There were no changes atop the top two leagues in '85, with the Red Stockings taking their fourth straight pennant and Resolute grabbing their sixth consecutive flag:
The Maryland club of Baltimore charged into the Centennial Cup playoffs, led by home run-hitting sensation Dave Orr, who sent an astounding 42 baseballs to perdition in 1885. The 24-year-old has already clubbed 96 taters in just his three years in the league!
One thing is for sure: The Elizabeth Resolutes will NOT defend their AA title in 1886 -- because they, Baltimore and Middletown are being "promoted" to the National circuit. Taking their place in the AA will be first-year squads from Detroit and Richmond, as well as the chronically underperforming Brown Stockings, who have had 10 losing seasons out of 11.
Speaking of St. Louis...in the Onion...er,
Union, Cardinals owner Henry Lucas was so annoyed that his team was upset in the Union Cup Final that he changed the team name to the "Maroons" and ordered all-new uniforms. "Things will be different next year," Lucas vowed. And things
were different for St. Louis in 1885 -- with many of the other UA teams signing star players, the Maroons came in
third in the pennant race:
