[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Cartwright Award - Nominees

National League

Tommy Bond, Detroit Wolverines* - RHP (21-11, 2.54, 290.1 IP, 308 H, 31 BB 83 K, 3 HR) - Bond was on his way to challenging for the Cartwright Award when he went down with a season-ending injury on September 1 and missed the pennant race drama. Now his future is uncertain, as he may miss all of 1883 and his contract is up with Detroit. Will some team take a chance and sign him injury and all?

Larry Corcoran, Chicago White Stockings - RHP (25-17, 2.30, 399.2 IP, 392 H, 77 BB, 228 K, 7 HR) - He still hasn't recaptured the magic of his amazing 1880 rookie season, but he had another big year and was probably the only thing standing between Chicago and last place in the NL.

George Derby, Detroit Wolverines - RHP (17-13, 2.01, 260.1 IP, 247 H, 38 BB, 123 K, 3 HR) - This young player only started 33 games for Detroit, but he was extremely effective in those games.

Curry Foley, Boston Red Caps - LHP (27-12, 2.10, 381.2 IP, 352 H, 51 BB, 139 K, 4 HR) - Boston's hitters have always been the focus of attention, but with a huge year this year Foley showed that their pitching is pretty good as well.

Harry Wheeler, Providence Grays - RHP (22-26, 2.27, 395.2 IP, 395 H, 90 BB, 157 K, 9 HR) - Wheeler was a workhorse for a Providence club that finally tasted a small measure of success for the first time in its history.

American Association

Foghorn Bradley, Louisville Eclipse - RHP (28-11, 1.97, 324.1 IP, 310 H, 21 BB, 83 K, 2 HR) - After three excellent years as Boston's #2 starter, he headed to Louisville to be the main guy again and did an outstanding job, helping lead the Eclipse to the first AA pennant.

Bert Dorr, St. Louis Brown Stockings - RHP (24-13, 2.22, 327.2 IP, 329 H, 42 BB, 205 K, 5 HR) - This rookie strikeout artist had a great year for St. Louis and kept them in the pennant race all year.

Pud Galvin, Philadelphia Athletics - RHP (14-24, 2.13, 326 IP, 349 H, 39 BB, 156 K, 2 HR) - Galvin was the Athletics' big signing, and they surrounded him with terrible players. He had a good year but lost a lot of games because of terrible hitting and terrible fielding. Has a career record of 176-205 and is still only 25 years old.

Terry Larkin, Baltimore Orioles - RHP (23-18, 2.23, 323.1 IP, 368 H, 24 BB, 84 K, 5 HR) - At age 34, he finally had a breakout season this year with the Orioles after years as a mop-up pitcher in Boston.

Jumbo McGinnis, St. Louis Brown Stockings - RHP (18-10, 1.59, 215.1 IP, 184 H, 16 BB, 113 K, 1 HR) - His numbers were even better than Dorr's, so if he can keep this up he could be a real star. A 28-year-old rookie.

And the 1882 Cartwright Award winners are... CURRY FOLEY in the National League, and FOGHORN BRADLEY in the American Association. For both players, this is their first win, although each of them has attracted some Cartwright attention in the past. In the NL, the voting was surprisingly one-sided, while Bradley barely beat out the two St. Louis pitchers for his award.

Cartwright Award

1871 - Dick McBride, Philadelphia
1872 - Dick McBride, Philadelphia
1873 - Dick McBride, Philadelphia (A)
1874 - Dick McBride, Philadelphia (A)
1875 - Sam Weaver, Philadelphia (W)
1876 - J. O'Neill, Chicago
1877 - Harry Arundel, Louisville
1878 - J. O'Neill, Chicago
1879 - Bobby Mitchell, Cincinnati
1880 - Larry Corcoran, Chicago
1881 - Pud Galvin, Troy
1882 - NL - Curry Foley, Boston / AA - Foghorn Bradley, Louisville

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

I still enjoy this Eck!

To join our interests for a moment:

John L Sullivan in 1914 on Baseball in this era.

"In many respects I do not think baseball of to-day is any better than it was thirty years ago. It has improved in finesse, of course, but I do not think it can boast of any more skillful individual stars. I still think Charley Radbbourne the greatest of pitchers, and I would like to see a better catcher than Buck Ewing, Charley Bennett, or the famous King Kelly."

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...649C946596D6CF

Thanks, man! Even though I think to keep something like this going for any length of time, you have to mostly be writing for yourself, it's still nice to know that there are at least one or two people out there reading along.

As for the Sullivan quote, I always love that nostalgia for the great players of one's youth. I grew up watching Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson, Steve Garvey, and the other stars of the late 1970s/early 1980s. These players are often favorably compared to today's stars, but I remember being a kid and being told all my heroes were nothing compared to Mickey, Duke, Willie Mays, etc. I'm sure back then people were talking about an earlier generation.

Probably back in the 1700s, the best local town ball players had to hear about how the previous generation of boys were so much better at the game. It's such an entertaining feature of human nature.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Most Valuable Hitter - Nominees

National League

Cap Anson, Boston Red Caps - 3B (3-61-.330-17) - He had another great season, although it wasn't quite as good as some of his recent ones. In fact, his .330 average, despite being good enough for third in the National League, was the lowest batting average of his 12-year career.

Ross Barnes, Boston Red Caps - 2B (5-69-.340-7) - Last year's MVH had another huge year, and helped his team regain the National League pennant, which should help him in the voting.

Dan Brouthers, Troy Trojans* - 1B (4-55-.358-18) - At age 24, Big Dan had the breakout season many have expected from him for years. The unfortunate thing is that it came in a year when not much else went right for the Trojans. With the team disbanding this offseason, he should command a princely sum from some team.

Fred Dunlap, Cleveland Blues - 2B (6-45-.309-0) - At age 23, he's become one of the true greats. A superstar both in the field and at the plate, and looks like he could be a leader in Cleveland for years to come.

Pete Hotaling, Detroit Wolverines - CF (6-64-.318-1) - His breakthrough season was a big surprise, and it almost catapulted the Wolverines to their first National League pennant. He's only 25 years old, so he could be a star of the next generation of players.

American Association

Tom Brown, Baltimore Orioles - OF (2-50-.323-0) - Overshadowing by Louisville's Browning, but still had a great rookie season and looks like he has a bright future ahead of him.

Pete Browning, Louisville Eclipse - OF (5-62-.403-11) - One of the greatest single seasons a base ball player has ever had. We'll see how he does when the quality of play in the AA rises a little, but there's no question we're seeing a star in the making.

Bid McPhee, Cincinnati Red Stockings - 2B (3-44-.294-5) - Went down for the season in late August, but still looks like a hell of a player with a very bright future.

Deacon White, Pittsburgh Alleghenys - C (2-47-.311-0) - Pittsburgh signed this veteran to play catcher for them, and he responded with an excellent season.

Ed Whiting, Baltimore Orioles - C (0-48-.326-0) - Did surprisingly well this season, even though the scouts didn't think much of him.

And the 1882 Most Valuable Hitter awards go to... DAN BROUTHERS in the National League, and PETE BROWNING in the American Association. Brouthers ends the five-year stranglehold Barnes and Anson have had on the award, although not by much - Barnes finished a close second in voting, and Anson took third. Browning was a unanimous winner of the award, with Ed Whiting of Baltimore in second and Tom Brown of Baltimore third.

Most Valuable Hitter Awards

1871 - Dickie Flowers, Troy
1872 - Cal McVey, Boston
1873 - Jim Foran, Philadelphia (W)
1874 - Cap Anson, Brooklyn
1875 - Cap Anson, Brooklyn
1876 - Levi Meyerle, Chicago
1877 - Ross Barnes, Louisville
1878 - Ross Barnes, Boston
1879 - Cap Anson, Boston
1880 - Cap Anson, Boston
1881 - Ross Barnes, Boston
1882 - NL - Dan Brouthers, Troy / AA - Pete Browning, Louisville

[BaseballMan]

Eck,
Would you mind posting Bobby Mitchell's year by year strikeout total? Im interested in how he did in your league when he didnt play that particular year. Specifically 1880.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

Eck,
Would you mind posting Bobby Mitchell's year by year strikeout total? Im interested in how he did in your league when he didnt play that particular year. Specifically 1880.

Here's how Bobby Mitchell has done each year:

1877 - Cincinnati Red Stockings 20-28, 2.54, 404.1 IP, 36 BB, 188 K
1878 - Cincinnati Red Stockings 23-18, 2.61, 372.1 IP, 38 BB, 257 K
1879 - Cincinnati Red Stockings 32-18, 1.98, 432.1 IP, 40 BB, 233 K
1880 - Cincinnati Red Stockings 24-16, 1.80, 360.2 IP, 26 BB, 229 K
1881 - Worcester Ruby Legs 21-29, 2.84, 438.0 IP, 53 BB, 225 K
1882 - Worcester Ruby Legs 13-32, 2.86, 308.2 IP, 34 BB, 150 K

Also, I'm not doing any recalculating or anything like that. I prefer to be very detail-oriented about getting the potential stuff right the first time and then letting things develop somewhat randomly.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Offseason Retirements

Four Hall of Fame-eligible players retired during the offseason: John Hatfield, Steve King, NFN O'Rourke, and George Zettlein.

