Bill James 1880-1889 All Decade Team

[Old Sweater]

1880 - 1889

First Team Second Team Third Team

C - Buck Ewing Charlie Bennett Jack Rowe
1B - Roger Connor Dan Brouthers Cap Anson
2B - Hardy Richardson Fred Dunlap Bid McPhee
3B - Ned Williamson Ezra Sutton Arlie Latham
SS - Jack Glasscock Monte Ward Tom Burns
LF - Harry Stovey Tip O'Neill George Wood/Abner Daltrymple (tie)
CF - George Gore Paul Hines Pete Browning
RF - King Kelly Jim O'Rourke Chicken Wolf
P - Tim Keefe Pud Galvin Jim Whitney
P - Old Hoss Radbourne Jim McCormick Bob Caruthers
P - Mickey Welch Tony "Count" Mullane John Clarkson

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Catcher, Buck Ewing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Ewing

William "Buck" Ewing (October 17, 1859 – October 20, 1906) was a Major League Baseball player and manager, and is widely regarded as the best catcher of his era and is often argued to be the best player of the 19th century. He was born in Hoagland, Ohio.

Ewing joined the National League in 1880 as a member of the Troy Trojans, but rose to stardom in 1883 as a member of the New York Gothams, later known as the Giants. That year he became the first player in major league history to hit 10 home runs in a season (a feat he would never repeat), while batting .303. Playing in an era when triples were more common than home runs due to the spacious parks and poor quality of the balls used, he led the league in 1884 with 20 triples, and was often among the league leaders.

Ewing was equally renowned for his defensive abilities. Writing in the 1938 Spalding Guide, John Foster said of him, "As a thrower to bases Ewing never had a superior, and there are not to exceed ten men who could come anywhere near being equal to him. Ewing was the man of whom it was said, "He handed the ball to the second baseman from the batter's box."

Primarily a catcher, Ewing was versatile enough to play all nine positions, which he did, and fast enough to steal 354 bases. He hit .300 in ten different seasons.

Playing until 1897 with the Giants, Cleveland Spiders and Cincinnati Reds, Ewing posted consistently superb offensive numbers. Arguably his best season was in 1893 with the Spiders when he batted .344 with 6 home runs, 122 RBI, 47 stolen bases and 117 runs.

In 1890, when a player revolt led to the formation of the short-lived Players League, Ewing led the New York franchise as both star player and manager. Lingering resentment in the wake of the league's establishment and demise has often been suspected as a reason for his limited play in 1891 and subsequent move to Cleveland following the 1892 season. Ewing finished his career with a .303 lifetime batting average, 71 home runs, 883 RBI, 1129 runs, 250 doubles and 178 triples - totals made more impressive by the fact he was playing annual seasons only 100-130 games long.

In addition to playing, Ewing managed for seven seasons: the 1890 (Players League) Giants, the 1895-1899 Cincinnati Reds and the first half of the season with the 1900 Giants. He compiled a 489-395 record for a .553 winning percentage.

Ewing died of diabetes in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the first elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he and Cap Anson led all 19th century players. Three years later, in 1939 they were among the first 19th century players elected and Ewing became the first member who was primarily a catcher.

Member of the HOF

Induction 1939
Election Method, Veteran's Committee

As Player

Troy Trojans (1880-1882)
New York Gothams/Giants (1883-1889)
New York Giants (PL) (1890)
New York Giants (1891-1892)
Cleveland Spiders (1893-1894)
Cincinnati Reds (1895-1897)

As Manager

New York Giants (PL) (1890)
Cincinnati Reds (1895-1899)
New York Giants (1900)

[Old Sweater]

First Team, First Baseman, Roger Connor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Connor

Roger Connor (July 1, 1857 – January 4, 1931) was a 19th century Major League Baseball player, born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Known for being the player whom Babe Ruth succeeded as the all-time home run champion, Connor hit 138 home runs during his 18-year career, and his career home run record stood for 23 years after his retirement in 1897.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.

