Cal McVey from the Chronology

Jun 30, 1923 - Led by Jimmy Johnston, Brooklyn splits a pair with the Phils, winning 10–4 before losing 6–2. Johnston makes an out his first time up, then goes 4-for-4 with a walk in game 1 and follows it with a 4-for-4 performance in game 2 to finish with a remarkable hitting and on base streak (as noted by Trent McCotter). He is the first player since Sam Thompson in 1895 to record 3 or more hits in six straight games (George Brett will do it in 1976); he has the most hits in 5 games (19) and 6 games (23) since Cal McVey in 1876; his 25 times on base for 30 plate appearances will be topped only by Barry Bonds; and he has the most times on base in 4, 5, 6, and 7 games since Billy Hamilton in 1894.

Mar 29, 1880 - Bobby Mathews signs with the Athletics of San Francisco. The West Coast clubs will also sign Cal McVey and Jim Galvin‚ among others.

Jun 13, 1879 - Will White sprains his ankle while horsing around with Mike Kelly before the game‚ and Cincinnati is forced to use Cal McVey in the pitcher's box. McVey is pounded for 28 hits‚ as Providence wins 19-6.

Jul 22, 1878 - Cal McVey and Jim White combine for 6 RBIs‚ but their errors in the 9th allow Boston to score the winning run. The final is Boston 8‚ Cincinnati‚ 7.

Jun 17, 1878 - After he is awarded 3B in a collision with Cal McVey‚ Johnny Morrill scores the winning run on a double steal. Boston beats Cincinnati in their first meeting of the year 4-2.

Aug 10, 1877 - Cincinnati's new owners demonstrate their determination to field a strong team next year by announcing the signing of Cal McVey for 1878.

Aug 6, 1877 - The NL rule calls for the home team to submit 3 names of approved local men as a possible umpire for each game‚ with the visiting team choosing one of them at random. Today in Louisville‚ Chicago's Cal McVey reaches into the hat and picks out a slip with Devinney's name on it. Disgusted‚ McVey then grabs the hat and finds that all 3 slips have Devinney's name on them. The incensed White Stockings demand a new umpire and then snap the Grays' 6-game winning streak 7-2.

Jul 13, 1877 - After pitching in 88 consecutive games since the start of the NL‚ an all-time record‚ George Bradley steps aside for Cal McVey‚ and Chicago beats Hartford 6-3. The revamped lineup shows Bradley at 3B‚ Spalding at 1B‚ and Cap Anson catching.

May 26, 1877 - Chicago's Cal McVey is 5-for-5 to lead the Whites to a 12-7 win over Cincinnati. McVey's last hit starts a tie-breaking rally in the 9th.

Sep 26, 1876 - Chicago clinches the pennant with a 7-6 win over the Hartford Dark Blues. Cal McVey‚ the regular 1B and Spalding's backup pitcher‚ hurls the victory. McVey pitched yesterday‚ and Spalding will pitch tomorrow's game‚ the last of the year. Spalding‚ apparently the victim of a sore arm‚ will start just one game next year.

Aug 12, 1876 - Chicago's versatile Cal McVey has the unusual distinction of both pitching and catching in a 5-0 win over Cincinnati. The win goes to starter Al Spalding‚ his 10th straight win over the Reds. According to Ed Hartig‚ Chicago has 9 shutouts this season and this is the only "chicago" with a relief pitcher.

Jul 29, 1876 - Behind Cal McVey's 4 hits‚ first-place Chicago eliminates Cincinnati from the pennant race. Hartford is in 2nd place‚ 6 1/2 games back.

Jul 27, 1876 - It must be contagious. For the third time in three games a Chicago player tallies six hits in a game. This time it is Ross Barnes who goes 6-for-6 as his teammates add another 17 hits to crush the Reds, 17–3. Cal McVeyhas 2 hits and will have 4 in Chicago's next game, to again have a record 18 hits in 4 games. Chicago has scored 88 runs in its last 4 games, a major league record.

Jul 25, 1876 - For the 2nd consecutive game‚ Cal McVey of Chicago collects 6 hits in 7 trips as Chicago wins 23-3 over Cincinnati. McVey now has a record 15 hits in 3 games and 18 hits in 4 games‚ As noted by historian Frank Williams‚ McVey is in the middle of a 30-game hit streak that started on June 1st and will end on August 8th.

Jul 22, 1876 - Against Chicago‚ Louisville pitcher/outfielder John Ryan tosses 10 wild pitches and gives up 31 hits in eight innings‚ as Louisville is trounced ‚ 30-7. Ryan had relieved Jim Devlin after Devlin surrendered 10 runs in the 1st inning. Cal McVey has 6 hits for Chicago‚ which scores in every inning except the 2nd. Chicago enjoys another 10 run inning in the 4th. This is the only time in history that two teams have combined for more than 100 plate appearances in a game: Chicago has 64 and Louisville adds 42.

Jul 20, 1876 - Chicago coasts to a 18-0 pounding over Louisville as Al Spalding picks up the victory over Jim Devlin. Cal McVey has 3 hits to go along with 3 in the last game‚ on the 18th.

Mar 19, 1876 - The Boston Herald reports the first practice of the Red Caps under the direction of George Wright. Manager Harry Wright is still in Florida‚ recuperating from a severe cold. The team has been weakened considerably by the loss to the Chicago White Stockings of Al Spalding‚ Cal McVey‚ and Ross Barnes.

Jul 24, 1875 - In an 8-3 loss to the Boston Red Stockings‚ the St. Louis Brown Stockings pull off a slick DP in the 6th inning (as noted by Bob Schaeffer). Boston's Cal McVey hits a liner to RF but is thrown out‚ 9-3‚ with Charley Waite firing to 1B Dehlman. Dehlman's relay to the catcher Miller nips Boston's Leonard‚ trying to score from 3B. The contest takes a lengthy 2 hours: 10 minutes.

Jul 20, 1875 - The Chicago Tribune states that the Bostons will disband at the end of the season‚ with the Wrights going to Cincinnati to form a club there. The Chicago White Stockings 9 for 1876 will include Al Spalding‚ James "Deacon" White‚ Ross Barnes‚ and Cal McVey of Boston. Harry Wright‚ having lunch at Taunton‚ where the Bostons are playing‚ is told by McVey he isn't going to play in Boston next year. Wright thinks McVey is joking until he finds out after lunch that 4 players are going to Chicago.

May 17, 1875 - Boston's Al Spalding holds the visiting Athletics to 5 hits to win‚ 12-0. Cal McVey belts a home run ("McVey went 'round the square") over the fence at the Union Grounds to lead the attack.

Aug 26, 1869 - The Red Stockings gain their toughest and most controversial victory in their incredible winning streak. Tied with the Troy Haymakers 17-17 after 5 innings‚ Troy C William Craver claims to catch a foul tip off the bat of Cal McVey on the first bounce for an out‚ but the umpire disagrees. After a fierce argument‚ Troy leaves the field‚ and Cincinnati is awarded the game by forfeit. The ump's decision is later overruled‚ and the game is officially recorded as a tie.

Aug 16, 1869 - In Cincinnati‚ a crowd of 8‚000 show up to watch the Champion Eckford play the Red Stockings. Led by Cal McVey‚ who has 7 hits and 7 runs‚ the locals overwhelm the Eckfords‚ 45-18.