1925 World Series Preview
 

New York Yankees (87-67) v Pittsburgh Pirates (97-57)

Best-of-seven, Yankees with the home-field advantage.

NEW YORK YANKEES S+ PAGE

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

Careful what you wish for, hey...

I’m not as daunted by this Yankees side as you might expect. Not just yet, at any rate. We match up pretty well with them with our LHP-dominant rotation against their big bats, all of whom except Bob Meusel are also lefties. And, while we have struggled in the past against Vance, if we can get hot and stay hot with bat in hand then I really fancy our chances.

But if we don’t execute this could be over quickly. They are that sort of side.

Undoubtedly our biggest dilemma is who plays where. It’s a nice problem to have. Even though Charley had a pretty ordinary year and has run hot and cold in past playoffs, he’s just too good defensively to leave out. He’ll start at CF, Walker at RF and Williams at LF. Cobb will play 1B except against the southpaw Winters, when Bressler will take his usual spot. Rube will also come in as a defensive sub for Ty late in games. And I’ve opted for Toporcer over Moore at SS.

In the rotation, Foster gets the SP3 slot to begin with ahead of Wilbur. But this will be a fairly fluid arrangement dependent upon how things go.

In a Minor Key
 

The AAA season comes to a close as the Amarillo Gold Sox lock up their first Championship with a hard-fought 3-2 series win over Scranton.

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Walter Holke finishes the season with an astonishing 455 BA, while Brownsville's Wattie Holm passes his hit streak record with a still-alive 44-game string.

1925 World Series Recap
 

Game 1 in New York, October 7th 1925
Dazzy Vance (22-20, 3.95) v Dave Brown (26-10, 2.73)

Two of the league’s premier pitchers get things underway. I’ll be happy if we can walk away with a split from this first pair of games.

They waste no time flexing their muscles as Gehrig takes Brown solo deep in the 1st but we hit back straight away as O’Farrell doubles one in for us in the 2nd.

The tie holds until the 5th when Brown gets into strife but does well to limit the damage to just the one run. Once again we have the ready response as a Williams solo shot in the 6th makes it 2-2. We then go ahead in the next on a two-out trip by Charleston.

With it still 3-2 entering the home 9th, I elect to leave Brown in. But he walks Gehrig and then Ruth singles him around to third and I go to the pen to try and get us home.

No dice, unfortunately, as Comstock gives up an RBI single to Glenn Myatt and now we’re in real danger of losing it. Comstock, however, regathers himself and it goes into extras.
We waste a bases-loaded and one-out chance to take the lead in the 12th and they walk it off with an unearned run in the home half of that frame.

Yankees 4, Pirates 3 (12 innings)
BOX SCORE



Game 2 in New York, October 8th 1925
Waite Hoyt (20-12, 3.29) v Sam Streeter (21-15, 3.78)
Yankees lead series 1-0

20-game winners go head-to-head here and the key will be Streeter running hot rather than cold. Either way, we’ll need to improve at the plate on our Game 1 performance, especially in the clutch.

Once again they use the longball, this time by George Harper, to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st and once again we answer immediately as Cobb doubles in a run in the next. O’Farrell walks to load them up with none out but we have to trade two-for-one as a runner scores on a Toporcer GIDP.

Specs comes through for us again in the 5th, with his solo shot making it 3-1. But it all comes unravelled in the home half as they load the bases with the help of an error and Gehrig bombs out a slam. Three more hits, a run, and Streeter is out of there. This was our big concern with him, he is far too inconsistent for someone with his talent.

There's no stopping Gehrig, however, as he smacks another 2-run homer off Cooper in the next and this one is well and truly done.

Just 6 hits for us and 3 of those in the 9th in another torpid performance. We better hope the return home sparks us into action because this series is getting away from us fast.

Yankees 8, Pirates 4
BOX SCORE



Game 3 in Pittsburgh, October 10th 1925
Willie Foster (11-7, 4.31) v Nip Winters (15-16, 4.22)
Yankees lead series 2-0

Two young guns whose raw talent is undeniable meet here. No doubt the one who handles their nerves better on the biggest stage of all will emerge victorious. Obviously a must-win for us. Moore in at 2B for a horribly out-of-form Traynor.

We score first on a solo HR by Snyder in the 2nd and add a second in the next on a Beckwith SF. Beck then tacks on 2 more in the 5th with a big fly.

Foster is strong early, allowing just 2 hits over 5 scoreless. But they get to him in the 6th as Gehrig continues his hot streak with an RBI single. Then Ruth unleashes a mighty blast and suddenly it is 4-3.

We are still clinging to our single run as we go into the 9th with Comstock on the hill. He gets us a clean inning and our first win of the series.

Pirates 4, Yankees 3
BOX SCORE



Game 4 in Pittsburgh, October 11th 1925
Dave Brown (0-0, 2.25) v Dazzy Vance (0-0, 3.38)
Yankees lead series 2-1

The Game 1 combatants renew acquaintances after their draw in that one. Charleston just has to get going, 1-for-14 to this point. Walker also very quiet so far.

Beckwith’s good form carries over as he singles in the game’s first run in the bottom 1st and Williams does likewise to double our advantage. Then Beck, running hot indeed, makes it 3-0 in the 3rd with a run-scoring triple and Williams plates him with a long double, eventually scoring as well on an O’Farrell single.
That’s more like it.

Doubles to Charley and Walker in the next push our lead out to 6, chasing Vance in the process.

Brown is magnificent but runs out of puff in the 9th as they load the bases, none out. One of those scores but that’s it as we square the series at 2.

Pirates 6, Yankees 1
BOX SCORE



Game 5 in Pittsburgh, October 12th 1925
Sam Streeter (0-1, 5.06) v Waite Hoyt (1-0, 4.00)
Series tied 2-2

Always pivotal, this game is more significant to us than them given they get to play at home from this point on. We need Streeter to bounce back from that Game 2 shocker. Traynor is still hitless.

We go ahead in the 2nd on a Cobb groundout and that run holds up until the 5th when Gehrig belts his 4th of the series to tie it up. Streeter barely gets out of that inning and the BP gets busy.

Beckwith restores our lead with a run-scoring triple and an O’Farrell SF brings him home.

Gehrig, fairly unstoppable, goes solo yard again in the next and Sam is done.

Beckwith restores our 2-run lead in the bottom half with a SF after Charleston had doubled to lead it off.

Mirabal gets us a clean 8th but then lets the tying runs get aboard in the 9th before I call on Braxton to try handle their big LHB. He gets the key second out but then walks Gehrig to load the bases. But Ruth can only fly out harmlessly to LHB and we get the win.

Pirates 4, Yankees 2
BOX SCORE



Game 6 in New York, October 14th 1925
Nip Winters (0-1, 4.50) v Willie Foster (1-0, 3.38)
Pirates lead series 3-2

No question this is the biggest game either of these guys have pitched in and, again, whichever handles the occasion best will almost certainly win it. Walker breaking out of his mini-slump would undoubtedly enhance our chances of success.

Charleston has woken up and he gives us the lead with a solo home run in the 2nd. Walker then knocks in his second run of the series with a single in the next.

Beckwith stays hot with a 2-run blast in the 4th to make it 4-0 and a similar strike by Charleston in that same inning really puts the cat among the pigeons.

Foster shows he is the real deal, going the distance with a 3-hitter to give us World Championship number 9. What a bunch of legends.

Pirates 6, Yankees 0
BOX SCORE



PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: John Beckwith (Pittsburgh)


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1925 Offseason
 

I’m disappointed and saddened but not surprised when Oscar Charleston decides to void the remainder of his contract. He signed a long-term deal that is cheap by current standards and we had pretty much convinced ourselves this would happen. We offer both him and Wilbur their QO, which each subsequently declines.

A few other players also need action taken. We exercise the options over Rube Bressler, Les Mann and Ralph Comstock but not Oliver Marcell.

Our 1B Coach Dave Drew retires.

The White Sox cut skipper John Taber, as do the Giants with Otis Clymer.

Once again we lose some legends of the game to retirement. These include Jose Mendez, Eustaquio Pedroso, Frank Baker, Ben Taylor, Amos Strunk, Del Pratt, Claude Hendrix, Heinie Groh and of course Smoky Joe Williams. The HOF ballot in 5 years will be a busy one indeed. Former Pirates Vin Campbell and Louis Drucke also call it a day.

The Browns extend veteran SS Harry Spratt’s contract for another 2 years / $18,000.

1925 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1925 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1925 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Rogers Hornsby joins Tris Speaker with 6 Wagner-Lajoie Medals after a unanimous win. Only Honus himself has more with 7. Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth finish 1-2 in the AL, with the Iron Horse taking his first gong.

The seemingly ageless Dick Redding wins his second Waddell Medal, as does our Dave Brown.

Lefty Grove and Mickey Cochrane win the RoYs.

Obviously the Sim Accuracy means nothing now with 1940 settings being used, but here it is anyway.

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Owners Dropping Like Flies
 

It's a hazardous profession apparently...

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1925/26 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/1925.

Another interesting class with two Marquees and a bunch of HOFers.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1926 season:

Boston Red Sox: Joe Cronin (64.8; 1134)
Chicago White Sox: Tommy Thomas (25.3; 245)
Cleveland Indians: Willis Hudlin (30.6; 491)
New York Giants: Mel Ott (110.9; 2730 – one-club player) MARQUEE
New York Yankees: Tony Lazzeri (47.7; 1659)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Waner (74.7; 2154) MARQUEE
Washington Senators: Bump Hadley (35.1; 233)

Jack Russell (17.1; 242) was also eligible for the Red Sox, but Cronin’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

General Crowder (27.9; 236) was also eligible for the Senators, but Hadley’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 98 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1924* IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

*NB 1924 USED HERE BECAUSE I USED 1925 FOR 1925 IN ERROR

Round 1

1. New York Giants (608)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates (588)
3. Boston Red Sox (435)
4. New York Yankees (586)
5. Washington Senators (597; dice roll)
6. Cleveland Indians (438)
7. Chicago White Sox (431)
8. Boston Braves (346)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (364)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (422)
11. Philadelphia Athletics (467)
12. St. Louis Browns (487)
13. Chicago Cubs (529)
14. Cincinnati Reds (542)
15. Detroit Tigers (558)
16. Brooklyn Robins (597; dice roll)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Boston Braves (346)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (364)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (422)
4. Chicago White Sox (431)
5. Boston Red Sox (435)
6. Cleveland Indians (438)
7. Philadelphia Athletics (467)
8. St. Louis Browns (487)
9. Chicago Cubs (529)
10. Cincinnati Reds (542)
11. Detroit Tigers (558)
12. New York Yankees (586)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (588)
14. Washington Senators (597; dice roll)
15. Brooklyn Robins (597; dice roll)
16. New York Giants (608)


And so we get our first-ever marquee and what a good one he is. We also get a compensatory 2nd Round pick as well for Wilbur being signed by the Browns.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. OF Paul Waner, 22

• You now understand why the Charleston situation wasn’t so bothersome. Our first Marquee and just a true gun.

2. P General Crowder, 26

• No world-beater and older than we’d like for a rook, but if we get a run of injuries among our staff he’ll come in handy.

3. P Danny McFayden, 20

• Further back on the development continuum than Crowder but drafted for the same reason.

4. P Lefty Willis, 20
5. IF Howie Carter, 21
6. P Dick Jones, 23

• AAA filler Scout’s picks.

Full 1st Round:

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FULL DRAFT LOG

The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

With Charley gone we sign FA Cliff Heathcote to a 3-year / $18k deal to restore some heft to our OF depth chart. He plays all 3 OF slots and will prove a handy backup.

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1926 The First Time Around
 

A highly entertaining season from go to whoa sees the Yankees and Cardinals win tight pennant races, setting up one of the most famous World Series meetings in history, etched into posterity mainly thanks to 39-year-old Pete Alexander’s heroics. A day after pitching his second CG win, Alexander came on in relief into the 7th inning of Game 7 with the bases loaded and the Cards up 3-2. He struck out Tony Lazzeri then blanked the Yanks for the remainder to give St. Louis the 4-3 series win and first MLB title. This game is also remembered for it ending with Babe Ruth being caught stealing second base, the only time a WS game has ended in this fashion.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (91-63)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (89-65)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Yankees 3


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HACK WILSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 97 runs, 170 hits, 36 doubles, 8 triples, 21 home runs, 109 RBIs, 69 walks, .539 slugging percentage.
• Wilson busted out in Chicago after the Giants lost him through a very costly clerical error (though some say New York manager John McGraw wanted him gone, anyway).

2. PAUL WANER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .336 average, 101 runs, 180 hits, 35 doubles, 22 triples, 8 home runs, 79 RBIs, 66 walks, .413 on-base percentage.
• “Big Poison” began his career with an average that, under today’s rules, would have won him the batting crown—but Cincinnati catcher Bubbles Hargrave was given the official title instead, even though he batted just 326 times during season.

3. KIKI CUYLER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 157 games, .321 average, 113 runs, 197 hits, 31 doubles, 15 triples, 8 home runs, 92 RBIs, 35 stolen bases.
• On the eve of his fall from grace at Pittsburgh, Cuyler remained the NL’s biggest overall offensive threat.

4. JIM BOTTOMLEY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 98 runs, 180 hits, 40 doubles, 14 triples, 19 home runs, 120 RBIs.
• After hitting .350 through the first three-plus years of his major leaguer career, Sunny Jim dropped below the .300 mark for the first time—but was still potent enough to lead the NL in RBIs and doubles.

5. BILLY SOUTHWORTH, NEW YORK-ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 99 runs, 16 home runs, 99 RBIs.
• Not only did the future Cardinals manager give St. Louis the better of a midseason trade that sent so-so Heinie Mueller to the Giants, but he rubbed in with a pennant-clinching homer at New York on September 24.

6. LES BELL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 189 hits, 33 doubles, 14 triples, 17 home runs, 100 RBIs.
• Peaking in 1926 before a gradual decline at age 25, Bell collected a higher average than any other Cardinal—yes, even higher than Rogers Hornsby.

7. ROGERS HORNSBY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 96 runs, 34 doubles, 11 home runs, 93 RBIs, 61 walks.
• While we’re on the subject of the Rajah, the future Hall of Famer’s .317 average paled in comparison to the .390 he otherwise hit during the 1920s—and his 11 homers also were the fewest he smacked during the decade. Still, he managed the Cardinals to their first world title.

8. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 95 runs, 182 hits, 37 doubles, 10 triples, 7 home runs, 79 RBIs.
• The long-time Red finished off his tenure before being sent to New York, where the Giants’ John McGraw badly wanted him; he returned briefly in 1931, just long enough to slip below Cy Seymour for the highest modern-era career average in Reds history.

9. GEORGE GRANTHAM, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 27 doubles, 13 triples, 8 home runs, 70 RBIs, 60 walks.
• The dependable yet frequently unacknowledged first baseman was one of five Pirate regulars to hit over .300—and one of four to co-lead the team with eight homers.

10. BABE HERMAN, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 81 RBIs.
• The rookie hit well over .350 into July before cooling off; of course, everyone will best remember his “doubling into a double play” when he was caught at third base with two fellow baserunners.

AL Hitters

1. BABE RUTH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .372 average, 139 runs, 184 hits, 30 doubles, 47 home runs, 153 RBIs, 144 walks, .516 on-base percentage, .737 slugging percentage.
• The Bambino returned to the Yankees’ good graces with a patented Ruthian onslaught—and once again came oh-so-close to snagging an AL triple crown (losing the batting race to Heinie Manush by just six points).

2. LOU GEHRIG, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .313 average, 135 runs, 179 hits, 47 doubles, 20 triples, 16 home runs, 112 RBIs, 105 walks.
• Playing his first season every day from start to finish, the Iron Horse would hit the fewest number of home runs in his career—but would collect a personal-best 20 triples.

