1906 Opening Day
 

A real fillip for the group when Deacon is indeed ready for Opening Day. In an effort to not overtax him, I have slotted him down the rotation for now. That may change later.

As always, HERE is our team page for those inclined to fully immerse. For the rest, a summary.

Catchers

• C Roger Bresnahan – certainly had an impact after joining us last season (290 / 367 / 418 with 5.0 WAR in 112 games) and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do for us over a full campaign.
• Charlie Dexter (R) – will once again be our C / IF utility backup, although with more of an emphasis on backup backstop duties.

Infielders

• 1B Charlie Hickman (R)
• 2B Harry Steinfeldt (R)
• 3B Tommy Leach (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)
  
• Danny Murphy (R)
• Rabbit Robinson (R) also OF
• Art Hoelskoetter (R)

Outfielders

• LF Matty McIntyre (L)
• CF Billy Maloney (L)
• RF Pop Foster (R)
  
• Rip Cannell (L)
• Otis Clymer (S)

Rotation

1. RHP Jack Chesbro
2. RHP Cy Young
3. RHP Deacon Phillippe
4. LHP Nick Altrock

Obviously our main area of concern. Nick is the youngest of the group at 29, and Deacon is very much a wildcard.

Bullpen

• LHP Ed Barry
• RHP Howie Camnitz
• RHP Lou Fiene
• RHP Charlie Rhodes
• LHP John Skopec

I am carrying five relievers and keeping Deacon on a tight leash, so these guys will have a lot more responsibility thrust upon them than previously.

1906 April
 

We get back-to-back shutouts from Jack and Cy to start the season. Deacon makes a rusty return. Nick’s first start is a poor one. A 2-run homer by Steinfeldt gives us a walkoff win against Cincy. Both Deacon’s and Nick’s second outings are much-improved. We win seven of our first ten, a nice way to start. Six of our first twelve games go into extras.

In the final game of the month, Young feels a twinge in his shoulder and has to come out. He’ll be right for his next start, but this only highlights how close we are to disaster should one of our starters suffer something more long-term.

We go 10-7 for the month.

Hot

• Cy Young: has flown out of the blocks with a 4-0 start and 1.10 ERA, here’s hoping that niggle disappears as quickly as it came.

Not

• Jack Chesbro: only early, I know, but worrying signs that all those innings last season took their toll as Jack posts a 3.89 ERA in his first five starts.

Around the Leagues

• Cincinnati’s Sam Crawford registers his 1000th career hit.

Awards

• 04/23 POTW: AL – Frank LaPorte (St. Louis) .619 / 3 RBI; NL – Sherry Magee (Philadelphia) 591 / 3 HR / 6 RBI.
• 04/30 POTW: AL – Ed Walsh (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 11 K / 18 IP; NL – Noodles Hahn (Cincinnati) 2-0 / 0.50 / 9 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Zaza Harvey (New York) 423 / 3 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Sherry Magee (Philadelphia) 397 / 3 HR / 12 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Jack Pfiester (Washington) 4-0 / 1.79 / 17 K / 40.1 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Al Orth (Philadelphia) 4-1 / 0.80 / 19 K / 45 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Eddie Collins (Chicago) 277 / 1 HR / 5 RBI.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ralph Glaze (Chicago) 1-2 / 2.50 / 15 K / 36 IP.

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1906 May
 

Any concerns we have for Cy are seemingly assuaged when he hurls a four-hitter his next start to outduel Brown in a 1-0 win over the Cubs.

The same can’t be said for Nick Altrock, who suffers a shoulder strain that will keep him out for 5-6 weeks. Carl Druhot gets the call-up and goes straight into the rotation.

We’re playing OK, but one feels we’ve expended a lot of our luck in these early weeks and that one more key injury may be our undoing. At mid-month, only the Cubs have a better RD than ours (+24) thru 25 games.

Carl Druhot’s MLB debut is against the great man, Christy Mathewson. It is a forgettable one as we get licked 8-1.

We explode for 12 runs on 11 hits in one magical inning in a 14-5 pummelling of the Beaneaters. Later that same series our bullpen gives us 6+ scoreless and Dutchie has 5 hits including a dinger and 4 RBI including the walkoff winner in a 16-inning 7-6 victory.

But our rotation is what worries me most, as we concede 58 runs in a ten-game stretch (with one of them a two-hit shutout by Young) and our starters just look ratty as all get-up. If our hitting regresses even slightly we are in big trouble if we can’t get this sorted out.

We finish with an ugly-beautiful 14-11 May to sit a half-game back of Brooklyn at 24-18.

Hot

• Our bats: 274/329/354 slash puts us 1st in the NL for each, the only reason we’ve the record we do.

Not

• Our arms: 3.13 starter ERA may not look so bad, but if there was some way of breaking the month into two halves, the latter would tell a sordid tale indeed.

Around the Leagues

• After a sluggish start, the White Sox put themselves in contention with a 16-11 month, but it is the Senators who are surprise leaders, tied with the A’s at 24-18.
• A’s ace Eddie Plank posts the first no-no of the season against Boston. Jack Powell of the Cards follows suit a week later.
• Clark Griffith of the Americans announces his intention to retire at the end of the season.
• Highlanders 1B Mike Donlin is the latest to become a member of the 1000-hit club.

Awards

• 05/07 POTW: AL – Del Howard (Philadelphia) 444 / 7 RBI; NL – Shad Barry (New York) 542 / 1 HR / 5 RBI.
• 05/14 POTW: AL Otto Hess (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 / 8 K / 18 IP; NL – Harry Lumley (Brooklyn) 526 / 4 RBI.
• 05/21 POTW: AL Mike Donlin (New York) 500 / 5 RBI; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 419 / 2 HR / 11 RBI.
• 05/28 POTW: AL – Bill Bernhard (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.00 / 2 K / 22 IP; NL – Ed Delahanty (Boston) 414 / 1 HR / 10 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Erve Beck (Chicago) 353 / 1 HR / 18 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Ed Delahanty (Boston) 362 / 2 HR / 20 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Frank Corridon (Chicago) 6-2 / 1.39 / 23 K / 71 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Jack Powell (St. Louis) 6-1 / 1.57 / 31 K / 63 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Fred Beebe (St. Louis) 5-4 / 2.43 / 49 K / 81.1 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Karger (St. Louis) 3-4 / 2.41 / 32 K / 71 IP.

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1906 June
 

The month starts well, as we get six wins from our first eight. Admittedly, four of these are from a fairly substandard Beaneaters side – one of which earns Carl Druhot his first W in the bigs – but those are the series you must win if you want to be in the mix come the pointy end of the season.

Nick Altrock’s expected return date comes and goes with it no clearer when he’ll be able to resume playing.

As is often the case with these dog days of the mid-season, there’s little to report of note.

We get a scare when Deacon is forced from a game with a back twinge, but he seems to recover OK from it and doesn’t miss a turn. That doesn’t change the fact he simply isn’t the pitcher of past seasons. Once again, my earlier prodigality with our staff comes back to haunt us.

We finally get Nick back with just a couple days left in the month. For now I am keeping Deacon in the rotation and Carl goes into the pen, but with Deacon showing all the signs that he is a spent force, this will almost certainly need some fiddling with, perhaps from externally. Nick’s first start back is a rusty no-decision, as we somehow conspire to throw away a 2-run lead in the 12th and lose it 9-8 walkoff.

A 1-4 finish is a messy end to an up-and-down month in which we fashion a 13-12 record to sit two games off the pace.

Hot

• Our gumption: plenty of adversity to contend with but these guys are going out there and giving it their all. Not sure we’ve got what it takes to be among the contenders come the stretch, but I am 100% certain it won’t be through lack of trying if we do come up short.

Not

• Deacon Phillippe: has been a stalwart servant of this club and Legacy rules should ensure he remains a one-club player, but he looks out on his feet right now. If any / all of his 4.39 ERA / 1.01 FIP- / 1.36 WHIP don’t show rapid signs of coming down, he is destined for a relief role before this season is out. Before this month is out, most likely.
• Billy Maloney: ohfer his last 22 AB for the month.

Around the Leagues

• The cream rises in the AL as Chicago and Detroit make a break from the rest, with the Browns trying desperately to come for the ride.
• The NL is a more blanketed affair, with just a couple games between first and fifth.
• Our own Honus Wagner reaches the 1000-hit milestone. Going to move this back to 1500 now.
• Brooklyn’s title hopes receive a huge setback when a broken kneecap suffered in an off-field mishap sidelines gun shortstop Bill Keister for the year.

Awards

• 06/04 POTW: AL – Mike Donlin (New York) 500 / 8 RBI; NL – Cy Young (Pittsburgh) 2-0 / 1.00 / 4 K / 18 IP.
• 06/11 POTW: AL – Orval Overall (Cleveland) 2-0 / 1.50 / 7 K / 18 IP; NL – Al Orth (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.00 / 7 K / 18 IP.
• 06/18 POTW: AL – Andy Coakley (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 9 K / 18 IP; NL – Sammy Strang (New York) 440 / 1 HR / 4 RBI.
• 06/25 POTW: AL – Bill Bernhard (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.00 / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Rube Waddell (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.43 / 16 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 396 / 21 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Elmer Flick (Philadelphia) 344 / 1 HR / 13 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 6-2 / 0.89 / 36 K / 71 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 6-2 / 1.48 / 62 K / 73 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Jim Pastorius (Chicago) 4-2 / 1.71 / 16 K / 52.2 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Karger (St. Louis) 2-5 / 2.87 / 20 K / 59.2 IP.

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1906 July
 

We kick off the month by completing a sweep loss at the Cards, putting us 4 GB and at real risk of falling out of touch. Back-to-back doubleheaders are the last thing we need, but that’s what we face next against the division-leading Cubs, the start of a 13-day run with no off-days.

But then this amazing group lifts to get us wins against Waddell and then Brown, then the next day Chesbro shuts them out on four hits in a 4-0 win against Reulbach and Phillippe pitches his first good game in a long while to get us yet another win. Unbelievable character shown by the lads.

We get a 1-0 win against Waddell the next day in 13 innings but Young is injured in the process and will miss a few rotation turns, because with the heavy workload – exacerbated by the extra-innings game – I have to IL him and call up Ed Barry. Camnitz, who has been doing everything asked of him and seems to be coming along well, will take his spot.

Two more wins cap a stunning 7-game sweep of the Baby Bears. Camnitz’s first start of the year is a beauty in a tight walkoff win over Brooklyn. We run the streak to nine before dropping one to the Superbas and our erstwhile teammate Charlie Smith.

For that break-free run that looked so daunting at its outset, we go an astounding 12-1, taking us from 37-32 to 49-33. The last game features a two-hit CG from Deacon that harks back to his glory days.

How does one get one’s head around a concept as ineffable as form? It’s like trying to catch smoke in a butterfly net. We looked gone for all money after that Cardinals series but then something clicked and it all came together. No idea how or why, but for one of the few times in my life I’m not going to overthink it and simply enjoy for the ride.

Ahh, the best-laid plans...

Our 50th win of the season comes at a huge cost when Bresnahan is struck by an errant throw while legging out a triple, fracturing his hand. Six weeks, minimum, he’ll be on ice.
Oftentimes, as the old saying goes, you can’t win for losing. Heck, I don’t even know what that means.

What his injury means is disarray in the squad and, on my part, uncertainty. Do I put Maloney in at catcher even though he’s hardly played a game there all year and move Cannell to CF? Or do I make Dexter the everyday backstop and use Billy to rest him?

In the end I do something else:

TRADE 2 OF 5: (07/17): C Charlie Luskey traded to New York (AL) for C Fred Abbott.

Simply a slight upgrade. A band-aid. I’ll flip-flop Dexter and Maloney behind the plate and Fred will get some innings as well, mainly as a defensive sub. This, the way I see it, makes the best of a bad situation. Or at least hopefully minimises the damage.

The effect of Duke’s absence is immediate as we drop three on the trot before Jack pitches a four-hitter to get us a 1-0 win in which we only have three hits ourselves. One of those losses is a 10-2 disaster that all but seals Deacon’s fate when Cy returns, as he makes his way to the bullpen until further notice. We score just 9 runs in the first 6 games after Roger’s injury and fall behind the Cubs, before Cy marks his return with a three-hitter and the bats finally awaken for a 10-0 rout of the Giants.

At the end of this month that has seemed like a year, in which we go a streaky-to-the-extreme 18-11, we are leading the Senior Circuit by a game from the Cubs, with the Phillies, Superbas, Giants, and Cards all well within reach.

Hot

• Our intestinal fortitude: once again these fantastic ballplayers take some fairly serious adversity in their stride and get it done. Whatever the outcome of this season, it will always be one that I remember fondly because of the application and sheer guts shown by our playing group.
• Harry Steinfeldt: while I am reluctant to single anyone out individually, Harry’s performance is just too good not to, as he hits 383 with 20 RBI (almost double the next best, Dutchie’s 11) and a wRC+ of 175.

