The 1899 Brooklyn Superbas

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...

 season was a season in American baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

. The team won the National League

National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...

 pennant

Pennant (sports)

A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...

 with a record of 101-47, 8 games ahead of the Boston Beaneaters

1899 Boston Beaneaters season

- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...

, after finishing tenth in 1898

1898 Brooklyn Bridegrooms season

The 1898 Brooklyn Bridegrooms suffered a huge loss on January 4 when team founder Charles Byrne died. Charles Ebbets became the new president of the team and moved them into the new Washington Park...

.

Offseason

The 1899 season began with the Brooklyn team and the Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles (19th century)

The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...

 merging their ownership groups. Baltimore owner Harry Von der Horst

Harry Von der Horst

Harry Von der Horst was an executive in Major League Baseball and a former owner of the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas. He was one of the principal founders and owners of the old 19th century Baltimore Orioles ballclub and when the team was running out of steam he managed to engineer a...

 and Ned Hanlon became part owners of Brooklyn. Von der Horst insisted that Hanlon become the team's new manager, a position that had been promised to outfielder Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin (outfielder)

Michael Joseph Griffin was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who hailed from Utica, New York. He played in 1511 games spread over 12 seasons for teams in the American Association, the Players League, and National League...

, who had been interim manager the previous year. Griffin quit and wound up suing the team for lost wages. His contract was sold to the Cleveland Spiders

Cleveland Spiders

The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...

, but Griffin never played or managed in the majors again.

Re-named the Superbas as part of the deal, the team also siphoned off the several of the Orioles' best players. On March 11, the team brought Bill Dahlen

Bill Dahlen

William Frederick Dahlen , nicknamed "Bad Bill" for his ferocious temperament, was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball for four National League teams from to...

, Mike Heydon

Mike Heydon

Michael Edward Heydon , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues in -. He would play for the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators , Washington Senators , Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...

, Jay Hughes

Jay Hughes

James Jay Hughes was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, who played four seasons from to .Hughes was born in Sacramento, California...

, Hughie Jennings

Hughie Jennings

Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...

, Willie Keeler

Willie Keeler

William Henry Keeler in Brooklyn, New York, nicknamed "Wee Willie", was a right fielder in professional baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas in the National League, and the New York Highlanders in the American League.- Biography :Keeler's...

, Joe Kelley

Joe Kelley

Joseph James Kelley was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who starred in the outfield of the powerful Baltimore Oriole teams of the 1890s.-Career:...

, Al Maul

Al Maul

Albert Joseph "Smiling Al" Maul was a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of fifteen seasons with the Philadelphia Keystones, Philadelphia Quakers/Phillies, Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Pittsburgh Burghers, Washington Senators, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas and New...

, Dan McGann and Doc McJames

Doc McJames

James McCutchen McJames was a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of six seasons with the Washington Senators, Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas. He was the National League strikeout champion in 1897 with the Washington Senators...

 onto their roster from Baltimore, while assigning Harry Howell, Candy LaChance

Candy LaChance

George Joseph LaChance was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball between 1893 and . LaChance was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...

, Kit McKenna

Kit McKenna

Kristian "Kit" Kerr McKenna was a former Major League Baseball player, from Lynchburg, Virginia, who pitched for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Baltimore Orioles during the two seasons in which played....

, Ralph Miller, Jack Ryan, Jimmy Sheckard

Jimmy Sheckard

Samuel James Tilden "Jimmy" Sheckard was an American left fielder and left-handed leadoff hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas , Baltimore Orioles , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago Cubs , St...

 and Aleck Smith

Aleck Smith

Alexander Benjamin Smith was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played nine seasons in the majors, between 1897 and 1906, for six different teams.-External links:...

 to the Orioles. This influx of talent was a good part of the reason why the Superbas managed to win the National League

National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...

 pennant with 101 wins after winning just 54 games in 1898.

Notable transactions

• March 11, 1899: Mike Griffin
  Mike Griffin (outfielder)
  Michael Joseph Griffin was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who hailed from Utica, New York. He played in 1511 games spread over 12 seasons for teams in the American Association, the Players League, and National League...
  
   was sold by the Superbas to the Cleveland Spiders
  Cleveland Spiders
  The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
  
  .

Notable transactions

• April 4, 1899: Pat Crisham
  Pat Crisham
  Patrick J. Crisham , was an American baseball player who played infielder in Major League Baseball in 1899. He played for the Baltimore Orioles.-External links:...
  
   and George Magoon
  George Magoon
  George Henry Magoon was an American professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1898-1903 with five different teams. In 522 games, he hit 2 home runs. He was born in St. Albans, Maine and died in Rochester, New Hampshire.-External links:...
  
   were traded by the Superbas to the Baltimore Orioles for Aleck Smith
  Aleck Smith
  Alexander Benjamin Smith was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played nine seasons in the majors, between 1897 and 1906, for six different teams.-External links:...
  
