Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: GB%
 

Just what the doctor ordered...
 

On the verge of clinching the club's first AL Pennant, the Sox get a bonus lift when Dutch Leonard hurls the league's first no-no since 1909 and the first ever by a Red Sox pitcher.

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September 1913 Awards
 

Full recap on its way but here are the Award winners for September to tide you over.

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The View from the Gangplank: end of regular season, 1913
 

We finish at 75-79, a distant 24 GB the Braves in equal 5th spot. While this isn't too far off my stated target of 500 ball, few good things happen for us this season. Dauss and Cooper both show some good signs, that's about it in the context of our franchise moving forward, and the negative column of the ledger far outweighs these two mild positives. Which means we have a lot of work to do to get us back on track. Definitely no short-term quick fix here.

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No late shocks as the two Boston sides win going away.

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The batting titles, like the Pennants, head to Beantown, with Tris Speaker (.373) and Bill Sweeney (.347) each winning it for the first time.

Washington's Smoky Joe Williams misses out on the AL Pitching Triple Crown by a measly 9 strikeouts, while Rube Foster of the Braves also wins two of the three legs in the NL.

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1913 World Series Preview
 

Boston Red Sox (100-54) v Boston Braves (99-55)

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

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

BOSTON BRAVES S+ PAGE

Happy days in Beantown with both of their teams enjoying excellent campaigns to lock down their first pennants, guaranteeing us a first-time champion for the 1913 season. Just a game apart in their regular season records, this should be an evenly-matched and hard-fought series between two clubs with no obvious weaknesses.

I believe it will go the distance, but have no idea who’ll come out on top.

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1913 World Series Recap
 

Game 1 in Boston (AL), October 8th 1913
Dutch Leonard (25-14, 2.74) v Andrew Foster (29-9, 2.42)

With a combined 56-22 record and solid ERAs, you would think this Series will start with a pitching-dominant Game 1. It doesn’t. Not that either hurler is terrible, but the bats get plenty of licks and it ends up being an absolute classic.

The Braves hit first with 2 as Crawford gets busy, but the Red Sox score singles in each of innings 1, 2 and 3 to take a 3-2 lead. Two more for the visitors in the 5th give them a slight advantage that holds until the Sox send it into extras with a late score, setting up the dramatic finale.

With one out and a man on in the bottom 10th, Tris Speaker delivers the telling blow with a walkoff run-scoring double to get the hosts a 5-4 win and early Series lead.

Red Sox 5, Braves 4 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE


Game 2 in Boston (AL), October 9th 1913
Eustaquio Pedroso (25-14, 2.74) v Claude Hendrix (20-17, 3.06)
Red Sox lead series 1-0

This one does turn out a pitching duel as Claude Hendrix hurls a gem, blanking the Braves on 5 hits to put the Sox in the box seat as they head across town. The home side takes the early lead with one in the 1st and pads it with another in the 5th that they end up not needing. Speaker is again prominent, going 2-for-2 and driving in one of the runs.

Red Sox 2, Braves 0

BOX SCORE


Game 3 in Boston (NL), October 11th 1913
George Winter (8-1, 6.52) v Earl Yingling (27-9, 2.35)
Red Sox lead series 2-0

The underrated Yingling has been a revelation in his career to date, going 73-38 with a 2.90 ERA over the past 3 seasons, and the Sox would like this matchup against Winter.

Rightly so, as it turns out as the BoSox claim another win in a game that is never as close as the final scoreline with infer. They go ahead with singles in the 3rd and 6th, add 2 more in the 7th and then – after the Braves finally get on the sheet in the home half – blow it wide open with 4 in the 8th. Only a 3-spot by the Braves in the 9th makes this remotely respectable and the Red Sox look unstoppable from here.

Red Sox 8, Braves 4

BOX SCORE


Game 4 in Boston (NL), October 12th 1913
Andrew Foster (0-1, 4.82) v Dutch Leonard (0-0, 2.25)
Red Sox lead series 3-0

And the visitors make no mistake, coming back from a seemingly hopeless position to complete a superbly-played Series sweep.

The Braves look to have a comfortable 4-1 lead after Sam Crawford’s 2-run blast in the 6th, only for the Sox to storm back with 3 in the 7th to tie it. A run in the top 9th then puts the visitors ahead and Leonard holds his nerve to close it out for the win.

Red Sox 5, Braves 4

BOX SCORE


WASHINGTON SENATORS WIN SERIES 4-0

SERIES MVP: Tex McDonald (Boston Red Sox)

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1913 Offseason
 

Thought this update better-placed here than in the pre-season section.

Plenty of action on the first day of the offseason, no rest for the wicked.

Unexpectedly, Honus Wagner voids the option over the final year of his contract with us. As much as I would love Dutchie to retire a one-club player for us, I’m not going to stump up again for the privilege. He is a HOF lock, so I’ll cover his career at that time. For now, I just wish him well, wherever he lands, and thank him for all he’s done for the Pittsburgh Pirates these past 13 years.

Eddie Plank fails to meet his vesting option and, at 37, I let him go.

Both Hans Lobert’s and Howie Camnitz’s contracts with us are done and I also make no move to retain either.

I do, however, exercise Larry Lajoie’s last year.


A bunch of managerial firings to report:

• Tom Loftus (Cubs) – it’s a cruel game this Managing caper; all the success he’s had and at the first sign of underperformance, bang bang you’re dead.
• Frank Decker (Tigers)
• Frank Selee (Yankees)
• Red Woodhead (Giants)
• Steve Pittman (Phillies)

And some stalwarts of the game are leaving it, with the biggest names Fred Glade, Jack Pfiester, Earl Moore, Sammy Strang and Kid Elberfeld.

