Archive for the ‘19th Century Baseball History’ Category

 

Fred Dunlap

Dunlap is identified at Baseball-reference.com with the nickname “Sure Shot,” but was much more likely to be called “King” Dunlap, as in “King of Second Baseman.”

Ending your baseball career is upheaval enough for many ballplayers. The angst of doing so during the turmoil of labor strife and a monopoly battle, wherein an athlete naturally questions his own worth and value in the community, is another. The Brotherhood era, 1889-1891, which historian Charles C. Alexander has dubbed Turbulent Seasons, taxed even the best of baseball men, player and executive alike. Fred Dunlap, once the top second baseman in the game, but now in his 30s, ran head-on into the drama, some of his own making.

Dunlap was no stranger to labor strife. In the early 1880s with Cleveland of the National League, he made $1300 to both manage (in 1882) and play the infield for the club. Up popped Henry Lucas from St. Louis with family money to spare and a new pet project, an upstart major league for 1884. Dunlap jumped to the new Union Association for a raise to $3600, and a resumption of his managerial duties. Well, he really didn’t jump his contract with Cleveland; he hadn’t signed one for the 1884 season yet. But that’s not of course how the National League viewed matters. They believed that their ballplayers belonged to them and them alone, in perpetuity, via a “reserve clause” they unilaterally decided to insert into their contracts.

“Dunlap,” according to Lucas, “said he did not care anything for the reserve rule, and intended to treat it as an imposition.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 26 November 1883) Lucas’ free spending netted quite a few good ballplayers. So many in fact that he overwhelmed his pet project; the other owners couldn’t keep up, couldn’t compete. The Maroons ran away with the pennant, by 35.5 games over the nearest club. Dunlap, besides acting as manager for most of the season, did his part on the field. He led the league in runs, hits, home runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and total bases. It may well have been a Triple Crown-season but RBI totals are not available.

The Lucas train barreled over the league and, in essence, sealed its demise after one brief season (despite his efforts to financially prop up the other clubs). Dunlap’s potentially thorny reentry into the National League was assured when Lucas purchased Fred’s old Cleveland franchise and relocated it to St. Louis.

Dunlap remained with St. Louis until August 1886 (by this time making $4500 a season, even after ceasing his formal managerial duties) when he was sold to Detroit, during Lucas’ withdrawal from the business. Detroit sold him to Pittsburgh in November 1887, a sale which netted Dunlap personally $2000 over and above a new $5000 per year deal.

By 1889, Dunlap was 30 years old with his best years on the field behind him and contemplating retirement. (That year he filled in for 17 games as interim manager.) He had signed a 2-year deal with Pittsburgh before the 1888 season. By July 1889, he was openly discussing leaving the game. Per the Wheeling Register, “Dunlap is one of the richest baseball players in the country. He owns a great deal of real estate in [his hometown] Philadelphia and has a fine figure in the bank to his credit.” He also saw an ugly chapter in baseball history approaching. The talent, National Leaguers more so than those in the other major league, the American Association, had unionized and were now intent on forming their own league.

As the season ended, Dunlap lined up with his brethren in the players union of the day, the Brotherhood; he was headed to the new Players League. After the 1889 season, Pittsburgh nevertheless listed him as part of their National League reserved squad. He was also listed as a member of the new Pittsburgh entry in the Players League.

1890

On December 6, 1889, the Philadelphia Inquirer declared that Dunlap was home for the winter and inserted, “He is a staunch Brotherhood supporter.” In January, it seemed imminent that he would be transferred to his hometown squad in Philly, but Ned Hanlon, Pittsburgh’s manager, was holding up the deal in order to extract some compensation from the league, in the form of another player or two. (Note: indeed men were being signed by individual Players League clubs, but the league directors wanted some form of parity and, hence, influence over each roster.) Dunlap, for his part, preferred staying in Philadelphia and overseeing his investments.

A tiff brought matters to a head in late-February. The St. Louis Republic declared, “Fred Dunlap is the latest player weakening on the Brotherhood.” Hanlon claimed Dunlap caused a ruckus over a “very trifling matter” and consequently the manager had enough: “He can never play in the Pittsburg club as long as I am manager.” In response, an irate Dunlap flatly told Hanlon that he wouldn’t play for him anyway and he was immediately released and assigned to the Philadelphia club.

Within days, Dunlap contacted Bill Nimick, president of Pittsburgh in the National League. He wanted a $500 raise to rejoin the club. Nimick countered that he wanted his second baseman back, but at a pay cut. Dunlap also sought to force the Players League to honor his contract:

Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4 March 1890

Per Hanlon:

Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7 March 1890

On March 13, the Philadelphia Inquirer noted his unconditional release from the Players League.

