October 1, 1876
Controversy was the big story of September in the National League. The league leading Philadelphia Athletics declined to complete their playing obligations for the season, announcing on the 11th that they would play out their remaining home games, but would not make their planned trip out west. With the Athletics as one of the largest drawing clubs in the league, teams located in western cities Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Louisville all complained about the lack of revenue. However, the greater complaint came from the Brown Stockings and Reds, both of whom began to make a run at the Athletics by the end of the month. Unfortunately, they won’t have enough remaining games on their schedule to catch Philadelphia without those head-to-head matchups.
The Boston Red Caps, who had been hanging in there until September, fell far off the pace, while Hartford was the other team that really saw their record plummet. The Dark Blues were just 2-10 for the month.
In Other News
Sep 7: The James-Younger Gang, led by outlaw Jesse James, is surrounded by angry citizens during an attempted bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota. Frank and Jesse James escape, although the rest of the gang, including the three Younger brothers are all either captured or killed, resulting in the dissolution of the gang.
Sep 9: Hartford and Cincinnati play the National League’s first doubleheader. Hartford center fielder Ed Buteau, who has a league high 28-game hit streak coming into the day, goes hitless in four at-bats in the first game. The Reds then give him the second game off.
Sep 11: The Philadelphia Athletics, content with their lead in the standings, declare that they will not make their final western road trip. This leaves them with just 4 games remaining: two against the Reds and two against the Grays, both in Philadelphia over the next week. Other teams in the league cry foul as the lack of games helps the Athletics stay ahead of anyone willing to catch up. In particular, the St. Louis Brown Stockings, who are now 7 games out in second place, lose several head-to-head games with the Athletics that could’ve given them an opportunity to catch Philadelphia. The decision essentially clinches the pennant for Philadelphia. [i]Note: In real life, the Athletics informed the league that they could not afford the trip, but I went this route since they’re in first place.[i]
Sep 15 & 16: With games on consecutive days, the St. Louis Brown Stockings decide to use two different pitchers against the Hartford Dark Blues. On the 15th, Charlie Champ shuts Hartford out on 3 hits for a 3-0 victory. The next day, Charlie Barta shuts out the Dark Blues again, this time on 4 hits in a 5-0 win. In Philadelphia on the same days, Louisville defeated the Athletics twice to bring the Brown Stockings within 5 games of the Athletics. However, with Philadelphia done for the year, and St. Louis now having just 4 games remaining, they’re unable to catch up. Boston, Cincinnati, and New York all sit 6 games back.
Sep 16: For financial reasons, the New York Mutuals declare that they, too, will forego their remaining road games for the season. The announcement comes after a 2-3 loss to Cincinnati in which only 155 fans showed up to watch the home team Mutuals play. Their final game at home will be against Hartford in October, but they are otherwise done for the year. Again, teams still hoping to catch the Athletics cry foul as they have fewer opportunities to win games down the stretch.
Standings
Code:
W L PCT GB
Philadelphia Athletics 37 23 .617 -
St. Louis Brown Stockings 34 28 .548 4.0
Cincinnati Reds 33 29 .532 5.0
New York Mutuals 29 27 .518 6.0
Boston Red Caps 33 33 .500 7.0
Chicago White Stockings 32 34 .485 8.0
Louisville Grays 29 38 .433 11.5
Hartford Dark Blues 23 38 .377 14.5
League Leaders
Average
.359 Bob Polansky (STL)
.337 Sam Shokes (NY)
.334 Henry Rasnick (LOU)
Total Bases
130 Bob Polansky (STL)
117 Henry Rasnick (LOU)
112 Jim Maranto (CHW)
Stolen Bases
16 John Arend (STL)
15 Joe Bonetti (CIN)
15 Bill Dix (LOU)
ERA
1.98 Art Stokes (CHW)
1.99 Billy Lamacchia (BOS)
2.09 Bill McManis (NY)
Wins
29 Joe Bormann (CIN)
20 Charlie Barta (STL)
19 Joe Gotcher (PHA), Art Stokes (CHW)
Strikeouts
66 Joe Bormann (CIN)
60 Charlie Barta (STL)
28 Joe Gotcher (PHA), Frank Kale (HAR)