Finally, we need to find a new hitting coach after Jason Dagel also announces his retirement. We eventually replace him with John Gilroy.

1913 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1913 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1913 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Great to see Smoky Joe Williams and Jose Mendez winning the CYAs for their respective leagues this season. Tris Speaker repeats as AL MVP, while Bill Sweeney's great year is rewarded with the NL award.

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All good on the sim accuracy again.

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1913/14 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/13.

And so it begins. The Ruth Era. Will it in any way resemble the IRL timeline version? Only time will tell. Not many Legacies again this year, but the quality is high, with Heilmann and Faber in there as well as the Bambino.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1914 season:

Boston Red Sox: Everett Scott (16.2; 1096)
Chicago White Sox: Red Faber (63.9; 669)
Cleveland Naps: Guy Morton (15.9; 317)
Detroit Tigers: Harry Heilmann (71.9; 1990)
New York Yankees: Babe Ruth (182.5; 2084)
St. Louis Browns: Jack Tobin (20.5; 1133)

Sad Sam Jones (31.2; 202) was also eligible for the Yankees, but Ruth’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 242 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 8 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1913 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1
1. New York Yankees (377)
2. Detroit Tigers (431)
3. Chicago White Sox (513)
4. St. Louis Browns (373)
5. Boston Red Sox (527)
6. Cleveland Naps (566)
7. St. Louis Cardinals (340)
8. Cincinnati Reds (418)
9. Brooklyn Robins (436)
10. Boston Braves (457)
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (523)
12. Chicago Cubs (575)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (583)
14. Washington Senators (584)
15. Philadelphia Athletics (627)
16. New York Giants (664)

Rounds 2 thru 8
1. St. Louis Cardinals (340)
2. St. Louis Browns (373)
3. New York Yankees (377)
4. Cincinnati Reds (418)
5. Detroit Tigers (431)
6. Brooklyn Robins (436)
7. Boston Braves (457)
8. Chicago White Sox (513)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (523)
10. Boston Red Sox (527)
11. Cleveland Naps (566)
12. Chicago Cubs (575)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (583)
14. Washington Senators (584)
15. Philadelphia Athletics (627)
16. New York Giants (664)


No Legacy for us again this year. Between the end of the season and the night of the Draft, the boss and I have been mapping out our gameplan for the next 3 to 5 years, which is the timeframe we feel will be needed to get this squad where we want it to be.

The player I have my eye on – Braggo Roth, who would have plugged our gap in CF nicely – has little chance of still being around for our 1st Rounder, so our shorter-term exigencies are forgone in favour of finding a player or hopefully more who we feel have the best chance of serving us well down the track.

Here’s who we end up selecting:
1. OF Elmer Smith, 21

• With Zaza entering his age-35 season and Vin’s metrics from last season worrying us, Elmer was a fairly easy selection. Being a corner outfielder, he doesn’t solve our CF problem but hopefully in the time he has to serve in a support role he can grow into that toughest of OF slots. A great pickup.

2. P Red Oldham, 20

• A southpaw whom our Scout like the look of and who thinks should evolve into a decent enough swing starter in a few years. Not much else on offer in a very thin Pool, so I back his call and grab him.

3. C Del Baker, 21

• Better glove than bat, but may prove handy in a few years’ time.

4. P Sad Sam Jones, 21

• Like Lefty Williams a year ago, Sam is a pure hunch pick by yours truly.

5. OF Grover Gilmore, 19
6. OF Alex Burr, 20
7. P Stan Baumgartner, 19
8. IF Frank Madden, 21

• Scout’s picks.

Thanks to Smith and perhaps Oldham, a not entirely wasteful venture.

FULL DRAFT LOG

1914 The First Time Around
 

1914 is, of course, the year of the “Miracle Braves”, who recover from a 26-40 start thru mid-July to surge all the way to the club’s first Championship, securing the Fall Classic’s first-ever sweep with a stunning rout of a strife-torn A’s squad.

AL CHAMPIONS: Philadelphia Athletics (99-53)
NL CHAMPIONS: Boston Braves (94-59)
WORLD SERIES: Braves 4, Athletics 0

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. SHERRY MAGEE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 96 runs, 171 hits, 39 doubles, 11 triples, 15 home runs, 103 RBIs, .509 slugging percentage.
• Perhaps displaying the best numbers of his stellar career, Magee was one of three Phillies—and one of four overall in the NL—to reach double figures in home runs.

2. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 100 runs, 35 doubles, 10 triples, 89 walks, 62 stolen bases.
• “Silent George” would be heard from as the only man other than Max Carey to lead the NL in steals between 1913-20.

3. GAVVY CRAVATH, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 100 RBIs, 83 walks.
• The slugger exploited the short reach to Baker Bowl’s right-field wall in Philadelphia like no one else; all 19 of his home runs came at home.

4. ZACK WHEAT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 26 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs.
• The all-time hits leader for the Dodgers continued his gradual emergence to the point that he helped lift Brooklyn to its best record since 1903 (even if it was still a below-.500 club).

5. BEALS BECKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 76 runs, 25 doubles, 9 home runs, 66 RBIs.
• Becker nearly made it four Phillies with at least 10 homers; eight of his nine came at home, too.

6. JOE CONNOLLY, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 120 games, .306 average, 28 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 65 RBIs.
• An epitome of the Miracle Braves’ flash-in-the-pan existence (see also Bill James, below), Connolly was the champions’ most effective hitter amid a short four-year career.

7. JAKE DAUBERT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .329 average, 89 runs, 6 home runs, 45 RBIs, 33 sacrifice hits, 25 stolen bases.
• The repeating batting champ was accompanied by three Brooklyn teammates (among seven total in the NL) to hit over the .300 mark.

