The 1884 Maroons: Things Are Looking Bad

The St. Louis Base Ball team lost its second game this season, out of twenty-four played, to the Chicago Unions today, after an exciting contest of ten innings.  Taylor and Baker formed the battery for the visitors, and Daily and Krieg did the fine work for Chicago.  During the first five innings the home nine failed to get a base, while their opponents scored four runs.  They then tied the game by two runs in the sixth on a base on balls, a hit and two wild throws, and two more in the seventh on Krieg's hit and three errors.  Daily made the winning run and ended the game in the tenth inning by a base on balls, Ellick's clean hit and a wild pitch.  The St. Louis nine made their runs in the second and sixth innings, by hard hitting, coupled with costly errors by the Chicago infield.  They had men on bases in every inning but one, and their field play was perfect until near the close of the contest, when wild throws lost them the game.

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


With their second lose in six games, the Maroons were falling apart.  Lucas needed to go to Providence and get Charlie Sweeney drunk.  Up four nothing, they gave up two in the sixth and two in the seventh.  Then in the tenth, they lose by a walk, a Joe Ellick hit and a wild pitch.  That's a tough way to lose.  And to make matters worse, they lost a half game in the standings, their lead falling from 6.5 games to 6.  Somebody buy Sweeney some drinks.

As if things couldn't get any worse, I think Fred was in a slump.  What Did Dunlap Do?  He had one measly hit, after going hitless in the last game.  The T-800 needed a tune-up.    

The 1884 Maroons: Whitewash

The St. Louis Unions whitewashed the Keystones yesterday, in the presence of about 1,500 spectators.  Hodnett's pitching was so effective that the visitors made but three safe hits, and his support was perfect in every respect, excepting an excusable muff by Dickerson after a long run.  Bakely was batted by the home team for eleven hits, including two-baggers by Gleason and Shafer.  Out of a total of seven errors charged to the Keystones Luff was guilty of three.

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


Charlie Hodnett was obviously the star of this game, throwing a three hitter and shutting out the Keystones.  Early biographical information on Hodnett is a bit sketchy and while sources agree that he was born in 1861, the exact date is unknown.  Also unknown is his place of birth, with some sources stating he was born in St. Louis and others that he was born in Dubuque.

According to his entry in Major League Baseball Profiles, Volume One, which was written by David Nemec and David Ball, "Charlie Hodnett came to the Browns in the spring of 1883 from the St. Louis sandlots.  His brother Jack was also a prominent local amateur, and his father, John, helped found the St. Louis Times, a Democratic organ, in 1866.  Both brothers worked as printers at their father's paper early in life...[In 1884,] Hodnett started for the St. Louis Maroons on Opening Day...More than a month later he sustained the UA club's first defeat after it had sprinted to a ML-record 20-0 start when he lost 8-1..."  So there's a good bit of trivia for you:  Hodnett won the Maroons' first game and suffered their first loss.

Hodnett pitched his last game for the Maroons on July 4, 1884, taking the loss in a 12-1 defeat.  The Davids write that "Though kept on Maroon's payroll until September 1884, Hodnett never pitched in another official game.  The likelihood is that he was already suffering from the rheumatoid condition that reduced him to a cripple within a few years.  By 1886 Hodnett was able to walk only with the aid of a cane and relied on occasional benefit games as his main source of income...[He] died  a pauper in the St. Louis poor house, where he had been sent after his family could no longer care for him."

Hodnett died on April 25, 1890, at the young age of 29.  His major league career lasted only twenty-two games.  With the Browns and the Maroons, he started eighteen games, going 14-4 with a 1.88 ERA and an ERA+ of 165.  He accumulated 3.4 WAR in his brief career.  Breaking into the majors at the age of 22, it appears that Hodnett was a fine, young talent who had a decent career cut short by illness.

And as to the What Did Dunlap Do portion of our program:  Fred went 0-5 and only had three chances in the field, proving that the King of All Second Basemen was human.        

