THE 1878 MILWAUKEE GRAYS

May 11, 1878 at Indianapolis
Grays lose to Blues, 1-0
Season record: 1-5-1

The game today was won by the Indianapolis club by their superior fielding. They were unable to hit Golden. The Milwaukee boys played in hard luck. Many hard hits were made directly into the fielders’ hands. In the fifth inning, Foley made the longest hit that has ever been made on those grounds this season, he coming within four feet of making a run home.

Notable
- From baseballlibrary.com: “Indianapolis edges Milwaukee 1-0 when the Reds [sic] are able to field Will Foley's long drive beyond the carriages parked in the LF corner in time to nip Foley's bid for a game-tying HR.”
- In the box score, Foley is indeed credited with a three-base hit, which would be one of his team-high five triples on the season. Foley got his start at age 19 in 1875 with the Chicago White Stockings of the National Association (appearing in three games), then played for the Cincinnati Reds of the newly formed National League from 1876-77.
He wasn’t much of a hitter - .226 in ’76 (OPS+ of 71 for you statheads) and .190 (OPS+ of 41) in ’77, but would hit .271 for the Grays (OPS+ of 105). He went back to Cincy in 1879 and hit only .211 (OPS+ of 55).
- Neither pitcher batted ninth: The Only Nolan hit sixth and Mike Golden hit fifth.
- Time of the game – a swift 1:05.