The Big Bang: A Larger Baseball Universe Starting From Nothing in 1857 - Page 18

tm1681 · 10-14-2024, 08:37 AM

SPENCER DRIVES IN 7 AGAINST NASSAU COUNTY
BEDFORD SS DOUBLES HIS 1868 RBI TOTAL IN WINNING EFFORT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON

BROOKLYN (May 22, 1868) – Bedford BC has started 1868 with a terrible run of results, going 2-10 over their first dozen games. However, they were able to set their poor play aside for a day in a fine home victory over Nassau County on Friday:

The bottom of the seventh inning made the difference at the Long Island Cricket Club. Nassau County had just scored a run to bring the score to 11-10 in favor of Bedford, and then the home team scored five runs to put the game out of reach. The key hit was a double by Tracy Spencer that plated two runs, which marked the end of an excellent afternoon for Bedford’s shortstop:

• B1: 2-run Double to RCF off A. Alanson (Run)
• B2: 1-run Single past 1B off A. Alanson (Run)
• B5: Leadoff Double to CF off L. Vogel
• B6: 2-run Single to LCF off L. Vogel
• B7: 2-run Single past 2B off C. Henry
• TOTAL: 5/5, 2 2B, 2 R, 7 RBI, 7 TB, 103 GMSC

Spencer entered this afternoon’s contest with a .333 average and eight RBI during the early part of the 1868 season, and he exited the game with a .400 average and fifteen RBI.

The result brought a small ray of sunshine to Bedford, whose record improved to 3-10. Meanwhile, Nassau County fell to 7-6.

tm1681 · 10-14-2024, 08:38 AM

ALEXANDER’S STREAK ENDS AT 42 GAMES
SUPERSTAR’S HITTING STREAK ESTABLISHES NEW NBBO RECORD

PHILADELPHIA (May 22, 1868) – Quaker State (7-6) had an easy afternoon in the Philadelphia Cricket Grounds, battering Port Jersey (3-10) by the score of 12-2, led by an eight-run bottom of the first that effectively ended the contest.

All eyes were on Quaker St. first baseman Cormack Alexander with the hope that he would continue his hitting streak. Given the outcome it would have been safe to assume Alexander did hit the ball successfully, but even though Alexander scored a run and reached twice via Base on Balls he went hitless, ending his record-setting streak at 42 games.

The new record Alexander set is one game better than William McQuaid’s 41-game streak that started during the 1862 season and ended on June 28th, 1863. Alexander’s streak started with Kings County’s 42nd game of 1868, an 11-10 win over Excelsior in which Alexander hit 3/5, and the final game of the streak was Quaker St.’s 2-1 win over Port Jersey on Thursday in which Alexander was 1/4 with a single in his final time to bat.

Aside from setting a new record, Alexander’s 42-game streak was the second 40-game Hitting Streak in NBBO history and the first to end at thirty or more games since William Johnson’s 32-game streak ended on July 14th of last year.

Cormack Alexander is batting .358 with an .848 OPS after thirteen games with his new team – not up to his career norms but Alexander is currently Quaker St.’s second-best hitter Gregersen Rohrmann.

tm1681 · 10-18-2024, 02:39 PM

EMPIRE’S HUNT GOES WILD AT NASSAU COUNTY
STAR 3B FINISHES WITH 6 HITS, 5 RUNS, & 6 RBI IN DOUBLE-DIGIT VICTORY

LONG ISLAND (May 28, 1868) – Empire BBC entered the second game of their series at Nassau County looking to follow up Wednesday’s 18-2 drubbing of their hosts with another win. Empire completed the task quite sufficiently:

Empire 2B William Strausbaugh collected four hits on the afternoon, and OF Nicholas Howard drove in three runs, but the man who provided the steam that ran the Empire engine was clearly 3x All-Star 3B Dennis Hunt.

Hunt’s afternoon at the Long Island Cricket Grounds:

• T1: Single b/w 1B & 2B off A. White (Run)
• T2: 1-run Single past 2B off A. White
• T5: SOLO HOME RUN (In the Park) to RCF off A. White
• T6: 2-run Triple to RCF off A. White (Run)
• T8: Single past 2B off C. Henry (Run)
• T9: 2-run Triple to LCF off C. Henry (Run)
• TOTAL: 5/6, 2 3B, HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, 13 TB, 130 GMSC

The performance marked the end of a spectacular two days for Hunt, who drove in five runs the day before in the series opener. That put Hunt at eleven RBI over two games, a new NBBO record.

On the season, Hunt is batting .390 with thirteen extra-base hits and 27 RBI through seventeen games. He has easily been Empire’s best player so far in 1868.

tm1681 · 10-18-2024, 02:40 PM

ROHRMANN CLUBS 5 HITS, HOMER IN WIN OVER M.B.
QUAKER ST. LEADOFF MAN LOGS TEN TOTAL BASES IN TEAM’S WALKOFF VICTORY

PHILADELPHIA (May 31, 1868) – Sunday’s game between Coastal leaders Massachusetts Bay and 4th-place Quaker State was a topsy-turvy one, with a handful of lead changes and a wild 9th inning that ended with Quaker St. walking off winners:

Quaker St. had an 11-8 lead entering the 9th inning, but Mass. Bay took the lead thanks to runs scored via single by Franklin Skaggs, sacrifice by Falco van der Vaart, single by Raymond Hoff, and error by Quaker St. OF Ned Morganti. Quaker St. came to bat in the bottom half of the inning and evened the score at 12-12 thanks to a single by Gregersen Rohrmann before a sacrifice fly by Cormack Alexander brought in Rohrmann for the winning run.

