Award Winners Announced!
The Brooklyn Atlantics scored a sweep of the end of season awards, with one player winning for the second time in his career. Of course, they’d probably rather walk home with a title.
Batter of the Year
CF Bob Polansky (ATL): .404-.411-.493, 13 2B, 6 3B, 78 R
Brooklyn Atlantics center fielder Bob Polansky was chosen as the National Association Batter of the Year for the second time in his career. Polansky was 3rd in the league in hits, but played 13 games fewer than the Red Stockings players that were ahead of him. His .404 batting average was tops in the league, and New York’s John Nero was a distant 2nd with his .352 average. Polansky was the driving force behind Brooklyn’s league leading offense, which averaged nearly 9 runs a game. Polansky previously won the award while playing for Chicago in 1871.
Pitcher of the Year
SP Jack Anderson (ATL): 29-11, 2.08 ERA, 358.2 IP, 32 BB, 30 K, 30 CG, 3 SHO
Jack Anderson of the Brooklyn Atlantics has been honored as the 1874 National Association’s best pitcher. Anderson edged out Chicago’s Mart Lemelle 29-28 for the league lead in wins, and also had the most strikeouts of any pitcher in the league. His 2.08 ERA was second to New York’s Al Allen among regular starting pitchers.