Not

• Our luck: seriously now, after last year I thought we might get a decent run of good fortune. I, apparently, thought wrong.

Around the Leagues

• Unexpectedly, it is the Tigers who drop off the pace in the AL, as the White Sox and Browns gain a slight ascendancy. Then the Browns go cold, leaving the Sox to move five games clear and put themselves in prime position heading into the stretch.
• The Phillies run a 10-game win string early in the month.
• A trade late in the month sees P Fred Glade sent by the Giants to the Browns in return for C Tubby Spencer and 2B Danny Shay.

The updated Top 100 Prospects list is released. Pretty slim pickings for us in this regard, with Charlie Rhodes our highest-ranked player at #30.

Awards

• 07/02 POTW: AL – Ed Walsh (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 12 K / 18 IP; NL – Hans Lobert (Philadelphia) 500 / 0 RBI.
• 07/09 POTW: AL – Jimmy Dygert (Washington) 3-0 / 1.00 / 9 K / 27 IP; NL – Charlie Smith (Brooklyn) 3-0 / 1.00 / 12 K / 27 IP.
• 07/16 POTW: AL – Bill Bernhard (St. Louis) 3-0 / 0.72 / 7 K / 25 IP; NL – Terry Turner (Cincinnati) 481 / 3 RBI.
• 07/23 POTW: AL – George Mullin (Detroit) 2-0 / 1.00 ERA / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Jack Chesbro (Pittsburgh) 2-0 / 1.00 ERA / 8 K / 18 IP.
• 07/30 POTW: AL – Orval Overall (Cleveland) 2-0 / 0.50 ERA / 15 K / 18 IP; NL – Happy Townsend (New York) 2-0 / 0.50 ERA / 4 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Mike Donlin (New York) 406 / 0 HR / 17 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Johnny Kling (St. Louis) 368 / 1 HR / 18 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Bill Bernhard (St. Louis) 7-1 / 1.57 / 25 K / 69 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Frank Smith (St. Louis) 7-1 / 2.81 / 44 K / 77 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Slow Joe Doyle (Washington) 3-1 / 2.75 / 17 K / 36 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Karger (St. Louis) 4-2 / 3.05 / 20 K / 62 IP.

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1906 August
 

August begins with a strange “feeling-out” period, as if a heavyweight championship bout the protagonists know won’t be won with a single knockout blow. Despite pallid offence, we get off to a decent enough start with 4 wins from 6. Two of these are back-to-back deep extra-inning games, a 2-1 win in 14 followed by an 8-7 loss in 18, both against Boston.

Dutchie goes a most uncharacteristic 0-for-7 in that second game and it is indicative of his poor early-August form as he hits 167 over the first ten games. Maloney, at 097 over the same period, is even worse. Chesbro is another who really struggles in his first few starts for the month, all three of which we lose.

Still, we manage to maintain our lead – apart from a two-day period when the Cubs catch, but never pass, us – all the way until the end of the month. Not by dominating. Nor by preventing ourselves from, on occasion, being dominated. But by grinding out more wins than losses. It ain’t sexy, but almost every time it’s how you achieve your goal.

The final week of August sees us begin a stretch of 15 games in 14 days that culminates in the Cubs and ourselves meeting for four in Chi-Town. We manage to win the first three of these, then celebrate Roger’s long-awaited return to the fold by getting shut out on two hits by the Cards to round the month off.

That gives us a 17-10 record for the month and puts us at 72-51 overall, a single game to the good of Chicago with 31 to play.

Hot

• Matty McIntyre: has been our best player all season, and continues that with an exceptional August that sees him slash 345/430/460 and lead the team with an OPS+ of 170.
• Charlie Rhodes: as our 2.85 Starter ERA (5th in the NL) shows, our rotation has once again been pretty up-and-down this season, which has put extra pressure on our bullpen. Charlie has been the go-to guy for us in this regard, and has been fantastic. 5-2 for the season with a 1.48 ERA is an excellent return by the rookie.

Not

• Honus Wagner / Jack Chesbro: our performance this month is even more impressive when you take into consideration that our two talismen both have extremely ordinary sectionals. Dutchie has perhaps the most ineffectual month of his storied career, slashing 261/333/304 and posting a wRC+ of 94, nearly half of McIntyre’s mark. Jack, meanwhile, went 2-4 / 4.26 and it would seem almost a given that for us to have a chance of prevailing this season one or both of them are going to have to come good.

Around the Leagues

• Chicago stumbles early to let the Browns and Tigers close the gap, then continues its backslide to the point where the Browns overtake them just after mid-month. St. Louis then puts their foot down and a superlative 20-5 August sees them get out to a 7-game lead by the time it’s done. That may well be enough.
• I certainly don’t see the NL as a two-way go just yet, with the Phillies loitering just 5 ½ back. The rest, with the closest of them 10 GB, are probably out of it now.
• The Giants lose ace Christy Mathewson for the year to forearm inflammation.

Awards

• 08/06 POTW: AL – Jake Weimer (Detroit) 2-0 / 0.00 / 10 K / 18 IP; NL – Frank Schulte (Chicago) 480 / 1 HR / 6 RBI.
• 08/13 POTW: AL – Orval Overall (Cleveland) 2-0 / 0.00 / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Jesse Tannehill (Brooklyn) 2-0 / 1.42 / 7 K / 19 IP.
• 08/20 POTW: AL – Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 591 / 4 RBI; NL – Bobby Wallace (St. Louis) 579 / 4 RBI.
• 08/27 POTW: AL – Mike Donlin (New York) 429 / 5 RBI; NL – Emmet Heidrick (Cincinnati) 565 / 3 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Mike Donlin (New York) 364 / 0 HR / 16 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Cy Seymour (Chicago) 333 / 2 HR / 21 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Jack Coombs (Philadelphia) 6-1 / 1.94 / 31 K / 65 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 6-1 / 1.01 / 21 K / 62.1 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Jack Coombs (Philadelphia).
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Karger (St. Louis) 3-4 / 3.50 / 26 K / 61.2 IP.

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1906 Stretch
 

We start the stretch in scintillating fashion, as Charlie Hickman mashes two taters – ending up just a single shy of the cycle – while driving in an NL-record 8 runs and Rip Cannell goes 5-for-6 with a double in an 11-2 win at Cincy. Charlie then proceeds to hit two more a couple days later against the Cards as we win five from six and head to Chicago 2 ½ ahead.

This series is what you’d expect, with neither side willing to give an inch. We win the opener 2-1 in 10. They win the next game 5-3 behind Waddell. We win the third 2-0 as Young pitches a 5-hit gem to beat Brown. Then we sneak by in the closer 4-3 with a solo jack by Hickman in the top 9th holding up.

4 ½ up, 21 to play. Phillies still in the mix a game back from the Cubs.

We stumble a bit in the next series against a struggling Reds unit, losing consecutive games for the first time since early August, then getting out of jail in the next by scoring 4 in the bottom 9th for a 6-5 walkoff win on a two-out Foster single.

But the bats go cold just at the least opportune moments, as we drop two shutout losses to the Giants and the Cubs get within one.

Then Nick Altrock no-hits the Beaneaters to earn the franchise its 500th win.

With 10 to play we lead by two with a # of 9.

We keep making a mess of things and the Cubs keep not doing so. Well, not as often as us. Seldom enough to catch us on the next-to-last day of September after we drop two on the trot to Brooklyn. Then pass us as we manage just two hits against – would you believe it? – Charlie Smith, the first time since mid-July we’ve dropped three in a row. Talk about timeliness. A 6-4 loss the following day completes the sweep loss but Chicago also drop their game.

We head home for what is basically a head-to-head two-game playoff with the Cubs.

Young gets us back square with a 6-3 win over Ed Reulbach, his 20th for the season, as Steinfeldt drives in four.

Waddell then outduels Chesbro for a 1-0 win.

We head to Cincy for the final game of the regular season (or, in this case, hopefully not...) while the Cubs play theirs at St. Louis. Simple math abides: we must win and have them lose to force a tiebreaker.

The equation is rendered moot as we complete our capitulation with a 4-1 loss.

Devastating. Even more so when news filters through the Cubs lose their game 7-3.

Hot / Not

• No point in bouquets or brickbats at this time, we were valiant in defeat but, not to put too fine a point on things, choked when it mattered.

Around the Leagues

• The Browns drop 10 of their first 11 games in September and the Tigers and White Sox also have their struggles, all of which allows the A’s to sneak right back into the mix and then hit the front in mid-September. The two teams jockey for position the rest of the month, with the other two right on their heels. With a handful of games left, 1 ½ games separates the four of them, with the Browns ahead by a half-game. The Tigers are the first to be eliminated as the A’s again take control, and they clinch it with two to spare.
• The Cubs and Cards play a 21-inning marathon, with Chicago getting home 2-1. A couple weeks later, Detroit and Cleveland take a game into the 22nd inning before the scoreless deadlock is broken and the Tigers win 1-0.
• Zaza Harvey of New York wins another AL batting title with a 378 BA, while the Cubs’ Cy Seymour takes the NL crown with 329.

Awards

• 09/03 POTW: AL – Chick Stahl (New York) 500 / 3 RBI; NL – Charlie Hickman (Pittsburgh) 444 / 2 HR / 10 RBI.
• 09/10 POTW: AL – Hal Chase (New York) 542 / 9 RBI; NL – Irv Young (Cincinnati) 2-0 / 0.00 / 8 K / 18 IP.
• 09/17 POTW: AL – Mike Donlin (New York) 545 / 2 HR / 7 RBI; NL – Red Ames (New York) 2-0 / 0.50 / 12 K / 18 IP.
• 09/24 POTW: AL – Doc McJames (Boston) 2-0 / 0.50 / 8 K / 18 IP; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 522 / 1 HR / 5 RBI.
• 10/01 POTW: AL – Harry Bay (Chicago) 462 / 4 RBI; NL – Tom Hughes (New York) 2-0 / 0.00 / 7 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Mike Donlin (New York) 414 / 2 HR / 12 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Elmer Flick (Philadelphia) 347 / 1 HR / 21 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 7-0 / 1.34 / 39 K / 87 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Happy Townsend (New York) 7-0 / 0.93 / 21 K / 68 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Eddie Collins (Chicago) 324 / 1 HR / 15 RBI.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Karger (St. Louis) 4-3 / 1.78 / 26 K / 65.2 IP.

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1906 World Series
 

Chicago Cubs (89-65) v Philadelphia Athletics (89-65)

Back to best-of-seven, Cubs with the home-field advantage.

You’ll excuse the lack of color here, I’ve never been much of a good loser.

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Game 1 in Chicago: Athletics 2, Cubs 1 (11 innings)
Game 2 in Chicago: Cubs 2, Athletics 1
Game 3 in Philadelphia: Cubs 7, Athletics 5 (12 innings)
Game 4 in Philadelphia: Cubs 6, Athletics 4
Game 5 in Philadelphia: Cubs 7, Athletics 4

Chicago wins series 4-1
Series MVP: Danny Green (Chicago)

Adding to their misery, the A’s lose Eddie Plank for 9 months to a ruptured UCL, meaning he’ll miss at least the first half of the 1907 season.

1906 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1906 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1906 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

A bit of an anomaly in HR which is interesting, will have to keep an eye on that.

1907 The First Time Around
 

AL CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (92-58)
NL CHAMPIONS: Chicago Cubs (107-45)
WORLD SERIES: Cubs 4, Tigers 0 (1 tie)

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .350 average, 98 runs, 180 hits, 38 doubles, 14 triples, 6 home runs, 82 RBIs, 61 stolen bases.
• Just another year of greatness for Wagner, who among other achievements set a career high with 61 steals.

2. SHERRY MAGEE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 28 doubles, 12 triples, 4 home runs, 85 RBIs, 46 stolen bases.
• Magee kept the Phillies (who hit .225 without him) from becoming the NL’s version of the Hitless Wonders.

3. FRED CLARKE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 97 runs, 13 triples, 68 walks, 37 stolen bases.
• After a number of years where he took time off from his playing duties to concentrate full time on managing, Clarke began a three-year period where he played almost every day, with his usual excellence.

4. TOMMY LEACH, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 102 runs, 12 triples, 43 stolen bases.
• Rebounding back to prime form, Leach was one of four Pirates with over 30 steals.

5. GINGER BEAUMONT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 187 hits, 14 triples, 4 home runs, 62 RBIs, 25 stolen bases.
• The veteran speedster got a new lease on life in Boston after a recent injury curtailed his output in Pittsburgh.

