The Baseball Chronicle
October 1882
Edition 11.9
A Series Like No Other
St. Louis And Troy Prepare For Battle
The game has seen great moments and players or clubs that have created and aura or a legend behind them. Baseball is about life and stories that capture the imagination of people well beyond the grandstand. The spectacle awaits us this October as two of the greatest clubs we have ever seen face off for the World Series of 1882. There have been great matchups, but none like this.
The matchup is the same as last season but the stakes seem higher. Two teams that have won over 70 games and truly showcase some of the biggest names in the game. Two teams that reek with confidence and almost an assurance of their greatness. Two clubs that come from different corners of the country taking every watchful eye with them. The media world as well as the telgraph system prepares for the onslaught of attention for the series as most city squares have been transformed into group gatherings for following the games.
The St. Louis Browns won the most games in league history with 76 and had the best record in the league. A club that once lost 77 games in a season is now playing baseball at a level few have seen before. Fred Goldsmith won 28 games and was one of three players over 20 wins. John Ward of course threw his no hit game as is among the most popular players on the circuit. Oscar Walker, a colored player, drove in 85 runs and recently hit for the 'cycle' in October; only the 5th player to ever do so. The team is first in batting WAR and Jack Glasscock is among the very best glove men in the league. The Browns were 21-12 in one run games and won 9 of 12 in extra innings. This is their second consecutive pennant and are desperately looking for revenge against Troy. Manager Cortez Cachola has brought in a new brand of baseball based on positioning that has other clubs taking notice.
Troy is the best franchise the game has ever seen. This is the clubs 6th pennant and its third in a row. The defensing champions are looking to win it all again and manager Lip Pike has proven he knows how to win the bkg series. The center of attention for the club is their offense lead by Gat Stires. Stires shattered every league record this season with 32 home runs and 126 driven in. The club scored 718 runs and along with Pike great bats like Roger Connor and lead off man Jimmy Wood round out the intimidating lineup. Jim Devlin and Cy Bentley are a formidable duo in the rotation and Bentley was the first to no hit an opponent this summer. The club just knows how to win and seem to play their best ball when the stakes are the highest. They dismantled St. Louis last season and look to do the same.
It is Titan vs Titan and the nation awaits to see if the Brown Stockings really have what it takes to dethrone the mighty Trojans.
Foran Ends Season On Fire
Boston Veteran Hits In 36 Straight
As the season ends and the likes of Chicago's Cap Anson win the batting title. It is worth noting of the achievement of Jim Foran of Boston who at the age of 34 had another outstanding season. Foran not only lead the league in triples with 45 which eclipsed Dick Hunt's record, but also had a 237 OPS plus and has a great case for league MVP.
The achievement however comes as he ended his season hitting in 36 consecutive games, only nine shy of the all tine record of 45 by Lip Pike in 1876. Foran hit .400 in October coming off on a .405 in September and can not be fooled by any arm in the league. He will have to wait until next year when he will be 35 to see if he can continue his torrid pace, a big storyline for sure.