Milwaukee Grays
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Grays were a short-lived baseball team that spent one year, 1878, in the National League
.
The team was part of the League Alliance, loosely affiliated with the National League, in 1877. It won 19 games and lost 13 (including a 10-7 loss to the Chicago White Stockings
of the NL), ending up in fourth place. "The team's sharp style and strong hometown support won them a National League berth in 1878."
They won 15 games and lost 45 in 1878, finishing sixth and last in the league. Their home games were played at Eclipse Park II
.
The Grays were managed by former major league
right fielder
Jack Chapman
, whose nickname was "Death to Flying Things." Their best hitter was left fielder
Abner Dalrymple
, who led the team in batting average
(.354), slugging percentage (.421), runs
(52), and doubles
(10). Their top pitcher
was Sam Weaver
, who was only 12-31 but had the fourth-best ERA
in the league, a very low 1.95.
The club is remembered in the name of a vintage base ball
club. Along with the Milwaukee Cream Citys, the Grays are dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich history of organized baseball in Milwaukee. Current players wear replica uniforms based upon the original uniforms worn back in 1878. The modern-day Milwaukee Grays are a member of the Vintage Base Ball Association
.
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...
.
The team was part of the League Alliance, loosely affiliated with the National League, in 1877. It won 19 games and lost 13 (including a 10-7 loss to the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
of the NL), ending up in fourth place. "The team's sharp style and strong hometown support won them a National League berth in 1878."
They won 15 games and lost 45 in 1878, finishing sixth and last in the league. Their home games were played at Eclipse Park II
Eclipse Park (Milwaukee)
Eclipse Park, also known as Milwaukee Base-Ball Grounds, is a former baseball ground located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The ground was home to the Milwaukee Grays of the National League during the 1878 season...
.
The Grays were managed by former major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Jack Chapman
Jack Chapman
John Curtis "Jack" Chapman was an American Major League Baseball player and manager who was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing in the National Association when he played for the Brooklyn Atlantics and the St. Louis Brown Stockings. In , when the National League formed, he became the...
, whose nickname was "Death to Flying Things." Their best hitter was left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Abner Dalrymple
Abner Dalrymple
Abner Frank Dalrymple was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who hit 43 home runs and batted .288 during his 12-season career spent primarily with the Chicago White Stockings, for whom he starred as the leadoff hitter on five National League pennant winners...
, who led the team in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.354), slugging percentage (.421), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(52), and doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(10). Their top pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
was Sam Weaver
Sam Weaver (baseball)
Samuel H. Weaver , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Philadelphia White Stockings, Milwaukee Grays, Philadelphia Athletics, Louisville Eclipse, and Philadelphia Keystones.-External links:...
, who was only 12-31 but had the fourth-best ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in the league, a very low 1.95.
The club is remembered in the name of a vintage base ball
Vintage base ball
Vintage Base Ball is baseball presented as being played by rules and customs from an earlier period in the sport's history. Games are typically played using rules and uniforms from the 1850s, 1860s and 1880s. Vintage baseball is not only a competitive game, but also a reenactment of baseball life...
club. Along with the Milwaukee Cream Citys, the Grays are dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich history of organized baseball in Milwaukee. Current players wear replica uniforms based upon the original uniforms worn back in 1878. The modern-day Milwaukee Grays are a member of the Vintage Base Ball Association
Vintage Base Ball Association
The Vintage Base Ball Association is a vintage base ball league founded in 1996 in Columbus, Ohio, on the 150th anniversary of the first recorded baseball game between organized teams. The league uses the National Association of Base Ball Players as a model...
.
See also
- 1878 Milwaukee Grays season1878 Milwaukee Grays seasonThe Milwaukee Grays were members of the National League for only the 1878 season, having played as an independent team in . They finished in sixth place, one of only two teams to finish below .500.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- Milwaukee Grays all-time rosterMilwaukee Grays all-time roster* The following is a list of players and who appeared in at least one game for the Milwaukee Grays franchise of the National League in 1878.-External links:*...
- Eclipse ParkEclipse Park (Milwaukee)Eclipse Park, also known as Milwaukee Base-Ball Grounds, is a former baseball ground located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The ground was home to the Milwaukee Grays of the National League during the 1878 season...