The 1884 Maroons Face A Pitcher With A Lame Arm

About 2,000 persons attended the base ball game between the Keystones, of Philadelphia and the St. Louis Unions at Union Park yesterday afternoon.  The visitors put in Weaver to pitch in response to a generally expressed desire to see him in the points.  He was, however, in no condition, being suffering from a lame arm, and was unable to do much more than toss the ball to the batsman.  On one occasion he stopped a hit with his left hand, and there was a chance for a double play, but he was unable to throw, and in an effort to pitch the ball to Peak sent it low out to center.  He held the points until the eighth inning, when he retired to left, Hoover went to third and McCormick undertook to do the twirling.  The features of the game was a home-run by Gleason, double-plays by Rowe and Quinn of the home team, and Hoover and McGuinness, of the visitors.  The home nine scored 20 hits with a total of 35 bases.  A total of 6 singles represented the visitors work at the bat.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 31, 1884


I just don't think that it was a good idea to throw a dead-armed pitcher against the 1884 Maroons.  

And What Did Dunlap Do against a pitcher with a lame arm?  About what you would expect.  He had three hits, including two doubles, and scored four runs.  Doesn't really seem fair, does it?  

The 1884 Maroons: Sounds Like A Heck Of A Catch

Between 1,500 and 2,000 people witnessed the second game between the Keystone Club, of Philadelphia, and the St. Louis Unions, played yesterday afternoon at Union Park.  As in the first meeting between the same nines the local team won.  The visitors were outbatted and outfielded, but by bunching hits earned most of their runs.  William Sullivan, a new discovery, occupied the pitcher's box for the home team for six innings.  He showed that he was a promising twirler, but hardly a safe one to put against experienced players.  In the third inning Dickerson opportunely became sick and Taylor was uniformed and sent out to left field.  Then in hte seventh inning Taylor's opportune presence was utilized by his going to the box, Sullivan retiring to right and Shafer moving to left.  Dickerson said his trouple was neuralgia.  Some unsympathetic people intimated that his affliction was superinduced by the hard hitting the Keystones were doing on Sullivan's delivery.  The visitors presented Bakely and Gillen.  Weaver had been announced to pitch, but was indisposed.  Bakely was hit for 17 singles and a total of 22 bases, and Gillen, whose support was brilliant in many respects, allowed three balls to pass him.  Brennan had one passed ball charged against him, but handled the widely differing deliveries of Sullivan and Taylor with equal ease and reliability. 

The feature of the game was a catch by Dunlap that deservedly elicited general and prolonged applause.  In the second inning, when Dunlap was playing about ten yards from second, Cross hit a high-line ball almost directly over second, the hit appearing to be safe beyond doubt.  To the astonishment of the entire assemblage, Dunlap ran back, sprang into the air, and with a right hand reach performed the seemingly impossible feat of capturing ball.  The performance has never been surpassed on a St. Louis ball ground.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 30, 1884


So...what DID Dunlap do?  Just your regular, old two for six with three runs scored.  He also turned a double play in the field.  And he made a running, jumping one-handed catch of a line drive that was hit ten yards to his right.  No big deal.

The reference to "William Sullivan, a new discovery" is interesting and may point to an error in the records.  It looks to me that the record has Sleeper Sullivan pitching this game for the Maroons.  The problem is that William Sullivan can not be Sleeper Sullivan.  Sleeper Sullivan's name was Thomas Jefferson Sullivan not William and he was not in any way a new discovery.  Sleeper Sullivan had played in the major leagues since 1881 and was with the Brown Stockings in 1882.  He was a popular player in St. Louis and I think that the Globe's baseball reporter would have recognized him and identified him properly.  

Unless there was some kind of attempt at deception going on, we have to take the reporting at face value and conclude that William Sullivan, rather than Sleeper Sullivan, pitched this game.  But Baseball-Reference does not list William Sullivan on the Maroons 1884 roster, although, when you search for William Sullivan, you get this.  Something is wrong here and my gut feeling tells me that the error is on our end.  

I'm going to look into this some more and see what I can find but, right now, I think that the record is in error.  Maybe the Globe has it wrong or I'm missing something but I don't think so.  We'll see.  

Note:  This gets curiouser and curiouser.  In Major League Baseball Profiles, 1871-1900, Volume One, David Nemec states that Sleeper Sullivan pitched in the game on May 29, 1884.  Peter Morris, on the other hand, states at his website that there is "overwhelming evidence" that William Sullivan, rather than Sleeper Sullivan, pitched in that game.  I'll check in with both men but I'm more than inclined to agree with Peter on this one.

Note the second:  Talked to Peter about this and he shared some references that I hadn't seen about William Sullivan and the May 29th game.  In my opinion, the evidence is pretty conclusive that this game should be credit to William Sullivan, rather than Sleeper Sullivan, and Peter has passed all of this on to the powers that be in order to get the record corrected.    

