The 1876 Brown Stockings: Bradley Weakened And Fisher Grew Strong

The second game between the Cincinnati and St. Louis clubs was played this afternoon in the presence of about 3,000 people. The result was 5 to 2 in favor of Cincinnati. St. Louis won the toss and sent the Cincinnatis to the bat. In the first five innings goose-eggs were scored on both sides, although several times the Browns had a man on third, and only plucky playing on the part of the Reds prevented them from scoring. In the sixth inning Clapp got first on a base hit to center, took second on a wild throw of Pearson, and third on a passed ball by Pearson. Pike brought him home by a base hit to left field. In the sixth inning Clapp got first on a base hit to center, took second on a wild throw of Pearson, and third on a passed ball by Pearson. Pike brought him home by a base hit to left field. In the seventh inning Booth got first on an error by Bradley, and second on a passed ball by Clapp, and Gould brought him home by a two base hit to center. In the eighth inning, Sweasy, Pearson, Fisher and Kessler came to the front in the order named, with base hits, bringing Sweasy home, and leaving the other three on bases. No outs, and excitement high. Booth went out on foul bound to Clapp. Gould, after two strikes had been called on him, made a base hit to center, taking first, bringing home Pearson and Fisher, and sending Kessler to third. While Clack was at the bat, Gould purposely allowed himself to be caught between first and second, and while McGeary was running him down Kessler scored. In the ninth inning Clapp went out on a fly. McGeary reached first on a base hit, second on a wild throw by Pearson, third on a passed ball by Pearson, and home on a base hit by Pike. Pike was caught at third, and Blong went out on a fly. In first six innings the Reds could not bat Bradley, and the Browns batted Fisher hard. In the last three innings Bradley weakened and Fisher grew strong. While the Reds earned four runs the Browns earned none.

Sommers, of the Blue Stockings, umpired.

Base on called balls-Bradley, 1.

Time of game-Two hours and ten minutes.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 28, 1876

The box score and more from the Cincinnati Enquirer tomorrow. But, good gosh, how did the Brown Stockings loss two in a row to this club. Glorious Uncertainty and all that but the Reds got over twenty percent of their victories in two days against one of the top clubs in the League. It's rather shocking really. Then again, the 2009 Kansas City Royals were 18-12 on May 8 and spent 27 days in first place before finishing 65-97 and 21.5 games out of first. The lesson (to quote the great and wise Joaquin Andujar): You never know.