The Chronicle
September 1873
Edition 3.8
Dead Heat For American League Pennant
Brooklyn And Elizabeth Sure To Battle To The End
Fans of the pro game are soon finding out that there is nothing more exciting and tense then a pennant race that comes down to the final days. For the 1873 season the American League may be seeing its best race in the three year history of the league.
The last to first Cinderella story of the Brooklyn Eckfords has truly been something to behold. The forgotten step child of New York won only 13 games last season which was their first, and had little to no hope going into the 1873 campaign; that is to everyone but the players and manager. Brooklyn has played fine baseball and and now sit in first place on the first of October.
Manager Shamar Tate has been nothing but positive to his players and the fans. Pitcher Fred Buttery has been a revelation going 15-10 with a 2.60 ERA after losing 33 games last season. Buttery doesnt have to throw in every single game and has made half the starts he did last season with a capable John Greason backing him up with 13 wins. In Greason's first season he has thrown 223 innings. Bob Addy has been brilliant as the leader of the lineup hitting .393 and earning the name "Magnet" for the catches he has made in left field. Warren White has driven in 41 runs and Oscar Bielaski is hitting .317; these were all names that were unheard of last season.
Sitting in the way of the fairy tale are the Elizabeth Resolutes who moved out of Cleveland and have found a home worthy of success. The club has shown some of the best pitching in the league behind Bill Stearns and a rejuvenated George Zettein who have combined for 26 wins and identical 2.44 ERA's. Levi Meyerle has put all personal issues behind him and is hitting .401 with 107 hits and 63 RBI in which he is surely one of the favorites for the MVP award. Wes Fisler and Fred Warerman are two more excellent players that have lifted the Resolutes to the most runs scored in the league.
The two clubs will not face each other in October with Brooklyn having three more games on the schedule then Elizabeth who have already won thirty games. The third place Washington club faded in September dashing their hopes of a championship in the Autumn breeze.
Unlucky 36
For The Third Time, A Record Batting Streak Ends At 36
Speaking of Bob Addy of Brooklyn, he had the baseball world on notice in early September as he had a hitting streak surpas thirty games. Addy was looking to break the record that stood at 36 games by both Dick Higham in 1871 and Cal McVey in 1872.
Addy was able to tie the record and went into the Union Grounds of Boston with all intention of breaking it on September the 5th. Boston manager Harry Wright seemed determined to stop the streak changing the position of his infielders and pitching around in Addy. In the end after some hard feelings, Addy went 0-3 with a walk and just like the ones before him, the streak has now ended at 36 straight games for the third time.
What chap is willing to try and break the 36 game threshold?
