A Peculiarity Of Clapp's Catching

John Clapp

We can almost safely say that the finest display of catching we have ever seen in a single game was that exhibited by Clapp of the St. Louis nine during the June contests in Brooklyn in 1876.  His play close behind the bat on these occasions was excellent.  A peculiarity of Clapp's catching the past season was his adoption of the rule of play behind the bat - mentioned in an article on catching published in 1866 - of a rapid return of the ball to the pitcher.  This is as important for effective play as is a rapid delivery by the pitcher; we don't mean as regards pace, but in sending in balls in rapid succession, by which the batsman is obliged to be on the alert all the time, with but little opportunity afforded for leisurely judging the balls.  Some catchers hold the ball, after receiving it from the pitcher, for some time, with a view of throwing it to a base, or being ready for that play.  But the best plan is to promptly return it to the pitcher, unless a base-runner has started to run on the actual delivery of the ball.  We have seen many a base stolen while the catcher has thus held the ball, apparently in readiness for a throw.  A prompt return bothers a base-runner, especially if the return throw is swift and accurate to the pitcher.  But the main value of it is that it enables the pitcher to play his strong point of catching the batsman napping by a rapid return of straight balls when the batsman is not ready to strike.  This point was played by Bradley last season almost as frequently as by Spalding, and its success was mainly due to Clapp's quick returns.  Clapp is another of those quiet players who are seldom heard of except in the way of fine play in their position. 

-Mears Baseball Scrapbook, Volume 4, 1856-1907


This is a great article because it's rare to get specific details about a player's idiosyncrasies like we're getting here with John Clapp and George Washington Bradley.  I knew that Clapp and Bradley were two of the best players in the NL in 1876 but, besides the numbers, I couldn't have given you a lot of details about what made them great players.  This little play, where Clapp quickly returns the ball back to Bradley who, in turn, quickly delivers it back, tells us something about why they were so successful in 1876.  It's a small but illuminating detail.    

The Top Twenty Games In 19th Century St. Louis Baseball History: # 16

16. July 15, 1876: St. Louis Brown Stockings vs. Hartford Dark Blues

The Globe-Democrat yesterday morning announced the fact that the St. Louis Base Ball Club intended accomplishing the greatest feat in the annals of the game, if sharp play could bring about the result prayed for, which was nothing less than the whitewashing of the famous Hartford nine for the third consecutive time. They did it, and thereby covered themselves with glory and sent their admirers into ecstasies. A large crowd was present to witness the discomfiture of the Dark Blues. In the matter of the toss, luck for the first time in a long while deserted McGeary, which was considered a favorable omen for Hartford, but, as the sequel showed, failed to prove such. St. Louis won the game in the first two innings by the fine batting of Clapp and Blong, and four unfortunate errors by their opponents. In the last seven innings Bond was so

                           Well Supported

that the Browns could not possibly increase their score. Bradley's pitching, and the magnificent backing given it by the fielders, won the day for St. Louis. For the first time in the annals of the League, nine innings were played without a single base hit being placed to the credit of one of the teams. The Hartford's utterly failed to do anything whatever with Bradley's twisters. Weak infield hits and easy flies were the order of the afternoon on their side, and a chance for an out was rarely missed. Bradley has good reason to be proud of his record. His associates, especially Clapp, whose beautiful batting was a marked feature of the game, did fairly off Bond's curves, and thereby won the game. Three such games as have been played during the past week by the St. Louis and Hartford Clubs

                    Have Never Been Witnessed,

the scores being 2 to 0, 3 to 0, and 2 to 0, all in favor of St. Louis. They will be placed on record as the most wonderful struggles in the history of the national pastime. When it is stated that until last Tuesday Hartford had not been whitewashed this season, and that for twenty-seven consecutive innings they were retired by the Browns without scoring, and almost in one-two-three order, some idea of the magnificent manner in which they must have fielded the stinging hits of such men as Burdock, Higham, Ferguson, and the other Blue Legs can be formed.

                      The Record Of The Week

leads a good many to suppose that the Browns may yet crowd up to the top round of the championship ladder. This is among the possibilities, but not very probable. That the St. Louis Club will beat Hartford for second place is much more likely, but Chicago now has a commanding lead which it will be almost impossible for either club to overcome. The details of the game yesterday will be found in the appended account by innings.

                                First Inning.

St. Louis-Cuthbert, after being missed on three strikes, was thrown out at first by Harbidge. Clapp earned first on a magnificent drive to left center, and a wild throw by Bond to catch him at first gave him third. McGeary's foul fly to right was splendidly held by Higham, but the hit gave Clapp his run. Pike sent up a high one, which Remsen gobbled. One unearned run.
Hartford-Remson again opened for the Dark Blues by striking out. Burdock was given a life by Pearce, who muffed his hot liner and then made an overthrow. A passed ball gave him second. Higham's out by McGeary to Dehlman gave Burdock third, where he was left, as Ferguson flew out to Cuthbert. Nineteenth goose egg.

                                 Second Inning.

St. Louis-Mills made a fine catch of Battin's foul fly. Blong earned first on a fine drive to left, and as York tried to make the catch Joe reached second. Mills allowed Bradley's bounder to go through him, and Blong tallied. Bradley was thrown out in trying to steal second. Dehlman earned first on a model hit to left, and stole second by a close shave, but was left, as Pearce popped a fly up for Mills' benefit.
Hartford-Carey was finely thrown out at first by Bradley. Bond furnished McGeary with an easy fly, and Yorke sent up a sky scraper for Battin to capture. Twentieth goose egg.

                               Third Inning.

St. Louis-Cuthbert was splendidly disposed of by Ferguson and Mills. Clapp sent the ball spinning over Yorke's head for two bases, and McGeary flew out to Burdock. Pike hit a hard one to left, which Yorke froze to. No runs.
Hartford-Mills sent a hot one direct to Dehlman, and sat down. Harbidge popped up an easy fly, which McGeary captured, and Remsen was thrown out at first by Bradley. Twenty-first goose egg. Score, 2 to 0. St. Louis ahead.

                               Fourth Inning.

St. Louis-Mills pinched Battin's easy fly, and Blong was thrown out at first by Carey. Bradley couldn't gauge Bond, and struck out. No runs.
Hartford-Burdock struck at the first ball pitched, and retired on a foul bound. Another easy fly was furnished McGeary by Higham. Clapp missed Ferguson's fould bound, and Fergy then went out by hitting direct to Dehlman. Twenty-second goose egg.

