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KNICKERBOCKER 15-0 THROUGH THREE WEEKS!
RECORD-SETTING START TO THE SEASON HAS CLUB ALREADY IN N.Y.C. LEAD BY FIVE GAMES

NEW YORK CITY (May 22, 1865) – Knickerbocker B.B.C. thought they had everything set up to go back to the top of the New York City Championship in 1864 when they brought in legendary pitcher John McGowan, star batsmen James Hoyt & Juriaan Kerstens, and five-star 3B prospect Hugh Harris. Instead, Knickerbocker finished 37-33 for the third time in four years and wondered just what they needed to do to become the leader of the N.Y.C. pack once again.

Doc Adams and club G.M. Harold Hatch…hatched a plan. By the end of the first week of November they had signed on Edward Huntley, unquestionably the best shortstop in the N.Y.L, and five-star independent ball pitcher Peadar Daly. Herman Easley, the N.E.L’s best pitcher in 1863, was added as pitching insurance after a down year with Susquehanna, one-time Team of the Year member Curtis Bowman was recruited to replace the disappointing Gregersen Rohrmann in center field, and solid veteran Willie Love was brought in to play first base after Mario Fusilli left for Syracuse.

The results so far?

Knickerbocker is three weeks into the season and they have yet to lose a game, shattering an N.B.B.O. by starting the season with fifteen consecutive victories. They have scored 116 runs (7.7 R/G) while allowing just 46 (3.1 R/G), giving Knickerbocker an absurd +70 Run Differential over just fifteen games.

The team’s pitching & defense lead the N.Y.L. in nearly every notable category, meaning it has been a truly historic start to the season.

Knickerbocker’s three-week run has been a total team effort. Seven of the eight regular batsmen in their lineup have 10+ R.B.I. through fifteen games, while Willie Love has nine. John McGowan is 7-0 with a 1.29 E.R.A, and Peadar Daly is 8-0 with a 2.54 E.R.A.

Incredibly, Knickerbocker is 15-0 even though Edward Huntley, the two-time New York League M.V.P. and a career .350 batter, has the worst average on the team at .254 with a .648 O.P.S, which would both easily be career lows if Huntley were to swing the bat like he has for the entire season.

Every single regular, including both pitchers, currently have a positive Zone Rating, and their defense leads the entire N.B.B.O. in Errors, Fielding Percentage, Defensive Efficiency, and – not surprisingly – Zone Rating.

Knickerbocker’s offense has not been as amazing, currently 17th in the N.B.B.O. in average (.296) and 10th in runs. However, they are 6th in O.P.S. (.732), 3rd in W.A.R. (3.6), and the fact of the matter is that the batsmen simply have not needed to perform at a top-tier level as opponents are batting just .203 against them so far this season (S.o.t.O. 2nd at .239).

While it is most assured that Knickerbocker will not win every one of the seventy games that are on the calendar for 1865, their historic start means that they might be able to play .500 base ball the rest of the way and still be part of the Tucker-Wheaton Cup field. What a start!