Year In Review : 1883 National League

Off the Field…

U.S. Congress created the Civil Service Commission to oversee the hiring for all Government civilian jobs. The service assisted in filling positions in a wide variety of professional, technical, clerical, craft and other occupations. Several years later, it underwent a complete reform by President Theodore Roosevelt who held the ideal that the Government should be the great arbiter of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation, especially between capital and labor, guaranteeing justice to each and dispensing favors to none.

In the National League…

The National League regulated stockings for the first time as Boston wore red, Buffalo; gray, Chicago; white, Cleveland; blue, Providence; light blue, Detroit; brown, Philadelphia; blue and white checks and New York; crimson and black.

Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn tossed an 8-0 no-hitter against the Cleveland Blues on July 25th. Radbourn was one of the most dominant pitchers of his day winning thirty-one in 1882, forty-nine in 1883 and an incredible sixty games in 1884 (including twenty-six out of the final twenty-seven).

Hugh Daily, a one armed pitcher for Cleveland, threw a 1-0 no-hitter against Philadelphia on September 13th. Known as "One Arm", Daily pitched six seasons in the Major Leagues compiling a 73-87 record.

In the American Association…

During the pre-season, the American Association and National League agreed to terms of peace including a promise not to raid players from each other’s league.

The American Association champion Philadelphia Athletics lost their first eight post-season exhibition games resulting in the cancellation of a "World Series" against the National League pennant-winning Boston Beaneaters.

"(John Montgomery) Ward was the sort of player that other players appreciate as a teammate and curse as an opponent." - Author Bryan Di Salvatore
1883 National League Player Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls

Tom York

Cleveland

37

Top 25

Batting Average

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

.374

Top 25

Doubles

Ned Williamson

Chicago

49

Top 25

Hits

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

159

Top 25

Home Runs

Buck Ewing

New York

10

Top 25

On Base Percentage

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

.397

Top 25

RBI

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

97

Top 25

Runs

Joe Hornung

Boston

107

Top 25

Slugging Average

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

.572

Top 25

Total Bases

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

243

Top 25

Triples

Dan Brouthers

Buffalo

17

Top 25

 

1883 National League Pitcher Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games

Pud Galvin

Buffalo

72

Top 25

ERA

Jim McCormick

Cleveland

1.84

Top 25

Games

Pud Galvin

Buffalo

76

Top 25

Old Hoss Radbourn

Providence

Saves

Jim Whitney

Boston

2

Top 25

Stump Wiedman

Detroit

Shutouts

Pud Galvin

Buffalo

5

Top 25

Strikeouts

Jim Whitney

Boston

345

Top 25

Winning Percentage

Jim McCormick

Cleveland

.700

Top 25

Wins

Old Hoss Radbourn

Providence

48

Top 25

 

1883 National League

Team Standings

Boston Beaneaters

63 35 .643 0

Chicago White Stockings

59 39 .602 4

Providence Grays

58 40 .592 5

Cleveland Blues

55 42 .567

Buffalo Bisons

52 45 .536 10˝

New York Gothams

46 50 .479 16

Detroit Wolverines

40 58 .408 23

Philadelphia Phillies

17 81 .173 46

 

1883 National League Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls

Detroit

166

Batting Average

Buffalo

.284

Doubles

Chicago

277

Hits

Buffalo

1,058

Home Runs

Boston

34

On Base Percentage

Buffalo

.311

Runs

Chicago

679

Slugging Average

Boston

.408

Triples

Boston

86

 

1883 National League Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games

Cleveland

92

ERA

Cleveland

2.22

Fewest Hits Allowed

Cleveland

818

Fewest Home Runs Allowed

Cleveland

7

Fewest Walks Allowed

Boston

90

Saves

Boston

3

Shutouts

Boston

6

Strikeouts

Boston

538



On April 13, 1883, the Cleveland Forest City team became the first professional ballclub to visit a sitting U.S. President in the White House - do you remember which president they spoke with?

On May 3, 1883, John Montgomery Ward of New York hit two home runs during one game versus Boston and this was the first time any player had gone deep more than onee during a Major League game.

On June 16, 1883, the New York Gothams host what some experts believed was the first "Ladies Day" game in Major League history.

     

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