THE 1878 MILWAUKEE GRAYS

June 25, 1878 at Milwaukee
Grays lose to Providence, 11-4
Season record: 7-17-1

Headline
Gray vs. Gray [note: further proof that this team was not called the Cream Citys]

The Rhode Island boys went out to the Milwaukee grounds yesterday afternoon and, after pounding the home nine all to pieces, rode back to their hotel. The much-heralded “new catcher” of the Milwaukees did not arrive, and Foley went behind the bat. He did very well at the outset, but is not tough enough to stand the terrible racket of the balls that go out of Golden’s hand like chain-shot. Before the close of the game, and after it was apparent that there was no hope for our boys, little Redmond tried his hand at catching. The following is an outline of the game: The Providence boys won the toss and send Higham to bat, he going out on grounder to Redmond, fielded to Goodman. York and Brown went out respectively on fly and strikes. The second inning gave one run to the Milwaukees by Redmond, who took first on base hit, going to second on balls, stealing third, and counting on passed ball by Brown. The third inning gave the Milwaukees three runs, one earned by base hit of Dal, who stole second and came in on Goodman’s four-baser to center field. Dal’s base hit brought in Creamer. The visitors scored two. Sweeney taking first on error, stealing second and third, and tallying on Higham’s hit, and Higham scoring on Hines two bagger. The remaining six innings were blanks for the home club, they getting but four base hits. The fifth inning gave Wheeler and York a run each. Wheeler taking first on base hit, stealing second and counting on York’s two baser; York getting third and tallying on sacrifice hits of Brown and Hines. In the seventh, Higham and York made out, Brown got first on error, taking third on two base hit of Hines and counting on Corey’s two bagger. Murnan brought in Hines, and Corey stole second and tallied on Hoyne’s base hit, Hoyne going out from Peters to Foley. The ninth gave York second on two-base hit, Brown taking first on balls, Hones bringing in York and sending Brown to third, Brown scoring on Murnan’s base it; Hogue took first on baser and was left on first. Murnan left on second on Sweeney’s out from Golden to Goodman.

The principal features of the game were the manifestations of the weakness and inefficiency of the home nine. The need of a catcher is now the great want of the club, though there are weaknesses in other quarters. Unless something is done to ensure a more interesting game, however, not more than a corporal’s guard of people will visit he grounds.

Notable:
- It appears from the box score that Milwaukee had 17 errors, and everyone had one but Goodman. Providence did Milwaukee one better, making 18 errors (nine by pitcher Harry Wheeler)
- Speaking of Goodman (and Wheeler), it was noted in the story – but not made a big deal – that he hit the first home run in Milwaukee Grays history. It was also the only HR of his career.
- Not too much more info on Goodman is available, but he was from Lancaster, Penn., was one of the first Jewish ballplayers, played in the minor leagues for Wilmington, the Ironsides of Lancaster and Trenton. He died on March 9, 1890 after suffering a stroke at his father’s home in Reading, Penn. Apparently, he had the stroke and was unconscious for a few days before dying on March 9. He would have been 37 that September.