The 1884 Maroons: Taylor Jumps The Club (Again)

Handsome Henry Boyle

"Billee" Taylor has finally jumped the St. Louis Unions.  On his first jump he received $300 from Lew Simmons, of the Athletics, but, instead of joining the latter organization, spent the money and went back to the Unions.  He then asked Mr. Lucas to send Simmons $500, which he claimed to have received.  His request was not complied with, Mr. Lucas having satisfied himself that Taylor received but $300 and was trying to work him out of $200, declined to send a cent to Simmons.  Taylor urged that the $500 be remitted until he found that the scheme would not succeed, and then went to Simmons and squared matters by signing with the Athletics.  His place on the nine has been filled by the engagement of "Pudge" Boyle, formerly of the Actives, of Reading, Pa., who is reported to be a fine pitcher and strong batsman.  In yesterday's game at Baltimore he held the Baltimore Unions down to four hits.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 10, 1884


Check back tomorrow for the box score and game account of Handsome Henry's first game with the Maroons.

As to Bollicky Bill Taylor, the guy certainly had some nerve.  I'm not sure what to make of him as a player.  I can't decide if he was undervalued and underused most of his career (with his "personality" contributing to  that) or if his career numbers are inflated because of his 1884 season.  The guy looks like a homeless man's version of Bob Caruthers but eighty percent of his career value comes from 1884, when he went 43-16 and had 2.4 oWAR.  His age 27-29 seasons are interesting enough to wonder what his career could have looked like had he gotten more playing time but, after 1884, the guy only got into 17 more major league games.  And I think the Globe did a fair job of explaining why Taylor didn't get too many more chances in the majors.          

The 1884 Maroons: The Return Of Bill Taylor

Taylor, the jumping pitcher of the St. Louis Club, appeared in the box to-day, having been won back by Lucas, notwithstanding he received $300 with the understanding that he should sign to play the remainder of the season with the Athletics.  He proved a winning card, as the home team were unable to do anything with his twisters.  Gleason at third and Whitehead at short played wonderfully, disposing of no less than eleven players, while Rowe led at the bat.  For the Nationals, Deasley, Voss, Evers and Joy played their positions for all they were worth.  Dunlap and Quinn made a very pretty double play in the seventh inning, thus cutting off the last chance for the home team to increase their score.  About 1,000 people witnessed the game.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 6, 1884

The 1884 Maroons: Taylor Jumps His Contract

Billy Taylor, who is reported to have jumped his contract with the Lucas Unions at Philadelphia, played with the Alleghenys of Pittsburg for several years past, and was released last year.  He is a good general player and has won many games for the Lucas club by his effective pitching.  His salary was reported as $1,700 for the season.  His loss will be severely felt.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 2, 1884


As we saw yesterday, Taylor pitched for the Maroons in Philadelphia on June 30th, throwing a one-hitter.  Two days later, the papers are reporting that he jumped to the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association.  For a team that was winning as much as the Maroons did in 1884, they sure had some bad luck with pitchers.

Somebody needs to buy Charlie Sweeney some drinks because the Black Diamonds have a roster spot they need to fill.      

The 1884 Maroons: Taylor Throws A One-Hitter

The St. Louis Union Club gained an easy victory over the Keystone nine to-day by a score of 6 to 0.  The visitors played a fine game in the field and bunched their hits in three innings.  The Keystone players found an enigma in Taylor's delivery, and but one safe hit was made off of him.  Only two of the home nine reached first base in the whole game.  The Keystone men made six errors, two of them bases on called balls, but their fielding was generally sharp.  The catching of Clements and Baker and the batting of Dunlap and Gleason were features.  The visitors scored two runs in the first inning on singles by Dunlap and Dickerson, a fielded hit and a wild pitch.  Gleason, Quinn and Dunlap made good hits in the seventh inning, but the two runs scored were let in on a muff of a thrown ball by Peak, on which he had an easy double play.  After two were out in the last inning, McCormick missed a foul fly.  Dunlap, Shaffer and Gleason followed with singles and Rowe hit the ball through McGinnis, two more runs being the result.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 1, 1884.

