Marquis Nicolet, possibly the most overlooked pitching star in the early days of the EL, shuts out Cincinnati on 2 hits, and only 65 pitches. Nicolet is an amazing 45-5 over the first 4 seasons (and 1 game) of the EL.
Code:
Year G GS W L SV ERA IP HA R ER BB K CG SHO Teams
1871 10 10 9 0 0 2.63 85.2 71 25 25 5 14 6 2 BOS
1872 11 11 8 2 0 2.22 93.1 86 35 23 5 14 7 1 BOS
1873 14 14 12 0 0 1.38 117.0 96 24 18 12 16 4 0 BOS
1874 19 19 15 3 0 2.48 167.0 146 56 46 15 35 17 1 SLC
1875 1 1 1 0 0 0.00 9.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 CHI
Total 55 55 45 5 0 2.14 472.0 401 140 112 37 79 35 5
From New York
World
EPIC HOME OPENER FOR THE NINE
“The home opener for this Championship season was the most anticipated game in New York since fabled Cincinnati Base Ball Kings came through our city on their legendary tour. Not only would the Championship Loving Cup be unveiled for the first time outside the confines of the Hub City, but the Chicago Browns would be in town—with Darryl Weisenburger, late of our fair city. Weisenburger’s conflict with field captain Frank Richardson hastened his exit from the roster of the Nine and to McCormick’s club. The largest crowd ever to see a game at the Union Grounds was on hand to see how the drama within the game would play out.
“On the first pitch, Chicago’s Prince Gray rolled a slow ball to Cappy Richardson, who—to the astonishment of the overflow throng bobbled the pea. Kinan however showed enough composure for twice the number in attendance getting Emch and Weisenburger to ground out. Weisenburger, late of the Nine and previously hailed as the peoples’ champion, until he showed his true nature, was greeted with a cascade of hisses and hoots. When Kinan handled the weak ground hit, sure of an out, the masses were assured New York had made the right decision in ridding themselves of the agitator.
“But the joy turned quickly, as Johnny Luster’s hands did not live up to his name and “Magnet” Flink chased the two Browns home with a shot that split Bullis and Inghram; showing the young Browns have been listening to Alton Emch and his theory of hitting.
“The crafty hurling of Jackson Rainey robbed the fans of the confrontation they had paid their hard earned money for: Cappy Richardson was coaxed into a easy pop hit to the right fielder Staton. The meeting at first between the rivals would have to wait.
“In the second, the Nine raised the question if they had rubbed their hands with butter as Bullis could not handle Rainey’s long fly, chasing home Staton.
“In the home fourth, the second chance for the Richardson/Weisenburger meeting arrived; but a weak grounder back to the mound, and the accompanying toss to the first bags man, Richardson cut towards the Nine bench before reaching the fielder he held in such contempt. Shouts of “coward” and “blackguard” (and others which we can not print for concern of our more gentile reader) now started to rain on Richardson and not Weisenburger. When Richardson failed to make a play on Rod Beddoe’s line hugger, the fickle loyalties of the fans had completely changed. “We know who the gentleman is now,” a crank spat at Richardson. Cappy, occupied with leading his charges back to victory, ignored the taunts and could be seen saying to himself the simple motto: “bear down.”
“When Staton finally showed the gloves the Browns required their players to wear did not make the invincible to the muffed play, Richardson stepped to the plate for his third chance to make good a hit. With the score now 5-2 Chicago, the thought of confronting the rival had completely left the minds of the ocean of men crowding the lines. All they wanted was Cappy to show the Chicagos did not have the exclusive on the “long hit.” As he almost always does in these situations, Cappy chased home Luster and found himself standing on first, mere feet from the man who the whole knew what his feeling towards was. Weisenburger did not acknowledge the man standing to his left; and Richardson, apparently embarrassed by his and his Nine’s performance said nothing as well. The moment so eagerly anticipated an hour before hand had become just another base hit like so many others.
“In the eighth, second baseman Raymond Flake almost gave the crowd a thrill, sending a long fly to the deepest reaches of the Union Grounds, but Justin Staton out ran the ball as lightning outruns thunder, making the catch seemingly without seeing it. Hats flung into the air half in celebration of such a wondrous play and half in disgust that they had seen the end of the Nine’s hopes on the day. The catch by Beddoe on Walters fly following was lost in the glow of the previous play.
“Worry abounded in the final frame when Rainey lined a ball off his counterpart. Kinan, to the delight of the multitude, was not injured.
“Richardson showed he still had fight in the Nine’s ultimate inning, with a one out single. Again, the game dictated the rivals concentrate on the game and not the personal differences between them. Richardson eventually scored on hits by Blackburn and Narum. Upon reaching the bench, Cappy sent Kinan out to hit rather than go with a substitute batter—Brice would have a chance to extend the game. At first the decision seemed to be the right one, Kinan fouling off pitch after pitch before sending a “long hit” toward centerfield. But the superior hands of the Chicagos once again shown thru, and Beddoe made the catch to end the game.
“While the human drama did not match what almost 10,000 souls had paid a dear half-dollar for, the play was worth every penny. And though the New Yorks had exposed a frightening tendency to avoid the ball whilst on defense, there was plenty of fight in Cappy Richardson’s squad—fight that should assure another Championship season for our New Yorkers.”
**The opening series between New York was split 2-2, with Weisenburger going 5-15, with 4 RBI and Richardson 10-16 but only 3 RBI. Kinan went 10 innings in the final game to get the win for New York.**