Time to Credit Sam Weaver with a No-hitter in May 9, 1878 Game?

On May 9, 1878, in Indianapolis, the Milwaukee Gray’s Sam Weaver pitched a splendid game, beating the Indianapolis Blues 2 to 1. It is possible this is the first no-hitter thrown by a Milwaukee pitcher, and only the second in the National League. The reporting of this game is interesting and deserves space. The following accounts and box scores will show many discrepancies and errors, leading to much confusion.

The May 10, 1878, Milwaukee Sentinel headed its baseball column:

“BUCK” WEAVER’S DAY THE INDIANAPOLIS CLUB FAILS TO MAKE A SINGLE BASE HIT

The article read:

The Milwaukee-Indianapolis contest was beautiful in the extreme, and was witnessed by a fair audience. The playing of the victors was steady and careful throughout the entire game, while the playing of Holbert behind the bat was a beautiful exhibition of catching.  Weaver’s pitching was the finest ever displayed in a Hoosier diamond, the home team failing to secure a hit. Dalrymple played a steady game at left, and the same may be said of Golden in right. The victors scored in the third, by errors of Quest and the good hitting of Dalrymple. The home team scored in the third. Nelson went to base on called balls and scored on a slow handling of Redmond and Goodman. Chapman had Smiley Walker, of Cincinnati, on hand, and his umpiring was first-class. The game of Tuesday will played off tomorrow. Following is the score:

Milwaukee	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Peters, 2b	4	1	0	1	5	4	1
Holbert, c	4	0	0	1	1	2	0
Bennett, cf	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Dalrymple, lf	4	0	2	3	5	0	0
Golden, rf	4	0	1	1	0	0	0
Redmond, ss	3	0	1	1	0	6	0
Foley, 3b	4	0	1	1	1	2	0
Goodman, 1b	4	1	1	2	14	0	1
Weaver, p	3	0	0	0	1	2	1
Totals	33	2	6	11	27	16	3

Indianapolis	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Quest, 2b	4	0	0	0	5	5	2
Nelson, ss	3	1	0	1	2	2	1
Clapp, lf	3	0	0	2	0	1	0
Shaffer, rf	3	0	0	0	1	0	0
McKelvy, cf	3	0	0	0	2	0	0
Nolan, p	3	0	0	0	0	3	1
Williamson, 3b	3	0	0	0	0	4	0
Flint, c	3	0	0	0	4	2	1
Croft, 1b	3	0	0	0	13	0	0
Totals	28	1	0	3	27	17	5

Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Milwaukee	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	–	2
Indianapolis	0	0	1*	0	0	0	0	0	0	–	1

[* Indianapolis actually scored in 4th]

Total bases on clean hits—Milwaukee 6, Indianapolis 0
Struck Out—Golden
Bases on called balls—Milwaukee 1, Indianapolis 2
Balls called—On Nolan 23, on Weaver 18
Strikes called—Off Nolan 31, off Weaver 26
First base on errors—Milwaukee 3, Indianapolis 1
Passed balls—Flint 1
Time of game—1:45
Umpire—Walker of Cincinnati

The Milwaukee Daily News of May 10th gave a very short account of the game, and its box score credited Indianapolis with one hit.

The game played at Indianapolis, yesterday, between the Milwaukees and Indianapolis nine, resulted in the defeat of the home club. The game was of unusual interest, and a large crowd was in attendance. Holbert caught Weaver without a passed ball, and did some fine playing. The Milwaukees batted the “only Nolan” for six base hits, while the Indianapolis only scored one off Weaver. Following is the score:

Milwaukee	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Peters, 2b	4	1	0	0	5	4	1
Holbert, c	4	0	0	1	1	2	1
Bennett, cf	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Dalrymple, lf	4	0	2	3	5	0	0
Golden, rf	4	0	1	1	0	0	0
Redmond, ss	3	0	1	1	0	6	0
Foley, 3b	4	0	1	1	1	2	0
Goodman, 1b	4	1	1	2	14	0	1
Weaver, p	3	0	0	0	1	2	2
Totals	33	2	6	10	27	16	5