The 1884 Maroons: Billy Taylor Pulls A Bit Of Skulduggery

The Keystone Unions lost a game to the St. Louis nine to-day by a score of 6 to 4.  The visitors outplayed the home nine at all points, and were much superior in running the bases.  But with all this the Keystones would have won, had it not been for bad umpiring.  Taylor, of the St. Louis Club, scored a run in the fourth inning by cutting across the diamond from second base, not coming within forty feet of third, and when Umpire Sullivan allowed the run to score there was a perfect howl from the crowd of 1,200.  There were several close decisions and they were all given in favor of the visitors.  The Keystones surprised "Billee Taylor" by pounding him hard.  The features of the game were the throwing to bases by Baker and Clements, and a long-running catch by Dickerson.  The Keystones scored two runs each in the first and fifth innings by good batting, while poor base running lost them at least three more runs during the game.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 28, 1884


That particular piece of skulduggery, the skip play, was an old play that was actually rather popular in the 1880s, thanks to guys like Arlie Latham and King Kelly.  It was tough for one umpire to see everything that was happening on the field and smart, heady players took advantage of that.

The 1884 Maroons: Ridiculous

The second game between the St. Louis and Baltimore Union Association teams was played yesterday afternoon in the presence of about 2,000 persons.  As an exhibition of terrific hitting on the part of the home team it was a great success, but as a contest it was too one-sided to be in any degree exciting.  With Gleason on the hospital list the local nine pounded the first pitcher that opposed them out of his position in the third inning, and in the rest of the game hammered Robinson until their aggregate of singles amounted to 27, and their total bases to 38.  Dunlap, Shafer, Quinn and Whitehead each made four hits, Dunlap, Dickerson, Rowe and Baker each made one double, Shafer and Taylor each made two, and Shafer scored one three-bagger.  Ten runs were earned, and by energetic base-running every error of the visitors was made so costly that the total was swelled to 20.  The visitors made nine hits, Robinson scoring a two-bagger and Levis a three-bagger.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 16, 1884


Cutting straight to the chase:  What Did Dunlap Do?  Fred just went four for six with a double.  I think it was his best day at the plate since he went five for five on May 1st against Altoona.  For the season, if my math is correct, Dunlap was 29 for 58, good for an even .500 batting average.  The amazing thing is that I couldn't say for sure that he was leading the team in hitting.  Bollicky Bill Taylor was hitting the snot out of the ball and was probably the best hitter on the team through their first fifteen games.  He was certainly hitting for more power than Dunlap.

But the whole team was just crushing UA pitching.  This was the ninth time in fifteen games that the Maroons scored in double figures and the second time that they scored at least twenty runs.  Their run differential at this point in the season was +131.  That's ridiculous.  They were 16-0 and winning by an average of eight runs a game.

I should point out that Dunlap also had two errors in this game and that the team had ten total errors.  If there was a weakness in this Maroons club, comparing them to other UA clubs, it was their defense.  The Globe certainly believed that Washington and Baltimore were both better defensively than the Maroons.  Looking at the first couple of weeks of the season, I'm certainly not impressed with their glove-work.              

