Early Baseball – 19th Century

Early Baseball – 19th Century

4/25/2022 UPDATE: ALL 19TH-CENTURY SEASONS (1871-1900) HAVE BEEN “REPLAYED” — RESULTS BELOW!

SOME TINKERING ASIDE, THE BASICS ARE IN PLACE ON THIS PAGE (3/21/22)

3/24/2022 UPDATE (A “TINKERING” FOUND TO BE NECESSARY: SOMEONE FAILED TO INCLUDE “BID” MCPHEE ON THE 19TH-CENTURY HONOR ROLL. THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ERROR, AND REST ASSURED THAT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE IS HANGING HIS HEAD IN SHAME. WHICH IS MAKING IT HARD TO TYPE. SORRY, RELATIVES AND FANS OF MCPHEE. PLEASE FIND THE CORRECTED GRAPHIC BELOW)

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Because “base ball” — that’s how it was spelled in the early days, with the space between — was largely a different kind of game when compared to “modern baseball,” the 19th-Century era is being set apart here at RetroPlay.net with its own page. Please find posted on this page everything that relates to what was later called, “Major League Baseball” in its formative years from 1871 through 1900; this is the RetroPlay system’s “Era I.” The first 30 of MLB’s first 150 years (1871 through 2020) will be covered specifically right here, though some content will also be included (copied) as part of the overall, five-era picture on pages dealing with all-time rankings and virtual awards.

Several weeks ago, we supplied a substantial “down payment” of sorts: the first batch of pertinent data (and free-download opportunities). These are the “meat and potatoes” files on which the RetroPlay system is built.

The first item is a RetroPlay system player directory of all qualified 19th-Century “major-leaguers” (qualified by a minimum of 10 plate appearances or 9 innings pitched in any single historical season between 1871 and 1900 inclusive). Abbreviations used and form-key for these files, by column:

PLAYER=Last name and first/nickname; BP=BirthPlace; REG=Regional affiliation; CW=Career WAR; POS=(primary) Position(s); POS (2)=(other) Position(s); AVG FULL SEASON WAR=Career WAR calculated to reflect average full-season (per-162-games played) rate; RPR=RetroPlay Rating (CW x (per-162-games) = RPR); RC=Regional Code; PC=Positional Code (by official scorecard position-numbering, in order of frequency; RED print (in the grids/30-year spreadsheets) indicates an extra-national player — “foreign-born” — given a place to play with New England or New York in this system.

Download the Excel file (top link) or the PDF (below that):

OBL 1 ALPHA 2-wideDownload
obl-1-alpha-2-wideDownload

The second item is the “O-1” file referred to in each version of the directory posted above. This is the first of ten 30-year spreadsheets that lay out the statistical story, column-by-column; 30 columns of data across each landscape-oriented page. Each of those ten “grids” is packed with name/birthplace/position information and three types of WAR values: year-by-year in the cells and both career WAR and per-162-games rates on either margin (left/right, wherever it fits best on the player’s horizontal row). You might be of the opinion that this presentation is “too busy” or unduly cluttered — and I might agree, depending on the day and my mindset at the time — but the idea was to get the majority of data needed/sought by season-re-players (like myself) onto a single page. All in all, it seems to me that the ability to read up-and-down in the columns to see just who would’ve been teammates in any given year (by sharing a birthplace), or to scan across in the row to get a snapshot view of a player’s career arc (trends, debut year, best year, last year, etc.) will be increasingly valued with regular, intuitive use. I think you’ll be glad all of that “stuff” has been included for the sake of easier season-simulation personnel decisions, but you can always edit out anything you see as “clutter” on your downloaded version of the Excel spreadsheet, right? Remember: RED print (in the grids/30-year spreadsheets) indicates an extra-national player — “foreign-born” — given a place to play with New England or New York in this system.