                              Fifth Inning.

St. Louis-Ferguson bagged Dehlman's foul fly and Harbidge treated Pearce's foul bound in the same way. Cuthbert attempted a right field hit, and furnished Ferguson with an easy fly instead.
Hartford-Carey attempted a fair foul, and Battin threw him out. Bond was magnificently disposed of by McGeary and Dehlman. Yorke hit hard, but Bradley partially stopped the ball, and Battin finished the business by throwing him out. Twenty-third goose egg.

                               Sixth Inning.

St. Louis-Clapp almost got in his third base hit, but Remsen, by fast running, made a splendid catch. McGeary flew out to Burdock. Pike hit to second, and, by the fastest kind of running, secured his base. He stole second in safety, but remained there, as Battin struck out.
Hartford-Mills kept up the weak batting by hitting to Bradley and being thrown out. Clapp captured Harbidge's high foul fly. Dehlman dropped McGeary's throw, and Remsen stepped safely on first. Burdock sent a bounder to Pearce, who headed him off at first. Twenty-fourth goose egg.

                               Seventh Inning.

St. Louis-Carey and Mills furnished Blong with an out. Bond again outwitted Bradley, who gave Mills an easy fly, and Dehlman also retired by hitting direct to the first baseman. No runs.
Hartford-Higham was easily thrown out at first by Battin. Ferguson was given a life by Clapp, who missed his foul bound, but the striker a moment afterwards flew out to Pike, and Carey followed suit to Cuthbert. Twenty-fifth goose-egg.

                               Eighth Inning.

St. Louis-Pearce reached first on a hot one to right short, that luckily bounded out of Burdock's reach. Yorke made a magnificent catch of Cuthbert's short fly to left. Clapp by a model hit to right earned first, and sent Pearce to second. McGeary's sharp foul tip was well held by Harbidge. Pike flew out to Remsen, and two men were left.
Hartford-Bond sent a bounder to McGeary, and was disposed of at first. Yorke was sent to first on three balls. Mills hit a hot one to short, and by miserable running allowed Pearce to throw him out. Yorke reached second on the hit, and third on a wild pitch, where he was left, as McGeary and Dehlman furnished Harbidge with an out. Twenty-sixth goose-egg.

                               Ninth Inning.

St. Louis-Battin sent a swift fly to Yorke, which was accepted and Blong was thrown out at first by Carey. Mills made a splendid catch of Dehlman's fly, and the side was out.
Hartford-Remsen went in to escape the third nest of goose eggs, if possible. He hit at the first ball pitched, and Pearce headed him off at first. Battin made a bad error in failing to stop Burdock's bounder, but atoned for it a moment afterwards by making a splendid stop of Higham's corker, and doubling up the striker and Burdock.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 16, 1876


In 1876, George Washington Bradley had one heck of a season.  He led the League in ERA, ERA+, WHIP and fewest H/9.  In the process of doing all of that, he also recorded sixteen shutouts, a record that has never been broken and one that has been equaled only once (Pete Alexander, 1916).  Given that no pitcher has had sixteen complete games since 1987, I'm thinking that's a record that will never be broken.  Also, Bradley threw thirty-seven consecutive scoreless innings that season, which I'm reasonably sure was the record until Jack Chesbro threw forty-one consecutive scoreless innings in 1902.  It was a great season by a great pitcher.

In the middle of that consecutive scoreless innings streak, Bradley threw the first no-hitter in National League history.  Depending on how you feel about the NA, you could regard this as the first no-hitter in major league history, although MLB does officially recognize Joe Borden's 1875 no-hitter.  It was the first no-hitter in St. Louis baseball history and a St. Louis pitcher would not throw another major league no-hitter until 1891, when Ted Breitenstein threw one in his first major league start.  Bradley's no-hitter is the first of sixteen no-hitters thrown by St. Louis major league pitchers, with Bud Smith throw the last one in 2001.

Note:  I made a silly mistake.  I was using Baseball-Reference as a source and they had Borden's game on the list of officially sanctioned no-hitters.  However, they explicitly state that they added Borden's game to the list "for the sack of continuity."  I give them props for having the game on the list but I didn't read closely enough and believed that the game was officially recognized by MLB.  It is not.  Bradley's no-hitter, according to MLB, is the first no-hitter in major league history.  Tip of the cap to Cliff Blau for pointing that out to me.         

George Washington Bradley Gets A Second Opinion

The injury sustained by Geo. W. Bradley, of the Cincinnati Unions, in his collision with Dunlap during Thursday's game at the Union Grounds, proved to be more serious than at first reported.  An examination made yesterday morning developed the fact that one of the small bones of his right forearm was broken, and he will be forced to retire from the field for at least a month, if not for the rest of the season.  He left for Cincinnati last night.  No more earnest or painstaking player ever appeared on the diamond, and the accident will cause general regret among patrons of the game in all parts of the country.

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


I'm much too lazy to go look up game accounts but it's possible that this was the end of Bradley's pitching career.  While he continued his baseball career, playing in various leagues for several more years (including a short stint with Philadelphia in the AA), Bradley never pitched in the major leagues after 1884.  So maybe we should add to the list of Dunlap's accomplishments that he ended George Bradley's pitching career.

The 1884 Maroons: Dunlap Quickly Procured A Glass Of Brandy

The St. Louis and Cincinnati Unions played the last game but one of their championship series yesterday afternoon, and it was a most interesting contest.  In the first inning, after the home team had drawn a blank, Hawes hit to Sweeny and was fielded out at first.  Then Harbridge hit away out to the left fence, and Boyle, after a hard run, just touched the ball and then dropped it.  On Silvester's hit Harbidge went to second, and on a passed ball he got to third.  Crane then hit to right field and Harbidge scored.  Crane stole second and third and came home on a passed ball.  The visitors held the lead by a score of 2 to 1 until the sixth inning.  Then Dunlap sent a slasher to left field, and a moment later had stolen his way to third.  He scored on Shafer's hit, and the latter was advanced to second on Gleason's safe drive past Jones.  After Sweeny's fly had been taken by Barber, Boyle hit to Bradley, forcing Gleason at second, but Shafer went to third on the play, and came home on Crotty's throw down to catch Boyle at second.  In the seventh the home team increased their lead.  Brennan hit safe to left and reached third on a wild pitch and passed ball.  He scored on Dunlap's line drive to left for two bases.  A moment later Dunlap, who had stolen third, started for home on a ball that had got a short distance by Crotty.  The latter fielded to Bradley who covered the plate with his back turned to the runner.