Indianapolis	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Quest, 2b	4	0	0	0	5	5	2
Nelson, ss	3	1	0	1	2	2	1
Clapp, lf	3	0	1	2	0	1	0
Shaffer, rf	3	0	0	1	1	0	0
McKelvy, cf	3	0	0	0	2	0	0
Nolan, p	3	0	0	0	0	3	1
Williamson, 3b	3	0	0	0	0	3	0
Flint, c	3	0	0	0	4	2	1
Croft, 1b	3	0	0	0	13	0	0
Totals	28	1	1	4	27	16	5

Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Milwaukee	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	–	2
Indianapolis	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	–	1

Umpire—Smiley Walker, of Cincinnati
First Base on Errors—Milwaukee 3; Indianapolis 1
Left on Bases—Indianapolis 2
Passed Balls-Flint 1
Time of Game—One hour and forty-five minutes
Bases on called balls–Milwaukee 1; Indianapolis 2
Runs Earned—None
Strikes Called—On Nolan 31; on Weaver 26
Balls Called—On Nolan 23, on Weaver 18
Struck Out—Golden

As can be seen from the box score, not only the hit by Clapp differs, the errors on the Milwaukee club are two more in the Daily News total (Holbert and Weaver added one each); and on the Indianapolis side, Williamson was credited with on less assist.

One might think the Indianapolis papers would clear up the situation, but the two boxes from the home city show the same hit discrepancy. The Indianapolis Journal of May 10, 1878, credited Weaver with a no-hitter, but again showed slight differences from the two Milwaukee papers in other statistics:

Milwaukee	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Peters, 2b	4	1	0	1	5	4	1
Holbert, c	4	0	0	1	1	2	1
Bennett, cf	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Dalrymple, lf	4	0	2	3	5	0	0
Golden, rf	4	0	1	1	0	0	0
Redmond, ss	3	0	1	1	0	6	0
Foley, 3b	4	0	1	1	1	2	0
Goodman, 1b	4	1	1	2	14	0	2
Weaver, p	3	0	0	0	1	2	1
Totals	33	2	6	11	27	16	5

Indianapolis	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Quest, 2b	4	0	0	0	5	5	2
Nelson, ss	3	1	0	1	2	2	1
Clapp, lf	3	0	0	2	0	1	0
Shaffer, rf	3	0	0	0	1	0	0
McKelvy, cf	3	0	0	0	2	0	0
Nolan, p	3	0	0	0	0	3	1
Williamson, 3b	3	0	0	0	0	3	0
Flint, c	3	0	0	0	4	2	1
Croft, 1b	3	0	0	0	13	0	0
Totals	28	1	0	3	27	16	5

First bases on errors—Indianapolis 3, Milwaukees 1. Left on bases—Indianapolis 5, Milwaukees 2. Passed balls—Flint 1. Time of game—l:45, Bases on called balls—
Indianapolis 2, Milwaukees 2. Strikes called—off Nolan 31, off Weaver 26.Balls called—on Nolan 23, on Weaver 18. Struck out—Golden. Runs earned—0
Umpire—Little Smilee Walker.

The Indianapolis Journal’s account of the game is interesting, especially when comparing the umpiring to the account in the Milwaukee Sentinel :

Grief has again overtaken the Indianapolis club. The second-class Milwaukee nine cleaned it out by a score of 2 to 1. The game was not one of absorbing interest, the high wind that prevailed preventing long fly hits, forcing the balls to the ground, in many instances, before half their natural course had been flown. It was observed that the ill-favored wind treated the visitors better than it did the home boys, and, come to think of it, maybe the wind didn’t cut such a very disastrous figure after all. On second thoughts, the umpire did the business. Manger Chapman imported a finicky little specimen from Cincinnati to do the umpiring, and it was the unanimous verdict of all the spectators that a worse case of umpire was never seen on the South-street grounds. His general average was very low, and it can be stated to a positive certainty that he will not be inflicted on this section again during the season. Aside from the wind and the umpire, and a long list of unfortunate circumstances not necessary now to enumerate, the Blues did not distinguish themselves much by the excellence of their play. The Journal is still firmly convinced that Indianapolis has a base-ball club. To be sure it is a little lame at the bat and has not shown up brilliantly in the field, and is hardly up to the standard, in the matter of base running, but then it is a club of immense possibilities. Yesterday only three Blues reached first base, and not a single base hit is credited to the home team. The Milwaukees made six base hits and got three runs [sic!] on errors. The run to the credit of the home team was made in the same way. To-day the second game will be played, with Harry Dean as umpire.