3. GOOSE GOSLIN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .354 average, 105 runs, 201 hits, 26 doubles, 15 triples, 17 home runs, 108 RBIs.
• Cavernous Griffith Stadium continued to do its best to obscure Goslin’s power numbers; the muscular Senator hit all 17 of his homers on the road.

4. AL SIMMONS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 90 runs, 199 hits, 53 doubles, 10 triples, 19 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• In his third season, Simmons finally took a day off after playing in 394 straight games to start his career—an AL record that stood until Hideki Matsui in 2006.

5. HARRY HEILMANN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .367 average, 90 runs, 184 hits, 41 doubles, 8 triples, 9 home runs, 103 RBIs, 67 walks.
• If it’s an even year, it must have been a season between batting titles for Heilmann—who still was good enough to finish third in the AL batting race.

6. HEINIE MANUSH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .378 average, 95 runs, 188 hits, 35 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 86 RBIs.
• Manush was obviously good enough to make Detroit manager-center fielder Ty Cobb demote himself to a part-timer.

7. GEORGE BURNS, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .358 average, 97 runs, 216 hits, 64 doubles, 4 home runs, 114 RBIs.
• The man who set the major league record for doubles (later tipped by Earl Webb) won the AL MVP award in part because Babe Ruth, by virtue of being a previous winner, was ineligible.

8. JOHNNY MOSTIL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 120 runs, 197 hits, 41 doubles, 15 triples, 79 walks, 10 hit-by-pitches, 35 stolen bases.
• Mostil peaked as the White Sox’ leadoff man a year before news of his affair with teammate Red Faber’s wife led to a suicide attempt.

9. BIBB FALK, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .345 average, 86 runs, 195 hits, 43 doubles, 8 home runs, 108 RBIs, 66 walks.
• The Austin, Texas native put up numbers reminiscent of the man he replaced in left field: The expelled Joe Jackson.

10. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 96 runs, 52 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs, 88 RBIs, 94 walks.
• In his final season as Indians player-manager before age-old game-fixing allegations caught up to him, Speaker continued to plug away at age 38.

NL Pitchers

1. CARL MAYS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 19 wins, 12 losses, 281 innings, 24 complete games, 34 grounded into double plays.
• The controversial pitcher’s on-and-off history of late was on again, a year after being restricted to 12 appearances and a 3-5 record; he would be off for the next three seasons as he entered his late 30s before stepping away from the game.

2. RAY KREMER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 20 wins, 6 losses, .769 win percentage.
• After a slow start owing to shoulder pain, Kremer went 15-3 over the final three months to secure his first of back-to-back ERA crowns.

3. PETE DONOHUE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.37 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 47 appearances, 36 starts, 5 shutouts, 285.2 innings, 39 walks.
• Along with Mays, Donohue effectively wound it up on the mound at Cincinnati before winding down as over-the-hill material.

4. JESSE PETTY, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 17 wins, 17 losses, 275.2 innings.
• Petty picked up the slack for a slumping Dazzy Vance and Burleigh Grimes in Brooklyn.

5. CHARLIE ROOT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 18 wins, 17 losses, 271.1 innings.
• After a failed audition with the St. Louis Browns in 1923, Root returned to the majors as a top rookie pitcher with the Cubs—and absorbed more losses than any other National Leaguer despite earning the circuit’s second-best ERA.

6. GUY BUSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.86 ERA, 13 wins, 9 losses.
• Right behind Root in the ERA race was Bush, who continued to contribute more from the bullpen than within the rotation (35 appearances, 15 starts).

7. PETE ALEXANDER, CHICAGO-ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.05 ERA, 12 wins, 10 losses.
• The old warrior’s season was rescued as he went from frustrated head-butting with Cubs manager Joe McCarthy to World Series legend for the Cardinals.

8. FLINT RHEM, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, .741 win percentage, 258 innings.
• The colorful hurler—who could drink as much as the next guy, Alexander included—found his footing after a rough first two years in the majors (10-15 record, 4.85 ERA).

9. HAL CARLSON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.23 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 267.1 innings.
• A former spitballer who couldn’t get grandfathered when the wet pitch became illegal, Carlson must have been discretely lathering up the ball to get the kinds of numbers shown above while playing at an absolutely live park (Baker Bowl).

10. LEE MEADOWS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.97 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses.
• Under today’s rules, Meadows wouldn’t have gotten credit for his 20th win—he didn’t finish the fifth inning—but nevertheless became part of the last pair of Pirates (along with Ray Kremer) to each earn 20 victories in the same year.

AL Pitchers

1. GEORGE UHLE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 27 wins, 11 losses, .711 win percentage, 36 starts, 32 complete games, 318.1 innings, 118 walks, 8 wild pitches, 13 hit-by-pitches.
• Nobody allowed more hits and walks in the majors than Uhle, yet the Indians workhorse was still at his sterling best.

2. TED LYONS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 18 wins, 16 losses, 283.2 innings.
• The right-hander walked twice as many batters (106) as he struck out (51), but only two other pitchers allowed a lower batting average (.252).

3. LEFTY GROVE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 13 wins, 13 losses, 45 appearances, 33 starts, 258 innings, 194 strikeouts.
• The sophomore phenom introduced himself to a place he’d become very familiar with—the top spot among AL ERA contenders—thanks to a major cutdown in walks.

4. HERB PENNOCK, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.62 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, 266.1 innings, 43 walks.
• The veteran southpaw scored a career high in wins, adding two more in the World Series.

5. STAN COVELESKI, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.12 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses.
• At age 37, Coveleski performed one last admirable campaign before his arm petered out.

6. URBAN SHOCKER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.38 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses, 258.1 innings.
• Shocker electrified anew in New York City for the Yankees, who righted the previous wrong of trading him off to the Browns in 1918.

7. WAITE HOYT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.85 ERA, 16 wins, 12 losses.
• Had it not been for a late-summer slump created, it was said, by throwing too many pitches at a carnival, Hoyt could have jumped a bit higher on this list.

8. EDDIE ROMMEL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.08 ERA, 11 wins, 11 losses.
• Like Lefty Grove above, Rommel certainly deserved better than a .500 record.

9. FIRPO MARBERRY, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 12 wins, 7 losses, 22 saves, 64 appearances, 5 starts.
• Baseball’s first realization of the closer set his own record for saves; it would be 23 years before someone else (the Yankees’ Joe Page) would reset the mark.

10. GARLAND BUCKEYE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.10 ERA, 6 wins, 9 losses.
• The great-grandfather of future major leaguer pitcher Drew Pomeranz, Buckeye slipped into the list despite an underwhelming record—and because of his stifling ability to keep runners off base. His gem among gems was a two-hit shutout of the mighty Yankees—walking 10, four of which came against Babe Ruth (who went 0-for-0).

1926 Preseason / Spring Training
 

Once again the Yanks throw their financial might around and look intent on going one step further with some big signings and trades. The Phillies, too, spend big over the break, while the Robins are also busier than usual.

