The Reds Were Lucky And The Eagles Were Unfortunate

Those who attended the match game yesterday afternoon (July 8, 1875) at Eagle Park (in Louisville, Kentucky), between the Eagles and the Red Stockings, of St. Louis, witnessed the prettiest contest of the season. There was brilliant playing on both sides, and as will be perceived from the summary, but few errors. There was no wild throwing, with one or two exceptions, and the errors consisted mostly in fumbling and misjudging balls. The batting was very good on both sides. The fine fielding of the visitors prevented the Eagles from scoring a run off their seven base hits, while the Reds were lucky in making four base hits in one inning, and earning three scores therefrom. The Eagles were unfortunate in losing the toss, and were the first to go to bat.

The visitors outfielded and ran bases better than the Eagles, although the latter played as good a fielding game as in the game with the Westerns. Muir played in his old style, doing the best batting of the nine, and playing without an error at first. In the ninth inning he made a beautiful foul fly catch back of first base, and then ran back in time to put a man out at first who had been trying to steal second, making a double play. The fielding of Morris at third was another feature of the game. His throwing to first was the finest seen on the grounds this season. Metcalfe played short in splendid style, while Roche played without a passed ball, and Truman and K. McDonald filled their positions well. All of the Red Stocking nine fielded well, Redmon, McSorley and Sweasy each doing work especially creditable.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 10, 1875 ("clipped from the Courier-Journal")


The Globe also mentions a game played by the Reds in Frankfort, Kentucky on July 9. In that game they defeated the Olympics 16-0.