The Alternative History of Baseball

[mjj55409]

New York Times
October 31, 1873

The Championship Question

The championship question is now settled, and the Boston Red Stockings will fly the championship pennant once again. The success of this club is certainly very gratifying to the friends and admirers of its honest and gentlemanly players, whose record is maintained without the slightest suspicion of knavish play. The Baltimore Club, who promised so well in the early part of the season, and held a winning lead up to the end of July, finish third. The Atlantic Club, who made a spirited run for the top position over the last two months of play, finish second.

Clubs.               Won. Lost.Played.
Boston................41   19   60   
Atlantic..............32   22   54   
Baltimore.............28   29   57    
Philadelphia..........23   29   52
Athletic..............23   29   52
Mutual................22   31   53

Base-Ball Averages Compiled

Batting Leaders for 1873

Average
.390...Elisha Comiskey, Atlantic
.371...Peter Mann, Boston
.347...Robert Day, Boston
.324...Charles Culhane, Mutual
.320...John Butler, Boston

Runs
61.....Jack Judge, Baltimore
58.....Milton Legere, Baltimore
56.....Samuel DeWitt, Atlantic
56.....Peter Mann, Boston
55.....Ira Guest, Atlantic

Total Bases
108....John Butler, Boston
103....Charles Cullhane, Mutual
101....Robert Day, Boston
97.....Herbert Needham, Baltimore


l-to-r, John Butler, Jack Judge

[mjj55409]

For those interested in digging a little deeper, I'm putting the html on-line here (complete with StatsLab): http://paralleluniversebaseball.com/statslab

[ashantewarrier]

It's been over month since you've updated this thread MJ....any updates forthcoming?

[mjj55409]

Originally Posted by ashantewarrier

It's been over month since you've updated this thread MJ....any updates forthcoming?

Sorry, Ashante. Obviously real life (and my on-line leagues) are taking precedence. I do want to start this up again, and I will, just not sure yet of the timing.

[mjj55409]

New York Times
February 19, 1874

The Coming Base-Ball Season

The prospects that the coming base-ball season will be a successful one with both amateur and professional ball-players seem very encouraging. Up to the present time seven first-class professional teams have entered the lists to compete for the whip pennant. The much-talked-of Connecticut "ten" will probably do so at the next meeting of the Professional Association. The new rule, which constitutes ten men and ten innings the legal game, is received with little favor by players in this vicinity, and there exist serious doubts of its adoption by the Association. The struggle for the professional championship promises to be a very lively one.


------


The Boston Club has received the flag awarded them by the Championship Committee. It is described as a very handsome affair, having a broad white centre with edges of red and bears the following inscription in letters of blue: "Boston. 1873 champions of the United States." They have engaged the following players for this season: Andrew Fooks, catcher; Jacob Stevens, pitcher; Peter Mann, John Butler, August Lee and George Rogers on the in-field; Robery Day, Charles Weeden, Fred Galwey in the out-field.

The manager of the Hartford Club has secured the plot of ground on which they intend giving some very good exhibitions during the year. Their nine for this season will be, James Kindred, catcher; Bob Lanyon, pitcher; Allan Catlin, first base; Bob Spellacy, second base; Ellis Robinson, third base; Peter Engleman, short stop; Oliver Brockway, left field; Samuel Moorefield, centre field; Tony Toner, right field.

The Chicago Club propose making things lively this season. Their nine will be as follows: Ed Thomas, catcher; Dennis Greenlaw, pitcher; Frederic Hammers, first base; James MacAuliffe, second base; Martin Harpur, third base; Delbert Tarr, short stop; Cyrus Edwards, left field; Austin Holland, centre field; Bill Lavin, right field.

The Mutual Club will be composed of first-class players, who will make a determined struggle for the pennant. Their nine for next season will include the following players: Joseph Miller, catcher; Johnny Winton, pitcher; Peter Rhodes, first base; Theodore Pope, second base; Charles Cullhane, third base; Stephen Wentzel, short stop; Al Sweeney, left field; Emory Banker, centre field; Tommy Greeley, right field.

