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Atlanta Braves History: Tricky Nichols plays one game for the Braves (1876)
Tricky Nichols (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is too good not to write about but there is not too much to write about. Most importantly, I love his name. Frederick C. “Tricky” Nichols (July 26, 1850 – August 22, 1897) was a pitcher for six seasons from 1875 to 1882. He played for six teams: New Haven Elm Citys in 1875, Boston Red Caps in 1876, St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1877, Providence Grays in 1878, Worcester Ruby Legs in 1880, and Baltimore Orioles in 1882.
As best I can tell, he only played for the Braves in 1876 but he only pitched one game for us. He pitched a complete game and won it.
His record was 28-73 for his career. Not overwhelming with a .277% W-L record.
He died in his hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut at the age of 47, and is interred at Lakeview Cemetery.
Related articles
- Atlanta Braves History: Andy Leonard from 1876 – 1878 (mww1954.wordpress.com)
- Atlanta Braves History: A gutsy move by Harry Wright (1877) (mww1954.wordpress.com)
Atlanta Braves History: Andy Leonard from 1876 – 1878
Andy Leonard, Boston Red Stockings, 1874 left field (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Andrew (Andy) Jackson Leonard was born on Monday, June 1, 1846, in County Cavan, Ireland. Leonard was 29 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 22, 1876, with the Boston Red Caps and played 3 seasons with them. He died on August 21, 1903 in Boston.
On July 7, 1871, the Olympics of Washington‚ at home‚ score 18 runs in the 6th and defeat Ft. Wayne‚ 32-12. Four players go to bat three times in the big inning-John Glenn‚ Andy Leonard‚ Asa Brainard and George Hall. Leonard scores 3 times.
In Boston on June 14, 1873‚ 2‚000 spectators watch the Reds suffer a shutout for the first time in their history. Dick McBride of the Athletics holds the champions to only 2 hits. An unusual play occurs near the end of the game when Tim Murnane‚ who later as “Murnane” becomes a famous sports writer‚ avoids a tag by Andy by jumping over him to reach 2B. That may not have been too tough since I think he was only 5′ 7″ tall.
In 1877, At Boston’s South End Fair‚ he wins a gold watch valued at $300 for being voted the league’s “most popular player.” I’m not sure what the significance of receiving this on November 30.
Now with the Cincinnati Reds on July 3, 1880, Andy makes 2 two-run errors to lose a game to Providence‚ 6-4. This will lead to Andy’s release‚ ending a career that dates back to the original Red Stockings of 1869.
Here’s what his pro career looked like.
Joe Borden (1876)
Joseph (Joe) Emley Borden was born on Tuesday, May 9, 1854, in Jacobstown, New Jersey. Borden was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on July 24, 1876, with the Boston Red Caps. He only had a one year career with the Braves (then known as the Red Caps) with an 11-12 record. He pitched what is considered the first no-hitter pitched in a professional game.
He had previously played for the 1875 Philadelphia White Stockings in the National Association, which is not currently considered a Major League. Although he pitched in just 7 games in 1875, he did throw two shutouts, one of which was a no-hitter against the Chicago White Stockings on July 28, under the pseudonym of Joe Josephs. Since the National Association is not considered a Major League, this no-hitter is not recognized officially as the first no-hitter pitched. It is, however, considered the first no-hitter pitched in a professional game.
Borden, still known as Josephs, does have the distinction of being the winner in the first ever game of the new National League, with his Red Caps beating the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5 on April 22, 1876 at the Jefferson Street Grounds
He died on October 14, 1929 in Yeadon, Pennsylvania and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Westchester, Pennsylvania.
Atlanta Braves History: Lew Brown (1876, 1877, 1883)
Lewis (Lew) J. Brown (February 1, 1858 – January 15, 1889) was a Brave in 1876, 1877 and 1883 seasons. His debut was on June 17, 1876. Primarily a catcher and first baseman, he played for seven seasons in total and played for six different teams from 1876 to 1884. Brown was primarily a catcher, but he also logged over 100 games as a first baseman. He also appeared twice as a pitcher. His final game was October 19, 1884.