8. HEINIE ZIMMERMAN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 36 doubles, 12 triples, 87 RBIs.
• Zim continued to be a pain to opposing pitchers—but arguably an even bigger pain to everyone else, including umpires and his own teammates, for his hot temper and lackadaisical play in the field.

9. VIC SAIER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .240 average, 87 runs, 24 doubles, 8 triples, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 94 walks.
• Despite the sub-standard average, Saier made up by racking up enough walks to lead everyday Cubs players with a .357 on-base percentage, while his 18 home runs were second in the NL behind Cravath.

10. CASEY STENGEL, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .316 average, 10 triples, .404 on-base percentage.
• In his second full season at Brooklyn, Stengel took the risk of shunning a multi-year contract to play for a better one the next year. The move paid off.

AL Hitters

1. EDDIE COLLINS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .344 average, 122 runs, 181 hits, 23 doubles, 14 triples, 85 RBIs, 97 walks, 58 stolen bases, .452 on-base percentage.
• Collins repeated his top echelon routine and finally got his due as the last recipient of the Chalmers version of the AL MVP. He didn’t get the car for winning the batting title—because he didn’t “win” it; they gave it to Ty Cobb for the reason explained in #4 below.

2. TRIS SPEAKER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 158 games, .338 average, 101 runs, 193 hits, 46 doubles, 18 triples, 90 RBIs, 77 walks, 42 stolen bases, .503 slugging percentage.
• Brash as ever—and for good reason—the Red Sox’ star continued to excel even while fueling a fractured clubhouse that would soon lead to his departure.

3. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 22 doubles, 26 triples, 8 home runs, 104 RBIs, 69 walks.
• The all-time triples leader tied Joe Jackson’s AL season mark of a few years earlier; 18 of his three-baggers were hit at home.

4. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 98 games, .368 average, 69 runs, 11 triples, 35 stolen bases.
• Though the batting title rules of the day said you had to play in at least 100 games, the AL still gave the crown to Cobb, whose season was limited to 98 games thanks to a broken thumb suffered during an attack upon a fish vendor. Under today’s guidelines, he wouldn’t be close to winning the batting title.

5. FRANK BAKER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 84 runs, 182 hits, 23 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs.
• Baker produced the last of four consecutive AL HR titles; he would concede a fifth straight year by sitting out from suddenly penurious A’s manager Connie Mack.

6. TILLIE WALKER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 24 doubles, 16 triples, 6 home runs, 78 RBIs.
• The future live-ball slugger (he would hit 37 homers in 1922), played to the mindset of the Deadball Era for now, leading the Browns with six jacks in his breakout season.

7. DEL PRATT, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 158 games, .283 average, 85 runs, 34 doubles, 13 triples, 37 stolen bases.
• The second baseman led the AL in games played, but his chance to add to that by one was foiled when he was suspended for the second game of a September doubleheader. If not for that, he would have logged a consecutive-game streak of over 700.

8. JOE JACKSON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 122 games, .338 average, 22 doubles, 13 triples.
• Shoeless Joe did his best to make life for what few Cleveland fans showed up tolerable as the Naps nosedived to 102 losses—thanks in large part to Federal League defections.

9. STUFFY MCINNIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 181 hits, 95 RBIs.
• The powerless McInnis (17 home runs in 2,128 career games) collected just one to go with 95 RBIs; he remained so consistent and so well liked by A’s manager Connie Mack that he was one of the few players retained during the team’s 1915 plunge into the abyss.

10. FRITZ MAISEL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .239 average, 78 runs, 9 triples, 76 walks, 74 stolen bases.
• Amid a brief six-year career, Maisel’s 74 steals in 1914 would be the most by a Yankee not named Rickey Henderson.

NL Pitchers

1. DICK RUDOLPH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.35 ERA, 26 wins, 10 losses, 336.1 innings.
• As Rudolph reached elite status with the Miracle Braves, Giants manager John McGraw had to be wondering, “Why didn’t you pitch like that when we had you (in 1910-11)?”

2. BILL JAMES, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.90 ERA, 26 wins, 7 losses, .788 win percentage, 332.1 innings.
• Not to be confused with Bill James, the future stats guru, this James developed into one of the game’s great one-year wonders; he won only six games before 1914, five afterward.

3. PETE ALEXANDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.38 ERA, 27 wins, 15 losses, 32 complete games, 6 shutouts, 355 innings, 214 strikeouts.
• As he would often, Alexander showed that he could tame Baker Bowl’s hitter-happy expanses; he was 20-4 with a 1.84 ERA at his home park, on the eve of his über-dominance in the NL.

4. BILL DOAK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.72 ERA, 19 wins, 6 losses, .760 win percentage, 7 shutouts, 256 innings.
• After a substandard debut in 1913, Doak was encouraged to try out the spitball; it was the best advice he ever took.

5. JEFF PFEFFER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 1.97 ERA, 23 wins, 12 losses, 315 innings.
• So bad in his first shot at the majors in 1911 that even the St. Louis Browns let him go, Pfeffer’s second chance resulted in a sterling rookie effort.

6. BABE ADAMS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 13 wins, 16 losses, 283 innings, 39 walks.
• The early superiority of Adams’ career came to an end as he endured in spite of bad support and a 21-inning performance in mid-July that took him nearly five years to fully recover from.

7. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.05 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 293.2 innings.
• After enduring a lack of respect and playing time (32-33) over his previous six years, Vaughn began a new six-year stretch (124-77) that earned a bit more attention.