An Earnest Umpire

Mapledoram is in earnest about his umpiring, and will not allow his decisions to be questioned.  Yesterday he fined Dunlap $10 for what he considered improper conduct.  At Cincinnati he fined Bradley $0, and when appealed to reduce the penalty to $25, he peremptorily refused.

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


I'm not so concerned with Blake Mapledoram and his earnestness as I am with the idea of Fred Dunlap "questioning" an umpire.  Given Dunlap's nature, I doubt that it was as polite an encounter as the Globe makes it sound.  

We should really add this to the What Did Dunlap Do? file:  In the first game against the Keystones, Dunlap went off on an umpire and got fined.  

The 1884 Maroons: Paradoxical Results

The Keystone Club, of Philadelphia, made their first appearance in St. Louis yesterday, at the Union Grounds, where they met the St. Louis Unions, and were defeated by a score of 8 to 4.  About 2,500 spectators witnessed the game, which was a peculiar illustration of the chances of base ball, inasmuch as the visitors outbatted and outfielded the home team and still failed of success.  They made only three errors, but all were costly, and, together with a fortunate bunching of hits and admirable base running by the home team, brought about the singular result.  The home team obtained a commanding lead in the first two innings, which rendered the victory almost a foregone conclusion and dwarfed interest in the contest.  Bakely and Gillen were the visitors' battery, while Taylor and Baker were presented for St. Louis.  Dunlap, Shaffer and Dickerson, who bat in the order named, made seven of the nine hits scored by the home team, and each of the three made a two-bagger.  This largely accounts for the somewhat paradoxical result.  Bakely displayed considerable speed, and was well supported by Gillen.  Taylor did not pitch with his usual vigor or effectiveness, and was hammered for eleven hits, including two-baggers by Bakely and one by Clements.  Baker's work behind the bat was not so neat as usual, still he did not let a ball go by him.  His two errors consist of a low throw to second and a high one to third.  Quinn got one of Whitehead's swiftest throws on his right thumb, and as a result has a bad hand.  

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


So the Maroons responded to their first defeat with a victory over Philadelphia.  Their record stood at 21-1.

These UA clubs were an unimpressive lot and the Keystones were as unimpressive as any of them.  They had a young Jack Clements and an old Levi Meyerle and not much else to recommend them.  The fact that they eventually picked up Clarence Cross doesn't speak well of the talent on the club.

As the Globe mentioned, the top of the order carried the Maroons' offense in this game, which leads us to our  What Did Dunlap Do? shtick.  Fred went two for four with a double and two runs scored.  And I'm almost becoming numb to Dunlap's offensive proficiency.  Two for four, a double and two runs scored is a darn good game but, for Dunlap, it's kind of a quiet, normal day at the plate.  I just can't imagine watching someone today having the year that Dunlap did in 1884.

Okay, that's not exactly true.  We have recently seen a season similar to Dunlap's 1884 season.  It was Barry Bonds in 2001.  Look at Dunlap's numbers and compare them to Bonds.  Note Dunlap's 258 OPS+ and Bonds' 259 OPS+.                  

The 1884 Maroons: Defeat

The St. Louis Unions received their first defeat yesterday afternoon at the hands of the Bostons Unions, who outbatted and outfielded them.  The visitors presented Bond and Crane, and while the former pitched one of the best games of his life, the latter's support could not have been bettered.  Only Dunlap, Shafer, Gleason and Whitehead were able to do anything with Bond's delivery, and the eight hits made off him were so scattering that, although three of them were two-baggers, only one run was realized.  Nine of the home batsmen struck out.  Rowe sawed the air twice, and Taylor three times amid mingled laughter and applause, the discomfiture of those two heavy hitters amusing one class, while another became greatly enthused over Bond's splendid work.  St. Louis presented Hodnett and Brennan.  Hodnett was hit for twenty-two bases, including seventeen singles, two doubles and one three-bagger, and Brennan had three passed balls charged against him.  In the field the Bostons played a perfect game, and the only error charged to them was a wild pitch by Bond.  The attendance was about 6,000, the grand stand crowd being one of the fines that ever assembled to witness a ball game in this city.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 25, 1884


All good things come to an end and the Maroons tasted defeat for the first time in their existence.  They started the season 20-0 and had a seven game lead going into this game.  But you can't win them all.