The Philadelphia Club will be represented by a good nine, composed of the following players: Albert Drye, catcher; Archie Strawson, pitcher; Irvine Bodhe, first base; Arthur Knap, second base; George Bulkeley, third base; George Ludwig, short stop; Robert Knox, left field; Richard Haygood, centre field; Peter Montgomery, right field.

The Athletic nine for this season will be: Chuck Towery, catcher; Edward Glasson, pitcher; William Linton, first base; Bill Rives, second base; Edwin Adams, third base; William Currier, short stop; Elijah Guinn, left field; Robert Barter, centre field; August Thomas, right field.

The Atlantic Club is composed of the following: Jesse Chadfield, catcher; Joseph Hartsock, pitcher; Richard Ward, first base; Sam DeWitt, second base; Freddy Harville, third base; Ira Guest, short stop; Richard Suggett, left field; Andrew Stokes, centre field; Elisha Comiskey, right field.

The Baltimore nine: John Ekins, catcher; John Allardyce, pitcher; Curtis Wilson, first base; Will Collquitt, second base; Herbert Needham, third base; George Ratchford, short stop; Samuel James, left field; Jack Judge, centre field; Milton Legere, right field.

---

Top Players in the Association (with 1873 averages)

Elisha Comiskey, Atlantic, .384, 31 runs
Oliver Brockway, Hartford, .320, 17 runs
Robert Barter, Athletic, .341, 27 runs
Bob Spellacy, .Hartford, 313, 28 runs
Andrew Stokes, Atlantic, .292, 54 runs
Robert Day, Boston, .347, 44 runs
Emory Banker, Mutual, .278, 8 runs
Al Sweeney, Mutual, .293, 50 runs
Fredric Galwey, Boston, .333, 8 runs
Arthur Knap, Philadelphia, .307, 48 runs


l-to-r, Elisha Comiskey, Oliver Brockway

[mjj55409]

Brooklyn Daily Eagle
October 31, 1874

The Closing Up of 1874

The Professional Championship and the English Tour--A Brilliant Season of Amateur Play

Unquestionably the base ball season of 1874,now approaching its close, has been the most eventful, brilliant and successful known in the history of the National game. More clubs have taken part in the season's play than ever before existed; finer play has been exhibited than has previously been seen, and the season of 1874 may be set down as the year in which base ball was for the first time fully recognized and established as The National Game of America.

Ever since the Boston Club was organized it has had the prominent and successful club nine in the country. In the four years of the Association existence, the Boston nine has won three championship emblems, only in 1872 were they outclassed by the Mutual club.


Clubs. Won. Lost.Played.
Boston................51 20 71
Chicago...............29 30 59
Mutual................29 36 65
Athletic..............28 27 55
Brooklyn..............26 30 56
Hartford..............25 28 57
Baltimore.............22 25 47
Philadelphias.........22 36 58


Base-Ball Averages Compiled

Batting Leaders for 1874

Average
.362...John Butler, Boston
.339...Alexander Hosmer, Athletic
.331...August Thomas, Athletic
.327...James Moyer, Boston
.326...Bob Spellacy, Hartford

Runs
80.....Frederic Galwey, Boston
75.....John Butler, Boston
75.....James Moyer, Boston
67.....Robert Day, Boston
64.....Edwin Adams, Athletic

Total Bases
152....John Butler, Boston
132....James Moyer, Boston
128....Frederic Galwey, Boston
118....Robert Day, Boston
104....Peter Rhodes, Mutual


l-to-r, John Butler, James Moyer, Frederic Galwey

[mjj55409]

New York Times
December 27, 1874

Prospects For The Coming Season -- What The Leading Professional Clubs Are Doing

Now that nearly all the prominent base-ball clubs have completed their arrangements and announced their players for the coming season, few words concerning their prospects and playing strength will not be out of place. The Red Stockings of Boston, who have held the whip-pennant, the emblem of the base-ball championship, against all comers for the past two years, come first in the list, their reputation for honest play and gentlemanly demeanor, on and off the field, placing them far above any other club. The managers of this club have re-engaged their last year's team. They present the following nine next season: Jacob Stevens, pitcher; Andrew Fooks, catcher; August Lee, first base; John Butler, second base and captain; James Moyer, third base; George Rogers, short stop; Robert Day, left field; Durkin O'Reilly, centre field; Frederic Galwey, right field. This is an exceptionally strong team, and under the management of George Rogers will, no doubt, make a determined effort to retain the championship in Boston.