8. SLIM SALLEE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 18 wins, 17 losses, 6 saves, 282.1 innings.
• Rather than try and enhance a scoring opportunity with a hit, opponents laid down 48 sacrifice bunts against Sallee in what was surely a big sign of respect.

9. JEFF TESREAU, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.37 ERA, 26 wins, 10 losses, 41 starts, 8 shutouts, 322.1 innings.
• For the third straight year, Tesreau (.209 opponents’ batting average) was the toughest pitcher to get a hit off of.

10. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 24 wins, 13 losses, 312 innings.
• In his last workhorse effort, Matty pitched over 300 innings for the fifth straight year and won at least 20 for the 12th straight—but his ERA hit 3.00 for the first time ever and he allowed a NL-high 16 home runs.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.72 ERA, 28 wins, 18 losses, 51 appearances, 40 starts, 33 complete games, 9 shutouts, 371.2 innings, 225 strikeouts, 14 wild pitches.
• It didn’t matter if opposing hitters represented the AL, NL or FL; Johnson remained in a league of his own.

2. DUTCH LEONARD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 0.96 ERA, 19 wins, 5 losses, .792 win percentage.
• In setting the all-time season mark for lowest ERA, Leonard showed no weaknesses via his splits; he was exceptional whether he was at home, away, pitching in spring or early fall, etc., etc.

3. CARL WEILMAN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 299 innings.
• The tall (6’5”) and underappreciated southpaw had one of his few above-.500 efforts for the Browns.

4. RAY CALDWELL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.94 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 5 shutouts.
• The tempestuous and nightlife-prone Caldwell might have been the Yankees’ first 20-game winner in three years, but he bolted from the team in mid-August and attempted to join the Federal League in a messy and ultimately legal-intensive battle that took time to untangle.

5. HARRY COVELESKI, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.49 ERA, 22 wins, 12 losses, 303.1 innings.
• Absent from the majors since 1910 with only 12 wins before then—all of them, it seemed, against the Giants—Coveleski made for a triumphant return in Detroit.

6. RAY COLLINS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 20 wins, 13 losses, 272.1 innings.
• Although Dutch Leonard (above) had by far the lower ERA, Collins had more wins; it would be his last hurrah before becoming victim of an overcrowded and talented Red Sox rotation.

7. RUBE FOSTER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.70 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses.
• Not the Negro League founder of the same name, Foster broke onto the Red Sox’ scene as part of a short but sweet tenure.

8. JOE BENZ, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 15 wins, 19 losses, 283.1 innings.
• True to form with most White Sox pitchers of the time, Benz threw exceptionally well enough to be saddled with a losing record—all despite recording the AL’s lone no-hitter of the year.

9. EDDIE CICOTTE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.04 ERA, 11 wins, 16 losses, 269.1 innings.
• See Joe Benz, above. No wonder White Sox owner Charles Comiskey went out and grabbed Joe Jackson and Eddie Collins for the following season.

10. HOOKS DAUSS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.86 ERA, 18 wins, 15 losses, 302 innings.
• The Tigers wisely locked the young right-hander up when the Federal League came calling, as he delivered with his initial workhorse campaign and long lifespan (through 1926) with Detroit.

1914 Preseason / Spring Training
 

A few offseason moves and FA signings of note:

• P Ed Walsh: Senators, 5 years / $24300
• 2B Miller Huggins: Cardinals, 3 years / $14240
• 3B Mike Mowrey: Cardinals, 1 year / $3460
• 1B Hans Lobert: Giants, 1 year / $3320
• OF Danny Murphy: Tigers, 1 year / $3080
• OF John Titus: Cardinals, 1 year / $3060
• P John Burke: White Sox, 1 year / $2940
• 2B Dots Miller: Yankees, 1 year / $2420
• P John Skopec: A’s, 1 year / $1760
• 2B Larry Schlafly: Senators, 1 year / $1720
• P Red Ames: A’s, 1 year / $1540
• P Addie Joss: A’s, 1 year / $1540
• P Fred Burchill: Robins, 1 year / $1540
• P Bill Hogg: White Sox, 1 year / $1540
• P Chick Robitaille: White Sox, 1 year / $1540
• P Cy Falkenberg: Braves, 1 year / $1520

Yankees owner Salvatore Martinez has sadly passed away, with his son Sal jr taking over control of the franchise.
We finish up ST with a 10-8 record and I am most surprised when we come in third in the preseason predictions with an 80-74 record. The BoSox are tipped top of the AL, while the Cards are favoured to win their first NL Pennant.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1914 Opening Day
 

Don’t forget you can access our team page if so inclined HERE HERE, but here’s the annual summary.

Sadly I foresee another pretty unfruitful season for us as we enter a transition phase partly of desire and partly of necessity. Once again this is going to be all about getting some miles under the hood for the younger guys and figuring out what to do with the rest. Lots of trial and error on the cards. A 77-77 season will be more than acceptable from where we stand right now.

Catchers

• C Les Nunamaker (R)
• Roger Bresnahan (R)

Duke has really lost a step and we’re giving Les his chance to become our everyday catcher for the next few seasons. Should he not take it we’ll have to look elsewhere.

Infielders

• 1B Wally Pipp (L)
• 2B John Henry Lloyd (L)
• 3B Scotty Ingerton (R)
• SS Buck Herzog (R)

• Nap Lajoie (R)
• Al Bridwell (L)
• Joe Gedeon (R) also plays LF

JHL gets an early chance to show us what he's got after an excellent offseason. Scotty Ingerton's good performances in a bit role over the past couple of seasons get him the nod here at 3B with an eye toward the future. Buck switches to SS.

Outfielders

• LF Max Carey (S)
• CF Vin Campbell (L)
• RF Zaza Harvey (L)

• Red Killefer (R)
• Armando Marsans (R) will see plenty of game time v LHP
• Elmer Smith (L)

It won't take much for me to deploy Elmer, he looks ready to go.

