Statistics for the first 154-game season show that Dan Brouthers of the Brooklyn Grooms was the top hitter at .335, and Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders the top pitcher in terms of wins with a 36-11 record.

 Statistics for the first 154-game season show that Dan Brouthers of the Brooklyn Grooms was the top hitter at .335, and Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders the top pitcher in terms of wins with a 36-11 record.

1892 – Statistics for the first 154-game season show that Dan Brouthers of the Brooklyn Grooms was the top hitter at .335, and Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders the top pitcher in terms of wins with a 36-11 record.

Rookie Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bumpus Jones throws a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates

Rookie Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bumpus Jones throws a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates

1892 – On the last day the season, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bumpus Jones, in his first major league appearance, throws a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This will turn out to be the latest date in the season that a no-hitter is ever pitched in the major leagues. After that, Jones will pitch only one more season, in 1893, leading to a 2-4 career record with 10 strikeouts and a 7.99 ERA in 41 2/3 innings of labor.

|

10/7/1892 – The St. Louis Browns were playing in Cleveland against the Spiders when this puzzling one happened. We have found only a brief story that said with Cleveland ahead 8-3 in the fifth inning and it was starting to rain, the Spiders George Davis intentionally batted out of turn in order to make the third out of the inning quickly. The game ended after five innings because of the rain. There are a couple of reasons for it being puzzling. We don’t know if Cleveland was batting last since in those days the home teams sometimes elected to bat first so they could hit against the new ball in the first. If they were batting last, it was already an official game due to a rule revision for the 1892 season. The original 1876 rule required five full innings to be played for a game to count. However, the Spiders may not have known about the new rule. The batting out of turn rule in effect was the original one from 1876, and it said in effect that the improper batter would not be out until his plate appearance was completed. So a Cleveland hitter could have just swung and missed at the first three pitches to make a quick out. The umpire of the game was John Gaffney, who was quite experienced. However, perhaps he was not fully versed on the rule and ruled Davis out after a pitch had been thrown and maybe Davis pointed out that he was not the proper batter. We will try to get more information about the game.

10/7/1892 – The St. Louis Browns were playing in Cleveland against the Spiders when this puzzling one happened. We have found only a brief story that said with Cleveland ahead 8-3 in the fifth inning and it was starting to rain, the Spiders George Davis intentionally batted out of turn in order to make the third out of the inning quickly. The game ended after five innings because of the rain. There are a couple of reasons for it being puzzling. We don’t know if Cleveland was batting last since in those days the home teams sometimes elected to bat first so they could hit against the new ball in the first. If they were batting last, it was already an official game due to a rule revision for the 1892 season. The original 1876 rule required five full innings to be played for a game to count. However, the Spiders may not have known about the new rule. The batting out of turn rule in effect was the original one from 1876, and it said in effect that the improper batter would not be out until his plate appearance was completed. So a Cleveland hitter could have just swung and missed at the first three pitches to make a quick out. The umpire of the game was John Gaffney, who was quite experienced. However, perhaps he was not fully versed on the rule and ruled Davis out after a pitch had been thrown and maybe Davis pointed out that he was not the proper batter. We will try to get more information about the game.

|

10/3/1892 – The Louisville Colonels visited Pittsburgh to play the Pirates. Sometime during the game, Lou Bierbauer of the Pirates was called out for batting out of turn. No further details are known.

10/3/1892 – The Louisville Colonels visited Pittsburgh to play the Pirates. Sometime during the game, Lou Bierbauer of the Pirates was called out for batting out of turn. No further details are known.

At Cleveland’s League Park, John Clarkson of the Spiders beats the Pirates 3-2  to record his 300th victory

At Cleveland’s League Park, John Clarkson of the Spiders beats the Pirates 3-2 to record his 300th victory

At Cleveland’s League Park, John Clarkson of the Spiders beats the Pirates 3-2 to become the fifth pitcher in major league history to record his 300th victory. The 31 year-old right-hander will compile a 328-178 record during his 12 year Hall of Fame career in the big leagues.

Recently released Pirates P Mark “Fido” Baldwin is arrested in his hometown of Homestead, PA‚ for alleged complicity in the recent strike and ensuing riot. Baldwin posts a $2‚000 bail and claims that he was merely a spectator. He will soon rejoin the Pirates and finish the season with a 26-27 record.

Recently released Pirates P Mark “Fido” Baldwin is arrested in his hometown of Homestead, PA‚ for alleged complicity in the recent strike and ensuing riot. Baldwin posts a $2‚000 bail and claims that he was merely a spectator. He will soon rejoin the Pirates and finish the season with a 26-27 record.

Rookie P Bill Hawke of St. Louis loads the bases with the Phillies in the 6th‚ but then fans the next three batters on the way to a 4 – 1 win. Tim Keefe takes the loss.

Rookie P Bill Hawke of St. Louis loads the bases with the Phillies in the 6th‚ but then fans the next three batters on the way to a 4 – 1 win. Tim Keefe takes the loss.

The Orioles remove OF posts‚ around which ropes holding back overflow crowds would be wrapped‚ after a ball hit by Harry Stovey strikes a post and bounces back toward the infield‚ forcing Stovey to stop at 2B. Another factor in the decision was an incident 3 days ago in which Oriole RF Frank “Piggy” Ward missed a sure catch when he ran upon a post. It doesn’t help today as visiting Philadelphia wins‚ 9-6.

The Orioles remove OF posts‚ around which ropes holding back overflow crowds would be wrapped‚ after a ball hit by Harry Stovey strikes a post and bounces back toward the infield‚ forcing Stovey to stop at 2B. Another factor in the decision was an incident 3 days ago in which Oriole RF Frank “Piggy” Ward missed a sure catch when he ran upon a post. It doesn’t help today as visiting Philadelphia wins‚ 9-6.