In Defense Of Nichols

For the benefit of certain foolish friends of the Brown Stockings, who think that the club must necessarily suffer by the loss of Bradley, the following extracts in regard to his successor, picked at random from a few old exchanges, will show that Nichols, backed by such a magnificent fielding team as he will have to support his pitching, is fully capable of winning the championship:

The Boston Herald says: "Nichols is credited with winning the game by his remarkable pitching and batting. No runs were earned off him, and four of the professionals failed to hit safely in a single instance."

The Fall River News says: "Nichols, of the New Havens, is probably one of the best pitchers living; he has a variety of styles (making the catcher lots of work), a hard-hitter, fast-runner, and full of vim when pushed."

The New York Clipper says: "Of the many professional clubs who have met the Resolutes this year, there was none who played the game so sharply and well as did the New Havens. Their pitcher, Nichols, is the best, all points considered, the Resolute Club ever faced."

The Cincinnati Enquirer says: "Much of their strength is due to Nichols, their pitcher. This little fellow is, in our mind, without a peer in his position, except it be Bond. In him the Browns have won a treasure for the next year's nine, and one they can well afford to swap for Bradley. Besides being a good pitcher, he is a good general player, and one of the best-natured and jolliest men we have ever seen on the ball-field."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 20, 1876