In his 1876 season with the Braves, he hit a lack luster .210. Probably not burning things up, even for a catcher. 1877 saw improvement to .253 but in 1878, off he went to the Providence Grays. Brown missed the 1882 season due to being blacklisted for “confirmed dissipation and general insubordination.” Apparently he showed up drunk at an exhibition game and was suspended for the season. Imagine that.
He returned for a season in 1883 for the Boston Beaneaters (now known as the Atlanta Braves). He only played in 14 games, batting .241. He was sent to the Louisville Eclipse. Brown died at the age of 30 in Boston, Massachusetts, and is interred at Forest Hills.
Atlanta Braves History: The Return (1876)
The 1876 season was a bust all the way around. The “four seceders’ had made sure of that. Joseph Borden did not replace Al Spalding. The greatest excitement of the season came on May 30th. The Chicago White Stockings and the “Four Seceders” made their first visit to Boston. They played at the South End Grounds.
The crowd got so excited they tore down the fences to see Spalding pitch against the Braves (then known as the Boston Red Stockings). Spalding showed why he was so good beating the Braves 5-1 that day. The season also showed why the Braves were devasted loosing the “Four Seceders”. With them Chicago beat the Braves nine times out of ten games that season. They went on to win the National League pennant and broke the Braves run of four consecutive championships. The Braves ended up in fourth in 1876.
The Return (1876)
The 1876 season was a bust all the way around. The “four seceders’ had made sure of that. Joseph Borden did not replace Al Spalding. The greatest excitement of the season came on May 30th. The Chicago White Stockings and the “Four Seceders” made their first visit to Boston. They played at the South End Grounds.
The crowd got so excited they tore down the fences to see Spalding pitch against the Braves (then known as the Boston Red Stockings). Spalding showed why he was so good beating the Braves 5-1 that day. The season also showed why the Braves were devasted loosing the “Four Seceders”. With them Chicago beat the Braves nine times out of ten games that season. They went on to win the National League pennant and broke the Braves run of four consecutive championships. The Braves ended up in fourth in 1876.
Harry continues (1877)
Harry Wright continued on in 1877 as the manager. The Braves did very well. They were 42-18 and finished first, 7 games ahead. Not bad for having lost some of the best players in the league.
Al who? Maybe you couldn’t find it in the headlines that year. But time marches on. Al Spalding had been gone a year now. Perhaps the mourning was over. No way to know for sure. The good news is that Tommy Bond was signed to the team. A 21 year-old Irishman (ok, this is Boston) came on the scene. In 1876 he had a pretty good season for Hartford. He was 31-13. Got him noticed in Boston by the Braves.
Al who? How quickly they forget.
The Foghorn (1876)
It was a one year career and yes, his name was Foghorn Bradley. He was born on Sunday, July 1, 1855, in Milford, Massachusetts. Bradley was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 23, 1876, with the Boston Red Caps.
He had a 9-10 record and a 2.49 ERA in his one season as a pitcher. Not good enough to win a chance at coming back in 1877.
The following season he did not continue to play, but instead served as a replacement umpire, as he had in 1875 in the National Association. He did not get promoted to full-time umpire until 1879, when he officiated games in the National League until 1883. He would again umpire in the majors in the American Association in 1886. During that era umpires generally worked games single-handedly, and Bradley was no exception, as he worked as the lone umpire in every game of his career.
Although his career as an umpire was short, he was involved a couple of historic games. On June 12, 1880 he was the umpire when Lee Richmond pitched the first perfect game in major league history, which was also the second no-hitter ever tossed. Later, in that same season, on August 20, he was the umpire for another no-hitter, this time by future Hall of Famer Pud Galvin, throwing the fifth no-hitter in major league history.
In total, he officially umpired in 344 games, during an era in which more than one umpire was rarely used in games. Foghorn died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 44, and was buried in the Philadelphia Cemetery; he was later re-buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.
