The Pecan Park Eagle

"Hit 'em where they ain't." - Wee Willie Keeler.

It’s Christmas Eve, but I could not resist completing my cycle on the historic all-star teams by taking on the 19th century icons who started it all for the great game of baseball. My only trouble here was finding a lefty I preferred to any of the wildly famous righties we all mostly know about. So, in a growing mood of seasonal generosity and complete reversal on reality, I chose to select four pitchers, all right handers,  to my 19th century team from the era. So, the team that often made it through whole seasons with only one starter and a talented backup, hereby  gets a lights-out stable of four great ones on my club.

A little irony is a nice seasoning almost every time.

For starters, I had to go with the man who won 48 games in 1883 and then followed that by posting 59 victories in 1884, the great Old Hoss Radbourn. My next guy eventually became more famous for making balls then throwing them. That would be Al Spalding, who went 252-65 with a 2.13 ERA in only seven 19th century seasons of work. 19th Century hurler # 3 is the man we annually associate with “best two pitchers in the major leagues this year.” – Cy Young had an incredible 511-316, 2.63 record over 22 seasons in the big leagues. His service time in seasons split equally between the 19th and 20th centuries, but his best winning years came early. 372 of his wins came in the 19th century. Finally, my fourth guy, Tim Keefe, would most likely be my first guy, if you really pushed me to picked one from the litter. From what I’ve read, many people far closer to that era than any of us shall ever be considered Keefe to have been the best pitcher of his time.

At any rate, here are my guys. Not surprisingly, all are members of the Hall of Fame. If you have time on this bust Christmas Eve, please, feel free to post yours here too. If not, and God Willing, we’ll still be here after cross over the holiday season bend.

Meanwhile, here is My 19th Century MLB All Star Club:

RH Pitcher # 1 – Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn (309-194, 2.68 ERA in 11 19th century seasons)

RH Pitcher # 2 – Al Spalding (252-65, 2.13 in 7 19th century seasons)

RH Pitcher # 3 – Cy Young (511-316, 2.63 in 22 total seasons; 372 wins in 11 19th century seasons)

RH Pitcher # 4 – Tim Keefe (342-225, 2.63 in 14 19th century seasons)

C – Mike “King” Kelly (.308 BA)

1B – Dan Brouthers (.342 BA)

2b – Ed Delahanty (.346 BA)

3B – John “Muggsy” McGraw (.334 BA)

SS – Hugh Jennings (.313 BA)

LF – Joe Kelley (.321 BA)

CF – Wee Willie Keeler (.341 BA)

RF – Billy Hamilton (.344 BA)

Happy Christmas, Everybody! ~ And may your days be merry and bright!