[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Here's a preview to the 1874 season that I wrote before things started:

BALTIMORE CANARIES: These guys were the surprise contenders of 1873, and gave Boston a real run before settling for second place. They have essentially the same roster as last year, so look for them to possibly slide from their second-place finish into third or even fourth.

1B Denny Mack (last season .219, 32 runs)
2B Jimmy Wood (last season .324, 34 runs)
SS Tom Carey (last season .263, 32 runs)
3B Fred Waterman (last season .301, 51 runs)
LF John Hatfield (last season .226, 8 runs with New York/Elizabeth)
CF Paul Hines (last season .219, 25 runs)
RF Deacon White (last season .367, 41 runs)
C Doug Allison (last season .274, 27 runs)

P George Zettlein (career 68-53, last season 24-12)
P Al Pratt (career 36-36, last season 11-10)

BOSTON RED STOCKINGS: The Red Stockings won their second consecutive championship in 1873, and kept their entire team intact for the 1874 season. It remains to be seen whether any of the other NA teams can prevent them from taking a third straight crown.

1B Charlie Gould (last season .307, 47 runs)
2B Ross Barnes (last season .300, 43 runs)
SS George Wright (last season .351, 50 runs)
3B Harry Schafer (last season .293, 8 runs)
LF "Orator Jim" O'Rourke (last season .362, 53 runs)
CF Frank McCarton (last season .313, 31 runs)
RF Eddie Booth (last season .282, 26 runs)
C Cal McVey (last season .336, 46 runs)

P Cherokee Fisher (career 33-25, last season 20-10)
P Frank Buttery (career 13-5, last season 7-3)
P Al Spalding (career 54-40, last season 10-6)

BROOKLYN ATLANTICS: The Atlantics continue to tinker with their lineup, and may actually have something this year. Expect a solid season from them this year, as they may not be ready to challenge Boston yet, but could finish as high as second or third if their young players do well. The additions of Nelson and Stires should help.

1B Jim Foran (.288, 36 runs)
2B Jim Hall (11 for 26 career)/“Black Jack” Burdock (.294, 35 runs)
SS Candy Nelson (.325, 31 runs with Washington)/Ham Allen (.251, 19 runs)
3B Herm Doscher (.321, 35 runs)
LF Jim Tipper (.247, 15 runs)
CF Allen/Nelson
RF Gat Stires (.264, 10 runs with Elizabeth)/John Clapp (.319, 37 runs)
C Clapp/Tom Barlow (.331, 26 runs)

P Jim Britt (26-47 career, 18-19 last season)
P Cy Bentley (12-22 career, 8-10 last season)
P Tommy Bond (rookie)

CHICAGO WHITE STOCKINGS: After two years, the White Stockings are back in the National Association. However, they do not expect to be a contender this season, as their team is entirely put together from spare parts. Expect them to be at the bottom of the standings this year and probably for years to come.

1B Bub McAtee (6 for 27 with Marylands)
2B John Peters (rookie)
SS Pony Sager (.396, 24 runs with Washington)
3B Warren White (2 for 12 lifetime)
LF Harry Berthrong (.327 AAA hitter with Boston)
CF Count Sensenderfer (2 for 14 last two years with Athletics)
RF Elmer White (.313, 13 runs with Elizabeth)
C NFN Gilroy (rookie)

P Bill Kelly (never pitched before)

HARTFORD DARK BLUES: Professional baseball comes to Hartford with the arrival of the Dark Blues. Like Chicago, their team is put together entirely from spare parts and the only real suspense will be in determining which of the two new clubs will finish last. The smart money says that Chicago will be slightly better than Hartford.

1B Orator Shaffer (rookie)
2B Bob “Magnet” Addy (.213, 8 runs with New York)
SS Ed Duffy (.247, 7 runs with Elizabeth)
3B Marty Swandell (.221, 13 runs with Washington)
LF Tommy Beals (.213, 3 runs with Elizabeth)
CF Lip Pike (.408, 36 runs with Washington)
RF Steve Brady (rookie)
C Billy Barnie (rookie)

P George Popplein (never pitched before)

NEW YORK MUTUALS: The Mutuals had a disastrously bad 1873 campaign, and look to recover this year. Of course, almost anything would be an improvement to last year, as many of their players are coming off disappointing years. The team made some small acquisitions, but not really anything that would cause them to have a huge leap in the standings. Look for a mediocre season from the Mutuals.

1B Joe Start (.358, 41 runs)
2B Bill Boyd (lifetime .214 hitter)
SS Dickie Flowers (11 for 29 last year with Marylands)
3B Adrian "Cap" Anson (.258, 34 runs)
LF George Hall (.349, 38 runs)/Fred Treacey (.305, 14 runs)
CF Treacey/Dave Eggler (7 for 27 last year)
RF Dick Higham (.299, 32 runs)
C Charlie Hodes (.276, 21 runs)

P Asa Brainard (lifetime 13-21, last season 1-5 with Marylands)
P Rynie Wolters (lifetime 40-44, last season 12-20)
P Candy Cummings (lifetime 13-22, last season 6-12)

PHILADELPHIA WHITES: Looking for a dark horse contender? This could be the team, as they were already a solid team, and upgraded significantly with the additions of Craver, McGeary, and McMullin. The 1873 midseason acquisition of Charlie Mills helped as well.

1B Clipper Flynn (.332, 27 runs)
2B Bill Craver (.394, 25 runs with Washington)
SS "Wee Davy" Force (.301, 33 runs)
3B Mike McGeary (10 for 27 last year with Marylands)
LF Andy Leonard (.326, 41 runs)
CF Ned Cuthbert (.366, 22 runs)
RF John Glenn (.284, 22 runs)
C Charlie Mills (.275, 17 runs)

P John “Lefty” McMullin (30-37 lifetime, last season 16-22 with Washington)
P Bill Stearns (30-36 lifetime, 24-29 last season)

PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS: The Athletics were already one of the league’s best teams last year, and have added another significant player in Steve King. This could be the year they challenge Boston for the top spot.

1B Everett Mills (.309, 34 runs)
2B Al Reach (.284, 29 runs)
SS John Radcliff (.354, 46 runs)
3B Ezra Sutton (.341, 43 runs)
LF Steve King (9 for 26 last year with Marylands)
CF George Bird (.344, 36 runs)
RF George Heubel (.273, 46 runs)
C Scott Hastings (.345, 21 runs)

P Phonney Martin (24-10 lifetime, 15-5 last season)
P Dick McBride (35-33 lifetime, 13-12 last season)
P Bobby Mathews (career 28-23, last season 1-2)

ODDS OF WINNING CHAMPIONSHIP:

Philadelphia Athletics 2-1
Boston Red Stockings 5-2
Philadelphia Whites 3-1
Baltimore Canaries 7-1
Brooklyn Atlantics 7-1
New York Mutuals 20-1
Chicago White Stockings 150-1
Hartford Dark Blues 150-1