[tm1681]

1863 NATIONAL BASE BALL ORGANIZATION REVIEW

1863 NATIONAL BASE BALL ORGANIZATION SEASON SUMMARY

The 1863 National Base Ball Organization season was one of change, with five of the six regional champions finishing in first place for the first time. In the process, what appeared to be the tightest season yet at the halfway point became one in which the up-and-comers pulled away from the rest of the competition.

The same was true in the race for the Batting Championship. At the season’s midway point there were seven players batting over .400, but by the end of the final day of competition there was but only one: Nik Madsen of Nassau County.

1863 was the year in which Jim Creighton became the dominant powerhouse everyone thought he would be, leading the entire N.B.B.O. in Wins, E.R.A, & Strikeouts to earn the first “Triple Crown”, while setting records in numerous categories.

Speaking of records, Jim Creighton was not the only player to make history in 1863. Flour City’s James Hoyt set records for Hits & Total Bases, teammate William McQuaid became the first player with a Hitting Streak longer than forty games, Cantabrigians’ Maurice Thyne established a new record for Doubles, Mass. Bay’s Raleigh Altstadt broke the record for Triples, Sportsman’s Doc Matheson set a new Home Run mark, and Shamrock pitcher Walter Stegall had the most Wins in a season without a loss.

There were two fifty-win teams on the season: new Coastal champions Port Jersey and venerable St. John’s (both 50-20), with the two teams experiencing opposing fates in the postseason. Lake Erie & Oceanic brought up the rear at 22-48.

When it came time to play for the Tucker-Wheaton Cup the new guard was completely unable to take down St. John’s, with Providence’s finest going 9-1 and taking the cup home for the third time.

It was a much-needed year of change for the National Base Ball Organization, even if the grand old men of St. John’s won out in the end. More of the same will be hoped for in 1864.