Philadelphia Inquirer 13 March 1890

Dunlap headed to New York to discuss the matter with the head of the Brotherhood, Monte Ward – to no avail:

Philadelphia Inquirer 22 March 1890

On the 24^th, Dunlap agreed to a deal with the National League; he was headed back to Pittsburgh. He was still irate though; the Players League entanglement forced him to accept a deal with a $1500 pay cut.

New York Herald, 10 April 1890

Unfortunately for Dunlap, Nimick was in a precarious position – even as the season started. He had overspent and the club was in serious financial in trouble. By May, the creditors were piling up. He owned money seemingly everywhere:

• Rent on Recreation Park
• Hotel fees
• Advertising expenses

Lawsuits were being initiated and foreclosure was looming at the park. Nimick gained a concession from the league to drop admission prices to a quarter from the league minimum of 50 cents. Home games were also being rerouted to other league parks. Pittsburgh actually played home games in Wheeling, West Virginia and Canton, Ohio in 1890. Retrosheet lists the club with only 40 home games compared to 98 as a visitor. Of those 98, they lost 88.

By mid-May Nimick resigned in favor of J. Palmer O’Neill, who promptly cut costs – which meant Dunlap for one. He was released on May 14 after only 17 games at second base.

Daily Inter Ocean, 15 May 1890

On the 22^nd after all the to-do earlier in the year, Dunlap rejoined the Brotherhood, signing with New York. However, he only appeared in one game for them on the 26^th before another dust-up. Well it appears that he never really put anything on paper with the Players League this time. He had played that one game “to accommodate Ewing.” That is, manager Buck Ewing needed someone to man second so Dunlap acquiesced. Only after the game did Fred sit down to negotiate:

New York Herald, 28 May 1890

Philadelphia Inquirer, May 29 May 1890

With that, he packed up and went home. In July, he was approached by Bill Sharsig, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association, to join the club at a reported $500 per month, but Dunlap rejected the offer. He was done for the year. In December, there was talk of him joining Baltimore but that didn’t pan out either.

On February 7, 1891, Dunlap decided to return to the game and inked a deal with the expansion Washington Nationals of the American Association. In his eighth game with the club on April 20, he rounded third heading for home, but decided he couldn’t make it and returned, sliding into the base. He “fractured a small bone in his left leg.” (Washington Post, 21 April 1891) He was treated at Garfield Hospital and remained intent on rejoining the club. He never did. Still walking with a cane in June, the Nationals gave him his formal release on the 28^th.

Over the winter of 1891-1892, the National League and American Association merged, forming an enlarged 12-team league. (The Players League had folded after one year.) With all the player shuffling, Dunlap wasn’t claimed by any of the twelve clubs. His playing career ended with a slide into third. He probably wouldn’t have returned anyway; Fred was involved in his business endeavors and had recently entered horse racing.

There was talk of him joining the Allentown club in 1894 but that never happened.

SOURCE LIST

• Alexander, Charles C. Turbulent Seasons: Baseball in 1890-1891. Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University Press, 2011
• Baseball-reference.com
• Canton Repository, Ohio, 15 May 1890
• Chicago Daily Gazette, 13 November 1889
• Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, 29 May 1890
• Cleveland Plain Dealer, 26 November 1883, 22 February 1890, 25 February 1890, 4 March 1890, 7 March 1890, 18 April 1890
• Daily Inter Ocean, Chicago, 1 November 1889, 10 April 1890, 15 May 1890
• New York Herald, 11 January 1890, 27 February 1890, 25 March 1890, 10 April 1890, 28 May 1890
• New York Sun, 23 March 1890
• Philadelphia Inquirer, 1889-1892, 14 April 1894
• Retrosheet.org
• St. Louis Republic, 22 February 1890
• Thomas, Joan M., “Henry V. Lucas,” SABR Biography Project
• Washington Post, 21 April 1891, 3 June 1891
• Wheeling Register, West Virginia, 21 July1889

 

The National League in 1890, not a stellar year for the circuit. By the mid-1880s, the owners had sufficiently tightened the noose around the players that they felt comfortable enough to impose their will as they saw fit. After all, the blacklist in conjunction with the reserve clause – which had been expanded to cover every man on the field – had the magnates feeling invincible. Next, they decided to unilaterally hole the players in salary tiers.