Hatfield was a starting second baseman in the early 1870s with the Mutual club of New York, but as the game became more modern he just never really caught up with things. He logged a few games with several National League teams in recent years, including the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the Providence Grays, the Troy Trojans, and most recently the Worcester Ruby Legs. However, he never really did much, and retires with a lifetime .288 average in 545 at-bats, most of which came between 1871-73.

Steve King, by contrast, was one of base ball's early stars. He played left field for the Mutuals in the 1870s, and went west to Cincinnati when the Mutuals folded, where he had a serious back injury almost immediately. He returned to play two more seasons in Cincinnati but was not really the same player and never again starred. In recent years he had something of a resurgence as an outfielder with the Detroit Wolverines, but he turned 40 this past season and batted only .183, so he decided to call it quits. King retires with 601 career hits, 30th on the all-time list.

NFN O'Rourke, despite his lack of a first name, made a name for himself (ha-ha) by winning 42 games as a pitcher for the 1873-74 Brooklyn Atlantics. He went west after the founding of the National League and caught on with a couple different St. Louis clubs, but never really regained his old prominence. His last season as a major contributor was an 8-14 campaign with Worcester in 1880. He retires with 65 wins and 50 losses, the former total good enough for a tie for 15th on the all-time list.

George Zettlein was one of base ball's first great pitchers, along with Asa Brainard and Dick McBride. Zettlein logged 124 wins by the end of the 1877 season, and then lost his starting job when the Hartford Dark Blues folded and never really caught on again as a full-time player. Most recently, he filled in a little for the AA's Baltimore Orioles. Zettlein retires with the sixth-most wins all-time, behind only Pud Galvin, McBride, Foghorn Bradley, J. O'Neill and Bobby Mitchell.

The current list of HoF eligible retirees for the first voting class is:

John Hatfield
Steve King
NFN O'Rourke
Joe Start
Jimmy Wood
George Zettlein

(The Hall of Fame is scheduled to open at the start of the 20th century.)

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

THE 1883 SEASON BEGINS

The American Association, or the "Beer and Whiskey League," as the National League executives called it, proved in 1882 that it was a viable top-tier league, raiding a few key players from the NL. The raiding continued this offseason, with established stars Cal McVey, Jim Foran and "Orator Jim" O'Rourke as well as many lesser lights joining the new league. Finally, in February the National League sued for peace; the two leagues agreed to stop actively competing with one another for survival.

On the field, there will be a few changes this year. Two new entries have been added to the AA to make it an eight-team outfit - the New York Metropolitans and the Columbus Buckeyes. Meanwhile, the National League dismissed Troy and Worcester in order to better compete with the AA, and added the Philadelphia Quakers and the New York Gothams in their place.

With the peace between the two major leagues, attention was turned to wiping out some of the outlaw leagues and teams that continue to exist in most major cities. In order to reduce teams' ability to earn extra money by playing exhibition games against these clubs, the NL and AA have each expanded their schedules to 98 games this season. Thus, there is more time for teams to race for the pennant, and more teams and probably more parity between those teams than ever before. We could be entering a golden age of base ball!

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

TEAM-BY-TEAM PROFILES - 1883 BEADLE BASE BALL PLAYER

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BOSTON BEANEATERS (52-30 in 1882 (won NL); champions in 1879, 1880, 1882)

The rumor is that there is financial trouble in Boston, and ownership is looking to get rid of their expensive stars to save money. Thus, it is very popular to pick some other team - Cleveland, Detroit, Providence, or even the new New York club - as the team to beat in 1883. However, Boston really only lost two players to the salary purge - catcher Cal McVey, who is a legend but had a down year in 1882, and first baseman John Morrill, who will be missed but wasn't a key player. It's entirely possible this team could be better than 1882, although the expiring contract of Cap Anson will be on supporters' minds all season.