Next in order comes the Atlantic Club of Brooklyn, which, if properly managed, will be one of the foremost in the struggle for the championship. Their nine for the coming season will include the following players: Jim Ford, pitcher; Johnny Lagasse, catcher; Elisha Comiskey, first base and captain; Henry Webb, second base; Sam DeWitt, third base; Ira Guest, short stop; Richard Suggett, left field; Andrew Stokes, centre field; Robert Knox, right field. Although not quite as strong as the Boston nine, they will, under Comiskey's management, make a far better record for honest play.

The Athletics, of Philadelphia, who were second last season, intend to have the champion nine next season.Their team for the coming season will be: Edward Glasson, pitcher; Chuck Towery, catcher; William Linton, first base; Bill Rives, second base; William Currier, third base and captain; Alexander Hosmer, short stop; August Thomas, left field; Robert Barter, centre field; Edwin Adams, right field.

Next in order comes the co-operative Mutual Club of this City, which has secured the following team: Johnny Winton, pitcher; Joseph Miller, catcher and captain; Peter Rhodes, first base; Theodore Pope, second base; Charles Cullhane, third base; Stephen Wentzel, short stop; Melvin Dundon, left field; Preston Garr, centre field; Tommy Greeley, right field. This nine, with good management, should make a good record.

The Philadelphia Club will also present a strong team, as they did last year. The nine will be made up of the following picked players: Archie Strawson, pitcher; Albert Drye, catcher; Jim Upchurch, first base; Arthur Knap, second base; George Bulkeley, third base; George Ludwig, short stop; Peter Montgomery, left field; George Knap, centre field; Richard Haygood, right field. SHould this nine play well together they will make things pretty lively for the other competitors for the championship honors during the season. Arthur Knap and Peter Montgomery are two of the best paid in their profession.

The Chicago Club has not as yet made up its nine, but will, no doubt, present a good one. Edmond Thomas and Dennis Greenlaw will be the catcher and pitcher.

Philadelphia is going to have still another professional club, to be called the Centennial. Ten thousand dollars of the capital fund has already been subscribed, but up to the present only three first class players have been engaged.

The managers of the much-talked-of St. Louis Club has at last announced their "big nine," which, as soon as the weather permits, will go into practice. The team falls pretty short of what was expected.

Of the material comprising the other new club--the Westerns, of Keokuk, Iowa--very little is as yet known, except that they will be made up of young amateurs, with a sprinkling of "played out" professionals, who were unable to secure engagements elsewhere.

Hartford will have the best nine in point of playing strength yet announced, and should it prove as successful as the managers expect, the whip-pennant will be flown in Hartford during the season of 1876. The nine will be managed and captained by Brockway, one of the best managers and "all around" players in the profession, and will include the following picked players: Bob Lanyon, pitcher; James Kindred, catcher; Allan Catlin, first base; Bob Spellacy, second base; Ellis Robinson, third base; Peter Engleman, short stop; Oliver Brockway, left field; Samuel Moorefield, centre field; Tony Toner, right field.

The financial prospects of the professional clubs for the coming season, taken altogether, are not nearly so promising as were those of last season. It is true that three new clubs have joined the association, and will take part in the contest; but as none of them are strong enough to make their games with the first-class clubs interesting or close, the crowds who witnessed contests in the early part of the last season will be looked for in vain.

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Top Players in the Association (with 1874 averages)

Bob Spellacy, Hartford, .326, 39 runs
Frederic Galwey, Boston, .302, 80 runs
Oliver Brockway, Hartford, .255, 27 runs
Robert Day, Boston, .317, 67 runs
Robert Barter, Athletic, .264, 28 runs
Alexander Hosmer, Athletic, .339, 38 runs



l-to-r, Bob Spellacy, Robert Day