Rotation

1. RHP Rube Vickers
2. RHP Hooks Dauss
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Al Mamaux

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Russ Ford
• RHP Christy Mathewson
• LHP Lefty Williams

One pleasant surprise over the offseason has been the huge development from Al Mamaux, to the point that he has pushed Matty from the spin for Opening Day. Obviously the proof will be in the playing, but fingers crossed he delivers on the promise he has shown.

The View from the Gangplank: May 1, 1914
 

After dropping our first four games we get it together somewhat and end the month at 7-9. Too small a sample size for any conclusions to be drawn just yet, about us or anyone else.

The Phillies lose pitcher Tom Hughes for the year to an elbow injury.

Brooklyn's Zack Wheat hits for the cycle in an 8-4 win over the Braves.

Standings, awards, news. Deeper recap in a month.

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#200 for the Train / #1 for the Babe
 

Achieved with his trademark panache.

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This also happened on the same day and I thought it should be noted for posterity just in case this kid ends up being half-decent.

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The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

Ahead of the full recap at end May, some important news.

Things are going pretty well so far, but one position we are struggling at production-wise is 3B. I have a bit of a sniff around for options to upgrade until, in the middle of a series against the other team involved, the following big trade is formulated, canvassed and completed.

TRADE 1 OF 5 (05/18/14)

OF Vin Campbell, 2B Nap Lajoie, P Harry Harper and P Lou Fiene traded to Boston (NL) for 3B Frank Baker

I need not explain the quality of Frank "Home Run" Baker. 1912 MVP, a huge bat (career 318 / 369 / 456 slash) and reliable glove (2.5 fielding runs this season already).

That said, there’s no doubt we’ve taken a risk here trading a proven commodity like Vin, even with Elmer Smith having slotted in so well. And Harper has every chance of becoming a valuable SP down the track. (Larry Lajoie is a FA at season-end and Lou Fiene had little chance of featuring for us.)

But Frank is just 28 and should therefore have plenty of productive seasons to come. Only plays the one position which makes us somewhat inflexible at the corners with Pipp similarly one-dimensional. But I have no doubt this makes us a markedly improved ballclub moving forward.

It leaves us just a tad thin for OF backup, and I'll be on the lookout for an upgrade there. Carey moves back to CF, with Smith in left. Ingerton will continue to platoon v LHP at 1B and now backup the corners for the remainder.

The View from the Gangplank: June 1, 1914
 

A super streaky but ultimately pleasing 17-11 May for our boys that features win streaks of seven, six and four games, along with losing streaks of three and four.

https://i.imgur.com/2PpIVvT.png?1

As you'd expect, both our hitting and pitching have had their hot and cold moments. But, overall, things are looking decidedly positive to this point. Herzog remains a huge concern at the plate, again hitting well under what we need from him. Harvey, too, has struggled. But Smith and Pipp are both hitting over 300 and Lloyd is finally showing more along the lines of what we've thought he had all along. Our rotation has been great, and we currently have an NL-best starter ERA of 2.69. Somewhat surprisingly given his stellar performance last year, it is Dauss dragging the chain a bit and we're looking for a sharp improvement from him henceforth. One really pleasing point is the steep improvement in our defence (+6.6 ZR, 4th in the NL), and we'll be working hard for that trend to continue.

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Obviously still very early doors, but the BoSox are looking strong again in the AL, while the Cards have done as the tipsters thought and started the campaign well.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: wRC+
 

Hits aplenty, or none at all...
 

Smoky Joe adds his name to the no-no honour roll with a gem against Cincy....

https://i.imgur.com/z086ioy.png?1

... while Wahoo Sam becomes the 2nd member of the 2500-hit Club.

https://i.imgur.com/Yox0Bqm.png?1

Congratulations to both.

It's positively raining no-nos
 

The View from the Gangplank: July 1, 1914
 

We put ourselves behind the eight-ball with a pretty ordinary month in all facets of the game.

https://i.imgur.com/lJB2zCX.png?1

While our 12-13 is in no way an unmitigated disaster, it coincides with the Jints going on a tear and the Braves and Cards also having strong sectionals, leaving us 8 ½ off the pace in mid-standings entering July. Which means we are going to have to start heading in the right direction, or at worst not lose any more ground on them, if we want to have any chance of competing at the pointy end.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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The Doctor is in...
 

Detroit's Doc White becomes the first MLB pitcher with 300 career wins. That's a fair outperformance of his 189 IRL.

Eddie Plank currently sits at 295 while our own Christy Mathewson has 282. Walter Johnson, with 207, looks almost certain to eclipse them all in a few years.

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The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

I grow tired of Al Bridwell’s moaning about a lack of game time, but we need an infield utility to replace him and there just aren’t that many around the traps. Finally, we strike a bigger deal with the Phils that both clubs are happy with.

TRADE 2 OF 5 (07/08/14)

IF Al Bridwell, C Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 2B Jimmy Whelan and OF Joe Gedeon traded to Philadelphia (NL) for IF Larry Kopf and C Frank Gibson

A fairly straight-up trade with Kopf to step straight into the squad in an IF backup role and Gibson one for later. Both are only 23, so hopefully there’s some untapped upside to be had.

The View from the Gangplank: August 1, 1914
 

Unconvincingly at times, we do what is necessary and put together a 16-9 month that edges us up a bit closer to the contending teams.

https://i.imgur.com/q534moW.png?1

The addition of Baker has been a key one as, after taking a little while to settle in, he has started hitting his straps. Carey is also having a fine season, competing for his first batting title. In fact, we've had no real underperformers on offence so far, touch wood.