Rohrmann did much more than play the main role in the 9th inning comeback. He was easily the Player of the Game:

• B1: Leadoff Double past 3B off C. Carson
• B3: Reached via Error by 1B R. Hoff
• B5: Leadoff Single to LF off C. Carson (Run)
• B6: SOLO HOME RUN (In the Park) to RCF off C. Carson
• B7: 1-run Double to LF off D. Deshaies
• B9: 1-run Single past 2B off C. Bridges (Run)
• TOTAL: 5/6, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 10 TB, GW RUN

The commanding performance raised Rohrmann’s average to .392 at the end of May, with eleven extra-base hits, eleven RBI, and a 1.063 OPS. Quaker St. has struggled (9-11) with Cormack Alexander taking time to adjust to his new surroundings, but Rohrmann and fellow outfielder Ned Morganti have been outstanding over the first four weeks of play in 1868.

tm1681 · 10-18-2024, 02:41 PM

NATIONAL BASE BALL ORGANIZATION MAY RECAP

NORTHEAST U.S.A. (June 1, 1868) – The first month of play in the 1868 National Base Ball Organization is in the books, and here is the recap of the month of May:

REGIONAL LEADERS

• BROOKLYN: Continental & Kings County at 15-5
• NEW YORK CITY: Orange at 14-5 (1 rainout)
• UPSTATE NY: Niagara at 13-7
• COASTAL: Massachusetts Bay at 15-5
• INLAND: Susquehanna at 13-7
• NEW ENGLAND: St. John’s at 13-6 (1 rainout)

BATTERS OF THE MONTH

• NYL: Jerald Peterson (3B, KNI) – .422 AVG, .964 OPS, 28 R, 38 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 18 RBI, 5 BB, 6 SB, 0.8 WPA, 1.1 WAR
• NEL: William Busby (1B, AME) – .390 AVG, 1.122 OPS, 27 R, 30 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 12 BB, 1.2 WPA, 1.3 WAR

PITCHERS OF THE MONTH

• NYL: James Peters (K.C.) – 9-2, 1.42 ERA, 89.0 IP, 9 CG, 1 SHO, 11 BB, 9 K, 1.07 WHIP, 1.7 WAR, 3.2 rWAR
• NEL: Elmer Seabold (SUS) – 9-3, 2.87 ERA, 97.1 IP, 6 CG, 9 BB, 39 K, 3.6 K/9, 1.13 WHIP, 2.2 WAR, 2.0 rWAR

NEWCOMERS OF THE MONTH

• NYL: Will Johannessen (P, VIC) – 8-6, 3.18 ERA, 90.2 IP, 8 CG, 1 SHO, 4 BB, 9 K, 1.18 WHIP, 1.7 WAR, 2.5 rWAR
• NEL: Tom Hauser (P, AME) – 8-5, 3.46 ERA, 96.1 IP, 7 CG, 6 BB, 6 K, 1.31 WHIP, 1.6 WAR, 1.6 rWAR

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Average: .423 by Zorba Koustoubos (3B, NIA)
• OPS: 1.122 William Busby (1B, AME)
• Runs: 32 by William Gentilucci (OF, N.C.)
• Home Runs: 4 by William Busby (1B, AME)
• RBI: 33 by Tarmo Kuopio (1B, STJ) & Anthony Mascherino (SS, SHA)
• Batter WPA: 2.2 by Thomas Maloney (OF, M.B.)
• Batter WAR: 1.6 by Konrad Jensen (OF, STJ)
• ERA: 1.57 by Harold Foutch (PORT) over 74.1 IP
• Wins: 9 by three different pitchers
• Strikeouts: 56 by Jim Creighton (EXC)
• WHIP: 0.96 by Walter Schulman (PORT) over 88.1 IP
• Pitcher WAR: 3.3 by Jim Creighton (EXC)
• Pitcher rWAR: 4.4 by James Goodman (MIN)

tm1681 · 10-19-2024, 01:49 PM

COLON BATS 6/7 IN THRILLING WIN OVER ATLANTIC
ECKFORD OF BREAKS SEASON-LONG SLUMP; TEAMMATE RUMBAUGH SCORES FIVE TIMES

BROOKLYN (June 3, 1868) – Eckford of Greenpoint began their Week Five series at Atlantic with a miserable 7-13 record, but on Wednesday afternoon a massive 9th-inning rally sealed a much-needed victory at the Capitoline Grounds:

It was a close contest throughout, with Atlantic ahead 8-6 after the 2nd inning, Eckford ahead 10-9 after the 6th, and the visitors up 12-11 after the 8th before an eight-run outburst in the top of the 9th guaranteed the win for Eckford.

In victory Eckford’s batsmen had an excellent afternoon, totaling 25 hits with four players each collecting four of more. Of the four one stood out, and that batsman was leadoff man Auguste Colon:

• T1: Leadoff Single to RF off R. Newbold (SB, R)
• T2: Triple to CF off R. Newbold (R)
• T3: Fly Out to CF off R. Newbold
• T6: Single b/w 1B & 2B off R. Newbold (R)
• T7: Single past 1B off W. White (CS)
• T9: Double to RCF off B. Chastain (R)
• T9: 1-run Single past SS off O. Sorenson
• TOTAL: 6/7, 2B, 3B, 4 R, RBI, SB, 9 TB

It was a breakout game for Colon, who had a fine debut season in 1867 (.302, 32 RBI, 29 SB, 1.3 WAR) but entered Wednesday batting just .244 with a .525 OPS and two steals through nineteen games in 1868. Colon’s six-hit performance raised his average fifty points to .294 and his OPS 130 points to .656.

The man behind Colon in the Eckford batting order was 40-year-old veteran Charlie Rumbaugh, who hit 4/7 (all singles), stole four bases, and scored five runs to bring his dormant campaign (.218 AVG, .526 OPS, -0.3 WAR) to life.

Eckford remains in 7th place in the Brooklyn Championship, while the loss dropped Atlantic to a tie for 5th.

tm1681 · 10-19-2024, 01:50 PM

MORRISON ALLOWS ONE HIT IN OCEANIC SHUTOUT
STRUGGLING OCEANIC #2 COMES CLOSE TO HISTORY IN CAREER-BEST PERFORMANCE

HARTFORD, CONN. (June 6, 1868) – There was not much offense during the contest between Quinnipiac and Oceanic in Charter Oak Park on Saturday, but there was still plenty of tension as Oceanic P Frank Morrison nearly made history:

Morrison began Saturday as the subject of mighty struggles so far in 1868, entering the game with a 1-9 record and a 4.72 ERA. What Morrison proceeded to do against Quinnipiac was easily the best performance of his career.

The first four innings went by without a Quinnipiac base runner before 3B Luchino Tucci was hit by a Morrison pitch with one out in the top of the 5th. The game still scoreless, the crowd of 1,700 hoped that Morrison’s no-hit bid would progress knowing that it would only succeed if the home team scored runs of their own.