The Indianapolis News account on May 10th and box score (again with a few differences) give Weaver a one-hitter.

The umpire and the wind yesterday were both against Indianapolis in the game with the Milwaukees, and while the result might not have been different, the probabilities are that with a fair show it would have been. The game, as far as the umpire and the wind allowed the play to develop itself, was won by the visitors on its merits; they outbatted the home nine, and their errors, although equal in number, were made at points where their results were not so disastrous. The game was an interesting one throughout and several fine plays were made. In the second inning Quest caught a high line fly off Golden’s bat in one hand, and immediately afterwards Clapp made a magnificent throw from left field to home plate, cutting off Redmond, who was attempting to tally on Goodman’s base hit. Peter’s second base play was never excelled in this city, and Quest’s was even as good, but his two disastrous errors in the third inning, muffing a ball thrown by Williamson and making a high throw to Croft, after two men were out, virtually lost the game. Flint, too, made a fatal error after Quest’s, letting a ball pass and giving Peters his tally. Clapp made a base hit in the first inning, and after that nothing effective could be done at the bat against Weaver’s pitching. The wind carried three flies into Dalrymple’s hands at left field that would have been good for two bases each under ordinary circumstances. Nolan pitched better than he has yet done, and discovered that pitching to the bat is more effective than hard work to pitch a man out on strikes. The Milwaukees were dissatisfied with Julien Tuesday, and sent for “Smiley” Walker of Cincinnati to umpire the game. His calling of strikes and balls was simply excrable, and he made a bad error in adjudging Clapp out at second in the last inning. He will umpire the game to-day, when Tuesday’s tie will be played off. The following is the score:

Milwaukee	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Peters, 2b	4	1	0	2	5	4	1
Holbert, c	4	0	0	1	1	2	1
Bennett, cf	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Dalrymple, lf	4	0	2	2	5	0	0
Golden, rf	4	0	1	1	0	0	0
Redmond, ss	3	0	1	1	0	6	1
Foley, 3b	4	0	1	1	1	2	0
Goodman, 1b	4	1	1	1	14	0	1
Weaver, p	3	0	0	0	1	2	1
Totals	33	2	6	10	27	16	5

Indianapolis	AB	Runs	Hits	Reached Base	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Quest, 2b	4	0	0	0	5	5	2
Nelson, ss	3	1	0	1	2	2	1
Clapp, lf	3	0	1	2	0	1	0
Shaffer, rf	3	0	0	1	1	0	0
McKelvy, cf	3	0	0	0	2	0	0
Nolan, p	3	0	0	0	0	3	1
Williamson, 3b	3	0	0	0	0	3	0
Flint, c	3	0	0	0	4	2	1
Croft, 1b	3	0	0	0	13	0	0
Totals	28	1	1	4	27	16	5

First base on Errors—Indianapolis 4, Milwaukee 5
Left on base—Indianapolis 5, Milwaukee 2
Passed balls—Flint 1
Time of game—One hour and forty-five minutes
Bases on called balls—Indianapolis 2, Milwaukee 1
Strikes called—off Nolan 31, off Weaver 26
Balls called—on Nolan 23, on Weaver 18
Struck out—Golden
Earned runs—None
Umpire—Smiley Walker

The players held a meeting last night, surrounded the altar at headquarters, and swore a mighty oath that they would win the game to-day, drinking it down in a pint of gore. It is to be hoped they will. [They did, 6 to 1.]

If we look at “neutral” cities newspapers we find this account from the Boston Globe of May 10, 1878.

The Indianapolis-Milwaukee game resulted in a victory for the latter. The playing of both nines was exceedingly fine, while the pitching of Nolan was exceptionally so. Weaver’s pitching was his best effort of the season, the Indianapolis club failing to secure a hit. The catching of Flint was up to his usual standard of perfection. The visitors secured their runs in the third inning by an overthrow of Quest to first base on which Peters and Goodman scored.  The Blues scored their run in the fourth inning by Nelson going to his base on balls, and scored on the error of Goodman. The audience was large and enthusiastic.

The Globe’s box score is the same as that of the Indianapolis Journal above, except for giving Foley of Milwaukee seven assists instead of six, for a total of 17 for the Milwaukees. So we now have three newspapers crediting Sam Weaver with a no-hitter.

