It Hasn’t Been This Good Since ’99 -- 1899

Having watched the Dodgers follow a 1-13 skid with a 17-1 streak this summer, an obvious question comes to mind: What on Earth is a Brooklyn Superba?

The Superbas this week have been getting their best run of publicity in about 100 years, thanks the current Dodgers winning 17 of 18 games -- the franchise’s most successful stretch since the Superbas went 20-1 in 1899.

The Superbas, who went on to be called the Robins and then the Dodgers, were previously known as the Trolley Dodgers and the Bridegrooms. The numerous name changes suggest that a McCourt ancestor or two must have been involved, but that is blatantly untrue. Obviously, it was merely a ploy to sell more replica jerseys.

Actually, the Superbas got their name from the Brooklyn press corps, which noted that the team’s manager, Ned Hanlon, shared the same surname with “Hanlon’s Superbas,” a popular Broadway act of the day, and thought it cute to rename the ballclub after the act.

Genealogy lines remain hazy, but it is believed that several of those sportswriters have great-grandchildren now working for ESPN.

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Trivia time: The Brooklyn Bridegrooms became the Superbas in 1899. How did the Bridegrooms get their name?

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Building a Superba team: The 1899 Superbas won the National League pennant with a record of 101-47, although an asterisk could be attached to that achievement.

Brooklyn finished 10th in a 12-team league in 1898, but according to the book “Total Baseball,” help was on the way -- “help that today would be prohibited.

“Longtime Brooklyn president Charles Byrne had died, and the owners of the Baltimore Orioles -- Harry Von der Horst and Ned Hanlon -- seeing an opportunity to move into the more lucrative Brooklyn market, purchased half-interest in the Bridegrooms.

“Hanlon retained his Baltimore presidency, but took over as manager in Brooklyn, bringing along with him the core of his Oriole club -- shortstop Hughie Jennings and outfielders Joe Kelley and Willie Keeler -- plus its two best pitchers, Jim Hughes and Doc McJames.”

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Jennings, Kelley and Keeler are members of baseball’s Hall of Fame.

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I look Superba: Kelley led the 1899 Superbas in home runs. He hit six.

He also was said to be impressed with his looks, keeping a small mirror under his cap so he could admire himself during lulls in the outfield.

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Trivia answer: Again, the Brooklyn press corps was the culprit.

Noting that seven Brooklyn players were married in a short time in 1888, writers covering the team decided to rename the club the Bridegrooms.

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And finally: Jennings developed a sore arm early in the 1899 season and Hanlon tried to unload him in a trade with Pittsburgh. The deal was nixed after Jennings revealed in a letter to the Pittsburgh owner that he was damaged goods. Hanlon then sent Jennings back to Baltimore, where he played two games before he returned to Brooklyn, moved to first base and batted .326 the rest of the season.