Quinnipiac entered the top of the 7th inning hitless, but with one out OF William Conley cast aside Morrison’s attempt at making history with a single to center field. The visitors would have one further baserunner during the game thanks to another hit batsman in the top of the eighth. The Oceanic defense was brilliant, going the full nine innings without making a single fielding error to let anyone on base.

The outcome was still in doubt in the bottom of the 8th. With two out Morrison hit a double, OF Walter Banks singled him in, Banks stole second base before he was singled in by 3B William Spangler, and Spangler stole second before he was singled in by OF John Gaynor. That made the score 3-0, and Morrison had an easy 9th to preserve the one-hitter and give Oceanic the victory.

tm1681 · 10-20-2024, 03:29 PM

THATCHER STARS AS ALLEGHANY ROLLS OVER READING
NEWCOMER CF PART OF TWO-DOZEN RUN ERUPTION IN PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH (June 11, 1868) – First-year Alleghany CF Joe Thatcher has had issues adjusting to organized baseball, batting .194 with a .566 OPS over his first five weeks in the NBBO. On Thursday, Anderson’s bat woke up in spectacular fashion as his Alleghany team smashed Reading Athletic to win their ninth consecutive game:

This looked like it might become a tight contest late after Reading scored five times in the top of the 7th inning to cut a 9-0 deficit to 9-5, but Alleghany came to bat in the bottom of the 7th and quickly extinguished any thought of a Reading comeback with a twelve-run rally that featured eleven hits, including three doubles and one triple.

It should come as no surprise that first-year Alleghany manager Burton Keith enjoyed a number of marquee performances from his squad, but it was Thatcher’s performance that earned him Player of the Game honors:

• B1: Single to CF off C. Hartmann (R)
• B2: 2-run Triple to RCF off C. Hartmann
• B4: Fly Out to SS off C. Perkins
• B7: Leadoff Double to LF off C. Perkins (R)
• B7: 1-run Double to CF off C. Perkins (R)
• B8: Single b/w SS & 3B off C. Zier (R)
• TOTAL: 5/6, 2 2B, 3B, 4 R, 3 RBI, 9 TB

The five-hit performance by Thatcher raised his average by 35 points, although it remains a rather low .229.

There were three other star performance by Alleghany on Thursday:

• Walter Anderson (1B): 4/6 (all 1B), 3 R, 4 RBI
• Arran Duffy (2B): 4/6, 2B, 3 R, 5 RBI
• Arthur Waltrip (OF): 3/6, 2B, 3B, 4 R, 2 RBI

Pitcher Jonathan Scott, whose one bad inning ruined what was otherwise a great pitching performance, made up for his poor 7th inning with a pair of hits and three runs.

The nine-game winning run has raised Alleghany’s record from 10-8 to 19-8, and they are now level with Susquehanna for the Inland Championship lead.

tm1681 · 10-20-2024, 03:30 PM

HENDERSON CLUBS 5 HITS, DRIVES IN 7 FOR GOTHAM
STAR FIRST BASEMAN KEY PLAYER AS GOTHAM HANGS 21 RUNS ON MUTUAL

NEW YORK CITY (June 17, 1868) – Due to the re-emergence of Orange it has not been quite the season Gotham BBC has hoped for so far, and from the looks of it they took out their frustrations on lowly Mutual at the Union Armory:

Gotham was in control from start to finish, scoring three runs in the top of the 1st inning, taking a 7-4 lead into the 7th, and then really pounding Mutual into mincemeat in the latter stages of the contest.

Gotham had a trio of players finish with 4+ hits Union Armory grounds: 1B Colin Henderson, CF Hiram Majors, and OF Clive Strachan. It was Henderson’s performance that earned him the Player of the Game honor:

• T1: 2-run Triple to RCF off A. Martz (R)
• T3: Fly Out to SS off A. Martz
• T4: Single b/w 1B & 2B off A. Martz (R)
• T6: Ground Out to 1B off G. van den Ham
• T7: 2-run Double to CF off G. van den Ham (R)
• T8: 1-run Single past SS off G. van den Ham
• T9: 2-run Single past 2B off B. Franklin
• TOTAL: 5/7, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 7 RBI, 8 TB, 102 GMSC

Henderson was having a fine afternoon through six innings, but his five RBI over the final three stanzas placed him among the best batting performances in the NBBO this year.

Although Henderson is not driving in runs at quite the rate he was with St. John’s – he is on a pace for 66 RBI this season – the five-hit outburst raised Henderson’s average to .389 with a .954 OPS, both of which would be career highs if they hold for the rest of 1868.

Gotham is currently 17-14, good for 3rd in the New York City Championship at six games behind leaders Knickerbocker. Mutual is 10-21 and already stuck in the mire of another lost season.

tm1681 · 10-20-2024, 03:31 PM

5 HITS & 5 RBI FOR KEEL IN SURPRISE W OVER SHAMROCK
NEWCOMER RAISES AVERAGE TO .359 AS LAST-PLACE TRENTON UTD. SHOCKS BOSTONIANS

TRENTON, N.J. (June 18, 1868) – Seven-time Coastal champions Shamrock BC were hit with a big surprise on Thursday afternoon, as they were dealt a loss by last-place Trenton United in which they displayed unusually poor pitching & defense:

Even though Shamrock took the defeat in Trenton Commons they had a 7-6 lead after scoring a run in the top of the 6th. In the bottom of the inning Trenton Utd. OF Ernest Keel found the gap with the game-winning hit, the capstone of his star performance:

• B1: 1-run Single to RCF off T. Smith (R)
• B3: Single past 1B off T. Smith
• B4: 2-run Single past SS off T. Smith
• B6: 2-run Triple to RCF off T. Smith
• B8: Leadoff Single past SS off B. Laudrup
• TOTAL: 5/5, 3B, R, 5 RBI, 7 TB

The Trenton Utd. newcomer’s average is .359 after 32 games with an OPS of .847, fourteen extra-base hits, and 29 RBI.

tm1681 · 10-20-2024, 04:24 PM

NATIONAL BASE BALL ORGANIZATION JUNE RECAP

NORTHEAST U.S.A. (July 1, 1868) – The end of June marks the unofficial two-thirds mark of the NBBO season. With eight of fourteen weeks of play completed, here is how matters stand across the competition:

REGIONAL LEADERS

• BROOKLYN: Kings County at 28-12 (Excelsior 2 GB)
• NEW YORK CITY: Orange at 28-12 (Knickerbocker 2 GB)
• UPSTATE NY: Binghamton at 25-15 (Niagara & Utica 2 GB)
• COASTAL: American & Shamrock at 27-13 (Mass. Bay 2 GB)
• INLAND: Alleghany at 29-11 (Susquehanna 1 GB)
• NEW ENGLAND: St. John’s at 25-15 (Sons of the Ocean 1 GB)

Never have all six regional championships been this close at the end of June. While some are more top-heavy than others – 3rd-place Pioneer is nine games behind Alleghany in Inland while the top seven teams in Upstate New York are just seven games apart – there has always been at least one region where a superior team has separated itself from the pack by the end of the first two months of the season.