Even in defeat, however, the Maroons' captain and second baseman still had a decent game.  What Did Dunlap Do in defeat?  He went two for four and threw a guy out at the plate.

The 1884 Maroons: A Remarkable Performance

The Boston Unions presented Burke and Crane as battery yesterday, and the local Union team scored twenty hits, earned ten runs, and won by a score of 16 to 4.  It was another exhibition of the terrific batting the home nine is capable of doing, and would have beaten any club in the country.  Toward the close Burke became disheartened, and the whole visiting nine were visibly discouraged.  Nevertheless, they played steadily and well throughout.  Their error column shows a total of eight, made up of four wild pitches by Burke, two wild throws by Crane, a fumble by Hackett, and a case of slow handling by Irwin.  From a total of seven hits, including two doublets by O'Brien and one each by Burke and Hackett, they earned only one run, the five errors made by the home nine enabling them to secure three more.  The features of their work were the brilliant playing of Brown at first and of Butler at second.  Until the present series Butler has been a reserved man.  It is safe, however, to predict that he will be a regular hereafter.  He is a fine fielder and thrower, covers an immense amount of ground, is a sure catch and a cool, calculating, hard-hitting batsman.  In short, he appears to be the best man on the nine, which is composed of good material, notwithstanding that they have not succeeded in defeating the St. Louis nine.  Taylor and Baker were the home club's battery.  Taylor was effective, but not as steady as usual, and gave three men bases on balls, besides having one wild pitch charged to him.  Baker made a wide throw to second, but otherwise his support was perfect. 

Dunlap's Remarkable Performance. 

Dunlap made a wonderful record at the bat and in the field.  Out of six times at the plate he made five hits, a triplet, three doubles and a single, and by superb base-running scored five runs.  His fielding score was eight putouts, six assists and no errors.  Quinn played first in grand style.  Whitehead made seven assists, some of his stops and throws being very brilliant, but marred his record by a muff, and two wild throws.  A remarkable feature of the game was the few chances offered to the outfielders.  Dickerson, Rowe and Shafer each captured a solitary fly...Twenty-three of the visitors were put out between the plate, first and second...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 23, 1884


20-0.

And I think that the Globe covered the whole What Did Dunlap Do? thing.  This was easily his best game of the season, all aspects of the game considered.  He tied his season high for hits in a game and did so with power.    

The 1884 Maroons: The Bostons Were All Wet

The second game between the Bostons and St. Louis Unions was played yesterday afternoon at Union Park, and was witnessed by about 3,000 persons.  It began in a drizzle, and rain fell to a greater or less degree until just before the finish.  At the opening of the seventh inning a heavy shower caused the game to be called for twenty minutes.  Then Umpire Holland, in opposition to the wishes of both captains, ordered the men out again.  Capt. Bond, after protesting that his men were all wet, and as they had but little show of winning under the prevailing conditions, with the score 6 to 2 against them, determined not to exert himself any further, but deliver the ball slowly to each batsman.  The game up to that point had been well contested, but thereafter it was spiritless and farcical.  In the ninth inning Brown made an overthrow to third trying to cut off Taylor.  When Crane made a lightning throw home from left Brown stepped out of the way and let the ball pass, for which the crowd hissed him roundly.  Speaking about the matter latter, Brown said: "Well, I didn't want it, and that's why I let it go by.  I wasn't taking any chances with cannon balls at that stage."  Crane, by the way, is a wonderful thrower.  Manager Murnan thinks he is the swiftest in the profession, and says he dare not let out when throwing from behind the bat to second.  The features of the game were Whitehead's playing at short for the home team and the splendid outfielding of Dickerson, Slattery, Rowe and O'Brien, the latter going from second to right in the sixth inning.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 22, 1884


Not much of a game even before the rain delay.  But at least Dunlap had a nice game.  What Did Dunlap Do?  He went three for five with a double and a couple of run scored.

The Maroons were 19-0.  

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.    

