Boston Beaneaters and Frank Selee finish fifth (1895)

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1895, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, July 3, July 8, June 11

Frank Selee was in his 6th year as manager. He clearly was on a slide in 1895 having finished 1st in 1893, 3rd in 1894 and now 5th in 1895. The Beaneaters ended up 16 and 1/2 games out of 1st place with a 71-60 record. Ouch!

This is the first year that the team would have spring training in the south. While not in Florida yet, Columbia, South Carolina was the spring home. The team left SC feeling they could win the pennant again. Misplaced optimism for sure.

The first half of the season did see them in contention. They actually moved past Pittsburgh and into 1st by beating Louisville on June 11 by a score of 11-0. They then dropped out of the lead on July 3. That was a pretty important time.  The race was a toss up between Boston, Baltimore, Chicago and Pittsburgh. As of July 8, only one game separated the four teams.

A lot would go downhill from there.

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

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Boston Beaneaters are designated one of eight teams (March 8, 1900)

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1900, Boston Beaneaters, March 8

In New York on March 8, 1900, the National League decides to go with eight teams. The selected eight cities will remain the same for 53 years until the Braves move to Milwaukee in 1953.

So in 1900, the Beaneaters will end up 66-72 in 4th place. They were 17 games behind the leader, the Brooklyn Superbas.

Boston Beaneaters – 1900

Fred Tenney belts a home run in his rookie year (July 21, 1894)

Tags

1894, Boston Beaneaters, Fred Tenney, Jouett Meekin, July 21

Fred Tenney

As a rookie in 1894, Fred Tenney got off to a very good start with the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves).

On July 21, in a 14-3 Boston win over New York‚  Fred belts a home run off Jouett Meekin. It would be 1 of 3 home runs for the season.

He would play in 21 games that year and end up with a .395 batting average. Much better than he would do next year when he played in 49 games and batted .272.

Frank Selee is the class of the league (1892)

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1892, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, Harry Stanly, Jack Stivvetts, John Clarkson, Kid Nichols

Frank Selee moved into his third season in 1892. Great things were ahead for him. The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had an amazing 102-48 record, finishing first, 8 1/2 games ahead. This may have been the greatest season in franchise history.

Kid Nichols

The National League expanded to 12 teams that year. They also adopted a split-season 154 game format. This played to the Beaneaters formidable strengths. The team was so good, it could release the pitching great, John Clarkson, at mid season.

With Kid Nichols, Harry Stanly, and a newcomer, Jack Stivvetts (picked up from the defunct American Association), the pitching staff rocked the league. They combined for 92 victories, 35 apiece for Stivetts and Nichols.

Boston Beaneater ballplayer Lew Brown blacklisted for “confirmed dissipation and general insubordination.” (1882)

Tags

1876, 1877, 1883, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Red Caps, Lew Brown

Lew Brown – Boston Red Caps

Lewis (Lew) J. Brown  was a Brave (Boston Red Caps) in 1876, 1877 and 1883 seasons. His debut was on June 17, 1876. Primarily a catcher and first baseman, he played for seven seasons in total and played for six different teams from 1876 to 1884.

Brown was primarily a catcher, but he also logged over 100 games as a first baseman. He also appeared twice as a pitcher. His final game was October 19, 1884.

In his 1876 season with the Braves, he hit a lack luster .210. Probably not burning things up, even for a catcher. 1877 saw improvement to .253 but in 1878, off he went to the Providence Grays.

Brown missed the 1882 season due to being blacklisted for “confirmed dissipation and general insubordination.” Apparently he showed up drunk at an exhibition game and was suspended for the season. Imagine that.

Dissipation is defined as “a descent into drunkenness and sexual dissipation”.

He returned for a season in 1883 for the Boston Beaneaters (now known as the Atlanta Braves). He only played in 14 games, batting .241. He was sent to the Louisville Eclipse. Brown died at the age of 30 in Boston, Massachusetts, and is interred at Forest Hills.

Harvey Bailey pitched for two years with a 4.13 ERA (1899 to 1900)

Tags

1876, 1899, 1900, 1922, Boston Beaneaters, Harvey Bailey, July 10, November 24

1900 Boston Beaneaters

Harvey Francis Bailey played for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Braves) for two seasons. He was born on November 24, 1876.

He played for the Boston Beaneaters in 1899 and 1900. He played in the minor leagues through 1908.

Harvey died on July 10, 1922.

Year	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	SO
1899	BSN	NL	6	4	.600	3.95	12	26
1900	BSN	NL	0	0		4.95	4	9
2 Yrs			6	4	.600	4.13	16	35
162 Game Avg.			15	10	.600	4.13	39	85

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/28/2016.

The 100th loss of the season (October 5, 1905)

Tags

Boston Beaneaters, Brooklyn Superbas, Ned Hanlon, Washington Park

Boston Beaneaters

On October 5, 1905,  the Boston Beaneaters suffer their 100th loss of the season when they drop the first game of a Washington Park doubleheader, 11-5, to the Brooklyn Superbas, a team that has already lost 103 games.

It is the first occurrence in major league history that two teams with triple-digit losses have been opponents. Ned Hanlon was the manager for the Superbas.

