page_title: Nashville Tigers
section_title: The first series of 1894
hierarchical_section_title: Nashville Tigers / History / The second season / The first series of 1894
caption_attribution_description: English: An illustration of baseball player Jack Meara from the April 5, 1894, edition of the Nashville Banner
context_page_description: The Nashville Tigers were a minor league baseball team that played in the Class B Southern League from 1893 to 1894. They were located in Nashville, Tennessee, and played their home games at Athletic Park, later known as Sulphur Dell.
  Under the management of Ted Sullivan, the Tigers finished the first series of 1893 in last place out of twelve teams. Their play was hampered by a preponderance of injured players, which led to high roster turnover and the frequent substitution of local amateur players to make out a full lineup. Consequently, the once robust attendance at Athletic Park declined as the season progressed, eventually putting the team in such dire financial condition that Sullivan surrendered the franchise to the league. They fared better in the second series and were in eighth place on August 12 when circuit-wide financial problems forced the to league disband.
  Reminiscent of the previous year, the 1894 Nashvilles found themselves last out of eight teams just one month into the season. In contrast, manager George Stallings made a series of roster moves that strengthened the team, enabling it to move up to sixth place by the close of the first series on June 27.
context_section_description: The Nashville Tigers were to open the 1894 season at home against the Memphis Giants on April 11. The Opening Day roster consisted of pitchers George Borchers and Jacob Lookabaugh; catcher George Stallings (acting as a player-manager); first baseman Charles Dooley; second baseman John O'Brien; third baseman Milt Whitehead; shortstop Jim Collopy; left fielder Jack Meara; center fielders George Cleve and Edward Webster; and right fielder Pete Sweeney.
  Both teams were paraded behind a brass band through the streets of Nashville to Athletic Park. Approximately 2,000 people braved the day's chilly weather to welcome professional baseball back to the capital city. Mayor George Blackmore Guild gave a speech and then tossed out the first pitch before the game got underway. President Nicklin was also in attendance. Each team played well, but there was no winner as the game was called due to darkness in the top of the ninth inning with the score tied, 8–8. In the next afternoon's game, it looked like the Tigers would be victorious, holding a 10–9 lead in the ninth, but two Memphis runs resulted in an 11–10 loss for the home team. Nashville recorded its first win of the season on April 13 thanks to a seven-run eighth inning, besting the Giants, 13–6. The Nashvilles then left for a series at New Orleans. Detailed descriptions of games were to be provided via telegraph at Baxter Court and, later, the Olympic Theatre.
  Before they left, both Collopy and Whitehead had fallen ill with fevers and fatigue, and the rest of the team became sick in due course. To make matters worse, Collopy, playing through illness, was hit in the head by a pitched ball on April 19 at Mobile leaving him bedridden and under a physician's care. Stallings added outfielder Abner Powell on April 22 to compensate for the slack created by injury and illness. He also acquired the pitcher Peralto, who tossed a gem of a game against the Savannah Modocs in his April 24 debut, allowing only two hits and no earned runs in a tough-luck 3–1 loss. Collopy returned to the diamond on April 28, and Cleve and Webster were released the same day.
  By the end of April, sitting in seventh place out of eight teams with a 4–10 (.286) record, the Nashville club started to resemble the previous season's Tigers. The team was playing well on an individual basis, but under performing as a group. Pitching was a key weakness, so hurler Sam Moran was added to the lineup on May 2. The Nashvilles returned home on May 9, still in seventh place, with Stallings looking for skilled players that could strengthen the team. One such player was catcher William Kinsler, added to the battery on May 10. Following a three-game winning streak against the New Orleans Pelicans from May 9 to 11, Nashville looked to be improving. However, they proceeded to lose the next nine games, during which time they dropped to last place on May 16.
  Peralto was released on May 14 on the heels of several bad outings as Stallings had no time to develop the twirler; he needed pitchers who were already playing at a professional level. A series of unfortunate incidents occurred during and after that day's game. Borchers was taken off the mound by team captain Powell. In the dressing-room after the game, Powell verbally berated Borchers, who retaliated by punching the captain in the face. Their teammates intervened to prevent further violence. That evening at the Nicholson House hotel, Borchers approached Powell in an attempt to apologize, but Powell misinterpreted his intentions and broke his cane over Borchers' head drawing blood. The next day, both men were fined by Stallings, Borchers was suspended, and Powell requested and received his release from the team. Sweeney was made the new captain.
  A number of roster changes began on the team's May 19 off-day in a bid to move out of the cellar. Lookabaugh and Kinsler were released. Stallings reinforced the roster with the addition of outfielder Billy Work on May 21, pitcher Carney Flynn on May 22, shortstop Josh Reilly and right fielder Jackson on May 23, pitcher J. R. Meeker on May
caption: Jack Meara was one of six men to play the entire season.
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