  .
• April 10, 1899: Dan McFarlan
  Dan McFarlan
  Anderson Daniel McFarlan was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in 1895 for the Louisville Colonels, and 1899 for two different teams, the Brooklyn Superbas and Washington Senators.-External links:...
  
   was assigned to the Superbas by the Baltimore Orioles.
• April 25, 1899: Pete Cassidy
  Pete Cassidy
  Peter Francis Cassidy was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Louisville Colonels in 1896 and the Brooklyn Superbas and Washington Senators in 1899. He appeared in 101 games in the major leagues over those two seasons.-External links:*...
  
  , Mike Heydon
  Mike Heydon
  Michael Edward Heydon , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues in -. He would play for the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators , Washington Senators , Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
  
  , Dan McFarlan and cash were traded by the Superbas to the Washington Senators
  Washington Senators (1891-1899)
  The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
  
   for Doc Casey
  Doc Casey
  James Patrick "Doc" Casey was a third baseman in Major League Baseball. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he was a switch hitter that threw right-handed....
  
   and Duke Farrell
  Duke Farrell
  Charles Andrew Farrell was a 19th century Major League Baseball catcher. Born in Oakdale, Massachusetts, he played for eight teams during his 18 year career...
  
  .
• July 14, 1899: Dan McGann and Aleck Smith were traded by the Superbas to the Washington Senators
  Washington Senators (1891-1899)
  The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
  
   for Deacon McGuire
  Deacon McGuire
  James Thomas "Deacon" McGuire was a catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who spent over a quarter of a century playing professional baseball in a much-traveled career which saw him set several records for durability...
  
  .
• August 3, 1899: Hughie Jennings
  Hughie Jennings
  Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
  
   was traded by the Superbas to the Baltimore Orioles for Gene DeMontreville
  Gene DeMontreville
  Eugene Napoleon DeMontreville , was a professional baseball player who played second base in the Major Leagues from 1894-1904. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators , Washington Senators , Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, and St...
  
   and Jerry Nops
  Jerry Nops
  Jeremiah Henry Nops was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1896 to 1901, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles , Brooklyn Superbas, and Baltimore Orioles . He was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed 168 pounds.-Career:Nops was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1875...
  
  .
• August 8, 1899: Gene DeMontreville
  Gene DeMontreville
  Eugene Napoleon DeMontreville , was a professional baseball player who played second base in the Major Leagues from 1894-1904. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators , Washington Senators , Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, and St...
  
   and Jerry Nops
  Jerry Nops
  Jeremiah Henry Nops was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1896 to 1901, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles , Brooklyn Superbas, and Baltimore Orioles . He was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed 168 pounds.-Career:Nops was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1875...
  
   were traded by the Superbas back to the Orioles for Hughie Jennings
  Hughie Jennings
  Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
  
  , undoing the trade of August 3.

Roster

1899 Brooklyn Superbas
Roster
valign="top" | Pitchers		valign="top" | Catchers Infielders		valign="top" | Outfielders		valign="top" | Manager

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Pos	Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
C		80	254	40	76	.299	2	55	6
1B		63	214	49	52	.243	2	32	16
2B		141	498	95	156	.313	5	88	43
3B		134	525	75	141	.269	1	43	27
SS		121	428	87	121	.283	4	76	29
OF		143	538	108	175	.325	6	93	31
OF		141	570	140	216	.379	1	61	45
OF		102	365	75	104	.285	2	38	18

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
	117	439	65	118	.269	4	92	25
	67	198	42	64	.323	1	40	18
	46	157	22	50	.318	0	23	4
	17	61	6	11	.180	0	6	0
	15	49	4	10	.204	0	11	2
	15	47	3	13	.277	0	7	0
	23	47	12	9	.191	0	4	0
	8	24	2	4	.167	0	2	0
	6	20	2	3	.150	0	4	1

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	GS	CG	IP	W	L	ERA	BB	SO
	35	35	30	291.2	28	6	2.68	119	99
	41	34	29	299.1	23	13	3.70	86	46
	37	34	27	275.1	19	15	3.50	122	105
	40	33	27	277.1	22	9	2.79	86	55
	4	4	2	26	2	0	4.50	6	2

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	GS	CG	IP	W	L	ERA	BB	SO
	10	4	2	47.2	2	2	4.72	16	6
	5	2	2	25	1	2	4.32	13	11
	2	1	1	11	1	0	0.82	6	3
	2	1	1	7	1	0	2.57	2	2

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	BB	SO
	1	6	0	0	0	1.50	3	0
	1	3	0	0	0	3.86	4	0

External links

• Brooklyn Dodgers reference site
• Acme Dodgers page
• Retrosheet