Here are the main transactions from over the break:

• P Harry Salmon: Yankees, 6 years / $87800
• C Pat Collins: Yankees, 7 years / $75600
• SS Dave Bancroft: Phillies, 4 years / $54000 (extension)
• P Dick Whitworth: Yankees, 4 years / $40000
• P John Taylor: Phillies, 4 years / $39200
• P Walter Johnson: White Sox, 3 years / $31200
• 1B Ray Blades: Robins, 4 years / $24320 (extension)
• P John Donaldson: Phillies, 3 years / $23400
• P Jakie May: Giants, 4 years / $21740 (extension)
• OF Bernie Neis: Senators, 2 years / $17800
• P Elmer Ponder: Yankees, 3 years / $13180
• OF Oscar Charleston: Browns, 1 year / $8300
• P Wilbur Cooper: Browns, 1 year / $8300

• 1B Johnny Cooney from Robins to Cubs for P Ray Caldwell
• OF Wattie Holm, C Larry Brown and P Dutch Henry from Browns to Athletics for OF Cy Williams
• C Jimmie Wilson from Red Sox to White Sox for IF Sparky Adams and C Luke Sewell
• P Lou Schettler and C Bennie Tate from Cubs to Robins for IF Doc Prothro
• IF Heinie Sand from Browns to Reds for P Virgil Barnes and C John Hines
• P Steve Melter, C Charlie Berry and P Bob Osborn from Reds to Phillies for OF Earl McNeely
• 1B Chicken Hawks from Cardinals to White Sox for P Bill Force and IF Newt Allen
• P Harry Moran and OF Rap Dixon from Cardinals to Yankees for C Glenn Myatt
• OF Mule Suttles and P Carl Yowell from Athletics to Braves for IF Lew Fonseca

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We lose Webster McDonald for a month or so to an abdominal muscle strain but otherwise look ready for action with a 14-4 ST.

It’s a bit like a broken record in the NL as the tipsters are looking for us and the Cards to battle it out yet again. But in a major surprise they have picked the Tribe to win the AL. There’s no doubt Cleveland has been headed in the right direction the past few seasons, but I just can’t see where they’ve pulled this one from. I’ve got them pegged firmly in mid-standings.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1926 Opening Day
 

Our team page can be accessed HERE.

Not sure I’ve ever spent as much time on the formation of our squad as I have this year. All the same, it’s nice to have so many options and contingency plans.
Here’s how we'll line up on OD:

Catchers

• C Bob O’Farrell
• C Zack Taylor (R) v LHP and when Snyder needs a rest

Zack gets the nod over Frank Snyder, who really dropped off substantially last year.

Infielders

• 1B Ty Cobb (L) / Rube Bressler (R) platoon
• 2B Dick Lundy (S)
• 3B John Beckwith (R)
• SS Dobie Moore (R)

• Pie Traynor (R)
• Specs Toporcer (L)
• Freddie Spurgeon (R)

As good as Bressler has been, Ty still has too much to offer to be used from the bench. This may well be his last go-around with us so I want to squeeze every last drop out of him. Dick and Dobie have both worked super hard over the break and look fantastic, which is why Pie has been shunted. No doubt there’ll be plenty of changes until we get the mix right.

Outfielders

• LF Ken Williams (L)
• CF Curt Walker (L)
• RF Paul Waner (L)

• Walter Davis (L)
• Les Mann (R)
• Cliff Heathcote (L)

The loss of Charley should hardly be felt here, even on defence.

Rotation

1. LHP Dave Brown
2. LHP Willie Foster
3. LHP Sam Streeter
4. RHP Ray Kremer

This is our biggest area of concern, one which will only get worse if injury strikes. Kremer gets first shot at SP4, with Mirabal and McDonald next in line. Don’t be surprised to see a trade here.

Bullpen

• LHP Garland Braxton
• RHP Ralph Comstock
• RHP Juanelo Mirabal
• RHP Webster McDonald (IL)
• LHP Walter Anderson

There’s a decent enough chance McDonald is the one to go to AAA when he returns.

Pinstripin' - Opening Day, 1926
 

It's fair to say the Yanks are coming after us, so I thought I'd keep this feature going to follow their progress.

With the arrival of Poosh 'em Up Tony Lazzeri along with the big-name signings of Salmon and Collins (not to mention Rap Dixon), you'd think they've got all the ducks lined up now. It might not be Murderers Row, but it is close enough. I'm going to call them Assassins Alley instead.

Not too many weak spots now for this group. Perhaps depth might be an issue, but that's the same across the board.

They won't have things all their own way. Detroit looks on the up, as do the BoSox and A's, and the Browns and Sens aren't without some hope. But I don't see anything stopping them from another go-around at the Big Dance. This is a beast of a squad.

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1500 for Cristo
 

For all the success the NeL pitchers have had, it has - for reasons I have spoken of relating to the game engine - been a real struggle to get the bats working properly and consistently. To the point that Señor Torriente is jut the 4th NeL player after Heavy Johnson, Oscar Charleston and Pete Hill to reach this level. HJ currently heads this list with 1658 and is the best chance to make 2000 and above.

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The View from the Gangplank May 1, 1926
 

A rough old beginning to the season as we score just 12 runs in our first 5 games, losing 4 of them.

Ray Kremer acquits himself well in his first MLB start and looks to be doing so again in his next one before he’s forced out with injury. The diagnosis is a strained triceps that will sideline him for about 6 weeks. Juanelo Mirabal moves into the spin, with Sarge Connally called up into the pen.

We pull it together somewhat to finish the month 9-8 but are well off our game to this point. Cobb goes down with an injury in the last game, here’s hoping it isn’t too serious.

https://i.imgur.com/G9AQaYz.png?1


The Giants have flown out of the gate to sit at 14-3 and are still riding a win streak that currently sits at 12.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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Big Guy Stays Put
 

A key extension for the A's.

https://i.imgur.com/mwVsYE9.png?1

Train Still Puffing Along
 

Will he make 500? After a bit of a dip his ratings have actually improved the past two seasons, so I reckon he's a chance.

https://i.imgur.com/4NEc1QZ.png?1

A Long Time Coming
 

This no-no by young Chet Brewer (in his rookie season, no less - only his 11th career start in the bigs) is the first since 1922. It is just the third by an NeL player after Joe Williams and Jose Mendez, lofty company indeed!

The View from the Gangplank June 1, 1926
 

The early part of this season is not so dissimilar from the corresponding section of last year, where we show glimpses of brilliance but just seem to be having trouble putting it all together consistently. But there are irrefutable signs that we are slowly coming around, a fact confirmed by a late surge that leaves us with a 20-8 record for the month and moves us into first place.

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Walker continues his form from a stellar 1925 to lead the NL in BA with 390. Lundy, Moore and Williams are each contributing well and Waner is still shining bright. Only Cobb and Beckwith among our starters are underperforming to this point.

https://i.imgur.com/qFx84qj.png?1


The pitching - led by Brown who, by dint of his astonishing 7-0 / 1.05 May, wins the monthly pitching award - has been superb, with Streeter and Foster showing great improvement on last season. As we enter June, our Starter ERA sits at just 2.37 while the pen's is even better at 1.85.

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While Ruth, Gehrig and Lazzeri are dominating, the Yanks still aren't overwhelmingly doing likewise as a whole, just a game and a half clear of the much-improved Tigers, with the BoSox and A's not far behind. The Giants' win streak earlier in the month runs to 14 before they regress, although they are still just a game off the pace with the Cards hot on their heels.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

We lock down some key pieces of our puzzle for the foreseeable future:

• Sam Streeter - 5 years + team option / $85k
• Bob O'Farrell - 2 years + 2 team options / $25k
• Specs Toporcer - 2 years + team option / $30k
• Rube Bressler - 2 years + team option / $18k
• Ralph Comstock - 2 years / $7k
• Juanelo Mirabal - 1 year / $2.5k
• Garland Braxton - 1 year / $2.5k

Dogs and Days
 

Braves OF Bob Fothergill is one of those guys you rarely hear of but who quietly go about their business day-in, day-out. A 315 hitter over his 5 seasons in the bigs, this is certainly the biggest game of his career to date.

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At first I thought the names in all caps were to designate the NeL players you had added. But clearly not--what do they mean?

Either NeL players or Legacies. There's a few in other shortlists as well - traded players, players of interest. It'd be nice if you could colour-code them instead of having them capitalised.

Tribe Lose their #1 Guy
 

A huge loss.

https://i.imgur.com/qGJvT7l.png?1

The View from the Gangplank July 1, 1926
 

Things seem to be going swimmingly as we consolidate our lead in the early part of the season.

Then all hell breaks loose as we lose 8 in a row in which we concede 52 runs and score just 19, including twice being shut out and 5 straight to the Reds.

Just like that, our lead has virtually disappeared. Only a win over the Cards on the final day of the month keeps us in front at all. It leaves us at 12-15 for the month.