Connor entered the National League in 1880 as a member of the Troy Trojans. He later played for the New York Gothams, and, due to his great stature, gave that team the enduring nickname "Giants". He was regularly among the league leaders in batting average and home runs until his retirement in 1897. Although he only led the league in home runs once (the Players League in 1890), Connor's career mark of 138 was a benchmark not surpassed until 1921 by Babe Ruth. He finished his career with a .317 batting average.[1] Connor is credited with being the first player to hit a grand slam in the major leagues[2] and being the first to hit an over-the-wall home run at the Polo Grounds. His grand slam came with two outs and his team down three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. George Vecsey, in The New York Times wrote: "Roger Connor was a complete player — a deft first baseman and an agile base runner who hit 233 triples and stole 244 bases despite his size (6 feet 3 inches and 200 pounds)."[3]

Over a 12-year period, 1880 through 1891, Connor finished in the top ten in batting average ten times. He led the National League with a .371 average in 1885. Over an 18 year career, Connor finished in the top ten for doubles ten times, finished in the top three for triples seven times and remains fifth all-time in triples with 233. He also established his power credentials by finishing in the top ten in RBIs ten times and top ten in homers twelve times.[4]

In the 1880s, the Polo Grounds was considered a difficult place to hit a home run. However, on September 11, 1886, Roger Connor hit a ball completely out of the Polo Grounds, off Boston's Old Hoss Radbourn, depositing the ball over the right field fence and onto 112th Street. The New York Times reported of the feat, "He met it squarely and it soared up with the speed of a carrier pigeon. All eyes were turned on the tiny sphere as it soared over the head of Charlie Buffinton in right field."

In Connor's first year in the Majors with the Troy Trojans, he teamed with future Hall-of-Famers Dan Brouthers, Buck Ewing, Tim Keefe and Mickey Welch, all of whom were just starting their careers. Also on that 1880 Trojans team, though much older, was Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson.[6]

After retiring as a player in 1897, Connor moved back to his hometown of Waterbury and managed several minor league teams. He lived to see his career home run record bested by Babe Ruth, although if it was celebrated, it might have been on the wrong day. At one time, Connor's record was thought to be 131, per the Sporting News book Daguerreotypes. As late as the 1980s, in the MacMillan Baseball Encyclopedia, it was thought to be 136. However, John Tattersall's 1975 Home Run Handbook, a SABR publication, credited Connor with 138. Both MLB.com and the independent Baseball-Reference.com now consider Connor's total to be 138.

Baseball Hall of Fame

Induction 1976
Election Method, Veteran's Committee

Troy Trojans - (1880-1882)
New York Gothams/Giants - (1883-1889), (1891), 1893-1894)
New York Giants (PL) - (1890)
Philadelphia Phillies - (1892)
St. Louis Browns - (1893-1897)

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Second Baseman, Hardy Richardson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardy_Richardson

Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson (April 21, 1855 – January 14, 1931) was a second basemen and outfielder mostly, who played in the Major Leagues for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons (1879-85). He batted and threw right-handed.

Richardson played every position at some point, but was known for his play at second base with Buffalo when he was a member of the "Big Four," a star infield that consisted of Richardson and his teammates Dan Brouthers, Jack Rowe, and Deacon White.[1] It was a desire to secure the services of the "Big Four" that led the Detroit Wolverines to purchase the Bisons franchise for $7,000 in 1885.[1] They won Detroit the National League pennant and the World Series in 1887.

Richardson's best season probably came in 1890 with the Boston Reds of the Players' League, when he had 181 hits in 555 turns at bat, a .326 batting average, while also compiling a career-high 13 home runs and 146 RBIs. He also picked up 42 stolen bases and score 126 runs.

In a game against Philadelphia on July 20, 1883, both Richardson and Rowe were memorably credited with home runs when outfielder Conny Doyle was unable to find balls they hit into a deep section of grass in the left field corner.[1]

Richardson was involved in another unusual circumstance in a game against the Chicago White Stockings on August 13, 1884.[2] Chicago's George Gore singled to lead off the game, and Chicago manager Cap Anson instructed him to avoid the double play at all costs.[2] Accordingly, when King Kelly followed with a ground ball, Gore tackled Richardson at second base before he could complete the relay throw.[2] The umpire called both the batter and the runner out, and Anson protested the ruling so strenuously and stridently that the umpire forfeited the game to Buffalo.[2] This ruling was met with disapproval by the Chicago crowd of approximately 2,000, and after extensive discussions, the two teams agreed to resume a game which had been postponed earlier in the season, as a way of placating the dissatisfied fans.[2] In this second game, Anson decided to give his players a personal demonstration of the right way to break up the double play.[2] He reached first base, and when the next batter hit a ground ball to Richardson, Anson shouted and waved his arms while running to second in an effort to interfere with Richardson's throw.[2] Possibly flustered by this display, Richardson in turn struck Anson square in the head with his throw, which was delivered hard enough that it bounced all the way into the grandstands.[2] A woozy Anson was forced to leave the game.[2]

In a 14-season career, Richardson compiled a .299 batting average with 70 home runs and 822 RBIs in 1331 games. He had 205 career stolen bases and 1120 runs scored. Richardson had 1688 career hits in 5642 at bats.