As Dunlap reached home Bradley at the same moment received the ball and swung around with it.  A collision was the result, Bradley falling to the ground looking pale as death and apparently insensible.  Two or three of this comrades took hold of him, while Dunlap quickly procured a glass of brandy.  The liquor brought Bradley too but he was so badly shocked by the collision that he could not regain his feet without assistance.  He complained of great pains in his right arm and said he thought it was broken, but Dr. Robert Luedeking, who was present, examined the injured member and pronounced it only badly sprained.  Little Dick Burns, who was just recovering from an attack of malarial fever, happened to be on the grounds and went to center field for the visitors while Sylvestor was brought in to pitch.  Gleason hit him safe as a starter and Boyle followed suit.  Then Quinn batted to Jones, who threw to Crane, forcing Boyle, and a double play would have resulted, but Crane threw low and Gleason scored the last run of the game.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 8, 1884


This was the Maroons' thirteenth win in a row and they were at the beginning of a stretch where they would go 37-2.  They were twelve and a half games up.

The 1884 Maroons: Bradley Shuts Down The Maroons

There was 3,500 people out to witness yesterday's game, which was one of the prettiest seen on any diamond in St. Louis this season.  Bradley pitched a wonderful game for the visitors, and was supported by Kelly in excellent style, while the fielding of the whole nine was perfect, not an error being charged against them.  The home team presented Taylor and Baker, who did creditable work throughout.  Their support in the field, however, was not up to their regular standard.

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

The 1884 Maroons: George Washington Bradley Tomorrow

The St. Louis and Cincinnati Unions played an inning and a half yesterday afternoon and were compelled to stop by rain.  In the first inning each side scored two.  In the second the St. Louis side were blanked.  When the game was called the visitors had three men on base and O'Leary at the bat... 

George Washington Bradley tomorrow.

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


Bradley, the hero of 1876, still must have been very popular in St. Louis.  The Globe had mentioned the fact that he was in town with Cincinnati for several days running.  The last sentence I quote above is a culmination of their attempt to drum up excitement over his return to St. Louis.

Bradley.  Baseball.  Tomorrow (tomorrow, tomorrow...).

The 1884 Maroons: George Washington Bradley, Umpire

The game yesterday afternoon was not a championship contest, as announced.  Holland, the umpire who should have officiated, missed a train in Cincinnati, and failed to arrive.  Manager Dan O'Leary, of the Cincinnati Unions, promptly took advantage of the situation, and produced his book containing the rules to establish that under the circumstances only an exhibition game could be played.  After this point had been argued at length it was finally conceded by Manager Sullivan and Capt. Dunlap, of the St. Louis nine, who presented William Bowman as a competent man to umpire the game.  Not knowing Bowman, O'Leary declined to accept him.  Then Dunlap, who had noticed that Bradley, of the Cincinnati team, who occupied a seat in the grand stand, had been giving points to O'Leary, concluded to call on him to act.  Bradley, realizing how embarrassing the position would be for him, protested at length, but finally yielded when the patience of the crowd had nearly been exhausted.  Donning a St. Louis Union cap, he took his stand, and to the merriment of the crowd called the first ball delivered to Dunlap a strike.  He proved a very accurate and impartial judge, and his decisions were generally highly commended...The game was a very remarkable one.  With 12 hits and a total of 18 bases, the Cincinnati team earned 5 runs, all they made, and with 4 hits and a total of 7 bases the home nine did not earn a run but scored eight through errors on the part of the visitors.  Holland will be on hand to-day, a telegram announcing that he was on a train from Cincinnati having been received last night.  

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 8, 1884


It's kind of odd that Lucas didn't have a couple of local guys on the payroll to umpire St. Louis games.  Regardless, the crowd must have had a great time watching Bradley, a local favorite, umping the game.  

Photos Of The 1876 Brown Stockings

Your 1876 Brown Stockings

As I mentioned yesterday, Paul Batesel sent me the cropped Packy Dillon photo.  He also sent me these pictures, cropped from the above team photo of the 1876 Brown Stockings.  The individual pictures look fantastic and Paul did a great job with them.  Much thanks to him for passing them along.

John Clapp

George Washington Bradley

Herman Dehlman

Joe Battin

Mike McGeary

Denny Mack

Ted McGinley

Ned Cuthbert

Lipman Emmanuel Pike

Bad Dickey Pearce

Paul also sent me the cropped photo of Joe Blong but it was in a different format and I haven't bothered to change it into a jpg yet.  So you don't get to see that.  Sorry.

Also of note, and something that I never considered until just now, the inclusion of McGinley in the photo means that the photo was taken after June 23, 1876, when McGinley joined the team.  For some reason, I always just assumed that the photo was taken at the beginning of the season.

Again, big hat tip to Paul.  These pictures are just great.      

A Complete Success

At 11 o'clock this morning the Union Base Ball Association held an adjourned session in the Bingham House. All persons not members of the association were rigidly excluded from the meeting-room. President Lucas called the meeting to order, and after roll-call the association discussed at length the admission of certain clubs into membership, the arrangement of finance and other questions. It was decided to leave the matter of uniforms with each individual club, with an arrangement that no two clubs should wear the same kind of uniform. Thomas Gunning was not expelled from membership in the association, as was erroneously stated yesterday. Letters of explanation were received from him, and no action will be taken in the matter until the next meeting of the association, in Baltimore, on the third Tuesday of December next. In the meanwhile he will be held to his contract with the Chicago Club. It was arranged that the Schedule Committee should meet at Cincinnati some time between March 5th and 20th next. An extended discussion on the newly adopted Standard Ball engaged the attention of the Association for some time. After a long debate on the matter of official umpires it was decided that they should be appointed at the meeting of the Schedule Committee at Cincinnati. About two dozen applications for the position of umpires were received and placed on file...

Two applications were also received from gentlemen in two prominent cities who wish to organize clubs as members of the association. Several prominent ballplayers of Philadelphia were busy effecting negotiations for membership with the various Union Association clubs. It was rumored that George W. Bradley has completed a contract to play with the Cincinnati Club. At 1 o'clock the meeting adjourned. This first annual meeting of the Union Association has been a marked success. Fifty-five players from all portions of the United States have rallied around the new organization and have effected membership with the various clubs, while about a dozen others are negotiating for contracts.

Six Strong Clubs

are now in the Union Association, and the full complement of membership will be made when two more clubs are admitted. Then the Association will probably have a membership of about 100 players.

Secretary William Warren White, in a conversation, said: "The status of our association is established beyond a doubt, and it is the firm determination of each individual club to weather the season of 1884. I have been a base ball player for twenty years, and during all that time no association has launched out under more favorable circumstances than the Union. The individual members are gentlemen of well-known business integrity and ability. Then, too, we guarantee security that all players who sign with this association shall have their salaries forthwith upon demand. Overtures are also being made by the Union League for co-operation, interchanges of games and recognition of contracts with the Union Association."

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 20, 1883

Clapp's Strategery

[From the New York Clipper.]

We can almost safely say that the finest display of catching we have ever seen in a single game was that exhibited by Clapp, of the St. Louis nine, during the June contests in Brooklyn in 1876. His play close behind the bat on these occasions was excellent. A peculiarity of Clapp's catching the past season was his adoption of the rule to play behind the bat-mentioned in an article on catching, published in 1866-of a rapid return of the ball to the pitcher. This is as important for effective play as is a rapid delivery by the pitcher; we don't mean as regards pace, but in sending in balls in rapid succession, by which the batsman is obliged to be on the alert all the time, with but little opportunity afforded for leisurely judging the balls. Some catchers hold the ball, after receiving it from the pitcher, for some time, with a view of throwing it to a base, or being ready for that play. but the best plan is to promptly return it to the pitcher, unless a base runner has started to run on the actual delivery of the ball. We have seen many a base stolen while the catcher has thus held the ball, apparently in readiness for a throw. A prompt return bothers a base runner, especially if the return throw is swift and accurate to the pitcher. But the main value of it is that it enables the pitcher to play his strong point of catching the batsman napping by a rapid return of straight balls when the batsman is not ready to strike. This point was played by Bradley last season almost as frequently as by Spalding and its success was mainly due to Clapp's quick returns. Clapp is another of those quiet players who are seldom heard of except in the way of fine play in their position. The Athletics never committed a greater mistake than when they allowed Clapp and McBride to leave their service. They fully realized this fact last season.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 31, 1876

Bradley's Gratitude

The following communication from Mr. G.W. Bradley, pitcher of the St. Louis Brown Stockings, will be read with interest:

To the Editor of the Globe-Democrat:

St. Louis, October 17, 1876.-Dear Sir: In leaving St. Louis I think it due to myself to make a few remarks in explanation of contracting in Chicago. when I did so, I had a private misunderstanding with some of the officers of the St. Louis Club, this being the prime cause of my signing in Chicago.

I desire to say that my relations in St. Louis have been of the most pleasant character, and to the hosts of warm friends I have acquired I desire to leave the most sincere expression of gratitude for the kind appreciation of my poor services. I shall always remember St. Louis with the liveliest feelings of respect, and can never readily forget the generous treatment I have received in this city, where my professional reputation has to a great extent been made.

Yours, etc., G.W. Bradley.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 18, 1876

I'm not sure I'm buying Bradley's explanation about his signing with Chicago but it's a nice letter and says something about his character.

Bradley Signs With Chicago

[From the Chicago Times of Yesterday.]

Though nearly all of the members of the present Chicago nine have been engaged for the season of 1877, the club, when it makes the field in the next championship race, will show several essential changes. The most important of these will be in the position of pitcher. Bradley, the famous pitcher of the St. Louis nine, has been engaged to do the work of that place for the White Stockings next year. A contract has already been signed by him with the management of the Chicago club. It is based upon a condition, to be sure, but one which can hardly effect his engagement. Bradley, it appears, in a moment of inconsiderate haste, signed with the Athletics early in the season to play with them in the years 1877 and 1878. He has since repented of that action, and desiring to connect himself with the best base ball club in the country, he has signed with the Chicagos, upon the condition of his not being compelled to carry out his contract with the Athletic management. There is but a very small probability that the Athletics can hold him to his agreement with them...

It seems that his attachment for St. Louis and the St. Louis Club is not a very powerful one, and that he sought an engagement here. The Chicagos are not less glad to get him, however, than he is to come. He is a very desirable acquisition to that nine...

Bradley's record throughout the season shows him to be, by all odds, the best pitcher in the country. He will greatly strengthen the White Stockings. Nothing is meant by this remark in the way of disparagement to Capt. Spalding. That admirable player and courteous gentleman has done most effective service, and held his own against every other pitcher. Were it not that he is to be employed in another capacity, he would, of course, be retained in his present position.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 1, 1876

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Sixteenth Shutout

With their full nine once more together, the St. Louis Browns reopened the league campaign with a signal victory over the Mutuals to-day. The weather was cool and bracing, and, in the presence of about 400 spectators, play was called at 4 o'clock. The visitors having lost the toss went to the bat first. Two runs were scored by Clapp, who took first on called balls, and reached third on McGeary's two-baser. Both tallied by a safe hit of Cuthbert's. For the next three innings the play was sharp enough to prevent any more run-getting. In the fifth, the Browns, by the safe batting of Pike, McGeary, Cuthbert, Blong and Bradley, earned three runs, to which they added two runs in each of the sixth and eighth innings, which were made by the loose fielding of their opponents. The Mutuals failed to hit Bradley with any safety, and as he was well supported by the rest of the nine, another whitewash was placed to the credit of the Browns. The full score will give the further details. The St. Louis and Chicagos play an exhibition here on Thursday.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 6, 1876

This was Bradley's sixteenth shutout, setting a major league record that still stands (although Pete Alexander matched it in 1916).

How significant is this? The press at the time didn't seem to make a big deal about it and attributed the shutouts to the team as a whole. It appears that the shutouts were seen largely as a function of team defense rather than pitching. This fits with the idea of 19th century pitchers transitioning from merely the initiator of baseball action to run-preventor.

While sixteen shutouts is the record for a season, several pitchers in the 19th century recorded double-digit shutouts in a given year. Pud Galvin had twelve in 1884 and Ed Morris had twelve in 1886. Tommy Bond had eleven in 1879, as did Dave Foutz in 1886 and Hoss Radbourn in 1884. John Clarkson had ten in 1885, as did Jim McCormick in 1884.