One more source—and perhaps the best example of the oddness of this game—is the New York Clipper of May 16, 1878. On page 58, middle column, The Clipper gave only this short description of the game, “the second [game], on the 9th, ended in favor of the Milwaukees, 2 to 1”. Here is the Clipper’s box score:

Milwaukee	AB	Runs	Hits	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Peters, 2b	4	1	0	5	4	1
Holbert, c	4	0	0	1	2	1
Bennett, cf	3	0	0	0	0	0
Dalrymple, lf	4	0	2	5	0	0
Golden, rf	4	0	1	0	0	0
Redmond, ss	3	0	1	0	6	0
Foley, 3b	4	0	1	1	2	0
Goodman, 1b	4	1	1	14	0	2
Weaver, p	3	0	0	1	2	2
Totals	33	2	6	27	16	6

Indianapolis	AB	Runs	Hits	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Quest, 2b	4	0	0	5	5	2
Nelson, ss	3	1	0	2	2	1
Clapp, lf	3	0	1	0	1	0
Shaffer, rf	3	0	0	1	0	0
McKelvy, cf	3	0	0	2	0	0
Nolan, p	3	0	0	0	3	1
Williamson, 3b	3	0	0	0	3	0
Flint, c	3	0	0	4	2	1
Croft, 1b	3	0	0	13	0	0
Totals	28	1	1	27	16	5

Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Milwaukee	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	–	2
Indianapolis	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	–	1

First base on errors—Indianapolis, 1; Milwaukee, 3.Umpire, Walker of Cincinnati Time 1h. 45m.

But then in the very next column of the same page is a more in depth description of the game and a differing box score—this time crediting Weaver with a no-hitter!

No one need wish to look at better ball-playing than was done by the above clubs at Indianapolis, Ind. on May 9. After each side had been twice blanked, an overthrow by Quest in the third inning brought home Peters and Goodman, giving the visitors the lead by just that many runs. The home nine made their only run in the following inning. Nelson taking his base on balls and finishing the circuit on an error by Goodman. Nothing was afterwards scored by either club. Weaver’s pitching could not have been more effective, the Hoosiers not making a single base hit, while the strangers whacked Nolan for six, although the latter pitched well. The tie game between these clubs will be played off on May 14.

Milwaukee	AB	Runs	Hits	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Peters, 2b	4	1	0	5	4	1
Holbert, c	4	0	0	1	2	1
Bennett, cf	3	0	0	1	0	0
Dalrymple, lf	4	0	2	5	0	0
Golden, rf	4	0	1	0	0	0
Redmond, ss	3	0	1	0	6	0
Foley, 3b	4	0	1	1	2	0
Goodman, 1b	4	1	1	14	0	1
Weaver, p	3	0	0	0	2	1
Totals	33	2	6	27	16	4

Indianapolis	AB	Runs	Hits	Putouts	Assists	Errors
Quest, 2b	4	0	0	5	5	2
Nelson, ss	3	1	0	2	2	1
Clapp, lf	3	0	0	0	1	0
Shaffer, rf	3	0	0	1	0	0
McKelvy, cf	3	0	0	2	0	0
Nolan, p	3	0	0	0	3	0
Williamson, 3b	3	0	0	0	4	0
Flint, c	3	0	0	4	2	1
Croft, 1b	3	0	0	13	0	0
Totals	28	1	0	27	17	4

Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Milwaukee	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	–	2
Indianapolis	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	–	1

First base on errors—Milwaukee, 3; Indianapolis—1
Passed balls—Flint 1. Umpire, Smiley Walker of Cincinnati
Time 1h. 45m.

Preston Orem’s book Baseball from Newspaper Accounts 1845-1881 (published in 1961) reported this on page 286: “Weaver of Milwaukee held Indianapolis without a hit on May 9th, winning 2 to 1. For some reason this feat is omitted from the list of no hit games generally seen”.

The 2004 edition of Total Baseball (pages 769-770) does not list Sam Weaver in the no-hitters pitched in major league baseball. The website www.retrosheet.org also does not list Weaver.

So there is where I stand at present. Seven box scores—4 credit Sam Weaver with a no-hitter, 3 with a one-hitter. Orem’s book is the only later source I could find crediting Weaver with a no-hitter.