In October 1898, rumors spread that Hanlon may move to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and take many of the Orioles’ players with him.^[46] By December 1898, discussions were underway for a consolidation of the Brooklyn and Baltimore clubs in Brooklyn.^[47]

Negotiations continued through the winter, and ultimately a deal was struck which resulted in Hanlon and Baltimore owner Harry Von der Horst receiving stock in the Brooklyn club and with von der Horst as the controlling shareholder of both clubs. Under the deal, Hanlon became the manager of Brooklyn and took Keeler, Kelley and Jennings with him to Brooklyn. The Brooklyn team, formerly known as the Bridegrooms, was dubbed the “Superbas” in the press, simply because the new manager shared the same name as a popular vaudeville acrobatic troupe known as Hanlon’s Superbas.^[48][49]

Hanlon led his 1899 Superbas to a 101–47 record and a National League pennant. Outfielders Keeler and Kelley led the offense with averages of .379 and .325. On the mound, pitchers Jack Dunn, Jim Hughes and Brickyard Kennedy combined for a 73–28 record.^[50]

The 1900 Superbas again won the pennant with an 82-54 record as Keeler and Kelley again led the offense with averages of .362 and .319. Joe McGinnity, later inducted into the Hall of Fame, was acquired from the Orioles in March 1900 and led the pitching staff with a 28–8 record.^[51]

Prior to the 1900 season, the Superbas also acquired Jimmy Sheckard from the Orioles. Sheckard hit .354 with 19 triples for Hanlon’s team in 1901. The Superbas finished the 1901 season in third place with a 79–57 (.581) record.^[52] In 1902, Keeler hit .333, but no other player on the Brooklyn team hit above .280. The Superbas again finished the season in third place with a 75–63 record.^[53] By 1903, Keeler was gone, and Brooklyn dropped to fifth place with a 70–66 record.^[54]

In 1904 and 1905, Hanlon was left with teams that lacked a single .300 hitter. The 1904 team dropped to sixth place with a 56–97 record,^[55] and the 1905 team finished in last place with a 48–104 record.^[56]

Source: Wikipedia

The Delaware Peach (1898 – 1905)

Tags

1876, 1898, 1899, 1905, April 12, August 7, Boston Beaneaters, Delaware Peach, Georgia Peach, No Hitter, Ty Cobb, Vic Willis

Vic Willis

The final year of the glory years for the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) was due in part to Vic Willis.

A great right handed pitcher. He arrived on the scene in 1898. He played with the Braves until 1905. He was born in Cecil County, Maryland on April 12, 1876. At 6’2″, he was tall for a player then. The Beaneaters had won eight of the first 23 championships.

Many of us remember the Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb. Vic was know as the Delaware Peach long before Ty.

Willis pitched the second no-hitter in the Braves history. It came on August 7, 1899. He kept Washington hitless and won a 7-1 victory.

Delay is asked for, denied and the game is forfeited (April 5, 1902)

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1902, April 5, Boston Beaneaters, Forfeit, Joe Cantillon, Pittsburgh Pirates, South End Grounds

South End Grounds

On April 5, 1902, in a game at the South End Grounds in Boston, the Boston Beaneaters are trailing the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in the top of the 5th when it begins to rain.

The Beaneaters complain to umpire Joe Cantillon that the game should be stopped, but the ump refuses. The Braves then began delaying the game, making unnecessary throws and drops, to try to get the game called; since it has not gone five innings, a possible Pirates victory will be wiped off the books if the game is called.

However, because of the delaying tactics, Cantillon orders the game forfeited to Pittsburgh.

The Kid begins to dominate for the Beaneaters (1891)

Tags

1869, 1891, Boston Beaneaters, Kid Nichols, September 14

Kid Nichols

I love the name “Kid” Nichols. I guess when you are 20 and break into the Majors, you are a kid. Kid arrived on the scene in 1890, playing for the Beaneaters. He hailed from Madison, Wisconsin, having been born on September 14, 1869.

Nichols would win 30 games in 1891. That would be 3 less than John Clarkson, the other starter for the Beaneaters. Between the two, they pitched Boston to their first pennant in eight years.

In 1891, Nichols ranked fourth in the league in wins and was second in ERA with 2.39 and five shutouts.

Nichols had tremendous control. He only allowed 2.18 walks per game. He also ranked second in strikeouts with 5.08 per game.

Pretty good considering the rules for pitchers were changing a lot at this time.

 

Good enough (1898)

Tags

1892, 1898, 1993, Bobby Cox, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee with the Boston Beaneaters – 1898

Being good enough in baseball is what it is about some days. The 1898 Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) weren’t as good as they were in the previous season percentage wise. They ended up 6 games ahead to win the pennant. Frank Selee continuted to be a mastermind as the manager. Their record was 102-47.

So, they were good enough. They won 9 more games than the year before. Their winning percentage was .685 and a little lower than the year before.

Part of this is about statistics. This was the year that the National League expanded to the 154 game schedule. 102 wins was VERY good. It tied the 1892 pennant winners for a record. It stood until Bobby Cox and the Braves won 104 (of 162) in 1993.

