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1876 AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE REVIEW

WRITERS POOL OBSERVATIONS

ALLEGHANY: The loss of Seabold was a killer. Cordell had another fine season (22-15, 3.34, 53 K) but Seabold’s replacement, Greenhorn James Lockhart, was a clear downgrade (14-24, 3.50, 29 K). Another major issue: 3B Doherty & CF Golden saw their averages fall by 75+ points. There’s a chance this season was a one-off. To upgrade: 1B & maybe CF.

AMERICAN: Four cup wins in five years – American has become the dynasty of dynasties in baseball. The signing of George Kassabian to move Sid Crowder to backup at LF meant there were no holes in the lineup or pitching duo, and the result was a Founders’ Cup sweep. However, star SS Martin Prince is free to leave this winter.

EXCELSIOR: They reverted back to a combination of spectacular pitching and anemic offense. Creighton & Seabold were incredible together, with Seabold FINALLY taking the strikeout crown from Creighton, but their 12th-ranked offense meant both were 21-21. Hill & Oberst were great, but the loss of Hudspeth hurt the attack more than they thought it would.

FLOUR CITY: Competitive but flawed due to below-average defense. Kessler, Dugas, & Knight made for a nice middle of the lineup, but LF Donovan (38), 3B Harris (36), & SS Hodges (35) are starting to look their age. Another problem: James Goodman is about to turn 38 and there’s no clear #2 in the team’s pitching duo. Next year could quickly go very wrong.

GOTHAM: Disaster. In short order, Royal Altman lost his OF range, forcing a move to 1B, and Babe Johnson missed five weeks injury, and the team proceeded to go 8-32 over its next 40 games. Otherwise, close to .500. If they plug the newfound hole in LF then next season will trend upward. Potential storm cloud: longtime RF stalwart Clive Strachan can leave.

KINGS CO: AT LAST, a highly competitive K.C. team after five years below the 40-win mark. Koonce & Bartholomew were excellent as the 3-4 combo, 3B Williams needed no adjustment time to the A.P.B.L., RF Miller was passable in his first season as a regular, and Banfield was the #1 they needed after coming in from Excelsior. To upgrade: 2B & SS.

KNICKERBOCKER: A league-record improvement of 19 wins (33-57 to 52-38) and 2nd place in the Metro – a successful season. Mascherino was EXACTLY what the infield needed after moving to 2B, and Groff was decent after taking 3B from Verstegen. Burton & Landreth both had ERA’s under 3.00. Problem: 9x All-Star 1B Alexander can leave this winter.

MASS. BAY: Their second straight over-500 season and 3rd place in the Colonial. Their second raid of rivals Shamrock bore fruit, as 2B Fisher and #2 P Ricks both had good seasons. 1B Berg was an All-Star in his first A.P.B.L. season, young LF Durand proved a capable batsman, and after moving to 3B Stoffers had his best season in three years. To upgrade: CF.

NIAGARA: From worst to first in the Colonial – a better season than they could have dream of. Ignore how it ended. 2B Hudspeth was an All-Star in his first season after moving from Excelsior, and teamed brilliantly with SS Schumacher. Mukai had a career-best ERA. #2 P Smith was a surprise. RF Roper made All-Star Game #6. Issue: CF Barrett can leave.

ORANGE: Another down year. SS Harmon was an All-Star in his first season as a regular, but it was offense where he was a major downgrade from Mascherino. Greenhorn Hopp was just okay in CF. C Schreiber crashed to .252, his first season under .300. The good: RF Valentine was an All-Star and LF Crosby did well in his first Orange season. To upgrade: P, 1B, & CF.

SHAMROCK: Worst season in team history. They brought in two Greenhorn pitchers and it didn’t work at all, with #1 Hagan going 9-27. They also saw 1B Bulger hit under .300 for the first time, RF Noble’s average fall 80+ points, and new SS Falconer put up -2.2 WAR and a -44.2 ZR, both league records in a bad way. To upgrade: SS, LF, & CF.

ST. JOHN’S: From their first under-500 season to one game from a playoff. The infield tweaks worked, as Greenhorn 2B Cannon hit .320, veteran Price was a passable SS, and 3B Todd emerged as a star. However, both Jensen & Townsend had their worst seasons, with Townsend batting .278. They’ll bank on the two flanks of the Hydra returning to form next year.