Year In Review : 1887 National League
Off the Field…
English author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes story "A Study in Scarlet" was published. Doyle's brilliant and theatrical hero solved all of his extraordinarily complex cases through what he called "ingenious deductive reasoning". His companion, Dr. Watson, narrated the stories and both characters helped to redefine the mystery novel. Doyle later abandoned his medical practice in 1890 and devoted his time to writing. Other works of the great detective included The Sign of the Four (1890), The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905), His Last Bow (1917), and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, (1927).
In the National League…
The Philadelphia Phillies finished off their 1887 season with an unprecedented sixteen consecutive wins.
Detroit Wolverines owner Frederick Stearnes challenged American Association St. Louis owner Chris Von Der Ahe to a best-of-fifteen Championship series. The Wolverines prevailed winning eight games. Despite appearing in sixteen post-season games, the Browns receive nothing for their efforts as Von Der Ahe refused to share his profits.
In the American Association…
Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Fred Chapman became the youngest player ever to take the mound in the Major Leagues after working five innings against the Cleveland Spiders at the age of fourteen.
St. Louis Browns first baseman/manager Charles Comiskey became the first baseball player ever paid to endorse a product after lending his name and likeness to Menell’s Penetrating Oil.
Thomas Ramsey of the Louisville Colonels introduced the "knuckleball" pitch, which helped him to fan seventeen batters in a single game – twice.
On April 16th, Mike Griffin of the Baltimore Orioles became the first player ever to homer in his first Major League at-bat.
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