The First in a 144+ part series, the 1871 season.
The 1871 baseball season is the first season of the “National
Association” and the first season where we have reliable statistics. It is also the start of the Ross Barnes era
in my humble opinion.
Barnes had a season that was arguably the best of the year,
especially according to modern sensibilities and, also according to my
sensibilities on defense. He did not win
a batting title, but he did finish 3rd in times on base and first in
runs scored for his 3rd place 22-10 Boston Red Stocking’s baseball
team. While he was doing this at the
plate, able to prevent more runs than most other players in the league, making
less errors (.854 fielding percentage vs a league average .833) and exhibiting
more range at both 2nd base and shortstop giving him, by my
calculations 23.5 offensive runs – the most in the league and 20.5 defensive
runs – the 2nd most in the league.
The combined total of 44.1 runs created also led the league. He wins his first 1871 MVP award, voted on by
me.
In 1871 Jimmy Woods was equally adept in the field, with
19.0 runs in his 2nd place 19-8 Chicago White Stockings team. That is more defensive runs per game than
Barnes and a slightly lower offensive runs per game. He batted .378 and had 11 walks on the
season. Barnes played 2nd
Base most of the season, but I will move him to SS to make room on my all star
team for Woods.
To make my all star team, my next player will have to be the
DH? He did lead the league in offensive
runs created and played above average defense for the Boston Red Stockings, but
was only able to play in ½ the teams games.
George Wright is the third and final position player to make my 1871 all
star team, but I think he will have to play 3rd base. Levi Meyerle had more total runs created, but
Meyerle was a poor fielder, while Wright was above average. Also, Wright contributed about 20 innings
pitched
In 1871, a teams’ pitcher was expected to pitch just about
every inning for his team (and had to, by rule, throw underhanded), but a
pitcher is still active in every play, and in days past, as in the present, a
pitcher’s most important job is to pitch.
In the American League today, his only jobs are to pitch and to field
his position. In the National League
9/10s of his job is to pitch and field his position, but 1/10 now as in the
past, a player’s job was and is to also hit the baseball. In 1871 Rynie Walters was not one of the best
pitchers in the League for his 16-17 New York Mutuals. At pitching he was mediocre. He was, however, the 2nd best
hitter in the league that season with a .370 batting average and leading the league
with 44 RBIs. This fact raised him from
a run of the mill 8th best pitcher in a league with 9 teams to the
best total player at the position for his team.
Walthers was a pre National Association star, but it would be the last
season where he was a star player.
These are my all-stars
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Best By Position
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Silver Slugger
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Fantastic Fielders
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P
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C
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1B
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2B
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3B
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SS
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OF
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OF
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OF
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