1872 Preview - Brooklyn Eckfords

The Eckford club was formed in 1855 and was one of the earliest top-level base ball teams. They were named after Henry Eckford, a renowned New York shipbuilder of the late 18th and early 19th century, probably because most of their early players were shipbuilders by trade. Eckford was one of the top clubs in Brooklyn throughout the 1860s, and were constantly vying with Atlantic for dominance. In the end, Eckford failed to survive the switch to professionalism, as the club did not field a National Association team for 1871, and their 1872 club was not successful at all historically.

P - Martin Malone - Historically, he played only in 1872, and his ability level suggests he won't last much longer in the simulation.
C - William Bestick - Nothing at all known about him, other than the fact that he played for the Eckfords in 1872. A man by that name died in New York in 1911, so he's believed to be the ballplayer.
1B - Andy Allison - Another guy about whom little is known. His brother also played for Eckford in 1872, and he died in Brooklyn at the age of 49.
2B - Dick Hunt - Although he sounds like the punchline to a dirty joke, he's actually just another anonymous Brooklyner who played for the Eckfords in 1872.
3B - Ralph Ham - Historically, this Troy native did not play top-level professional base ball after 1871, but in the simulation, he caught on with the Eckfords. He hit .231 in 1871 for Rockford, and expects to be at about the same level this season.
SS - Jim Snyder - Another one-season player whose history isn't well known.
LF - Harry Deane - He played for the Kekionga club and the 1874 Baltimore Canaries historically, but his biggest claim to fame was being the substitute on the mighty 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. In the simulation, Kekionga never even used him, and he's caught on with a starting job for lowly Eckford.
CF - Marty Swandell - Only played one season of top-level base ball. The only thing known about him is that he was born in Germany. It's not even certain whether he came to America as a child or an adult.
RF - Jimmy Hallinan - He had a terrible season with Kekionga in 1871, and he moved here along with Harry Deane. Historically, he only really got regular playing time in the mid-1870s, and it is alleged that he was a heavy drinker. It is definitely known that he left base ball due to illness after the 1878 season, and within a year he died of "inflammation of the bowels" at the age of 30.

This is going to be another weak, weak team for 1872, just as they were historically.