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Our pitching has a touch of the Jekyll and Hyde about it, with excellent performances offset by some absolute howlers. There's no doubt we are vulnerable in the SP4 slot with Mamaux struggling at this level, a problem that, try as I may via the trade route, I am simply unable to rectify without damaging us in some other unacceptable way. So we're just going to have to wing it and hope he can limit the damage with some good performances down the stretch.

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This is a scrappy bunch, which has enabled us to be competitive without doing anything particularly well. Which is commendable, no doubt. But it also increases the chance of us being found wanting when put to the sterner tests down the stretch. Still, I like where we're at.

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We have closed the gap to 6 GB, with the Giants, Braves and Cards all within a game or so of each other. The BoSox are still looking strong across the aisle. Nice to see the Yankees finally look like they are headed upward after a torrid time since their inception in 1902.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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Close, but no cigar...
 

A huge game for Wally Pipp who unbelievably misses just a single from hitting for the cycle.

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The View from the Gangplank: September 1, 1914
 

Despite a 16-11 August, we actually lose ground on the Giants and remain tantalisingly close but oh so far away. September will really test the group's mettle, with 17 games without an off-day including three doubleheaders. But we aren't out of it just yet.

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The Red Sox are home and hosed in the AL, but the senior circuit is still well and truly up for grabs.

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Awards, news, leaders - back at season's end unless something dramatic happens.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: BABIP
 

Batting Average on balls in play (hitters, 1914 season to date)

Batting Average on balls in play (pitchers, 1914 season to date)

The View from the Gangplank: September 30, 1914
 

I guess one could say this falls within the broad definition of "something dramatic happening"...

https://i.imgur.com/vBHwt2Z.png?1

The Braves and Jints play 4 in NY while all 5 of our remaining games are against the Reds, the only team against whom we have a losing record (7-10) this season.

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This will not help the Giants' cause one bit:

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While this one will have more ramifications next season than this:

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

The View from the Gangplank: October 1, 1914
 

First blood to New York, we have the day off.

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https://i.imgur.com/kPKAv0y.png?1

September awards.

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October 1, 1914
 

We take a tough loss...

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

... but the Giants do us a favour and keep us alive. Just.

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October 2, 1914
 

We all but seal our own fate with an absolute shocker, while the Braves edge ahead again.

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The BoSox, meanwhile, fairly limp home to their second straight AL Pennant.

https://i.imgur.com/kWjFRl5.png?1

October 3, 1914
 

A really weak finish that doesn't do justice to the magnificent effort the lads have put in this year sees us exit the race somewhat ignominiously. The Jints square it up again.

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October 5-6, 1914
 

October 5, 1914

The Braves lose 3-2 at Brooklyn while New York beats Philly 4-3.

https://i.imgur.com/f8lzHe8.png?1


October 6, 1914

The Jints clinch an enthralling race with a 4-2 win, while Boston comes up short with another loss to the Robins, denying them a rematch with their crosstown rivals.

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The View from the Gangplank: end of regular season, 1914
 

Not even that messy end can take anything away from the effort this group put in this year. It has been a big step forward for our franchise and hopefully the first step back to the mountaintop.

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A career year for Carey, Baker huge since coming across, a star-making turn from Smith.

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Vickers leads the way with 26 wins, while both Cooper and Dauss get 20. Even Mamaux does well and the pen keeps things tight in the latter innings.

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Dutch Leonard wins the AL Pitching Triple Crown, while Shoeless Joe Jackson and George Burns with the AL and NL Batting Crowns, respectively.

Final standings, news and leaders.

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1914 World Series Preview
 

New York Giants (91-63) v Boston Red Sox (99-55)

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

NEW YORK GIANTS S+ PAGE

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

Don't get me wrong, the Giants are a quality unit, but especially without Marquard I just don’t see them getting past this Red Sox juggernaut. I mean, this is a side that has won nearly 200 games the past two seasons with Cristobal Torriente getting less than 100 ABs as Tris Speaker's backup in CF. One can only imagine how good they'd be if Ruth had qualified for them as a Legacy rather than the Yanks. That said, I don't see the Sox's victory being quite as clear-cut as their sweep of the Braves last season. My call is for them to win this in 5 or 6.

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1914 World Series Recap
 

Game 1 in New York, October 10th 1914
Dick Rudolph (29-9, 2.58) v Dutch Leonard (30-11, 1.75)

30-game and Triple Crown winner Dutch Leonard greets the Jints for Game 1, but they have a fairly handy type in Dick Rudolph going for them. This should, by the law of perversity, be a blowout.

It is not, as Leonard continues his scintillating form with a 4-hitter as the Sox win 3-0. Rudolph is good, allowing just 2 unearned on 5 hits over the full 9, just not good enough as the Sox score early and pad their lead in the 7th courtesy of a 2-run triple by shortstop Everett Scott. Leonard struggles a bit with his control, giving up 4 walks, but Ks his way out of it each time.

Red Sox 3, Giants 0

BOX SCORE


Game 2 in New York, October 11th 1914
Jeff Tesreau (17-20, 3.01) v Claude Hendrix (24-14, 2.43)
Red Sox lead series 1-0

Tesreau does well early, handcuffing the Sox through the early innings in defence of a 1st-inning Giants run on a Doyle trip. But eventually the Sox find their range and the dam bursts over the final four as they cruise to a 7-1 win. Duffy Lewis leads the way for the visitors with 3 hits including a triple, and Hendrix goes the distance allowing just 7 hits and striking out 5.

