This Month In Baseball
November 1880
Edition 10.8
The 1880 Amatuer Draft
Providence Nabs Whitney With Top Pick
Number One Choice In Nation 23 Year Old Talent
Providence looked to bolster their roster and believe the proper formula in doing so is through pitching talent. The club won only 32 games last year and is determined to turn over a new leaf in 1881.
Jim Whitney is a New York native with a perfect mustache and a 6'2 frame. In fact Whitney has earned the nickname Grasshopper Jim for his long limbs and flexibility. He will slip right into the Providence rotation and will get a real taste of big league hitting. The dream of any young man is to see what he can do against the very best. His control is excellent and he throws an interesting slider ball, that many hitters wont have seen before.
Massive Trade In National League
Williamson Leaving New York For Underachieving Arm
The biggest headliner of this offseason was a rare trade between franchise owners and two of their most popular stars. Ned Williamson, the prized talent of the Mutuals of New York just couldn't find his footing in the big city, and after run ins with fans and management, was looked to be shipped out.
A very willing taker were the Philadelphia Centennials. The Philly team drafted ace arm George Derby to go along with Terry Keefe in what could be among the best rotation's in baseball. This left the often overlooked arm of Pud Galvin, who never seemed to reach is potential. Galvin, like Williamson, likely just needs a change of scenery and a will get his chance in the Mutual rotation to revive his career.
It really should be quite fascinating to who gets the better of this swap, and how these two potential stars pan or fizzle out.