▁York ▁Metropol it ans , ▁led ▁to ▁a ▁dram atic ▁on ▁field ▁improvement ▁as ▁the ▁team ▁finished ▁in ▁second ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁Association . ▁ ▁Off season ▁ ▁October ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 8 8 7 : ▁Jim ▁Don ah ue ▁was ▁purchased ▁by ▁the ▁B ride gro oms ▁from ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Metropol it ans ▁for ▁$ 2 5 , 0 0 0 . ▁ ▁October ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 8 8 7 : ▁Bill ▁F agan , ▁Frank ▁H ank inson , ▁Bill ▁Hol bert , ▁Al ▁M ays , ▁Dar by ▁O ' B rien ▁and ▁Paul ▁Rad ford ▁were ▁purchased ▁by ▁the ▁B ride gro oms ▁from ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Metropol it ans . ▁ ▁November ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 8 8 7 : ▁Doc ▁Bush ong ▁was ▁purchased ▁by ▁the ▁B ride gro oms ▁from ▁the ▁St . ▁Louis ▁Brow ns . ▁ ▁November ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 1 8 8 7 : ▁Bob ▁Car uth ers ▁was ▁purchased ▁by ▁the ▁B ride gro oms ▁from ▁the ▁St . ▁Louis ▁Brow ns . ▁ ▁November ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 8 8 7 : ▁Dave ▁F out z ▁was ▁purchased ▁by ▁the ▁B ride gro oms ▁from ▁the ▁St . ▁Louis ▁Brow ns . ▁ ▁January ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 8 8 8 , ▁Jim ▁Don ah ue , ▁Bill ▁F agan , ▁Frank ▁H ank inson , ▁Bill ▁Phill ips , ▁Henry ▁Por ter ▁and ▁Steve