This Month In Baseball
April 1877
Edition 7.2
Deacon Poised For His Best Start
Star Catcher Hits For Cycle On Opening Day
There is few better days for any American then the opening day of the baseball season. Even more so in Washington as the Nationals raised their flag and celebrated a championship well deserved from the year before. Such was the case on a overcast day at Olympic Grounds as the Philadelphia Athletics came to town.
All eyes remained on the most popular star that remains Ross Barnes. Fans showed their appreciation as the second baseman is coming off an MVP season in which he hit .511. On this day however Banres would not be the center of the story for once; the great Washington catcher Deacon White would steal the scene.
White would start his season with a ringing double and then single in his second at bat. In the 6th inning the Deacon would hit a triple on a long drive to center field. In his fourth and most dramatic at bat in the eight, White would finish his perfect day with a man on and a towering two run home run that had him finish the rare feat of hitting for the 'cycle'.
Only two players had done it before him and the taste for the fans was even sweeter as the Nats won the opener by the score of 6-3. White did not slow down in his next two games and in fact has gone 10 for 13 at the plate and looks poised for his best hitting season yet. White is a career .363 hitter and took home the league MVP in 1875.
He remains one of the most popular players on and off the field as he stands by his convictions and beliefs and demonstrates true gentleman qualities at all times. Never will you hear a curse word or a complaint from the 29 year old veteran. He has taken a back seat to Barnes on many an occasion but the lack of attention does not hinder him. He is a big a part as anyone in the two championships the club has managed to win, now of course going for three.
Fans prepare for another grand season in Washington.
Hartford Carries Over Momentum
Rebound Season of 76 Has Turned Into Hot Start in 77
There were a number of publications last season including this one that were noticing a baseball resurgence in Hartford. With a new home the local club had created quite a following and even more so was showing signs of a well put together outfit. Finishing third with 54 wins wasnt something to sneer at and manager Al Barker looked for better things in 1877; dare to even possibly think of a pennant.
Well 1877 has indeed come and the Dark Blues have responded in an excellent way. The club finished the month of April winning six of seven games and are the early pace setters in the division. George Zettlein has stepped away from the rotation and the two young arms, Amos Booth and Joe Blong, have combined to go 5-0 and are showcasing some true command when they take the field
To go along with the arms is a lineup that is leading the league early in runs per game and is also tops in an underappreciated metric; that of baserunning. Bob Fergunsen is doing double duty as he now pitches but still finds time to hit at the top of the order. Levi Meyerle is hitting a nice .333 to start the season and right in the middle of the order is the bat of Robert Armstrong. Armstrong, a career .236 hitter is getting his chance to play and is hitting .423 to start the campaign rewarding his managers confidence.
The Boston club has gotten off to a rocky start and Washington may be a bit hung over from last season. This great game of our could provide any number of surprises and in the early spring days, there may just be a path for glory coming out of Connecticut this season.