Self-interest being what it is, the owners didn’t always toe the line. In fact, they often handed out more cash during private negotiations. However, the players got the idea; management was rolling all over labor throughout the country. A union was formed, first in New York, which had gained sufficient numbers by the end of the decade to challenge the execs. In fact, they split with them.

A large faction of the talent broke from the National League before the 1890 season and formed its own league, the Players National League. Fireballer Amos Rusie remained loyal and agreed to return to the National League. Charley Nichols, for one, was brought in to fill the void.

The two hurlers met on May 12 in one of the top games of the 19^th century.

The Duelers

Rusie would turn 19 years old at the end of the month. He made his major league debut with his home state club, the Indianapolis Hoosiers, a year earlier at age seventeen. Over the winter, the club folded and he was transferred to the New York Giants under league supervision. In 1890, he was the workhorse of the Giants with 62 starts, albeit with a losing record.

Any note on Rusie would be remiss if it didn’t include the fact that he threw hard – very hard, and naturally he piled up the strikeouts. Some say he was the reason that the mound would be pushed back five feet in 1893. It must also be declared that he had a tremendous hard curveball which John McGraw claimed he would throw at any point in the count.

Nichols, better known as Kid to today’s fans, was 21 when signed by the Boston Beaneaters. He was brought in to help replace Hoss Radbourn and Kid Madden who took off for the Players League (the workhorse Pretzels Getzien was also brought in). Pulled from Omaha, Nichols relied more on his fastball and control than mixing in a curveball regularly. He did so but limitedly. Many name Nichols as the pitcher of the 1890s, and rightfully so, but Rusie may have grabbed that title if he wasn’t mired in contract disputes at the end of the decade.

The Game

May 12, 1890, Boston @ New York, National League, Polo Grounds III

The Polo Grounds III, often referred to as Manhattan Field was used in 1889 and ’90. Polo Grounds IV (in use until 1911) was built by the Players League abutting the National League park. On the 12^th, both grounds were in use as the New York PL club, also known as the Giants, hosted their league’s Boston entry. In a blowout, Boston won 12-2. That park’s fans weren’t shy about checking on the action next door. They’d hang on the fence or otherwise strain to catch a glimpse of the Rusie/Nichols duel.

And a pitcher’s duel it was, no one crossed the plate in the first twelve innings. In fact, there was no serious scoring threat after a failed first-inning double steal (Boston’s Tommy Tucker picked off at home).

In the 13^th, the Giants’ leadoff batter Mike Tiernan strode to the plate with two outs. He knocked the ball foul into the stands. It wasn’t return to the field fast enough according to home plate umpire Phil Powers (Sandy McDermott manned the bases). Powers busted out a new ball above the objections of Nichols who was already in possession of the old ball.

During the 19^th century, it was seen – and in fact was – as a distinct advantage to hit against a shiny new ball which had yet been battered into softness. Modern softball fans will know this as some balls seem to fly off the bat while others can be pounded but seem to go nowhere. Home clubs often batted first by choice because they wanted the first crack at the new ball.

Sure enough, Tiernan cracked Nichol’s next pitch over the center field wall for the game-winner. The ball smacked the back of the fence of the Players League park. The 687 in attendance screamed with delight, as did the Players League fans who kept an eye on the proceedings. Rusie closed out the bottom of the 13^th for the victory. Unbelievable by today’s standards, the extra-inning contest only took two hours.

• Rusie, 3 hits, 2 walks, 11 Ks
• Nichols, 4 hits, 1 walk, 11 Ks

The pitchers weren’t the whole story. The next day’s newspaper coverage hailed seemingly every man on the field for their outstanding defensive work.

Boston Globe 5/13/1890

 

SOURCE LIST

• Alexander, Charles C. Turbulent Seasons: Baseball in 1890-1891. Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University Press, 2011
• Baseball-reference.com
• Boston Globe, 13 May 1890
• Boston Journal, 13 May 1890
• James, Bill and Rob Neyer. The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers: An Historical Compendium of Pitching, Pitchers, and Pitches. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004.
• Retrosheet.org

 

Formal Name: Players National League

# Teams: 8

Head-to-head versus National League:

• New York
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Cleveland
• Chicago
• Brooklyn

The other PL club represented Buffalo.

Head-to-head versus American Association:

• Philadelphia
• Brooklyn

The Ball: Tim Keefe’s company (est. 1889)

Gate Split: 50/50, home team keeps concessions

Schedule: No Sunday games

Liquor: No liquor sales

Admission: 50 cents minimum, 75 cents shaded (usually) bleacher seat

Pitching Distance: 57′ (distance of back line of pitcher’s box where foot is to be planted)

Umpiring System: 2 per game

Home Uniforms: Universal - white with blue stockings

Road Uniforms: Universal - blue with white stockings

SOURCE LIST

Alexander, Charles C. Turbulent Seasons: Baseball in 1890-1891. Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University Press, 2011.