Red Sox 7, Giants 1

BOX SCORE


Game 3 in Boston, October 13th 1914
Earl Yingling (26-12, 2.58) v Dick Rudolph (0-1, 2.00)
Red Sox lead series 2-0

Bressler’s absence makes its presence felt as the Jints send Rudolph back out on 2 days’ rest to face Earl Yingling, who had another superlative season with very little fanfare.

It pays off big-time, as Rudolph quietens the Sox offence and the Giants bats finally come alive to let them lead wire-to-wire and end up taking the game comfortably. George Burns knocks in 3 with a 9th-inning double to seal the deal, while catcher Gus Fisher has three hits.

Giants 7, Red Sox 1

BOX SCORE


Game 4 in Boston, October 14th 1914
Dutch Leonard (1-0, 0.00) v Jeff Tesreau (0-1, 7.04)
Red Sox lead series 2-1

New York continues its two-man rotation policy for now as Tesreau gets a chance to atone for a poor Game 2 against the seemingly unstoppable Leonard.

Unstoppable doesn’t begin to describe it, as Leonard goes one better with a 3-hit shutout to put the BoSox just a game away from the Championship. Once again Tesreau holds his own in the early going, but a 3-run 6th is all the Sox end up needing.

Red Sox 3, Braves 0

BOX SCORE


Game 5 in Boston, October 15th 1914
Claude Hendrix (1-0, 1.00) v Fred Link (2-2, 3.25)
Red Sox lead series 3-1

It rests with little-used Fred Link to extend the series for the Giants and Claude Hendrix to put them away for the Sox.

The Giants blow it out early with 4 in the 1st and look to be cruising at 5-2, only for the Sox to tie it up on a 2-run double by Torriente in the 6th. But New York regroups, goes back ahead with a run in the 9th, and gets the win as Frank Lange closes it out to send the Series back to the Big Apple.

Giants 6, Red Sox 5

BOX SCORE


Game 6 in New York, October 17th 1914
Dick Rudolph (1-1, 1.50) v Earl Yingling (0-1, 7.00)
Red Sox lead series 3-2

Suddenly things even up a bit as the Giants have ace Dick Rudolph on the hill. Can they possibly take this to a decider?

They cannot.

Yingling finds his groove and shuts them out on 5 hits as the Sox go ahead for good with one in the 4th, add 3 more in the 7th and close it out without incident for their second straight World Championship.

Giants 4, Red Sox 0

BOX SCORE


BOSTON RED SOX WIN SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: Dutch Leonard (Boston Red Sox)


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1914 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1914 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1914 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

Another NeL Player gets his just reward for some great play, with Andrew "Rube" Foster winning the NL CYA. Dutch Leonard, unsurprisingly, is a unanimous winner in the AL.

Tris Speaker wins his 3rd MVP, while our Frank Baker wins his 2nd.

Babe Ruth's career begins with RoY honours.

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All good on the sim, 2B up a bit is all.

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No more of this pussyfooting about, then...
 

Very few of these quality players are going to become available at the time in their career you feel they can still play at or near their best, and so I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass without having a crack at signing one of the game’s truly elite guys, especially knowing who's coming down the Rookie pipeline over at the Cards. Lucky for us, he was amenable to the idea et voila, will now be a Pirate for the next 8 years.

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PLAYER PAGE

A quick note on how I am playing this save...
 

Not that I think any of you care one way or the other, but I thought this a good juncture at which to reiterate the modus operandi I am following in this save.

I want us to be successful, but understand how easy it is to game the game to one's own advantage, which is why I have put up the various hurdles such as trading restrictions and Legacy players to increase the challenge in doing so.

What I want above all, however, is to have fun in the fairest and most representative way I can.

I'll admit I have recently upped the scouting accuracy from Very high to 100% because, to be completely honest, I just can't wrap my head around this "fog of war" nonsense. To compensate, I have increased TCR from 110 to 120, and I believe that this, with the combination of 5-year recalc and dev on, will provide plenty of boom-bust uncertainty irrespective of player ratings.

One area I am fastidious in not allowing myself any form of advantage is the Draft. I only prep up the Legacy Players and Draft Order a couple days prior, thereby removing the temptation to make roster moves with the foreknowledge of what is about to happen, which the AI managers do not have.

I'm pretty sure the upcoming Draft, which I have just finished prepping for, will prove this to be the case.

Expansion will be another feature I'll be taking great care not to exploit. And I will continue to tinker with the rules as necessity demands.

Anyway, just thought I should put this out there.

1914/15 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/14.

A solid group of ten Legacies, led by arguably the greatest NL player of all in Rajah Hornsby.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1915 season:

Brooklyn Robins: Dazzy Vance (60.2; 378)
Chicago White Sox: Happy Felsch (19.4; 749 – one club player)
Cincinnati Reds: Pat Duncan (9.6; 727 conceded – all but 3 games)
Cleveland Indians: Charlie Jamieson (22.3; 1483)
Detroit Tigers: Bernie Boland (10.8; 202)
New York Giants: Art Nehf (28.9; 226)
Philadelphia Athletics: Cy Perkins (11.5; 1154)
St. Louis Browns: George Sisler (56.3; 1647)
St. Louis Cardinals: Rogers Hornsby (126.9; 1580)
Washington Senators: Joe Judge (47.1; 2084)

