[scott1964]

1888 Playoffs

NABL News: Playoffs begin
Monday, September 24th, 1888: It's playoff time! The best teams have been decided in the divisional battles and now it is the survival of the fittest. Only one team will survive and they will be crowned the North American BaseBall League champions. Here are the match-ups in the Round 1:
Brooklyn Bridegrooms versus Cleveland Blues.

Game 1
Brooklyn at Cleveland
Tuesday 9/25
Brooklyn 13 Cleveland 3: Tip O'Neil 4-6, 4 RBIs. Jim Tyng allows five Blues hits. Darby O'Brien HR (1) for Blues.

Game 2
Wednesday 9/26
Cleveland 9 Brooklyn 4: Hub Collins 3 RBIs. Jumbo Davis 4-4, 2 runs.

Game 3
Cleveland at Brooklyn
Friday 9/28
Brooklyn 11 Cleveland 10: Ned Hanlon 3-5, 3 runs for Blues. Bridegrooms score three in the bottom of the ninth on an error, wild pitch, and a fly out.

Game 4
Saturday 9/29
Cleveland 8 Brooklyn 7: King Kelly 2-5, 2 RBIs. Cap Anson 2-4.

Game 5
Sunday 9/30
Cleveland 5 Brooklyn 2: Jumbo Davis HR (1), 3 RBIs.

Game 6
Brooklyn at Cleveland
Tuesday 10/2
Brooklyn 4 Cleveland 1: Joe Quinn 4-5, 2 RBIs. Joe Crotty 3-5.

Game 7
Wednesday 10/3
Cleveland 3 Brooklyn 2: John Ewing (3-0) three hitter.

Blues Top Bridegrooms in Round 1
Wednesday, October 3rd, 1888: The Cleveland Blues were crowned the champions of the North American BaseBall League today as they put away the Brooklyn Bridegrooms at National League Park II 3-2. MVP was John Ewing (3-0, 0.67 era)

It was the Blues 3rd time to win it as they finished off the Bridegrooms 4-3 in the Round 1.

Offseason

1888 Draft

NABL News: Draft Pool Revealed
Tuesday, October 2nd, 1888: North American BaseBall League today released the final list of all players eligible for next month's rookie draft. Now that the list has been made official, close scrutiny of these players can be expected as scouts begin to review this year's up and coming talent.

The top players available (in no particular order) seem to be:
1. Bug Holliday, 21 year-old center fielder out of college.
2. Ben Sanders, 23 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
3. Bill Daley, 20 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
4. Jesse Duryea, 29 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
5. Sadie McMahon, 21 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
6. Mickey Hughes, 21 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
7. Herman Long, 22 year-old shortstop out of college.
8. Amos Rusie, 17 year-old starting pitcher out of high-school.
9. Alex Jones, 18 year-old starting pitcher out of high-school.
10. Jack Easton, 21 year-old starting pitcher out of college.

NABL News: First-Year Player Draft
Thursday, November 1st, 1888: One of the hardest things to figure is the NABL rookie draft. Teams spend money and resources to scout, only to have their plans dashed when other clubs snare "their" top pick. Some give in to anxiety and pick the best guy they think they can find, while others sit back patiently and put together a solid draft strategy based on long-term winning. Time will tell who the winners will be. The clubs with the first five selections are Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Washington and New York. In a recent poll of draft speculators, BNN found the top ten hottest picks of the draft would be:

1. Jack Stivetts, 20 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
2. Jack Crooks, 22 year-old second baseman out of college.
3. Alex Jones, 18 year-old starting pitcher out of high-school.
4. Hank Gastright, 23 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
5. Sadie McMahon, 21 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
6. Bill Daley, 20 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
7. Ben Sanders, 23 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
8. Bug Holliday, 21 year-old center fielder out of college.
9. Herman Long, 22 year-old shortstop out of college.
10. Spud Johnson, 28 year-old right fielder out of college.

