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DETROIT WOLVERINES (new team)
This team, like most new teams, is cobbled together out of spare parts. Some of those parts are very, very good, some are terrible, most are in between. They have plugged a lot of their holes with longtime veterans, and have enough talent to possibly finish out of last place, although they do not appear ready for the first division at this point.
37 C Barney Gilligan (0-35-.177-1 with Cincinnati; lifetime .217 hitter) - It doesn't seem possible that he is really the best catcher available. Was completely worthless for Cincinnati in 1880.
20 1B Martin Powell (rookie) - He is said to be a very good hitter, and is considered one of the league's most promising rookies.
13 2B Bob "Magnet" Addy (1-29-.236-2 with Cincinnati; lifetime .274 hitter) - This 36-year-old veteran is another pickup from Cincinnati. Doesn't hit much, but is a wizard in the field. They are planning to platoon him at second.
11 2B Pop Smith (2 for 17 with Cincinnati as a rookie) - This 24-year-old is a very good fielder, so if they can get him to hit well enough to be a starter, he might be the new Bob Addy.
17 SS King Kelly (1-36-.324-9 with Cincinnati; lifetime .291 hitter) - In a mild surprise, this budding star agreed to join this new club. He was reportedly hoping to end up in Boston or Chicago, but neither team was willing to open its wallet to sign him.
15 3B Jimmy Hallinan (1-24-.206-0 with Worcester; lifetime .276 hitter) - He spent the last three seasons starting for teams that only lasted one year, and is hoping this club lends his career a little stability. Coming off an off-year with Worcester.
36 3B Steve Bellan (1-34-.223-5 with Cincinnati; lifetime .264 hitter) - This slick-fielding Cuban will share time with Hallinan at third. His batting average has fallen in each of the last three seasons, so Detroit has to wonder whether he has anything left in the tank.
34 LF Steve King (0-9-.213-0 with Providence/Worcester; lifetime .293 hitter) - He is long past his prime, and will turn 39 in June, but is still probably good enough to platoon in left field for Detroit.
19 LF Ned Cuthbert (5 for 12 with Cleveland in 1880; lifetime .272 hitter) - This longtime backup may actually get a chance to start some games with Detroit. He's 35 years old and hasn't logged 100 at-bats in a season since 1872, so don't expect much.
43 CF Pete Hotaling (0-42-.276-0 with Cincinnati; lifetime .273 hitter) - He and Kelly are about the only reasons to hope for this club. A good fielder and decent hitter who is still only 24 years old.
28 RF Orator Shaffer (0-8-.254-0 with Boston; lifetime .287 hitter) - His career got badly derailed by three seasons on the bench in Beantown. In the mid-1870s, he looked like an up-and-coming star, but it hasn't worked out that way. If he can rediscover his hitting stroke, it would really help this club.
30 P Tommy Bond (2-4, 1.68 with Providence in 1880; lifetime 34-48 record) - This 24-year-old is finally getting a chance to start every day after having been a fringe player since age 17.
18 P Dick McBride (1-2, 3.86 with Troy in 1880; lifetime 161-110 record) - He is the career leader in victories by a pitcher, so if he still has anything left at age 36 this team could do okay at pitcher.
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