Bothering the pitcher (1893)

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1893, Billy Nash, Boston Beaneaters, Home Run, May 19, Pitcher

Billy Nash – Boston Beaneaters

Maybe this has happened more than once but I have never heard of it. Billy Nash must have been a character. The Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) had a great season in 1893. They won the pennant.

In a game with Brooklyn on May 19, the score was tied after 8 innings. It looked like Brooklyn would win the game. They scored 3 runs in the top of the ninth. Not good for the home team for sure. It is the bottom of the ninth. How many times have home team fans been in this situation?

Third baseman Billy Nash comes up to the plate. He is first up in the inning. So …. he whacks one over the left field fence. Here we go!!! But he didn’t run home as expected (even then). He stopped at third base. He settled for a triple. Why? WHY? So he could “bother the pitcher”. And boy did he. The Braves got three runs to tie the game.

In to the 10th we go. Both teams scored a run. Nash got his due. He hit another to tie it and this time took the homer. The Braves finally won in the 12th. 5-4 was the final.

I can’t imagine a player not taking a homer today. But, Billy Nash no longer plays.

1886 Boston Beaneaters (10th Season)

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1886, Bill Stemmyer, Billy Nash, Boston Beaneaters, Charlie Buffington, Charlie Parsons, Con Daily, Dick Johnston, Ezra Sutton, Jack Burdock, Joe Hornung, John Morrill, Myron Allen, Old Hoss Radbourn, Pat Dealy, Pop Tate, Sam Wise, South End Grounds, Tom Gunning, Tom Poorman

Boston Beaneaters

The 1886 Boston Beaneaters finished 5th (out of 8) in the National League. 56 wins and 61 loses with a .479 record. It was a tough year being 30.5 games out of first. First went to the Chicago White Stockings who had a .726 record of 90-34. Of course, it could have been worse. The Washington Nationals were in last with a 28-92 .233 record.

John Morrill was the manager and in his 5th year. Things had been steadily going downhill for him since winning the NL pennant in 1883. John also played in 117 games that year with a .247 batting average.

They played at the South End Grounds I.

And the players were ….

Myron Allen – A second baseman who at age 32, he played 1 game at second. He had 3 At Bats, striking out once with no hits. Ouch!!!

Charlie Buffinton – Pitched and played 1st. He played in 44 games with a .290 Batting Average. He had a 7-10 record as pitcher and was the third starter. With a 4.59 ERA he had 151 innings pitched.

Jack Burdock – Played in 59 games at second base. A veteran of 15 years, he ended the year with a .217 Batting Average.

Con Daily – Primarily a catcher (49 games) who played in 50 games. In 180 At Bats, he ended up with a .239 Batting Average.

Pat Dealy – One of the 3 catchers. At age 24, he played in 15 games.

Tom Gunning – Caught in 27 games. He had a .224 batting average.

Joe Hornung – At age 29, he played in 94 games. He played outfield and ended the season with a .257 batting average. Joe had the highest fielding percentage with .948 in 210 chances.

Dick Johnston – An outfielder who at age 23, he played in 109 games. He had a .240 batting average.

John Morrill – The short stop hit .247 for the year and led the team with 7 home runs. He also had the most runs scored with 86 and the second most RBI’s with 69. John had the most doubles with 25. John had the most walks at 56. Interesting that he also had struck out the most with 81 for the season.

Billy Nash – Billy had the second most hits with 117. The third baseman was 21 and played in 109 games.

Charlie Parsons – A pithcer who played in 2 games.

Tom Poorman – A 28 year old out fielder. He led the team with 31 stolen bases. He had a .261 batting average with 97 hits in 371 at bats.

Old Hoss Radbourn – An eventual Hall of Famer. He played in 66 games, 58 as the pitcher. He was the highest paid player at $4,000. He had a 27-31 record for the year with a 3.0 ERA. He pitched more than anyone else with 509.1 innings of duty. He gave up 18 home runs with 218 strike outs. He walked 111.

Bill Stemmyer – A 21 year old pitcher. He had a 22-18 record with a 3.02 ERA and .550 W-L percentage. He pitched the second most innings with 348.2. he gave up 300 hits and 218 runs. He led the team with strike outs at 239.

Ezra Sutton – Ezra was a utility player with a .277 batting average, he had the most At Bats with 499 in a 116 games played. A utility player who saw action in the out field, 3B, SS and 2B. At age 36, also the oldest player on the team. He had the most hits on the team with 138 and the most total bases with 180.

Pop Tate – Pop played in 31 games and was a catcher. He had a .226 batting average.

Sam Wise – Sam played in 96 games and was the first baseman. At age 28, Sam had the most triples with 12. He also had 4 home runs with a .289 batting average (the best on the team). He led the team with 31 stolen bases (tied with Tom Poorman.

Aliens, Old Timers, Magnates, and “the Gun.” (June 21, 1897) – Guest blog by Keith Robbins

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1897, Al Spalding, Andy Leonard, Boston Beaneaters, George Wright, Jack Manning, John Morrill, June 21, Old Timers, Pitching Gun, Tommy Bond

Guest blog article by Keith Robbins

Box Score June 21 1897

This day in Braves history is a day of baseball superlatives of the intercontinental and scientific type. It was the unequivocally the most unique game ever played was seen by a countless number of fans at the old baseball grounds. (Box score courtesy of Sporting Life, Volume 29, Number 14.)