BATTERS OF THE MONTH (June)

• NYL: Anderson MacGyver (2B, MUT) – .442 AVG, 1.055 OPS, 21 R, 38 H, 3 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 7 BB, 10 SB, 1.9 WPA, 0.9 WAR
• NEL: Arran Duffy (2B, ALL) – .460 AVG, 1.164 OPS, 32 R, 40 H, 14 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 4 BB, 4 SB, 1.5 WPA, 1.6 WAR

MacGyver (.385, 40 RBI, 19 SB, 1.7 WAR) wins BotM for the third time thanks to fantastic batsmanship for a lowly Mutual team (14-26) that has nobody other than him with an OPS over .800 for the season. Duffy (.358, 1 HR, 40 RBI, 1.6 WAR) wins BotM for the first time with one of the best months from a middle infielder in NBBO history – a stark turnaround from a May in which Duffy batted .236 with a .601 OPS.

PITCHERS OF THE MONTH (June)

• NYL: Raynard Cordell (ORA) – 10-3, 2.37 ERA, 106.1 IP, 10 CG, 0 SHO, 7 BB, 9 K, 1.06 WHIP, 1.7 WAR, 3.6 rWAR
• NEL: Elmer Seabold (SUS) – 10-2, 1.61 ERA, 100.1 IP, 9 CG, 13 BB, 45 K, 4.0 K/9, 1.15 WHIP, 2.8 WAR, 2.7 rWAR

Cordell (16-5, 2.50 ERA, 2.5 WAR) takes his first PotM honor thanks to a ten-win June for the New York City leaders in which he was an absolute Clydesdale of a pitcher. Seabold (19-5, 2.23 ERA, 84 K, 5.0 WAR) repeats as NEL PotM with an even better month than he had in May, and that surely will see him penciled in at the pitcher spot in the NEL Team of the Year unless he suffers a July collapse.

NEWCOMERS OF THE MONTH (June)

• NYL: Will Johannessen (P, VIC) – 8-4, 2.19 ERA, 102.2 IP, 9 CG, 1 SHO, 7 BB, 9 K, 1.01 WHIP, 2.2 WAR, 4.1 rWAR
• NEL: Tom Hauser (P, AME) – 9-3, 2.60 ERA, 97.0 IP, 9 CG, 1 SHO, 12 BB, 4 K, 1.21 WHIP, 1.3 WAR, 2.6 rWAR

Johannessen & Hauser repeat as NotM, with both pitchers performing better in June than they did in May. Hauser (17-8, 3.03 ERA, 2.9 WAR) is almost certain to be named NEL Newcomer of the Year, while the repeat award for Johannessen (16-10, 2.65 ERA, 3.9 WAR) will give him a slight edge over Gotham OF Clive Strachan (.391, 22 RBI, 25 SB, 2.0 WAR) for NYL Newcomer of the Year.

STATISTICAL LEADERS (1868 Season)

• Average: .413 by Mario Fusilli (1B, SYR)
• OPS: 1.036 William Busby (1B, AME)
• Runs: 63 by Nelson Townsen (OF, STJ)
• Home Runs: 7 by William Busby (1B, AME)
• RBI: 53 by Franklin Petty (CF, L.E.)
• Stolen Bases: 41 by Taliesin Buckley (CF, NIA)
• Batter WPA: 4.2 by Royal Altman (OF, ALL)
• Batter WAR: 2.9 by Franklin Petty (CF, L.E.)
• ERA: 2.05 by Jonathan Scott (ALL) over 131.2 IP
• Wins: 19 by Elmer Seabold (SUS)
• Complete Games: 19 by Jim Creighton (EXC)
• Strikeouts: 120 by Jim Creighton (EXC)
• WHIP: 1.09 by William Johannessen (VIC) over 193.1 IP
• Pitcher WAR: 6.7 by Jim Creighton (EXC)
• Pitcher rWAR: 6.6 by William Johannessen (VIC)

tm1681 · 10-25-2024, 03:00 PM

ALLEGHANY DESTROYS SUSQUEHANNA IN 1V2 MATCHUP
7x COASTAL CHAMPS TOTAL MORE THAN TWO DOZEN RUNS & TWO DOZEN HITS IN MASSIVE WIN

PITTSBURGH (July 2, 1868) – Alleghany (30-11) & Susquehanna (27-14) entered Thursday with the two best records in the Northeastern League. The opening game of their Week 11 series was an even affair until Alleghany took control late, and all indications were that Thursday afternoon’s tilt in Recreation Park would be another close one. Alleghany had other plans:

Susquehanna had a 2-1 lead at the end of the 1st inning thanks to singles by Logan Hickey & Sullivan Jackson. Then, everything fell apart. Starting pitcher Ira Stiles allowed eleven runs (5 ER) over four innings, two relief men allowed eight runs each – John Rubin over 2.2 IP and Frank Nicholas over just 0.2 – the Susquehanna fielders committed twelve errors, and they watched their hosts score 26 of the last 27 runs of the game.

It almost goes without saying but it was a banner day for the Alleghany boys, as batsmen #3-7 in the lineup all had three or more hits:

• #3 Royal Altman (OF) – 4/7, 2 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, SB, 6 TB
• #4 Samuel Kessler (3B) – 4/7, 3 2B, R, 6 RBI, 7 TB
• #5 Edgar Drury (1B) – 3/7 (all Singles), 2 R
• #6 Joe Thatcher (CF) – 3/5, 2B, 4 R, RBI, 2 BB, 4 TB
• #7 Ed Brown (SS) – 3/6 (all Singles), 2 R, 2 RBI
• TOTAL: 17/32, 6 2B, 13 R, 12 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB, 23 TB

Pitcher Jonathan Scott also joined in on the fun. Scott pitched the full game, allowing eight hits and three runs (2 ER) while striking out two Susquehanna batsmen, and with the bat he was 2/5 while scoring three runs and driving in two more.

