Major League Baseball Recap 1871

Boston Red Stockings, the league’s charter franchise is born

Boston Red Stockings, the league’s charter franchise is born

The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players is founded

The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players is founded

Joseph Jerome (Joe) McGinnity is born in Cornwall Township, Henry County, Illinois

Joseph Jerome (Joe) McGinnity is born in Cornwall Township, Henry County, Illinois

steamer General Barnes

The Mutual club of New York leaves on the steamer General Barnes for Savannah‚ Georgia where they will start their southern tour with a game on April 10th.

The Athletics of Philadelphia play their first practice game against a strong‚ picked nine. This is the first game at the new grounds at 25th and Jefferson‚ where professional baseball will be played for 21 years.

The new ball grounds in Chicago‚ located at Randolph and Michigan on the lakefront‚ are opened as the White Stockings and a picked 9 play before 1‚500 people. The New York Clipper says: “They will have accommodations on their grounds to seat 6‚500 people. With the single exception of being somewhat narrow‚ they will have one of the finest ballparks in the country.”

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A National Association contest between the Cleveland Forest Citys and Fort Wayne Kekiongas is officially the first Major League game ever played. Fort Wayne is the winner, 2 – 0, behind a four-hit shutout by pitcher Bobby Mathews. Al Pratt is the losing pitcher. Cleveland’s catcher, Deacon White, is 3 for 4, including the first hit (a double) and also is the first to hit into a double play. Bill Lennon becomes the first catcher to throw a runner out trying to steal second base. In the 127 games during the 1871 season, there are a total of four shutouts.

May 6 – Future Hall of Famer Cap Anson makes his professional debut with the Rockford Forest Citys.

The visiting Boston Reds demolish the Brooklyn Atlantics 25-0 in the worst defeat in the history of the Brooklyn club.

In Chicago‚ Ezra Sutton hits the National Association’s first homer‚ off Chicago’s George Zettlein‚ connecting in the 4th inning with a blast over the center fielder’s head. In the 7th‚ Sutton‚ playing for Cleveland Forest Citys‚ connects again‚ but Chicago wins‚ 14-12.

The first Hispanic player in major league baseball is Esteban Enrique Bellan. The 21-year old Cuban infielder plays for the Troy Haymakers of the National Association.

The first professional game ever played in Boston is played between the Red Stockings and the visiting Haymakers before 5‚000. Boston has Harry Wright playing SS in place of his injured brother George. George will miss half the games played by the Reds‚ severely hampering their pennant chances. Troy wins 29-14‚ making 24 hits to Boston’s 13. None are for four bases. The Boston Evening Journal notes the pivotal 7th inning: “The Haymakers now went to the bat‚ and by some heavy hitting‚ assisted materially by the fielding errors of the Bostons‚ scored eleven runs‚ but two or three being earned.”

In Boston, Mort Rogers introduces a scorecard with a picture of Harry Wright on the front. Each Red Stockings home game would feature a different player so that spectators could collect them and have a full set of Boston’s players by season’s end. This marketing strategy would be used throughout the 19th century and would ultimately evolve into Tobacco cards and, eventually, Baseball cards.

The heavily favored Mutuals are soundly defeated by the Haymakers of Troy‚ in Brooklyn‚ 25-10. Lipman Pike‚ the Troy 2B‚ collects 6 hits.

June 1 – Opening their National Association season, The Mutuals beat the Forest City club of Rockford, Illinois 7-3 before 2,000 at Union Grounds in Brooklyn.

The eagerly awaited series opens between the White Stockings and the Mutuals before 10‚000 at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn. Five of the old Eckfords play for Chicago while 5 of last year’s Atlantics play for the Mutuals. Fielding decides the game‚ as Chicago makes 19 errors to 7 for the Mutuals. New York wins 8-5.

Former Civil War General Abner Doubleday purchases baseball implements for the amusement of the men and a Magic Lantern

Former Civil War General Abner Doubleday purchases baseball implements for the amusement of the men and a Magic Lantern

After 6 innings of play at Troy‚ NY‚ the ball becomes ripped. The umpire decides that it is unfit and calls for another. The Kekiongas‚ winning at the time 6-3‚ refuse to allow another ball to be used and refuse to continue to the game because of the reputation of the Haymakers using illegal balls in the past. The umpire (Isaac Leroy or Ed Tighe depending on the source), after five full minutes of ordering Fort Wayne back on the field, calls the game a 9–0 forfeit in favor of the Haymakers.

