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EVANS BECOMES 1ST PCBL PLAYER TO HR MILESTONE
HOMER AT QUEEN VILLAGE MAKES HIM 1ST IN LEAGUE HISTORY WITH FIVE IN A SEASON

PHILADELPHIA (July 11, 1875) - It was a case of “another day, another piece of history” for Frankford Arsenal’s Joseph Evans at Fitzwater Field on Sunday afternoon.

The P.C.B.L.’s only Batsman of the Year had an outstanding performance during Frankford’s 17-6 victory at Queen Village:

• FRA #3 Joseph Evans (LF): 3/4 (2B, HR, 7 TB), 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 OF AST

In the top of the 6th, Evans stopped to the plate with one out and RF James Howard on and he proceeded to hit an inside-the-park Home Run to give the visitors an 8-3 lead that would only grow larger over the late innings.

Evans’ homer made him the first player in the Philadelphia City Baseball League’s young history with 5+ Home Runs in a season, and the 1875 season is shaping up to be his best yet:

Through 45 games, Evans is leading P.C.B.L. batsmen in AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+, H, 3B, HR, XBH, RBI, TB, ISO, & WAR. That’s thirteen different categories, and he is #3 in Doubles, #5 in Runs, & #5 in Win Probability Added.

To consider that Evans is this dominant even though he doesn’t turn 23 for eighteen days is astounding. When players have been regulars at the age of 20 or 21, as Edward Huntley & Franklin Petty were, they haven’t immediately become the best batsmen in their league, with 2-3 years of adjustment time needed before those players’ elite skills were fully unlocked.

Since he is only 22, Joseph Evans is believed to be receiving a Housing & Per Diem remittance of $250 or so while playing for Frankford Arsenal. Evans’ skillset could command five to seven times as much money in the A.P.B.L., so unless Frankford is willing to pay him like a professional going forward then it is almost certain that after winning his third straight P.C.B.L. Batsman of the Year award Evans will be offered up for transfer this winter.

If Evans is offered up at the Autumn Meetings, expect one of the most hotly-contested races for a signature ever seen.