Ross Barnes
| Birthdate | 5/8/1850 |
| Death Date | 3/5/1915 |
| Debut Year | 1871 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Red Stockings (National Association), Red Stockings (NL), Reds, White Stockings |
| Positions | Second Base, Shortstop |
For the six year period from 1871-1876 Ross Barnes hit .398, and led the league by batting .430 in 1872, .431 in 1873, and .429 in 1876.
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Nine-year MLB veteran Ross Barnes hit over .400 in four seasons from 1871-1876
Nine-year MLB veteran Ross Barnes hit over .400 in four seasons from 1871-1876
Shortstop Ross Barnes hit leadoff for Harry Wright‘s 1881 National League Boston Red Stockings. The pair knew each other well.
Barnes broke into the big leagues in 1871 suiting up for Wright’s Red Stockings when the team was in the National Association. Together they led Boston to four straight pennants.
From 1871-1876 Barnes was one of the greatest hitters that ever lived. He averaged .398 over those six seasons, leading the league with averages of .429, .430, and .431. He also clubbed the first home run in NL history On May 2, 1876.
In the collection is this scorecard initialed and filled out entirely by Hall of Fame Wright, it scores the game of July 29, 1881. Wright has penciled in Barnes’ name in the leadoff spot and details his position as “6” – the shortstop.
The Hall’s rules stipulate a minimum ten-year playing career for consideration of enshrinement. With a nine-year playing career, Barnes falls just a year short. Despite this many believe an exception should be made.
Barnes died in 1915. His autograph is not yet in the collection.
The 1881 Troy Trojans boasted four Hall of Fame players, two pitchers, and two hitters
The 1881 Troy Trojans boasted four Hall of Fame players, two pitchers, and two hitters
Hall of Famer Harry Wright has initialled the bottom of this side of his scorecard. Wright’s Boston Red Stockings squared off against the Troy Trojans in this National League contest.
The Trojans put Hall of Fame pitcher Tim Keefe on the hill and featured home run king Roger Connor at third base.
Though the signatures of Keefe and Connor are not yet in the collection, the autograph of scorekeeper Wright can be found by clicking here.
Barnes belongs in the HOF.
Also if I am not mistaken, the Giants in the mid 1880’s when there only two regular starting pitchers in the rotation, 60% of their regulars (both starting pitchers) and four positions players) are in the HOF: Pitchers Tim Keefe and Mickey Welch, catcher Buck Ewing, 1st baseman Roger Conner, shortstop Monty Ward and left fielder Jim O’Rourke. Six out of ten regulars. I challenge anyone to come up with a higher percentage of regulars enshrined in Cooperstown!
Barnes belongs in the HOF.
So does Jim Creighton.