This was easily the best performance of the season for Alleghany, a team that is now 19-3 since the beginning of June.

tm1681 · 10-25-2024, 03:01 PM

SHAMROCK BESTS AMERICAN IN PHILLY THRILLER
COASTAL’S TWO BEST TEAMS TRADE RUNS IN NEARLY EVERY INNING AT GLENWOOD FIELD

PHILADELPHIA (July 8, 1868) – A crowd of nearly three thousand people could hardly wait for the opening pitch of the first game of the year between two of the four best teams in the Northeastern League – Shamrock & American – on Wednesday afternoon in Glenwood Field. The two teams absolutely did not disappoint in what was a thrilling encounter:

Shamrock raced out to a big early advantage thanks to five runs over the first three innings, but after that American roared back and the game as all action for the next five frames.

American brought the score to 5-3 in the bottom of the 4th with a single by OF Frazer Daly and a sacrifice by P Tom Hauer. After two Shamrock runs in the top of the 5th, American tied the game 7-7 in the bottom half of the inning thanks to singles by Daly, 1B William Busby, OF E.J. Bakke, and a Shamrock error. Shamrock went up 9-7 in the top of the 6th on a sacrifice and an error, but American took the lead back (10-9) in B6 on a two-run Werner Verstegen triple and a passed ball.

Shamrock came to bat in the top of the 7th and took the lead for good. First, they evened the score 10-10 on a single by OF Luther Tatum. Next, they took am 11-10 lead on another single by 3B Ralph Weber. They then added another run via passed ball. After an American run in B7 made the score 12-11, Shamrock scored twice in the top of the 8th via pair of American mistakes – passed ball & wild pitch – and the win was theirs.

Player of the Game honors went to Shamrock OF James Burke, who hit 3/6 with three runs, one RBI, and four stolen bases. Burke is now batting .393 for the season (.973 OPS) with 51 RBI and 40 stolen bases. Meanwhile, American’s best player was 8x All-Star CF Willie Davis, who was 3/5 with a triple, two runs, and two RBI.

The victory moved Shamrock one game ahead of American at the top of the Coastal Championship standings, with Shamrock sitting at 33-13 and American at 32-14.

tm1681 · 10-25-2024, 03:01 PM

CREIGHTON GOES THE EXTRA MILE IN EXCELSIOR WIN
NBBO’S MARQUEE PLAYER PITCHES 13 INNINGS & REACHES BASE FOUR TIMES VS CONTINENTAL

BROOKLYN (July 12, 1868) – Continental BBC looked like the better side for much of their contest in Carroll Park on Sunday afternoon, but Jim Creighton put the Excelsior team on his back and carried them to victory in extra innings:

Visiting Continental did not have a great day at the plate, but they were able to poke holes in the pitching of Jim Creighton over the early innings. Thanks to runs taken off Creighton in the 3rd, 4th, & 5th innings Continental had a 4-1 lead, and All-Star P Earl Quinn appeared to be in control.

Continental scored in the bottom of the 6th to make the score 4-2, but with the score the same after seven innings Quinn and Continental still appeared in control of the contest in spite of some fielding mistakes. However, with two runners on and one out in the bottom of the 8th Jim Creighton hit a two-run double to even the score. He then pitched a flawless 9th and extra innings were needed.

Crieghton was nearly flawless in the four extra frames, allowing one hit with the two other baserunners reaching via error. In the bottom of the 13th Creighton reached via base on balls after leadoff man Upton James reached via errors, and John Beebe singled in James to win the game for Excelsior.
Creighton’s stat line on the afternoon:

• 2/4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SB – CG (13.0 IP), 7 HA, 4 RA (2 ER), 3 BB, 5 K

The victory moved Excelsior three games clear ahead of Continental for 2nd place in the Brooklyn Championship, where they are three games behind leaders Kings County (36-14).

tm1681 · 10-25-2024, 03:02 PM

BADNER HAS BIG DAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
GREEN MTN. 2B HAS 5 HITS, 5 RUNS, & 4 RBI IN DOUBLE-DIGIT VICTORY

MANCHESTER, N.H. (July 17, 1868) – Green Mountain BC, along with the rest of New England, is in the midst of another year of looking up at St. John’s in the standings, but they were able to climb above the .500 mark today with a fifteen-run victory in New Hampshire over main regional rivals Granite BC:

In the crushing victory, the top two men in the Green Mountain batting order were outstanding:

• #1 Alberik Tillstrom (CF) – 4/7, 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI, 5 TB
• #2 James Badner (2B) – 5/7, 2B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB, 6 TB
• TOTAL: 9/14, 2 2B, 7 R, 9 RBI, 2 SB, 11 TB

Badner was the star of the afternoon, his performance the best by a Green Mountain batsman since Anthony Mascherino was still wearing their shirt in 1865. Badner’s afternoon with the bat:

• T1: Single past 2B off P. Rhodes (SB, R)
• T2: 1-run Single past 1B off P. Rhodes (R)
• T4: Single to RF off P. Rhodes (SB, R)
• T5: 2-run Double past 1B off I. Baird (R)
• T6: 1-run Ground Out to 3B off I. Baird
• T8: Single to LF off I. Baird (R)
• T9: Fly Out to RF off C. McEwan

Badner’s big batting day raised his average to .324 (.782 OPS) for the 1868 season, with 21 extra-base hits, 1 home run, 36 RBI, ten stolen bases, and 1.7 WAR. He has a fair chance to make the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

Green Mountain is currently part of a three-way tie for 3rd in New England with Sons of the Ocean & Portland, while Granite is alone in 5th place.

tm1681 · 10-25-2024, 03:03 PM

1868’S STAR PLAYERS NAMED
TENTH ASG TO BE PLAYED IN PITTSBURGH; RECORD 9 NEWCOMERS NOMINATED

NEW YORK CITY (July 20, 1868) - Telegrams and punch cards have been sent, the votes have been counted, and the rosters have been finalized for the tenth edition of the NBBO All-Star Game, which will take place on August 3rd. Roster rules remain the same as they have been in recent years:

Rosters for the upcoming All-Star Game will be thirty men per side again this season:

• Places 1-6 in each team’s roster will go to the best pitchers in each league.
• The remaining 24 roster sports will consist of three players for every other position.