6. ED ABBATICCHIO, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .262 average, 82 RBIs, 65 walks, 35 stolen bases.
• The man traded to the Pirates for Beaumont, Abbaticchio flourished in a winning environment after a yearlong holdout with the Beaneaters.

7. FRANK CHANCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 111 games, .293 average, 51 walks, 35 stolen bases.
• Despite sitting out over 40 games, the Cubs’ first baseman-manager remained an A-list threat at the plate.

8. SPIKE SHANNON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .265 average, 104 runs, 82 walks, 33 stolen bases.
• In his one full year at New York, Shannon became a valuable leadoff spark for the Giants.

9. CY SEYMOUR, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 25 doubles, 8 triples, 3 home runs, 75 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• Seymour’s continued strong output made it easy for Giants manager John McGraw to tell fellow star outfielder Mike Donlin to take a hike when he demanded a raise.

10. JOHN TITUS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .275 average, 23 doubles, 12 triples, 3 home runs, 63 RBIs.
• “Silent John” let his bat do much of the talking with another strong supporting turn for the Phillies.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .350 average, 97 runs, 212 hits, 28 doubles, 14 triples, 5 home runs, 119 RBIs, 53 stolen bases.
• An AL equal to Honus Wagner finally emerged—with all due respect to Nap Lajoie—as the 20-year-old Cobb became the youngest batting champion until Al Kaline (barely) unseated him off that throne in 1954.

2. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 102 runs, 188 hits, 34 doubles, 17 triples, 81 RBIs.
• Although Cobb wasn’t making too many friends in Detroit, he must have at least gotten Christmas Card consideration from Crawford, who thrived with Cobb in the lineup as protection.

3. ELMER FLICK, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 18 triples, 64 walks, 41 stolen bases.
• He was dancing as fast as he could until he could dance no more: The 31-year-old Flick enjoyed his last great year, leading the AL in triples for a third straight season, before enduring a sudden decline; consistent gastritis was said to be the main issue.

4. HARRY DAVIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .266 average, 84 runs, 35 doubles, 8 home runs, 87 RBIs, 20 stolen bases.
• Davis took the last of four straight sole AL home run titles, something only Babe Ruth would match in AL history.

5. GEORGE STONE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 77 runs, 191 hits, 11 triples, 59 walks.
• The reigning AL batting champ (before Cobb began to monopolize the honor) had a slight drop-off—perhaps the result of holding out for higher salary to start the season.

6. TOPSY HARTSEL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 93 runs, 106 walks, .405 on-base percentage.
• The A’s table–setter reached double-digits in walks for the second time in his career.

7. HAL CHASE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 72 runs, 68 RBIs, 32 stolen bases.
• Always one to crave money—illicitly or otherwise—Chase threatened to jump to an outlaw league back in his native California unless he got a raise. He apparently got it.

8. NAP LAJOIE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 30 doubles, 2 home runs, 63 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• Though his batting average dropped 54 points—some suggested he was entering decline at age 32—Lajoie still remained one of the AL’s most potent hitters.

9. SOCKS SEYBOLD, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .271 average, 29 doubles, 5 home runs, 92 RBIs.
• An original member of the A’s, Seybold put together savvy numbers in what would be his last full-time season at age 36.

10. EDDIE HAHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .255 average, 87 runs, 84 walks.
• The ultimate Hitless Wonder: A strong enough effort to make this list despite failing to reach double-digits in either doubles (9), triples (7) or home runs (0).

NL Pitchers

1. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.00 ERA, 24 wins, 12 losses, 315 innings.
• Big Six restored his standing as the NL’s best pitcher after struggling the year before with a bout of diphtheria.

2. ORVIE OVERALL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.68 ERA, 23 wins, 7 losses, 268.1 innings.
• A strong Overall effort from Orvie, raising his record to 35-10 since a mid-1906 trade to the Cubs…after previously going 22-28 in Cincinnati.

3. THREE FINGER BROWN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.39 ERA, 20 wins, 6 losses.
• In a relatively modest encore to his incredible breakout showing of 1906, the real remarkable thing about Brown’s 1.39 ERA is that it was the third best figure on his own team.

4. TULLY SPARKS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.00 ERA, 22 wins, 8 losses, 265 innings.
• The Phillies ace peaked with career highs in wins and ERA, helping to place him in his current standing as fourth on the Phillies’ all-time ERA list.

5. JACK PFIESTER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.15 ERA, 14 wins 9 losses.
• Though not as low as Brown’s remarkable 1.04 ERA of the year before, Pfiester’s 1.15 figure still ranks as the fourth best in modern NL history.

6. BOB EWING, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 1.73 ERA, 17 wins, 19 losses, 37 starts, 332.2 innings.
• Ewing became the latest to prove that pitchers couldn’t have it both ways in the Deadball Era, setting a career low in ERA—and a career high in losses.

7. CARL LUNDGREN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.17 ERA, 18 wins, 7 losses.
• After Pfiester (above), the relatively unheralded Lundgren capped a four-year run consisting of a 65-27 record with the fifth lowest ERA in modern NL history.

8. VIC WILLIS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 21 wins, 11 losses, 292.2 innings.
• Willis continued the trend of winning 20 at Pittsburgh after repeatedly losing 20 for Boston earlier in the decade.

9. ED KARGER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 15 wins, 19 losses, 314 innings.
• See Bob Ewing, above; among Karger’s precious win total was a seven-inning perfect game, part of a doubleheader in which both the Cardinals and Boston Doves (Braves) agreed not to play nine frames in the nightcap.

10. SAM LEEVER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 1.66 ERA, 14 wins, 9 losses.
• Despite a winning percentage below his generous .660 career mark, Leever’s ERA would represent his sole sub-2.00 figure.

AL Pitchers

1. ED WALSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.60 ERA, 24 wins, 18 losses, 56 appearances, 46 starts, 37 complete games, 422.1 innings.
• Big Ed began the Herculean stage of his career by becoming only one of two AL pitchers to throw over 400 innings in a season—something he’d do again the next year.

2. ADDIE JOSS, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.83 ERA, 27 wins, 11 losses, 34 complete games, 338.2 innings.
• Playing the workhorse more than ever, Joss set career highs in wins, innings and complete games.

3. CY YOUNG, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.99 ERA, 21 wins, 15 losses, 343.1 innings.
• Just when it looked like age was starting to catch up to Young, he rebounded from a 13-21, 3.19 ERA season in 1907 and became the first pitcher in major league history to win 20 games after turning 40.

4. DOC WHITE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 27 wins, 13 losses, 291 innings.
• Overdue wins finally arrived for White, who failed to reach 20 in three previous seasons despite sub-2.00 ERAs in each.

5. EDDIE PLANK, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 24 wins, 16 losses, 8 shutouts, 40 starts, 343.2 innings.
• After injuries robbed him of a fifth straight 20-win campaign by one the year before, Plank returned to full form and surpassed the milestone once more.

6. CHIEF BENDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.05 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses.
• The anti-workhorse, the sparingly used but always efficient Bender began to make it tougher for A’s manager Connie Mack to keep him on the bench.

7. ED KILLIAN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 1.78 ERA, 25 wins, 13 losses, 314 innings.
• A return to form for Killian, who missed half of the previous year to injury, all despite allowing his first home run in over 1,000 innings.

8. GEORGE WINTER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.07 ERA, 12 wins, 15 losses, 256.2 innings.
• Like teammate Cy Young (above), Winter enjoyed one of his more effective summers despite a losing record.

9. HARRY HOWELL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.93 ERA, 16 wins, 15 losses, 316.1 innings.
• The Brooklyn native continued in his age-old struggle to earn a more deserving won-loss record to match a stellar ERA with the Browns.

10. BILL DONOVAN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.19 ERA, 25 wins, 4 losses, .862 win percentage.
• No Detroit pitcher embraced the coming of Ty Cobb more than Donovan, whose already superb pitching was buoyed by six runs of support per start.

1906/07 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/06.

There are six new Legacies entering the League, including a couple of familiar names.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1907 season:

• Washington Senators: Walter Johnson (164.8 WAR; 802 games pitched)
• Boston Americans: Tris Speaker (134.2 WAR; 1065 games played)
• Brooklyn Superbas: Nap Rucker (47.1 WAR; 336 games pitched)
• New York Giants: Larry Doyle (45.0 WAR; 1622 games played)
• Chicago Cubs: Heinie Zimmerman (33.6 WAR; 1022 games played)
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Nick Maddox (9.0 WAR; 93 games pitched (conceded: one-club player))

Tris Speaker was also eligible for the Cleveland Naps, but the Americans’ higher Draft Pick gets him.

Clyde Milan (39.9 WAR; 1982 games played) was also eligible for the Senators, but Johnson’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Fred Merkle (19.8; 1105) was also eligible for the Giants, but Doyle’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 102 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1906 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Washington Senators (367) – Walter Johnson
2. Boston Americans (318) – Tris Speaker
3. Brooklyn Superbas (434) – Nap Rucker
4. New York Giants (632) – Larry Doyle
5. Chicago Cubs (763) – Heinie Zimmerman
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (608) – Nick Maddox
7. Boston Doves (325)
8. St. Louis Cardinals (347)
9. Cincinnati Reds (424)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (464)
11. Detroit Tigers (477)
12. St. Louis Browns (510)
13. Philadelphia Athletics (538)
14. Cleveland Naps (582)
15. New York Highlanders (596)
16. Chicago White Sox (616)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Boston Americans (318)
2. Boston Doves (325)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (347)
4. Washington Senators (367)
5. Cincinnati Reds (424)
6. Brooklyn Superbas (434)
7. Philadelphia Phillies (464)
8. Detroit Tigers (477)
9. St. Louis Browns (510)
10. Philadelphia Athletics (538)
11. Cleveland Naps (582)
12. New York Highlanders (596)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (608)
14. Chicago White Sox (616)
15. New York Giants (632)
16. Chicago Cubs (763)


We get yet another Legacy, and with our pitching where it is right now, he should prove handy indeed.

Especially in light of the two players who will go at #1 and #2, this is arguably the thinnest group we’ve had through to this point, with very little quality on offer.

We end up taking the following players:

1. P Nick Maddox

• Advanced for his age (20) and should be ready for frontline duties almost from the off. We’ll start him in the pen but at the first sign of trouble he’ll come into the rotation.

2. IF Red Killefer

• Not too bad a type for a second-round pick and, at just 20, can be kept on ice to see how he progresses.

3. LHRP Tacks Neuer

• As I’m sure you are beginning to understand, I will never turn down the chance to stock up on southpaw arms.

4. RHRP Lew Brockett

• Cannon fodder, at best.

5. LHRP Roy Castleton

• Another young lefty we’ll just hang onto and see what happens.

FULL DRAFT LOG

1907 Preseason / Spring Training
 

We go 12-6 in ST and are picked to finish at 84-70, six adrift of the Cubs.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1907 Opening Day
 

As always, HERE is our team page for those inclined to fully immerse. For the rest, a summary.

Catchers

• C Roger Bresnahan
• Art Hoelskoetter (R) – looking to get more out of Art this season and he’ll back up Roger to free up Charlie a bit for IF duties.

Infielders

• 1B Charlie Hickman (R)
• 2B Harry Steinfeldt (R)
• 3B Tommy Leach (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)
• Danny Murphy (R)
• Charlie Dexter (R) – will still spend some time behind the plate.
• Rabbit Robinson (R) also OF

Outfielders

• LF Matty McIntyre (L)
• CF Billy Maloney (L)
• RF Pop Foster (R)
• Rip Cannell (L)
• Otis Clymer (S)

Rotation

1. RHP Jack Chesbro
2. RHP Cy Young
3. LHP Nick Altrock
4. RHP Howie Camnitz

Bullpen

• RHP Lou Fiene
• LHP Nick Maddox
• RHP Deacon Phillippe
• RHP Charlie Rhodes
• LHP John Skopec

As I mentioned earlier, Nick will be moved into the rotation at the first sign of strife.

1907 April
 

Our Opening Day game at Cincy is a rainout – let’s hope that isn’t an omen for the season ahead. When we drop three of our first four-game series and Honus goes 1-for-18, my anxiety in that regard is not improved. The third of those losses is on an 11th-inning walkoff grand slam by Wahoo Sam Crawford.

We are equally poor in our first homestand, dropping three of four to the Cubs. Our team BA is 214 thru this period.

We finally get headed in the right direction when we win three of four at the Cards to put us at 5-7, a minor miracle given Bresnahan is hitting 105 to this point, Wagner 170 and McIntyre 156.

By dint of a 6-1 final week, we crawl back to finish at 8-8. Let’s just pretend this month never happened, then, shall we? Given our run diff is exactly zero, it isn’t so hard to imagine.

Hot

• Nick Altrock: 4-0 means he is responsible for exactly half our wins in the month. 154 ERA+ / 82 FIP- / 1.5 WPA means he earned them.

