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HITTERS BY POSITION - LEFT FIELD
(asterisked players will be free agents this offseason)
National League
Abner Dalrymple, Cleveland Blues (2-34-.264-0) - Two years after being a viable MVH candidate, he put up extremely mediocre numbers. Should be in the prime of his career at age 25. Cleveland really needs him to find his hitting stroke in 1883.
Mike Dorgan, Boston Red Caps (1-29-.219-5) - He's just never really lived up to his potential. Boston has given him several years to try to find his hitting stroke, but it might be time to find another option in the outfield.
Charlie Eden, Chicago White Stockings* (1-41-.265-0) - He did a solid job for Chicago in his contract year, but evidently the team has decided it's in rebuilding mode and doesn't need to resign him.
Pete Gillespie, Troy Trojans* (0-25-.237-0) - A utility outfielder who got the first starting role of his career out of necessity. Look for him to latch on somewhere as a fourth outfielder.
Charley Jones, Providence Grays (7-47-.280-2) - He had a career year in his contract season, and was rewarded with a big four-year extension from Providence. He'll be worth it if he can maintain this level of production.
Steve King, Detroit Wolverines* (1-21-.183-0) - At age 40, he was asked to be a starter, and clearly wasn't up to the challenge. Look for him to retire in the offseason.
Ed Swartwood, Buffalo Bisons (0-33-.296-0) - He went down with a shoulder injury in August, but until then was one of Buffalo's best hitters. Looks like he has a promising future.
George Wood, Worcester Ruby Legs* (1-38-.216-0) - He simply hasn't lived up to his billing. It will be interesting to see how long whatever new team he lands with will wait for him to develop.
American Association
Jud Birchall, Philadelphia Athletics (0-46-.275-0) - A decent hitter and outfielder, he was one of the few worthwhile position players for Philadelphia.
Tom Brown, Baltimore Orioles (2-50-.323-0) - This 22-year-old rookie was a pleasant surprise, and might have been a big story in the American Association if not for Browning overshadowing the rest of the league.
Mike Hooper, Pittsburgh Alleghenys* (3-39-.238-0) - Career backup who did an adequate job as a stopgap starter for Pittsburgh. Still, the team plans to go in another direction next season.
Leech Maskrey, Louisville Eclipse (0-31-.278-1) - He actually split time with Browning in left, as Louisville shuttled their star back and forth between left and center. He wasn't a bad rookie in his own right.
Redleg Snyder, Cincinnati Red Stockings (0-9-.189-0) - A decent outfielder, but an absolute zero at the plate. Don't look for him to remain a starter for long.
Al Thake, St. Louis Brown Stockings* (1-54-.268-13) - This veteran recharged his career with a decent year out west in St. Louis. Reportedly, he's looking to turn that into a new contract with a contending National League club. Detroit, perhaps?
And the awards for best left fielder of 1882 go to... CHARLEY JONES OF THE PROVIDENCE GRAYS in the National League, and TOM BROWN OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES in the American Association. For both players, this is their first award, and it is also the first season in which Dalrymple has failed to win it.
Left Field
1871 - George Bechtel, Philadelphia Athletics (1-22-.333-6)
1872 - George Bechtel, Philadelphia Athletics (1-33-.333-9)
1873 - Al Thake, Brooklyn Atlantics (1-49-.344-5)
1874 - Steve King, New York Mutuals (1-71-.359-2)
1875 - Andy Leonard, Philadelphia Athletics (0-56-.309-13)
1876 - Count Gedney, Hartford Dark Blues (2-45-.342-4)
1877 - George Bechtel, Cincinnati Reds (0-34-.298-6)
1878 - Abner Dalrymple, Milwaukee Grays (0-23-.303-1)
1879 - Abner Dalrymple, Cleveland Blues (1-31-.332-0)
1880 - Abner Dalrymple, Cleveland Blues (1-51-.353-0)
1881 - Abner Dalrymple, Cleveland Blues (4-47-.296-0)
1882 - NL - Charley Jones, Providence Grays (7-47-.280-2) / AA - Tom Brown, Baltimore Orioles (2-50-.323-0)
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