OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The (English) Baseball League (est. 1888): A History

chucksabr · 11-13-2013, 01:37 PM

1891 Season News & Notes

With the advent of the new baseball, Charles Healey of Notts County Magpies set a league record for season ERA with 1.46 at the age of 40, smashing the previous record held by Brendan Phillips who twirled a 2.04 for Derby County Rams as a 20-year old in 1888 ... Richard Joseph became the first hitter in League history to reach the century mark in strikeouts, racking up 101 as a Lilywhite in Preston North End. Joseph broke his previous League record of 47 set just last year, but he was also joined by 12 other batters this year who also exceeded that prior record ... With the expanded schedule, Alfred Anderson and Gearróc McNurr became the League's first 20-game winners for Burnley Clarets and West Bromwich Albion Hawthorns, respectively ... On the flip side, four separate pitchers narrowly escaped the ignominy of losing 20 games in a single season in 1891, with Alfred Peebles of the Accrington Reds repeating the close call for a second straight season ... Despite the drop of offence through the League, Brandon Bradley of the Villans of Aston Villa nevertheless set a record in 1891 with 25 games consecutive in which he got a base hit.

Sydney Johnson and Fred Hole became the first baserunners ever to swipe five bags in a single game, with Johnson doing the deed for the Magpies in a 14-5 win against Bolton Wanderers on 18 July, and Hole stealing his five against Darwen Salmoners on 16 May, leading the Blues to an 8-1 victory ... William Bates (Derby County Rams) and Fred Grant (Notts County Magpies) became the first players in League history to hit for the cycle, the former going 4-for-5 versus Stoke Ramblers on 14 August, with the latter doing so in a 5-for-5 effort against Accrington on 5 September.

Frederick James, one of the famous Three Freds of the Burnley Clarets, called it quits folowing the end of the season. In four years pitching in the Baseball League, James was 42-25 with a 3.16 ERA in 67 starts. James spent the 1891 season on the Clarets reserve squad. James was also instrumental in leading Burnley to BA Cup victories in 1885 and 1886 ... Also retiring was Kieron Mason of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 41-year old Mason hit .301/.355/.411 in 249 games over four seasons, but battled injuries in recent seasons and finished only .238/.264/.295 in 1891.

Gone are Rhys Wolston as GM at West Brom, Theo Fleming as manager in Bolton, and Zachary Davis as GM in Accrington, each to be replaced during the offseason ... Notts County are mourning the loss of chairman Gareth Shawcross, who died in hospital after a brief illness at the age of 78 on 12 December. Team spokesmen, speaking anonymously, told reporters that his son Percy Shawcross would take charge of running the team and would eventually be named the new chairman.

11-13-2013, 01:37 PM	#79
chucksabr Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: In the canyons of your mind Posts: 3,194	1891 Season News & Notes With the advent of the new baseball, Charles Healey of Notts County Magpies set a league record for season ERA with 1.46 at the age of 40, smashing the previous record held by Brendan Phillips who twirled a 2.04 for Derby County Rams as a 20-year old in 1888 ... Richard Joseph became the first hitter in League history to reach the century mark in strikeouts, racking up 101 as a Lilywhite in Preston North End. Joseph broke his previous League record of 47 set just last year, but he was also joined by 12 other batters this year who also exceeded that prior record ... With the expanded schedule, Alfred Anderson and Gearróc McNurr became the League's first 20-game winners for Burnley Clarets and West Bromwich Albion Hawthorns, respectively ... On the flip side, four separate pitchers narrowly escaped the ignominy of losing 20 games in a single season in 1891, with Alfred Peebles of the Accrington Reds repeating the close call for a second straight season ... Despite the drop of offence through the League, Brandon Bradley of the Villans of Aston Villa nevertheless set a record in 1891 with 25 games consecutive in which he got a base hit. Sydney Johnson and Fred Hole became the first baserunners ever to swipe five bags in a single game, with Johnson doing the deed for the Magpies in a 14-5 win against Bolton Wanderers on 18 July, and Hole stealing his five against Darwen Salmoners on 16 May, leading the Blues to an 8-1 victory ... William Bates (Derby County Rams) and Fred Grant (Notts County Magpies) became the first players in League history to hit for the cycle, the former going 4-for-5 versus Stoke Ramblers on 14 August, with the latter doing so in a 5-for-5 effort against Accrington on 5 September. Frederick James, one of the famous Three Freds of the Burnley Clarets, called it quits folowing the end of the season. In four years pitching in the Baseball League, James was 42-25 with a 3.16 ERA in 67 starts. James spent the 1891 season on the Clarets reserve squad. James was also instrumental in leading Burnley to BA Cup victories in 1885 and 1886 ... Also retiring was Kieron Mason of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 41-year old Mason hit .301/.355/.411 in 249 games over four seasons, but battled injuries in recent seasons and finished only .238/.264/.295 in 1891. Gone are Rhys Wolston as GM at West Brom, Theo Fleming as manager in Bolton, and Zachary Davis as GM in Accrington, each to be replaced during the offseason ... Notts County are mourning the loss of chairman Gareth Shawcross, who died in hospital after a brief illness at the age of 78 on 12 December. Team spokesmen, speaking anonymously, told reporters that his son Percy Shawcross would take charge of running the team and would eventually be named the new chairman. __________________ The (English) Baseball League (est. 1888): A History The 1932 Season is Underway Dynasty Mission \| Creation Story \| Subscribe 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 (Great War Hiatus) 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 The OOTP Interview about the Baseball League Last edited by chucksabr; 01-11-2014 at 10:50 PM.