The 1884 Maroons: The Best Game Of The Series

The best game of the first home series between the Baltimore and St. Louis Union Clubs was played yesterday afternoon in the presence of over 6,000 spectators.  The heavy shower that fell between 2 and 3 o'clock kept many from attending and also gave the grounds a thorough wetting.  Nevertheless, the game was called promptly at 3:30, with the diamond in very fair condition.  Before the game was half over it was perfectly dry.  W. Sweeny and Fusselbach were the Baltimore battery, while Taylor and Baker filled similar positions for the home team.  The slippery condition of the ball in the opening innings made the pitchers' work difficult, and as a result two wild pitches were scored against each.  Fusselbach lost the game for his side, making four errors and having two passed balls.  Had he supported Sweeny as he usually does, the St. Louis Unions would, in all probability, now have one defeat to acknowledge.  Each side scored nine hits.  The only two-bagger was credited to Shafer.  Phelan led the batting with three hits out of four times at the plate.  Five of the home team and two of the visitors struck out.  The feature of the game was Seery's great performance in left field.  He made six catches, two of them exceptionally fine, and scored one assist which resulted in a double play.  The crowd cheered him repeatedly and at length.  Rowe, at center, accepted two opportunities and made one superb running catch.  Shafer captured three flies at right and threw two men out at first.  Oberbeck had but two chances and made the most of both, taking one in fine style.  Levis is playing in fine form.  His record was ten put-outs and one assist.  Quinn played first perfectly for the home team.  Dunlap covered second in his inimitable style, and scored five outs and three assists.  Whitehead was charged with two errors and credited with five assists.  His throwing to first is equaled by but few in the profession.  Say did not have many chances.  He made a bad muff, however, at a critical stage.  Dickerson is acting like a regular third baseman instead of the project of an emergency.  Robinson may be a good third baseman, but he appears to have too big a contract when he undertakes to properly cover his position and captain his nine.  In the ninth inning, when two men were on bases and a ball was fielded home from center, he left his base and ran to back up Fusselbach.  The latter got the ball, and Quinn, who was running for the plate, seeing himself cut off, turned back to third.  Without looking to see whether anyone was covering third or not, Fusselbach sent the ball flying over the bag to left, letting in Quinn and Dunlap.  Had Robinson held his position or called upon Say to take it when he left, Quinn would almost certainly have been put out.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 19, 1884


First of all, as I've stated on a few occasions, Yank Robinson was a hell of a player.  Second, I don't see how the play in the ninth was his fault.  You can blame Ed Fusselback for throwing to an undefended base and, to be fair, the Globe does indeed lay the loss at Fusselback's feet.  Also, Lou Say should have been covering third.  It was just one of those bad plays that Whitey Herzog used to call "horseshit baseball."

Moving on to the What Did Dunlap Do? segment of our show,  the great Fred did his T-800 thing and went two for five with a couple of runs scored.  The man was a machine.  And he also "covered second in his inimitable style."

The Maroons were 17-0 with Tim Murnane's Boston Unions coming to town.  Hopefully, we'll have a sighting of the very young Tommy McCarthy playing outfield for Boston.    

The 1884 Maroons: Administering Another Drubbing

The St. Louis Unions, on yesterday afternoon, gave another exhibition of heavy batting, and administered a third drubbing to the Baltimore Club, beating them by a score of 16 to 8, and earning one-half of their runs, while the visitors earned but one-tally.  The Baltimore nine was weakened by the absence of Fusselbach, who was unwell, and Seery was sent behing the bat to support W. Sweeney, O'Brien taking left, J. Sweeny center, and Henry Oberbeck, of this city, right.  The local battery were Werden and Brennan, Dickerson covering third base, Quinn left field, and the others in their usual position.  The game was loosely played, eleven errors being charged to each side.  These, however, included two wild pitches each by Werden and Sweeny, the Union Association rules requiring that they be scored in the error column.  The visitors made but seven hits...Nineteen hits and a total of twenty-seven bases were made by the local sluggers.  Rowe and Shafer scored three-baggers, and Rowe, Brennan, Whitehead and Werden two-baggers.  Out of six times at the bat, Brennan secured five hits.  Shafer ranked next with four hits...Dunlap made two great one-handed stops of high throws by Brennan.  Over 8,000 persons were present, the grand stand crowd being very large, and including many prominent citizens.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 18, 1884


I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed in the Maroons' attendance.  They had a nice crowd for this Sunday game but, generally, they weren't drawing all that well.  They were doing okay but I expected them to draw much better than this.  While I haven't looked all that close at the numbers, I'm pretty sure that the Browns were drawing bigger crowds.  I didn't expect that.

