BEFORE the BUMS 9/10/1890: Philadelphia Phillies Complete Sweep of Brooklyn Bridegrooms

From the desk: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

 

In baseball's sixth ever World Series clash of 1889, the National League New York Giants defeated the American Association champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms six games to three, and an inter-city rivalry was born.  While this marked the New York Giants second straight championship victory over the Association, it would be Brooklyn's last campaign as an AA member club.  The following season, the Bridegrooms would make their National League debut where they remain to this day.  Welcome to "BEFORE the BUMS" my game-by-game rewind of (the city) Brooklyn's historic 1890 season.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, September 11, 1890

GAME #118

Wednesday, September 10, 1890

Brooklyn Bridegrooms vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

BAKER BOWL/NATIONAL LEAGUE PARK

Bridegrooms Drop Season-High Seventh Consecutive Contest; Circuit Lead Reduced to 4.5 Games

Make no mistake that before and throughout the entirety of the professional baseball establishment's more-than-quarter century existence, the pioneer, player, executive, and manager, Harry Wright, continues to impact the national game significantly.  As if willing his team to victory, Wright's Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Bridegrooms to pull within 5.5 games of the National League leaders.  The defeat was Brooklyn's seventh in a row, their longest streak this season, resulting in a week-long three-game decrease in the standings.  Bridegroom starter Tom Lovett appeared on his mark.  Staked to a 1-0 lead in the first on a Dave Foutz double and Hub Collins base hit, Lovett served up goose eggs through the sixth.  After the first inning, Phillie left-hander Duke Esper also accounted for himself with five scoreless frames.  But in the seventh, Lovett's offerings grew large in the eyes of Phillie batsmen who hit then to all parts of the playing field.  When through, they had amassed a 7-3 lead.  Not yet done, Philadelphia added a pair in the eighth for a decisive six-run margin of victory.  Meanwhile, the second-place Beaneaters defeated the Giants at the Polo Grounds.

• FINAL: BKN 3; PHI 9
• RECORD: 77-41 (.653); 1st place, 4.5 GA of Boston Beaneaters

MANAGER

Before the Bums 4/28/1890: Brooklyn Bridegrooms Defeat Philadelphia in Washington Park Opener

From the desk: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

 

In baseball's sixth ever World Series clash of 1889, the National League New York Giants defeated the American Association champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms six games to three, and an inter-city rivalry was born.  While this marked New York's second straight championship victory over the Association, it would be Brooklyn's last as an AA member club.  The following season, the Bridegrooms would make their National League debut.  Welcome to "BEFORE the BUMS" my game-by-game rewind of (the city) Brooklyn's historic 1890 season.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday, April 29, 1890

GAME #5

Monday, April 28, 1890

Philadelphia Phillies vs. BROOKLYN BRIDEGROOMS

WASHINGTON PARK

Bridegrooms Rout Phillies in Washington Park Opener

After three consecutive postponements, the Bridegrooms were finally able to host Harry Wright's  Philadelphia Phillies and play for the first time this season before their home crowd at finely decorated Washington Park.  With renowned veteran Lip Pike filling in as base umpire, the Bridegrooms offered the visiting pitcher Tom Vickery no quarter, compiling ten runs on eleven hits.  First baseman Dave Foutz's base hit to right field delivered home Brooklyn's first two runs in the first inning.  Right fielder 

Oyster Burns doubled home two more runs in the second.  Burns and Foutz again drove in runs during the fourth inning.  Bridegroom starter Bob Caruthers then aided his own cause with a hit in the fifth, delivering home Germany Smith, and Hub Collins knocked in another, giving Brooklyn an 8-0 lead.  Not yet done, third baseman George Pinkney tripled home two more runs in the ninth, giving the Bridegrooms a 10-0 margin of victory.  Bob Caruthers hurled a gem, allowing no runs on just four scattered hits and two walks with three strikeouts for the win.

• FINAL: PHI 0; BKN 10
• RECORD: 2-3 (.400); 6th place, 2 GB Boston Beaneaters

Before the Bums 4/24/1890: Brooklyn Bridegrooms Home Opener Postponed by Rain

From the desk: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

In baseball's sixth ever World Series clash of 1889, the National League New York Giants defeated the American Association champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms six games to three, and an intra-city rivalry was born.  While this marked New York's second straight championship victory over the Association, it would be Brooklyn's last as an AA member club.  The following season, the Bridegrooms would make their National League debut.  Welcome to "BEFORE the BUMS" my game-by-game rewind of (the city) Brooklyn's historic 1890 season.

The Times (Streator, Illinois), April 25, 1890

GAME CALLED: RAIN

Thursday, April 24, 1890

Friday, April 25, 1890

Philadelphia Phillies vs. BROOKLYN BRIDEGROOMS

WASHINGTON PARK

Washington Park, Brooklyn

ICYMI:

SEASON OPENING SERIES

Boston Beaneaters @ South End Grounds

• Game One: Tuesday, April 19, 1890,  Brooklyn's first game in National League.
• Game Two: Thursday, April 21, 1890, Brooklyn's first win in National League.
• Game Three: Friday, April 22, 1890,  Brooklyn was defeated by (HOF) John Clarkson.
• Game Four: Saturday, April 23, 1890,  Brooklyn was defeated by (HOF) Kid Nichols with Henry Chadwick in attendance.

Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn 6/14/1870: Atlantics Bring Cincinnati Red Stockings Historic Win Streak to an End

From the desk of: WHEN BEDFORD WAS THE WORLD

ATLANTIC BASE BALL CLUB of BROOKLYN

150 Years Ago Today

BROOKLYN ATLANTICS PREVAIL IN EXTRA INNINGS; CINCINNATI RED STOCKINGS HISTORIC WINNING STREAK ENDS AT CAPITOLINE GROUNDS

Among the greatest battles ever waged pitting amateurism and eastern idealism versus professionalism and western aspirations erupts in 1870 in the Bedford section of Brooklyn where the Atlantics host the openly professional Cincinnati Red Stockings at Capitoline Grounds.  Established in 1866, the Red Stockings finish the 1869 season undefeated, including a commanding 32-10 victory against the Atlantics.  Picking up where they left off, Cincinnati to date remains undefeated and is in the midst of an 84-game winning streak upon their arrival at Brooklyn.  The afternoon's respective competitors are by no means strangers.  The lure of play-for-pay inspires many an eastern player into moving west.  Lest we forget, Asa Brainard is the former feature hurler of the Brooklyn Excelsiors; Harry Wright once a member of the old Knickerbockers and Gothams; and his brother George Wright also a one-time member of the Gothams.  Otherwise, each of the nines enters this match virtually intact from the 1869 season, making them quite familiar with one another.

On June 14, 1870, upwards of 15,000 fans from Bedford and beyond are treated to an extraordinary contest - a terrific back and forth affair - in which the underdog Atlantics overcome the mighty Red Stockings by an 8-7 final score in eleven innings, and thus bring to an end Cincinnati's historic undefeated run dating back to the 1868 season.

CINCINNATI

• George Wright-ss
• Charlie Gould-1b
• Fred Waterman-3b
• Doug Allison-c
• Capt. Harry Wright-cf
• Andy Leonard-lf
• Asa Brainard-p
• Charlie Sweasy-2b
• Cal McVey-rf

Cincinnati's Harry Wright promptly opens the scoring with a first inning double plating George Wright and Doug Allison.  The Red Stockings tally another in the third for a 3-0 lead.  Brooklyn strikes back for a pair of runs in their half of the fourth on Joe Start's base hit scoring Dickey Pearce, and Bob Ferguson's double scoring Start.  After which a series of infield gaffes committed by Cincinnati's Charlie Gould, Charlie Sweasy, and Fred Waterman, clear the way for a 4-3 Brooklyn lead after six.  But the pendulum again swings Cincinnati's way when George Wright drives in two runs in the top half of the seventh giving the Red Stockings a 5-4 lead.  Undeterred the Atlantics forge a tie in the eighth.  The clubs remain deadlocked at five apiece through the ninth.  Brooklyn seemingly resigned to a draw begins walking off the field while a dismayed crowd begins overrunning the playing field.  However Cincinnati captain Harry Wright insists on a continuance of play.  After much on-field deliberation team captain Bob Ferguson and the Atlantics agree to play on.  A scoreless tenth ensues, the Red Stockings then tally two runs in the top half of frame eleven.  Though faced with a 5-7 deficit the Atlantics temerity would not be denied.  Charlie Smith leads off the bottom half of the frame with a hit and immediately scores on Joe Start's triple.  Two batters later Joe Ferguson drives in the game tying run with a base hit scoring Start.  George Zettlein then reaches safely on first baseman Charlie Gould's error, placing runners on the corners.  When George Hall follows with a sharp grounder to the right side, base runner Bob Ferguson makes his break down the third base line, second baseman Charlie Sweasy fields it and throws home.  The umpire declares Ferguson, SAFE!  Brooklyn wins!  Amateurism seizes the day ... or does it?

BROOKLYN

• Dickey Pearce-ss
• Charlie Smith-3b
• Joe Start-1b
• Jack Chapman-lf
• Capt. Bob Ferguson-c
• George Zettlein-p
• George Hall-cf
• Lipman Pike-2b
• Dan McDonald-rf

Scribes and fans alike resoundingly hail the game as the finest ever played.  But rather than reinvigorate the noble notion of amateurism and reinforce traditional sensibilities rooted deeply in the old New York Game long promulgated so eloquently by Henry Chadwick, baseball itself comes under the sway of western entrepreneurs set on deriding the "Father of Baseball" and forging headlong into the world of business and capitalism.  In 1871 the newly formed National Association of Professional Base Ball Players launched their inaugural season.  But the great Brooklyn Atlantics of former 1860's glory, baseball's first dynasty, elect not to join.  They soon reverse course and in 1872 join baseball's professional circuit albeit shells of their former selves.  The Atlantics complete four sub-par seasons through 1875, never finishing better than sixth.  The National Association is dissolved, and in 1876 the Atlantics are excluded from the newly founded National League of Professional Baseball Clubs.  This brings to an effective end the twenty-year existence of the original pioneering Atlantics Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, one of the most fiercely competitive and highly successful 19th-century ball clubs to ever take the field.

• John Thorn/SABRvideos
• SABR/1870/Atlantics/Red Stockings