[Eckstein 4 Prez]

This is a preview of the 1873 season I wrote up before it started:

BALTIMORE CANARIES: This team finished strongly in 1872, and could be a surprise contender in 1872. However, they look more like a third or fourth place finisher. The additions of such players as outfielders Deacon White and Paul Hines should really upgrade this squad.

1B Denny Mack (last season .260, 23 runs)
2B Jimmy Wood (last season .342, 50 runs)
SS Tom Carey (last season .253, 33 runs)
3B Fred Waterman (last season .275, 7 runs with Wash. Olympics)
LF Harry Deane (last season .246, 32 runs)
CF Paul Hines (last season .289, 7 runs with Wash. Nationals)
RF Deacon White (last season .326, 12 runs with Cleveland)
C Doug Allison (last season .250, 2 runs with Wash. Olympics)

P George Zettlein (career 44-41)
P Al Pratt (career 25-26, last season 7-15 with Cleveland)

BALTIMORE MARYLANDS: There is some doubt whether this club has the resources to remain at the association level. Look for them to either win early and be a success or to fold by mid-season. Fortunately for them, they have the nucleus of a solid Troy team from last year.

1B Bub McAtee (last season was a reserve with New York, in 1871 hit .301 with Chicago)
2B Joe Miller (last season .205, 1 run with Wash. Nationals)
SS Dickie Flowers (last season .293, 16 runs with Troy)
3B Mike McGeary (last season .366, 19 runs with Troy)
LF Steve King (last season .340, 14 runs with Troy)
CF George Popplein (32-year-old rookie)
RF Joe Simmons (last season was a reserve with Olympics, in 1871 hit .257 with Chicago)
C Mike Hooper (23-year-old rookie)

P Asa Brainard (career 12-16, last season 4-2 with Wash. Olympics)

BOSTON RED STOCKINGS: The rich just continue to get richer, as the Red Stockings added even more top players by buying up most of the top players from the defunct Middletown club, and are expected to easily win their second straight NA crown.

1B Charlie Gould (last season .270, 30 runs)
2B Ross Barnes (last season .372, 38 runs)
SS George Wright (last season .333, 31 runs)
3B Chick Fulmer (last season .268, 18 runs with Mansfields)
LF "Orator Jim" O'Rourke (last season .282, 15 runs with Mansfields)
CF Harry Wright (last season .309, 29 runs)/Frank McCarton (last season .352, 14 runs with Mansfields)
RF Eddie Booth (last season .309, 18 runs with Mansfields)
C Cal McVey (last season .308, 29 runs)

P Cherokee Fisher (career 13-15, last season 6-2 with Troy)
P Al Spalding (career 44-34, last season 31-16)

BROOKLYN ATLANTICS: They should be better than they were in the dismal 1872 campaign, but still resemble a team cobbled together from spare parts. Brooklyn management has at least tried to corner the market on young players by buying up dozens of contracts. It remains to be seen whether this innovative arrangement will be successful.

1B Jim Foran (.305, 19 runs)
2B "Black Jack" Burdock (.306, 22 runs)
SS Frank Selman (.280, 23 runs with Eckfords)/Ham Allen (.286, 16 runs with Middletown)
3B Ed Pinkham (.305, 18 runs)
LF Ed Mincher (.296, 1 run in limited duty)/Jim Tipper (.308, 7 runs with Middletown in limited duty)
CF Tipper/Tom Foley (.257, 23 runs)
RF Herm Doscher (.353, 12 runs)/John Clapp (.315/15 runs with Middletown)
C Clapp/Tom Barlow (.320, 25 runs)

P Cy Bentley (4-12 as rookie with Middletown)
P Jim Britt (8-28 last season as rookie)

ELIZABETH RESOLUTES: New Jersey's finest do not have a lot of big stars, but they do have some decent role players. Don't expect them to challenge Boston this season.