Speaking of disappointing:  What Did Dunlap Do?  Nothing.  But he didn't make an error and made a couple of nice plays on wild throws by Brennan.  So there's 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: Exclamations Of Disapprobation

The St. Louis Unions won another victory yesterday, the Baltimore Unions contributing the trophy.  Heavy batting decided the contest, the visitors outplaying the home nine in the field, but being unable to offset their terrific work with the willow.  The day was a lovely one and the attendance was about 2,500, the capacious grand stand containing a good part of the gathering.  The Baltimore battery were J. Sweeny and Fusselbach, and, notwithstanding that Sweeny was hit for fourteen bases, their work commanded the admiration of the spectators.  For the local nine Hodnett pitched up to the close of the ninth inning, with Brennan as his support.  In eight innings only four hits were scored off Hodnett's delivery, but, when in the ninth inning, Robinson and J. Sweeny, the first two Baltimores at the bat, both made two-baggers, Capt. Dunlap immediately substituted Taylor, Rowe coming in to cover first and Hodnett taking center field.  The crowd, which appeared to desire the defeat of the St. Louis nine, did not take kindly to the change, and it was greeted with exclamations of disapprobation and hisses. 

Taking No Chances. 

Dunlap was quite surprised at its reception but said he did not care, as he believed he did right in protecting his club's chances for the game.  Hodnett, he said, had pitched splendidly, but it was possible the Baltimore batsmen might have become accustomed to his delivery, and a change at that stage was the safest thing to do.  When the first batsman that faced Taylor made a safe hit the crowd cheered frantically.  Brennan was off in his throwing to second, and three times sent the ball wild to Dunlap.  He also misjudged a foul fly, but it was an excusable error, the sun being in his eyes.  Whitehead and Hodnett likewise misjudged fly balls from the same causes.  The features of the game were brilliant catches by O'Brien and Shafer and a grand one-handed stop of a liner by Robinson.  O'Brien's catch was the best seen in St. Louis this season.  In the seventh inning Rowe raised a long high one out to center.  O'Brien turned and ran with the ball, and while running at full speed, to the astonishment of all beholders, succeeded in capturing it.  Many of the spectators did not know that he had secured the ball until he turned and threw it to Phelan, whose assist to Lewis doubled up Gleason.  Shafer, with his back toward the diamond, nipped a liner that O'Brien sent out to right, Gleason led at the bat, scoring three hits, one of them a two-bagger.  On the latter he, unfortunately stopped short at second, turning his right ankle so that it swelled up alarmingly, and bids fair to keep him off the field for some time.  Taylor made a three-bagger, and Fusselbach, Robinson and J. Sweeny, of the visitors, two-baggers.  Umpire Sullivan, who has a voice that suits a crowd, gave good satisfaction.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 15, 1884


The Maroons were 14-0 after this game but this was really the first game where the decision was in doubt.  Their seven runs was tied for the fewest runs they had scored in a game so far in the season and the five they gave up was the second most they had surrendered as of yet.  It was a 3-2 game going into the fifth and a 5-3 game after seven.  The Maroons scored two in the eighth but Baltimore answered back with two of their own in the ninth.  The game was tight enough for Dunlap to make a pitching change, the club's first of the season, after Baltimore opened the ninth with two doubles.  St. Louis won by two but it appears that the home crowd was cheering for the visitors by the end of the game.  It seems likely that the Maroons' fans were getting a bit tired of watching their club beat up on inferior opposition and was looking for someone to give them a game.  When Baltimore did just that, the fans cheered them on.

As to Captain Hook, What Did Dunlap Do?  Besides riling up the home crowd by making a pitching change, Dunlap went his usual two for five.  He was a machine.    

The 1884 Maroons: Pounding The Ball All Over The Field

The St. Louis Unions won another victory from the Nationals, of Washington, yesterday, in a contest terminated by rain at the end of five innings.  The visitors played a poor fielding game, but at the bat they made a better showing.  The home team, as usual started in pounding the ball all over the field, and took all the vim out of their opponents.  In the first inning a three-base hit by Gleason and a single by Rowe, sided by errors of the Nationals scored three runs.  In the second hits by Rowe, Dunlap and Taylor assisted by wild throws added four more to the score.  In the third singles by Dunlap, Baker and Brennan, and wretched fielding by the opposing nine gave them three more.  A fine drive for three bases to the right field fence by Rowe, followed by Taylor's long hit to the left field fence, added another in the fourth, making a total of eleven.  The visitors scored two in the third, three in the fourth, and one in the fifth by hits of Wise, Evers, Moore, and McLaughlin.  Taylor pitched a fine game while Baker supported in fine style.  For the visitors Lockwood pitched, McKenna being his support.  There were about 1,500 people in attendance.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 12, 1884


Thirteen straight wins.  And the team was just battering that left-field fence.