In any case, here are, in order, the Excel and PDF downloadable versions of the OBL-1 (O-1) grid:

obl-1Download
obl-1Download

Anyone who is familiar with the history of professional “base ball” in America will probably agree with the general observation that the 19th-Century game was a whole different animal from today’s game. If we want to be as broad-minded as possible and concentrate on the elements that have survived for 150 years — a ball and a deliverer of pitches; a bat and a swatter of pitches; four bases to circle, and fielders to cope with batted balls and moving base-runners, for example — then, yes, it’s the same ball game. But when you consider that other, very basic elements have been affected by dozens of major changes, and that most of the changing — of rules, pitching distances, game-scheduling practices, team sizes, and even on-field positioning — occurred within the 19th Century, it becomes apparent in a hurry that we’re talking about a different context and different circumstances. Yet, … there will always be those who can be identified as the stand-out best in a given context, and the aim here is to name the players to whom the numbers point (i.e., WAR values and RetroPlay Ratings) as a cut above the rest. It’s quite possible that I’m breaking the “laws” of methodology and “sabermetric science” by applying modern performance measurements where they don’t belong/fit, but I lack both the mathematical ability and the drive to get all of that precisely right, so… let the chips fall where they may, I say. Here’s my Early Baseball/19th Century “wing” of my virtual Hall Of Fame. Keep in mind: Only those with 5 or more seasons played between 1871 and 1900 inclusive were considered, and only those stats that were accumulated between those two endpoints were used. The idea is basically this: if voting was done in early 1901, and it was based solely on career, on-field accomplishments through 1900 — regardless of what followed — which players would make the honor roll? Here is my answer to the question, a 45-member Gallery of Greats:

In order to make further amends to the great Bid McPhee, it should be noted that the other “inductees” were included in order of their RPR (RetroPlay Rating), so to be fair, McPhee should follow Keeler and be ahead of Richardson on the roll. Just FYI, tying up loose ends in my persnickety way.

That’s our whole business for this page on March 24, 2022. Be sure to roam around RetroPlay Park — every nook and cranny — as the place is spruced up and the names and numbers keep going up on display.

3/25/2022 UPDATE: Added my new-best-friend logo above; yes, I’m kinda pleased with it.

4/25/2022 UPDATE: ALL 19TH-CENTURY SEASONS HAVE BEEN “REPLAYED” — RESULTS BELOW!

“REPLAY”/SEASON-SIMULATION RESULTS (W.A.R.-BASED, BIRTHPLACE-DETERMINED TEAMS)

1871 – Parameters: 24 league games each, 12-man rosters

  1. NEW YORK (EXCELSIORS)      19–5  .760  Key players: Zettlein (4.5), Ross Barnes (2.1)
  2. PENNSYLVANIA (FOUNDERS) 11-13  .458  Dick McBride (3.4), Pratt (1.9), Meyerle (1.7)
  3. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS    9–15  .375  Al Spalding (3.5), Cal McVey (1.7)
  4. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE      9–15  .375  Rynie Wolters (4.4), George Hall (1.1)

1872 – Parameters: 40 league games each, 14-man rosters

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS         25-15  .625  Zettlein (6.1), Barnes (4.3), G. Wright (3.0)
  2. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS    24-16  .600  Spalding (12.5), Mathews (5.4), J. Hatfield (2.5)
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS    18-22  .450  McBride (4.7),  Cherokee Fisher (2.2)
  4. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE      13-27  .325  Candy Cummings (8.0), George Hall (1.5)

1873 – Parameters: 48 league games each, 14-man rosters

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS         38-10  .792  Zettlein (7.8), Barnes (4.9), G. Wright (3.3)
  2. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS    29-19  .604  Mathews (9.6), Spalding (9.2), Anson (2.0)
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS    15-33  .313  McBride (6.3), Meyerle (1.7), Fulmer (1.3)
  4. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE      14-34  .292  Cummings (7.9), Jim O’Rourke (1.8)

1874 – Parameters: 56 league games each, 14-man rosters

  1. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS   40-16  .714  Mathews (13.7), Spalding (10.7), McVey (3.0)
  2. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS           31-25  .554  Zettlein (3.1), G. Wright (2.8), Pearce (2.5)
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS     22-34  .393  McBride (6.3), Fisher (4.2), Meyerle (2.2)
  4. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE       19-37  .339  Cummings (6.3), Jim O’Rourke (2.3)

1875 – Parameters: 60 league games each, 14-man rosters

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS          34-26  .567  Zettlein (7.6), Barnes (5.2), Deacon White (4.4)
  2. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS     31-29  .517  Spalding (14.2), Mathews (7.5), McVey (4.5)
  3. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE       28-32  .467  Cummings (11.7), Tommy Bond (11.5)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS     27-33  .450  McBride (9.7), Fisher (7.9), George Bradley (3.6)

Composite Standings, first 5 years: NY 147-81 (.645); AI 133-95 (.583); PA 93-135 (.408); NEA 83-145 (.364)

