sentence: aftermath of the scandal and the resurrection of the brown stockings ( 1878 -- 81 ) despite the team disbanding after the 1877 season , five members of that team -- second baseman / manager mike mcgeary , outfielder ned cuthbert , shortstop dickey pearce , third baseman joe battin and pitcher joe blong all comprised a team , also called the brown stockings , to informally play in 1878 .