After Richardson's retirement as a player, he operated a hotel in Utica, New York,[1] and later worked at the Remington typewriter plant in Ilion, New York.[1]

Baseball historian Bill James ranked Richardson as the 39th-best second baseman in the history of baseball in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.

Buffalo Bisons (1879-1885)
Detroit Wolverines (1886-1888)
Boston Beaneaters (1889)
Boston Reds (1890-1991)
Washington Senators (1892)
New York Giants (1892)

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Third Baseman, Ned Williamson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Williamson

Edward Nagle "Ned" or "Ed" Williamson (October 24, 1857 – March 3, 1894) was an American Major League Baseball player for 13 seasons from 1878 until 1890. He played for three different teams: the Indianapolis Blues of the National League (NL) for one season, the Chicago White Stockings (NL) for 11 seasons, and the Chicago Pirates of the Players' League for one season.

From 1883 and 1887, Williamson held the single season record for both doubles and home runs. Although his record for doubles was surpassed in 1887, he held the home run record until 1919, when it was topped by Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox. Statistically, he was one of the best fielders of his era. During the first eight years of his career, he led the league, at his position, in both fielding percentage and double plays five times, and assists six times. Later, when he moved to shortstop, he again led the league in both assists and double plays.

His career was shortened by a knee injury that he suffered in Paris, France, during a world-tour organized by Albert Spalding. After he left organized baseball, his health declined rapidly. He contracted Tuberculosis, and ultimately died at the age of 36 of dropsy.

During this time period, the establishment of the ground rules of each park, rested with the home team. Cap Anson, the team captain, and on-field manager, decided that in 1884, balls that were hit over the fence were to be home runs.[6] Williamson used these short dimensions, and new ground rules to set the single season home run record by hitting 27 in a 112-game season, surpassing the record of 14 set by Harry Stovey the previous year. Of the 27 home runs he hit that year, 25 of them were hit at home.[8] This record stood for 35 years until it was broken in 1919 by Babe Ruth, who hit 29 for the Boston Red Sox in a 140-game schedule. The first three of Williamson's 27 home runs came on May 30, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Wolverines. By doing so, Williamson became the first major league baseball player to hit three home runs in one game.[8] During these two record-breaking seasons, his fielding prowess did not recede. He did not lead the league in fielding percentage in either 1883 or 1884, but did lead in assists, capping off a streak of five consecutive years in which he did so, while also leading the league in double plays for the second and third consecutive year.[1]

Chicago won the National League championship that season, and agreed to play the American Association champions, the St. Louis Browns in a seven game "World Series". Before game one began, the players of both team held a field day which included contests of skill, and Williamson won the long throw, with a toss that travelled 400 feet, four inches. The 1885 series ended in a tie when each team won three games, and one games ended in a tie.[10] Williamson collected two base hits in 23 at bats, for a .087 batting average, and scored one run.

Spalding's world tour

At the completion of the 1888 baseball season, Albert Spalding organized an around-the-world tour to promote the game of baseball. The two teams Spalding selected were the White Stockings and a collection of players from other National League teams.[13] The tour departed on October 20, 1888 to play exhibition games throughout the western United States for a month, before departing to Hawaii. The tour visited several foreign countries, such as; Australia, Egypt, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), France, Italy, and England.[13] It was during a game played on at the Parc Aristotique in Paris,[8] France on March 8, 1889, when Williamson suffered a torn knee cap which forced him to be bedridden in England on doctor's orders,[13] missing the tour through Britain.[14] Though players in the 19th century were responsible for their own medical care, Williamson asked Spalding to help him financially with the mounting medical costs. Spalding refused, citing that he was not obligated to assist, and Williamson never forgave him for this.[14] Williamson, among his baseball contemporaries, wrote the most colorful articles to newspapers as the tour was unfolding. Williamson, an 1880s teammate of Anson in Chicago, had a knack for roasting—poking fun at—his teammates, while always coming across as good-natured. A testament to the letters' significance is that they are a dominant source of one recent book's World Tour presentation.