52 C Lew "Blower" Brown (1-25-.319-0) - He did a good job playing mostly at first base last season, and now with the departure of Cal McVey this 25-year-old gets to share the starting catching duties.
38 C Doc Bushong (lifetime .189 hitter) - He's been a fringe player in Brooklyn, St. Louis and now Boston, and this season his defensive catching abilities will probably be put to use for the Beaneaters.
5 1B Cap Anson (3-61-.330-17) - After four years as a starting third baseman, he returns to first base this year for Boston with the departure of John Morrill to free agency. Wherever he plays, he's one of the best hitters base ball has ever seen. This is the final year of his contract with the club.
11 2B Ross Barnes (5-69-.340-7) - This three-time MVH is still at the top of his game, and any team with him and Anson on it is sure to be near the top of the standings.
29 SS Sadie Houck (1-46-.271-0) - He's been a steady starter in Boston for half a decade now. He'll never be a star, but is a consistent solid player.
26 3B Joe Gerhardt (lifetime .234 hitter; last big league hit in 1874) - This National Association relic is still only 28 years old and a slick fielder, but there are grave doubts about whether he can hit well enough to hold down the position.
37 LF Mike Dorgan (1-29-.219-5) - He had the worst season of his career last year, in what should be the prime of his career. Now the Beaneaters are struggling to figure out what to do in their outfield.
13 CF John O'Rourke (2-40-.289-0) - He regained his hitting stroke in 1882, but also suffered a serious shoulder injury that ended his season prematurely. If he can bounce back at 100% from the injury, he'll be a big asset to the team.
19 RF Fred Lewis (2-48-.243-4) - This lightly-regarded young man actually was better than expected for Boston in 1882, and may be a starter for years to come rather than a stopgap.

51 RHP Charlie Buffinton (6-5, 2.32 as a rookie in 1882) - He looked good as a first-year player, so this 21-year-old has won the right to split playing time with ace Curry Foley.
9 LHP Curry Foley (27-12, 2.10; lifetime 116-70 record) - Even though Foley won his first Cartwright Award in 1882, some suggest that the younger Buffinton might be the real future of the club. Some people just can't get any respect.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

BUFFALO BISONS (46-38 in 1882)

Buffalo got rid of the huge contracts of Deacon White and Lip Pike in the 1881-82 offseason, and expected to struggle at the plate but have plenty of money for the 1882-83 offseason. They did indeed struggle to hit all season last year, but their pitching was better than expected so the team improved, and they responded by making journeyman catcher Frank Selman one of the highest-paid players in base ball. Now they are again burdened by a ruinous contract, and need replacements at first base and right field to be a contender.

18 C Frank Selman (1-42-.231-6) - He is a solid catcher, but was signed to an absolutely ruinous four-year contract extension during the 1882 season. This new contract makes him the seventh-highest paid player in base ball, just ahead of Ross Barnes of Boston. They worked to get Pike and White off their payroll so they could overpay Frank Selman?
44 1B Ecky Stearns (1-25-.137-7) - He's a good fielder at first base, but anyone who hits this poorly simply should not have a job in the National League.
26 2B George Creamer (0-15-.253-0) - They got him in a mideseason trade with Cleveland, and he was much better than the nonentities they were trying to use to replace Lip Pike.
0 SS Mike Moynahan (3-30-.231-2) - This young man had a down year in 1882, but still remains one of their few homegrown players who's actually panned out.
22 3B Arlie Latham (3-37-.271-32) - Latham got a bad reputation early in his career in Buffalo, but it now looks like they simply started him a year before he was ready. He's become one of their best and most popular players.
32 LF Ed Swartwood (0-33-.296-0) - Swartwood is one of the league's better young hitters, and can be an anchor of this team's attack.
35 CF Hardy Richardson (1-43-.277-0) - He is a solid above-average hitter, and an outstanding fielder in center field.
19 RF Tom Poorman (1-37-.158-26) - He would have been the worst position player in the National League in 1882, but for his teammate Ecky Stearns, who was even worse.

12 RHP Hugh "One Arm" Daily (15-10, 2.47 as a rookie) - He got a chance to start midway through the 1882 season, and made the most of it.
39 RHP Bill McGunnigle (24-17, 3.16 in 1882; lifetime 57-48 record) - He was their workhorse in 1882, and while he still is expected to log a lot of playing time, look for him to be the #2 starter behind Daily in 1883.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

CHICAGO WHITE STOCKINGS (33-51 in 1882; champions in 1876, 1877, 1878)

Chicago has been planning on shedding some salary and getting more financially stable for a few years now, and after an abysmal 33-51 season in 1882, they have their chance. Their two veteran stars, O'Rourke and Meyerle, are gone, and they have a lot of cheap young players to replace them. This club has a few good players - most notably Corcoran and Gore - but they need to start building around them soon. Look for this team to really struggle in 1883.