1876 – Parameters: 60 league games each scheduled, but NY had to cut season short at 30 games (ran out of pitchers)

  1. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS     39-21  .650  Jim Devlin (18.3), Bradley (9.2), Battin (3.5)
  2. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS      30-30  .500  Spalding (10.2), Anson (3.7), McVey (3.5)
  3. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE        25-35  .417  Bond (10.4), Cummings (3.5), O’Rourke, Hall (2.5)
  4. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS            11-19  .367  Barnes (2.8), D. White (1.8), G. Wright (1.6)

1877 – Parameters: 48 league games each, still 14-man rosters

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS           29-19  .604  D. White (3.4), Start (2.6), T. Larkin (2.3)
  2. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE        28-20  .583  Bond (11.4), Tricky Nichols (3.1), O’Rourke (2.6)
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS      23-25  .479  Devlin (13.5), Bradley (2.8), Orator Shafer (1.8)
  4. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS      16-32  .333  Charley Jones (2.3), Anson (2.2), Gerhardt (2.1)

1878 – Parameters: 56 league games each scheduled, but Independents only made it through 20 games (same problem as New York, 1876)

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS           31-25  .554  T. Larkin (5.6), Ferguson (3.1), White, Start (2.4)
  2. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS      30-26  .536  Sam Weaver (10.2), John Ward (4.7), Shafer (3.5)
  3. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE        27-29  .482  Bond (13.4), Jim McCormick (2.1), Higham (2.0)
  4. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS        6-14  .300  Hines (2.8), C. Jones (2.8), Gerhardt (2.5)

1879 – Parameters: 72 league games each, still 14-man rosters

  1.  NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE      44-28  .611  Bond (14.3), McCormick (9.8), John O’Rourke (3.5)
  2.  NEW YORK EXCELSIORS           40-32  .556   T. Larkin (4.9), Harry McCormick (4.6), Wright (4.3)
  3.  AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS     34-38  .472   Galvin (9.0), C. Jones (4.5), Hines (4.4)
  4.  PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS     26-46  .361   Ward (9.2), Williamson (4.2), Flint (3.2)

1880 – Parameters: 72 league games each, still 14-man rosters

  1.  NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE      42-30  .583   J. McCormick (10.8), Gore (4.6), Tim Keefe (4.6)
  2.  AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS      37-35  .514   Lee Richmond (7.3), Anson (5.1), Hines (4.2)
  3.  PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS      34-38  .472   Ward (7.7), Bradley (4.6), Fred Dunlap (3.8)
  4.  NEW YORK EXCELSIORS            31-41  .431   Larry Corcoran (7.0), M. Welch (6.5), J. Clapp (3.6)

Composite Standings, first 10 years: (Titles: NY 6, NEA 2, Independents, Founders 1 each)

1. NY 289-217 (.571); 2. AI 256-244 (.512); 3. NEA 249-287 (.465); 4. PA 245-291 (.457)

1881 – Parameters: 72 league games each, still 14-man rosters; NY won tiebreaker with AI for title

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS             39-33  .542  Jim Whitney (8.7), Welch (5.6), King Kelly (2.8)
  2. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS        39-33  .542  Galvin (7.5), Anson (5.9), Lee Richmond (4.4)
  3. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE          35-37  .486  George Derby (7.5), J. McCormick (7.0), Gore (2.5)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS        31-41  .431  Charlie Bennett (4.3), Dunlap (3.9), Williamson (3.3)

1882 – Parameters: 75 league games each, first time with 15-man rosters

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS             42-33  .560  Will White (11.4), Weidman (9.8), Brouthers (5.9)
  2. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS        38-37  .507  Glasscock (4.9), Browning (4.5), Anson (4.4)
  3. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE          37-38  .493  J. McCormick (10.9), Mullane (6.2), Connor (4.5)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS        33-42  .440  Weaver (6.6), Bennett (4.2), Williamson (4.0)

1883 – Parameters: 96 league games each, 16-man rosters, 3 starting pitchers counted (first time); debut of a 5th franchise, Mid-Atlantic-and-South (MAS)

  1. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE          65-31  .677  Keefe (20.2), McCormick (8.3), Mullane (6.4)
  2. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS               63-33  .656  Radbourn (14.4), Whitney (13.5), W. White (9.2)
  3. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS         50-46  .521  Galvin (9.8), McGinnis (5.8), Buck Ewing (4.8)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS         41-55  .427  Bennett (4.9), Ward (4.6), Dunlap (4.5), Stovey (3.7)
  5. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                21-75  .219  Jack Farrell (5.3), Mathews (4.6), H. Richardson (4.1)

