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| Ol' Time Baseball loses 2 of its star players |
| Wednesday 10/7/1888 |
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The OTBL will be without the services of two of its most popular players after the 1888 season. Due to injuries, Denny Perry and Alex Allen have both decided to retire from professional baseball.
 Although he never won a pitching award, Alex Allen's career statistics are very impressive. Primarily known as a strikeout pitcher, Alex compiled a 64-47 record with a 3.00 ERA during his 4 year career. He also holds the record for strikeouts in a single season
On June 13, 1888, while pitching one of the best games of his career, Alex felt a sharp pain in his upper back. Alex continued to pitch, however, throwing a complete game 1-hitter. After the game, the pain did not subside and by the next morning it was even worse.
Team doctors diagnosed the injury as a torn back muscle. After several months of rehabilitation, Alex attempted to make a comeback throwing several simulated games. He was just not the same pitcher, however, as the nasty curveball that Alex depended on as his strikeout pitch had become very hitable; in addition, Alex had lost a lot of his control and had difficulty throwing strikes. After being cut by the Macon team, Alex has decided to return to work at his family's business in Kennedy, New York.
 Denny Perry was considered to be one of the best hitters in the California League during his brief professional career. Along with a career batting average of .323, Denny was awarded the first ever Outstanding Batter Award for the California League after the 1885 season.
Denny was visiting his hometown of AuSable, Michigan when a fire broke out at the local school. Naturally, Denny offered to assist with putting out the blaze. Tragedy struck, however, when he was trapped under timbers after a wall collapsed.
Miraculously, Denny was able to survive the accident but was rushed to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken hip. After months of rehabilitation, he continues to suffer from severe pain when attempting to run. Following advice from team doctors, Denny has decided to walk away from the game.
Ol' Time Baseball will certainly miss both Alex and Denny.
| | Augusta wins its first Ol' Time Baseball Championship |
| Wednesday 10/7/1888 |
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1888 featured two teams making their first appearances in the post-season league championship series. The California League was represented by the San Francisco Haverlys who defeated Sacramento to stop the Atlas' post-season appearance streak at 3. The Southern Association was represented by the Augusta Browns who defeated the Macon Central Citys for the right to appear in the October classic.
The Haverlys have a league second best .263 team batting average and 469 runs scored. Led by second baseman Steve Waldrop (.302 AVG, 9 HR, 70 Runs) and rightfielder Gary Borders (.316 AVG, 4 HR, 61 RBI), San Francisco also hit a league high 41 home-runs during 1888. Starting pitcher Bobby Shears (23-16, 3.66 ERA) and reliever Cap Olds (16-6, 2.90 ERA) lead the Haverlys pitching staff.
Augusta's lineup features possibly the best 3-4-5 hitting combination in the league. Douglas Dawson (.407 AVG, 7 HR, 62 RBI), Tyrell Upshaw (.322 AVG, 68 RBI) and Cotton Reed (.315, 65 RBI) led a team that posted a Southern Association best .260 batting average. Two-time Outstanding Pitcher Hank Gartman (23-16, 2.82 ERA) and Victor Heacock (17-11, 3.02 ERA) are the leaders of the Brown's pitching staff.
Game 1: SF Haverlys 5 - Augusta 6
Augusta took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st when CF Guy Weigand scored on a wild pitch. San Francisco tied the game with 1 run in the 5th then took a 5-1 lead in the top of the 6th. Augusta battled back, however, scoring runs in the bottom of the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to close the lead to 1. Augusta won the game in the bottom of the 9th when Tyrell Upshaw singled to start off the inning and Cotton Reed was walked; Davy Waite and Brendan Dicks then hit consecutive singles to drive home the winning runs.
Game 2: SF Haverlys 3 - Augusta 2
Augusta took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning off a solo home-run by Douglas Dawson; pitcher Victor Heacock singled to drive in Augusta's second run in 2nd. Both starting pitchers took control of the game until the 7th when San Francisco hit 3 singles and stole a base to tie the game at 2; second baseman Steve Waldrop then hit a double to center to give the Haverlys a 3-2 lead. Augusta's George Hough attempted to tie the game by tagging up on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th, but was thrown out by leftfielder Mike Dodd. Augusta loaded the bases in the 8th and had a lead off walk in the 9th, but Bobby Shears was able to hold on to tie the series at 1 game apiece.
