Duffy began his career in 1888 with the Worcester Worcesters and he quickly established himself as one of the best hitters in the game. He was also a skilled fielder and is credited with inventing the “duffy shift”, an infield alignment that was used to counter the dead-ball era’s reliance on the bunt.
Duffy’s career took off in 1894 when he joined the Boston Beaneaters. He won the National League batting title in 1894 and 1895, and was the first player to hit for the cycle in 1894. He also led the league in runs scored in 1895 and 1896, and in RBIs in 1895. In 1894 he also had a 30-game hitting streak, a record that still stands today.
Duffy would go on to play for the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Senators, and he retired in 1922 after a 24-year career. He was a four-time National League champion, a two-time batting champion, and a two-time slugging champion. He also led the league in runs scored three times, hits three times, and RBIs once.
Over the course of his career, Duffy amassed a .324 batting average, 4,163 hits, 2,077 runs scored, and 2,386 RBIs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945, and he is remembered as one of the greatest players of the 19th century and the early 20th century.
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1½ hours
1882–1891
The 1880s marked a pivotal moment in the sport's history as the American Association (AA)...
MLB 1880s Baseball All Star Game Simulation - NL vs AA / The 1880s marked a pivotal moment in the sport's history as the American Association (AA) emerged to challenge the dominance of the National League (NL). The AA, a feisty upstart, gave the established NL a run for its money with its unique franchises.
In the AA, the Philadelphia Athletics took center stage with their explosive offense, led by the likes of Harry Stovey and Ezra Sutton. These powerhouses didn't just swing for the fences; they practically built a new fence every time they stepped up to bat.
Meanwhile, the NL stalwarts like the Boston Beaneaters and the Chicago White Stockings showcased their own star power. The Beaneaters boasted the great Jim "Pud" Galvin, while Chicago had Cap Anson, a legendary figure whose impact on the game was as large as his batting average.
60 minutes
1880–1899
In today's simulated matchup, we're going back to the roots of baseball, as the 1880s...
MLB 19th Century Baseball All Star Game - 1880s vs 1890s Simulation / In today's simulated matchup, we're going back to the roots of baseball, as the 1880s All-Stars face off against their counterparts from the 1890s. The 1880s was a transformative decade for baseball, with the establishment of the National League and the American Association, the first professional baseball league. The 1890s, on the other hand, was a time of consolidation and growth, with the National League absorbing the American Association and expanding to 12 teams. The 1890s also saw the emergence of some of the game's first true superstars, including Cy Young, who will be pitching for the 1890s team in this simulation.
Young, who made his debut in 1890, is one of the most decorated pitchers in baseball history, with his record 511 career wins still standing today. His presence on the mound will certainly add an extra layer of intrigue to this historic matchup. It'll be interesting to see how the 1880s team, featuring hitters more accustomed to the "dead-ball" era, will fare against Young's dominant pitching.