The ASG goes back to the Northeastern League this year. The two previous NEL cities to host were Boston & Providence, and this year the NBBO Executive Committee has decided to add to that list. Alleghany BC, 3x defending Inland champs and now owners of the largest venue in base ball, have received the honor of hosting this year’s game, making Pittsburgh the third NEL city to host the Midsummer Classic.

The 1868 All-Star Game will feature a record-setting nine newcomers – five from the New York League and four from the Northeastern League. One will start. ASG debutantes have increased slightly this year, from 22 to 25, with the NYL having the larger contingent of first-timers at fourteen. Of the first-time All-Stars, the one who will be receiving the most attention is Binghamton OF Curtis Bowman, who is making his ASG debut in his twelfth NBBO season.

Once again, St. John’s takes the bragging rights for having the most All-Star selections with five. Defending champions Knickerbocker have two, while no less than five different teams have tied for the lead in a very evenly distributed New York League roster with three players each. Setting aside St. John’s, the teams with the next-most nominees in the Northeastern League are Alleghany & American with four each.

Rosters for the 1868 All-Star Game, with starters highlighted in red, are as follows:

NEW YORK LEAGUE ROSTERS

P: Raynard Cordell (ORA/1st) – 20-8, 2.46 ERA, 26 K, 1.08 WHIP, 3.9 WAR
P: Jim Creighton (EXC/7th) – 22-9, 2.80 ERA, 158 K, 1.13 WHIP, 9.1 WAR
P: Peadar Daly (KNI/4th) – 20-11, 2.68 ERA, 29 K, 1.15 WHIP, 5.0 WAR
P: Will Johannessen (VIC/NC) – 19-13, 2.77 ERA, 26 K, 1.17 WHIP, 5.1 WAR
P: James Peters (K.C./1st) – 22-8, 2.59 ERA, 26 K, 1.15 WHIP, 3.1 WAR
P: Earl Quinn (CON/2nd) – 17-9, 2.35 ERA, 28 K, 1.09 WHIP, 3.9 WAR

C: Charles Luther (EXC/1st) – .306, 13 XBH, 35 RBI, 0.7 WAR
C: Wilbert Schrader (NIA/4th) – .342, 9 XBH, 47 RBI, 1.3 WAR
C: Everett Schreiber (ORA/1st) – .281, 19 XBH, 31 RBI, 1.1 WAR

1B: Mario Fusilli (SYR/3rd) – .406, 20 XBH, 44 RBI, 4.8 WPA, 2.3 WAR
1B: Collin Henderson (GOT/3rd) – .354, 17 XBH, 42 RBI, 1.5 WAR
1B: Garfield Koonce (K.C./NC) – .371, 24 XBH, 42 RBI, 2.1 WAR
2B: Leslie Arnett (GOT/7th) – .382, 22 XBH, 64 RBI, 2.5 WAR
2B: Albert Gore (MET/5th) – .333, 17 XBH, 26 RBI, 20 SB, 2.1 WAR
2B: Anderson MacGyver (MUT/6th) – .379, 17 XBH, 49 RBI, 34 SB, 2.4 WAR
3B: Galimberto Cappelletti (EXC/1st) – .383, 41 XBH, 58 RBI, 2.5 WAR
3B: Will Chaffin (ORA/1st) – .324, 24 XBH, 47 RBI, 1.6 WAR
3B: Weldon Pike (VIC/1st) – .313, 23 XBH, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 1.6 WAR
SS: Edward Huntley (KNI/10th) – .345, 32 XBH, 38 RBI, 35 SB, +12.9 ZR, 3.8 WAR
SS: Henry Nabors (VIC/3rd) – .382, 28 XBH, 43 RBI, 3.1 WAR
SS: Harold Price (F.C./2nd) – .294, 16 XBH, 25 RBI, +15.4 ZR, 2.2 WAR

OF: Curtis Bowman (BING/1st) – .356, 27 XBH, 37 RBI, 2.0 WAR
OF: Bryn Rasmussen (CON/2nd) – .363, 16 XBH, 47 RBI, 1.7 WAR
OF: Frank Riley (MIN/NC) – .340, 33 XBH, 37 RBI, 1.7 WAR
CF: Taliesin Buckley (NIA/5th) – .343, 22 XBH, 62 RBI, 57 SB, 2.6 WAR
CF: Will Buschmann (UTI/1st) – .347, 23 XBH, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 2.3 WAR
CF: Obelix Tsiaris (F.C./3rd) – .345, 16 XBH, 51 RBI, 20 SB, 2.4 WAR
OF: James Hoyt (K.C./4th) – .328, 28 XBH, 28 RBI, 1.9 WAR
OF: Reginald Roper (F.C./NC) – .325, 27 XBH, 53 RBI, 1.3 WAR
OF: Clive Strachan (GOT/NC) – .359, 30 XBH, 30 RBI, 33 SB, 1.9 WAR

NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE ROSTERS

P: Tom Hauser (AME/NC) – 22-9, 3.21 ERA, 16 K, 1.32 WHIP, 4.2 WAR
P: L.B. Myhre (STJ/1st) – 16-5, 3.15 ERA, 20 K, 1.23 WHIP, 2.8 WAR
P: Tom Paddock (PIO/1st) – 17-13, 3.30 ERA, 24 K, 1.21 WHIP, 3.4 WAR
P: Tom Ricks (SHA/2nd) – 21-8, 3.20 ERA, 42 K, 1.17 WHIP, 4.7 WAR
P: Jonathan Scott (ALL/1st) – 18-3, 2.23 ERA, 39 K, 1.14 WHIP, 3.6 WAR
P: Elmer Seabold (SUS/2nd) – 23-8, 2.42 ERA, 108 K, 1.24 WHIP, 6.4 WAR

C: Harold Constance (SUS/1st) – .318, 14 XBH, 46 RBI, 1.1 WAR
C: Joe Feuerstein (PORT/8th) – .286, 20 XBH, 41 RBI, 1.0 WAR
C: Falco v.d. Vaart (M.B./NC) – .300, 22 XBH, 46 RBI, 0.8 WAR