1B Tim Murnane (.264, 16 runs with Middletown)
2B Dick Hunt (.297, 22 runs with Eckfords)
SS Ed Duffy (.286, 16 runs with Middletown)
3B John Bass (.205, 8 runs with Cleveland)/Joe Doyle (.238, 5 runs with Wash. Nationals)
LF Tommy Beals (7 for 11 lifetime)/Gat Stires (.346, 8 runs with Cleveland)
CF Henry Austin (29-year-old rookie)
RF Stires/Elmer White (.362, 3 runs with Cleveland)
C White/Beals

P Hugh Campbell (27-year-old rookie)

NEW YORK MUTUALS: If any team is to challenge Boston for supremacy, it must be either the Mutuals or the Philadelphia Athletics. Of the two, the Mutuals appear the better club, but they still seem to lack the top-to-bottom offense to challenge the Red Stockings.

1B Joe Start (.363, 37 runs)
2B Bob "Magnet" Addy (.065 in limited duty with Olympics, hit .343 for Rockford in 1871)
SS Jim Snyder (.278, 19 runs with Eckfords)
3B Adrian "Cap" Anson (.347, 39 runs) - was named the team captain just before the season began, taking the honor from his infield mate Start.
LF George Hall (.194, 7 runs with Olympics)/John Hatfield (.258, 29 runs)
CF Henry Burroughs (lifetime 7 for 16)/Hall
RF Dick Higham (.326, 44 runs)
C Charlie Hodes (.389, 19 runs with Eckfords)

P Rynie Wolters (lifetime 28-24, last season 19-14)
P Candy Cummings (7-10 as rookie)

PHILADELPHIA WHITES: A collection of castoffs for the most part, this team doesn't even have a prayer of being the best in its own city.

1B Clipper Flynn (.347, 16 runs with Troy)
2B Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson (.203, 24 runs with New York, was waived after poor 1872 season)
SS "Wee Davy" Force (.471, 5 runs with Olympics)
3B Charlie Smith (0 for 2 in 1872, hit .273 for New York in 1871) - he was claimed by Boston off of waivers and then traded to the Whites for Ed Beavens.
LF Andy Leonard (.324, 7 runs with Olympics)
CF John Glenn (.300, 1 run with Olympics)
RF Jim Devlin (24-year-old rookie)
C Paddy Quinn (2 for 13 lifetime, was claimed off of waivers from the Athletics)

P Bill Stearns (lifetime 6-7 with Olympics)

PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS: The team has decided to experiment with a three-man rotation this season. If the experiment is successful, they could challenge for the top spot; however, a battle with the Canaries for third place seems more likely.

1B Everett Mills (.316, 6 runs with Olympics)
2B Al Reach (.291, 18 runs)
SS John Radcliff (.336, 40 runs)
3B Ezra Sutton (.253, 16 runs with Cleveland)
LF Charlie Pabor (.287, 13 runs with Cleveland)
CF George Bird (.243, 20 runs)
RF George Heubel (.235, 2 runs in limited duty)
C Fergy Malone (.275, 16 runs)/Scott Hastings (.241, 22 runs)

P Dick McBride (career 22-21, last season 12-14)
P Phonney Martin (9-5 with Troy as rookie)
P Bobby Mathews (career 27-21, last season 19-10 with Eckfords)

WASHINGTON BLUE LEGS: Like the other new teams, they have some good players, some spare parts. Even among the newcomers, they seem a relatively weak club and may finish last.

1B Andy Allison (career 2 for 3)
2B Bill Craver (.301, 16 runs with Troy)
SS Pony Sager (.319, 27 runs with Eckfords)
3B Marty Swandell (3 for 12 lifetime)/Candy Nelson (.298, 12 runs with Troy)
LF Tom York (.243 lifetime as Troy reserve)
CF Lip Pike (.327, 23 runs with Troy)
RF Nelson/Jack McDonald (4 for 14 lifetime)
C Pop Snyder (18-year-old rookie)

P John Greason (20-year-old rookie)

ODDS OF WINNING CHAMPIONSHIP:

Boston Red Stockings 1-1
New York Mutuals 7-2
Philadelphia Athletics 5-1
Baltimore Canaries 8-1
Brooklyn Atlantics 30-1
Philadelphia Whites 30-1
Elizabeth Resolutes 40-1
Washington Blue Legs 75-1
Baltimore Marylands 75-1