Game 3: Augusta 5 - SF Haverlys 4
Game 3 was a pitching duel until the Browns scored 3 times in the top of the 7th off of 3 singles and a triple. San Francisco scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but Augusta scored in the top of the inning to stretch their lead to 4-1. The Haverlys then strung together 3 singles and a triple of their own in the bottom of the 8th. The game remained scoreless until the top of the 10th. Augusta CF Guy Weigand singled to center, stole second, advanced to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Steve Waldrop's ground out to first. Augusta reliever Candy Stennett gave up a single in the bottom of the inning, but then coaxed a double play and a grounder to third to give the Browns a 5-4 win and a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: Augusta 2 - SF Haverlys 0
For the second day in a row, extra innings were needed to determine a winner. San Francisco pitcher Cap Olds made a rare start throwing 9 scoreless innings; Al Whitely matched him pitch for pitch, throwing 8 2/3 scoreless innings of his own. Clearly the game was going to be left up to the relievers. The Browns finally broke into the scoring column in the 11th inning when Douglas Dawson tripled to drive in a run and scored on Tyrell Upshaw's double to center. Reliever Mark Horgan pitched a scoreless bottom of the 11th to give the Browns a 3-1 series lead.
Game 5: Augusta 1 - SF Haverlys 3
The Haverlys took an early lead when Steve Waldrop doubled to drive in a run in the bottom of the 1st. Singles by a Waldrop and leftfielder Mike Dodd stretched the lead to 3-0. Augusta finally scored in the top of the 8th, but pitcher Bobby Shears was masterful all day holding Augusta batters to just one run on 6 hits. San Francisco closes the series to 3-2.
Game 6: SF Haverlys 2 - Augusta 3
Augusta took an early lead when Cotton Reed singled to lead off the Browns half of the 2nd and eventually scored on a grounder to second. San Francisco took advantage of 2 Augusta throwing errors and a base on balls to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th, but Augusta tied up the game in the bottom of the 8th off of consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly by Cotton Reed. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 11th when Davy Waite doubled to drive in Cotton Reed for a 3-2 Augusta victory!
Augusta wins the series 4 games to 2 to claim the 1888 Ol' Time Baseball Championship!!!
 Augusta's Douglas Dawson was named the 1888 American Series MVP. Douglas batted .458 for the series (11 for 24) and scored twice. He also hit the only home-run of the series. |
For a complete 1888 Season recap: Click Here
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| Top News Stories - 1888 |
The top story of 1888 was that Alex Allen and Denny Perry retired from the game due to injuries. Injuries continued to be the biggest news story throughout the season. On the pitching side, on 6/6/1888, Greg Slapnicka threw the first no-hitter in league history. There were no 6-hit performances, but Steve Waldrop hit for the cycle on 6/19/1888.
Among the other top news stories:
- Chattanooga replaced manager Bob Kern with Cub Hurt.
- Mike Simmons misses 30 weeks due to a broken foot.
- Bobby Shears and Tom Wilson throw 1-hitters on 4/3/1888.
- On 4/13, Tom Wilson pitches his second 1-hitter of the season.
- Tom Wilson pitches his 9th shutout of the season on 9/12/1888.