As for Aliens, we look to the IRS definition of the term, in which we in today’s terminology would classify the Braves opponent that day as a non-resident aliens: the Australian Baseball Tourists of 1897.

As for the Old Timers, the box score shows many of the best of the 19^th Century Braves. While all baseball fans know of George Wright, and AG Spalding, and former Braves players Tommy Bond, Jack Manning and Harry “Silk Stockings” Schafer and Andy Leonard were once household names.  Others were not, such as Harry Ayer who remains unknown to baseball-reference.com to this day, and others lost to history, such as the third Wright Brother of baseball, Sam Wright, a career .168 average no doubt helps.

As for the Magnates, the superlatives associated with this game continue beyond the players. The official scorer was the inventor of the Box Score, Hall of Famer Henry Chadwick. The umpires were team owners: the infamous magnate. Tammany Hall operative and team wrecker of the Orioles and Giants, Andrew Freedman, and former Braves owner George Appleton who called the bases.  What would be today’s equivalent? The Boss behind the plate, Ted Turner calling the bases?

Pitching Gun

As for “the Gun,” this game was a live test of a horribly bad experimental piece baseball equipment known as either Prof. Hinton’s Pitching Cannon or the Princeton Pitching Gun.  It was developed by Oxford educated and Princeton Mathematics and baseball fan, Professor Charles W. Hinton. This contraption was part cannon, part rifle, electric battery, and thoroughly and completely terrifying. Powered by a .38 caliber cartridge, it shot baseballs in the general direction of helmetless batsmen. The muzzle length was adjustable, allowing for fast balls or change ups, and the ball could be made to curve, drop or slide by adjusting its “leather” fingers.

The box score indicates that one major issue was control, as “the Gun” was credited for one wild pitch, and one walk, and allowed four runs in two innings of game finishing relief work.  We also have three passed balls by a typically sure handed Honest John Morrill.

The 1897 Australian baseball tourist team had more courage than baseball skills.  The team was oversold by their manager and promoter as being “cleaver batsman” and “play excellent ball” as noted by the San Francisco Call, but in fact, some of the players did not know how to wear a baseball glove nor how to field. They were mercilessly ridiculed by the American media wherever they played and yet were supported by baseball’s leadership in arranging games, finding viable competition, and offering generous hospitality, in the form of free tickets and after game banquets to honor the foreign baseball tourists. The Spalding Guide of 1898 graciously described the baseball tourists from down under as having much to learn, and were “simply not in it.”

These old Red Stockings – Beaneaters were exemplary nineteenth century gentlemen of the highest order, as their ten recorded errors enabled a 27-13 Aussie Victory. It was one of just a handful for the tourists.  Nevertheless, the Sydney Morning Herald called the trip “A Total Failure” and this day has been lost and forgotten. Australian baseball is still recovering from the aftershocks of the trip.

While taking the field armed with pitching cannon, might redefine the term international friendly; due to their generosity and hospitality, both on the field and off, these old Braves understood the game of international baseball.

Hugh Duffy is the hitting hero of the day (June 16, 1892) Guest blog by Keith Spalding Robbins

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1892, Boston Beaneaters, Hugh Duffy, June 16, King Kelly, Ted Williams

June 16, 1892 Hugh Duffy – Guest blog article by Keith Robbins

Hugh Duffy

The Braves hitting hero of the day was Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy, Sir Hugh Duffy as the Royal Rooters knew him then.

In 1892 Duffy batted second for the Beaneaters, and statistics show he hit a legitimate .301/ .364/ .410 with an OPS+ of 124;  a worthy average.  Yet, 1892 was the last year of the shorter mound distance of 55’-6.” It was the year of the pitcher. Last Year John Thorne did a very good analysis on pitching speed, and with the shorter distance gave the hitters less reaction time to the pitched ball. His calculations showed that the reaction time of that era was similar to facing 100 MPH fastballs on just about every typical pitch. The top three WAR leaders of the NL that year were all pitchers, led by Cy Young’s 13.1 and only two non-pitchers were the top 10 WAR leaders that season.

The next year the mound was pushed back to the distance it is today at 60’-6.” Duffy’s average jumped over 60 points to a very healthy and league leading .363/ .416/ .461 and an OPS+ of 126. The next season, was his greatest, and one of baseball’s greatest when he hit a record high .440 with an OPS+ of 173.

Never known as a nice guy or one to show a great deal of kindness to others, Ted Williams was mythically reported to have said that he hoped he never hit .441 and broke Duffy’s mark because he liked him so much. (Baseball-reference.com)

The game in question is of interest due to contemporary context of the College World Series, and the recent MLB Draft, with the underlying issue of defining amateurism. While the debates rages on today with billion dollar NCAA TV deals and full tuition of the two big money sports and the relative scarcity of funds for baseball scholarships the issue of amateurism is not new. The debate of the excess of College sport and paying of college age athletes was a concern way back in 1892. Sporting Life of June 25^th of that year reported that creep of professionalism and the damage to college student-athlete amateur was significant issue that the Harvard Faculty issued an edict on their baseball team. Sporting Life reported:

It is slated on good authority that the Harvard faculty, through the advisory athletic committee, has issued an edict to the members of the Harvard Varsity Nine, who are hooked to play with the Boston Athletic Association team during the summer months, to the effect that if they play with this nine they will be debarred from representing Harvard on the ball field next season. The men so warned are Highlands, Wiggin, Upton, Cobb, Dickinson, Soule, Cook and Corbett.