Not

• Our bats: icicles abound, and not just with the big three I’ve already mentioned. Team BA of 213, OPS of 563, wOBA of 265 are all near-worst in the NL. Not one among the starters hitting 300+.

Around the Leagues

• Washington rookie sensation Walter “The Big Train” Johnson wins his first game in the bigs, 2-1 over the Highlanders. He grabs his first career save a couple games later. His Senators fly out of the gates, going 9-1 for their first 10 games and finishing the month two games ahead of the Browns at 12-5. Things are looking up in the nation’s capital.
• The Phillies win their first nine games of the season and keep it going to streak the field at 15-2, 4½ games clear of Chicago and 6½ up on us.
• Ed Reulbach and Rube Waddell of the Cubs combine for a no-hitter against Cincinnati, and yet still somehow manage to lose the game 1-0.
• Cincinnati loses veteran shortstop Bill Dahlen for most of the season to a severe hip strain.

Awards

• 04/22 POTW: AL – Tim Jordan (Chicago) 440 / 2 HR / 6 RBI; NL – Elmer Flick (Philadelphia) 478 / 2 HR / 7 RBI.
• 04/29 POTW: AL – Ed Walsh (Chicago) 3-0 / 0.90 / 9 K / 20 IP; NL – Johnny Bates (Brooklyn) 545 / 5 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Kid Nance (Boston) 350 / 1 HR / 7 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Elmer Flick (Philadelphia) 391 / 2 HR / 14 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 5-1 / 1.43 / 21 K / 50.1 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Al Orth (Philadelphia) 5-1 / 2.44 / 22 K / 51.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Walter Johnson (Washington) 3-3 / 2.98 / 26 K / 45.1 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Nap Rucker (Brooklyn) 2-3 / 2.62 / 30 K / 48 IP.

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1907 May
 

New month, same old problems as we are shut out consecutively by the Cards to kick May off, the second of these on just two hits. We lose the next game walkoff to the Cubs as Wagner is ohfer his first 14 AB for the month before he breaks the drought the next day with four in a 10-3 win. We lose another walkoff the next day, the another less dramatically the day after, and suddenly we are an ugly 8 GB after 21 played.

Chesbro tries to singlehandedly turn things around against the Giants when he not only pitches a three-hit shutout, but also cracks two triples and drives in three runs in a 6-0 win. We do improve, winning three of that four-game series, but I still do a spot of tinkering: Leach to CF; Steinfeldt to 3B; Murphy to 2B; Maloney to the pine.

We get a bit of a roll on, and this despite losing Pop Foster to what is eventually diagnosed as an intercostal strain that will keep him on ice for a fortnight or so. A 12-inning walkoff 2-1 win against the Reds that features a 5-hit game from Leach forms part of a 7-3 stretch that gets us into a much better position in the standings, an upturn heavily correlated to Dutchie finally finding form as he runs a lengthy hit string.

Three straight against the Cubs – two of them walkoff wins – close out an excellent rebound month by the lads in which we fashion an 18-10 record to sit at 26-18 and just a half-game back from the Cubs and Phillies.

Hot

• Jack Chesbro: bounced back from his 0-4 start with a vengeance, posting the numbers you see listed in the Awards section below. The others follow his example and are the main reason we are where we are right now.
• Our resilience: yet again, while playing well beneath their capabilities, this group somehow finds a way to win and get our season back on track.

Not

• Our offence: the magic trick can only take us so far, these guys simply must start producing more runs.

Around the Leagues

• It’s up via the express lift and down via the stripper pole for the Phillies and Senators, as both regress swiftly to the peloton. That said, each remains tied for their respective division and look likely to compete well into the campaign.
• Highlanders hurler Joe McGinnity is knocked out for the season thanks to a torn UCL.

Awards

• 05/06 POTW: AL – Jimmy Dygert (Washington) 2-0 / 1.00 / 14 K / 18 IP; NL – Cy Seymour (Philadelphia) 440 / 1 HR / 4 RBI.
• 05/13 POTW: AL – Jimmy Dygert (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 / 10 K / 18 IP; NL – Christy Mathewson (New York) 2-0 / 0.50 / 6 K / 18 IP.
• 05/20 POTW: AL – Fred Clarke (Detroit) 440 / 1 HR / 5 RBI; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 538 / 9 RBI.
• 05/27 POTW: AL – Bill Carrigan (Boston) 550 / 6 RBI; NL – Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 7 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Kid Elberfeld (Detroit) 385 / 0 HR / 12 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Cy Seymour (Chicago) 354 / 2 HR / 14 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Doc White (Detroit) 6-0 / 0.65 / 27 K / 69 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Jack Chesbro (Pittsburgh) 6-0 / 1.29 / 23 K / 63 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Walter Johnson (Washington) 5-2 / 1.43 / 27 K / 63 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Nap Rucker (Brooklyn) 4-5 / 2.46 / 56 K / 80.1 IP.

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1907 June
 

We finish out our long series against the baby Bears well, winning five of seven to briefly take a share of the lead, then three wins from four against the Doves gets us solo top spot for the first time this season.

Ourselves, the Cubs and Phillies flip-flop throughout the remainder of what is a fairly uneventful first half of the month. But then a dreadful home series against Philadelphia, in which we lose three of four and score just 5 runs on a handful of hits, rattles the nerves a bit. Thankfully we seem to get past this bump in the road fairly quickly and get back to winning more than we lose.

Meanwhile, the Cards have put together a nice little stretch, winning 12 straight to affix themselves to the leading bunch.

That bunch is incredibly bunched come month-end, with us a half-game clear of the Cards and the Phillies another game back from them. Our 17-11 June leaves us at 43-29 overall.

Hot / Not

• Everything is humming along OK, with neither out- or underperformance of note.

Around the Leagues

• The AL is even tighter than the NL, with just three games between the top five sides. Detroit sits 2½ clear of a three-way tie between the Naps, A’s and White Sox.
• Del Howard of the A’s has a rare 6-hit game, driving in 4 in a wild 13-12 win over the White Sox.
• An astounding game between the White Sox and Browns needs 23 innings to decide a winner, with the Sox eventually prevailing 8-7. Chicago’s Erve Beck breaks the MLB record with 7 hits and 12 at-bats), while St. Louis 1B Ed Konetchy goes 5-for-10.
• An elbow tendon blowout ends Phillies (and former Pirates) pitcher Button Briggs’ season prematurely.

Awards

• 06/03 POTW: AL – Charles Bender (Philadelphia) 3-1 / 0.91 / 14 K / 29.2 IP; NL – Christy Mathewson (New York) 2-0 / 0.00 / 12 K / 18 IP.
• 06/10 POTW: AL – Del Howard (Philadelphia) 500 / 8 RBI; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 476 / 1 HR / 6 RBI.
• 06/17 POTW: AL – Ty Cobb (Detroit) 462 / 2 HR / 8 RBI; NL – Bill Hinchman (St. Louis) 625 / 1 HR / 3 RBI.
• 06/24 POTW: AL – Zaza Harvey (New York) 583 / 2 HR / 7 RBI; NL – Heinie Berger (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.50 / 10 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Zaza Harvey (New York) 420 / 2 HR / 17 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 452 / 2 HR / 19 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Addie Joss (Cleveland) 6-1 / 1.23 / 20 K / 73 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 7-1 / 1.00 / 59 K / 72 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: George McQuillan (Detroit) 4-3 / 1.65 / 25 K / 60 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Heinie Berger (St. Louis) 5-2 / 2.10 / 36 K / 60 IP.

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1907 July
 

Tempered aspirations for this month, just wanting to remain in close contact with the lead to position ourselves nicely for a sustained stretch run. Anything above that is gravy. Strong series against the Cards and Phillies are the perfect way to start.

The league cancelled the Reserve Clause after the ’06 season which means that Free Agency has been introduced. I have been slowly working my way through the players signing those we want and with whom we are keen to avoid arb. In the process thereof, Charlie Hickman told us point blank he wasn’t interested in re-signing and wanted to test the market. While I respect his wish to do so, it leaves us in a bind if we can’t find a replacement. And so, somewhat reluctantly given how smoothly things seem to be going, I end up pre-empting his departure thus:

TRADE 1 OF 5: (07/11): 1B Charlie Hickman and P John Skopec traded to Philadelphia (AL) for IF Del Howard.

I’ve had my eye on Del since he entered the league in 1905, and his form this year has only intensified my interest. He plays all but 3B as well so that should add to our versatility, although he’ll man 1B for the most part. He is also under team control until 1915, although I’ll try and lock him down for at least a few years. We lose a solid lefty reliever in Skopec, but that frees up a spot for Babe Adams to come up. Hopefully this is a good move for us both now and in the seasons to come.

We suffer a bit of a stumble against the Giants, losing three of three including back-to-back walkoffs, before bouncing back with four wins from four against the Doves, although our performance in this series is far from convincing. We keep it going with a couple wins against Philly, and in the middle of this series a fantastic trade virtually falls into my lap:

TRADE 2 OF 5: (07/26): OF Billy Maloney, SS Lee DeMontreville and OF Gene Good traded to New York (AL) for OF Zaza Harvey.

Zaza is an absolute gun, but for whatever reason things between him and the Highlanders weren’t working out. This is a huge gain for us, and for very little cost indeed. Especially so close on the heels of the Howard deal, I believe this the missing piece of the puzzle for our offence. Billy has been a fantastic servant to this ballclub but this is a clear and sizeable upgrade for us.

Despite Zaza tripling in a run on debut, we drop his first game after Altrock is injured early and then Phillippe implodes to let them pinch it from us in the 9th, snapping our string at six. It seems only a niggle for Nick, but we play it safe and IL him, moving Maddox into the rotation for the first time.

We finish off another strong month in questionable style against the struggling Doves, dropping one and then just scraping through in the next on a 12th-inning bases-loaded walk by Howard. That gives us a 17-8 July and puts us at 60-37, two clear of the Phillies with the Cards a further 2½ behind them.

Hot

• Jack Chesbro: Happy’s up-and-down season continues as he puts together a fantastic sectional that earns him the monthly prize. Our pitching overall has been fantastic this season, leading almost all of the stat categories and providing us with the consistent sorts of performances we need.
• Danny Murphy: I’m not going to lie to you, Murph was on his last legs at the season’s outset. But he has applied himself superbly all year and is a driving force in July, slashing 312/341/442 with 12 RBI, a 345 wOBA and 142 OPS+, second only to Dutchie’s 150.

Not

• Harry Steinfeldt: with places in the lineup at a premium, Harry picks a poor time to hit a downtrend (185 with just 2 RBI for the month), and he now finds himself out of an everyday role.

Around the Leagues

• The Tigers make their intentions clear as they string together a 12-game win streak at the start of the month to put plenty of distance between themselves and their rivals. The White Sox also lift their game and move into a clear second spot, but the Big Cats are utterly dominant, going 22-5 for the month and kicking eight clear, aa seemingly unassailable margin given the form they are showing.
• Gun Giants rookie 2B Larry Doyle suffers a season-ending broken kneecap.
• As the deadline approaches, some clubs make their move in the market. The Browns send pitcher Bill Bernhard to the Phillies in exchange for 3B Bill Shipke and catcher Howard Wakefield, while the Highlanders acquire outfielder Al Burch from the Reds in exchange for 3B Joe Ward and veteran pitcher Jack Cronin.
• The updated Top 100 Prospects list is released. Red Killefer is our highest-ranked player at #23, just ahead of Babe Adams at #28 and Nick Maddox at #33.

Awards

• 07/01 POTW: AL – Eddie Plank (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.50 / 9 K / 18 IP; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 464 / 2 RBI.
• 07/08 POTW: AL – Ginger Beaumont (Philadelphia) 448 / 3 RBI; NL – Charlie Smith (Brooklyn) 2-0 / 0.50 / 8 K / 18 IP.
• 07/15 POTW: AL – Orval Overall (Cleveland) 2-0 / 0.00 ERA / 14 K / 18 IP; NL – Frank Smith (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.50 ERA / 9 K / 18 IP.
• 07/22 POTW: AL – Jimmy Dygert (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 ERA / 13 K / 18 IP; NL – Frank Schulte (Chicago) 476 / 2 HR / 5 RBI.
• 07/29 POTW: AL – Walter Johnson (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 ERA / 9 K / 18 IP; NL – Zaza Harvey (Pittsburgh) 458 / 2 HR / 7 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 343 / 2 HR / 20 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Frank Schulte (Chicago) 392 / 2 HR / 16 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Doc White (Detroit) 6-1 / 1.77 / 43 K / 61 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Jack Chesbro (Pittsburgh) 6-1 / 1.13 / 27 K / 71.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: George McQuillan (Detroit) 6-2 / 2.28 / 31 K / 71 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Nap Rucker (Brooklyn) 3-2 / 1.77 / 42 K / 61 IP.