The 1884 Maroons: The First Championship Game Of The Season

Notwithstanding the disagreeable temperature and dampening drizzle that prevailed yesterday afternoon, fully 10,000 persons attended the opening game in the Union Association championship schedule for this city, between the St. Louis Unions and the Chicago Unions.  This fact may appear quite incredible to those who sat all the afternoon in their homes and pitied people who were obliged to be out and exposed to the dreary elements, but it is nevertheless an astonishing yet positive fact.  What was most remarkable was that at least 6,000 occupied uncovered seats, and all sat through a six inning contest apparently cheerful if not grateful for having an opportunity to see the game.  It is doubtful if under similar circumstances any other city in the country could produce such a gathering.  considering the conditions under which it was played it was the most remarkable base ball event that ever occurred in the West, and, perhaps the most remarkable in the annals of the game.  To a man the spectators were base ball enthusiasts, if not absolute cranks.  But they were good-humored, and evidently appreciating the fact that brilliant playing should not be expected, laughed at errors and heartily applauded each good play.  As a matter of course, they were partial to the home club, but they were liberal to the visitors, and particularly so to Hugh Daily.  In fact the one-armed pitcher was the favorite of the occasion.  He caught the sympathy of the crowd in his preliminary practice, in which his catching with one hand and a stump was greatly admired.  When the first time at the bat, after two strikes, he knocked a grounder to left field, scoring a two-base hit, he became

The Hero Of The Hour, 

and was wildly cheered.  The field and diamond were both very slippery and the spikes of the fielders were of comparatively little value.  Dunlap suffered twice from this cause.  In one instance after securing first base on a hit, he sneaked away from the bag.  Daily threw to Schoenick to nip him.  He got back all right, but in sliding, passed the bag, and was put out before he could get back.  Then in the fifth inning he nearly fielded a grounder from Cady's bat, hit near second, but after getting could not steady himself, and in throwing to first sent the ball over Taylor's head.  In the outfield, owing to the peculiar atmosphere, the players experienced great difficulty in judging fly balls.  The home battery was Hodnett and Brennan, while Daily and Krieg were presented by the visitors.  Hodnett executed some remarkable curves, but was quite unsteady in his delivery.  Brennan fully sustained the high opinions that have been expressed concerning his ability, and there need be no hesitation in pronouncing him the most promising young catcher in the country.  Daily did not have his usual control of the ball, and besides being somewhat wild gave three men bases on balls.  The young players, Whitehead, Brennan and Hodnett, were his special victims, and were sorely puzzled by his delivery.  Krieg's support was excellent.  Indeed it was quite a surprise.

 The Game.

The game was called at 2:10, twenty minutes before the announced time.  There was, however, no reason for further delay as the crowd present was very large and impatient to have the contest begin.  The St. Louis team were first at the bat.  Dunlap led and was given his base on balls.  Shaffer followed with a hit to short that gave an opportunity for a double play.  Mathias made a clean pick up, but threw so high to second that Hengle had to get back from the bag to stop the ball.  Deing unable to return to the bag before Dunlap had reached it, Hengle threw to first and just managed to put out Shaffer.  Dunlap then stole third and came home on a passed ball.  Dickerson struck out and Gleason retired the side by hitting to third and going out on Foley's assist to Schoenick.  The visitors failed to score.  Ellick hit to Dunlap and went out at first.  Krieg hit a liner to left field that Dickerson misjudged, and it fell just beyond his reach.  A good stop and throw held the striker at first.  Heugle raised a foul fly to right and Shaffer attended to tit.  A passed ball gave Kreig second base, but he died on the very next ball.  Brennan fumbled it but recovering quickly threw to Gleason and cut short the runner in an attempt to gain third. 

In the second inning neither side scored.  Rowe started with a two-base hit to right and was finally left at third.  Taylor made

 A Stupid Play

hitting high to the right of Daly he stood and watched the one-armed man attempt to catch the ball, and did not leave the plate until Dunlap ran up, pushed him off and started him for first.  Daly muffed, but Kreig who was right under him, gathered the ball and threw Taylor out at first.  Rowe ran to third on the error.  Then Whitehead and Brennan struck out.  The Chicagos went out in quick succession.  Householder and Foley on Hodnett's assist to Taylor, while Schoenick hit direct to Taylor.  Both sides realized blanks from the third inning.  Dunlap scored first on a safe one to center, but was put out by Daly's throw to Schoenick.  Daly made a two-bagger for the visitors and then was left.

