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1876 Boston Red Caps | The History of the Atlanta Braves

The 1876 season was a historic one for the Boston Red Caps, as they joined the newly formed National League after the collapse of the National Association. The team changed its name from the Red Stockings to avoid confusion with the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who also joined the NL. The Red Caps finished second in the eight-team league, behind the Chicago White Stockings, with a 52-18 record.

The Red Caps were led by player-manager Harry Wright, who also played center field and pitched occasionally. Wright was one of the pioneers of professional baseball and had managed the Red Stockings since their inception in 1871. He was joined by his brother George Wright, who played shortstop and was considered one of the best players of his era. George Wright led the team in batting average (.333), home runs (5), and runs batted in (49).

The team also featured some other notable players, such as catcher Deacon White, who hit .367 and led the league in hits (103) and doubles (29); first baseman Jim O’Rourke, who hit .310 and scored 66 runs; second baseman Ross Barnes, who hit .272 and stole 29 bases; and pitcher Tommy Bond, who won 31 games and had a 1.68 earned run average.

The Red Caps had a strong start to the season, winning 18 of their first 20 games. They were in first place until late June, when they lost four straight games to the White Stockings, who took over the lead for good. The Red Caps tried to catch up, but could not overcome Chicago’s dominance. The White Stockings finished with a 52-14 record, six games ahead of Boston.

The 1876 season was also notable for some off-field events that affected the Red Caps and the league. In August, four players from the Louisville Grays were accused of throwing games in exchange for money from gamblers. The players were banned for life by league president William Hulbert, who also expelled the entire Louisville franchise from the NL. The scandal tarnished the reputation of professional baseball and prompted some reforms to prevent future corruption.

Another controversy involved the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who refused to play on Sundays, citing religious reasons. This angered some of their opponents, who claimed that Cincinnati was violating the league’s schedule and forfeiting games. Hulbert sided with Cincinnati and allowed them to reschedule their Sunday games. However, this decision caused resentment among some of the other teams, especially St. Louis, who felt that they were being treated unfairly by Hulbert.

The 1876 season marked the beginning of a new era for baseball and for the Boston franchise. The Red Caps would go on to win six more pennants in the next decade, becoming one of the most successful teams in baseball history. They would also change their name several times, eventually becoming known as the Braves in 1912.