In their second season in the National Association, the 1875 Hartford Dark Blues

Hartford Dark Blues

The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...

finished in third place. They were managed by starting third baseman Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson.

The Dark Blues, with future Hall of Famers Candy Cummings

Candy Cummings

William Arthur "Candy" Cummings was a professional baseball pitcher in the National Association and National League who was credited with inventing the curveball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.-Career:...

 and Tommy Bond

Tommy Bond (baseball)

Thomas Henry Bond was a Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher and a right fielder a total of ten seasons. A native of Granard, Ireland, he is the first person born in Ireland to play Major League Baseball. Bond was also the last survivor of the National League's first season...

, had the best pitching staff in baseball. Cummings won 35 games, and the 19-year old Bond finished second in league ERA at 1.56.

Following the season, they were one of the NA teams chosen to join the new National League

National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...

.

Roster

1875 Hartford Dark Blues
Roster
Pitchers Catchers		Infielders		Outfielders		Manager

Starters by position

Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C
1B
2B
3B		85	366	88	.240	0	43
SS
OF
OF
OF

Starting pitchers

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
	48	417	35	12	1.60	8
	40	352	19	16	1.56	8

Relief pitchers

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
	1	0	0	0	18.00	0

League leaders

Tommy Bond

Tommy Bond (baseball)

Thomas Henry Bond was a Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher and a right fielder a total of ten seasons. A native of Granard, Ireland, he is the first person born in Ireland to play Major League Baseball. Bond was also the last survivor of the National League's first season...

• #2 in NA in ERA (1.56)

Candy Cummings

Candy Cummings

William Arthur "Candy" Cummings was a professional baseball pitcher in the National Association and National League who was credited with inventing the curveball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.-Career:...

• #3 in NA in wins (35)
• #3 in NA in ERA (1.60)