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1907 August
 

An iffy start to the month with a couple heavy losses just shaking our confidence and stalling the momentum we’d built up in July. Thankfully it doesn’t hurt us much on the standings as both the Phillies and Cards also struggle for consistent form.

We get Nick Altrock back from the IL but I decide to let Nick Maddox show us what he’s got for a bit longer and so Altrock goes into the pen for now.

We seem to put this behind us with a really strong four-game road sweep of Brooklyn, only to undo our good work with a couple of poor losses at 37-71 Boston, including a 6-5 walkoff after we led by five. Yet again, however, our rivals fail to punish us for our wastefulness.

After a period where we alternate wins and losses literally on a daily basis, we win four of five to finish off the month on a positive note, with an emphatic 12-3 home win on the very last day a real statement to our nearest rivals, against whom we still have six to play.

That win, which gives us a ?-? record for August, puts us 5½ games ahead of St. Louis at 75-46, with the Phillies still within reach at 7 GB.

Hot

• Honus Wagner: after what has been a fairly long, lean period for the champion, Dutchie gets back to his devastating best this month, wining his first monthly award since ’04. On top of the stats you see in that section, Honus adds a stunning 2.2 WAR in August, along with 8.8 RC27 and 1.64 WPA, a 444 wOBA, 192 OPS+ and 203 wRC+.
• Cy Young: while Cy’s 5-1 / 2.24 August isn’t by any stretch his best month of the season so far, his continued excellence has been the gel that has held our NL-best pitching together the entire campaign. Were there not a guy named Waddell in this league, Cy would almost be a shoo-in for the award named after him.
• Del Howard / Zaza Harvey: moving clubs is never easy, but these two have slotted in beautifully for us and neither has missed a beat in the fantastic seasons they are in the process of fashioning.

Not

• Pop Foster: has been great for us all year. Until now. Hit just 202 for August and if we are to go on and win the Pennant, we need him back to his swashbuckling best.

Around the Leagues

• Detroit’s lead is very much assailable as it turns out, and they let Chicago right back into it with a 12-14 August. The Sox, on the other hand, go 17-7 and look full of running, just two games adrift. All the other sides will need to start thinking about the ’08 campaign, I’m afraid.
• George Stone hits for the cycle against the Browns early on in the month, racking up five hits in all and driving in a pair.
• The Doves are the first team eliminated this season.

Awards

• 08/05 POTW: AL – Ed Konetchy (St. Louis) 588 / 1 HR / 8 RBI; NL – Jack Chesbro (Pittsburgh) 2-0 / 1.42 / 10 K / 18 IP.
• 08/12 POTW: AL – Ty Cobb (Detroit) 458 / 6 RBI; NL – Art Devlin (New York) 522 / 1 HR / 7 RBI.
• 08/19 POTW: AL – Addie Joss (Cleveland) 2-0 / 0.00 / 5 K / 20 IP; NL – Charlie Hemphill (St. Louis) 500 / 3 RBI.
• 08/26 POTW: AL – Red Murray (Cleveland) 524 / 2 HR / 4 RBI; NL – Frank Smith (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.50 / 7 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Red Murray (Cleveland) 340 / 3 HR / 14 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 376 / 1 HR / 20 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Harry Howell (New York) 5-3 / 1.02 / 21 K / 70.2 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Christy Mathewson (New York) 7-1 / 1.98 / 38 K / 72.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Walter Johnson (Washington) 3-4 / 1.83 / 39 K / 64 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: George Bell (Cincinnati) 4-3 / 2.25 / 11 K / 68 IP.

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1907 Stretch
 

A touch of deja-vu all over again, with us in basically the same position we were in this time last season. Let’s hope the outcome is entirely different.

We start the season in nervous fashion, dropping a couple of games to Cincy in each of which we muster just five hits. We win two of three against the Cubs and split a two-gamer with the Reds, as the Phillies keep coming and close to within five. The Cards, who we meet next for six, are a game in back of them.

Straight away we put ourselves under enormous pressure with two bad home losses. The Phillies are charging and all the ghosts of ’06 float back into the picture, as we go on to drop seven straight and it’s all gone to hell in a handbag just like it did last year at almost the identical time.

I’m so mad I can hardly see straight.

We host Brooklyn for four a game-and-a-half clear of Philadelphia and two ahead of the Cards. A split there and then two wins from three against the Jints reduces that further so that, as we enter a four-game road series at the Doves, we lead by just one, with the Cards still the same margin back.

A big 11-1 win the first game comes at a cost, with Nick Maddox injured. It forms part of a double-header in which Matty McIntyre has 7 hits, with the nightcap a wild 12-6 win. We get away with one the next day, scoring 3 in the 9th to walk it off 4-3, and finish off the sweep with a 5-1 win behind Camnitz.

Maddox is gone for the year with a torn meniscus. I have neither the time nor energy right now to contemplate what that means longer-term. Altrock back into the spin, Tacks Neuer gets his first taste of the bigs.

Again, the parallels with last season are uncanny as we host the Phillies for four up by 1½ with our magic number at 6.

Chesbro gets us a 6-1 win in the opener and then, in what may prove the key moment of the season, Del Howard gets us a 4-3 walkoff win with an RBI single the next day.

Not home yet by any stretch, but one more will do it. The Cards are gone.

We fail miserably the next day, blown out 7-0, which means Nick Altrock, making his first start in months, has to beat Al Orth, against whom we have historically had problems.

We lose it 5-3. So nothing has changed from the start of the series apart from the vital factor of four less games to defend our lead over.

That lead jumps to two on our off day as Big Six Mathewson does us a solid and beats the Phils.

Magic Number = 1. Two left, at Cincinnati.

Chesbro v Hahn in the opening game. We lose 5-2.

The Phillies have won their final game, putting us both at 91 wins. It all comes down to game 154 as to whether a dreaded tiebreaker will be needed.

Cy Young v George Bell.

We win it 1-0 as Young shuts them out on 5 hits for his 29th – and obviously most crucial – win of the season.

Sweet. Relief. I’m off to get a pacemaker fitted.

Hot

• Del Howard: as loath as I am to single anyone out because we win as one and lose as one in this great game, but – with all due respect to the other players – I’m not sure I’ve seen anything non-Wagnerian (and, mark my words, Dutchie was monumental down the stretch as well) like what Del did from 1 September thru Game 154. He’s an unassuming type, our Del Boy and it is by deed rather than word that he picks up the group and carries them over the line: .320 with 20 RBI under intense pressure is a simply unbelievable effort.
• Cy Young: breaks the club’s single-season wins record with 29, pitching a colossal 347+ innings – not bad for a rising 41-year-old!

Not

• Not a one of them, in my books – individual performance be damned - we're off to The Big Dance!

Around the Leagues

• The White Sox sweep the Tigers in their series to begin September, putting them on top for the first meaningful time this season. Their lead is out to 3 ½ by the time the two sides meet again a week later for one game that Detroit wins. A week or so later, the Tigers sweep all three to close to within one. Then they draw level. Then Detroit goes top. Then Chicago. It goes like this right to the end, with the Sox a game ahead entering the final day. Both sides win and they are home. (When I commented a couple seasons back about how the era of Cobb / Detroit v Collins / Chicago had begun, I’m not sure I quite envisaged a race like this.)
• Brooklyn loses rookie hurler Nap Rucker for the season courtesy of a torn back muscle. The Highlanders’ Mike Donlin suffers a similar fate thanks to a bout of shoulder bursitis. With just a few games left and them having already been eliminated, the A’s lose Charles Bender to a torn rotator cuff.
• Red Ames of the Giants throws a no-hitter against Cincy.
• Nap Lajoie of the A's becomes the first player to reach 1500 hits. Cincinnati’s Sam Crawford – who, incidentally, wins this season’s NL batting crown with a 326 BA – is currently second on that list with 1347.
• Ty Cobb wins the AL Triple Crown with a 348 BA / 8 HR and 95 RBI.

Awards

• 09/02 POTW: AL – Fred Glade (St. Louis) 2-0 / 1.00 / 3 K / 18 IP; NL – Del Howard (Pittsburgh) 444 / 4 RBI.
• 09/09 POTW: AL – Jiggs Donahue (Washington) 394 / 6 RBI; NL – Elmer Flick (Philadelphia) 444 / 8 RBI.
• 09/16 POTW: AL – Eddie Plank (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.00 / 10 K / 18 IP; NL – Al Orth (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.50 / 9 K / 18 IP.
• 09/23 POTW: AL – Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 526 / 3 RBI; NL – Charlie Smith (Brooklyn) 3-0 / 1.67 / 6 K / 27 IP.
• 09/30 POTW: AL – Ty Cobb (Detroit) 565 / 9 RBI; NL – Matty McIntyre (Pittsburgh) 600 / 6 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 459 / 1 HR / 17 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Hans Lobert (Philadelphia) 337 / 1 HR / 10 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Eddie Plank (Philadelphia) 7-1 / 0.88 / 46 K / 72 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Al Orth (Philadelphia) 7-1 / 1.62 / 19 K / 72.1 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Walter Johnson (Chicago) 3-4 / 1.91 / 45 K / 66 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Heinie Berger (St. Louis) 5-4 / 3.38 / 40 K / 77.1 IP.

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1907 World Series Preview
 

Chicago White Sox (89-65) v Pittsburgh Pirates (92-62)

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

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How much left in the tank do these two sides have after such epic stretch runs? That is the key question here. I can’t speak for them, but if our guys are anything to go by then both sides are operating on fumes.

Then again, the World Series has some strangely recuperative powers.

It’s easy – and, in my opinion a rookie error – to focus all of your attention on Collins when assessing the ’07 White Sox, same as if you do so with Wagner in our squad. They have a bunch of weapons, including Fielder Jones, Frank Chance and Erve Beck, along with one of the best pitchers in the game in Ed Walsh leading a really solid rotation.

So we will be treating each player with the respect they are due.

This should be a fantastic match-up involving two sides desperate to make worth having endured what they’ve just been through these past six weeks.

1907 World Series - Game One
 

Game 1 in Chicago, October 10th 1907
Ed Walsh (28-13, 2.58) v Jack Chesbro (23-20, 2.32)

A huge challenge from the off against Walsh, who is an out-and-out gun. We need Jack to keep us close enough and see how we go from there.

A dreadful start as the first three hitters go triple-double-double to post a deuce. We actually outhit them thru five but fail to take our chances until finally getting on the board with one in the 6th, singled in by Howard.

Jack is certainly doing his bit after his early wobble, and then Leach puts us ahead in the 7th with a 2-run homer that bounces off the foul pole, only for them to tie it up in the home half.

Our defence has improved over the past few seasons, but Wagner continues to be a problem in this area. His second error for the game gifts them the go-ahead run in the 8th and we look done for.

But this amazing lineup finds another level and ties it up on three hits in the 9th, with Bresnahan knocking it in with a single, and have two in scoring position with just one out. But Harvey, one of the best hitters in the game, lets us down in the clutch and they stay where they are.

I’ve hit for Jack in the process, so it’s Altrock facing them for the bottom 9th, which he negotiates no problem.

We get two on in the 11th but just can’t get the key hit, then go ahead in the next on a McIntyre double, our 16th hit of the game to their 9.

It’s up to Babe Adams to close it out, but they lead off with a double and the runner gets to third as they make the second out of the inning. Beck triples and it is tied at 5.

We again get a rally going in the 13th, putting men at the points with one out, and this time Harvey brings it in to get our noses back in front. A two-out single by Wagner with an error by their RF puts runners at second and third. I decide to hit Clymer for Adams and he doesn’t let us down, doubling both men in to make it 8-5.

Now it’s up to Charlie Rhodes.

A 1-2-3 inning finally ends it. What a start to the series.

Pittsburgh 8, Philadelphia 5 (13 innings)

BOX SCORE

1907 World Series - Game Two
 

Game 2 in Chicago, October 11th 1907
Eddie Cicotte (20-19, 3.16) v Cy Young (29-12, 2.09)
Pittsburgh leads series 1-0

Our Game 154 hero has the chance to put us in a really strong spot heading home to Pittsburgh, but we’ll have to handle the tricky Eddie Cicotte if we are to get the win.

We fall behind early again as they tag Cy for two in the second, and seem sluggish from the get-go. Cicotte adds a third a few innings later with a two-out single and another man is nailed at home by a great assist by Murphy.

They just keep wailing on Young, who looks a shell of his usual self, and further pad their lead with a pair in the 5th. That’s it for him in this one as I go to the bullpen.

We have just two hits to this point and look gone.

We load them up but fail to score in the 8th and in the end, this is a simple math equation: it took us 19 hits to beat them yesterday; little chance of us winning this one with just 4.

And we don’t.

