This Month In Baseball
July 1880
Edition 10.5
A Frustrating Existence
The Cursed Luck Of Baseball in Cleveland
In many circles of philosophy, if you can not attain something, is it better to not have been close. The Cleveland baseball club has won .529 of their games played and has always been a competitive side. However seven finishes in second or third for the pennant over the years and not being able to bring home a championship or play well when it matters most, have a loyal fan base looking for spiritual answers.
The club started with a world of enthusiasm in 1871 as one of the pioneer franchise even getting a club before their Ohio rivals from Cincinnati. Levi Meyerle was truly a star of the game and brought great joy to the early days of the club. A shrewd owner however stunned the city when after two years he moved the club to Elizabeth where they won their only pennant and there after spent 4 years in Hartford. Only over the past two seasons have the club returned to where it was suppose to be, rekindling a love affair with their city.
Enigmatic manager Al Barker the Blues were lead by Wes Fisler and the Charmer George Zettlein and last season it looked like all would be right and that the Blues would lift the flag. In a heartbreaking finish however the club missed out by one single game on the final weekend of the season to the Worcester franchise, who won their fourth pennant. The pain was intense for the entire off season but no one could have predicted how the 1880 season would go.
The club seemed to lose its edge and couldn't hit or get on base as before. The .223 team average was far from good enough and the likes of Candy Cummings and Joe Blong lost command at pitchers. The team is 6-14 in one run games and 10-18 at their home park. They are 21-39 with the worse record in the league and 15 games out of first, their worst season by a long shot.
For a club that won 63 games last season, what other explanation can their be but a curse? Maybe one day Cleveland will dream and get it right, but the club is at their lowest point right now and the future truly is anyone's guess. Baseball truly is a funny game.
New York Shun Williamson
Hopeful Prospect Seems To Be At Odds
Another club that really can not brag about their recent performances are the New York Mutuals. The Mutuals are currently suffering another losing season and their lone championship of 1874 seems ages ago.
New York fans are not ones to be patient or accept poor performances. The city thinks big and expects big and the worst anyone can do s not to give their best effort. In 1878, 20 year old Ned Williamson took the team by storm and was built up as the name that would team with Cal McVey and carry the club to glory.
Although not spectacular, Williamson slowly came into his own and last year hit .301 and drove in 50 runs. But with expectations so high and the club not really winning on the field, Williamson was the target of some scorn from fans and press alike. It seemed however the kid could handle it.
Enter 1880 and the whistles are as load as ever for the now 22 year old third baseman. Williamson has fallen off his game hitting .236 with a .554 OPS. Even worse fans feel the player isn't even giving his best effort on the field. Rumors have started that Williamson was seen at certain "gentlemen's clubs" on days before a game and in turn it seems every turn he makes is scorned by supporters and the papers.
Williamson claims he is working as hard as ever but one can see the one time joyful smile of the young prospect has turned into a hard seriousness on the field.
As we mentioned about Cleveland, Baseball is a funny game.