31 C Bill Traffley (rookie; lifetime 2 for 8 batting) - The scouts say he's a good defensive catcher who isn't much with the bat.
11 C Charlie Hodes (3-42-.219-1 with Cincinnati in 1882; lifetime .232 hitter) - It has apparently come to this in Chicago, as they are now signing AA castoffs to share starting duties.
24 1B Milt Scott (rookie; lifetime 2 for 8 batting) - Another young player who will get his first chance to start, though Scott is considered a much better prospect than Traffley.
12 2B Tom Burns (4-49-.250-0) - A decent young player who can play all of the infield positions.
17 SS John Bass (3-30-.229-1) - He seems to be on the downslope of his career, but has been a reliable player for Chicago since 1877, so they'll continue to use him. A good fielder.
6 3B Frank Hankinson (0-23-.213-1) - A good fielder, but not enough of a hitter to be part of any team's plans. Probably better suited for a backup role.
28 LF Charley Jones (7-47-.280-2) - In one of the few offseason bright spots for this club, they were able to pick him up in a trade from Providence and sign him to a contract extension. He will immediately become a centerpiece of the lineup.
7 CF George Gore (1-33-.290-0) - This 25-year-old is one of the league's better outfielders. He is reportedly very happy in Chicago, so they should look to build around him.
26 RF Hugh Nicol (1-30-.212-20) - He just doesn't hit enough to be a starter, even though he's fast and a great defender. Look for rookie Billy Sunday to get some playing time here if Nicol starts slowly.

4 RHP Larry Corcoran (25-17, 2.30; lifetime 95-59 record) - This 23-year-old is about the best in the business. Don't be surprised if he keeps this club respectable with his pitching.
35 RHP Charlie Guth (6-26, 3.47; lifetime 10-43 record) - He's not any good, but the club continues to use him on a regular basis rather than bringing in some new blood. Not a good sign.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

CLEVELAND BLUES (45-37 in 1882; champions in 1881)

After two straight 51-win seasons, Cleveland fell off a bit in 1882. They still have the league's best defense, but the pitching really isn't great and several key hitters slumped badly last season. This year, they could be right back in first place if the hitters rediscover their stroke, and a solid third- or fourth-place team if they don't.

21 C Charlie Bennett (0-23-.166-0) - They don't expect great hitting from the catcher position, but they need more offense than he provided in 1882.
33 1B Bill Phillips (0-2-.308-0 in 1882; lifetime .250 hitter) - For four years he's been a capable backup, and this year he's going to have his chance at the starting job. Since he's replacing talented veteran Jim Foran, it's likely there's going to be some dropoff in production.
30 2B Fred "Sure Shot" Dunlap (6-45-.309-0) - He's one of the best young players in base ball, and should go a long way toward keeping the Blues in contention.
49 SS Jack Glasscock (2-44-.303-0) - Just a phenomenal middle infield combination together with Dunlap. Although Glasscock is the older of the two, he's still only 25.
9 3B Fred Waterman (1-39-.223-5) - He's 37 years old and appears to be nearing the end of a fine career. However, he's still an effective third baseman, so if he can keep his hitting from getting any worse he could be effective enough for this year.
44 LF Abner Dalrymple (2-34-.264-0) - Two years ago, he was on the verge of becoming an MVH-quality player. Now he's just another solid outfielder - what happened? Cleveland hopes he can figure it out this season.
34 LF-3B Mike Muldoon (2-29-.221-0) - As a rookie in 1882, he showed enough promise for them to find him some playing time this season. Expect to see him as a super-sub filling in wherever the club has a need.
18 CF Ned Hanlon (0-39-.219-0) - Another player who slumped badly in 1882. He's a great fielder in center, though, so his job is safe for now.
6 RF George Bechtel (0-29-.218-4) - Just can't seem to hit anymore, although he's a great fielder, like most of the Cleveland position players.

48 RHP Jack Lynch (8-13, 2.66 in 1882 with Buffalo and Cleveland; lifetime 14-17 record) - He came to Cleveland from Buffalo in the George Creamer trade, which appears to have helped both teams. Lynch will have his first full season as a #1 starter this year.
12 LHP Will Sawyer (rookie) - Cleveland's untested pitchers from last year didn't do too well, so the 18-year-old Sawyer will get his chance to help the club.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

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.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

NEW YORK GOTHAMS (new team)

After six years with no team, the city of New York has embraced their new Gothams club. The team was mostly put together out of spare parts, but New York had the money to get the best of the former Troy and Worcester players. It likely won't be enough to put them in contention this season, but they appear to be on the fast track to respectability.