Chicago 5, Pittsburgh 0

BOX SCORE

1907 World Series - Game Three
 

Game 3 in Pittsburgh, October 13th 1907
Howie Camnitz (18-13, 2.67) v Andy Coakley (21-18, 2.51)
Series tied 1-1

For the first time in the series it is we who open the scoring, as Honus knocks one in for us in the 1st with a two-out hit. A single and a walk load them up and Steinfeldt comes through to wipe them clean with a triple.

Camnitz, despite a couple scoreless innings, is looking shaky, and they tag him for a run in the third on a Collins double.
Both hurlers settle right down and hold sway thru the middle innings, with it still 4-1 until we add one in the bottom 6th on a Murphy groundout.

Howie has done really well but gets a bit woolly in the 8th, putting two on and so I go to the pen. Altrock gets us out of the inning with no runs conceded. They get one on in the 9th but Nick shuts them down for the win.

Pittsburgh 5, Chicago 1

BOX SCORE

1907 World Series - Game Four
 

Game 4 in Pittsburgh, October 14th 1907
Jack Chesbro (0-0, 3.38) v Ed Walsh (0-1, 4.97)
Pittsburgh leads series 2-1

I think it’s fair to presume we won’t be getting our own way as much with Walsh this time around as in Game 1. Harvey, just 2-for-15, is the key man we need to lift from this point on. Leach, hitting 143, is another.

A couple of poor pieces of baserunning – including Chesbro being doubled up at third after tripling – cost us runs early, but they make two errors in the 3rd and Wagner and Foster both cash in with two-out RBI singles to put us ahead.

Jack doesn’t give up a hit until the 4th but we extend our lead in the home half of that inning after they misplay two more grounders, but leave another man at third whom we should have plated. We do score again in the next, with Howard singling one in as Wagner and Foster are both causing plenty of trouble for Walsh. A sac fly by McIntyre makes it 5-0 later that same inning and we end up leaving them loaded.

We ride our luck as they leave them full in the 6th and Wagner spills one in the 7th, but this one is all about Happy Jack Chesbro, who pitches a 4-hit shutout to get us within a win of taking the prize.

Pittsburgh 5, Chicago 0

BOX SCORE

1907 World Series - Game Five
 

Game 5 in Pittsburgh, October 15th 1903
Cy Young (0-1, 9.00) v Eddie Cicotte (1-0, 0.00)
Pittsburgh leads series 3-1

Not in any way getting ahead of myself when I say this, but Young clinching tonight would be most apropos given the stellar season he had and role he played in getting us here. In reality, I just want a better start from him than the shocker he posted in G2.

They take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd as Collins continues to give our pitchers fits, and that run holds deep into the game as our bats just cannot solve the wily Cicotte. The outs tick by and nothing doing.

Cy is magnificent, allowing just 3 hits, but it looks to be all in vain as we go into the 9th still down 1-0.

Foster leads off with a single and I put in Cannell, who also gets on with a base hit. A Steinfeldt GIDP moves the runner to third but leaves us with just one out left. Then Murphy comes through for us with the tying RBI single.

We give it straight back in the 10th, with Collins again in the thick of it.

Back we come again, as Clymer – hitting for Young – singles and a one-out walk to Bresnahan puts the championship-winning run aboard. Harvey singles to load them up for Dutchie.

He, of all people, hits into a game-ending 1-2-3 double play.

This game will break your heart and kill you, won’t it?

Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 1 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE

1907 World Series - Game Six
 

Game 6 in Chicago, October 17th 1907
Andy Coakley (0-1, 5.62) v Howie Camnitz (1-0, 1.23)
Philadelphia leads series 4-1

Well, now we have to do it the hard way. One win from two on the road, with the boys still reeling from how Game 5 slipped from their grasp. This will test their gumption, that’s for sure and certain.

They come out swinging but it takes a two-out error for us to score as Honus again fails miserably in the bases-loaded clutch.

We get at least one baserunner every inning but just can’t get a second run. In the 7th we leave two in scoring position yet again.

Camnitz has a no-no going until the leadoff man in the 8th gets on with an infield hit. Fortunately, that leads to nothing and we still hold onto our slim lead entering the 9th.

They get their second hit with one out. Chance flies out to left to get us within one out of the end, with Collins up.
He gets on with an infield hit.

Beck doubles and they walk it off.

Unbelievable.

Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 1

BOX SCORE

1907 World Series - Game Seven
 

Game 7 in Chicago, October 18th 1907
Ed Walsh (0-2, 3.92) v Jack Chesbro (1-0, 1.59)
Series tied 3-3

No point in saying anything, you all know what’s what. I will add one thing, however: I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Beck gets us again to score the opening run with a single in the 4th.

We have, over the course of the past three games, completely lost the ability to drive in runs.

The outs tick down and we don’t look a remote chance of scoring, and when they add a second in the 7th the sunset looms.

Murphy leads off the 8th with a single but the rally is snuffed out by Bresnahan, simply having a dire series, who GIDPs.

Again we get the leadoff man on in the 9th but he’s still there with two out. Howard then doubles to give us one final chance, men at second and third with McIntyre due up. I put Cannell in for him.

He flies out to CF and it is over.

We've nobody to blame but ourselves. Without taking anything away from Chicago, who fully deserve the win, we lost this as much as anything. We threw it away – twice – and then do anywhere near enough to get it back. We have to live with that.

Chicago 2, Pittsburgh 0

CHICAGO WINS SERIES 4-3.
SERIES MVP: Eddie Cicotte (Chicago)


BOX SCORE

1907 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1907 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1907 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

Walter Johnson wins the AL CYA as a rookie.

Honus Wagner wins his 5th NL MVP.



HR back in line but trips blew out a bit this year. Not too bad, but again, bears watching.

A quick word about Rube Waddell
 

7 seasons in, 7 NL Cy Young Awards for Rube. I've never seen one player dominate like this. Strasburg won 6 over the course of his career in one save, but his 100% strike rate is something else, as are the numbers he has put up so far:

• 180-106 W/L
• 2.05 ERA
• 2324 K
• 63 FIP-
• 87.7 WAR

Simply outstanding.

1907/08 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/07.

Our biggest group of Legacies to this point, albeit one of lesser obvious quality than some of its predecessors.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1908 season:

• Boston Red Sox: Larry Gardner (48.1; 1123)
• Chicago Cubs: Hippo Vaughn (46.8; 305)
• Detroit Tigers: Donie Bush (39.2; 1871)
• St. Louis Cardinals: Slim Sallee (34.0 WAR; 317)
• Philadelphia Phillies: Gavvy Cravath (33.0 WAR; 1103)
• New York Giants: Rube Marquard (32.5; 239)
• Philadelphia Athletics: Amos Strunk (27.8; 1029)
• New York Highlanders: Jack Warhop (17.0; 221)
• Cleveland Naps: Jack Graney (14.2; 1402)

Birdie Cree (15.4; 742 – conceded (one club player)) was also eligible for the Highlanders, but Warhop’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Doc Crandall (21.2 WAR; 217) was also eligible for the Giants, but Marquard’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Ed Summers (10.5; 138 – conceded (one-club player)) was also eligible for the Tigers, but Bush’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Smoky Joe Wood (39.9; 225) was also eligible for the Red Sox, but Gardner’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 124 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1907 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Boston Red Sox (396) – Larry Gardner
2. Chicago Cubs (704) – Hippo Vaughn
3. Detroit Tigers (613) – Donie Bush
4. St. Louis Cardinals (340) – Slim Sallee
5. Philadelphia Phillies (565) – Gavvy Cravath
6. New York Giants (536) – Rube Marquard
7. Philadelphia Athletics (607) – Amos Strunk
8. New York Highlanders (473) – Jack Warhop
9. Cleveland Naps (559) – Jack Graney
10. Washington Senators (325)
11. Boston Doves (392)
12. Cincinnati Reds (431)
13. Brooklyn Superbas (439)
14. St. Louis Browns (454)
15. Chicago White Sox (576)
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (591)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Washington Senators (325)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (340)
3. Boston Doves (392)
4. Boston Red Sox (396)
5. Cincinnati Reds (431)
6. Brooklyn Superbas (439)
7. St. Louis Browns (454)
8. New York Highlanders (473)
9. New York Giants (536)
10. Cleveland Naps (559)
11. Philadelphia Phillies (565)
12. Chicago White Sox (576)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (591)
14. Philadelphia Athletics (607)
15. Detroit Tigers (613)
16. Chicago Cubs (704)



No Legacy for us this year and so, due to a combination of the high number of Legacies and there being a few quality players who don’t qualify for the designation, this is the first really interesting Draft for us.

Joe Jackson – whose 674 games for Cleveland was the most he played for any club – heads the list of available Draftees. Others in the mix include outfielders Birdie Cree, Fred Snodgrass, Vin Campbell, Owen Wilson, Josh Devore and Beals Becker; pitchers Smoky Joe Wood and Harry Krause; and infielders Home Run Baker, Dick Hoblitzel and Amby McConnell.

There’s no doubt in my mind that, if he is still available, Joe will be our choice. However, we are unfortunately seventh and last to pick of the teams without a Legacy, which means the likelihood of him being so is remote. That’s when I’ll have a tough decision to make. Then again, not that tough – worst case scenario we’re still guaranteed of a handy player from Round One.

After the Legacies are out of the way, it is Washington to pick first. They take Shoeless. A wise move, but now it’s back to the drawing board for us. The Doves take Baker, the Reds take Cree, the Superbas take Joe Wood. The Browns take southpaw Harry Krause, who was in all likelihood going to be our first pick. Bummer. The White Sox go a little off-track and pick pitcher Joe Lake.

Our turn.

After a quick sit rep, we make our decision. Here’s who we take:

1. OF Vin Campbell

• In the end I opt for the long view, as Vin is raw and some seasons off from his peak. That peak, however, if all goes according to plan, will be worth whatever wait is involved. It was between him and Snodgrass (who offers catching ability but plays CF poorly), with infielder Buck Herzog a bit of a smoky that I am hoping but not expecting will still be on the table for Round 2.

2. IF Buck Herzog

• The presence of outfielder Steve Evans almost makes me change my mind, but in the end I pick the guy who may not be a superstar but who projects to provide solid and reliable service for years to come. We already have Harvey, Foster, McIntyre and now Campbell, so Evans would have meant some upheaval whereas Herzog will slot in where we’d hoped Robinson would be by now. (Evans ends up at the Cubs, so we’ll be seeing our share of him at any rate.)

3. RHSP Biff Schlitzer

• Our rotation will need some regenerating these next few years, thus my interest in Krause. Biff, unfortunately, is not the answer. But at least he’s a relatively live arm.

4. LHSP Bill Foxen

• The best of the bunch, unlikely to see action.

5. RHRP Jack Ryan

• What you’d expect down here.

An utterly engrossing Draft that completely changes the complexion of this league. Watch out for the Sens now, who all of a sudden have some offence to help The Big Train win more games.

FULL DRAFT LOG

1908 The First Time Around
 

Two incredibly close races, with the NL of course culminating in the infamous “boner” by Fred Merkle to get the Cubs home.

AL CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (90-63)
NL CHAMPIONS: Chicago Cubs (99-55)
WORLD SERIES: Cubs 4, Tigers 1

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .354 average, 100 runs, 201 hits, 39 doubles, 19 triples, 10 home runs, 109 RBIs, 53 stolen bases.
• In a dominant decade, Wagner was quite possibly at his most dominant—and reached double figures in home runs for only the second (and last) time of his storied career.

2. MIKE DONLIN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 198 hits, 13 triples, 6 home runs, 106 RBIs.
• Continuing to flip-flop between acting and baseball, Donlin gave it one last impressive go-around on the field before returning to the stage.

3. HANS LOBERT, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .293 average, 18 triples, 4 home runs, 63 RBIs, 47 stolen bases.
• No other player on the Reds hit higher than .250.

4. SHERRY MAGEE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 30 doubles, 16 triples, 40 stolen bases.
• One of Magee’s quieter years amid a stellar career, but everything was relative at the height of the Deadball Era.

5. RED MURRAY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .282 average, 15 triples, seven home runs, 48 stolen bases.
• The soon-to-be Giant was the Cardinals’ best hitter—but their worst outfielder (28 errors).

6. JOHNNY EVERS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 83 runs, 66 walks, 36 stolen bases.
• A rare .300 turn for the guy better known defensively as the middle of the legendary Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double play combo.

7. ROGER BRESNAHAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 25 doubles, 1 home run, 54 RBIs, 83 walks.
• Soon to be traded to the Cardinals (for Red Murray) to become their manager, Bresnahan eclipsed .400 in on-base percentage for the fourth time in six years.