How did the Harvard Nine respond? How do students respond to Administration objections?

Again Sporting Life reported: The Boston League team took a trip to Cambridge June 16 and met the Harvard nine on Holmes’ Field. They had little difficulty in winning by a score of 7 to 5….

June 16 1892 box score

(They played the professionals, and not just any team the 1892 Temple Cup (World Series Champs of 1892, the Beaneaters of Boston. Sporting Life did not mention either attendance or if a gate was charged.) So perhaps the team did not violate the edict of playing for the Boston Athletic association, they skipped BAA and perhaps ignored Faculty objections and just played the professionals.

The Box Score shows that Beaneaters scored seven runs early and then didn’t seem to give it their best college try after getting a big lead. Of the twelve runs scored only two were earned, as the game featured seven errors, three wild pitches and two passed balls. What is also of great interest, the game took a total of 1 hour and 43 minutes, or about 5 innings of a game played today.

Baseball’s first superstar King Kelly hit a triple, and into a double play, while Harvard’s “amateur” Trafford hit a home run, it was Duffy who went 3 for 5 with all three being singles, thus garnering the batter of the day.

This was a game of Boston baseball titans, the Beaneaters were the toast of the NL in ‘92, and it was the first loss of the year for the Crimson Nine.

Frank in his second year (1891)

Tags

1891, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

In 1891 during Frank Selee’s second year as manager, the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) won the pennant. They finished first with a record of 87-51 and 3 1/2 games ahead. This would begin a decade of amazing achievements for them. It was unequaled by very few teams over the years.

It began with one of the most hotly disputed pennants in baseball history in 1891. It wasn’t formally decided until Thanksgiving. In September and October, the Beaneaters won 23 of 30 games. This included 18 in a row. This allowed them to take the pennant from Chicago.

Frank Selee clearly had a command on how to win.

Jerry Koosman ties the National League rookie record held by Irving Young (September 13, 1968)

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1877, 1904, 1968, Billy Hamilton, Boston Beaneaters, Grover Cleveland, Irving Young, Jerry Koosman, July 21, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, September 13

Irving Young

Jerry Koosman ties the National League rookie record on September 13, 1968 when he hurls his seventh shutout of the season, blanking Pittsburgh on just three singles.

The left-hander’s 2-0 victory, the Mets’ 67th win of the season – a franchise high, equals the mark shared by Irving Young (Boston Beaneaters, 1905) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (Phillies, 1911).

Irving Young played six seasons from 1905 to 1911 for the Boston Beaneaters/Doves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox.

Irving Melrose “Cy the Second”/“Young Cy” Young was born on July 21, 1877, and raised in Colum­bia Falls, Maine, 16 miles west of Machias. At age 17, Irv and his family moved to Concord, New Hampshire, so that he could find employment as a fireman on the Boston & Maine Railroad. Although working 60 hours a week on the railroad, Irv managed to find time to pitch for the YMCA and other local amateur clubs on weekends. In 1904, at the rather advanced age of 27, he turned pro, joining Concord in the New England League. There he won 18 games and caught the eye of scout Billy Hamilton. Hamilton strongly recommended him to the Boston Beaneaters (later the Braves)… who bought his contract for $500. Source: SABR Biography Project

 

Chaos in Boston (1904)

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1904, Al Buckenberger, Arthur Soden, Bill Dinneen, Boston Beaneaters, Complete Games, Frank Selee, James Billings, William Conant

Al Buckenberger

Things were in chaos in 1904 for the Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves). They brought Al Buckenberger back for a 3rd season as manager after Frank Selee left. This was the worst season in its 29 year history. They finished seventh, 51 games the leader with a 55-98 record. Pretty miserable for sure. One of the owners, James Billings sold out to Arthur Soden and William Conant.

The Beaneaters were made to look even worse (hard to imagine) in Boston because the American League Pilgrams repeated as champions. A former star from the Beaneaters, Bill Dinneen, pitched an amazing record setting 37 consecutive complete games. Imagine that. He also became a hero by putting out a hotel fire.

The King died (1894)

Tags

1894, Boston Beaneaters, Brotherhood League Grounds, King Kelly, November 8, South End Grounds

Mike “King” Kelly

Sometimes we are tried and the Boston Beaneaters (now know as the Atlanta Braves) certainly were in 1894. Mike “King” Kelly was major figure in the Braves early history. He was probably the most popular player of his time. On November 8, at the age of 36, he died of pneumonia. Another misfortune also conspired to try the Braves that year. This one was minor compared to King’s death but a huge challenge the Braves. For much of the season, they were on the road with no home stadium.

On May 16th, a fire destroyed the South End Grounds. Imagine playing a game and in the third inning, a fire breaks out. They were playing Baltimore and the fire broke out in the right field bleachers. Gave new meaning to so and so “smoked that one”.

So they switched some of their games to road games and then played some of them in Boston at the old Brotherhood League Grounds on Congress Street adjacent to the Boston Harbor.