8 C Dick Higham (0-28-.251-1 with Worcester; lifetime .301 hitter) - Higham hasn't hit .300 in three years, but he's still a dependable, talented backstop. A good start for Gotham.
26 1B Dan Brouthers (4-55-.358-18 with Troy; lifetime .329 hitter) - Signing him was the new team's top priority, as he gives them a bona fide superstar to build around.
13 2B Bob "Magnet" Addy (0-15-.253-2 with Detroit; lifetime .267 hitter) - He's 38 years old now, but was still a respectable hitter and fielder in 1882. New York plans to use him for a year or two until they can upgrade the position.
34 2B Ed Caskin (0-16-.243-0 with Troy; lifetime .269 hitter) - He and Addy will split time at second, and hopefully between them someone will have a decent season.
3 SS Ned Williamson (1-6-.222-0 with Troy; lifetime .229 hitter) - He has never really gotten much of a chance as a starter, so this is a big opportunity for him.
63 3B John Irwin (1-21-.243-4 with Worcester as a rookie) - He was surprisingly good as a rookie even though he had to step in after his older brother suffered a career-ending injury.
32 LF George Wood (1-38-.216-0 with Worcester; lifetime .228 hitter) - He's been called a big prospect for three years now, but has never done anything to produce. If he doesn't get it together this year, don't look for him to keep his starting job.
30 CF Buttercup Dickerson (2-42-.281-0 with Worcester; lifetime .287 hitter) - Although he's a marginal fielder in center, he makes up for it with his bat. Like Brouthers, he's only 24 years old.
94 RF Chief Roseman (0-14-.240-0 with Troy as a rookie) - He doesn't look like a star, but they'll be happy with a solid, dependable player.

4 LHP Bobby Mitchell (13-32, 2.86 with Worcester in 1882; lifetime 133-141 record) - Mitchell, one of base ball's best strikeout pitchers, should really help New York on the path to respectability.
9 RHP Tim Keefe (6-10, 3.65 with Troy in 1882; lifetime 10-12 record) - Liek George Wood, he's a guy with great promise who just hasn't shown any results yet.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

PHILADELPHIA QUAKERS (new team)

Unlike the Gothams, Philadelphia was unwilling to spend its way to quick competitiveness. So this new team has a few castoffs, several rookies, and two established players who will hopefully show the others the ropes - Jim Foran and John Glenn. They may be setting a good foundation for the future, but expect them to lose a lot this year.

23 C Pop Snyder (last regular action in 1875; lifetime .203 hitter) - Snyder, a very good defensive catcher, is getting a shot at a comeback this season with the new Philadelphia club.
26 1B Jim Foran (2-42-.281-2 with Cleveland; lifetime .310 hitter) - Signing one of base ball's five 1,000-hit men was a real coup for the new club, although it's doubtful that he'll be able to bring them much success this season.
35 2B Art Whitney (1-28-.218-0 with Worcester; lifetime .227 hitter) - Kind of a forgotten man. Can play any infield position, but doesn't hit much.
41 SS Piggy Ward (rookie) - This young man will get a chance to start despite the fact that he is only 16 years old. Probably not ready for the big leagues.
4 3B Buck Gladman (rookie) - Another teenager who's going to get a shot to start in the most competitive league in the nation. Also probably not ready.
9 LF Fred Cone (0-5-.260-1 with Providence in 1881; lifetime .254 hitter) - He's another veteran whose career looked like it was over. If he can provide merely adequate hitting and defense, that'll be an accomplishment.
29 CF Fred Mann (4-28-.224-1 with Worcester as a rookie) - This young man showed a little promise last season, and they hope he'll continue to progress.
7 RF John Glenn (0-68-.284-1 with Louisville; lifetime .276 hitter) - He had an amazing 34-game hitting streak last season, and helped Louisville win the first AA pennant. Now he hopes to help this new team find its legs.

6 RHP John Coleman (rookie) - This 20-year-old will get his chance to prove himself, though if he stumbles he could find himself on the bench quickly.
33 RHP Hardie Henderson (rookie) - Another young player who will get the chance to shine.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

PROVIDENCE GRAYS (44-40 in 1882)

Providence enjoyed its first small measure of success in 1882, and they are looking to build on that this season. Jack Rowe will have his first full season with the club, and they added Bill McClellan and Levi Meyerle from Chicago. Look for them to remain in the first division, though Meyerle and McCarton are going to have to have big years for them to contend.