Indianapolis Blues (1878)
Chicago White Stockings (1879–1889)
Chicago Pirates (1890)

Set the single season doubles record with 49 in 1883
Set the single season home run record with 27 in 1884
Led the National League in games played in 1878, 1885, and 1888
Led the National League in base on balls in 1885
Played on five National League championship teams, 1880-1882, 1885-1886
Played in two World Series, 1885-1886

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Shortstop, Jack Glasscock......................................he he

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Glasscock

John Wesley Glasscock (July 22, 1857 - February 24, 1947) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for several teams from 1879 to 1895 and was the top player at his position in the 1880s during the sport's bare-handed era. He led the National League in fielding percentage seven times and in assists six times, with both marks remaining league records until Ozzie Smith surpassed them in the 1980s; he also led the NL in double plays four times and in putouts twice. He won the 1890 batting title with a .336 average for the New York Giants and led the league in hits twice; in his final season he became the sixth major league player to make 2,000 hits. He was the first player to appear in over 600 games as a shortstop, and ended his career with major league records for games (1,628), putouts (2,821), assists (5,630), total chances (9,283), double plays (620) and fielding percentage (.910) at the position. When he retired he ranked fifth in major league history in games (1,736) and at bats (7,030), seventh in total bases (2,630) and eighth in doubles.

Cleveland Blues (1879-1884)
Cincinnati Outlaw Reds (1884)
St. Louis Maroons (1885-1886)
Indianapolis Hoosiers (1887-1889)
New York Giants (1890-1891)
St. Louis Browns (1892-1893)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1893-1894)
Louisville Colonels (1895)
Washington Senators (1895)

NL batting champion, 1890
Led NL in hits twice
Led NL in fielding seven times
Led NL in assists six times

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Left Fielder, Harry Stovey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Stovey

Harry Duffield Stovey, born Harry Duffield Stowe (December 20, 1856 - September 20, 1937) was a 19th century Major League Baseball player and the first player in major league history to hit 100 home runs. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stovey played for 14 seasons in the majors and was appointed player-manager on two separate occasions during his career.[1] Known today as both a prolific home run hitter and base-stealer, he led the league in both categories multiple times in his career, including a season record of 14 home runs in 1883[2] and a league-leading 97 stolen bases in 1890. Although by modern standards, Stovey never hit a large number of home runs (it took him 10 years to reach 100), he was one of the great home run hitters of his time. From 1880 to 1891 he appeared in the top 10 in home runs every year except 1887, and led the league five times.[3] He was the first to wear sliding pads and among the first to slide feet first.

As Player

Worcester Ruby Legs (1880-1882)
Philadelphia Athletics (1883-1889)
Boston Reds (1890)
Boston Beaneaters (1891-1892)
Baltimore Orioles (1892-1893)
Brooklyn Grooms (1893)

As Manager

Worcester Ruby Legs (1881)
Philadelphia Athletics (1885)

National League home run champion: 1880
American Association home run champion: 1883, 1885, 1889
American Association runs scored champion: 1883-1885, 1889

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Center Fielder, George Gore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gore

George F. Gore (May 3, 1857 – September 16, 1933), nicknamed "Piano Legs",[1] was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for fourteen seasons, eight for the Chicago White Stockings, five for the New York Giants, one for the St. Louis Browns (1892) of the National League (NL), and the New York Giants of the Players League (1890). Born in Saccarappa, Maine, Gore led the NL in several seasonal offensive categories. He won his only batting title in 1880 while playing for Chicago, along with league leading totals in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He also led the league twice in runs scored, bases on balls three times, and games played by a center fielder once.

Gore played for many successful teams throughout his career. During his eight seasons with the White Stockings, they won the league title five times, including appearances in two World Series. Chicago played the St. Louis Browns in both 1885, which ended in a series tie, and 1886, with St. Louis winning the championship. He was also a member of the New York Giants' two National League championship teams in 1888 and 1889. Both Giants teams went on to claim World Series victories, against the St. Louis Browns in 1888, and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1889.

Twice he set single-game records, one for stealing seven bases, and the other for collecting five extra-base hits. Although he had statistics that put him consistently among the seasonal league leaders, he reportedly had a poor work ethic resulting from an active social life outside of baseball. This behavior did not endear him to his team captain, Cap Anson, which caused them to feud during Gore's time in Chicago. After his career, he had major financial difficulties, having to move from job to job to just support his bare necessities. He died at the age of 76 in Utica, New York.

