Hartford edges Cincinnatiâ 5 â 4â thanks to a grounder that goes through the legs of 2B Jimmy Hallinanâ allowing 3 runs to score.
On May 17, 1877, Al Spaldingâs baseball was officially adopted for Major League use because it was âmore livelyâ than the early âlemon peel ballâ still being used.
The Chicago White Stockingsâ the defending NL Champsâ edge Hartford 6-5 in their home opener. Cap Anson and John Glenn each have 3 hitsâ while batting champ Ross Barnes adds 2 hitsâ despite the new foul rule that makes a ball that goes foul before reaching 1B or 3B a foul ball. The old ruleâ under which any ball that bounced in fair territory first was fairâ enabled Barnes to hit many a safe âfair-foulâ past the third baseman.
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