| For the complete 1888 News recap: Click Here
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| Noteworthy Players - 1888 |
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| California League - 1888 Top Batters
| Player AVG OPS 2B 3B HR RBI Runs SB CS Team
Rogers Roselli 0.378 1.029 16 19 7 60 101 76 21 SF2
Frank Larsen 0.349 0.904 17 10 6 76 59 37 15 SF2
Glenn Walling 0.311 0.896 16 23 6 60 80 71 11 OAK
Pat Weems 0.322 0.865 17 23 2 64 61 55 11 SAC
Don Marquis 0.332 0.835 23 6 6 65 60 10 9 SAC
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| Southern Association - 1888 Top Batters
| Player AVG OPS 2B 3B HR RBI Runs SB CS Team
Douglas Dawson 0.407 1.021 13 10 7 62 68 13 6 AUG
Brett Eayrs 0.322 0.864 32 6 4 70 64 3 1 MAC
Tyrell Upshaw 0.322 0.798 17 13 2 68 63 28 9 AUG
Gat Tom 0.307 0.862 16 16 2 66 63 52 8 MAC
Ron Mills 0.345 1.043 17 11 4 57 61 53 13 ATL
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| California League - 1888 Top Pitchers
| Player ERA W L K BB OAVG Team
Tom Wilson 2.44 28 14 143 114 0.218 SAC
Red Barefoot 2.59 21 13 144 47 0.229 STO
Bobby Shears 3.66 23 16 155 76 0.244 SF1
John Thomas 2.52 14 19 138 64 0.245 OAK
Cap Olds 2.90 16 6 80 61 0.240 SF1
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| Southern Association - 1888 Top Pitchers
| Player ERA W L K BB OAVG Team
Gat Marley 2.75 23 11 139 63 0.245 MAC
Spud Sinnott 2.08 18 6 74 60 0.225 MAC
Hank Gartman 2.82 23 16 147 94 0.240 AUG
Victor Heacock 3.02 17 11 116 48 0.248 AUG
Jerry Shoulders 3.11 18 14 157 110 0.234 CHA
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| OTBL - 1888 Top Rookie Batters
| Player AVG OPS 2B 3B HR RBI Runs SB CS Team
Mitch Simpson 0.301 0.769 14 13 1 47 63 60 12 MEM
Jim Welborn 0.280 0.700 20 10 1 30 56 54 7 NAS
Fred Gunn 0.229 0.592 7 12 2 38 52 42 8 ATL
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| OTBL - 1888 Top Rookie Pitchers
| Player ERA W L K BB OAVG Team
Jim Meusel 3.63 7 11 51 54 0.268 MAC
Raymond Redmond 3.98 4 16 62 49 0.248 NAS
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| League Standings |
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California League
Sacramento 66-44
SF Haverlys 62-48
Oakland 53-57
Stockton 53-57
SF Pioneers 51-59
San Jose 45-65
Southern Association
Macon 68-42
Augusta 59-51
Chattanooga 56-54
Memphis 52-58
Nashville 51-59
Atlanta 44-66
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| 1888 League Champions |
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| Augusta Browns |
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| 1888 Outstanding Batters |
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Rogers Roselli
SF Pioneers
Douglas Dawson
Augusta Browns | |
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| 1888 Outstanding Pitchers |
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Tom Wilson
Sacramento Atlas
Gat Marley
Macon Cen. Citys | |
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| 1888 Outstanding Rookies |
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None Selected
California League
Mitch Simpson
Memphis Grays | |
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| Noteworthy Facts |
San Jose pitcher Greg Slapnicka threw the first no-hitter in OTBL history on 6/6/1888.
Tom Wilson established a new OTBL record with 9 shutouts during the 1888 season.
Douglas Dawson is the first player to bat over .400 during a season (.407 AVG in 1888).
Rogers Roselli and Douglas Dawson were the first hitters to win consecutive post-season awards by winning their league's Outstanding Hitter Awards for both the 1887 and 1888 seasons.
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| 1888 League Leaders |
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Batting Average
D. Dawson .407
R. Roselli .378
F. Larsen .349
R. Mills .345
D. Marquis .332
Runs Batted In
F. Larsen 76
B. Eayrs 70
T. Upshaw 68
G. Tom 66
C. Reed 65
D. Marquis 65
Home Runs
R. Shiflett 10
S. Waldrop 9
D. Dawson 7
R. Roselli 7
- 5 tied with - 6
Stolen Bases
R. Roselli 76
G. Walling 71
T. Lucas 68
B. Stiffler 62
G. Weigand 60
Earned Run Average
S. Sinnott 2.08
T. Wilson 2.44
J. Thomas 2.52
R. Barefoot 2.59
G. Marley 2.75
Wins
T. Wilson 28
B. Shears 23
G. Marley 23
H. Gartman 23
J. Murch 22
Strikeouts
J. Murch 165
N. Hill 159
J. Shoulders 157
S. Thorn 157
B. Shears 155
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Complete League Leaders:
California League
Southern Association
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| Commissioner, Mark D. Benson
Copyright 2004, © Mark Benson |
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