[1] On July 25 of that season, he called balls and strikes for a no-hitter thrown by "Old Hoss" Radbourn of the Providence Grays.

At the same time, there were also rumors that Radbourn and catcher Barney Gilligan had conspired to purposely hit Burnham in the stomach with a pitch during a game.

An inscription inside the watch reportedly read "Presented to George W. Burnham by his Cleveland friends."

The article alleges that Burnham "endeavored to establish himself in public esteem" by buying the watch himself and having it delivered to him on the field during a game.

[5] Burnham, who was described in the Chicago Tribune as the main promoter of the effort to get an Indianapolis club in the National League,[5] began the 1887 season as the manager of the upstart National League team, the Indianapolis Hoosiers.