1B: William Busby (AME/2nd) – .385, 24 XBH, 8 HR, 57 RBI, 2.9 WAR
1B: Wilbur Graff (L.E./2nd) – .354, 24 XBH, 55 RBI, 2.0 WAR
1B: Tarmo Kuopio (STJ/NC) – .384, 23 XBH, 70 RBI, 2.1 WAR
2B: James Badner (G.M./1st) – .319, 21 XBH, 36 RBI, 1.7 WAR
2B: Peter Boyce (AME/3rd) – .327, 20 XBH, 37 RBI, 1.9 WAR
2B: Arran Duffy (ALL/2nd) – .344, 29 XBH, 55 RBI, 1.9 WAR
3B: Hugh Harris (M.B./3rd) – .311, 29 XBH, 38 RBI, 36 SB, 1.7 WAR
3B: Samuel Kessler (ALL/10th) – .312, 25 XBH, 53 RBI, 1.5 WAR
3B: Werner Verstegen (AME/2nd) – .394, 32 XBH, 39 RBI, 21 SB, 2.8 WAR
SS: Albert Brock (S.o.t.O./3rd) – .337, 22 XBH, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 2.5 WAR
SS: Anthony Mascherino (SHA/10th) – .340, 25 XBH, 61 RBI, 21 SB, +12.1 ZR, 3.2 WAR
SS: Roy Vreeken (QUI/1st) – .352, 24 XBH, 44 RBI, +10.4 ZR, 2.4 WAR

OF: Royal Altman (ALL/3rd) – .367, 35 XBH, 61 RBI, 5.1 WPA, 3.0 WAR
OF: James Burke (SHA/2nd) – .394, 29 XBH, 58 RBI, 45 SB, 3.0 WAR
OF: Thomas Maloney (M.B./8th) – .366, 33 XBH, 58 RBI, 20 SB, 2.5 WAR
CF: William Johnson (STJ/4th) – .388, 24 XBH, 33 RBI, 38 SB, 3.3 WAR
CF: Ned Morganti (Q.S./1st) – .343, 27 XBH, 44 RBI, 23 SB, 2.5 WAR
CF: Franklin Petty (L.E./3rd) – .394, 38 XBH, 63 RBI, 24 SB, 4.3 WAR
OF: Konrad Jensen (STJ/8th) – .390, 31 XBH, 64 RBI, 53 SB, 4.9 WPA, 4.0 WAR
OF: Alfred Suber (L.E./NC) – .345, 22 XBH, 71 RBI, 25 SB, 1.9 WAR
OF: Nelson Townsend (STJ/6th) – .356, 37 XBH, 53 RBI, 43 SB, 2.9 WAR

St. John’s, who currently has the best record in the NBBO by one game at 39-16 and is on pace to lead the NEL in scoring for the seventh time in eight years, leads the All-Star Game with five players nominated:

• P: Lars-Bjorn Myhre
• 1B: Tarmo Kuopio
• LF: Konrad Jensen
• CF: William Johnson
• RF: Nelson Townsend

Alleghany & American, also in the Northeastern League, have four All-Stars each, meaning that 13/30 NEL All-Star roster spots have gone to just three teams.

In the Northeastern League roster, five teams – Excelsior, Flour City, Gotham, Kings County, & Orange – are even for the lead with three All-Stars each, while defending NBBO champions Knickerbocker have two.

The following players will be making their first All-Star Game appearances:

NEW YORK LEAGUE ALL-STAR DEBUTS

• P: Cordell, Johannessen, & Peters
• C: Luther & Schreiber
• IF: Cappelletti, Chaffin, Koonce, & Pike
• OF: Bowman, Buschmann, Riley, Roper, & Strachan
• TOTAL: 14 All-Star Debuts

NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR DEBUTS

• P: Hauser, Myhre, Paddock, & Scott
• C: Constance & van der Vaart
• IF: Badner, Kuopio, & Vreeken
• OF: Morganti & Suber
• TOTAL: 11 All-Star Debuts

There are a record nine newcomers in this year’s All-Star Game:

• NYL: Johannessen, Koonce, Riley, Roper, & Strachan
• NEL: Hauser, Kuopio, Suber, & van der Vaart

Of the nine nominees, the only starter is Gotham outfielder Clive Strachan.

Three players have been named to play in all ten All-Star Games

• Edward Huntley (SS, Knickerbocker)
• Samuel Kessler (3B, Alleghany)
• Anthony Mascherino (SS, Shamrock)

The All-Star Game that will take place in Pittsburgh in three weeks’ time should see a record-breaking crowd of more than 17,000 enjoy the festivities. It will be another fantastic night for the sport.

tm1681 · 10-28-2024, 11:37 AM

BUSBY BECOMES FIRST TO 10 HR IN A SEASON
AMERICAN 1B BREAKS “IMPOSSIBLE” BARRIER; MAKES OTHER HISTORY AT NEWARK

NEWARK, N.J. (July 23, 1868) – Throughout the twelve-year history of the NBBO, the bar for power hitting excellence has been set at five home runs in a season. On average, two or three players per year have reached the mark, with a record five getting there in 1863 and none making it in 1859, ’60, or ’65.

Thanks to American 1B William Busby’s performance in a crazy 18-16 win at Newark on Thursday, the bar has been raised.

Busby was the key man in a ten-run American rally in the 6th inning that gave them a 13-7 lead and just enough of a cushion to fend off a mighty Newark comeback. It was part of a history-making afternoon for the All-Star first baseman:

• T1: 1-run Ground Out to 1B off A. Norman
• T3: Fly Out to SS off A. Norman
• T6: LEADOFF HOME RUN to RF off A. Norman (R)
• T6: 2-RUN HOME RUN to RF off F. Mitchell (R)
• T7: 1-run Double to CF off F. Mitchell
• T8: 1-run Single past 2B off L. Ewing
• TOTAL: 4/6, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, 11 TB

Busby made history in three ways at Newark:

• New record for Home Runs in a season (previous: 8 by Doc Matheson in 1863)
• 1st player in NBBO history to hit two Home Runs in a single inning
• 1st player in NBBO history to hit 10+ Home Runs in a single season

Busby, who led the NBBO in Home Runs last season with six, is leading an American team that has pulled in front of 2x NBBO champions Shamrock in the Coastal Championship and appears to be peaking at the perfect time. If American finishes atop the Coastal it will be their first pennant, and history maker Busby will be one of the main men to thank.

tm1681 · 10-28-2024, 11:38 AM

BANCROFT PASSES McGOWAN IN WIN COLUMN
4x ALL-STAR BECOMES SPORT’S WINNINGEST PITCHER AFTER VICTORY AT KNICKERBOCKER

MANHATTAN (July 24, 1868) – History was made during Friday afternoon’s meeting of base ball’s two oldest clubs – Gotham BBC & Knickerbocker BBC – at the Elysian Fields.