The Kekiongas visit Boston and are shut out by Al Spalding and the Reds 23-0. Ft. Wayne makes only one hit.

Forest City of Cleveland travels to Philadelphia‚ and while playing an exhibition game against the Experts of Philadelphia‚ their substitute C Elmer White‚ chasing a poorly thrown ball‚ runs into the fence and breaks his arm.

From the New York Sunday Mercury: Answers to Correspondents-“Of course a player can wear gloves if he likes. A half glove covering the palm of the hand and first joints of the fingers is excellent in saving the hand of the catcher and first baseman.”

Philadelphia and the Troy score in each inning, with Athletic winning, 49 – 33, the highest-scoring contest in the history of the National Association

At the start of a Mutuals-Haymakers game in Troy‚ NY‚ Even though it is customary to allow the visiting team to choose which ball to use, Troy captain Bill Craver refuses to play unless their ball is used. Heated words are exchanged throughout, with the Mutuals even being threatened with bats. Mutuals captain Bob Ferguson is convinced the ball used is not legal. Troy then wallops the non-standard ball for a 37-16 win‚ with Steve King and Dickie Flowers collecting 6 hits each. Later‚ the Van Horn ball and the Ryan ball are found to each have the same amount of rubber but the former is “twice as lively.”

The Mutuals‚ after a fine start‚ lose their fifth game in a row‚ to Eckford‚ 7-0. Only 2 hits are allowed by La “Phonney” Martin.

The annual contest between Yale and Harvard results in a 22-19 victory for Harvard. Yale scores 4 runs in the top of the 9th to lead 19-17‚ only to have Harvard score 5 in the last half to win the game.

The first organized baseball game between a black team and a white team takes place in Chicago‚ when the black Uniques and the white Alerts square off. The Uniques win‚ 17-16.

The Olympics of Washington‚ at home‚ score 18 runs in the 6th and defeat Ft. Wayne‚ 32-12. Four players go to bat three times in the big inning-John Glenn‚ Andy Leonard‚ Asa Brainard and George Hall. Leonard scores 3 times.

At the Union Grounds in Brooklyn‚ 200 fans watch the Eckfords wallop the Atlantics‚ 38-14. Fifty one hits are made in the game‚ supposedly played with a Peck & Snyder "dead" ball.

At the Union Grounds in Brooklyn‚ 200 fans watch the Eckfords wallop the Atlantics‚ 38-14. Fifty one hits are made in the game‚ supposedly played with a Peck & Snyder “dead” ball.

Albert Spalding is relieved by Harry Wright in the Boston Red Stockings 21–12 victory over the Rockford Forest Citys after both Boston catchers develop sore hands from Spalding's fast pitching.

Albert Spalding is relieved by Harry Wright in the Boston Red Stockings 21–12 victory over the Rockford Forest Citys after both Boston catchers develop sore hands from Spalding’s fast pitching.

Albert Spalding announces a baseball tour to Australia next winter

The Boston Reds play the Kekiongas at Fort Wayne with the temperature reading 100 in the shade. Losing 8-6 after 5 innings‚ the Reds win the match 30-9. Al Spalding‚ Ross Barnes‚ and Fred Cone get 5 hits each.

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The Haymakers of Troy defeat the Mutuals of Brooklyn‚ 9-7 the day is marred by the assault of Clipper Lynn‚ Troy’s 1B‚ by Dick Higham of the Mutes. Flynn says that Higham hit him in the face for no reason

The Athletics win their 3rd game of the season against the Forest City of Cleveland club to win their season series

The Athletics win their 3rd game of the season against the Forest City of Cleveland club to win their season series

As of today‚ the Athletics have the best record‚ 13-5. The total number of matches played by the 9 teams is 77.

In Troy‚ George Wright makes his first appearance in a championship game since he was injured here in May. His return doesn’t help Boston as they lose to the Haymakers‚ 13-12.

Five thousand people assemble on the Athletics grounds to see the Bostons trounce the home town A’s‚ 23-7.

Firstbaseman Ned Connor makes 20 putouts in the 9-inning game

At the Union Grounds in Brooklyn‚ the Eckfords score 8 runs in the 9th with 2 out to edge the Troy Haymakers‚ 15-13. John McMullin‚ the Troy pitcher‚ helps with 10 wild pitches in the frame.