9 C Jack Rowe (1-28-.237-0) - He came over in a trade with Buffalo midway through 1882, and played mostly shortstop. However, in spring training this season starting catcher Emil Gross struggled, so they are reportedly going to try him there.
7 1B Ed Cogswell (1-45-.267-0) - He's improved each year with Providence, and is now a solid if unspectacular player at first.
44 2B Bill McClellan (2-36-.255-1 with Chicago; lifetime .254 hitter) - They traded outfielder Charley Jones to Chicago this offseason to get him, so they are expecting good things from this young man. A good fielder.
24 2B Steve Brady (0 for 12 in 1882; lifetime .251 hitter) - He will be a utility infielder who gets some at-bats at second base against left-handed pitchers.
42 SS Tom Carey (0-13-.217-1) - In a mild surprise, this veteran utility man will start at shortstop for Providence. If he struggles look for Rowe to move back to short.
89 3B Jerry Denny (1-42-.243-0) - A decent young player who hasn't achieved his full potential yet.
68 LF Joe Sommer (3-43-.256-10) - In his second season as a starter, he had a solid year, and made Charley Jones expendable.
22 CF Frank McCarton (1-23-.246-2) - This career .317 hitter had a terrible year in 1882, and needs to find his hitting stroke if Providence is to improve.
27 RF Levi Meyerle (1-35-.260-1 with Chicago; lifetime .316 hitter) - At age 37, Meyerle could be approaching the end of the line, but he's been one of the best hitters ever, so there's still hope he has something left in the tank.

6 RHP Charlie Sweeney (7-3, 1.71 as a rookie) - This Californian had a great rookie year, and seems prepared to build on it in 1883.
43 RHP Harry Wheeler (22-26, 2.27; lifetime 62-107 record) - This hard-luck pitcher has been with Providence through thin and thinner, and is hoping this is finally the year they make a run at the pennant.

[blubbla]

I take it the Quakers have no 2B to write home about...

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Originally Posted by blubbla

I take it the Quakers have no 2B to write home about...

What are you talking about?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (42-31 in 1882)

Baltimore did surprisingly well in 1882, mostly on the strength of Ed Whiting and Tom Brown. Those two are back in 1883, but the Orioles have reworked most of their lineup, with some relatively anonymous rookies and one big free agent pickup - "Orator Jim" O'Rourke from the Chicago White Stockings. Look for them to do well, but still finish behind the top teams.

7 C Ed Whiting (0-48-.326-0) - He was an unexpected star last season. If he can keep up this level of production, Baltimore will be thrilled.
25 1B Joe Hornung (0-6-.129-0 with Buffalo; lifetime .209 hitter) - He'll probably split time with Count Sensenderfer, the veteran who played at first last season.
1 2B Thorny Hawkes (0-6-.195-0 with Troy; lifetime .206 hitter) - He's a very good fielder, although he's not going to help Baltimore much with his bat.
30 SS Jim O'Rourke (4-58-.268-0 with Chicago; lifetime .314 hitter) - This veteran star surprised some observers by signing with Baltimore, where he won't be the catcher. Still, he should help the team at whatever position he plays.
31 3B Jerry McCormick (rookie) - This relative unknown will fill out Baltimore's new-look infield.
38 LF Billy Reid (rookie) - This 25-year-old is a relative unknown.
26 LF Pete Gillespie (0-25-.237-0 with Troy; lifetime .230 hitter) - He'll split time with Reid, although if either of them does well look for them to start getting all the playing time.
2 CF Tom Brown (2-50-.323-0) - He had a spectacular rookie year last season, and looks like he could be the answer in Baltimore for years to come.
17 RF Phil Baker (rookie) - Another relative unknown who's getting his chance.

40 RHP Terry Larkin (23-18, 2.23 in 1882; lifetime 26-27 record) - This 35-year-old finally got his chance in 1882, and did an excellent job.
35 RHP Bill Wise (6-1, 1.99 as a rookie) - He did well as a part-time starter, and is being rewarded with more playing time.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

CINCINNATI RED STOCKINGS (30-50 in 1882)

The Cincinnati club struggled in 1882, and tried to improve their team by making a couple more high-profile signings to go with established veteran Lip Pike. They picked up McVey, the all-time hits leader, and the steady Tom Barlow from the open market. However, for the most part this is still a team put together from spare parts.

37 C Fatty Briody (0-14-.235-1 with Troy; lifetime .243 hitter) - This young player seems on the verge of being ready to start.
8 C-OF Cal McVey (0-45-.277-15 with Boston; lifetime .330 hitter) - He was one of the big prizes this offseason, and Cincinnati is thrilled to have landed him. Has played in Boston for 12 years before this season.
64 1B Frank Decker (0-22-.243-0) - Did an adequate job for Cincinnati last season, and will be looked to again.
7 2B Denny Clare (2 for 11 with Worcester; lifetime .285 hitter) - He's been on the fringes of professional base ball for a decade, and will now get his chance to shine.
17 SS Tom Barlow (0-37-.253-8 with Troy; lifetime .305 hitter) - Barlow was a very good hitter earlier in his career, and is still a solid player.
45 3B John Dailey (appeared in 2 games with Detroit; lifetime .194 hitter) - This guy was picked up off the scrap heap, and they hope he'll at least give them some adequate play at third.
20 LF Ralph Ham (0-36-.233-7) - He did all right for them last year, and was rewarded with a new three-year contract.
42 CF Russ McKelvy (0-6-.219-0 with Worcester; lifetime .223 hitter) - Not much of a player, but he is an adequate fielder in center.
28 RF Lip Pike (2-37-.253-10) - He is nearly 38 years old, yet still should be one of the better players on the team.