Going into the contest, Gotham pitcher Carl Bancroft was even with the legendary John McGowan for the NBBO career lead in Wins with 216. For much of the game, it looked like Bancroft would take his second loss of the week as the hosts were ahead 4-2 going into the 9th inning, but a six-run Gotham rally that occurred thanks to a combination of run-scoring Gotham singles and Knickerbocker fielding errors put the visitors in front 8-4, and the lead stood in their 8-5 victory.

That gave Bancroft win #216 for his career, moving him past McGowan for the career lead. His record in full:

Bancroft has never been an absolutely dominant pitcher, but he has been a very good pitcher for a very long time. He is a 6x 20-game winner who is almost certain to make it to twenty wins again this season, while his career marks for WAR & rWAR are both better than any pitcher not named Jim Creighton.

Bancroft is a 4x All-Star, but he was a surprise omission from the 1867 All-Star Game amid a bumper crop of New York League pitching stars. He had the wins for an All-Star spot this year, but many felt his Earned Run Average was too high to warrant selection. He also missed out on the 1861 All-Star Game in spite of a 20-11 record & 2.54 ERA because, at that time, only four pitchers were nominated for the ASG by each league.

Of course, Bancroft has had longevity on his side since his 216 wins have come over nearly a dozen full seasons as a #1 pitcher. John McGowan, the most dominant pitcher in NBBO history, earned 207 of his 215 career wins in just nine years as a full-time pitcher after winning eight games in the inaugural season as St. Johns’ alternate. He averaged 23 Wins per season as the #1 pitcher for St. John’s (1858-63) & Knickerbocker (1864-66), won 20+ games eight times, led the NEL in wins five years in a row (1859-63), and had a career postseason record of 27-6 to go with a regular season record of 215-88.

Still, Carl Bancroft has earned the title of base ball’s winningest pitcher, and as liked & respected as Bancroft is there will no doubt be many caps tipped in his direction this evening.

tm1681 · 10-28-2024, 11:38 AM

JENSEN & KUOPIO STAR IN PORTLAND ROUT
ALL-STAR DUO COMBINES FOR 9 HITS & 11 RBI; KUOPIO ON RECORD-SETTING RBI PACE

PROVIDECE, R.I. (July 25, 1868) – St. John’s continued their ravishing run over the rest of New England on Saturday afternoon, scoring early and often as they beat visiting Portland by a Baker’s Dozen:

Six of St. Johns’ nine starters had multiple hits and seven scored at least one run, but there were two standout performers against Portland: OF Konrad Jensen and 1B Tarmo Kuopio, who were deadly against inept Portland pitching.

JENSEN

• B1: Ground Out to SS off H. Foutch
• B2: 2-run Double to LF off H. Foutch (R)
• B4: Reached via Base on Balls by H. Foutch (R)
• B5: Single past 3B off F. Trowsdale (R)
• B6: 1-run Single to LCF off F. Trowsdale (R)
• B8: SOLO HOME RUN to RF off O. Erickson (R)
• TOTAL: 4/5, 2B, HR, 5 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 8 TB, 101 GMSC

KUOPIO

• B1: 1-run Single past 2B off H. Foutch
• B2: 1-run Triple to RF off H. Foutch (R)
• B4: 1-run Single to RF off H. Foutch
• B5: 2-run Single past 2B off F. Trowsdale (R)
• B6: 2-run Single b/w 1B & 2B off O. Erickson
• B8: Ground Out to 3B off O. Erickson
• TOTAL: 5/6, 3B, 2 R, 7 RBI, 7 TB, 100 GMSC

JENSEN & KUOPIO

• TOTAL: 9/11, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 R, 12 RBI, 1 BB, 15 TB, 201 GMSC

This was not just the first time in NBBO history that two batsmen achieved a Game Score of 100 or better in the same game, but it was done by two men from the same team. Of course, it was St. John’s making that kind of history.

Jensen’s performance moved his average over .400 to .409 with an OPS of 1.080, which would both be career highs if they hold over the remaining weeks of the 1868 season. He also has 71 RBI, putting him on pace for a career high of 83.

Kuopio’s day with the bat raised the newcomer’s average to .386 with a .909 OPS, and his NBBO-leading 79 RBI have him on a pace for a total of 94, which would break Syracuse CF Carson Law’s record of 90 set in 1862.

St. John’s has the New England pennant all but wrapped up. At 42-17 they have a nine-game lead over second-place Sons of the Ocean (32-27) with a eleven left to play.

tm1681 · 10-28-2024, 11:39 AM

PIKE SLAMS 5 HITS, DRIVES IN 5 AT EAGLE
FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR CONTINUES HIS EXCELLENT SEASON FOR VICTORY BBC

ELMIRA, N.Y. (July 25, 1868) – Victory BBC is visiting the NBBO’s worst team, Eagle, this week. After losing on Wednesday they took care of business on Thursday & Friday with wins of 16-3 & 10-2, and Saturday saw more of the same:

The visitors received quality performances from OF Claude Jordan (3/6, 2B, R, 2 RBI) and star SS Henry Nabors (3/6, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI), but it was first-time All-Star 3B Weldon Pike who stole the show:

• T1: Reached via Error by 3B L. O’Reilly
• T3: 1-run Single to LF off C. Lee
• T5: Single to CF off C. Lee
• T6: 3-run Double to CF off C. Lee (R)
• T8: Infield Single to 2B off A. Ratcliffe (R)
• T9: 1-run Double to RCF off A. Ratcliffe
• TOTAL: 5/6, 2 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI, 7 TB

Pike is batting .316 with an NYL-leading five home runs and 49 RBI in 1868, all three marks major improvements over his debut 1867 season (.291, 0 HR, 44 RBI). Also, his OPS of .812 represents a roughly 170-point improvement over last year.

Pike has arguably been the most improved player in the New York League this year, and his Victory team (31-28) still has a faint chance at the pennant as they trail leaders Niagara (36-23) by five games with eleven left to play.