Records & Rivalries

1887 Season Recap

Records & Rivalries

The 1887 season rewrote the record books. From Conn Bolick’s thunderous 28 home runs to Charlie Shanafelt’s (shown left) slugging feats and John Tennison’s barrage of runs and RBIs, the game tilted toward offense like never before. Isaac Montgomery piled up hits, Dave Dye raced into the stolen base record, and Buster Brown delivered the finest all-around season yet measured. At the same time, rivalries burned hotter — St. Louis versus Louisville for supremacy, the IA’s Pilots and Tigers trading blows, and even New York’s Barons overshadowing their struggling Excelsior cousins. It was a year of gaudy numbers and fierce contests, a turning point in the young sport’s history.

Offseason Recap

The winter of 1886–87 once again shuffled the base ball map:

• Pittsburgh Vulcans Join the Federal League: Pittsburgh crossed over from the International Association, replacing Barclay’s folded St. Louis Pioneers.

• Indianapolis Westerners Replace Kansas City: A fire consumed Kansas City’s wooden ballpark, and when the city refused to pay damages, the club moved to Indianapolis. Most of the roster was sold off to finance the shift, leaving a barebones side to limp through 1887. The city agreed to co-finance a new park, paving the way for a return in 1888, until....

• Corn Belt League Formed: A new minor circuit, with Lincoln and Peoria tying for the pennant. The league also kept Kansas City active with a club during the city’s (purported) one-year absence from top-flight play.

• A New Voice in Louisville: Twenty-three-year-old newspaperman Harry Thorne began covering the Colts and befriended slugger Larry Buckley. Thorne railed against rowdyism, gambling, and crookedness, calling for “clean base ball.” Few noticed then, but some believe Thorne’s crusading spirit may one day change the game itself.

Federal League

The Louisville Colts (86–40, .683) seized the flag in a season dominated by longball fireworks. Larry Buckley (.354, 125 RBIs) and Charlie Shanafelt (23 HR, .365) formed the most feared duo in the league, though Chicago’s Conn Bolick stole the headlines with a record 28 home runs, shattering all precedent.

Detroit’s Bill Poole carried the Sturgeons with a 39-win season, while Philadelphia’s Thomas Goss added a string of memorable pitching gems. Pittsburgh’s Federal debut was respectable, but Indianapolis and Washington floundered, both losing over 90 games.

Federal League Standings (1887)

International Association

The St. Louis Pilots became the first IA club to crack 100 wins, finishing 100–37 (.730) and outdistancing Montreal by 14 games. Their twin aces — Zebulon Eldridge (41 wins) and Ajax McFadden (38 wins, 2.47 ERA) — dominated the league, while John Tennison set a new IA record with 142 RBIs.

Toronto’s Isaac Montgomery repeated as batting champion, hitting .380 with a record 219 hits, and teammate Glen Nalley fanned 185 batters in his sophomore season. Montreal’s Spider Burchett (.310) again provided steady hitting, but the Tigers fell short.

Cleveland’s Clippers struggled badly in their debut, going 45–88, while the once-proud New York Excelsiors hit bottom at 46–92.

International Association Standings (1887)

World Championship Series

The second World Championship Series saw the IA’s St. Louis Pilots face the Federal champion Colts. It was a closely fought affair, but the Pilots prevailed 4–2 behind Tennison’s bat and Eldridge’s steadiness. Louisville manager Larry Buckley conceded: “We will be working on fundamentals a lot next spring.”

The triumph came in the aftermath of St. Louis’s third IA pennant in four years, cementing their dynasty and placing the IA on equal footing with the senior Federal loop.

Minor League Highlights

• Eastern Association: Albany (81–31) repeated as champions, powered by Virgil Pendergrast (.383) and Bob Joy (38 wins, 440 Ks).

• Corn Belt League: Lincoln and Peoria tied at 82–30, with Peoria’s Guy Byram (.348) and Lincoln’s Marty Flicka (14 HR, 85 RBIs) starring.

• Southern States League: Atlanta and Birmingham tied at 64–48. Atlanta’s Jim Duffee (33 wins, 405 Ks) and Dave Tuttle (.362, 13 HR) defined the league’s third campaign.

Notable Performances

• Conn Bolick (Chicago) – record 28 home runs, shattering the previous mark.

• Charlie Shanafelt (Louisville) – hit 23 homers, plus a league-leading .616 slugging percentage.

• Isaac Montgomery (Toronto) – hit .380 with 219 hits, solidifying his star power.

• John Tennison (St. Louis) – record 142 RBIs, centerpiece of the Pilots’ title run.

• Zebulon Eldridge (St. Louis) – won 41 games, leading a devastating staff.

• Bill Poole (Detroit) – posted 39 wins at age 20, already a cornerstone.

• Martin Bird (New York Barons) – threw 17 innings with 15 Ks in the year’s top pitching feat.

• Larry Buckley (Louisville) – had two 6-for-6 games, driving in eight in one outing.

• Dave Dye (Philadelphia) – stole a record 91 bases, ushering in the stolen base era.

• Buster Brown (Montreal) – delivered a record 9.39 WAR, the most complete season yet.

Trouble in New York

Amid the glory elsewhere, the New York Excelsiors teetered on collapse. Crushed financially and consistently outdrawn by the Federal League’s Barons, they staggered to a 46–92 finish. Rumors swirled of contraction or replacement, with even their owner Jeremiah Goodwin hinting at “difficult decisions” to come.

⚾ 1887 was the year of Records & Rivalries — a season that expanded the game’s horizons, crowned a dynasty in St. Louis, and introduced a new power-driven style that would define the years ahead.