[tm1681]

THE RICH GET RICHER! BURKE TO SHAMROCK!
MOST SOUGHT-AFTER INDY BALL PLAYER EVER JOINS N.B.B.O. CHAMPS

BOSTON (Dec. 12, 1866) – A little more than six weeks after the race was on to recruit the most widely heralded independent ball player seen since the formation of the National Base Ball Organization, the club to cross the finish line with papers in hand is the Tucker-Wheaton Cup champions: Shamrock B.C.

Burke joins Shamrock after rumors linked him to nearly every major club in the competition:

• Oct. 27: Seen in hometown Trenton talking to Trenton United front office
• Nov. 3: Reportedly in discussions with Mutual
• Nov. 7: Word leaked that he was talking to Continental
• Nov. 8: Linked to Kings County after the departure of 5x All-Star CF Declan Brice
• Nov. 9: Reportedly went over to New York City and spoke to Hilltop
• Nov. 11: Harlem allegedly angling for his services
• Nov. 13: Burke seen speaking to Knickerbocker president Doc Adams
• Nov. 21: Eckford in Brooklyn linked to Burke
• Nov. 24: Alleghany reportedly preparing an offer
• Nov. 28: Flour City in Upstate newest club to be said to talking to Burke
• Nov. 29: Burke reportedly still upstate, talking with Niagara execs in Buffalo
• Nov. 30: Gotham next club linked to Burke recruitment
• Dec. 3: Union of Morrisania telegrams offer to Burke
• Dec. 4: Metropolitan reportedly sends envoys to woo Burke
• Dec. 8: Burke allegedly in discussions with Nassau County
• Dec. 12: Burke officially joins Shamrock

The prospect of James Burke in the Shamrock lineup makes the cup champs absolutely terrifying. Even if they do not add another player over the winter, Shamrock already has top-ten talents – out of 48 teams – at six positions. At the very least, a repeat Coastal pennant looks to be in the cards for next year.

The one question about Burke’s choice of club is this: why did he join a team that plays in the most pitcher-friendly venue in the N.B.B.O.? Burke does bat left-handed, but the South End Grounds are still stingy to southpaws (AVG LHB: .935). He would have been the perfect replacement for Brice in Kings County, and they have one of the most lefty-friendly parks of the 48 (AVG LHB: 1.121).

It already looks as if the other premier clubs in the N.B.B.O. are going to have to raise their level of play and fight to the death if they are to prevent Shamrock from repeating as Tucker-Wheaton Cup champions in 1867.

I thought about putting my thumb on the scale and having him go somewhere else, but based on my plans for the in-game universe this might be the most interesting thing. Shamrock might be the 1st team to break 60 wins next year.