 

The First Pennant Contested until the Last Day of the Season

The major league first pennant race solved on the season’s final day occurred in 1889, the National League. Entering the final week of the campaign, the defending National League champion New York Giants held a ½ game lead over the Boston Beaneaters. The two clubs were tied in victories but New York had one less loss and one less tie.

Giants

The arms for the Giants included Mickey Welch and Tim Keefe, both future Hall of Famers, who combined for 55 wins in 86 starts. Cannonball Ed Crane added another 14 victories. Still others accounted for 14 more. Of the latter, two stand out:

• Hank O’Day,  more famous as an umpire in three major leagues from 1884 to 1927
  

  Hank O'Day

• Hall of Fame catcher Buck Ewing

With the bat, New York shined. Five of Jim Mutrie’s regulars hit over .300: Ewing, first baseman Roger Connor and outfielders Jim O’Rourke, George Gore and Mike Tiernan. Shortstop Monte Ward was another standout, batting .299 with 62 stolen bases. At one time Ward was one of the league’s outstanding pitchers. After years of subbing in the outfield when he wasn’t on the mound, the future Hall of Famer converted to the middle infield, first at short and then ending his career at second base.

Beaneaters

John Clarkson led Boston with 49 victories, and all other clubs as well. Hoss Radbourn chipped in another 20, Kid Madden 10.

Boston’s regulars included such 19^th century stars as:

• Catcher Charlie Bennett
• First baseman Dan Brouthers, who killed the ball in ‘89
• Second baseman Hardy Richardson
• Third baseman Billy Nash
• And King Kelly, mainly in right field

Jim Mutrie

1889 NL Batting

New York led the league: Runs, Triples, RBI, Batting Average, On-base %, Slugging

Boston led the league: Stolen Bases

1889 NL Pitching

New York led the league: Fewest Hits Allowed, Strikeouts

Boston led the league: Shutouts, Fewest Runs Allowed, ERA (NY second)

Saturday, October 5

After the games of Friday, October 4, the standings stood:

• New York 82-43-5
• Boston 83-44-5
• All other clubs at least 19 games behind

It would be many years before each club would be mandated to play and equal number of games. The pennant still hung in the balance on Saturday, the scheduled end of the season. The Giants were away in Cleveland, the Cuban Giants at home using the Polo Grounds. The Beaneaters were away as well, in Pittsburgh.

New York was concerned over possible chicanery. The standings at this point had never been so close before. Unthinkable today, the Giants manager Jim Mutrie left the club at so tenuous a time. Years of fraud perpetrated to and by an array of New York clubs fed a healthy dose of suspicion that many today would call a guilty conscience. Where did he go? To Pittsburgh, of course, to gauge Boston’s intensions:

New York Times 10/5/1889

Both teams toed the line. It ended with a fizzle as New York won 5-3 and Boston lost 6-1. (Mutrie was also after Boston to play some exhibition games immediately after the end of the season, to capitalize on the pennant fever.)

New York Times 10/6/1889

In Pittsburgh, Clarkson took the mound opposite Pub Galvin, another Hall of Famer. Galvin had started the game on Thursday but he was well-rested compared to Clarkson who had started 15 of his club’s final 18.

New York Times 10/6/1889

Officially, Boston rested a ½ game behind:

• NYG 83-43-5
• BOS 83-45-5

“We are the People!”

New York Herald 10/7/1889

 

Postseason

There would be a World Series in 1889, as there had been since 1884. However, the American Association continued to play for another 10 days. The Giants looked forward to a healthy gate against the AA champions – the cross-town Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

The Giants took the series, 6 games to 3. Ed Crane proved the difference, claiming four of New York’s victories. Keefe and Welch won zero, as O’Day won the other two. Brooklyn exacted revenge though. They hopped into the National League for 1890 and took the pennant.

SOURCE LIST

• Baseball-reference.com
• New York Herald, 5 October 1889, 7 October 1889
• New York Times, 5 October 1889, 6 October 1889 
• Retrosheet.org

 

Amateur game at Rockford, Illinois in 1867.

Rockford Weekly Register-Gazette 8/17/1867

 

New York Herald 12/22/1856

 

After this first meeting in January, the next step was to form universal rules:

New York Herald 2/2/1857

 

Umpire Jimmy Peoples

New York Times 7/28/1890