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You can't fall into the trap of overanalysing periods like this. They happen. You simply have to trust the group and pray that now they've got it out of their system.

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Sure does liven the standings up a fair whack, though.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: wOBA
 

Weighted On-Base Average (1926 season to date)

Weighted On-Base Average (career)

Another Big Name Falls
 

Marty was enjoying a fair sophomore season, sadly now cut short.

https://i.imgur.com/6ScVNvA.png?1

Pinstripin' - July 17, 1926
 

It's becoming ever more clear that it will be Lou Gehrig, rather than Babe Ruth, who dominates the HR leaderboard in oncoming years. Unfettered by the constraints that seem to have plagued Babe - pitching duty, inconsistency, environment - Lou is on pace to catch Babe sooner rather than later. With no such thing as ALS in this universe to prematurely curtail his career, I'll be surprised if The Iron Horse doesn't hit close to 800 all up.

This game brings him 3 closer to that target, whatever it might be, and puts his career total at 88 in 1442 AB, a ratio of 1 every 16.4 AB. This compares to Babe's 271 in 4734, or 1:17.5. When you take into consideration those "lost" years while Babe was pitching, the math is pretty simple.

https://i.imgur.com/Rthmrfs.png?1


As for the club they represent, the Yanks have suffered a somewhat similar fate to ourselves and now trail the BoSox in the AL. Vance hasn't been the saviour they were after and, while they lead the div in homers, their 257 BA ranks last, meaning they are getting nowhere near the buck for their bang (so to speak) they should be, with less runners aboard when the big bats go deep.

https://i.imgur.com/0imXDbg.png?1

Stat Check: SLG
 

The Boomerang
 

Cocky, still going strong at 39, heads back to the scene of many a triumph.

An odd one for the Phillies, this, given they are closer than ever before to a pennant and have no solid replacement for Cocky at 1B.

https://i.imgur.com/KLSzVP8.png?1

Thanksgiving Comes Early
 

Another big trade that sees Turkey Stearnes heading to the Giants.

https://i.imgur.com/IYmsfDb.png?1

Another Owner Passes On
 

The View from the Gangplank August 1, 1926
 

Things do not improve. In fact, they get worse as we lose 5 of our next 7 and fall out of first place.

Brown aside (who ends up winning the monthly award), our pitching is in utter disarray, with our ERA blowing out almost a full point since the start of June. While he’s no worse than the others, Mirabal loses his rotation spot, with Webster McDonald given the chance to cement it.

The downtrend continues. We lose 4 straight at home to the Giants as we seem to have utterly forgotten how to win.

This is not simply a matter of metrics. While our ERA is ballooning, it is doing so from what was an unsustainably low level. Our hitting is still fine, with Walker and Waner continuing to go gangbusters. Our defence remains at the top of the class.

No, this – as the wags often say about insanity – is all in our heads. We have, for the moment, stopped making the decisive plays at the crucial moments in games. The key hit. The routine out. The important pitch. One stat above all confirms this: we are an ugly 12-23 in one-run games.

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I tinker with the lineup a wee bit, returning us to the combination that worked so well last season with a straight swap: Williams at cleanup, Beckwith at 5. I also replace Lundy with Toporcer at 2B. Dick just isn’t getting things done.

It is by no means crisis time. But it is crunch time. None of the other teams have made a strong move, leaving the division bunched and up for grabs. We simply need to get back to basics. Three extra-inning wins late in the month that form part of a yet-unbroken 6-game win string and restore us to the top of the standings are a promising sign we are already doing just that. The AL also looks set to go down to the wire.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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A Case of Poor Timing
 

With the BoSox again putting up stubborn resistance, this is the last thing the Yanks need.

https://i.imgur.com/Lsr8fUe.png?1

A Right Old Turkey Shoot
 

Nice to be on the other end of this onslaught and still walk away with the W.

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Stat Check: IP
 

The View from the Gangplank September 1, 1926
 

Well the lads save their best for when it counts as we put together a fantastic 20-6 month and are currently riding a 10-game win streak.

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Everyone's doing their bit but it is the bats driving our resurgence, with Walker set to give Rajah a run for his money in the MVP voting and Beckwith coming good at the right time as he has a tendency of doing.

https://i.imgur.com/dlllR7q.png?1

The pitching has been good but not great, although Streeter's 6-0 / 3.02 performance nets him the monthly award. McDonald returns from another IL stint on the last day of the month.

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Both races look to be down to two horses now although the Giants and Cubs can't be entirely ruled out just yet.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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Crazy Like a Foxx
 

A breakout year for the big Boston backstop and his Red Sox are still just holding off the Yanks with 20 games to go.

https://i.imgur.com/ZJjt5RY.png?1


Man we have some quality catchers in this league at the moment.

https://i.imgur.com/YApbvi4.png?1

Stat Check: SHO
 

Cat, Meet Pigeons...
 

Massive ramifications for the Yanks, who currently cling to a half-game lead over the BoSox but will have to get the job done without their ace.

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The View from the Gangplank: end of regular season, 1926
 

We run our win streak to 13 before dropping one at the Cubs. When the Cards head to Steeltown early in September for our final series of the year, we lead them by 6 ½ games. That doesn’t change as we split the 4 games (and the season, 11-11), but our MN is now down to 10.

We lose Cobb for a minimum IL stint after he pulls a back muscle.

In the shadows of the post we get the wobbles, losing 5 straight but we are far enough in front to hang on and clinch in game 150, eventually winning it by 6 games.

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Despite a late fadeout that will almost surely cost him the MVP, Curt Walker is simply massive for us again this season. John Beckwith ties his club-best 28 HR of the previous year.

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Willie Foster loses his last start to stop him joining Brown and Streeter as 20-game winners. Comstock and Braxton lead a superb effort from the BP.

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The BoSox lead the Yanks by a game with one to play but lose to Detroit, leaving the door ajar. The Yanks lead early in their game against the Browns but can't hang on, losing 6-4 to give Boston the pennant, their first in a decade. So good to see these two teams, with all the historical rivalry stemming from this era, duking it out here.

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Bibb Falk of the White Sox and Bob Fothergill of the Braves each win their first batting title. Lou Gehrig pips Babe 45-41 in the HR stakes.

Awards, news and final leaders.

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1926 World Series Preview
 

Pittsburgh Pirates (92-62) v Boston Red Sox (92-62)

Best-of-seven, Pirates with the home-field advantage.


PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE


If I’m being totally honest, this Red Sox lineup scares me more than the Yanks do. I am a firm believer in the advantage of splits and our southpaw-strong rotation matches up better against New York’s big guys - Ruth and Gehrig, both LHB – than against Foxx, Wilson and Wright, all of whom bat from the right side.

And while our pitching has been the bedrock of our recent success and was so again this season, we are vulnerable in this area, as Brown, Streeter and Foster can all have their moments. So, here more than ever, it will all come down to who gets the job done on the hill and who doesn’t.

Cobb is in the squad but unsure if he’ll be able to play any meaningful part. He’ll certainly miss the first couple of games as he just isn’t right.


NB My apologies, that Boston bunch of FGs is a disgrace...

In a Minor Key
 

This is the first AAA title for Ft. Worth, who knock off 1925 Champs Scranton in four.

Our Wilkes-Barre boys finished in 4th at 66-60.

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1926 World Series Recap
 

Game 1 in Pittsburgh, October 2nd 1926
Dave Brown (25-12, 2.77) v Frank Lange (22-20, 3.95)

What an amazing renaissance for age-42 Frank Lange, and he’ll be a tough customer with all that experience to call upon. We’ll need to be patient at the plate and tight in the field. Hopefully DB can do the rest.

Despite Traynor’s excellent form down the stretch, I’m sticking with Moore to begin the series. Bressler at 1B in Cobb’s absence.

Brown gets into trouble in the 2nd but a gem from Walker doubles up a runner at home and we escape without conceding. He struggles in the next few as well before finally giving up a run on a Foxx trip in the 5th.

