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WHAT’S WITH ALL THE FUSS? PAPENFUSS!
TERIFICALLY NAMED SQUIRREL HILL INFIELD RECRUIT EXPECTED TO STAR FOR TEAM IN 1879

PITTSBURGH, PENN. (Nov. 1, 1878) - Squirrel Hill B.C. had a respectable debut season in the N.B.B.O. in 1878. They finished sixth out of eight in the Inland Championship, but more importantly won more than forty percent of their games by going 31-39 (-75 RD). The Pittsburgh outfit is looking to carry that positive momentum over into campaign two.

As is the norm for a new team, pretty much the entire Squirrel Hill roster was announced to be returning during October, the month most players typically decide what they’re going to do for next year if they’re not already signed to a multi-year contract. For Squirrel Hill, their two key returnees are their lone All-Star, 3B Jerald Kinney (.347, .793 OPS, 73 RBI, 2.0 WAR) and talented #1 George McCool (4.5*, 15-22, 3.37, 83 K, 5.1 WAR).

Even though all of the regulars for Squirrel Hill will be back next year, they’re still looking to improve the team over the winter. On October 2nd the team signed 22-year-old C George Kepley (2.5/3.0*) to challenge Edward Wilkerson for a place in the lineup, and on October 4th they signed 22-year-old Neal Fletcher (2.0/2.5*) to be their new CF. Those two moves should make the team a bit better on paper, but to begin the month of November the front office made a signing that should really improve the lineup in 1879.

On November 1st, Squirrel Hill was able to secure the services of one of the most sought after players from indy ball, Second Baseman Vincent Oscar “V.O.” Papenfuss (NOTE: I use an old-timey name set – can’t remember where I got it from – and sometimes it just gives you something beautiful like this). Papenfuss, a 26-year-old, is rated 4.0/4.0* and is noted for his all-around ability. He can hit for contact, find the gap, steal bases, and field the ball well at either Middle Infield position although 2B is his preferred place to play.

The Writers Pool believes that Papenfuss will immediately become one of the top five Second Basemen in the N.B.B.O. if the team resists the temptation to move him over to Shortstop, where he’s notably weaker. Papenfuss projects as a #3 batsman in the Squirrel Hill order, which would give Squirrel Hill a potentially dangerous mid-lineup trio consisting of Papenfuss, LF Jonathan Mills, & the All-Star Kinney.

Don’t expect Squirrel Hill to challenge Lancastra Britannia or Susquehanna B.C. at the top of the Inland standings quite yet, but for 1879 a .500 season and a spot in the top half of the standings isn’t out of the question, all thanks to their new star recruit: V.O. Papenfuss.