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This Month In Baseball
Special Edition
1881 National League Preview
Chicago White Stockings
Manager: Nick Young
1880 Record: 56-40
Projected Finish: 1st
Still considered the class of the league, the Chicago club expects this season to be no different. Nick Young's team came up short to Troy last year but the star studded offense of Paul Hines, Cap Anson, and the unique Ed Pinkham will have Chicago scoring a ton of runs. Tom Healey will be someone to watch as the 27 year old made 32 starts last year and is expected to lighten the load on veteran Al Pratt. Chicago fans are anxious for another championship.
Buffalo Bisons
Manager: Tim Krikorian
1880 Record: 54-42
Projected Finish: 7th
First year manager Kirkorian did quite well winning 54 games last season but did he do it with smoke and mirrors? Fred Dunlap is a legit star at second base scoring 70 runs and hitting 30 doubles. Piano legs George Gore hit .335 and may have the smoothest swings in the game. Buffalo need a repeat of fine pitching with 20 game winner Ed Stratton back at the head of the rotation and Fred Corey who won the pitcher of the year award having won 20 games but few folks feel he can repeat the feat. This clubs seem to be getting alot of disrespect.
New York Mutuals
Manager: Chris Davis
1880 Record: 45-51
Projected FInish: 4th
Big changes in New York as new manager Chris Davis takes the helm of the team with pressure to win. The trade of Ned Williamson left shockwaves through the league and in comes Pud Galvin who has more questions then answers. Cal Mcvey and John McMullin still give this team credibility but can the pitching hold up? Seventeen game winner Mickey Welch will look to team with Galvin but both will need to have career years. Will the loss of Williamson come back to haunt this club?
Cincinnati Reds
Manager: Frank Barrows
1880 Record: 50-46
Projected Finish: 5th
Internal strife seems to be out of the way as the Reds look to fight for the flag again. Jim O'Rourke hit .310 last year with 64 RBI in what is turning into a stellar career. Steve King is back again at 38 years old, he hit .290 last year and plays like someone half his age. Hugh Campbell has put behind him all the bad press even after losing 23 games Will White is still on the roster and George Bradley went 22-9 last year and has won 119 games in his short career. The Reds are a dangerous club if Frank Barrows can get the most out of them and if they can get along off the field. Their fan support is still incredible.
Troy Trojans
Manager: Lip Pike
1880 Record: 60-36
Projected Finish: 2nd
Chicago may have the most wins in the National League but it is Lip Pike's Troy team that has won the most pennants. Troy has teamed Gat Stires with Roger Connor and the results have been dynamite. Connor lead the league in steals and in batting and Stires hammered 13 home runs. Jim Devlin quietly does his work winning 21 games last year and 116 for his career with a 2.55 ERA. Cy Bentley has won 160 games in his career and adds to what may still be the most complete team in the game. Most feel it will be one again a fight between Chicago and these Trojans to the very end.
Philadelphia Centennials
Manager: Jerimiah Harris
1880 Record: 47-49
Projected Finish: 6th
Two big new names are looking to change the fortunes of this lost franchise. George Derby, a 23 year old rookie arm will be anointed as the new star of the club while big Ned Williamson comes from New York with a new attitude and all the skill in the world. Tim Keefe is also back and will surely continue to baffle hitters but as usual this Philly team just may not have enough offense to be legit. Manager Jerimiah Harris did a fine job in his first season, but avoiding a step back and controlling the personality of Williamson will be his latest and biggest challenge.
Providence Grays
Manager: Alex Segura
1880 Record: 32-64
Projected Finish: 3rd
All the talk around Providence is about Big Dan Brouthers. Brouthers has a new manager and has been freed from the doghouse to have a breakout season and create the anchor the club needs. The Only Nolan is back in the game in one of the best comeback stories ever and will get is chance in the rotation. Pat McManus will have to take a bigger step as a top of the line pitcher after losing 20 games last year. The 1880 season as a whole was one to completely forget, and rebound seasons from Fred Cone and Harry Stovey are desperately needed.
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