That wakes up our bats, who have just 2 hits to this point, and we tie it up on a single by O’Farrell and then go ahead on another hit by Waner, which also loads the bases with still none down. Bressler does likewise to extend our lead and Williams adds two more with yet another single. Then Beckwith singles one in to make it 6-1 and chase Lange. They are obviously concerned about their BP as they deploy Hod Eller – scheduled to start G3 – in relief, and Toporcer greets him with an RBI single. That’s what this lineup of ours can do.

They regather and score one in the next but Brown keeps them quite after that until I hit for him in the 8th. They get one more in the 9th before we close it out.

Pirates 7, Red Sox 3
BOX SCORE


Game 2 in Pittsburgh, October 3rd 1926
Sam Streeter (22-14, 3.12) v Erskine Mayer (18-15, 3.26)
Pirates lead series 1-0

We’ve had problems with Mayer in the past and need to learn from those experiences. Sam had another great season but suffered with control issues throughout, so spotting his pitches is key today and in the series overall.

An early scare when Walker looks to have injured himself making another fine play, but thankfully he’s just a bit shaken up.

We open the scoring in the 3rd on a two-out Bressler single and then, after we load the bases, Beckwith adds a pair with a single.

They hit straight back with one in the 4th and we waste a bases-loaded and none out chance in the home half of that one. That costs us as their big guys get to Streeter in the next as he falls apart, conceding 3 and the lead. This is the side of the Streeter we didn’t want to see. It’s also the end of his game as 56 takes over.

He is in immediate strife as Foxx is just tearing us apart and they add 2 to make it 6-3.

Williams inches us closer in the bottom 7th with a solo shot but our clutch hitting deserts us as Bressler kills a bases-loaded rally with a GIDP. Oh, how we are missing Cobb.

A really unconvincing game, especially from our pitchers, all but ends when they pad their lead with two in the 9th and we go down quietly to lose it 8-4.

Red Sox 8, Pirates 4
BOX SCORE


Game 3 in Boston, October 5th 1926
Frank Lange (0-1, 14.54) v Willie Foster (19-13, 3.20)
Series tied 1-1

While most of the 19 wins in Willie’s breakout season were good ones, some of those 13 losses were shockers. It goes without saying we’re looking for the former from him here. With his propensity for giving up the untimely longball, he needs to keep the ball down in the zone and try to minimise the number of baserunners on for the big guys.

The Sox surprise us by bringing Lange back for this one ahead of Eller.

Once again their big boys cause us grief as they take a 1st-inning lead with a run on 2 hits, but Foxx has to leave the game in the next after injuring his hip.

They score again in the 5th as our bats struggle to get anything happening, with Lange showing himself to be a true competitor. We finally get a run in the 7th as Waner finally contributes something, and Foster is lifted in the process. Mirabal relieves him.

They are such a disciplined side and are really showing us up in this department, adding 3 more in the 8th to put us to the sword. We have been really flat these past two games and need to turn things around fast as this series is getting away from us.

Red Sox 5, Pirates 1
BOX SCORE


Game 4 in Boston, October 6th 1926
Hod Eller (0-0, 0.00) v Dave Brown (1-0, 2.25)
Red Sox lead series 2-1

I wring some changes to try and spark us to life. Cobb reckons he’s good to go and he comes in at 1B, while Traynor comes in at 2B. Toporcer moves to SS, replacing Moore. Steel Arm Davis is gone for the duration with a fever.

A disastrous start as they smack Brown all over the place, scoring 3 before he’s even made an out and 3 more to really put us in the hole, sending 11 to the plate.

We load the bases with none out in the 2nd but have to trade two for one as O’Farrell meekly rolls into a DP. We come at them again in the next, as Beckwith clears the loaded bases with a double and we’re right back in it.

Brown settles right down and we close to within one in the 7th when Walker triples and scores on a Williams SF. Then Beckwith crushes one over the Monster and it is tied at 6. That ends Eller’s game but we keep at them, loading the bases again and taking the lead on a two-out 2-run single by a resurgent Waner. Then Cobb singles to reload them and Walker knocks one in with another base hit. Stirring stuff by the lads.

I have hit for Brown during all of this and Mirabal takes over. He, Braxton and Comstock keep them quiet as we get a win for the ages.

Pirates 9, Red Sox 6
BOX SCORE


Game 5 in Boston, October 7th 1926
Erskine Mayer (1-0, 3.86) v Sam Streeter (0-1, 6.00)
Series tied 2-2

One of the key elements of yesterday’s epic comeback win was that we used up a lot of their pitching juice. Mayer only threw 6 pitches but, when you add to that the warm-ups and the general exertion of getting ready to enter a game, it takes a toll more often than not. So we’ll be looking to take advantage of that with him starting this one.

I’m going to stick with yesterday’s lineup apart from Taylor coming in at catcher for O’Farrell.

Today it’s our turn for some 1st-inning fireworks as Walker puts us ahead with a 2-run bomb. We add a third on a Toporcer single and a fourth on an infield hit by Traynor.

Streeter begins nervously, walking two and then giving up an RBI single to Glenn Wright, but Waner cancels that out with a leadoff homer in the next.

Things stay quiet until the top 6th when Streeter singles in a pair to make it 7-1, chasing Mayer. A couple hits and a balk get us another one, but Foxx answers with a 2-run HR in the bottom half to keep them in it.

Beckwith then smokes another longball, adding 2 and you can see that one hurt. But theirs is a quality unit and they won’t lie down, adding one in the 7th and another in the 8th as I give Streeter the hook.

Still, they keep coming, loading the bases before we finally put them away and head home needing one win to win it all.

Pirates 10, Red Sox 5
BOX SCORE


Game 6 in Pittsburgh, October 9th 1926
Willie Foster (0-1, 3.00) v Frank Lange (1-1, 5.84)
Pirates lead series 3-2

It’s like deja-vu all over again as we call on Willie Foster to clinch for us in a Game 6. Anything even remotely resembling his 3-hitter gem last year will be fine by me.

We get off on the right foot with a run in the first via a Walker groundout but our joy is short-lived as they get square with one in the 3rd, then go ballistic in the next, adding 4. More trouble in the next and I yank him out of there, though I fear at 6-1 it is already too late. Another one coming in makes our job even harder.

It gets worse from there as they add 2 runs in the next and another pair in the 6th as things become downright ugly. Our pitching has basically self-destructed in this series and now it is us who had to dive deep into the BP here.

A dark day indeed for our ballclub as we lose 12-1.

Red Sox 12, Pirates 1
BOX SCORE


Game 7 in Pittsburgh, October 10th 1926
Dave Brown (2-0, 5.14) v Hod Eller (0-0, 5.40)
Series tied 3-3

Well it is going to take every ounce of intestinal fortitude from this group to bounce back from yesterday’s debacle, but if any bunch of ballplayers can do it, ours can. We get to send our ace out there and everything rests with him being able to turn around what has, in spite of his two wins, been a pretty ordinary series. Eller going for them.

Moore and Bressler back in, Traynor and Cobb out.

Straight away we are under pressure as a Williams error gifts them an unearned run in the 1st, but he atones with an RBI single in the bottom half and we score another one on a Beckwith groundout.

Trouble again in the 4th as Brown’s woes continue and they tie it at 2 with a run on 3 hits, but once again we have the ready reply, retaking the lead on a Moore double.

We have a runner thrown out at home in the 6th and narrowly escape a threat in the 7th, which is Brown’s last. But they get the tying run off Comstock in the 8th and this one is going right down to the wire.

Walker singles to lead off the bottom 8th and moves to second on a passed ball. We waste two outs but then Moore comes up with the biggest hit of his career, putting us on top 4-3 with a single.

Braxton comes in to try and close it out. He fans Oms for the first out, does the same to Flowers.

Sewell hits a grounder to Toporcer, who makes no mistake and somehow we have done it again. By the skin of our teeth.

