THE 1878 MILWAUKEE GRAYS

June 13, 1878 at Chicago
Grays defeat White Stockings, 2-0
Season record: 6-13-1

Not to say this was big news or anything, but this story appeared on the front page of the Milwaukee Daily News (the baseball results usually were on page 3 or 4 of the four-page paper).

Headline: Covered With Glory

The Milwaukee boys covered themselves with glory, today, defeating the home nine in one of the best games ever played, by a score of two to nothing. Weaver pitched the game through without error, while Bennett, with the worst showing of errors made on either side during the game, did duty behind the bat. Larkin pitched and Harbridge caught for the home nine, as yesterday [note: the 1-0 Chicago win.] The errors on the part of the visitors were all made by Bennett, Redmond and Peters. The features of the game were the splendid work in the field by Goodman, Dalrymple, Golden and Creamer, and a splendid three-base hit by Creamer. Not a single error affecting the score was made by the visitors, while two were scored against the home nine.

Notable:
- Errors in this one: Milwaukee 10 – seven of those by Bennett – and 11 by Chicago.
- If you’re curious, future Hall of Famer and noted racist Cap Anson played left field (not first base, which he started playing in 1879) and batted third, going 0-for-4.
- Not to spoil anything, but this would be Milwaukee’s only road victory against Chicago. Overall, the Grays were 2-10 against the White Stockings, who scored 100 runs in those 12 games (most of any Milwaukee opponent). So, yes, things do get ugly.
- This would be Milwaukee’s only shutout of the season. Ironically, Chicago’s 1-0 win the previous day would also be its only shutout of the season. Indianapolis would have two shutouts, Cincinnati and Providence six and Boston nine.
- Chicago’s manager was Bob Ferguson, who was nicknamed “Death to Flying Things” … which was also the nickname of Milwaukee manager Jack Chapman, who earned the nickname first for his penchant for long running catches (although there is some disagreement on whether Chapman was called this).
- By the way, Ferguson was a player-manager, batting cleanup and playing shortstop. Anson would take over as manager the next season.
- Larkin of Chicago is Terry Larkin, who started 56 of the White Stockings’ 61 games and, of course, completed them all, for a total of 506 innings pitched. In fact, he would have three straight seasons of 500+ IP (1877-89), then just 38 for Troy in 1880 – in which he allowed 83 hits and 65 runs (37 earned). Hmm, arm fatigue perhaps? But the story does not end here for Larkin. On April 24, 1883, he shot his wife and a police officer, then tried to commit suicide. He tried to commit suicide again the next day and was institutionalized. Amazingly, his wife dropped the charges. On Feb. 18, 1884, Larkin was arrested for threatening to shoot his father. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise – at least in this day and age – that Larkin still managed to find a job as a baseball player, landing as a second baseman for the Richmond Virginians of the American Association (which was a major league). He hit .201 in 40 games. Later in life, he would challenge a saloon owner to a duel with pistols and was once again institutionalized. On Sept. 16, 1894, while in jail, Larkin this time succeeded in a suicide attempt – slitting his throat with a razor.