to the rules in 1872 was that doing
away with the prohibition of delivering the ball to the bat by an
underhand throw, which had long been a dead letter. Creighton, one of the
Excelsiors, of Brooklyn, introduced this kind of delivery.

The Bostons again won the championship in 1873, with a record of
forty-three victories and sixteen defeats. The contesting clubs were the
Bostons, Philadelphias, Baltimores, Mutuals, Athletics, Atlantics,
Washingtons, Resolutes, and Marylands. They finished the season in that
order. Each club had to play nine games for a full series, and four had
to be played with every club before they could be counted.

The season was one of surprises in the many sharply and extra-inning
contests. On May 14 it took thirteen innings for the Philadelphias to beat
the Athletics, 5-4. June 3, Boston beat the Mutuals at Brooklyn, 6-5 in
twelve innings. July 21, the Baltimores beat the Athletics, 12-11, in a
thirteen-inning game. But the best and longest professional game up to
that time was played at Brooklyn, September 12, when the Philadelphias
beat the Athletics 3-2 in fourteen innings. Zettlein pitched for
Philadelphia and Brett for the Atlantics.

The Eventful Season of 1874.

In 1874 the Bostons again won the pennant, their success being due to team
work. They won fifty-two games, lost eighteen, and played one tie. The
Mutuals were second, with forty-two victories and twenty-three defeats.
The other clubs participating were the Athletics, Philadelphias, Chicagos,
Atlantics, Hartfords, and Baltimores. The series of games was increased to
ten, with five in a quota necessary to count. The Hartfords made their
first appearance, and did well, but lacked in organization.

The year was memorable in baseball by the trip of the Boston and Athletic
clubs to England. The clubs left Philadelphia on the steamship Ohio, July
16. In the Athletic party were thirty-eight persons, including the
following players: McBride, Clapp, Anson, McGeary, Sutton, Battin, Gedney,
McMullen, and Murnane, Fisler, and Sensendorfer. Al Reach was unable to go
on account of business engagements.

Boston sent Harry Wright, George Wright, Al Spalding, Roscoe Barnes, Ira
Shafer, Cal McVey, Andy Leonard, Jim O'Rourke, Hall, Beals, Kent, and Sam
Wright. Kent, first baseman of the Harvards, replaced James White.

The tourists arrived in Liverpool on July 27. Fourteen games were played
at Liverpool, Manchester, London, Sheffield, and Dub