Pirates 4, Red Sox 3
BOX SCORE


PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-3
SERIES MVP: Curt Walker (Pittsburgh)


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The time has come, the Walrus said...
 

... 10 Championships and 16 NL pennants in 25 years is no mean feat, including having won the last three straight and knocked off the Yanks and Red Sox in quick succession.

And so, after much deliberation, I have decided that now is the time to take a break from the Bucs. Not sure how long that will be, we'll have to see.

Honus Wagner, who has been my GM almost since retiring as a player, will step into the Manager role.

This is a save about the Pirates, and the focus will remain on them. It's just that, for a while at least, I won't be pulling the strings.

1926 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1926 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1926 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

We have our first ever tie, with Dave Brown and Andy Cooper splitting the NL Waddell Medal votes right down the middle. Surprise packet Bill McCall wins in the AL.

Rajah earns WL Medal number 7, while the Iron Horse repeats in the AL.

Harvey Hendrick and Babe Herman win the Rookie gongs.

Sim Accuracy for what it's worth, keeping in mind 1940 LTMs are in use.

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The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

Honus gets busy. I'll say nothing, as it is no longer my place to do so.

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1926/27 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/1927.

Just a note that I have made a slight change to the Legacy Player rules. From this point on, the cutoff is 20 career WAR, apart from one-club players, for whom it is 15. Previously it had been 10 for all, but I just felt this throws out too big a net.

Only two Legacies this year but the league is abuzz with the arrival of one of the all-time greats in the mighty Satchel Paige, who heads a strong class of NeL additions.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1927 season:

Chicago Cubs: Woody English (27.0; 1098)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Lloyd Waner (29.6; 1803)

There are 117 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1926 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Pittsburgh Pirates (549)
2. Chicago Cubs (532)
3. Boston Red Sox (301)
4. Philadelphia Phillies (384)
5. St. Louis Browns (403)
6. Boston Braves (434)
7. Brooklyn Robins (464)
8. New York Giants (490)
9. Detroit Tigers (513)
10. Chicago White Sox (529)
11. Washington Senators (540)
12. Philadelphia Athletics (553)
13. Cincinnati Reds (565)
14. Cleveland Indians (571)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (578)
16. New York Yankees (591)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Boston Red Sox (301)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (384)
3. St. Louis Browns (403)
4. Boston Braves (434)
5. Brooklyn Robins (464)
6. New York Giants (490)
7. Detroit Tigers (513)
8. Chicago White Sox (529)
9. Chicago Cubs (532)
10. Washington Senators (540)
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (549)
12. Philadelphia Athletics (553)
13. Cincinnati Reds (565)
14. Cleveland Indians (571)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (578)
16. New York Yankees (591)


The Waner Brothers bookends are now complete as Lloyd joins big brother Paul at the Bucs.

Here are the new Pirates players:
1. OF Lloyd Waner, 22
2. C Merv Shea, 26
3. C Luke Urban, 28
4. C Harry O’Donnell, 32
5. OF Bill Hohman, 23

Here's the 1st Round in full, with the Red Sox nabbing Satchel.

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FULL DRAFT LOG

1927 The First Time Around
 

Two words: Murderers Row.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (110-44)
NL CHAMPIONS: Pittsburgh Pirates (94-60)
WORLD SERIES: Yankees 4, Pirates 0

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. ROGERS HORNSBY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .361 average, 133 runs, 205 hits, 26 home runs, 125 RBIs, 86 walks, .448 on-base percentage, .586 slugging percentage.
• The Rajah returned to Hall-of-Fame form in a one-year stint with the Giants; he even managed 33 games while John McGraw dealt with health issues, winning 22 of them.

2. PAUL WANER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .380 average, 114 runs, 237 hits, 42 doubles, 18 triples, 131 RBIs.
• After being deprived of the 1926 batting title because of lax eligibility rules, Waner officially copped his first of three such crowns and set a Pirates season record for hits.

3. HACK WILSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 119 runs, 30 doubles, 12 triples, 30 home runs, 129 RBIs, 71 walks, 70 strikeouts.
• Wilson managed to secure co-ownership of the NL home run title (along with the Phillies’ Cy Williams) by going deep in his penultimate at-bat of the season.

4. BILL TERRY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 101 runs, 189 hits, 32 doubles, 13 triples, 20 home runs, 121 RBIs.
• For the first of six straight years, Terry managed to score and knock in 100 runs each.

5. FRANKIE FRISCH, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .337 average, 112 runs, 208 hits, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 48 stolen bases.
• In his first year with the Cardinals after being dealt from the Giants for Hornsby, Frisch rarely skipped a beat while feeling much more at peace after bashing heads with New York manager John McGraw.

6. JIM BOTTOMLEY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 31 doubles, 15 triples, 19 home runs, 124 RBIs, 74 walks.
• With Hornsby gone, Bottomley became the chief offensive catalyst (along with Frisch) for the Cardinals.

7. RIGGS STEPHENSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .344 average, 101 runs, 199 hits, 46 doubles, 9 triples, 65 walks.
• The Cubs gave the all-hit, no-throw outfielder—a former quarterback at Alabama who suffered a major shoulder injury—a chance to play every day; his bat easily made up for his throwing deficiencies.

8. GEORGE HARPER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .331 average, 16 home runs, 87 RBIs, 84 walks.
• After putting up strong numbers for the Phillies the previous three seasons, Harper proved in his first year at New York that Philadelphia’s bandboxed Baker Bowl wasn’t the reason.

9. PIE TRAYNOR, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .342 average, 93 runs, 196 hits, 32 doubles, 9 triples, 106 RBIs.
• The stellar third baseman was quite the road warrior, batting nearly .400 away from Forbes Field.

10. CY WILLIAMS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 86 runs, 30 home runs, 98 RBIs, 61 walks, 9 hit-by-pitches.
• At the age of 39, the veteran slugger led (or co-led) the NL for the fourth time—with exactly half of his blasts recorded at snug Baker Bowl—and he became the oldest National Leaguer ever to hit for the cycle.

AL Hitters

1. LOU GEHRIG, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 155 games, .373 average, 149 runs, 218 hits, 52 doubles, 18 triples, 47 home runs, 173 RBIs, 109 walks.
• Exploding into superstardom on a par with teammate Babe Ruth, Gehrig enjoyed the first of five seasons in which he averaged at least one RBI per game.

2. BABE RUTH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .356 average, 158 runs, 192 hits, 60 home runs, 164 RBIs, 137 walks, 89 strikeouts, .486 on-base percentage, .772 slugging percentage.
• After being granted an astronomical $70,000 salary, Babe Ruth repaid the Yankees with a heavenly performance.

3. HARRY HEILMANN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .398 average, 106 runs, 201 hits, 50 doubles, 9 triples, 14 home runs, 120 RBIs, 72 walks.
• Heilmann’s fourth batting title—all consecutively in odd years—was his last; it was also the 15th won by a Detroit player in 21 years, not including Ty Cobb’s controversial runner-up performance to Nap Lajoie in 1910.

4. AL SIMMONS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 105 games, .392 average, 89 runs, 36 doubles, 11 triples, 15 home runs, 108 RBIs.
• Bucketfoot Al flirted with the .400 mark into July, but a groin injury clipped seven weeks off his season and stunted the momentum.

5. GOOSE GOSLIN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 96 runs, 194 hits, 37 doubles, 15 triples, 13 home runs, 120 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• A year after getting shut out of his own park (Griffith Stadium) with no homers while hitting 17 on the road, Goslin managed a slim majority (7 of 13) at home.

6. TY COBB, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 133 games, .357 average, 104 runs, 32 doubles, 7 triples, 93 RBIs, 67 walks, 22 stolen bases, 16 caught stealing.
• Showing he had plenty to give even after surpassing his 40th birthday, Cobb had the highest season average ever by a post-40 player and, appropriately, collected his 4,000th career hit against his old team at Detroit.

