1900 Connecticut League

In a splitting image of what the Cincinnati Reds did in 1939, Norwich responded to ex-major leaguer Jim "Orator" O'Rourke's Bridgeport challenge mid-August to win a classic hover victory.

It helped that Norwich "borrowed" two major league pitchers for that home-stretch: Baltimore's Jerry Nops and Boston's Ted Lewis. Surprisingly, those hurlers, opposing pitchers in games #1 and #4 of the 1897 World's Series, never appeared again in the majors. Lewis was 28 years old with a 94-64 record and the lefty Nops 26 years old with a 72-41 record.

This race has a major league look to it. The consistency and close proximity without lead change (per Monday standings) of Norwich, Bridgeport, and New Haven from June to September is seen in some post 1969 races; especially when you combine data from divisions.

This race also has the earliest example of a celebrity throwing out the first pitch from the mound to home plate. This occurred on opening day in Meriden, May 9th, when "Mayor West threw the ball across the plate." Prior to this date, celebrities or honored guests threw balls onto the field from the grandstand. Unfortunately, this description of Mayor West's throw (see Hartford Daily Courant, 5/10/1900, p. 7, col. 4.) leaves open the possibility that he threw the ball across the plate from the grandstand. This description of celebratory first pitches appears again two days later when Mayor Yann throws "the first pitch over the plate" at the opening Eastern League game at Syracuse.