[FuzzyRussianHat]

Buffalo clinched the National League East Division on September 20 and had the NL’s best record at 100-62. Their 881 runs scored led the majors and their +202 run differential was only seven behind the Chicago White Sox for the best in MLB. LF Abner Dalyrmple led the way offensively in Buffalo, leading MLB with 43 home runs and finishing second in RBI with 127. New York was a distant second in the East at 86-76 but did end on an 11-game winning streak, as the Giants hope to build momentum into 1885.

The NL West battle to watch was Chicago and Cincinnati, who entered September separated by two games. They met to start the month and split four games in Cincy. The latter two were Cubs losses, which started a seven-game losing streak. The Reds took the division lead, but Chicago rebounded with a seven-game winning streak later in the month. With eight games left, the Cubs were back in first by one game. In the penultimate series, Chicago lost three of four hosting Indianapolis and Cincinnati won three of four hosting New Orleans.

Thus, the Reds were up one game heading into their final four-game showdown at Cincinnati’s League Park. The Cubs opened with 6-1 and 4-2 wins to reclaim the lead. The critical third game went to Chicago 4-3 in ten innings to clinch, followed by a 13-2 blowout to close the year. The Cubs ended 94-68 with the Reds at 91-71 and St. Louis third at 86-76. Indianapolis, who had been in the mix, ended fourth at 85-77.

Buffalo 3B Bill Schenck was the final Batter of the Month with a .366 average, 7 homers, 28 RBI, and 20 runs in September. St. Louis’s Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourn was Pitcher of the Month with a 6-1 record, 42 strikeouts, and 2.04 ERA over 57.1 innings.



The NL also saw New Orleans’ ace Charlie Geggus with a 16 strikeout game over 10 innings against Philadelphia on September 12, setting the single-game Ks record. Geggus led all pitchers in ERA (2.13), WAR (10.6), and strikeouts (311) despite the Pelicans being last in the NL West at 67-95. Observers wonder if the lack of team success and his 15-13 record may cost Geggus Pitcher of the Year despite his dominance. Most expect Cubs 1B Dave Orr to win NL MVP, as he led the majors in batting average (.389), hits (252), runs (134), doubles (61) and total bases (413).