 In the fourth inning the local club scored two runs and the Chicagos one.  Gleason led off with a drive over the left fielder's head, the ball bounding against the fence, but had to be content with one base.  Rowe hit between second and first.  The ball was fielded by Schoenick and Daly covered first only to make a muff on which Gleason reached third.  After Rowe had taken second by sufferance he and Gleason were brought home by Taylor's slashing grounder to left.  The ball was fielded home and Taylor thereby gained second.  A passed ball gave him third where he was left, Whitehead, Brennan and Hodnett striking out.  Kreig opened for the Chicago team by getting first on called balls.  In attempting to steal second he was nipped by Brennan's brilliant throw to Dunlap.  Hengle, who also started with a base on balls, stole second, Brennan throwing a trifle wide to Dunlap, and came home on Householder's hit to short, which Whitehead fumbled and then threw wild to Taylor.  That was the only run scored by the visitors.  In the next two innings the game dragged and became slow and tedious.  The misty rain increased in density, the pitcher became unable to handle the ball with effectiveness, and the players slipped at almost every run on both turf and bare ground.  Two more innings each realized two runs for the St. Louis nine, while the Chicago contingent retired with zeros.  The game was then called.  The crowd would have been satisfied with a call at the end of the fifth inning, but in order to avoid possible dissatisfaction Dunlap had an additional inning played.

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


A few thoughts on the Maroons first official game of the season:

-Gleason's hit in the fourth was interesting.  A ball to left field that went over the outfielder's head, it only resulted in a single.  Either Gleason was really, really slow or this is evidence of the Union Grounds being a small ballpark.  It's possible, I guess, that Gleason thought the ball was going to be caught and did run it out but a ball over the left fielder's head with no one on base should have been a double.

-I forgot that Joe Ellick played for the Chicago Unions.  Always nice to see an old Red Stocking.

-"It is doubtful if under similar circumstances any other city in the country could produce such a gathering."  You hear that a lot in St. Louis.  You'll be sitting at the ballpark on a Tuesday night against Colorado, there will be 40,000 people there and you'll hear somebody say something like "They probably have 2,000 people at the game in Florida."

-Again, I think it's necessary to point out that One Armed Daily actually had two arms.  Also, his middle name was Ignatius.

-No mention of Ted Sullivan.  Dunlap was the guy who made the decision to play or call the game and you would think that Sullivan, who was the manager, would have made that decision.  Dunlap was the field captain so maybe that fell to him.  It's just kind of odd that Sullivan isn't mentioned in the article at all, especially given his relationship with the press.    

-And that brings us to:

What Did Dunlap Do?

Teh Fred went two for two, with a walk, a stolen base and three runs.  A nice start to the season.  He also got picked off first and made a throwing error, but the Globe blamed those on the weather.  Even more interestingly, he probably really pissed off Bollicky Bill Taylor.  Taylor was a veteran and one of the older guys on the team so I doubt he appreciated Dunlap shoving him out of the box in the second inning, regardless of circumstances.  Teh Fred was not exactly known for his people skills and this is kind of an example of that.
       

    

The 1884 Maroons: Men Like These

In the Union team there are six of the strongest batsmen in the country.  Dunlap led the Clevelands in batting Dickerson and Taylor were about the heaviest hitters in the Allegheny team; Rowe was the hardest hitter in the Baltimore nine; Jack Gleason could hit the ball harder than any man in the Louisville Club, while Shaeffer, next to Brouthers, was as good a batsman as there was in the Buffalo team.  Men like these make the leather fly no matter what the quality of the pitcher.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 10, 1884

A Blamed Fool

Billy Taylor, of the St. Louis Club, has written to Mike Mansell, the contract-breaker, as follows: "Dear Mike, you're a blamed fool to have gone and broke with Lucas, but now that you've done it, Mickey, my boy, I'll give you a pointer: Keep as far away from this town as possible, for if you ever step into it Lucas will have you sent to the pen as sure as my name's Billy Taylor."