8. JOHN TITUS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 75 runs, 2 home runs, 48 RBIs, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• “Silent John” Titus quietly continued to play Magee’s equal in the Phillies’ batting order—and he continued to stick out of a crowd with a 1890s-style handlebar mustache that had grown passé by 1908.

9. FRED CLARKE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .265 average, 83 runs, 15 triples, 2 home runs, 53 RBIs, 65 walks.
• The player-manager’s average was one of the lowest of his career, but as we mentioned above about Magee, few hitters thrived in a season dominated by incredible pitching.

10. FRANK CHANCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 129 games, .272 average, 27 doubles, 2 home runs, 55 RBIs, 27 stolen bases.
• The Peerless Leader logged 100 games for the last time in his career while guiding the Cubs to their last world championship until 2016.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 88 runs, 188 hits, 36 doubles, 20 triples, 4 home runs, 108 RBIs, 39 stolen bases.
• Though his average would be his lowest until his final season 20 full years later, it was still good enough to earn him his second of many, many batting titles.

2. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 102 runs, 184 hits, 33 doubles, 16 triples, 7 home runs, 80 RBIs.
• Crawford became the first player to win home run titles in both the NL and AL—even if the seven he hit represented the lowest ever collected by an AL season leader.

3. MATTY MCINTYRE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 105 runs, 13 triples, 83 walks.
• The Tigers’ leadoff man, after missing almost all of 1907 to a broken ankle, greatly benefitted from the presence of Cobb and Crawford in the lineup behind him.

4. DOC GESSLER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 128 games, .308 average, 14 triples, 3 home runs, 63 RBIs.
• A poor defensive outfielder, Gessler at least provided enough sock in the Red Sox’ offense to justify his everyday presence in the lineup.

5. NAP LAJOIE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 157 games, .289 average, 32 doubles, 74 RBIs.
• In the midst of a relative mid-life crisis at the plate, Lajoie still put up good numbers—but missed on his best chance to reach the World Series.

6. CHARLIE HEMPHILL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 59 walks, 42 stolen bases.
• The veteran center fielder had a strong first year with the Highlanders after spending the previous seven seasons with three other AL teams; it unfortunately would be his lone season of success as decline soon set in.

7. PATSY DOUGHERTY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .278 average, 47 stolen bases.
• The most hit-worthy among the 1908 edition of Chicago’s Hitless Wonders, Dougherty’s 47 steals represented the most of his career, while his average was easily the team’s best. (Most everyone else hit closer to an even .200.)

8. GEORGE STONE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 89 walks, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 31 RBIs, 20 stolen bases.
• Stone’s batting average dropped 40 points for the second straight year, but he still remained among the AL’s tougher outs.

9. GERMANY SCHAEFER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .259 average, 96 runs, 10 triples, 3 home runs, 52 RBIs, 43 sacrifice hits, 40 stolen bases.
• Best remembered for “stealing” first base—running from second back to first to distract pitchers from other runners on base—Schaefer, like Matty McIntrye (above), felt a statistical surge from batting in front of Cobb and Crawford in the Detroit lineup.

10. JAKE STAHL, NEW YORK-BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .250 average, 27 doubles, 16 triples, 2 home runs, 65 RBIs, 23 hit-by-pitches.
• Hit an AL-high 23 times by pitches, Stahl seemed to be liked by few opponents—especially his former teammates in New York, who plunked him three times in seven games after his trade to the Red Sox.

NL Pitchers

1. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.43 ERA, 37 wins, 11 losses, 56 appearances, 44 starts, 11 shutouts, 390.2 innings, 42 walks.
• Though Big Six had more efficient campaigns, none were more over-encompassing than 1908, setting career highs in wins, innings and appearances. But he would have traded most of that to win that final game against the Cubs.

2. THREE FINGER BROWN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.47 ERA, 29 wins, 9 losses, 312.1 innings.
• Unlike Mathewson, Brown didn’t need to trade anything away—he won that final game against the Giants’ ace and finished 4-0 against him on the year.

3. GEORGE MCQUILLAN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.53 ERA, 23 wins, 17 losses, 48 appearances, 42 starts, 359.2 innings.
• McQuillan looked destined for greatness as he followed up a wowing late-season stint in 1907, but 1908 would be as good as it got.

4. VIC WILLIS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.07 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, 7 shutouts, 304.2 innings.
• Another season, another 20 wins for the Pirates’ ace as he continued to make up for lost victories from his earlier days with the destitute Boston Beaneaters.

5. KAISER WILHELM, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 1.87 ERA, 16 wins, 22 losses, 33 complete games, 332 innings.
• Wilhelm returned to the majors a much better pitcher after two years away—but still couldn’t shake the stigma of being a 20-game loser; he tied Harry Howell’s 1905 mark for the moss losses by a pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA.

6. HOOKS WILTSE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.24 ERA, 23 wins, 14 losses, 44 appearances, 38 starts, 330 innings.
• With an exhausted Joe McGinnity beginning the burnout phase of his career, Wiltse took over as Mathewson’s new complement in the Giants’ rotation.

7. BUGS RAYMOND, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 15 wins, 25 losses, 48 appearances, 37 starts, 324.1 innings.
• The talented spitballer fought two battles: The bottle (which would ultimately overcome him) and the Cardinals, who were shut out in 11 of his 25 losses.

8. HOWIE CAMNITZ, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 1.56 ERA, 16 wins, 9 losses.
• Though Vic Willis and Nick Maddox were the Pirates’ top winners with 23 each, Camnitz easily had them both beat on ERA.

9. ED REULBACH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 24 wins, 7 losses, .774 win percentage, 297.2 innings.
• Reulbach’s year included a streak of 44 consecutive scoreless innings, which would hold as the NL record for the next 25 years.

10. LEW RICHIE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.83 ERA, 7 wins, 10 losses.
• Yet another epitome of the Deadball Era’s peak, as Richie took the good (1.83 ERA) with the bad (losing record, a pitiful 2.13 runs of support per start).

AL Pitchers

1. ADDIE JOSS, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.16 ERA, 24 wins, 11 losses, 325 innings, 30 walks.
• In his last great season—and his last of four straight years winning at least 20—Joss established the AL’s third-lowest season ERA.

2. ED WALSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.42 ERA, 40 wins, 15 losses, .727 win percentage, 66 appearances, 49 starts, 464 innings.
• Chicago sportswriter Charlie Dryden said that Walsh was “the only man who can strut standing still.” And the White Sox’ über-workhorse never strutted more than in 1908.

3. CY YOUNG, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.26 ERA, 21 wins, 11 losses, 299 innings.
• What’s most remarkable about Young’s 1.26 ERA—the fourth best in AL history, right behind Addie Joss—is that he accomplished it at age 41. Also: His .213 batting average allowed was his lowest in 16 years.

4. FRANK SMITH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 16 wins, 17 losses, 297.2 innings.
• You gotta wonder if the hard-luck spitballer was asking teammate Ed Walsh (above) to gift some of his 40 wins toward him. Smith would have had more W’s had he not split from the team for six weeks in midsummer after being fed up with criticism of his control from White Sox owner Charles Comiskey.

5. ED SUMMERS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 1.64 ERA, 24 wins, 12 losses, 301 innings.
• The rookie knuckleballer was easily the best of four different pitchers on the Tigers named Ed.

6. BILL BURNS, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.70 ERA, 6 wins, 11 losses.
• If being pinned with a lousy record despite a fine ERA—something that would dog him throughout his career—wasn’t enough, then maybe it was losing out on a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth, the first of two such starts he would endure. No wonder Burns later turned to gambling and a role in the Black Sox Scandal.

7. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.65 ERA, 14 wins, 14 losses.
• The Big Train, making his debut on this list, was luckier than Burns in one regard; he avoided a losing record for the sad-sack Senators.

8. HARRY HOWELL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.89 ERA, 18 wins, 18 losses, 324.1 innings.
• A year before his arm blew out to essentially end his career, Howell capped a five-year run not so much remarkable for his ERA during this stretch (2.02) but a below-.500 (77-90) record for a Browns team that, with one exception (1905), really wasn’t that bad.

9. RUBE WADDELL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.89 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 285.2 innings.
• The eccentric Waddell helped give the Browns rare prominence in the standings—it would be their last winning season for eight years—after his tiresome Philadelphia A’s teammates lobbied to get him traded.

10. RUBE VICKERS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 18 wins, 19 losses, 53 appearances, 317 innings.
• The A’s replaced one Rube with another in one-shot wonder Rube Vickers, who would lack Waddell’s irksome panache—but also his career stamina.

1908 Preseason / Spring Training
 

The Boston Americans, after trialling it unofficially during ’07, officially changed their team nickname to the Red Sox.

The MLB had cut the Reserve Clause in 1907 and introduced Free Agency, with players eligible for salary arbitration after three years’ major league service and full Free agency after 10.

So there were a lot of transactions in the offseason. Here are some of note:

• C Mike Grady signed as an FA by the Superbas for 3 years / $10140
• OF Fred Clarke signed as an FA by the Naps for 3 years / $9660
• 1B Harry Davis signed as an FA by the Red Sox for 1 year / $2700
• P Mike O’Neill (formerly with us) signed as an FA by the White Sox for 2 years / $2360
• P Jesse Tannehill signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $2300
• 1B Fred Tenney signed as an FA by the A’s for 1 year / $1700
• P Jerry Nops signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1640
• 1B Dan McGann signed as an FA by the Superbas for 1 year / $1440
• C Jack Warner signed as an FA by the Giants for 1 year / $1440
• SS Bill Dahlen signed as an FA by the Browns for 1 year / $1340
• 3B Wid Conroy signed as an FA by the Highlanders for 1 year / $1280
• OF Tom McCreery signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1260
• 1B Jack Doyle signed as an FA by the Phillies for 1 year / $1240
• OF Chick Stahl signed as an FA by the Giants for 1 year / $1240
• OF Sam Mertes signed as an FA by the Doves for 1 year / $1200
• C Harry Bemis signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1160
• P Ed Doheny signed as an FA by the Reds for 1 year / $1120
• P Doc McJames signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1080
• 1B Charlie Hickman signed as an FA by the Tigers for 1 year / $1040
• OF Algie McBride signed as an FA by the White Sox for 1 year / $1040
• P Cowboy Jones (formerly with us) signed as an FA by the Cards for 1 year / $930

We go 10-8 in ST, with reliever Charlie Rhodes picking up a niggle that will keep him off the mound for a week.

Interestingly, the pundits have picked the Naps to head the AL this season with 90 wins, while they fancy the Cubs to rebound from a disappointing ’07 to take the NL by a couple games from the Giants, with us in third 6 GB at 82-72.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1908 Opening Day
 

As always, HERE is our team page for those inclined to fully immerse. For the rest, a summary.

Catchers

• C Roger Bresnahan
• Art Hoelskoetter (R) – was fantastic as Roger’s backup last year and looking for more of the same.

Infielders

• 1B Del Howard (L)
• 2B Danny Murphy (R)
• 3B Tommy Leach (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)
• Harry Steinfeldt (R) – will play 2B v LHP, with Danny at RF
• Buck Herzog (R) also LF on occasion
• Charlie Dexter (R)

Outfielders

• LF Zaza Harvey (L)
• CF Matty McIntyre (L)
• RF Pop Foster (R)
• Rip Cannell (L) will play CF v LHP
• Otis Clymer (S)

Rotation

• RHP Cy Young
• RHP Jack Chesbro
• RHP Howie Camnitz
• LHP Nick Altrock

Bullpen

• RHP Babe Adams
• LHP Nick Maddox
• LHP Tacks Neuer
• RHP Charlie Rhodes
• RHP Biff Schlitzer

Deacon Phillippe, unfortunately, has been bumped onto the Reserve Roster and – injuries / form slumps notwithstanding – seems destined to spend the final three seasons of his contract with us there.

I have some fairly serious concerns about our pitching. Young continues to defy Father Time, but at 41 - for how long? Chesbro, at 33, is no spring chicken either. Maddox just hasn't come on as hoped, although he is young and hopefully this is still on the cards at some stage. Same with Adams. Altrock is injury-prone and Schlitzer, while capable, is likely a mark or two below what we need longer-term. So this is an area I'll be keeping the closest of eyes on and acting quickly and decisively if needs be.

1908 April
 

This season's schedule is a beast from the get-go. Seven straight, a day off and then 25 games without a break.

We split our first series against the Redbirds, drop two of three at Cincy. Odd start, really. Big losses followed by big wins.

Off we go on our long stretch.

It begins with our home opener, against St. Louis. Three from four gives us our first series win of the season. We head to Chi-Town for four at the Cubs, who have flown out of the blocks at 9-2. A split series comes at a huge cost, as we lose Harvey to an oblique strain for 5 weeks. Campbell gets his first taste of the Show.

We finish the month mid-standings at 8-8, 4 GB of the Cubs.