1884 – Parameters: 112 league games each, 16-man rosters, 3 counting pitchers, 4 new teams

  1. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS        75-37  .670  Guy Hecker (17.8), Dunlap (7.8), B. Sweeney (7.3)
  2. NEW ENGLAND (PILGRIMS)           73-39  .652  Buffinton (16.3), Keefe (8.3), Jim O’Rourke (4.9)
  3. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                65-47  .580  Radbourn (19.5), Whitney (8.4), Ezra Sutton (6.2)
  4. NEW YORK CITY (5 BOROUGHS)   54-58  .482  M. Welch (12.3), Ed Morris (8.5), Dave Orr (5.8)
  5. CANADA-EUROPE ALLIANCE        49-63  .438   J. McCormick (14.8), Mullane (13.3), Pop Smith (4.1)
  6. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                 48-64  .429   Billy Taylor (11.5), Paul Hines (4.7), C. Jones (4.3)
  7. WESTERN (TRAILBLAZERS)             44-68  .393  Galvin (18.5), C. Sweeney (11.2), Anson (4.9)
  8. MIDWEST INDEPENDENTS             40-72  .357  Fred Pfeffer (5.5), Buck Ewing (5.0), J. Reilly (4.7)

1885 – Parameters: 110 games each scheduled, but MI only played 54; 3 pitchers counted, 16-man rosters; down to only 6 teams (NYC was one-off in ’84, and CEU dropped out, forming once more in 1890)

  1. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS             79-31  .718  J. Clarkson (12.8), Roger Connor (8.2), Keefe (6.7)
  2. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                  77-33  .700  E. Morris (12.7), M. Welch (10.6), Brouthers (5.2)
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS            65-45  .591  Hecker (8.2), Hardie Henderson (7.8), Bennett (4.5)
  4. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                   42-68  .382  Caruthers (10.0), Ferguson (8.2), C. Jones (4.0)
  5. MIDWEST INDEPENDENTS              23-31  .426  Browning (2.6), Glasscock (2.5), Pechiney (1.7)
  6. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                16-94  .145  Anson (3.9), Fogarty (2.3), John Kirby (1.0)

1886 – Parameters: 120 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters, 2 new teams formed from now-defunct Midwest Independents

  1. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                 95-25  .792  Lady Baldwin (10.5), Morris (10.4), Brouthers (8.2)
  2. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS               76-44  .633  Keefe (9.5), Connor (7.1), J. Clarkson (6.8)
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS             72-48  .600  Kilroy (6.2), Hecker (6.0), Henry Larkin (4.4)
  4. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                    61-59  .508  Ferguson (11.7), Caruthers (11.5), Foutz (11.0)
  5. MIDWEST (debut year)                     49-71  .408  Toad Ramsey (12.5), Sam Thompson (4.1)
  6. OHIO VALLEY (debut year)               45-75  .375  Glasscock (7.0), Cushman (3.9), Curt Welch (3.4)
  7. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                 22-98  .183  Anson (7.0), Galvin (5.1), Fred Carroll (4.0)

1887 – Parameters: 120 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters, Western was no-go, so 3 of its players loaned to Midwest (Pud Galvin, Silver King, and Billy Gleason; all Missouri-born)

  1. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS            76-44  .633  Kilroy (12.1), Elmer Smith (10.8), J. Ward (6.6)
  2. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                    75-45  .625  Dan Casey (9.3), Whitney (8.3), Brouthers (5.3)
  3. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                64-56  .533   J. Clarkson (15.0), Keefe (7.5), Connor (6.2)
  4. OHIO VALLEY                                     54-66  .450  Seward (6.4), Browning (6.0), Glasscock (5.4)
  5. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                     47-73  .392  Caruthers (10.7), Ferguson (10.0), B. Nash (3.9)
  6. MIDWEST                                           44-76  .367  Ramsey (7.8), Thompson (5.3), Comiskey (2.7)

1888 – Parameters: 120 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters; Western re-grouped and fielded an improved team that completed the full slate of league games; New England won tiebreaker with Ohio Valley for title

