Best MLB Team Of The 19th Century

[cub19]

OK,here's your chance to pick the best MLB team of the 19th century...ALL leagues considered as a major league count...this is for a single season,no all-star teams,please!

[Buzzaldrin]

Although (as everyone here knows) I have a huge soft spot for the Browns, particularly 86 and 87 when they had EVERYTHING, I think 1880 Chicago was perhaps even better, dominating in every single way. Their outfield of King Kelly, George Gore, and Abner Dalrymple rivals even the Philadelphia outfield of the 1890s. Cap Anson managed and held down first, Ned Williamson was the best fielding third sacker of his era, and Tom Burns could've won rookie of the year if they'd had it (but it was his career's best year). They finished first in the league in hitting, which isn't surprising, since Gore, Anson, Dalrymple, and Burns were 1,2,4, and 5 in the batting race.

Their pitching was entirely done by two of the most unheralded, and short lived pitchers in baseball history- Larry Corcoran (the first man to throw three no-hitters, and the first one to do it in five years until Koufax) was 43-14 as a rookie, and Fred "It was probably Cummings who invented the curveball but I sure was a master with it" Goldsmith went 21-3.

In an 85 games season, they won the pennant by 15 over Providence (also a great team, though). Even though they won many pennants in the 1880s, I don't think they were ever as good again.

[SABR Steve]

Before 1876: The 1875 Boston Red Stockings
1876-1899: The 1897 Boston Beaneaters

[Baseball Guru]

Great teams already mentioned..

I'd like to add the 1894 Baltimore Orioles to the list..

EVERY starter hit over .300.. In fact, take away Reitz's .303 average, the worst average among other starters was .335.. They went 89-39 and scored 1171 runs that season... Every starter had at least 92 rbi's...

Dan Brouthers
John McGraw
Hughie Jennings
Joe Kelley
Willie Keeler

One of the best offensive teams of the 19th century...


Before 1876: The 1875 Boston Red Stockings

Yeah, I would say winning about 90% of your games would qualify you for that honor:)

Spalding, winning 55 games had a pretty good season;)

[cub19]

I agree 100% with the choice of the 1875 Red Stockings,as they were clearly the best team in an awful "league". Hopefully more people will chime in with their selections,as I look forward to hearing all opinions.

[Buzzaldrin]

Great teams already mentioned..

I'd like to add the 1894 Baltimore Orioles to the list..

EVERY starter hit over .300.. In fact, take away Reitz's .303 average, the worst average among other starters was .335.. They went 89-39 and scored 1171 runs that season... Every starter had at least 92 rbi's...

One of the best offensive teams of the 19th century...


While the 1894 Orioles, and indeed the Orioles of the entire decade were one of the flashiest, most interesting, and most dynamic dynasties ever, they didn't dominate their league in 1894 and indeed only truly did so in 1896. They weren't the best hitting team in the league that year, in spite of their hall of fame roster, Philadelphia had that honor with their all .400 Hall of Fame outfield of Thompson, Delahanty, and Hamilton. They didn't have particularly good pitching at all- Kid Gleason and Tony Mullane were big names, but both were at the end of their pitching careers and hardly appeared.

New York had the pitching by a long shot- the league as a whole hit .309 and the Giants still managed a team ERA under 4.00, leading the league by over a point. Amos Rusie had one of the best years on the mound ever, winning the triple crown, and was backed up by 33-9 Jouett Meekin.

Don't get me wrong- the O's were a great team, but since this thread is best team of the 19th c., I don't think they cut it that year. They didn't dominate their league either at bat or on the mound and squeaked out a pennant- to me that's just not best.

[Buzzaldrin]

Oh, sorry to double post, but an honorable mention has to go to the 69 Red Stockings. So maybe the leagues weren't organized yet, but still...

[tigers527]

The 1887 Detroit Wolverines....Ok, I am a provincial sports fan, but hey they won it all and changed the way the box office reciepts were split between home and away teams, as the other teams in the league did not like the original "evil empire" buying up all the stars...eventually leading to the Wolverines going broke. Or something like that :D