The 1876 Brown Stockings: Rain Ends The Muffing

For the third successive time, the Hartfords have scored a victory over the St. Louis Club-the attendance being no better than at the other games. The Hartfords played in fine form, batting Bradley free and hard, and fielding finely, the St. Louis doing exactly the reverse. In the first inning, Burdock fouled out to Battin; Remsen hit to McGeary, and retired; Higham out on a bound to Clapp; Cuthbert and McGeary out on flies to York, and Clapp to first on a safe hit. He stole second, where he was left, Pike striking out. In the second inning Ferguson and Carey went out on

Fouls To Clapp,

and Bond on a fly to Battin. Remsen caught Battin's high drive. Blong and Bradley made their bases by safe hits to right field. Dehlman popped up a high fly which Carey allowed to drop, and then threw to third, and Ferguson completed the double play by a good throw to Burdock. In the third inning York opened by a hot liner to Dehlman, which he handsomely stopped, and by McGeary's aid retired the striker. Mills out on a fly to second. Allison took first on a safe hit to right, where he was left by Burdock's hit to Battin. Dehlman

Hit Hard

to third, but was thrown out by Ferguson. Mack hit hard over York's head, but was latter made a beautiful catch. Cuthy out on a foul fly to Ferguson. In the fourth inning Remsen got first on a fair foul. Higham corked one over Mack's head, and Pike's slow handling gave Remsen third. Ferguson hit to McGeary, and Mack threw the striker out after McGeary, and Mack threw the striker out after McGeary had muffed the hit, Remsen scoring. Carey out on a fly to Pike. Bond hit safe and brought Higham home. York hit to Battin and forced Bond at second. Clapp out on a foul fly to York, McGeary on a foul bound to Ferguson, and Pike the same to Higham.

In The Fifth Inning,

York and Mills earned their bases. The latter, with Allison, were then doubled up on Allison's hit to Mack. Burdock flied out to Cuthbert. Battin, Blong and Bradley popped up easy fly catches, and retired. The sixth innings was fruitful of runs for the Hartford. Cuthbert dropped a hard line drive of Higham's. The latter was caught between first and second, but Dehlman gave him a life by dropping an easy fly, which was accepted. Carey and Bond then hit safely, Higham scoring. York hit to center,

Carey Coming Home.

Pike threw the ball home, and Clapp caught Bond between second and third, but Battin dropped the throw and the runner was safe. Mills hit high to right, and as Blong dropped the ball two more runs were made; Mack finally throwing Allison out at first, and ending the muffing. In the seventh inning Burdock went out on a fly to Mack; Remsen was safe on a high fly between center and left, and got all the way to third on a passed ball, Burdock yelling like a bull as the ball was pitched, causing Clapp to miss it entirely; Higham out at first; Remsen scoring; Ferguson struck out. During the last half of the inning

Rain Fell

so that play had to be stopped, and the game was ultimately called, the score going back to the end of the sixth inning. The Hartfords won by their superior batting and fielding, the display in both of these respects made by the St. Louis nine being lamentable, all their errors being costly.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 11, 1876

The Brown Stockings were three games out of first place going into their series with Hartford. They had gone 6-2 on their Eastern road trip to that point. Then they got swept by the Dark Blues while Chicago, also on an Eastern trip, won three in a row. The Brown Stockings woke up on June 11 to find themselves six games out of first.

And the thing is that whatever hopes they had of winning the pennant were over. They were six games out and would finish six games out. They never got any closer than five games out the rest of the season. The Brown Stockings championship hopes were dashed in Hartford and never recovered. They'd play good ball the rest of the way but they were never in contention after this.