It is an odd time for the players in the EL, with 1/2 of the teams failing in the last two years, many top batsmen and hurlers are without employment.
Darryl Weisenburger, 1B, Chicago, 34 yrs
Code:
Year G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Teams
1871 38 158 68 9 0 1 23 28 9 5 1 0 .430 .461 .506 .967 NYN
1872 50 217 99 11 1 1 41 44 15 9 0 0 .456 .491 .530 1.021 NYN
1873 53 223 89 12 1 3 36 33 17 5 0 0 .399 .442 .502 .944 NYN
1874 68 276 124 17 0 4 47 48 25 9 3 0 .449 .495 .554 1.049 NYN
1875 82 320 125 18 0 2 37 56 29 13 4 1 .391 .441 .466 .907 CHI
1876 83 334 131 23 0 2 51 48 24 6 4 0 .392 .433 .479 .912 CHI
Total 374 1528 636 90 2 13 235 257 119 47 12 1 .416 .458 .503 .962
No man has more hits over the first 6 season, but if not for speaking his mind would probably be a bigger star. Old Reliable, as the Chicago cranks have dubbed him, made a simple statement in the 1874-1875 off season about how the increased number of games required an increase in pay. Frank Richardson and the press attacked him as a "red." However, in Chicago, where James McCormick made him one of the highest paid players, he has not been as "political". Still, he is the "hero of the workingman" in the City with Broad Shoulders, but his age (34) worries management--how much longer can he produce for the Browns?
Rodney Stollings, RF, no team, 31 yrs
Code:
Year G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Teams
1871 38 164 60 9 5 1 18 23 7 2 4 2 .366 .392 .500 .892 CIN
1872 54 229 95 16 6 4 40 38 10 5 4 5 .415 .439 .590 1.029 CIN
1873 52 207 74 22 2 6 36 38 23 5 1 0 .357 .422 .570 .992 CIN
1874 68 265 103 37 7 3 50 54 33 2 2 3 .389 .456 .615 1.071 CIN
1875 81 321 122 37 5 6 49 66 23 9 0 3 .380 .422 .583 1.004 CIN
1876 84 351 138 41 8 12 72 70 18 11 2 4 .393 .423 .658 1.081 CIN
Total 377 1537 592 162 33 32 265 289 114 34 13 17 .385 .428 .596 1.024
He has been producing at a high level since the 1869 Base Ball King tour, which he was a part of; 1876 was just eye-popping for the time. "Whenever the Kings needed a run, Stollings could be counted on to deliver," the papers wrote. But now with ownership cutting back salaries after the 1876 title, Queen City cranks may have to get used to someone else patrolling rightfield.
Steve Alves, SS, Chicago, 27 yrs
Code:
Year G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Teams
1871 37 162 51 6 7 0 11 33 7 12 15 3 .315 .343 .438 .781 BOS
1872 52 215 84 11 11 0 46 42 13 9 15 3 .391 .425 .544 .970 BOS
1873 52 234 83 15 3 2 31 59 14 8 23 4 .355 .391 .470 .861 BOS
1874 68 311 99 21 7 1 38 66 13 10 26 8 .318 .346 .441 .786 BOS
1875 81 349 96 17 5 1 29 52 11 14 17 11 .275 .297 .361 .658 BOS
1876 82 358 102 22 11 1 36 64 16 10 27 7 .285 .316 .416 .732 CHI
Total 372 1629 515 92 44 5 191 316 74 63 123 36 .316 .346 .436 .782
The moment he showed signs of slipping, the Unions cast him aside. The self-proclaimed "fastest man afield" showed he has pleanty of spring left in his step. Regarded as having the best 'hands' on the field, he is a fan favorite. "Once he starts to first," a popular saying goes, "he does not stop until he has touched home."
Henry Panell, 2B, no team, 26 yrs
Code:
Year G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Teams
1871 39 167 67 8 5 1 36 26 10 5 4 3 .401 .435 .527 .962 CHI
1872 45 185 91 10 5 1 38 28 11 3 7 4 .492 .520 .616 1.137 CLE
1873 52 212 80 17 3 1 25 40 14 6 6 1 .377 .416 .500 .916 CLE
1874 67 279 121 20 3 3 44 59 23 3 6 5 .434 .477 .559 1.036 CLE
1875 83 332 138 28 9 4 51 59 22 2 6 5 .416 .452 .590 1.042 CLE
1876 88 338 138 28 7 1 46 60 26 0 6 1 .408 .451 .541 .992 CLE
Total 374 1513 635 111 32 11 240 272 106 19 35 19 .420 .458 .557 1.015
Early victim of "East Coast Bias," while Norman Lent is regarded as the best batsman in the Empire, Panell has actually won 3 titles to Lent's 1. If the Browns had not gone dormant for two season, the Chicago press would make sure he was properly hailed. Cleveland, sadly, saddled with a tiny park and irregular press coverage has kept his skill hidden. "He just shows up and gets his hits," teammates say. Somewhat indifferent in the field, could be the next 'super star' in the right city.