The 1884 Maroons: A High Degree Of Enthusiasm

The home series between the St. Louis and Boston Unions opened yesterday at Union Park with the best game of the season on any ground.  But five runs were scored and all were earned.  Both teams proved hard hitters, but sharp and brilliant work by the fielders held down the record of hits, and aroused the 4,000 spectators who were present to a high degree of enthusiasm.  It had been announced that the visiting battery would be Bond and Brown, but Murnan, who was on the card for first base, and who was injured in a collision at Cincinnati last week, did not feel able to take the field, and as a result Brown was placed at first, and Burke and Crane were presented in the points.  Runs were scored in but two innings, the visitors making one the third and the home team four in the [seventh].  In the third inning Burke led off for the Bostons with a safe hot grounder by short, that Rowe made a sharp effort to get, but only succeeded in tipping.  Butler followed with a slashing liner, which bounded against the left fence, sending Burke home and gaining second himself.  O'Brien was then called out, Irwin missed three strikes and was thrown out at first, and Crane foul-tipped to Baker.  Baker led for St. Louis in the seventh inning and raised a fly over second, just beyond O'Brien's reach.  Brennan then drove the ball out between left and center, scoring Baker's run, but in endeavoring to run to third was put out by Bond's sharp assist to O'Brien, who threw to Irwin.  Whitehead continued the hitting by sending a safe one over short and gaining second through Butler's unavailing effort to make a catch.  After he had reached third on a passed ball, Quinn brought him in by sending the ball on another trip to the left fence, and taking second on the hit.  Then Dunlap landed fairly on one of Burke's out-curves and turned high over the left fence, scoring a home run amid deafening applause.The features of the game were the fine support rendered Taylor by Baker and the superb outfielding of Dickerson, Butler, Slattery and Whitehead.  Butler ran in and captured one ball that was barely safe from Hackett.  Whitehead also got under one that dropped beyond second.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 21, 1884


The Maroons, after this win, were 18-0 but their four runs scored were their lowest offensive output of the season.

But, more importantly, What Did Dunlap Do?  The Two For Five Machine went two for five with a two-run homer.  For the math-impaired, let me just say that going two for five everyday is a great way to hit .400 for the season.