7. BOB FOTHERGILL, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .359 average, 93 runs, 189 hits, 38 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, 114 RBIs.
• At 5’11 and 230 pounds—that’s a conservative estimate—Fothergill was another one of those talented hitters whose terrible outfielding defense would have made him an early lobbyist for the designated hitter.

8. EARLE COMBS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .356 average, 648 at-bats, 137 runs, 231 hits, 36 doubles, 23 triples.
• The Yankees’ lead-off spark set a franchise record in triples; only Dale Mitchell (in 1949) and Curtis Granderson (in 2007) would equal this total among American Leaguers in years to come.

9. BOB MEUSEL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .337 average, 47 doubles, 9 triples, 8 home runs, 103 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• Despite missing much of June to injury, Meusel still led the Yankees in steals and was one of four team members to surpass 100 RBIs.

10. TONY LAZZERI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .309 average, 18 home runs, 102 RBIs, 69 walks, 22 stolen bases.
• You might have been expecting Babe Ruth to be the answer to this question: Who was the first Yankee to hit three homers in a regular season game? Lazzeri supplies the stumper answer, on June 8.

NL Pitchers

1. PETE ALEXANDER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.52 ERA, 21 wins, 10 losses, .677 win percentage, 268 innings, 38 walks.
• Turning 40 did little to blunt Alexander’s momentum carried over from a heroic 1926 World Series, scoring his ninth and final season winning 20 or more games.

2. JESSE HAINES, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 24 wins, 10 losses, .706 win percentage, 300.2 innings, 25 complete games, 6 shutouts.
• Relying more exclusively on the knuckler—which he literally gripped with his knuckles—Haines was the last player purchased (in 1919) by the Cardinals from another club until 1944, and thus well worth the $10,000 cost.

3. RAY KREMER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.47 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage, 25 complete games.
• For the second straight year, Kremer was at his hottest late, winning his final eight decisions to help secure his second straight ERA title.

4. RED LUCAS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.38 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses, 39 walks.
• Living the brand as a guy named Red playing for the Reds, Lucas emerged from the bullpen to solidify his standing as an excellent rotation piece—and missed a no-hitter on July 22 when the only hit went through the legs of second baseman Hughie Critz. (The official game scorer denied a virtual begging from both teams to change the ruling to an error.)

5. DAZZY VANCE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.70 ERA, 16 wins, 15 losses, 273.1 innings, 25 complete games, 184 strikeouts, .239 opposing batting average.
• After a series of misfortunate incidents the year before, Vance returned to form and led a Brooklyn team that paced the NL in team ERA (3.36) despite finishing 65-88.

6. CARMEN HILL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.24 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, .667 win percentage, 43 appearances, 277.2 innings.
• After six attempts to kick his major league career into gear over a 12-year period, Carmen Hill finally went into overdrive by winning nearly half of his 10-year career total.

7. CHARLIE ROOT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.76 ERA, 26 wins, 15 losses, 48 appearances, 36 starts, 309 innings, 117 walks.
• Effective support (six runs per game) vested the Chicago workhorse with a prodigious number of wins despite having the worst ERA among Cubs starters.

8. LEE MEADOWS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.40 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 38 starts, 25 complete games, 299.1 innings.
• For the second straight year, Meadows matched teammate Ray Kremer in leading the Pirates in wins.

9. DUTCH ULRICH, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.17 ERA, 8 wins, 11 losses.
• The latest anomaly of an unknown making Baker Bowl look expansive, with a 1.92 ERA over 17 appearances at home. Ulrich might had made for bigger fame, but he succumbed to pneumonia two years later at age 30.

10. JESSE PETTY, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.98 ERA, 13 wins, 18 losses, 42 appearances, 271.2 innings, 53 walks.
• The hard-luck southpaw failed to get above the .500 mark again despite a second straight sub-3.00 ERA campaign.

AL Pitchers

1. WILCY MOORE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.28 ERA, 19 wins, 7 losses, .731 win percentage, 50 appearances, 12 starts, 13 saves, .234 opposing batting average.
• After going 30-4 for Class-B Greenville in the Sally League in 1926, Moore hardly wilted with an upgrade in competition.

2. TED LYONS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 22 wins, 14 losses, 307.2 innings, 30 complete games.
• After racking up twice as many walks as strikeouts in 1926, Lyons reined in his control and displayed his most dominant set of numbers over his 21-year career.

3. WAITE HOYT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 22 wins, 7 losses, .759 win percentage, 256.1 innings, 23 complete games.
• In his seventh year with the Yankees, Hoyt became a 20-game winner for the first time. Average support of 6.7 runs per start certainly helped.

4. URBAN SHOCKER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 18 wins, 6 losses, .750 win percentage, 41 walks.
• While dealing with heart issues that would take his life the following year, the 37-year-old Shocker arguably had his most efficient year on the mound.

5. HERB PENNOCK, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage.
• But of course, another Yankee—what else would you expect in 1927? Pennock was relatively preserved throughout the year, allowing him to shine in the World Series.

6. TOMMY THOMAS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.98 ERA, 19 wins, 16 losses, 40 appearances, 36 starts, 307.2 innings, 24 complete games.
• The White Sox kept hoping that Thomas, a former 30-game winner for the minor league Baltimore Orioles in 1925, would be a second Lefty Grove. For the time being, it looked promising; among other things, he co-led the AL in innings pitched along with teammate Ted Lyons.

7. LEFTY GROVE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.19 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 9 saves, 51 appearances, 262.1 innings, 174 strikeouts.
• In reaching 20 victories for the first time, Grove certainly qualified for the best pitching performance of the year, producing the lone shutout of the 1927 Yankees. (It would be his only blanking of the season.)

8. GARLAND BRAXTON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.95 ERA, 10 saves, 58 appearances.
• The former Yankee came to Washington and shared co-closing duties with Firpo Marberry, taking on more of the load late in the season.

9. HOD LISENBEE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 12 wins, 7 losses, 22 saves, 64 appearances, 5 starts.
• With aging Walter Johnson and Stan Coveleski quickly immersing into a Big Fade, the 28-year-old rookie saved his best for first, defeating the almighty Yankees five times; over seven more seasons in the majors, he would rack up only a 19-49 record.

10. BUMP HADLEY, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.85 ERA, 14 wins, 6 losses, .700 win percentage.
• Lisenbee wasn’t the only rookie making waves in D.C., as Hadley began his career with a personal-best ERA—and would have a more furtive lifespan than Lisenbee.

1927 Preseason / Spring Training
 

The usual clubs are the busiest in the market, with both the Red Sox and Yanks pushing hard once again, but it is the Reds who grab the most attention with two big-name signings. The Tribe also make some key moves.

Here are the major signings and trades over the offseason:

• OF Oscar Charleston: Reds, 6 years / $68400
• OF Riggs Stephenson: Reds, 5 years / $56000
• P Dazzy Vance: Red Sox, 3 years / $41000 (extension)
• P Bill Drake: Yankees, 5 years / $40000
• OF Kiki Cuyler: Phillies, 4 years / $39300 (extension)
• OF Charlie Jamieson: Indians, 4 years / $35400
• P Erskine Mayer: Red Sox, 3 years / $30700 (extension)
• P Bill McCall: Tigers, 3 years / $23100 (extension)
• OF Ken Williams: Red Sox, 2 years / $22400 (extension)
• P Ping Gardner: Athletics, 4 years / $21080 (extension)
• SS Walter Cannady: Tigers, 3 years / $20060 (extension)
• P Frank Lange: Cubs, 1 years / $11120

• P Bill Evans and C Bennie Tate from Robins to Phillies for OF Tex Vache
• 2B Eddie Moore from Robins to White Sox for P Hi Bell and 2B Fresco Thompson
• 2B Jake Flowers and P Lefty Weinert from Red Sox to Braves for 1B High Pockets Kelly
• C Johnny Schulte from Indians to Reds for OF Cuckoo Christensen
• OF Ben Paschal from Indians to Tigers for P Frank Allen and SS Charlie Engle

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The pundits are predicting a bit of a cakewalk for the Bucs, with Detroit ascendant in the AL.

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