This Month In Baseball
August 1874
Edition 4.8
He Is His Brothers Keeper
George Wright Leading Resurgence In Boston
Cain questioned why he should be his brothers keeper after he did him wrong, but in Boston these days there is no such tragic story, as one brother is playing his best ball for another.
The Boston Red Stockings are having their best season ever and the pennant race seems all but wrapped up heading into September as the magic number sits at 12. It wasnt so long ago that Boston manager Harry Wright was seriously thinking of stepping away from the club after yet another poor year for a club with elite expectations in 1873.
It was his brother George who had a conversation with his older brother Harry before the season. He encouraged him to give it a go one more year and even more so committed to having a great season to support the team. Give it one more try, was the message that lead into 1874, and the result have been nothing short or special.
Boston came out in April a different team and have lead the division wire to wire. Jim Foran and Dick Hunt found their stroke both hitting over .340 while young John Peters brought fire to the group. Al Spalding has won 13 games and even better is Jim Britt who has won 16 with an impressive 1.90 ERA. At in the middle of the order, keeping his promise, was George Wright who is hitting .327 with a team high 48 RBI and a 148 OPS+.
The Boston Rooters have completely turned now and are riding high with this club as the city prepares for its first pennant and its first World Series. Harry Wright can smile again and his reputation as the games best thinking manager rings more true then ever this year.
Philadelphia Leading In 1874 Attendance
Over 300,000 Fans Have Attended This Season
When they first came to Philadelphia last season, the Whites were coming into a city that already had a pennant winning team and most of the citys allegiance. After patience and hard work however, the Whites have won the hearts of the city and have overcome their crosstown rival Athletics. So much so that the Whites lead all of baseball in 1874 in attenance with over 34,000 fans going to their games.
Times in Brooklyn are not so good as the storied Atlantics have the lowest attendance in baseball, a black eye for what should be one of the most respected names in the game. But winning is everything and this season Brooklyn sits with a 17-26 record, 9.5 games out of first. Here are the overall numbers that should still be considered a great success for the game in the country and the relatively new leagues.
