IT’S OFFICIAL: BROOKLYN WINS THE PENNANT!

Posted by Ron on Oct 16, 2011 | 0 comments

Champion 1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms

BROOKLYN,  N.Y. – (Oct. 16, 1889) The Brooklyn Bridegrooms won their first major league pennant in the team’s six-year  history as second-place St. Louis lost the first game of a double header in Cincinnati.

            Cincinnati ended the suspense early by going up 5 to 0 in the first two innings against Jack Stivetts and won the game 8 to 3.  Even though the Browns won the second game 2 to 1,  Brooklyn needed only one St. Louis loss to clinch the American Assocition championship.  The Browns had won 12 straight games before losing yesterday.

            When news reached Brooklyn, the City of Churches went bonkers. Flags went up at city hall, and the city prepared to meet their conquering heroes when the team returned from Columbus.  Team members did not know that St. Louis had lost until they arrived to cheering crowds at the Jersey City train station. Club President Charley Byrne, who had been working toward this day since he helped start the club in 1883, was visibly relieved.

            The players boarded a boat to Brooklyn, and loud cheers could be heard as the vessel approached Fulton Ferry where thousands were waiting for them. Though formal ceremonies had been canceled because of the St. Louis maneuvering, the city erupted in spontaneous celebration.  The players boarded carriages that paraded through the streets of Brooklyn, past city hall and then to Washington Park, where still more cheering fans were waiting. 

            The crowd was so large that star pitcher Bob Caruthers, manager Bill McGunnigle and team secretary Charley Ebbets missed the team carriages and took the elevated train to Washington Park.

            Amid the celebration, president Byrne made plans to meet with officials of the National League champion New York Giants tomorrow to arrange a post-season “World’s Series” between the two teams.  A celebration dinner for the champion Bridegrooms also is planned  Oct. 24  at Brooklyn’s Academy of Music.

Final American Association Standings

Team                        W            L            GB

Brooklyn             93            44

St. Louis              90            45            2