However, looking at the NA, there was never anybody close to sixteen shutouts for a season. In 1871, no one had more than one shutout for the year. In 1872, Cummings and Spalding led the league with three each. McBride had three in 1873. Matthews and Spalding had four in 1874. In 1875, Zettlein, Spalding and Cummings had seven. At first glance, I thought the difference between the number of shutouts in the NA compared to the 1876 NL may have been the number of games played but this isn't so. NA clubs were playing sixty to seventy games a year which is comparable to what the clubs were playing in 1876. So the games played doesn't seem to be a factor in the increase in shutouts although there appears to be a trend of more shutouts per season.

But the reality is that, with the exception of Bradley and the Brown Stockings, there doesn't appear to be a huge increase in shutouts in 1876. Spalding was second in shutouts in 1876 with eight. Bond had six. Cummings and Devlin had five each. Throw out Bradley and the 1876 NL leader board looks similiar to the 1875 NA leader board. The big increase is Bradley going from five shutouts in 1875 to sixteen in 1876.

So, in general, I think we can say that the record is rather significant. Bradley increased the record for shutouts from seven to sixteen and that record still stands today. Other than Alexander, no one has come within three shutouts of the record. Other than Bob Gibson in 1968, no modern pitcher has ever challenged the record and only eight pitchers since the end of World War Two have recorded double digits in shutouts (including John Tudor in 1985, something which I had forgotten). While I wouldn't say the record is unbreakable, there aren't too many baseball record that have stood for 135 years. And if you want to portray the record as significant, I think that's what you hang your hat on: Bradley's record has stood for 135 years.

But this doesn't really address an important question. How much of this was Bradley having a great year and how much of this was the Browns' defense? My gut reaction is that a lot of this is the Browns' defense and the record is an indication that the 1876 Brown Stockings had a historically great defensive ball club. We've talked about the Browns' defense before and tried to break it down statistically somewhat, with the general conclusion being that they were a very good defensive club. But the fact that they recorded sixteen shutouts in sixty-four games played is extraordinary and is something that has been rather overlooked. That's twenty-five percent of their games. If a modern club shutout their opponents at the same rate, they'd have forty shutouts for the season (and the modern record for team shutouts in a season is 32, last done in 1909 by the Cubs). So we can say that the record is significant simply from a team standpoint.

I don't want to sell Bradley short because he had a great season but you have to believe that the defense and luck played a large role in setting the record. Bradley led the league in fewest hits allowed per nine innings pitched (among other things) but the number of base hits he gave up was not significantly lower than Bond's in 1876. He wasn't walking anybody or giving up any home runs but he also wasn't striking anybody out (although his fielding-independent numbers are probably better than anybody else in the League). There were a lot of balls in play and a lot of pressure on the Brown Stockings' defense to make outs. This isn't Bradley's fault but merely the way the game was played in 1876. Lots of balls in play, lots of base runners and lots of defense. While Bradley was clearly the best pitcher in the League, he wasn't dominating batters the way someone like Gibson was in 1968. I think that it's safe to believe that if you put Bradley on the Mutuals in 1876, he wasn't recording sixteen shutouts. So you have to conclude that the Brown Stockings' team defense played a significant role in the record.

But Bradley was an important part of that defense. Even with the metrics we have today, I don't think we've totally been able to separate pitching from defense so I think it's too much to ask that we do so for the 1876 Brown Stockings. We should note the sixteen shutouts and attribute them to Bradley while at the same time noting the unique nature of 19th century baseball and the importance of team defense in run prevention during that era.

The sixteen shutouts are a significant achievement and Bradley and his Brown Stockings' teammates should be celebrated for that achievement.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Thirteenth Shutout

The downy flutter of St. Louis' festive goose was heard in Cincinnati this afternoon. It is the first time a professional Cincinnati club has ever been Chicagoed at home, and Mr. Bradley can stick another feather in his cap from the tail of his goose. Not more than 200 people were present. This falling off from Tuesday's game promises now, on account of bad management, to become greater yet. The home club only made two safe hits, one by Clack in the third inning, and one by Dean in the ninth, Sweasy and Booth got bases on called balls, and Clack, Snyder and Booth on errors of Battin, Pearce and Blong. Neither, however, got further than third base.

Dean commenced pitching by turning his back to the home plate, and facing right about to deliver the ball, as in Chicago. The Browns rather liked it. Pike led off for a base to center. Clapp, McGeary and Battin followed with scientific hits to right, on which Pike came in-an earned run-and left the bases full. Then Cuthbert's hard hit was beautifully stopped by Foley, who stepped on his base, threw home, and forced out Clapp and McGeary in a double play. Blong's base hit to center brought Battin home on the second earned run. Pearce out on a fine catch of a low fly by Pearson.

In the second inning the Browns made three more runs on base hits by Bradley, Pike, Battin and Cuthbert, assisted by errors of Booth, Dean and Kessler, and Battin was caught at home trying to run in from second on Cuthbert's safe hit. They scored one in the sixth by base hits of Pearce, Clapp and Pike, and errors of Foley and Snyder. In the next inning they made six more by base hits of Battin, Pearce and Bradley, and two errors by Snyder and one by Sweasy.

After the visitors had knocked nine safe hits out of Dean's back-sided delivery, he faced about, and through the rest of the game threw square from the shoulder. The Browns said they only tolerated it because they have such a soft thing. Unless the Reds get a pitcher they will go to pieces. The crowd to-day hooted Dean and filled the air with quacking in the ninth inning. The features of the Browns' playing were Bradley's pitching and Clapp's catching, McGeary's second base play and Dehlman at first. Bradley and Clapp never worked harder and better together. Of the Reds, Foley and Sweasy carried off the honors. In spite of his two errors, which were excusable, Foley played magnificently.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 4, 1876

This was Bradley's thirteenth shutout of the year. Only four pitchers in the history of baseball have thrown 13 or more shutouts in a season: George Bradley, Pete Alexander, Jack Coombs and Bob Gibson.

I was intrigued by the description of Dory Dean's delivery for some reason. It immediately made me think of Luis Tiant. Interestingly, the first two pitchers Peter Morris mentioned when talking about deceptive pitching deliveries in A Game of Inches were El Tiante and Dean:

Speaking of Luis Tiant, by the late 1870s, a few pitchers were experimenting with deliveries in which they turned their backs to the batter. In an 1876 game, Cincinnati pitcher Dory Dean "brought out a new delivery, which consisted in facing second base with the ball in hand, and then turning quickly, letting it come in the general direction of the stand, without any idea where it really was going to land" (Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1876). The Chicago Tribune characterized this as a "foolish boy's trick," and the White Stockings might have questioned its legality if they hadn't been too busy running around the bases in a 17-3 win.