What Did Dunlap Do?  The T-800 was two for three with a couple of runs scored.  Like a machine.

It should also be noted that while the Maroons drew 1,500 fans to their game, the Browns drew what the Globe described as the biggest baseball crowd of the season to their game against Columbus.  The crowd at Sportsman's Park was estimated at around 12,000.  It looks like, at that point in the season, Von der Ahe and the Browns were winning their fight against the upstart Maroons.  It remains to be seen how the Maroons would draw the rest of the season but to get only 1,500 on a Sunday in St. Louis was pretty weak.    

The 1884 Maroons: The Nationals Put On A Show In the Field, Lose By Four

The Nationals, of Washington, played a beautiful fielding game yesterday, and but for the terrific batting of the St. Louis boys they would have easily won the ball.  The fourteen clean hits for twenty bases does not really represent the batting of the home team.  Three times Gleason drove the ball to the far outfield and three times splendid catches were scored on his hits.  In one inning Dickerson reached first on a clean hit and then Gleason drove the ball to far center.  Wise ran out, caught the ball in one hand and then threw to Baker in time to double up Dickerson at first.  Taylor clipped one to far center, and Wise gathered it in and then threw on the line in to Voss.  The latter threw to McKenna to head Rowe at the plate.  Rowe reached the plate with the ball and knocked it out of McKenna's hands.  Thus another double play was scored.  In the last inning Baker took a foul tip hot from the bat and doubled up a man at first.  Besides these Voss, Baker and Lockwood scored another double play, making the fourth in the game.  These performances illustrate their splendid fielding.  But the batting of the home team would have won against any odds.  Once Dunlap hit the ball fairly at Voss, and the latter had just time to put up his hands and save himself.  As it was the ball nearly knocked him down.  For the home team the playing was done by Dickersona and Dunlap.  The former made four running catches, and his quick fielding in of long hits along the left line prevented the visitors from scoring double instead of single hits.  Hodnett pitched a fine game, and Sullivan caught in his old time style.  Whitehead, at short, played neatly and gracefully, and gives promise of making one of the best of short fielders.  Dan Devinney umpired satisfactorily.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 11, 1884


That really does sound like some nice fielding by the Nationals.  But they still lost by four.  All of their great work in the field merely saved them from losing by seven or more.

The Maroons were 12-0 and still looking for a team that could challenge them.

What Did Dunlap Do?  Yawn.  Just another two for five with a run scored.  The man was like a machine.  Two for five, two for five, two for five.  I compared him earlier to a barbarian horde overwhelming his opponents but he seems to be more like the Terminator: a cold-blooded, never-stopping two for five machine.  And now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that the design for the T-800 was based on the King of Second Basemen.

Fred Dunlap

 

The 1884 Maroons: The Terrific Batting Of The Home Club

The second game between the St. Louis Unions and the Nationals, of Washington,attracted a small attendance.  As in the opening game, the terrific batting of the home club overwhelmed the visitors, who were defeated by a score of 12 to 4.  Wise and Phil Baker were the Nationals' opening battery.  In the seventh inning Voss took Wise's place, but the change had little effect.  A total of 16 base hits shows the manner in which they were pounded.  The feature of the game was a home run by Taylor, who raised the ball ten feet over the screen.

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


After this win, the Maroons were 11-0, hadn't scored less than seven runs in a game and hadn't won a game by less than five runs.  As I wrote before, the UA clubs weren't putting up much of a fight against them.

An interesting point about the attendance.  The Globe notes that they drew a small crowd and the Browns played a game the same day, drawing a reported 5,000 people.  I'm wondering how quickly the folks in St. Louis caught on to the lack of competitive balance in the UA and if that would effect the attendance.  It's something to keep an eye on.

And we had another home run over the fence in left field, again supporting the idea that Union Park was a bit of a bandbox.

But, more importantly, What Did Dunlap Do?  Just his normal two for five with a double.  While he didn't score any runs, he did turn two double plays.

