The Excelsiors played a heavy schedule again in 1866, the first full peacetime season, winning 13 of 20 games—a strong team but no longer a threat to the strongest. Young Candy Cummings, one inventor of the curveball, evidently won the pitcher's job by the end of the season.
The Excelsiors had a busy schedule in 1866, their first full peacetime year, winning 13 out of 20 games—a strong team but no longer a threat to the best teams. Young Candy Cummings, one of the inventors of the curveball, became the pitcher by season's end.