29 RHP The Only Nolan (6-13, 2.22 with Worcester; lifetime 59-83 record) - Suffered through some tough years in Worcester, but is still a very solid pitcher.
48 RHP Ren Deagle (rookie) - An untested young man who is said to be very promising.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

COLUMBUS BUCKEYES (new team)

This new team in Ohio will probably struggle in 1883, though they do have their share of National League veterans. Figure them to be bad but not terrible.

33 C Mike Hooper (3-39-.238-0 with Pittsburgh; lifetime .242 hitter) - This veteran catcher should get the job done until they can find someone better.
5 1B Sam Childs (rookie) - A completely unknown 21-year-old rookie.
82 2B Bill Smiley (0-3-.143-0 with Detroit; lifetime .233 hitter) - He has been a good fielder in the past, but can't hit much.
4 SS George Wright (1-28-.233-8 with Providence; lifetime .266 hitter) - He resurrected his career with a decent year in Providence in 1882, and now is in the first year of a three-year deal with Columbus.
36 3B Steve Bellan (2-39-.223-3 with Detroit; lifetime .258 hitter) - He's been a good-fielding, average-hitting third baseman for over a decade now.
39 LF Harry Stovey (5-41-.282-4 with Worcester; lifetime .276 hitter) - This rising star was the key acquisition of the new Columbus club.
23 CF Tom O'Brien (1-7-.225-0 with Worcester as a rookie) - This 22-year-old looks a little awkward in center field, but is supposedly a decent hitter.
28 RF Orator Shaffer (0-9-.241-1 with Detroit; lifetime .275 hitter) - He has been a good hitter and fielder over the course of his career, but has always struggled for playing time. That probably won't be an issue here.

7 LHP Jim Egan (0-2, 3.69 with Troy as a rookie) - The "Troy Terrier" looks promising, and he'll get a chance to show what he's got in Columbus.
61 RHP John Valentine (rookie) - An untested 27-year-old who they hope is good enough to keep them in games.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

LOUISVILLE ECLIPSE (55-25 in 1882; champions in 1882)

Louisville won the inaugural AA pennant in 1882, and decided that for this season they'd mostly keep their roster intact. If Browning has another season for the ages and Chicken Wolf can stay healthy, they might have a shot at repeating.

15 C Dan Sullivan (1-54-.248-0) - He did a solid job in 1882 as a rookie, so he will continue as the starting catcher.
37 1B Jim Devlin (2 for 11 with Providence in 1882; lifetime .254 hitter) - He was a decent player in the mid-1870s, but is probably washed up now.
32 2B Jack Jones (rookie) - A relative unknown. Said to be adequate both in the field and at the plate.
9 2B Ed Merrill (0-16-.231-0) - He'll probably split time with Jones at second, at least until one of them shows he's good enough to start every day.
16 SS Phil Reccius (0-4-.209-0) - A pretty weak fielder at shortstop.
38 SS Bill Schenck (0-43-.233-0) - Another mediocre hitter who really shouldn't be fielding at short.
47 3B Jimmy Say (3-77-.250-1) - He was surprisingly good in 1882, and they'd really like to see him build on that this season.
1 LF Leech Maskrey (0-31-.278-1) - They're still working on figuring out who the two outfielders surrounding Browning should be, but he's made a pretty strong case for the job.
8 CF Pete Browning (5-62-.403-11) - They'll probably need another amazing season out of him if they are to repeat as AA champions.
13 RF John Reccius (4-35-.197-0) - His weak hitting in 1882 could leave him the odd man out when playing time is given out.
17 RF Chicken Wolf (0-37-.314-0) - Had a very good year last season even though he missed significant time due to injuries.

12 RHP Guy Hecker (2-3, 1.99 as a rookie) - He missed nearly the whole season due to a shoulder injury, but says he is now back at full strength.
45 RHP Foghorn Bradley (28-11, 1.97 in 1882; lifetime 156-105) - He stepped into the primary pitching role when Hecker went down, and did a marvelous job.