This Month In Baseball
October 1879
Edition 9.8
The Stars Come Full Circle
Syracuse Franchise Wins 4th Pennant
Everyone in the game acknowledged that a great run was over after last season when the Washington ball club left the city after losing 66 games, Names like Barnes, White and Mathews seemed to be at the end of their best days and it all appeared under a new manager with a losing record, that this team was sent to Syracuse to pasture and retire.
A baseball season is however a story of its own. New manager Shamar Pate didnt buy into the dire predictions and the club added new talent while the older players played with pride and resolve. Ross Barnes was not discarded but moved to the top of the order and Bobby Mathews kept his place in the rotation. The new arm of Bill McGunnigle boosted the pitching staff and Bill Kelly stepped in the middle of the order and hit .331. The team began to win and the roster proved to have chemistry and some magic.
The fight continued all season with the Cleveland team who seemed to swap first place with Syracuse every other day. The stars persisted and prevailed however and the storybook was complete. In the history of the game no franchise has had more overall success, and the club now tries to be the first franchise to bring home three championships.
Cincinnati Brings Flag Home
Reds Hold Off Champion Chicago For 1st Pennant
It was building for a while but finally the fruits of their labor cam to fruition this year. The Reds had the best record in the game winning 65 times and holding off the favored White Stockings by seven games finishing the season on a 10 game winning streak.
It was Reds pitching that was dominant and tops in the league with a team best 2.11 ERA and Will White leading the league in wins with 26. Behind the pitcher was the best defensive group in the league and manager Jon Riker had the team playing top fundamental baseball that prevented runs.
Jim O'Rourke hit .374 and was the hammer in the middle of the order with 57 RBI. The greatest contribution came from fan favorite and league favorite Steve King wjo at the age of 37 hit .330 and drove in 51 runs with 19 doubles. The club is very well put together and we need to recognize that this season was truly one of the very best the league has ever seen.