The View from the Gangplank

• Obviously the loss of Harvey isn’t what we wanted, but you have to make lemonade etc., and so I see this as a chance for Cannell to strut his stuff with more game time, same with Herzog and even young Campbell.
• The pitching is, as predicted, the first area of concern. Both Chesbro (3-1 / 3.74 / 1.51 WHIP / 116 FIP-) and, in particular, Young (1-4 / 3.35), have started shakily. The close eye gets closer.
• Tommy Leach and Danny Murphy have both begun the season well.
• Our run diff of +1 compares unfavourably with sides like the Cubs (+28), A’s (+27) and Superbas (+22).

Around the Leagues

• The season starts with a bang as Ed Walsh of the White Sox pitches an 8-strikeout no-no, with just the one walk and one error stopping it from being a perfect game. Five of the eight Opening Day contests – including all four in the NL – end up in shutouts, and Walsh’s game isn’t even one of them, as the Tigers manage to score an unearned run in the 5-1 result.
• Cincy’s Noodles Hahn hurls a 15-inning 7-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over the Cards.

Awards

• 04/20 POTW: AL – Hal Chase (New York) 476 / 1 HR / 6 RBI; NL – Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 2-0 / 0.00 / 9 K / 18.1 IP.
• 04/27 POTW: AL – Admiral Schlei (Philadelphia) 588 / 1 HR / 6 RBI; NL – George Moriarty (Brooklyn) 545 / 2 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Homer Smoot (Philadelphia) 397 / 0 HR / 8 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: George Moriarty (Brooklyn) 460 / 0 HR / 5 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Eddie Plank (Philadelphia) 4-0 / 2.37 / 21 K / 38 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 5-1 / 1.29 / 40 K / 49 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Elmer Steele (Chicago) 2-2 / 1.82 / 15 K / 34.2 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 3-2 / 2.04 / 21 K / 35.1 IP.

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1908 May
 

Our middling form continues into the new month, and matters compound further when we lose Cy for a week to a finger blister.

We get beaten up pretty badly at home by the Cubs, although we do enjoy a rare win over Waddell, with Biff Schlitzer accounting for himself very well. But it’s our only win in six as we can scrape up just 8 runs all told.

Even at this early stage it is becoming clear that, unless something dramatically changes things, we are a step or two off the pace this year. There’s no real quick-fix for this, clubs are hanging tightly onto the sort of players we would want to trade for, meaning inequitable sacrifices would be required to acquire them and we’re not going down that path again. Moreover, I’m not remotely convinced any such trade would be a net positive. We’re not playing horribly, just subpar and inconsistently at a time when the Cubs are just on fire. We just need to hang tough and do our best, but expectations are being tempered with every week. We’ve had some bad luck losing Harvey, and I’m not sure we can play much worse than we have with Wagner and McIntyre both hitting circa 200 to this point, so perhaps like last year we can pull it together and get back on track.

Perhaps.

Winning three from four against the Giants is a decent enough first step to that end. But the Cubs are unstoppable and, after a 2-2 split with the Phils, we trail them by a whopping 11 games with just 34 having been played. 3-1 series wins against the Superbas and Doves make no headway either, although they do put us above 500 for the first time since early days.

We finish the month strongly to give us a 17-13 sectional and lift us into third, albeit still a nasty 10½ GB the 36-11 Cubs.

The View from the Gangplank

• I think I’ve covered most of it in the run-through. There’s no doubt we’ve managed to turn things around somewhat and the lads are certainly trying their best. Let’s see if we can continue our upswing in June.
• Zaza, after suffering a mild setback, remains on the sidelines with no certain return date as yet. We’ll be proceeding as if he’s out for the year and take it in our stride if and when he does return.

Around the Leagues

• The A’s and Sens have just pulled away a little bit in the AL, with the equal-third-placed Tigers and White Sox 4½ behind the Sens, who trail the 28-15 A’s by 1½.
• The Cubs' ERA sits at an astonishing 1.69 to this point. The Senators, with 1.81, are the only other side who sit under 2 in this category. The league ERA is 2.44. We are presently at 2.40.
• One bit of bad news for the baby Bears is the loss of Ed Reulbach for a couple months due to a herniated disc in his back.

Awards

• 05/04 POTW: AL – Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 500 / 4 RBI; NL – Joe Tinker (Chicago) 500 / 1 RBI.
• 05/11 POTW: AL – Joe Lake (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Bill Keister (Brooklyn) 379 / 2 HR / 7 RBI.
• 05/18 POTW: AL – Slow Joe Doyle (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 / 7 K / 18 IP; NL – Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.50 / 14 K / 18 IP.
• 05/25 POTW: AL – Eddie Collins (Chicago) 478 / 1 RBI; NL – Mike Mowrey (New York) 478 / 1 HR / 4 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Eddie Collins (Chicago) 389 / 0 HR / 15 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Josh Devore (Brooklyn) 400 / 0 HR / 9 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Jimmy Dygert (Washington) 6-2 / 1.26 / 44 K / 71.1 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 8-0 / 1.00 / 37 K / 72 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Elmer Steele (Chicago) 4-2 / 2.23 / 23 K / 60.2 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Summers (Cincinnati) 6-2 / 1.59 / 22 K / 68 IP.

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1908 June
 

The series at Chicago continues as we enter June, and we split the remaining two games. A bout of forearm stiffness takes Jack out in the middle of a game we end up winning against the Cards, but the schedule fortunately lines up so that he doesn’t miss a turn.

It is about this time I try to initiate an extension with Pop Foster, whose contract with us runs out at the end of this season. However, like Hickman last year, he wants to test the FA market. I shop him around but for now the offers are pretty thin and it looks like we’ll have to let him go and buy him back if we so decide. What it most likely means is that, should it become apparent that we are no hope of challenging for the pennant, Campbell will be getting the majority of game time so as to hopefully accelerate his development.

Finally, we get Zaza back. Let’s see what that does to the group. I opt to send Neuer to the RR rather than a position player. Five relievers in these conditions is ample. He certainly doesn’t take long to get back into the swing, going 4-for-7 with a double and a ribbie his second game, an extra-inning 4-2 win at the Phils also notable for Cy’s excellent 13 IP / 3 H / 2 ER / 2 K performance. But this is another terrible series for us, with that the only win in four as we are shut out twice.

Leach hitting 074 for the month so far, Wagner 103, Foster 120. Little surprise we are struggling for consistency.

Harvey picks up another niggle. He’ll be able to play through it but we’ll be nursing him as much as possible.

By the time we head to Beantown for 5, the Cubs are 13 in front of us. We scrape by for a 3-2 series win that needs a 9th-inning rally and 2 dingers by Tommy Leach in the decider to secure with our second consecutive ugly 6-5 win.

And so on, and so forth. We crabwalk through the rest of June to finish with a 14-14 record that leaves us at 39-35 and still a dozen games adrift.

The View from the Gangplank

• If one series encapsulates this season, it is our final one of the month at the Cards, in which we go WLWLW, alternating strong performances with weak ones, but not at either extremity of the performance spectrum, just spooling tightly around the nucleus like some heavy proton.
• One rare bright spot is Cy Young, who puts in a stellar 6-1 / 1.97 performance to win the monthly pitching award.

Around the Leagues

• The Cubs do cool off a bit in the latter part of the month, just leaving the door ajar for the second-placed Phillies, who close to within 8 games. Over in the AL, the A’s still hold sway, although they, too, get the wobbles late to let both the Sens and White Sox pull within 2.
• Christy “Big Six” Mathewson no-hits the Doves. An error by Mike Mowrey stops it from being a perfect game. Ouch.

Awards

• 06/01 POTW: AL – Tris Speaker (Boston) 433 / 5 RBI; NL – Cy Young (Pittsburgh) 2-0 / 0.00 / 10 K / 18 IP.
• 06/08 POTW: AL – George Stone (St. Louis) 600 / 1 HR / 6 RBI; NL – Joe Tinker (Chicago) 448 / 2 HR / 4 RBI.
• 06/15 POTW: AL – Addie Joss (Cleveland) 2-0 / 0.00 / 4 K / 12 IP; NL – Buttons Briggs (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.50 / 7 K / 18 IP.
• 06/22 POTW: AL – Johnny Evers (St. Louis) 500 / 2 RBI; NL – Tommy Leach (Pittsburgh) 455 / 2 HR / 5 RBI.
• 06/29 POTW: AL – Homer Smoot (Philadelphia) 708 / 6 RBI; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 481 / 1 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Homer Smoot (Philadelphia) 351 / 2 HR / 14 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 410 / 2 HR / 11 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Joe Lake (Chicago) 5-1 / 1.35 / 24 K / 66.2 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Cy Young (Pittsburgh) 6-1 / 1.97 / 26 K / 77.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Joe Lake (Chicago).
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Summers (Cincinnati) 3-5 / 2.64 / 22 K / 71.2 IP.

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Booooorrrrriiiinnnngggggg...
 

I feel fairly certain you want to read in great detail about what is shaping up as a close-to-500 season as little as I want to write about it. Mid-standings mediocrity is so tiresome I’m even getting bored of trying to find new ways of jazzing up the narrative to make it readable and interesting.

So – as I will be doing whenever this is the case (let’s regard this as my own version of the “mercy rule”) – I’m going to forgo further updates and I’ll see you at the end of the regular season. Unless of course, that is, something changes. For the better, that is.

1908 Season Recap
 

OK, so I got ahead of myself saying we'd play 500 ball - we end up going 74-80.

That said, for the briefest of moments it looks like I'll have to backtrack after we beat the Cubs six straight and close to within six games.

But that's the high water mark for us as we are pretty terrible down the stretch and finish with a losing record and in the second division for the very first time.

The Cubs cruise for the most part and, despite a late wobble, win the pennant by 8 from the Phillies. However it comes at a massive cost as they lose Waddell for the season to elbow inflammation.

The AL is an entirely different matter. The A's look to have total control of the division but then lose their way in September to let the Ones, Tigers and White Sox right back in it. Washington drops off quickly, and the Tigers are eliminated in the final week, leaving just the A's and Sox, who flip the lead until the A's are a half-game ahead with one to play.

They lose that game to the Red Sox, and then lose again in the tiebreaker to pit the past two champions against each other and make it an all-ChiTown World Series, which I shall cover in a separate post.

Some other points of note from the season:

• Brooklyn’s Nap Rucker suffers a career-ending torn rotator cuff injury.
• An UCL tear finishes Cincy’s Noodles Hahn for the year.
• Rube Waddell becomes the first player in league history to reach 200 career wins. He then goes on to win the NL Pitching Triple Crown with 27-11 / 1.54 / 246 strikeouts, before the aforementioned injury strikes.
• Ty Cobb’s 342 BA wins the AL batting crown, Judge McCredie of the Giants wins the NL title with 326.
• Detroit loses shortstop Kid Elberfeld again in the latter part of the season, this time to a broken kneecap that ends his year.
• Sam Crawford notches his 1500th career hit.

The View from the Gangplank

Obviously, 1908 will be remembered as a lost season for us. To the end I am unable to put my finger on what went wrong, so I think it's best learned from and moved on from post-haste.

When it becomes obvious we're out of contention, I use the time remaining to test out a few things for future reference. Maddox as starter is a disaster, Schlitzer less so. But it is obvious we need a complete overhaul of our rotation, commencing with the upcoming Rookie Draft.

Two highlights amid the gloom are the performances of Danny Murphy and Howie Camnitz. Murph is an absolute rock for us all year and finishes with near-career best numbers in various categories. Howie finishes the year at 20-17 / 2.26 over 350+ innings, hopefully a solid foundation for the years to come.


Monthly Awards

July

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 391 / 1 HR / 12 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 336 / 3 HR / 15 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Plank (Philadelphia) 6-1 / 1.65 / 50 K / 71 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Al Orth (Philadelphia) 6-0 / 1.31 / 19 K / 75.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Harry Krause (St. Louis) 6-2 / 1.34 / 24 K / 74 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 3-3 / 2.24 / 40 K / 60.1 IP.

August

• AL Batter of the Month: Johnny Evers (St. Louis) 297 / 10 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) 333 / 14 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Doc White (Detroit) 7-1 / 1.44 / 31 K / 75 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 6-0 / 0.87 / 46 K / 62 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Joe Lake (Chicago) 6-0 / 2.04 / 21 K / 53 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Ed Summers (Cincinnati) 5-2 / 2.47 / 18 K / 65.2 IP.

September

• AL Batter of the Month: Ty Cobb (Detroit) 402 / 23 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Mike Mitchell (Philadelphia) 347 / 17 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 7-1 / 1.34 / 41 K / 74 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn) 7-1 / 0.75 / 44 K / 72 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Frank Arellanes (Chicago) 5-1 / 0.85 / 19 K / 53 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Smoky Joe Wood (Brooklyn).

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