Bradley Talks A Bit Of Smack

Bradley made his boast before the game commenced yesterday that he was going to "lay himself out" for Jones, and he did it. Charley pasted him so badly in St. Louis that Brad wanted to get even. Things are about square, we guess.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 3, 1876

On July 22, Jones had three hits in a 5-1 loss to the Brown Stockings. His third hit was lost in grass and Jones came all the way around to score. I guess Bradley was not especially happy with that and was gunning for Jones the next time he faced him.

In the August 1 game, Jones went hitless and struck out twice.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Twelfth Shutout

The Brown Stockings turned the tables on their base ball rivals from Louisville at Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon in a very decided manner, beating them by the one-sided score of seven to nothing. Snyder's hand gave out in the second inning, and as this magnificent catcher was forced to exchange places with Hastings, it seemed to take all the vim out of his comrades, who not only played a very loose game in the field, but could do nothing with the stick, Fulmer being the only man credited with a base hit, and that a very lucky and questionable one. The Browns, on the other hand, each batted freely, Clapp and Mack each leading with two beauties. Especially did they wield the willow with effect in the eighth inning, when after three chances for outs had been declared by their opponents, Clapp, McGeary, Battin and Mack followed each other in rapid succession with stinging and safe hits. Not a single run was earned during the game, however. The Browns' play in the field was also very fine, the only errors charged being a dropped foul fly by Mack, a dropped foul bound by Clapp, a muffed throw by Dehlman and a base given on called balls by Bradley. For Louisville, Gerhardt, Hague and Chapman did some beautiful work in the field, the former especially distinguishing himself in the first inning by catching Pike and Clapp at third on the right field bounders sent him by the latter and McGeary-a play never before attempted on a St. Louis ball field. Cuthbert being ill, and Allison, who was lame, did not participate in the game...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 30, 1876

Only six pitchers in the history of baseball have thrown twelve or more shutouts in a season: George Washington Bradley, Pete Alexander (twice in back-to-back years), Jack Coombs, Bob Gibson, Pud Galvin and Ed Morris. Gibson, in 1968, is the only pitcher to do it since 1916. I'm not sure how to properly rate Bradley's 1876 season but I'm giving it some thought and I'll probably write something up when we get to the 16th shutout. I do know one thing: it was a heck of a good year.

Interesting thing about Gerhardt throwing out two runners at third. I'm not certain what they mean. Was a first baseman throwing out runners at third unique? It's a tough play and you don't see it all that often but it's not that big of a deal. Maybe it was the fact that he did it twice in an inning. Also, was Gerhardt playing way off the base in shallow right field? First, why? And second, that would make for a long throw to third. I'm really not sure what to make of all this. Maybe they meant that Chapman threw out two guys trying to go to third.

Also note that the umpire was "Eddie Haley, the song and dance artist." Sadly, this is not the Ed Haley who wrote "While Strolling Through The Park One Day."

The 1876 Brown Stockings: Bradley's Streak Comes To An End

Only about 200 spectators witnessed the game between the Cincinnati and St. Louis clubs at the Brown Stocking Park yesterday afternoon. The poor attendance is probably due in a great measure to the poor record of the Cincinnati club, who have won only six games during the season. The game was not a very brilliant one, it being an entirely too one-sided affair. The Browns did well in the field, but experienced considerable difficulty in hitting the delivery of Dean, the new pitcher of the Cincinnati club. Fisher was not present, nor did he come to town with the club. Dean, who occupied the pitcher's square, worried the Browns considerably, as they had never faced him before. His delivery is very swift, and the ball, after leaving his hands, has a downward tendency, which rather got the best of the home club, as the score will show. The Cincinnatis found more trouble in batting Bradley, and only pasted him for two bases, one of them being a double by Jones, in the ninth inning; Booth also made his base in the last inning.

The lads from abroad played a miserable fielding game, with the exception of Kessler, who assisted five times and played his position without an error. The veteran Sweazy also did good service at second, but had a couple of costly errors charged to his account. Dean, the pitcher, proved a strong card in the game for his own club, and made but one error-a wild throw. Neither side scored a run until the fifth inning, when Pearce came home on a very wild throw by Foley to first base, when he had no chance of putting his man out. The Cincinnatis were blanked in one, two, order until the eighth inning, when Battin gave a base runner a life, but the player was left on base. In the ninth inning "baby" Jones pasted Bradley for two bases, and went to third on a passed ball. Booth, the next man at the bat, brought him home on a fine drive to left field, and thus saved the club from a nest of goose eggs.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 19, 1876

George Washington Bradley threw thirty-seven consecutive shutout innings over five starts, from July 8 to July 18. Included in the streak was the first no-hitter in NL history. Baseball Almanac only lists pitchers with more than 40 consecutive shutout innings and I can't find anything better than that so it's difficult to say what kind of record Bradley set. I'll go out on a limb and say that Bradley set the NL record for most consecutive shutout innings in 1876. He probably held the major league record until Jack Chesboro threw 41 consecutive shutout innings in 1902. If anybody has any better information on the record, I'd like to hear about it.

As to this game, Bradley was perfect through seven and took a no-hitter into the ninth. What can you say? The guy was on a roll. In fact, he would give up only one run in each of the three Cincinnati games, meaning he only gave up three runs in six games between July 11 and July 22.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Greatest Feat In The Annals Of The Game (Inning By Inning)

The Globe-Democrat yesterday morning announced the fact that the St. Louis Base Ball Club intended accomplishing the greatest feat in the annals of the game, if sharp play could bring about the result prayed for, which was nothing less than the whitewashing of the famous Hartford nine for the third consecutive time. They did it, and thereby covered themselves with glory and sent their admirers into ecstasies. A large crowd was present to witness the discomfiture of the Dark Blues. In the matter of the toss, luck for the first time in a long while deserted McGeary, which was considered a favorable omen for Hartford, but, as the sequel showed, failed to prove such. St. Louis won the game in the first two innings by the fine batting of Clapp and Blong, and four unfortunate errors by their opponents. In the last seven innings Bond was so

Well Supported

that the Browns could not possibly increase their score. Bradley's pitching, and the magnificent backing given it by the fielders, won the day for St. Louis. For the first time in the annals of the League, nine innings were played without a single base hit being placed to the credit of one of the teams. The Hartford's utterly failed to do anything whatever with Bradley's twisters. Weak infield hits and easy flies were the order of the afternoon on their side, and a chance for an out was rarely missed. Bradley has good reason to be proud of his record. His associates, especially Clapp, whose beautiful batting was a marked feature of the game, did fairly off Bond's curves, and thereby won the game. Three such games as have been played during the past week by the St. Louis and Hartford Clubs

Have Never Been Witnessed,

the scores being 2 to 0, 3 to 0, and 2 to 0, all in favor of St. Louis. They will be placed on record as the most wonderful struggles in the history of the national pastime. When it is stated that until last Tuesday Hartford had not been whitewashed this season, and that for twenty-seven consecutive innings they were retired by the Browns without scoring, and almost in one-two-three order, some idea of the magnificent manner in which they must have fielded the stinging hits of such men as Burdock, Higham, Ferguson, and the other Blue Legs can be formed.