Athletics draft the following:
Park Swartzel SP (19-27, 147 K in one season)
Jim Gill 2B (1 season with St Louis for all of two games)
Bill Day MR (3 seasons Philadelphia and Pittsburg)
Ted Conovar MR (one season with Cincinnati)

News
Pittsburg Sends Farrell to Washington
Sunday, October 7th, 1888: The Pittsburg Alleghenys announced a deal with the Nationals today, sending 31-year-old second baseman Jack Farrell to Washington for 26-year-old reliever Frank Wyman. It had been talked about for the past few weeks and everything came together late last night. All players are expected to be joining their respective clubs shortly.

For his career Farrell has batted .258 and hit 19 home runs.

Wyman owns a 3-9 won-lost record with a 3.73 ERA for his career. In 85 games he has recorded 2 saves and the 26-year-old has 49 strikeouts in 176 innings of work.

Wagenhorst, Mack Swap Clubs
Sunday, October 7th, 1888: A trade was announced today at a press conference in Boston. Not satisfied with their current roster, the Boston Beaneaters general manager shook things up by acquiring 25-year-old catcher Connie Mack from the Baltimore Orioles for 25-year-old third baseman Woody Wagenhorst. The Beaneaters general manager said, "We're a better team now. We've added several pieces to the puzzle."

Chicago, St. Louis Trade Made
Monday, October 15th, 1888: It's all done except the paperwork. The Chicago White Stockings and the St. Louis Browns have agreed to a trade that will send 34-year-old reliever Dan Collins to St. Louis, while 30-year-old catcher Lew Brown will be shipped to Chicago. A top front office executive with the White Stockings described the trade talks as "quick and easy." "We're glad to get this deal done. We think it's something that helps our ball club and it didn't take too long at all to sort this one out," he said.

In his career stats, Collins has registered 18 wins and 14 losses with 17 saves. His lifetime ERA stands at 1.74 with 236 strikeouts and 66 walks in 237.1 innings.

Looking at his career stats, Brown is batting .255 and has totaled 31 home runs.


Tidbits

BNN Stats: Active Career Batting Leaders
Monday, October 1st, 1888: So, who is the active leader in the North American BaseBall League in career home runs?

Jerry Denny, Louisville, 56
Dan Brouthers, athletics, 47
Jack Clements, Detroit, 44
Fred Dunlap, Baltimore, 44
King Kelly, Cleveland, 43

BNN Stats: Single-Season Records
Monday, October 22nd, 1888: Who holds the single season record in the North American BaseBall League for shutouts?

Ed Cushman, Cleveland, 7, 1884
Bill Wise, St Louis, 7, 1888
Ed Cushman, Cleveland, 6, 1885
John Ward, Louisville, 6, 1883
Al Atkinson, Washington, 6, 1884

Team Name changes
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Spiders

Awards

NL Best Fielders for 1888 Selected
Monday, October 15th, 1888: It's been said that the best offense is a good defense. That's why contending teams are always looking to improve on the defensive side of the game. Keeping runs from scoring is just as good as driving them in. The top fielders have been chosen in the National League for 1888. Here are the Glove Wizard Award winners:

Pitcher: Mark Baldwin (Philadelphia Quakers)
Catcher: Jack Rowe (Boston Beaneaters)
First Baseman: Charlie Comiskey (Philadelphia Quakers)
Second Baseman: Bid McPhee (Boston Beaneaters)
Third Baseman: Ned Williamson (Boston Beaneaters)
Shortstop: Bobby Wheelock (Cincinnati Red Stockings)
Left Fielder: Tip O'Neill (Brooklyn Bridegrooms)
Center Fielder: Paul Hines (Pittsburg Alleghenys)
Right Fielder: Billy Sunday (Cincinnati Red Stockings)

American League Names Top Gloves
Monday, October 15th, 1888: "Ball hawk" is a good name for the members of the defensive elite, the players who make leather shine. The fielders who crashed the wall, leaped in the air, and dived in the hole better than any others during 1888 have been tabbed as the American League's Glove Wizard Award winners. Here are this year's best:

Pitcher: Bob Emslie (Detroit Wolverines)
Catcher: Buck Ewing (Louisville Colonels)
First Baseman: Cap Anson (Cleveland Blues)
Second Baseman: Lou Bierbauer (Detroit Wolverines)
Third Baseman: Billy Nash (Philadelphia Athletics)
Shortstop: Jack Glasscock (Cleveland Blues)
Left Fielder: Pete Browning (Boston Americans)
Center Fielder: Jim Fogarty (Chicago White Sox)
Right Fielder: Harry Stovey (Baltimore Orioles)

National League Selects Premier Rookie
Tuesday, October 16th, 1888: Elton Chamberlain's age didn't show very often in his first year. He performed more like a veteran on the hill for the St. Louis Browns and today he walked away with the 1888 National League Newcomer of the Year Award.

The 20-year-old starter registered a 25-25 record this season in 51 starts. Over 431.1 innings he gave up 445 hits, struck out 102 and issued 157 walks as he held the opposition to a .263 batting average and fashioned a 2.34 ERA.

American League #1 Rookie Announced
Tuesday, October 16th, 1888: Last spring Dummy Hoy was happy to just make the Nationals roster. He was overjoyed to see the name "Hoy" on the lineup card, too. Now the 26-year-old Washington center fielder has capped off his debut season by winning the coveted American League Newcomer of the Year Award.

Hoy won the award by hitting .327 and collecting 200 hits, 1 home run, 73 RBIs and 83 walks, along with 103 runs scored and a .410 on-base percentage.

St. Louis's Wise Elbows His Way to NL Award
Thursday, October 18th, 1888: The Outstanding Pitcher Award for 1888 has been presented and the National League winner is Bill Wise of St. Louis.

"It's always nice to receive an award like this," said Wise. "I just hope I can improve on my performance next year and be in the running again," the Browns star told reporters.

Wise excelled with an impressive 34-12 record in 51 starts. In 440 innings he yielded 450 hits and 54 walks, while striking out 144 and compiling a fine 1.96 ERA.

Huge Year For White Sox Burke, Nabs Outstanding Pitcher Award
Thursday, October 18th, 1888: James Burke of the Chicago White Sox has been selected the premier pitcher in the American League and will receive the Outstanding Pitcher Award for 1888.

The top vote getter completed the year with a 30-19 record. He started 52 times, threw 434 innings, chalked up 77 strikeouts and 49 walks, limited hitters to a .251 batting average and posted an impressive 2.16 ERA.

1888 Best Batter Picked By NL
Friday, October 19th, 1888: 1888 was a special season for Brooklyn second baseman Cupid Childs and it was capped off today with the announcement that he was named the winner of the National League Outstanding Hitter Award.

Childs compiled a .329 batting average and a .438 on-base percentage this year. In 140 games he piled up 181 hits, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 2 home runs, 77 RBIs and 126 runs scored.

Denny Lyons Wins Best Bat Trophy
Friday, October 19th, 1888: Denny Lyons of the Philadelphia Athletics proved that you can step out of the shadows and onto the stage if you've got the talent and the drive to hone your skills. Hard work, long hours and a tireless resolve paid off for him today in the form of the American League Outstanding Hitter Award.

Lyons hit for a .338 average while collecting 197 hits, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 9 home runs, 106 RBIs and scoring 114 times.

Chicago Owner Tanaka Passes Away, Son Replaces Him
Wednesday, October 24th, 1888: Kazuma Tanaka has died. A spokesperson for a local Chicago hospital reported that the Chicago White Stockings owner passed away today. Cause of death was not released. The team has scheduled a press conference for tomorrow. It is expected that son Charlie will take his father's position in the organization. He has a reputation for being penny-pincher in financial matters and understanding in personnel matters.