1873 New York Mutuals

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The 1873 New York Mutuals base ball team were one of only three teams to have been in all five years of the National Association's existence (1871-75). They would eventually finish the season with a 29 and 24 mark. They won 22 out of 31 at home, and o 7 of 22 away from home. They finished fourth, eleven games behind pennant winning Boston Red Stockings. The team had a batting average of .281, fifth best in the NA. They led the league in fewest batting strikeouts with 22, and fewest opponent runs.

[edit] Team Roster

Bobby Mathews, starting pitcher: Went 29-23 as a starter with 47 complete games. In those complete games, Mathews pitched two shutouts. Cummings was the NA's best pitcher in 1872, but decided to go to the Baltimore Canaries, Mathews' former team. And fill-in he did, coming in 3rd in wins, 5th in winning percentage, 3rd in complete games, 1st in strikeouts, 3rd in games pitched, 2nd in base-runners per 9 innings pitched, 4th in innings pitched, 2nd in opponents' average, 2nd in opponents' on base percentage, 2nd in earned run average, 2nd in adjusted earned run average, first in adjusted starter runs, and second in pitcher wins; placing higher than Cummings in all but one of those categories.

Nat Hicks, catcher: Played in 28 games, all-catching. Batted .242 in 120 at bats.

Joe Start, first baseman, Started his career in 1860 in New York at the age of 18. Start is credited with being the 1st first baseman to play away from the bag. And like all of his teammates and opponents, played with no glove. He had the best fielding average for a first baseman in 1873. With 25 games remaining, the Mutuals voted Start to be the manager and he managed the team to a record of 18-7. Start hit .266 in 1873.

Jim Holdsworth, shortstop: Batted .323 with 28 runs batted in in all 53 games for the Mutuals. Holdsworth was tied for third in the NA with eight triples.

John Hatfield, third baseman: Was a hitter, batting .306 with two home runs and 46 runs batted in. Hatfield was also a fielder. He was the manager in the first 28 games, leading the team to an 11-17 mark. Hatfield played in all but one game in 1873.

Count Gedney, left fielder: Batted .267 with a home run and 24 runs batted in in all 53 games for the Mutuals.

Dave Eggler, center fielder: Batted a .338 with 35 runs batted in and two strikeouts at the plate in '73. He had 266 at bats, striking out once every 133 at bats. He played in every game in the 1873 season for the Mutuals. He was fourth in the NA with 82 runs scored and fifth in fielding runs-outfield.

Phonney Martin, right fielder/pitcher. He batted .221 with 14 runs batted in. He pitched in six games, and lost his only start. Martin compiled a 3.44 earned run average and opponents hit .292 against him.

Dick Higham, utility player: Higham batted .316 with 34 runs batted in in 49 games. He only struck out once in 244 at bats.

Bobby Mathews batted .193 with 14 runs batted in 223 at bats in 52 games. When Mathews wasn't pitching, he would play in right field for reliever Phonney Martin.