Spalding's Baseball Guide and Official League Book for 1889 - Unknown

BOSTON. POSITIONS. ATHLETIC.
————————————————————————-
James White Catcher James E. Clapp.
A.G. Spalding Pitcher James D. McBride.
James O'Rourke First Base West D. Fisler.
Ross C. Barnes Second Base Joseph Battin.
Henry Shafer Third Base Edward B. Sutton.
George Wright Short Stop M.H. McGeary.
And. J. Leonard Left Field Albert W. Gedney.
Harry Wright Center Field James F. McMullen.
Col. C. McVey Right Field A.C. Arisen.
George W. Hall Substitute Al. J. Reach.
Thomas L. Beals Substitute J.P. Sensenderfer.
Sam Wright, Jr Substitute Thomas Murnan.[A]

[**Proofreaders note A: "Murnan" might be a typo, as it appears as
"Murnam" later on the page.]

The record of the games played in England on the trip is as follows:

Boston victories 8, Athletic victories 6.

In the percentage of base hits of those who played in a majority of the games on the Boston side McVey led with .435, Leonard being second, with .418, and George Hall third, with .364, Barnes, O'Rourke, Schafer, Harry and George Wright and Spalding following in order. On the Athletic side Anson led with .437, McGeary being second, with .388, and McMullen third, with .367. McBride, Clapp, Murnam, Sutter, Gedner and Battin following in order, the latter having a percentage of .323. Sensenderfer only played in 9 games, Kent in 8, Fisler in 5, and Beals in 4. All the others played in 10 games and over.

In the description of the players of the team given in the London papers at the time of their visit the following paragraph appeared, quoted from Mr. Chadwick's comments in the Clipper:

"Spalding is justly regarded as one of the most successful of the strategic class of pitchers. In judgment, command of the ball, pluck, endurance, and nerve, in his position he has no superior; while his education and gentlemanly qualities place him above the generality of base- ball pitchers. As a batsman he now equals the best of what are called 'scientific' batsmen—men who use their heads more than their muscle in handling the ash. His force in delivery is the success with which he disguises a change of pace from swift to medium, a great essential in successful pitching. Spalding is a thorough representative of the spirited young men of the Western States, he being from Illinois."

Of George Wright the same writer said: "George Wright is generally regarded as a model base-ball player, especially in his responsible position of short-stop; and until he injured his leg he had no equal in the position. He is a jolly, good-natured youth full of life and spirit, up to all the dodges of the game, and especially is he noted for his sure catching of high balls in the infield, and for his swift and accurate throwing. At the bat, too, he excels; while as a bowler, fielder, and batsman, in cricket, he ranks with the best of American cricketers. He comes of real old English stock, his father being a veteran English cricketer, and formerly the professional of the St. George Cricket Club of New York."

Besides the base-ball matches played during the tour, the following table shows what the two clubs combined did on the cricket field, against the strongest players of London, Sheffield, Manchester and Dublin. The sides in each contest were eighteen Americans against twelve British cricketers: