From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS
Merging Brooklyn Greys With Camden Merritts Is Second Step
Towards Creating One of Baseball's Most Legendary Ball Clubs
Brooklyn Owner Charles Byrne Adopts Camden Merritts Into The Family
BROOKLYN GREYS
1883
Inter-State Association Champions
This story goes back, way back into the genesis of Dodgers history.
The triumvirate of Charles Byrne, Joseph Doyle, and Ferdinand Abell, in 1883 form a minor league club in Brooklyn named the Greys based out of newly constructed Washington Park. They are affiliated with the independent Inter-State Association, loosely acknowledged as a triple-A circuit. Opening Day at Washington Park is May 12, 1883, with a reported 5,000 fans in attendance. To put that in context, the National League's newest entry, the New York Gothams, play their first-ever game on May 1, 1883, against the Boston Beaneaters in front of a crowd of 15,000 at the Polo Grounds. -
SABR
The team is managed by New York City native George Taylor, quite successfully, I might add. Pitcher Adonis Terry is the team ace, posting a 16-9 regular-season record with a 1.38 earned run average through 26 starts, and 216 innings pitched. Jim Egan posts an 11-7 record with a 2.02 ERA. In the field, the Greys feature catcher John Farrow; outfielder Edgar Smith; infielder John Doyle; and first baseman Oscar Walker who leads the team in games, hits, and runs scored; and third baseman Bill Schenck who leads the team with 17 extra-base hits.
What goes largely overlooked in history is that midway through the season, Brooklyn faces stiff competition from the Camden Merritts, whom through the season's first 35 games own a 27-8 record. However, by July 20, the Camden club suddenly folds, and owners of the Brooklyn Greys purchase the Merritts club at auction. Ironically the Brooklyn Greys average 1,653 per game at Washington Park, while the Camden Merritts, until going out of business, averaged 2,381 fans per game. Charlie Byrne proceeds to merge Camden's best players with Brooklyn's, importing pitcher Sam Kimber, and position players Bill Greenwood, Frank Fennelly, Jack Corcoran, and Charlie Householder.
After joining the Greys, Sam Kimber posts a 14-7 record with a 1.57 earned run average through 21 starts; Frank Fennelly winds up leading the team with three home runs and is second in runs scored while playing only 40 games. Similarly, Bill Greenwood still manages to finish second on the team in hits through only 41 games with Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Jack Corcoran strokes 24 hits in 21 games with 14 runs scored and five extra-base hits. The reinforced Brooklyn Greys go on to clinch the league title with a 44-28 record over the second-place Harrisburg Olympics and third-place Reading Actives.
After one season of operation, the Inter-State Association in 1884 reorganized into the Eastern League (1884-1887), which would later undergo an even grander transformation into the International Association we know today. Meanwhile, Brooklyn in 1884 goes major league upon their affiliating with the American Association. They also drop the name Greys in favor of Brooklyn Atlantics. This team becomes the Superbas, Bridegrooms, Robins, and Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers of National League lore.
Making their major league debut in 1884 as members of the Brooklyn Atlantics are Greys graduates Adonis Terry, John Farrow, and Oscar Walker. And debuting from the clutch of players imported from Camden are Sam Kimber, Bill Greenwood, Charlie Householder, and Jack Corcoran. Their manager is again George Taylor, who guides the Atlantics to a 40-64 record and ninth-place finish. To the surprise of no one after the season, he is fired.
You now know about the incredible Camden Merritts. Even if they lasted only 35 games, they're nevertheless a part of the Brooklyn Dodgers family tree.