Despite those trying happenings, they had a good season finishing in third place.

Second place isn’t good enough (1884)

Tags

1884, 1993, Boston Beaneaters, John Morrill

John Morrill

John Morrill moved into his third season in 1884. The year before he had won the pennant. This year the Boston Beaneaters would finish second 10 1/2 games behind for second place with a 73-38 record.

Their winning percentage that year was .658. In 1993 they won the NL West with .642 per cent winning record. Odd that they were over 10 games behind with that kind of talent. But that is the beauty and heartbreak of baseball.

The King of Baseball

Tags

1857, 1894, Boston Beaneaters, Chicago White Stockings, December 31, King Kelly, Mike Kelly, November 8

Mike “King” Kelly

Mike “King” Kelly was a Boston Beaneater (now the Atlanta Braves). He played for them from 1887-89 and 1891-92. He was born on December 31, 1857 in Troy, New York. He played every position at one time or another. He bated right and threw right. He died on November 8, 1894.

He is generally regarded as the Babe Ruth of the 19th century. Not a bad way to be remembered. It was a different era in baseball then but he became a favorite of the fans like the Bambino did.

He came to the Beaneaters from Chicago. They purchased him for a stunning sum of $10,000. Unheard of at the time. They brought the King of Baseball to Boston. He had led the White Stockings to two pennants and was the batting leader the three years before he came to Boston. If the Boston fans were estatic, the Chicago fans were depressed.

The Boston Beaneaters fell off a cliff (1885)

Tags

1885, Boston Beaneaters, John Morrill

John Morrill

There is a decline and there is a drop off.

The 1885 Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) saw a huge drop off under Manager John Morrill during his 4th season. The prior season the ended in second. In 1885 they ended in fifth with a 46-66 record.

In fact, a drop off is being kind. They fell off a cliff. The team’s .411 winning percentage was the worst in its histoy up to that point. That was a 27 ½ game slide from the previous year. And …. AMAZINGLY enough, 41 games behind.

Spring Training History

Tags

Boston Beaneaters, Spring Training

Atlanta Braves Logo

The Atlanta Braves have trained at the following sites since the team’s entry in the National League as the Boston Beaneaters:

• Norfolk, Va. (1901)
• Thomasville, Ga. (1902-1904, 1907)
• Charleston, S.C. (1905)
• Jacksonville (1906)
• Augusta, Ga. (1908-1912)
• Athens, Ga. (1913)
• Macon, Ga. (1914-1915)
• Miami (1916-1918)
• Columbus, Ga. (1919-1920)
• Galveston, Texas (1921)
• St. Petersburg (1922-1937)
• Bradenton (1938-1940, 1948-1962)
• San Antonio, Texas (1941)
• Sanford, Fla. (1942)
• Wallingford, Ct. (1943-1944)
• Washington, D.C. (1945)
• Fort Lauderdale (1946-1947)
• West Palm Beach (1963-1997)
• Orlando (1998-present)

The slip and a tragedy for Charlie Bennett (1894)

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1894, Boston Beaneaters, Charlie Bennett, Frank Selee, January 9, South End Grounds

The slip began. It wasn’t a huge slide, but the Boston Beaneaters (now known as the Atlanta Braves) dropped to third in 1894. They had won the pennant the year before. They ended up 83-49 and eight games behind under Frank Selee as the manager that year. Frank Selee served as manager from 1890 to 1901.

Charlie Bennett

They had been favored to win in 1894. Not in the cards at all though. It ended up being a very tragic season. It started out with a stunning accident to Charlie Bennett. He was a very good catcher.

He lost both legs on January 9th when he fell under the wheels of a train in Kansas. The loss set the tone for a very bad year for the Braves. Bennett returned each year to his home in Detroit for the off-season, and also traveled with his dog to Williamsburg, Kansas, for extended hunting trips. In 1894, Bennett was joined on his annual hunting trip by pitcher John Clarkson. On January 10, 1894, Bennett’s legs were crushed by a Santa Fe Railroad passenger train in Wellsville, Kansas, while traveling from Kansas City to Williamsburg.

Bennett stepped off the train to talk to an old friend who lived in Kansas and whom Bennett had arranged to greet when the train stopped at Wellsville. It was raining, and the platform was wet. When the train started moving, Bennett “swung around to catch the railing,” but his foot slipped, and his left foot went over the rail. Bennett pushed his right leg against the rail to push himself back, but it also slipped and went over the track. The train’s wheels ran over his left foot and right leg at the knee.

That evening, doctors at the North Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa, Kansas, amputated Bennett’s left leg just above the ankle and his right leg just above the knee. In June 1894, he was fitted with artificial limbs, but his baseball career was over. In August 1894, a benefit to raise money for Bennett was held at Boston’s South End Grounds; the event included a baseball game between the Boston team and a team of collegiate players as well as foot races and other attractions. The boxing champion Gentleman Jim Corbett attended and briefly played in left field with the Boston team. The benefit was attended by nearly 9,000 people and raised $6,000 for Bennett. Bennett walked to home plate during the event, aided by crutches and artificial limbs, and bowed to the crowd “until the grounds fairly shook with cheers.”