Not official (1876)
Joseph Borden is known for something he isn’t known for. He couldn’t really replace Al Spalding. In 1876 he went 11-12. On May 23 he pitched a shut out against Cincinatti, 8-0. Lee Allen who was an historian for the Hall of Fame thinks he should have been credited with a no hitter. It would have been the first in the National League. The research shows that two walks were scored as the games only two hits.
The game has never been officially recognized as a no-hitter. This blog will however give him official credit. After all, he was a Brave.
Everything new (1876)
It is April. It is 1876. It is a new league. It is a new season. And, with the “Four Seceders” gone from the team, it is a new team as well. Al Spalding and the others had left. The National League is formed. The Red Caps (formerly the Red Stockings and now known as the Braves) continue in the new league.
How do you replace Al Spalding? You probably don’t but you try. You hire Joe Borden to a three year contract. $2,000 a year. He played under the psuedonym of Joe Josephs. The sportswriters dubbed him “Josephus the Phenomenal”. They weren’t being kind.He is a bust!! You just can’t compare to Spalding no matter how good you are. They end up asking him to be the groundskeeper so they would get something out of his salary. He is credited with the first no hitter but it has never been officially recognized as such. The first game of the season was on April 22. Borden won the game. He went 11-12 for the season. Jack Manning was their best pitcher that season. He went 18-5 with a 2.14 ERA. So, Joe Borden cut grass.
The Red Caps ended the season in fourth place with a record of 39-31. Their four consecutive seasons as the pennant winner was over.
A single to left (1876)
Harry Wright was the manager of Braves (then known as the Boston Red Caps) during the first season of the National League. The Braves finished fourth with a record of 39-31. The were 15 games behind at the end of the season.
History was in the making but I am guessing no one really knew it. April 22, 1876 was the first game of the new league. The Braves played at Philadelphia. They scored twice in the ninth. They beat the Athletics 6-5. The Braves had 7 errors but don’t mind that. Philadelphia made 13. In baseball much is relative to what the other team does.
The first hit went to Jim O’Rourke, the Braves centerfielder. It was a single to left. The first run went our catcher Tim McGinley. It was driven in by right fielder Jack Manning. It was a sacrifice fly to left.
3,000 fans showed up. It cost them .50 cents each to get in.
I doubt they saw this as history.
The Deacon (1876)
OK, I want to meet James White (also know as Deacon White) in heaven. Let’s just get that on the table. He won’t be first on my list but with trillions of years to see people, I am going to look him up. And yes, he was one of the four seceders in the 1876 season that brought the National Association to its knees. He played for the Braves (then known as the Boston Red Stockings).
This is about the no “tools of ignorance”. He was a catcher. A pretty good one I would think if he could catch Al Spalding. But he caught without a glove. And no mask. Probably not much of any protection. He just caught.
Yep, you read it right. No glove. A great bare handed catcher. Apparently the best barehanded catcher at that time. Can’t find any of them today. So I guess he was a pretty tough guy. But that was baseball then.
He was a deacon. A certified bible toting one for sure. Didn’t smoke. Didn’t drink. God was beginning to do some great stuff during this time. Some of it was happening in New England.
He also thought the world was flat and was ridiculed for it by team mate after mate. So he was a man of beliefs. Deeply held ones that couldn’t be shaken.
So yes, I want to meet him in heaven. The convergence of baseball appearing on the scene and God’s Spirit moving on the planet in 1876 is amazing. Good stuff for sure.
A good start that only got better (1871)
So …. the Atlanta Braves (then known as the Boston Red Stockings) played five years in the National Association. They were the only one of the 10 original teams to play continuously during that time. In 1876 they then joined the National League. They had a pretty good first season in 1871. They won 20 out of 30 games. Unfortunately, they finished in second place. Philadelphia was two games ahead of them.
The good news is, they then won the penant the next four years.
And …. they are still playing today.
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