Syracuse Stars (American Association)
Encyclopedia
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
in . They were unrelated to the Syracuse Stars
Syracuse Stars (National League)
The Syracuse Stars was an American baseball team 19th century, as well as the name of the minor league baseball teams which preceded it, based in Syracuse, New York. They played their home games at Newell Park...
of 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...
of . They were based in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and played their games at Star Park
Star Park
Star Park is a former baseball ground located in Syracuse, New York. The ground was home to the Syracuse Stars from 1885 to 1899 and from 1902 to 1904. It was also the home of the Syracuse Pros football team, who were possible members of the American Professional Football Association , in 1921....
.
Starting out in the minor leagues
Established in as members of the New York State LeagueNew York State League (1885-1917)
The first New York State League in 1885, was actually the second of the many names the International League used before settling on its current moniker.The second New York State League was a six team league for one season in 1889...
, the Stars played in the original International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in and . When that league collapsed, the Stars were among several teams to join the re-formed International Association, where they played in and .
Moving up to the majors
The Stars joined the American Association for the 1890 season. The Stars of 1890 won 55 games and lost 72 to finish seventh in the nine-team league. They were managed for most of the season by owner George FrazierGeorge Frazier (manager)
George Kasson Frazier was a 19th century Major League Baseball executive. He was the owner and manager of the Syracuse Stars of the American Association during the 1890 season. He managed the Stars to a record of 51-65, a winning percentage of .440 and a sixth place finish. The team folded at the...
. Wallace Fessenden
Wallace Fessenden
Wallace Clifton Fessenden was a 19th century Major League Baseball manager with the Syracuse Stars of the American Association. He briefly managed the Stars to a record of 4-7, while filling in for George Frazier...
took over as manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for the last eleven games.
The Stars' top hitter was second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Cupid Childs
Cupid Childs
Clarence Algernon "Cupid" Childs was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball with a 13-season career from 1888, 1890–1901, playing for the Philadelphia Quakers, Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos and Chicago Orphans of the National League and the Syracuse Stars of the American...
, who led the team in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(126), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(170), 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....
(33), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(14), 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...
(109), runs batted in (89), 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 :...
(.345), on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.434), slugging percentage (.481), and stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (56). Their best 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 Dan Casey
Dan Casey
Dan Casey was a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of 7 seasons with the Wilmington Quicksteps, Detroit Wolverines, Philadelphia Quakers and Syracuse Stars. He led the National League in ERA in 1887 while playing for Philadelphia...
, who was 19-22 with a 4.14 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...
. Ed Mars
Ed Mars
Edward M. Mars was a 19th century major league baseball player. He was a starting pitcher for the Syracuse Stars of the American Association for the last two months of the 1890 season....
was 9-5 to lead the team in winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(.643) even though he had a higher 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...
(4.67).
The Stars folded after the 1890 season during which owner Frazier lost an estimated $21,000 on the team.