Amazing year for Frank Selee with a .705 record (1897)

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1897, 1993, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

Finally!! In Frank Selee‘s 8th season (1897) as manager, the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) had the best record in the franchise history at that time. They finished first, 93-39 and 2 games ahead. Frank was able to get the best out of them like he did earlier in his career.

How good would this record be in the modern era? A team today would have to win 115 games out of the current 162 game schedule. It was a .705 percentage record.

In 1993, the Braves had a .642 record which brought them 104 wins.

This was an amazing year for sure!!

King Kelly takes some short cuts (1887)

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1887, Boston Beaneaters, King Kelly

Mike “King” Kelly

When King Kelly came to the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) in 1887, he was the acknowledged all time great of the day. In addition to being a great player, he was also known as an amazing showman. No one could match his style.

He would hesitate to modify the rules of baseball to benefit him and his team. He could run the bases like no one else at the time.

He did take some “short cuts” though. If the umpire wasn’t looking, he would cut across the diamond short of the bases. There was only one umpire in those days.

Was it the name? (1896)

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1896, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

Maybe it was the name. The Beaneaters. It was a disappointing year for the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) in 1896. The finished fourth with a 74-57 overall record. They were 17 games behind. They had an infusion of talent that would help them over the next few years but not in 1896 though. Frank Selee, the manager, would certainly experience it all during his tenure.

Frank Selee served as manager from 1890 to 1901.

It was also the year that Republican William McKinley would defeat William Jennings Bryan for President. He was the last veteran of the War Between the States to be elected for President.

Only second with a 95-57 record? (1899)

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1899, Bill Dinneen, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, Kid Nichols, Vic Willis

The Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) finished second in 1899. Hard to imagine with a 95-57 record. Sure enough though, they were 8 games behind Brooklyn in Frank Selee’s 10th year as manager.

If they had won, it would have been three consecutive years as champions. They had the best pitching that season. They also led the league in defense.

Kid Nichols, the star pitcher, began to show some wear and tear. He went 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA. He got help that season though from Vic Willis who was 10-17 (4.19 ERA). Bill Dinneen led the pack with a 20-14 season and a 3.12 ERA.

Brooklyn had a very strong team though. Baltimore owner Harry B. Von der Horst had bought control of the team. He transferred many of his best players to Brooklyn.

Can you buy talent? (1887)

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1887, Boston Beaneaters, John Morrill, King Kelly

Can you buy talent?

Mike “King” Kelly

1887 was just a plain weird year for the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters). No one had ever heard of buying and selling players. A new innovation for the league for sure.

The innovation did not help their record as they barely broke .500 with a 61-60 record ending up fifth in the league, 16 1/2 games behind. It wasn’t ever clear who was the manager. Was it John Morrill or the “$10,000 Beauty” (the bought player), King Kelly?

It would be the third consecutive fifth place finish for the Braves. So much for “buying” talent.

Things didn’t start well for the Beaneaters (1900)

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1900, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, January 19, Marty Bergen

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had seen some pretty good days under Manager Frank Selee but 1900 brought a continued decline under his leadership. They ended up 66-72, 17 games behind in fourth place. Closer to last than third.

They year started out on a bad note. In 1899, several players didn’t like how moody catcher Marty Bergen was. So much so, they said they wouldn’t play with him next year. I guess no one really knew how troubled he was. On January 19, Marty’s father discovered how bad it was. Bergen used a razor and ax to kill his wife, three year old son, new born daughter and himself.

Things did not start well and did not finish well.

New management for the Beaneaters (1889)

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1889, Boston Beaneaters, Jim Hart, John Morrill, Triumvirs

Jim Hart – Boston Beaneaters

The Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) were able to significantly improve the team in 1889. They brought in a new manager, Jim Hart, and finished 2nd, one game behind. They had 83-45 record.

They actually intended to continue to allow “Honest” John Morrill to hold onto the manager’s slot. He, however, did himself in right before the start of the season. He was a player manager and pretty popular with the fans in Boston. As a player, he was on the decline and only batted .198 the year before. He didn’t endear himself with the owners and demanded a raise in 1889.

The owners, the Triumvirs signed him, but trouble was on the horizon. During the preseason, they had a Fast Day exhibition game. The Triumvirs asked King Kelly to captain the Beaneaters and Morrill to captain the “picked nine” of some local players. He was offended and refused to do it.

The next day, the Triumvirs shipped him off to Washington and brought on Jim Hart to manage. It actually turned out to be a great move.

Not always as it seems (1890)

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1890, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) finished fifth in 1890, 12 games behind with a 76-57 record.

The year before they had finished second. It was clearly a disappointing year for first year manager Frank Selee.

It was however, a prelude to one of the most prosperous periods in the franchise history.

It was a  year of  “labor” problems. The players got very upset with the owners. . They started their own league. Imagine that happening today. Hard to imagine for sure. As a result, the Beaneaters were decimated.

But, things are not always as it first appears. Success was just right around the corner.

New Management for the Beaneaters (1902)

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1902, Al Buckenberger, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Al Buckenberger

After 12 seasons as coach of the Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee was out. Al Buckenberger was the new man. In his first year, 1902, he had a 73-64 record finishing third. Only 29 games behind the leader. It was an improvement however.

Frank’s departure was not popular at all. Many felt he was the scapegoat for the team’s owners. Sound familiar?

Al had managed both in Pittsburgh and St. Louis but had been in the minors before getting the call. He was 41 but had been managing since he was 23. A new era began.

Improvement (1886)

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1886, Boston Beaneaters, John Morrill

John Morrill

Some changes were in the offing for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) in 1886. John Morrill moved into his 5th season as manager. But for all the changes, it didn’t do them any good in the standings.

They ended the season with a 56-61 record, in 5th place. That was 30 1/2 games behind.

While they didn’t improve in the standings, they did play a little better winding up just 5 games under .500. While it didn’t meet the Braves standards, it was improvement.

Bobby Lowe sets record for number of bases in one game (May 30, 1894)

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1894, 1954, Bobby Lowe, Boston Beaneaters, Herman Long, Iceberg Chamberlain, Joe Adcock, May 30

Bobby Lowe

In the afternoon game on May 30, 1894‚ Boston second baseman Bobby Lowe hits home runs in 4 consecutive at bats‚ including 2 in the 3rd inning‚ to lead his team to a 20-11 first-game conquest of Cincinnati and a sweep of the doubleheader.

The homers came off Iceberg Chamberlain‚ and all were lofted over the 250-foot left field wall of Boston’s Congress Street Grounds‚ the Beaneater’s temporary home. Lowe also adds a single to total 17 bases for the game‚ a record tied but not beaten until Joe Adcock in 1954.

After Lowe’s 4th homer‚ the crowd showers him with $160 in coins. There are 9 homers hit in the opener with Bug Holliday hitting 2. In the two games‚ Lowe’s teammate Herman Long sets a Major League record by scoring 9 runs (5 runs in game 1)‚ which has since been tied only once. Lowe‚ who used the time between games of the twinbill to help himself to the shore dinner at the North Boston Railroad Station‚ will try the same meal tomorrow‚ but will go hitless.

Fred Tenney “volunteers” to play in Boston (June 16, 1894)

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1894, Boston Beaneaters, Fred Tenney, June 16, Louisville Colonels

Fred Tenney

On June 16, 1894, despite scoring 26 runs in the 3-game series‚ Louisville is swept by Boston‚ extending its losing streak to 18 games.

The streak will reach 20 games before the Colonels manage to win. The next day‚ Fred Tenney‚ star catcher of Brown University‚ “volunteers” to play for the Boston Beaneaters.

He gets his first hit‚ drives in 2 runs and scores‚ before breaking his finger while catching in the 5th inning. He’ll return to action in 5 weeks.

In the 1890’s, it was rare for a college graduate to play baseball. Fred would become one of the first.

Big money didn’t help (1888)

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1887, 1888, Boston Beaneaters, John Morrill, King Kelly, Money Ball, Triumvirs

Mike “King” Kelly

Sometimes owners think you can throw money at the problem and it will work. History teaches us that in sports, sometimes that helps and sometimes it doesn’t. The whole premise of “Money Ball” documents that myth.

The Triumvirs (the owners) brought in King Kelly in 1887. It didn’t help. In 1888 the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves),  had a 70-64 record in John Morrill‘s fourth and last year as manager. They finished fourth in the league, 15 1/2 games behind. The Triumvirs preceded Ted Turner in being willing to pay for great players. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

In 1888, it didn’t and Mr. Morrill would be shown the door. It wasn’t a problem of money as much as it was talent.

Wasn’t that lovely? (1901)

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1901, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Somersets, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

1901 was Frank Selee’s 12th and last year as manager. This also marked what has become known as the modern era of baseball. The American League came onto the scene. Of course, all was not friendly. It did however provide the basic structure of baseball as we know it today.

The Boston Beaneaters (the Braves) finished fifth that year. Their record was an even 69-69. They were 20 1/2 games behind.

This year they also had some competition for Boston fans. The cities new American League team was the Somersets. Wasn’t that lovely? Beaneaters and Somersets.

Things didn’t start well (1900)

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1899, 1900, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, January 19, Marty Bergen

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had seen some pretty good days under Manager Frank Selee but 1900 brought a continued decline under his leadership. They ended up 66-72, 17 games behind in fourth place. Closer to last than third.

They year started out on a bad note. In 1899, several players didn’t like how moody catcher Marty Bergen was. So much so, they said they wouldn’t play with him next year. I guess no one really knew how troubled he was. On January 19, Marty’s father discovered how bad it was. Bergen used a razor and ax to kill his wife, three year old son, new born daughter and himself.

Things did not start well and did not finish well.

Beaneaters Indeed (1883)

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1883, Boston Beaneaters, Jack Burdock, John Morrill, July 18, World Series

Boston Beaneaters

1883 was an amazing season for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves).

First, they changed their name from the Red Caps to the Beaneaters. That seems pretty courageous. Clearly they were on the road to becoming brave.

Second, in mid season the changed managers from “Honest” John Morrill to Jack Burdock. Change the name, change the manager.

Third, they had a second half rally when they came from dead last on July 18 to win the National League pennant and the World Series. Even when you are down and out you may not be out.

They had a 63-35 record ending up 4 games ahead.

Beaneaters indeed.