  1. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                74-46  .617  Buffinton (12.0), Keefe (9.1), Connor (7.6)
  2. OHIO VALLEY                                      74-46  .617  Seward (9.9), John Reilly (5.3), Buck Ewing (4.4)
  3. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                      69-51  .575  M. Welch (7.8), Brouthers (6.6), Ed Morris (5.0)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                62-58  .517  Pete Conway (6.9), Stovey (5.4), E. Smith (5.0)
  5. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                       51-69  .425  Ben Sanders (8.5), Caruthers (6.6), Nash (5.3)
  6. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                    50-70  .417  Silver King (16.0), Anson (6.9), Galvin (5.7)
  7. MIDWEST                                             40-80  .333  Gus Krock (6.2), Nat Hudson (4.9), Pinkney (3.6)

1889 – Parameters: 132 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters

  1. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                  93-39  .705  J. Clarkson (16.2), Buffinton (11.1), Tucker (6.0)
  2. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                 74-58  .561  Kilroy (8.7), Henry Boyle (6.3), Stovey (5.4)
  3. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                       72-60  .545  Chamberlain (9.2), Brouthers (6.2), Welch (6.2)
  4. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                     68-64  .515  Duryea (9.1), S. King (8.6), Anson (6.4)
  5. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                        67-65  .508  Caruthers (8.4), B. Sanders (7.5), Tiernan (5.2)
  6. OHIO VALLEY                                        58-74  .439  Glasscock (6.6), D. Lyons (5.4), G. Weyhing (3.0)
  7. MIDWEST                                             30-102 .227  Wilmot (4.0), Darby O’Brien (3.6), Staley (2.8)

1890 – Parameters: 126 league games each; 3 SPs; 16-man rosters; Canada-Europe (CEU) made second and last appearance (these players otherwise assigned to New England Alliance (1871-1883) or New York Extended (1885-1889 and 1891-1900 in the 19th Century)

  1. OHIO VALLEY  (now, the TITANS)          84-42  .667  S. Stratton (10.8), Glasscock (7.1), H. Collins (5.6)
  2. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                     71-55  .563  J. Clarkson (8.8), Hutchison (8.3), Connor (6.0)
  3. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                          71-55  .563  Kid Gleason (12.0), McMahon (10.6), Childs (6.4)
  4. MIDWEST                                                68-58  .540  Kid Nichols (13.0), Rusie (8.2), Pinkney (5.5)
  5. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                   68-58  .540  Rhines (10.5), Stivetts (7.6), McTamany (3.9)
  6. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                       59-67  .468   S. King (12.4), Anson (5.4), Werden (5.2)
  7. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                         53-73  .421   Radbourn (7.8), McPhee (5.1), M. Welch (4.8)
  8. CANADA-EUROPE ALLIANCE                  30-96  .238   Getzien (5.4), Mullane (5.2), J. Knowles (4.2)

Composite Standings, first 20 years: (Titles: NY 9, NEA/NEL 6, Founders 3, American Independents, Ohio Valley Titans 1 each)

1. NY 939-650 (.591); 2. NEA/NEL 916-703 (.566); 3. PA 842-777 (.520); 4. OHV 315-303 (.510); 5. MAS 408-528 (.436); 6. MW 231-387 .374; 7. WST 259-461 (.360). “Extinct” franchises: 1. American Independents 383-360 (.515), 13 seasons; 2. New York City 54-58 (.482), 1884 only; 3. Midwest Independents 63-103 (.380), 1884-1885 only; 4. Canada-Europe Alliance (CEU) 79-159 (.332), ’84, ’90 only

1891 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters; back down to 7 teams

  1. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                      90-36  .714  J. Clarkson (9.9), Hutchison (9.5), Connor (5.7)
  2. MIDWEST                                                  63-63  .500  Nichols (9.2), Rusie (8.7), Herman Long (4.7)
  3. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                62-64  .492  G. Weyhing (7.8), Cy Young (6.1), Lyons (4.5)
  4. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                            62-64  .492  Brouthers (5.7), McPhee (4.5), Mullane (4.1)
  5. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                      58-68  .460  Stivetts (9.1), Stovey (4.5), Milligan (3.8)
  6. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                             57-69  .452  McMahon (9.4), Kid Gleason (6.9)
  7. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                          49-77  .389  Knell (6.1), Beckley (4.1), Crooks (4.1)