In Chicago‚ the amateur champions‚ the Star Club of Brooklyn‚ plays the amateur champions of the Northwest‚ the Aetnas of Chicago. The game is decided in the 9th‚ 4-3‚ when Star pitcher Candy Cummings drives in the winning run.

Chicago wins 6-4, dismissing game-fixing rumors

Chicago wins 6-4, dismissing game-fixing rumors

The Brooklyn Eckfords replace the Fort Wayne Kekiongas in the NA after the Kekiongas lose most of their players to defection and expulsion. Fort Wayne’s unplayed games will be declared forfeits in the official standings. The Eckfords will officially join the National Association for the 1872 season.

The White Stockings journey to Philadelphia where they take the 2nd game out of the 3 played in their championship series. The final score‚ 6-3‚ marks the lowest score by the Athletics since they started playing professionally. Zettlein holds the Athletics to 4 hits.

The Forest City of Rockford club defeats the Mutuals‚ 14-4‚ in an exhibition game at the Union Grounds before just 300 spectators. Most of the public refuses to pay fifty cents unless the game is a meaningful “match” game.

At Boston‚ the Reds enter the 7th leading Cleveland‚ 8-2. Two innings later the game is called with the Reds winning‚ 31-10. Boston scores 12 in the 7th and 11 in the 8th.

With the NA race for the whip-pennant getting closer‚ Boston defeats the league-leading White Stockings for their first win in the 3 matches played. With the Whites leading 3-0 after 4 innings‚ Boston scores 6 in the 5th inning‚ highlighted by a HR over the LF fence by Charley Gould‚ off George Zettlein‚ with Dave Birdsall‚ McVey‚ and Spalding on the bases. It is the first Grandslam in history and the only grand slam hit this year; George Zettlein‚ the pitcher who serves up the slam‚ also served up the league’s first homer‚ to Cleveland’s Ezra Sutton on May 8 (as noted by David Vincent). The final score today is 6-3.

The Athletics visit Boston without their star pitcher Dick McBride‚ who misses the game because of illness. George Bechtel pitches and loses to Al Spalding at the Bostons‚ 17-14. Harry Wright‚ a .267 hitter‚ has 4 walks and 3 runs scored.

Between 500 and 800 spectators‚ the smallest crowd of the year on the Athletics grounds‚ see an exhibition game between Cleveland and Philadelphia. Listless play shows why exhibition games are losing favor as the visitors win 14-1 behind the 6-hit pitching of Al Pratt.

Boston loses to Chicago‚ 10-8‚ and loses the season’s series 4 games to one.

A great fire rips through Chicago, IL, destroying the home ballpark of the White Stockings

A great fire rips through Chicago, IL, destroying the home ballpark of the White Stockings

The Athletics win the 3rd and deciding game of their series with visiting Troy by scoring 3 runs in the 9th inning to win‚ 15-13.

The Athletics defeat the Mutuals 21-7 before a large crowd in Philadelphia. Mutuals, with their only pitcher Rynie Wolters sick, are forced to use a non-rostered position player, Frank Fleet, as pitcher in a crucial game for the pennant against the Philadelphia. with win the Athletics which eliminates the Boston Red Stockings from the championship. This game puts the Athletics in the position of having only to defeat the homeless White Stockings on the 25th to clinch the whip-pennant‚ provided the Haymakers can win their series with Chicago.

In Troy‚ NY‚ the Chicago Whites meet the Haymakers for the first time this season. Chicago‚ playing a match for the first time since the 29th of September‚ wins the game 11-5. The White Stockings would lose their next game to Troy‚ 19-12‚ on the 23rd and the rest of the series would be rained out. Bad weather prevents the completion of the Troy-Chicago series before the November first official end of the season.

The final championship match for 1871 takes place on the Union Grounds in Brooklyn between the Athletics and the Chicago White Stockings. The Championship Committee decrees that today’s game will decide the winner of the pennant. Chicago‚ having played all of its games on the road since the fire‚ appears in an assorted array of uniforms. Theirs were all lost during the fire. The 4-1 victory by the Athletics gives them the championship for 1871. The final putout in the game is made by Nate Berkenstock‚ a 40-year-old retired amateur who appears in his only professional game. With a birth year of 1831‚ he is the oldest player to appear in a NA game.

1871 – The National Association’s Boston Red Stockings meet and elect a new board of directors, who will retain Harry Wright as manager. The club reports an operating surplus of $75 on home attendance of around 35,000.

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