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DETROIT WOLVERINES (52-31 in 1882)
This club nearly won the National League pennant in its second season (partially thanks to an amazingly good season by Pete Hotaling), but they did not rest on their laurels. Gone this season are veterans Barney Gilligan, Bob Addy, Steve Bellan, Steve King and Orator Shaffer. The Detroits will fill the void left by these mostly mediocre players with youngsters such as Yank Robinson and Dick Burns, and veteran free agent pickup Al Thake. If things pan out as expected, the team should be right there near the top of the National League.
27 C Tom Foley (0-12-.189-0) - This team has been in need of a good catcher since its inception, and the fact that they are starting a 36-year-old washed up player doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
21 1B John Reilly (2-37-.283-30) - Reilly blossomed in his first year as a starter, and was one of the key's to Detroit's near-pennant in 1882.
24 2B Yank Robinson (rookie; 2 for 6 batting lifetime) - The team let veteran Bob Addy go this offseason and is giving this 23-year-old a chance to win the starting job.
4 SS Sam Wise (1-41-.271-11) - He's another young player who had an excellent first season. If he can continue to progress they'll be in good shape.
17 3B King Kelly (2-36-.252-8) - He's had some outstanding seasons and some mediocre ones, but he's definitely got superstar potential. At the very least, he'll be a better hitter at third base than Steve Bellan was last year.
36 LF Al Thake (1-54-.268-13 with St. Louis) - The AA's St. Louis Browns decided not to meet his contract demands, so he signed a one-year deal with Detroit. If he can do as well as he did last year, this will be a major upgrade at the position for Detroit, since they used 40-year-old Steve King here in 1882.
43 CF Pete Hotaling (6-64-.318-1) - He had an outstanding 1882, and many observers contend this anomalous season had to be a fluke. If it's not, this team is set in center for the foreseeable future.
45 RF Dick Burns (rookie) - A 19-year-old who gets the starting nod because they don't have many options in right field.
32 RHP Tony Mullane (4-2, 1.26 in 1882; lifetime 6-8 record) - This young pitcher could be on the verge of a breakout season.
45 RHP George Derby (17-13, 2.01 in 1882; lifetime 29-25 record) - He had an excellent season in 1882, and gives the Wolverines two of the best young pitchers in the game.
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