 He was rarely noted for making errors, or "muffing" the ball during his career, but it was his throwing error in the eleventh inning of a game between the Red Stockings and the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1870, that allowed the winning run to score, ending the Stockings' winning streak, which was at 84 games.He returned home in 1876 to lead the new club that was a charter member of the National League.In all he played about twelve seasons of "bare hand" first base for major teams.