[SelzShoes]

“It is almost vulgar what Mr. Hamilton has done with this year’s squad. Like a cheap western novel his has hired out men as adherents to his cause. He, of course, rejects the notion there is danger is placing one’s faith at the whim of those who chase ‘greenbacks’ over any type of personal allegiance . . .

“He now owns the most expensive toy in the history of mankind; showcased in a shiny new box on Washington Street. He cares not their fidelity to him or Brooklyn, just they have a price he could meet. If they should fail, I fear the harm to his body and spirit”

--Personal Diary Wm Frederick Adams, Thaddeus Hamilton’s personal secretary

The race started out as a three-team battle between Brooklyn, Boston and Chicago. The amount of talent loading the rosters was impressive, as they all seemed to have followed the ‘picked nine’ strategy Thaddeus Hamilton was so open about with his Brooklyn franchise.

Some stars, like Norman Lent, stayed with their club; comfortable with the role they know they have. Others, like Frank Richardson in Cincinnati, were facing new crowds and new expectations. But Brooklyn had the two most important players signed in the off-season: Rodney Stolling and Marquis Nicolet.

Stollings had been the regular right fielder for Cincinnati since the 1869 tour. Others may have hit the ball better, but none hit it harder. In 1876, adopting the theories of Alton Emch, Stollings exploded setting records in doubles (41), home runs (12), and runs scored (70), leading the Kings to their first title. Emch had advocated the idea of the long hit, Rodney Stollings perfected it. Released by Cincinnati for making too much money, Hamilton offered not only the chance to make the league maximum but to play along side Emch.

Nicolet had been a premier hurler for the first five seasons, but his 1876 season was a lost one. Squabbles with teammates, particularly Horacio Pfahlert, and club officials relegated him to substitute and exhibition work. “If Mr. Nicolet feels he still can contribute to anything other than a muffins squad, he shall do so outside of Chicago,” said Obie McCormick. At 25, he appeared washed up; Nicolet knew better.

Brooklyn had made improvements with their line up, but the pitching was a question mark. Everett Waugh had just turned 21 and Elmo Broenneke was more known for wildness than winning ball games. Nicolet made Hamilton a proposal: $60.00 a win, 20 wins would mean the maximum salary was his. Hamilton bit. By the mid-point, Nicolet was 12-3 and leading the charge to first for the Atlantics.

While the rest of the clubs battled each other to draws, the Atlantic started building a sizeable lead. Five, six, seven, up to eight games on second place. The four middle clubs were packed incredibly tight. The sporting press was glowing in their coverage, “McCormick’s dream of a small, but talented, league, is providing cranks in Empire League cities better base ball than has ever been exhibited in this nation,” wrote the Boston Post. The only thing spoiling was the lack of a tight race; that would change soon.

The Philadelphia squad ran off a 14-game winning streak; which appeared to only separate themselves from the pack, not challenge the Atlantics. Franklin had built a strong rotation with Leghorn Sapp, Chester Jackman and Edwin Huber, and the offense was lead by the superlative hitting of Henry Panell and Flyer Montalvan. When Brooklyn began to slip, the Quakers continued to win. With 11 games left, the two clubs were tied. With 9 left, Philadelphia had the lead. As the Brooklyn crowd clamored for an answer, Thaddeus Hamilton was forced to make a move to not only save the season, but also save his club.