders
Batting Average
R.Barnes(Boston) .402
E.Sutton(Cleveland) .378
J.Start(New York) .369
Home Runs
L.Meyerle(Philadelphia) 6
L.Pike(Troy) 6
C.Gedney(Troy) 6
F.Treacey(Philadelphia) 6
RBI's
L.Pike(Troy) 51
C.Gedney(Troy) 50
D.White(Cleveland) 44
Stolen Bases
F.Cone(Boston) 12
R.Ham(Baltimore) 10
J.Wood(Troy) 8
ERA
G.Zettlein(Troy) 2.20
D.Mcbride(Philadelphia) 2.58
D.Allison(Troy) 2.62
Wins
A.Spalding(Boston) 33-11
A.Pratt(Cleveland) 23-21
J.Britt(BrooklynA) 17-27
Strikeouts
A.Pratt(Cleveland) 201
A.Spalding(Boston) 112
J.Britt(BrooklynA) 110
[ 04-20-2002, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Vyper ]