1892 – Parameters: 144 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                90-54  .625  Cy Young (13.0), Weyhing (7.4), Ewing (4.5)
  2. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                       82-62  .569  Stivetts (7.1), Oyster Burns and Virtue (4.7)
  3. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                          78-66  .542  Hutchison (9.1), Connor (6.3), Dwyer (5.8)
  4. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                              77-67  .535  Brouthers (8.8), Dahlen (6.1), Mullane (6.0)
  5. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                               63-81  .438  Childs (7.1), Kid Gleason (6.3), Hamilton (6.1)
  6. MIDWEST                                                     60-84  .417  Kid Nichols (8.8), Rusie (7.2), Thompson (4.7)
  7. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                            54-90  .375   Holliday (4.7), S. King (3.3), Anson (3.2)

1893 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                 87-39  .690   Young (10.6), Delahanty (6.9), Kennedy (6.0)
  2. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                        65-61  .516   Killen (8.5), E. Smith (5.3), Stivetts (4.6)
  3. MIDWEST                                                     62-64  .492   Nichols (11.7), Rusie (11.2), Thompson (4.2)
  4. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                              59-67  .468   Geo. Davis (5.7), Mullane (4.7), McGraw (4.3)
  5. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                               58-68  .460   McMahon (6.1), McGill (5.6), Hamilton (5.0)
  6. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                           55-71  .437   Connor (4.4), Dwyer (4.2), Hutchison (3.6)
  7. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                             55-71  .437  Breitenstein (11.0), Beckley (4.6), Van Haltren (3.3)

1894 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                  78-48  .619  Young (8.5), Hemming (6.5), Delahanty (6.0)
  2. MIDWEST                                                      69-57  .548  Rusie (13.7), Meekin (11.1), Thompson (5.3)
  3. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                            63-63  .500  Duffy (6.8), Joe Kelley (6.5), Dwyer (4.6)
  4. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                62-64  .492  G. Davis (5.4), McGraw (4.9), Carsey (2.4)
  5. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                              59-67  .468  Breitenstein (9.1), Griffith (5.9), Joyce (4.0)
  6. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                          56-70  .444  Stivetts (5.8), Jennings (4.8), E. Smith (4.1)
  7. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                 54-72  .429  Hamilton (8.2), “Brewery” Jack Taylor (6.3)

1895 – Parameters: 132 league games each, 4 fully-counted pitchers okay, 17-man rosters

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                   87-45  .659  Young (11.6), Delahanty (6.9), Stenzel (5.3)
  2. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                              81-51  .614  Griffith (9.3), Hoffer (7.9), Bill Lange (5.4)
  3. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                             64-68  .485  Kelley (5.9), Dwyer (4.8), A. Terry (4.6)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                          62-70  .470  Jennings (7.5), Maul (4.9), Cartwright (4.3)
  5. MIDWEST                                                       58-74  .439  Hawley (11.0), Nichols (9.5), S. Thompson (6.0)
  6. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                 57-75  .432  Mike Griffin (5.6), Keeler (5.3), Dad Clarke (4.9)
  7. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                  53-79  .402  Hamilton (6.1), J. Taylor (5.3), Foreman (4.6)

1896 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, back to 16-man rosters

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                    85-41  .675  Young (10.5), Delahanty (7.3), Ehret (5.8)
  2. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                           77-49  .611  Killen (8.4), Jennings (8.3), E. Smith (5.7)
  3. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                               69-57  .548  Hoffer (8.3), Griffith (6.4), Joyce (6.2)
  4. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                             54-72  .429  Dwyer (7.6), Kelley (7.0), Connor (2.8)
  5. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                 54-72  .429  Dahlen (7.1), Keeler (5.3), G. Davis (4.6)
  6. MIDWEST                                                        53-73  .421  Cuppy (10.4), Hawley (8.3), H. Long (4.0)
  7. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                  49-77  .389  Childs (6.2), Hamilton (5.8), Z. Wilson (3.5)

1897 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters

  1. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                              72-54  .571  Breitenstein (8.0), Fred Clarke (6.6)
  2. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                  70-56  .556  Keeler (7.1), G. Davis (6.9), J. Collins (5.3)
  3. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                      67-59  .532  Young (6.7), Delahanty (5.7), Mercer (5.1)
  4. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                               63-63  .500  Lajoie (5.2), Dwyer (5.1), Kelley (5.1)
  5. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                            62-64  .492  Jennings (7.3), Rhines (4.2), Wallace (4.2)
  6. MIDWEST                                                         61-65  .484  Nichols (11.1), Rusie (8.3), Reitz (3.4)
  7. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                   46-80  .365  Hamilton (4.9), J. Taylor (4.0), Childs (3.7)

