This Month In Baseball
August 1877
Edition 7.6
The Art Of The Two-way
Four Players Have Mastered Pitching And Hitting
Of course when you become a master of one particular skill, it is surely difficult to be just as good at another. Time and effort constraints would seem to make it close to impossible for a ballplayer to become and elite hitter while at the same time excel at hitting. To date many have tried, but there are four notable names that truly have changed the way the game is played.
Bobby Ferguson - If there ever was a jack of all trades it would be Ferguson. He has taken up pitching for the first time in his career at 32 year sold and has thrown 193 innings on the season. He has compiled a hard luck 9-15 record but has a good 3.22 ERA and has struck out 49 batters and is a big part of the Hartford ballclub continual inprovement. For years Ferguson has been an outstanding batter with 22 career triples, 248 RBI and 326 runs scored. Without a doubt he is one of the very best defensive players in the league thus his nickname "death to flying things" winning the gold glove at third three times. And oh yes, he also managed for three years running. There is nothing this man can not do.
John McDermott - A .354 career hitter as well as a World Series MVP award in 1872, McDermott is one of the smoothest hitters the league has seen. Twice he lead the league in doubles including his 38 last season. In his second year of action Joe began to pitch wit purpose and won 14 games. Although his pitching career hasnt been the greatest with a 51-81 career record, McDermott continues to hold a spot in the rotation and made 20 starts this past season.
Cal McVey- The league was utterly shocked and even tried to stop McVey from switching from fulltime hitter to a pitcher in 1875. McVey said he always had a love for pitching and he did silence many of his doubters as a hurler winning over 20 games three years running and this season holding a great 2.02 ERA. McVey really has embraced his role having earned over 15 WAR in three short years. Of course as a hitter McVey's 1874 season will go down in history a she hit .404 with a 4.0 WAR and still holds a career .371 average with 450 runs scored. Others would indeed argue that if he didnt pitch fulltime, McVey as a hitter would surely surpass them all. He is the biggest reason why the Mutuals are in contention for a pennant every single year.
John Cassidy - Finally there is the 22 year old Cassidy who has really come in the scene this year. The Brooklyn native sits at the top of the Westerns lineup and has surpassed even Deacon White hitting .455 thus far this year. He has 21 steals and 31 RBI and can disrupt any game with his ability to set the table. Cassidy also holds a 2.53 ERA with minimal offensive support striking out 59 batters this year alone. Cassidy is a rising star in every way and shouldnt be overlooked for as maybe the very best two way talent there ever was.
National League Frenzy
Big Four Setting Up Dramatic Finish
With the Washington Club doing just fine in the American League as they have almost lead wire to wire to gain another pennant, the National league truly is anyone's to win.
The four big clubs, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and now Cincinnati have been up and down the ladder all season and each of the four teams are just two games behind the current leader. Each club has lead the league at some point during this season.
Chicago has won 9 of 10 games in extra innings while the Reds have slowed down a bit after they made their mark with a 14-3 month of May. The defending champion Whites are looking to do it again and won 14 games in August sit on top of the pack. New York has played the best defense in the league and is getting another fine season from McVey and Candy Cummings.
The excitement can be maddening, but is of course compelling to watch.