"Spalding is justly regarded as one of the most successful of the strategic class of pitchers. In judgment, command of the ball, pluck, endurance, and nerve, in his position he has no superior; while his education and gentlemanly qualities place him above the generality of base- ball pitchers. As a batsman he now equals the best of what are called 'scientific' batsmen--men who use their heads more than their muscle in handling the ash. His force in delivery is the success with which he disguises a change of pace from swift to medium, a great essential in successful pitching. Spalding is a thorough representative of the spirited young men of the Western States, he being from Illinois." Of George Wright the same writer said: "George Wright is generally regarded as a model base-ball player, especially in his responsible position of short-stop; and until he injured his leg he had no equal in the position. He is a jolly, good-natured youth full of life and spirit, up to all the dodges of the game, and especially is he noted for his sure catching of high balls in the infield, and for his swift and accurate throwing. At the bat, too, he excels; while as a bowler, fielder, and batsman, in cricket, he ranks with the best of American cricketers. He comes of real old English stock, his father being a veteran English cricketer, and formerly the professional of the St. George Cricket Club of New York." Besides the base-ball matches played during the tour, the following table shows what the two clubs combined did on the cricket field, against the strongest players of London, Sheffield, Manchester and Dublin. The sides in each contest were eighteen Americans against twelve British cricketers: |AMERICANS vs. |AMERICANS. |OPPONENTS. -----------+-------------------+----------------+------------ | |1st.|2d. |Total|1st.|2d. ||Total -----------+-------------------+----+----+-----+----+----++------ Aug. 3,4 |12 Marylebone | 107| ---| 107 | 105| ---|| 105 |Club on Ground at | | | | | || |Lords | | | | | || Aug. 6,7 |11 Prince's C. C. | 110| ---| 110 | 21| 39|| 60 |at Prince's | | | | | || Aug. 8 |13 Richmond C at | 45| ---| 45 | 108| ---|| 108 |Richmond[1] | | | | | || Aug. 13,14 |11 Surrey C. S. at | 100| 111| 211 | 27| 2|| 29 |Ovalt[2] | | | | | || Aug. 15,17 |12 Sheffield, at | 130| ---| 130 | 43| 45|| 88 |Sheffield | | | | | || Aug. 20, 21|11 Manchester, at | 121| 100| 221 | 42| 53|| 95 |Manchester | | | | | || Aug. 24, 25|11 All Ireland, at | 71| 94| 165 | 47| 32|| 79 |Dublin |____|____|_____|____|____||____ |Totals | 684| 305| 989 | 393| 171 || 564