1898 – Parameters: 138 league games each, 4 fully-counted pitchers, 17-man rosters

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                     91-47  .659  Tannehill (7.4), Young (7.3), Delahanty (6.2)
  2. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                                77-61  .558  Griffith (10.5), Gene Demontreville (5.0)
  3. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                  75-63  .543  McGraw (7.1), J. Collins (6.9), T. Lewis (6.9)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                            73-65  .529  Maul (7.7), Jennings (7.5), Wallace (4.7)
  5. MIDWEST                                                         66-72  .478  Nichols (11.1), Hawley (5.4), L. Cross (4.5)
  6. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                               56-82  .406  Jimmy Ryan (4.3), Dwyer (4.0), Kelley (3.8)
  7. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                    45-93  .326  McJames (7.5), Bert Cunningham (7.2)

1899 – Parameters: 138 league games each, 4/17 (same as 1898)

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                     98-40  .710  Young (8.3), Tannehill (8.1), Delahanty (8.0)
  2. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                                75-63  .543  Jay Hughes (7.9), Jimmy Williams (6.9)
  3. MIDWEST                                                         71-67  .514  McGinnity (8.4), Kitson (8.1), C. Stahl (5.5)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                            70-68  .507  Honus Wagner (5.8), Jack Dunn (3.9)
  5. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                  68-70  .493  McGraw (8.0), Seymour (5.3), Davis (4.9)
  6. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                               51-87  .370  Tenney (5.3), Kelley (4.5), Callahan (4.1)
  7. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                    50-88  .362  Vic Willis (10.1), Hahn (7.8), Keister (3.7)

1900 – Parameters: Schedule reduced to 120 league games, 16-man rosters (pitchers counted as needed to cover starts)

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                                     103-17  .858  Young (7.3), Flick (5.9), Burkett (5.3)
  2. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                                  68-52  .567  Griffith (5.0), Beckley (4.3), Orth (4.2)
  3. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                                    61-59  .508  Dinneen (6.9), McGraw (5.3), Davis (4.1)
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                              60-60  .500  Wagner (6.4), Waddell (3.5), Thomas (3.1)
  5. MIDWEST                                                           58-62  .483  McGinnity (5.1), Nichols (4.6), Long (2.4)
  6. MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH                                     38-82  .317  Hahn (6.2), Phillippe (4.8), Hamilton (4.2)
  7. NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS                                 32-88  .267  Lajoie (4.2), Kelley (3.5), R. Donahue (2.1)

COMPOSITE RESULTS FOR THE 19TH CENTURY (1871 through 1900)

  1. OHIO VALLEY TITANS                               1163 – 757    .606  9 Titles in 15 seasons
  2. NEW YORK EXCELSIORS                            1584 – 1307   .548  9 Titles in 30 seasons
  3. NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE/PILGRIMS       1522 – 1399   .521  7 Titles in 30 seasons
  4. PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS                      1507 – 1414   .516  3 Titles in 30 seasons
  5. WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS                            918 – 1104   .454  1 Title in 15 seasons
  6. MIDWEST                                                     852 – 1068   .444  0 Titles in 15 seasons
  7. MID-ATLANTIC (and) SOUTH                       921 – 1317   .412  0 Titles in 18 seasons

Among franchises no longer in operation:

  1. AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS (1871-1883)              383 – 360     .515  1 Title in 13 seasons
  2. NEW YORK CITY (5 Boroughs)                                  54 – 58      .482   in 1884 only
  3. MIDWEST INDEPENDENTS (1884-1885)                   63 – 103    .380   1885-1886 only
  4. CANADA-EUROPE ALLIANCE (CEU)                          79 – 159    .332   1884 and 1890 only

Okay, we’re all caught up with OBL history as “replayed” through the first 30 years. The “staff” will continue to work through the years 1901-1930, and that will bring to a close the 19th-Century era and the first 30-year era of the 20th Century. After this update, there will probably be a fairly good chunk of “down” time (NON-posting period) for the Era II page (1901-1930) and the site in general (a yard to be weeded, garden to plant, and other activities that will have to take priority). Some re-formatting of this page will probably be in order, but that will do it for now; just wanted to get those results up ASAP.  RetroPlay/Baseball 150.com guy out…