As player

Chicago White Stockings (1879–1886)
New York Giants (1887–1889), (1891–1892)
New York Giants (PL) (1890)
St. Louis Browns (1892)

As manager

St. Louis Browns (1892)

Set record with seven stolen bases on June 25, 1881
Set record with five extra base hits on July 9, 1885
1880 NL batting champion
3-time NL base on balls leader
2-time NL runs scored leader
Played on seven league championship teams
Played in four World Series

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Right Fielder, King Kelly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kelly

Michael Joseph "King" Kelly (December 31, 1857 – November 8, 1894) was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the Chicago White Stockings and the Boston Beaneaters. Kelly was a player-manager three times in his career – in 1887 for the Beaneaters, in 1890 leading the Boston Reds to the pennant in the only season of the Players' League's existence, and in 1891 for the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers - before his retirement in 1893. He is also often credited with helping to popularize various strategies as a player such as the hit and run, the hook slide, and the catcher's practice of backing up first base.[1]

In only the second vote since its creation in 1939 the Old Timers Committee elected Kelly to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.

In concluding where to truly give Kelly credit as an innovator, a 2004 book devoted to 19th-century rule bending in baseball -- and which came close to exhaustively accounting for all contemporary reporting on various subjects -- placed stress on the following: "Kelly's hook slide does sound special, and players probably tried to copy it. Also, he seems to have been the first big leaguer to successfully cut a base (when the usually lone umpire wasn't looking), at least according to the newspaper record." And, "Kelly could have been the first to foul off lots of pitches on purpose. Doing so was a top trick of some Baltimore players of the 1890s. At the turn of the century, that trick was defused when all foul balls began counting as strikes."[2]

Kelly's autobiography Play Ball was published while he was with the Beaneaters in 1888, the first autobiography by a baseball player; it was ghostwritten by Boston baseball writer John J. "Jack" Drohan. Kelly also became a vaudeville performer during his playing career, first performing in Boston where he would recite the now-famous baseball poem "Casey at the Bat," sometimes butchering it. Kelly's baserunning innovations are also the subject of the hit 1889 song entitled "Slide, Kelly, Slide" and a 1927 comedy film of the same name.

As player

Cincinnati Reds (1878–1879)
Chicago White Stockings (1880–1886)
Boston Beaneaters (1887–1889)
Boston Reds (1890)
Cincinnati Kelly's Killers (1891)
Boston Reds (1891)
Boston Beaneaters (1891–1892)
New York Giants (1893)

As manager

Boston Beaneaters (1887)
Boston Reds (1890)
Cincinnati Kelly's Killers (1891)

2-time NL batting champion: 1884, 1886
3-time NL runs scored leader
3-time NL doubles leader

HOF 1945 Veterans Committee

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Pitcher, Tim Keefe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Keefe

Timothy John "Tim" Keefe (January 1, 1857 – April 23, 1933), nicknamed "Smiling Tim" and "Sir Timothy", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominating pitchers of the 19th century and posted impressive statistics in one category or another for almost every season he pitched. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.

Keefe's career spanned much of early baseball's formative stages. His first season was the last in which pitchers threw from 45 feet, so for most of his career he pitched from 50 feet. His final season was the first season in which pitchers hurled from the modern distance of 60 feet, 6 inches.

Keefe was nicknamed "Sir Timothy" because of his gentlemanly behavior on and off the field.

Keefe entered the major leagues in 1880 with the Troy Trojans. He immediately established himself as a talented pitcher, posting an astounding 0.86 ERA in 105 innings pitched, a record that still stands to this day (he also posted the highest (best) Adjusted ERA+ in baseball history in 1880). Despite the sterling ERA, he managed but a 6-6 record, pitching in 12 games, all complete games.

Keefe was very well-paid for his career, yet he was a leading member of the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players that fought for the welfare of players. He assisted his brother-in-law Monte Ward to form the Players League for the 1890 season. He challenged the reserve clause which tied players to a team indefinitely in court and protested player salary caps. In 1887, Keefe had a nervous breakdown after hitting a batter in the head with a pitch.

After his playing career, Keefe umpired for two years and invested in real estate. He also coached for Harvard University, Princeton University, and Tufts University. He died in his hometown of Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 76.

Teams

Troy Trojans (1880–1882)
New York Metropolitans (1883–1884)
New York Giants (1885–1889)
New York Giants (PL) (1890)
New York Giants (1891)
Philadelphia Phillies (1891–1893)

Career highlights and awards

National League Pitching Triple Crown: 1888
National League ERA champion: 1880, 1885, 1888
National League wins champion: 1886, 1888
National League strikeout champion: 1888
American Association strikeout champion: 1883
2-time innings pitched leader (AA & NL)
2-time complete game leader (AA & NL)
9th-most wins in major league history (342)
7 20-win seasons
6 30-win seasons
2 40-win seasons
6 200-strikeout seasons
3 300-strikeout seasons
3 sub-2.00 ERA seasons
Record for lowest ERA in Major League History - 0.86 in 1880

HOF, 1964, Veterans Committee