-Cleveland Herald, March 17, 1884

Putting aside Taylor's message to Mansell, I want to talk about Bollicky Bill Taylor's nickname. According to my best researching efforts, bollicky is slang for naked. Now I guess bollicky could come from bullock or bollocks but, really, that wouldn't be much of an improvement. Regardless, do I really want to know how Billy Taylor got his nickname? I'm a bit torn.

The 1884 Maroons: Materializing Into An Organization

The Lucas-Wainwright Club is materializing into an organization that will command the respect and admiration of the whole country. Early yesterday afternoon news was received that Mr. Lucas, who was in Pittsburg, had signed Mike Mansell, Wm. Taylor and J.P. Dickerson, respectively the left fielder, first baseman and center fielder of the Allegheny Club of this year. Later in the day messages came announcing that Gross, the catcher of the Philadelphia Club, Dave Rowe, center fielder of the Baltimore club, and Jack Rowe, catcher of the Buffalo nine, were secured, making in all six important acquisitions. Mike Mansell is a grand left fielder, a good left-handed batsman, and one of the fleetest runners in the profession. Taylor is an all-around player, who is able to acquit himself in an exceedingly creditable manner in any position on the field. Dickerson is a center fielder of merit and a reliable left-handed batsman. These three men will come here on salaries of $2,000 each. Gross is one of the tallest catchers in the country, and has a remarkably long reach, which he utilizes to the greatest advantage. He is also a wonderful thrower and an excellent batsman. The Rowe brothers are highly esteemed by both the public and the management, the latter's appreciation of their ability being attested by contracts providing them with salaries of $2,600 each...Besides being a grand catcher, Jack can play any position on the field.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 9, 1883

Of the players mentioned above, only Billy Taylor, Buttercup Dickerson and Dave Rowe actually played for the Maroons in 1884. It appears that the Allegheny's had given Dickerson and Taylor their releases and they were free to sign with any club.

The 1884 Maroons: The First Players To Break The Rule

Tony Mullane, of the St. Louis Base-ball Club, and Jack Gleason, of the Louisville Eclipse, have broken the reserve rule, left their respective clubs, and signed with the new St. Louis organization, which is to form a part of the new Union Association. They are the first players to break the rule. Mullane was offered $1,950 for next season's play in the St. Louis Club, but refused that offer to go with the new St. Louis Club at a salary of $2,500, of which $600 is paid him in advance. The new organization offers Deasley, of the St. Louis Club, $3,000 for next season's work. He says he will accept the offer unless paid $2,500 by the older organization, which has placed him on the reserve list. The new St. Louis Club will to-morrow sign with Dickerson and Taylor, late of the Alleghenys. Gleason says the reason he broke the reserve rule with Louisville is that the Directors of that club wanted to reserve him at a salary of $1,000 for the season.

-New York Times, November 8, 1883

Neither Tony Mullane nor Pat Deasley played for the 1884 Maroons for reasons that I'm sure will become clear over the course of this exercise. Jack Gleason, Buttercup Dickerson and Billy Taylor, however, did play for the club.

Rumors about which players would join the Maroons were flying around fast and furious in October and November. Ted Sullivan was organizing a club for a Southern tour and I'm sure that all the players he was approaching about joining that enterprise were all rumored to be joining the Maroons. And Sullivan probably was trying to talk all of them into joining the new club. The club he put together had Buck Ewing, Jumbo McGinnis, Charlie Comiskey, Brother Bill Gleason, Tony Mullane, Jack Gleason, Old Hoss Radbourne, Joe Quest and Cliff Carroll. I don't know what it would have cost Lucas to sign all of those guys but it would have been a darn good team. Of course, the team he did put together finished 94-19 so he didn't really need all them.

But just imagine Radbourne pitching in the UA in 1884. If there's one thing I want you to take away from this post, that's it-the image of Charlie Radbourne pitching in the UA in 1884.