[tm1681]

1877 AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE REVIEW

WRITERS POOL OBSERVATIONS

ALLEGHANY: Their 45-45 finish was right around where projections had them. Their fielding was unquestionably the best in the league (E/G: #1/12, ZR: #1, EFF: #1), but their lineup was right in the middle of the pack in terms of production and their pitching was just okay. It might be time to move on from Raynard Cordell, and they may need an upgrade at C.

AMERICAN: The 4x champs had a ten-game slide from last season to this. Injuries to Peter Boyce & George Kassabian didn’t help, but the big issue was that mainstays like William Busby, Franklin Petty, & Raynard Steinbach started to show their age. That spoiled yet another historic season from James Burke, so there may be some retooling needed.

EXCELSIOR: This year, they came out on top of an epic pennant race instead of finishing runner-up like in 1875. They didn’t put a foot wrong this season – every regular hit above .275, they were top-three in Runs (8.3 R/G), and both pitchers won 20+ games while leading the league in Strikeouts. They were simply up against a superior team in the Founders’ Cup.

FLOUR CITY: They were 18-7 June but 23-42 the rest of the season. 3x All-Star Ernest Dugas’ average fell from .329 (.801 OPS) to .256 (.634 OPS), and James Goodman finally started to appear his age, as even though he led the league in WAR (7.4) his Strikeouts fell from 90 to 52. It’s hard to pick an area that needs upgrading, as they were mediocre in everything.

GOTHAM: The loss of Clive Strachan to Knick REALLY hurt. Royal Altman didn’t have the range for LF (-8.8 ZR) and he hit under .300 for the first time (.299, .689 OPS). Having a 2.0* player at 3B – Enos Pfannenstiel – was also a major problem, and signing James Dressman from the N.B.B.O. to lead the pitching duo didn’t pan out. They need a winter rethink.

KINGS CO: A .500 season for the first time in the A.P.B.L. As far as they’re concerned, that’s mission accomplished. Fred Bartholomew played like a genuine star, Herman Stanley showed why he was the P.C.B.L.’s other star player, Carl Nevers had a fine debut season, and Nicholas Banfield made his first All-Star Game. This is a team to watch next year.

KNICKERBOCKER: Another excellent season, but they couldn’t quite beat Excelsior in the best pennant race in baseball history. Clive Strachan was brilliant in his first Knick season, Robert Goodman & Henry Jost made their first All-Star Game appearances, and Alexaner/Harris/Mascherino all had 4+ WAR. They will be very dangerous next year.

MASS. BAY: A disappointing 1877 – nine fewer wins than last year. The main problem: their 11th-ranked group of fielders. Also, CF Charles Foster hit well below .250 for the second straight season and Albert Stoffers hit a career-low .310. On the plus side, Gerhardt Berg hit about .370 and Harold Durand improved in his second A.P.B.L. season. Changes are needed.

NIAGARA: From worst to first to second. They had good pitching and the league’s #2 group of fielders, but their #9 offense left them unable to keep up with St. John’s. Clyde Hudspeth saw his average fall 80+ points (.316 to .231) so it could just be a matter of seeing him return to form next year. Still, Sweeney Martin isn’t an A.P.B.L. 1B, so they should upgrade there.

ORANGE: Everything that could go wrong did. New #1 P Andrew Miller: 7-31 with a 4.64 ERA. 5x All-Star Walter Dudley: .266 with 38 RBI and -0.2 WAR. 3x All-Star Earl Crosby: .223 with a 66 OPS+. All-Star SS John Harmon: .222 with a .539 OPS. 4x All-Star Will Chaffin: a career-low .246 average. They either need mass upgrades or a big return to All-Star form.

SHAMROCK: Seven wins better than last year but still tied for last in the Colonial. The obvious issue was their 11th-ranked offense that saw just three regulars – Frank Bulger, Robert Jessup, & Charles Washer – hit above .300. They’ll be banking on returns to All-Star play by William Dickerson & Harold Groves, as well as an upgrade at CF.

ST. JOHN’S: The champions have nothing to complain about. They won the Joseph Evans sweepstakes, and the man was somehow better than advertised. Konrad Jensen’s average went up 20-25 points. Rudolph Decker hit around .330. Both Howard Burns & Thomas Smith had 27 Wins. Their main goal is to get Nelson Townsend back on track in 1878.