The 1884 Maroons: Amid Uproarious Laughter

The National Club, of Washington, were introduced to the St. Louis Unions yesterday afternoon at the Union Grounds, and received an unusually warm reception.  Indeed, the local ball tossers were quite energetic in their attentions and made the occasion uncomfortably hot for the visitors.  The meeting was witnessed by an attendance of about 2,000, including a number of ladies.  It was not an exciting event, but was amusing.  The Nationals presented Lockwood and McKinney, and for the first four innings made a very respectable showing, the score at the end of the fourth inning being 3 to 0 in favor of the home team.  Up to that point Lockwood's work was excellent, only two hits having been made off him, while he had retired four batsmen on strikes, Dunlap's two chances at the plate availing nothing before his puzzling delivery. 

Knocking Out A Pitcher. 

In the fifth inning, however, he went to pieces, and in addition to being hammered for seven safe hits, three of them two-baggers, he made a wild pitch and gave three men bases on balls.  Errors by Kinney and McLaughlin further assisted the Unions, who realized ten runs from the inning.  Kinney's error was a ludicrous one.  He had just put out Brennan on an assist from Lockwood, when he was called on to throw to third to head off Rowe, who was running from second.  In an effort to throw, the ball slipped out of his fingers and over toward the west wing of the grand stand, just where no fielder had a chance to intercept it.  Rowe ran home amid uproarious laughter.  In the seventh inning Lockwood was hit so hard that the battery was changed, Wise going to the box and Baker behind the bat.  The inning yielded 8 more runs for the home team.  They made 1 more in the eighth inning, making their total 22, and did not go to the bat in the ninth.  Ten base hits were scored by the visitors off Hodnett, but they failed to obtain a run until the last inning, when they scored 2.  Brennan was not up to his usual mark behind the bat.  Jack Gleason failed on two foul flies, misjudged on account of the sun being in his eyes.  The battery of the Unions was simply terrific, and it is doubtful if there is a heavier hitting nine in the country.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, May 9, 1884


So, seriously, there were twenty-four runs scored in this game and it only took two hours to play it.  I'm not the kind of guy who complains about the length of baseball games but how long do you think it would take them to play a twenty-four run game these days?  Five hours?

And the Maroons were up 22-0 in this game?  Is anybody going to give them a fight?

But What Did Dunlap Do?  He went two for six with a double and two runs scored.  Not too bad, although it does appear that he and the club had some trouble in the early innings figuring Lockwood out.    

The 1884 Maroons: The Best Behaved Club To Ever Appear In Altoona

The St. Louis and Altoona clubs played their fourth game [in Altoona] to-day before 1,000 people.  The home club was strengthened at third by Cross, from St. Louis, he playing a very good game.  The Altoona Club played magnificently in the field, having but two errors and arousing, at times, the audience to a high pitch of excitement over wonderful stops.  But, despite all this, the St. Louis Club made run after run until they had piled up 12, earning 8 of them, and this is in the face of the greatest fielding the Altoona Club has ever shown.  The St. Louis Club left for home this evening.  The city of Altoona will bear testimony to the fact that the St. Louis nine is the best disciplined and best behaved club that has ever appeared here.

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


The Maroons went 8-0 against Altoona and outscored them 92-19.  Cross, by the way, did play well in his two games with Altoona, going four for seven with a double, two walks and a run scored.  But he still wasn't the answer to Altoona's problems, at least not when it came to the Maroons.

And Dunlap was back, which leads to two questions.  First, What Did Dunlap Do?  The King of Second Basemen had two hits and three runs scored in his return to the Maroons.

But the second and more important question is where was he?  More on that tomorrow.       

The 1884 Maroons: On To Altoona

The game to-day between the St. Louis and Altoona Clubs was witnessed by over 2,000 people.  The fame of the St. Louis Club had attracted hundreds from adjoining towns, and as the visiting team came upon the field they wee received with enthusiastic applause.  Their neat appearance and deportment attracted considerable attention.  The game, although ending largely against the home club, was nevertheless relished by the audience, as the St. Louis Club treated them to such batting as never before seen in Altoona, besides playing a great game in the field, having but one error charged to them.  The batting of Dunlap, third base play of Gleason and the battery work of Hodnett and Brennan were the great features of the St. Louis Club's play.

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


And then the Maroons moved on to Altoona, PA, to continue their destruction of the Mountain City club.  But the important thing here is that Dunlap finally went all Dunlap on the Altoonas.

So What Did Dunlap Do?

This box score says he went five for five with two runs scored and, of course, his batting was one of the "great features" of the game.  I looked around for a better box score because I would like more details about Dunlap's day at the plate but I was unable to find one.  I just have this feeling that he didn't hit five singles.