This Month In Baseball
September 1875
Edition 5.6
The Iron Will Of Bobby Mathews
The Standard For Durability And Wins
No man has thrown the ball more or accumulated more pitching numbers then the 23 year old out of Baltimore who is a cornerstone of the Washington club. Even more importantly, no single man has won more games then Matthews, who takes the ball every game and is determined to do the job himself each and every time out.
"There is no one to compare his to in the league" points out his loyal catcher and friend Deacon White. "while the remainder of the league has partnerships and threesomes, we just give the ball to Bobby."
In 1875 he has won 33 games surely on pace to break hit own record from 1872 when he won 35 in in a 60 game season. He has 131 career wins, 37 more then the next man and has thrown more then 2000 more innings then anyone to ever play. He has 22.6 WAR for his career including a 1.22 WHIP and a 2.71 career ERA.
Standing at only 5 foot 5 and 140 pounds the durability such a small frame has shown is astounding. It is more then that however, no pitcher experiments more with his delivery and has a bigger variety of throws then Matthews. He has already perfected the Cummings curve ball and his smooth delivery is being copied by men all over the nation. As a reminder, he is still only 23 years of age.
"I plan on winning 500 games before it is all said and done" says the star pitcher, "wins are what drives me and the only number that matters to me."
Washington is the only club in the league that uses only one pitcher, and they put all their eggs and trust in the one basket. Mathews is a marvel that the game should not overlook, and outliner that makes this game of baseball so great. The likes the game has never seen before.
"He just doesn't take no for an answer" compliments his manager Nick Young who has been with him since the beginning. "He is what our club and our city is all about."
Both Leagues Have Enthralling Chases
The Race For The 1875 Flags May Be Best Yet
The great clubs of the land are poised for a fantastic finish in 1875 and as the final month of the baseball year dawns, no one knows who will end up top.
American League - The old guard of Washington, the leagues very first champion, is back, The Nationals have put it all together in 1875 behind the rubber arm of Bobby Mathews and the great consistency of Ross Barnes and Deacon White. Barnes is hitting .346 with 50 RBI while White is at .362 with 63 driven in. For Deacon, no player in the league is feared more when the game is on the line. Keeping pace with the Nationals are Harry Wright and his defending champion Red Stockings. Boston refuses to give up the flag and won 11 games in a row to end September. Jim Foran has had a resurgent season with 75 RBI while Al Spalding has been at his best with a 22-8 record and a 2.10 ERA. The two clubs will battle it out to the finish and both have a pedigree of winning and two managers who will accept nothing less. Baseball is immerse in this historic pennant chase.
National League - In the National league three teams are in the thick of the race with a fourth looming near. The New York club that won it all last season holds a slim lead having played .600 baseball all season. Bill Boyd has been amazing for the Mutuals driving in 87 runs. Philadelphia lead by their special player manager Lip Pike look for their first pennant. Pike is still hitting .416 with 84 RBI while Gat Stires has 88 driven in making the duo second to none. Chicago is a single game back with 50 wins and Paul Hines has bloomed into a real star, overtaking Cap Anson as the best hitter in the lineup. Finally the New Haven Elms are 3.5 games back and have the tougher road in October, but nothing should be counted out. If any club has the disadvantage, it is the White who have only six games left on their schedule.