The Record Of The Week

leads a good many to suppose that the Browns may yet crowd up to the top round of the championship ladder. This is among the possibilities, but not very probable. That the St. Louis Club will beat Hartford for second place is much more likely, but Chicago now has a commanding lead which it will be almost impossible for either club to overcome. The details of the game yesterday will be found in the appended account by innings.

First Inning.

St. Louis-Cuthbert, after being missed on three strikes, was thrown out at first by Harbidge. Clapp earned first on a magnificent drive to left center, and a wild throw by Bond to catch him at first gave him third. McGeary's foul fly to right was splendidly held by Higham, but the hit gave Clapp his run. Pike sent up a high one, which Remsen gobbled. One unearned run.

Hartford-Remson again opened for the Dark Blues by striking out. Burdock was given a life by Pearce, who muffed his hot liner and then made an overthrow. A passed ball gave him second. Higham's out by McGeary to Dehlman gave Burdock third, where he was left, as Ferguson flew out to Cuthbert. Nineteenth goose egg.

Second Inning.

St. Louis-Mills made a fine catch of Battin's foul fly. Blong earned first on a fine drive to left, and as York tried to make the catch Joe reached second. Mills allowed Bradley's bounder to go through him, and Blong tallied. Bradley was thrown out in trying to steal second. Dehlman earned first on a model hit to left, and stole second by a close shave, but was left, as Pearce popped a fly up for Mills' benefit.

Hartford-Carey was finely thrown out at first by Bradley. Bond furnished McGeary with an easy fly, and Yorke sent up a sky scraper for Battin to capture. Twentieth goose egg.

Third Inning.

St. Louis-Cuthbert was splendidly disposed of by Ferguson and Mills. Clapp sent the ball spinning over Yorke's head for two bases, and McGeary flew out to Burdock. Pike hit a hard one to left, which Yorke froze to. No runs.

Hartford-Mills sent a hot one direct to Dehlman, and sat down. Harbidge popped up an easy fly, which McGeary captured, and Remsen was thrown out at first by Bradley. Twenty-first goose egg. Score, 2 to 0. St. Louis ahead.

Fourth Inning.

St. Louis-Mills pinched Battin's easy fly, and Blong was thrown out at first by Carey. Bradley couldn't gauge Bond, and struck out. No runs.

Hartford-Burdock struck at the first ball pitched, and retired on a foul bound. Another easy fly was furnished McGeary by Higham. Clapp missed Ferguson's fould bound, and Fergy then went out by hitting direct to Dehlman. Twenty-second goose egg.

Fifth Inning.

St. Louis-Ferguson bagged Dehlman's foul fly and Harbidge treated Pearce's foul bound in the same way. Cuthbert attempted a right field hit, and furnished Ferguson with an easy fly instead.

Hartford-Carey attempted a fair foul, and Battin threw him out. Bond was magnificently disposed of by McGeary and Dehlman. Yorke hit hard, but Bradley partially stopped the ball, and Battin finished the business by throwing him out. Twenty-third goose egg.

Sixth Inning.

St. Louis-Clapp almost got in his third base hit, but Remsen, by fast running, made a splendid catch. McGeary flew out to Burdock. Pike hit to second, and, by the fastest kind of running, secured his base. He stole second in safety, but remained there, as Battin struck out.

Hartford-Mills kept up the weak batting by hitting to Bradley and being thrown out. Clapp captured Harbidge's high foul fly. Dehlman dropped McGeary's throw, and Remsen stepped safely on first. Burdock sent a bounder to Pearce, who headed him off at first. Twenty-fourth goose egg.

Seventh Inning.

St. Louis-Carey and Mills furnished Blong with an out. Bond again outwitted Bradley, who gave Mills an easy fly, and Dehlman also retired by hitting direct to the first baseman. No runs.

Hartford-Higham was easily thrown out at first by Battin. Ferguson was given a life by Clapp, who missed his foul bound, but the striker a moment afterwards flew out to Pike, and Carey followed suit to Cuthbert. Twenty-fifth goose-egg.

Eighth Inning.

St. Louis-Pearce reached first on a hot one to right short, that luckily bounded out of Burdock's reach. Yorke made a magnificent catch of Cuthbert's short fly to left. Clapp by a model hit to right earned first, and sent Pearce to second. McGeary's sharp foul tip was well held by Harbidge. Pike flew out to Remsen, and two men were left.

Hartford-Bond sent a bounder to McGeary, and was disposed of at first. Yorke was sent to first on three balls. Mills hit a hot one to short, and by miserable running allowed Pearce to throw him out. Yorke reached second on the hit, and third on a wild pitch, where he was left, as McGeary and Dehlman furnished Harbidge with an out. Twenty-sixth goose-egg.

Ninth Inning.

St. Louis-Battin sent a swift fly to Yorke, which was accepted and Blong was thrown out at first by Carey. Mills made a splendid catch of Dehlman's fly, and the side was out.

Hartford-Remsen went in to escape the third nest of goose eggs, if possible. He hit at the first ball pitched, and Pearce headed him off at first. Battin made a bad error in failing to stop Burdock's bounder, but atoned for it a moment afterwards by making a splendid stop of Higham's corker, and doubling up the striker and Burdock.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 16, 1876

So George Washington Bradley, after signing with the Athletics for 1877, throws three straight shut-outs, including the first no-hitter in National League history and, after this game, was riding a twenty-nine consecutive inning shut-out streak. That's a nice week of work by Bradley.

It's interesting that the Brown Stockings' defenders get so much credit for this game. Certainly, given the nature of the game, they deserve a great deal of credit and played very well over the course of the Hartford series. But they committed eight errors in this game. It was easily their worst defensive performance of the series. I'm not saying they don't deserve credit but I'm just pointing out the fact that it wasn't that great of a defensive performance.

Because I'm going to spend the next couple of days spreading 134 year old rumors and speculating about which Brown Stocking players hate each other and which players can't wait for the season to get over and head out of town, I'm going to mention that Bradley throws eight more shutout innings against the Reds on July 18, running his consecutive shut-out inning streak to 37. He ended up giving up a run in the ninth or he would have had his fourth straight shut-out. I'll look it up but 37 consecutive shut-out innings was probably a record that lasted awhile.

A quick check has Jack Chesbro throwing 41 consecutive shut-out innings in 1902. Also, and I didn't know this, Bradley's 16 shutouts in 1876 is tied for the all-time record. But I'll talk a bit more about this when I get to the Cincinnati game.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Crowd Almost Went Wild (And My Top 5 Baseball Memories)

The Hartfords were presented with another nest of goose eggs by the St. Louis Brown Stockings at Grand Avenue Park yesterday afternoon, the crowd of Tuesday being slightly increased by the fine fielding display in the previous game. McGeary, for the fifth time in succession, won the toss, and the Dark Blues were sent to the field promptly at 4 o'clock. The play during the first six innings was almost absolutely perfect, neither side being able to secure a tally, although the batting was fierce. The Browns, however, secured singles in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, the first two on bad errors by Burdock and Harbidge, and the last on a terrific drive to right by Pike, which earned that fleet-footed gentleman a home run. The outfielding of both nines was magnificent, Blong making an extraordinary one-handed catch, that robbed Ferguson of a home run, and Remsen securing three beauties by the swiftest kind of running. The infield work of all except Burdock and Harbidge was very fine, the errors made by these players proving very costly. Each nine made five base hits, Pike securing two for St. Louis, and the reliable Higham two for Hartford. The game was far more interesting than that of Tuesday, for the reason that the hard batting gave numerous chances for brilliant plays, all of which were accepted, the errors being made on very simple balls. Harbidge's wild throwing and passed balls proved especially disastrous. The crowd almost went wild with enthusiasm, and cheered lustily as each consecutive whitewash was chalked against Hartford.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 14, 1876

The second consecutive shutout for Bradley, a 0-0 game going into the seventh and another bad game for Harbidge. For those counting at home, Bradley had a twenty inning shutout streak going.

This has nothing to do with nothing but one time, when I was in high school, I ditched school and went over to Busch Stadium for a day game between the Cards and Mets. Joaquin Andujar against Doc Gooden. The final score was 5-1 but it was 0-0 going into the seventh. You see how I just tied all of that together? Anyway, it was the best pitching duel I ever saw live and easily in my top five of all-time baseball memories.

Okay, just for fun, here's my top five all-time favorite baseball memories (witnessed live):

1. Opening Day 1998. McGwire's grand slam off of El Presidente. Regardless of anything we want to say about McGwire and the 1998 home run chase, it was an amazing moment. Busch Stadium was literally rocking.

2. Andujar/Gooden 1985. I was sitting in the bleachers with a friend, had skipped school and there was this old guy sitting right behind us with a little transistor radio, listening to KMOX and telling us stories about the old days. Beautiful spring day without a cloud in the sky and a great pitchers duel. And I wasn't at school.

3. Cards 7-Pirates 6; September 5, 1983. Cards were up 3-0 and 4-1 after six. Pirates score two in the top of the ninth to go ahead 6-5. Andy Van Slyke hit a pinch hit home run to lead off the ninth to tie it and the Cards win in the tenth when Ozzie leads off with a double, moves to third on a sac and was driven in by a Dane Iorg sac fly. I don't think I have ever been so hot at Old Busch (or Busch II if you want) than that night. I was sitting in the back bleachers underneath the overhang and it was something like 100 degrees outside with 90% humidity. Miserable, but a fantastic game.

4. Cards 2-Reds 0; May 31, 1985. There's a reason I love the 1985 Cards above all other teams and 1985 was my favorite season. Danny Cox threw a no-hitter for 7 2/3 and shutout the Reds on two hits. The closest I ever came to seeing a no-hitter live.

5. Cards 7-Atlanta 0; October 7, 1982. The first game of the 1982 NLCS and Bob Forsch throws a shutout. The real game one was rained out the day before with the Cards getting shut down by Phil Niekro, who the Cards never hit. Dodged a bullet there. This game was my first taste of October baseball and, while it never gets old, the first time is always the sweetest.

My father always told me the story that he took me (as a six month old infant) to Game One of the 1968 World Series. Cards/Tigers and Gibson strikes out 17. But, while I have ticket stubs and a program, I don't have any memories of the game and can't count it. My dad always had great baseball stories and, while I'm not certain how true they all were, as I get older it's more fun to believe them than it is to question them. So I always say I was at Game One of the 1968 Series.

And one day I'll tell you the story of how my dad played baseball with Willie Mays.

The 1876 Brown Stockings: The Clubs Might Have Played Until The Resurrection

The game at Grand Avenue Park, yesterday afternoon, which drew together 1,000 spectators, was interesting only from the fact that the Hartfords were Chicagoed for the first time this season, while St. Louis secured two tallies by the biggest kind of luck. Owing to a heavy shower of rain, the game was delayed for half an hour, and after the first inning the ball became so soaked with water that the contestants might as well have been playing with a wet rag. The two tallies were made by St. Louis in the first inning. After two hands had been disposed of, Pike struck out, but reached first on a fatal error by Harbidge, and Battin getting in a lucky hit, brought Pike, as well as Clapp, who had been given first on called balls, home. Whitewashes were then in order until the close of the game, it being impossible to drive the wet and unshapely ball out of the infield, and the clubs might have played until the resurrection came without changing the result.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 12, 1875

The Brown Stockings get two unearned runs, George Washington Bradley throws a four-hitter with the aid of a "wet and unshapely ball" and the he gets the first of his three consecutive shut-outs against Hartford, one of which was the first no-hitter in National League history. Not to give away the story or anything.

And just to keep the timeline straight, Bradley had signed with the Athletics for the 1877 season two days earlier.

On the same page as the game account, the Globe published this little nugget:

Will the Chicago Tribune be kind enough to retract the assertion that St. Louis had arranged to lose three games to the Hartfords this week?

Heh. But it does say a little something that the accusation that the Brown Stockings were going to throw a three game series didn't really make any news.