Ken Williams (42.5; 1109) was also eligible for the Browns, but Sisler’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Baby Doll Jacobson (28.4; 1243) was also eligible for the Browns, but Sisler’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
High Pockets Kelly (25.3; 1136) was also eligible for the Browns, but Nehf’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Jack Smith (13.2; 1111) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Hornsby’s higher WAR makes him the selection.
Leon Cadore (19.3; 189 – conceded (98.4% of career games) was also eligible for the Robins, but Vance’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 196 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 6 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1914 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. St. Louis Cardinals (529)
2. Brooklyn Robins (487)
3. St. Louis Browns (464)
4. Washington Senators (526)
5. New York Giants (545)
6. Cleveland Indians (333)
7. Chicago White Sox (455; dice roll)
8. Philadelphia Athletics (651)
9. Detroit Tigers (523)
10. Cincinnati Reds (390)
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (448)
12. New York Yankees (455; dice roll)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (481)
14. Chicago Cubs (506)
15. Boston Red Sox (595)
16. Boston Braves (614)

Rounds 2 thru 6

1. Cleveland Indians (333)
2. Cincinnati Reds (390)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (448)
4. New York Yankees (455; dice roll)
5. Chicago White Sox (455; dice roll)
6. St. Louis Browns (464)
7. Philadelphia Phillies (481)
8. Brooklyn Robins (487)
9. Chicago Cubs (506)
10. Detroit Tigers (523)
11. Washington Senators (526)
12. St. Louis Cardinals (529)
13. New York Giants (545)
14. Boston Red Sox (595)
15. Boston Braves (614)
16. Philadelphia Athletics (651)


We have a lot to thank our 1914 IRL Pirates for right now. By dint of their humble winning percentage and our being one of just six clubs without a Legacy this year, we obtain the first free pick of the Draft and then the 19th overall. With what I think is the strongest group of unattached players so far coming through in this year’s Pool, the timing of this could not be better, as it means we should get an absolute gun and another really strong player. This Draft could, and should, be a game-changer for our franchise over the next decade.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. OF / 1B Oscar Charleston, 19

• Would I have still recruited Ty had I known we would be having first crack at this group? Undoubtedly. Would I still have taken Charlie first if he didn’t play 1B as well as the OF? That I am not so sure of. With guys like Bullet Rogan – who profiles as a two-way player – and Dave Bancroft, among those available, it’s a tough question to answer. Fortunately, it is also a rhetorical one and we take Oscar, who projects as an out-and-out superstar.

2. C Bob O’Farrell, 18

• It was touch-and-go between Bob and Muddy Ruel, but he just gets the nod on various key metrics. A few years away but should hopefully prove the ideal successor to the Duke.

3. P Carl Mays, 23

• At 23, a bit of a slow-burner, but we like the look of Carl for a couple seasons’ time.

4. P / OF Sam Rice, 24

• We like Sam more for his offence than pitching, but it’s nice to have the option.

5. P Dana Fillingim, 21
6. 3B Tommy Vereker, 21

• Scout’s picks.

Let's see how this plays out.

FULL DRAFT LOG

The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

What Oscar's arrival does, hopefully as well as helping to turn us into a regular contender, is make Wally Pipp obsolete. As I have said previously, his inability to play any other position than 1B was always going to make him vulnerable to becoming trade bait, as he does here in a swap that fills another key hole for us: second base.

TRADE 1 OF 5 (12/22/14)

1B Wally Pipp, P Rip Hagerman and P Marc Hall traded to Philadelphia (AL) for 2B Heinie Groh

A quality infielder with both bat and glove, Heinie will move into the everyday 2B slot that unfortunately pop Lloyd just doesn’t seem up for. Pop is a great club man, and will see his fair share of game time, albeit in a backup role.

1915 The First Time Around
 

The Red Sox sneak past fellow 100-game winners Detroit to claim the AL pennant, while the Phillies break through for their first NL title. The Boston boys prove too strong in the WS, winning it in 5.

AL CHAMPIONS: Boston Red Sox (101-50)
NL CHAMPIONS: Philadelphia Phillies (90-62)
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox 4, Phillies 1

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. GAVVY CRAVATH, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 89 runs, 31 doubles, 7 triples, 24 home runs, 115 RBIs, 86 walks, .393 on-base percentage, .510 slugging percentage.
• Shades of the future Babe Ruth: Cravath was out-homered by only four other teams in the majors.

2. LARRY DOYLE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 86 runs, 189 hits, 40 doubles, 10 triples, 70 RBIs.
• After an off-year (.260) by his standards, Doyle returned to star form and collecting the only batting title of his career.

3. BILL HINCHMAN, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 177 hits, 33 doubles, 14 triples, 77 RBIs.
• Batting .238 over five years at Cleveland before a five-year relegation to the minors—where his hitting exploded—Hinchman returned to the majors and, at 32, finally got it.

4. VIC SAIER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .264 average, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 64 walks, 29 stolen bases.
• Saier reached double-figures in homers for the third straight year—no small feat in the Deadball Era—but a late-season leg injury signaled the beginning of his decline.

5. FRED LUDERUS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .315 average, 36 doubles, 7 home runs, 62 RBIs.
• The powerful first baseman failed to reach 10 or more homers for the fifth straight year, but compensated with a career-best .315 average.

6. SHERRY MAGEE, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 34 doubles, 12 triples, 87 RBIs.
• An injury on the first day of spring camp led to a more muted—but still superior—set of numbers in his first year with the Braves.

7. TOMMY GRIFFITH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 160 games, .307 average, 179 hits, 31 doubles, 16 triples, 85 RBIs.
• Appropriately born 120 miles from Cincinnati in the Ohio town of Prospect, Griffith had a sterling full-season debut for the Reds. But it would have helped had he just stayed on base rather than try to swipe a bag; he was only successful in six of 30 stole base attempts.

8. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 32 doubles, 17 triples, 6 home runs, 78 RBIs, 22 stolen bases.
• At age 41, Wagner had enough juice left to forge one last solid season—leading his team in doubles, triples, home runs and RBIs.

9. TOM LONG, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 21 doubles, 25 triples, 19 stolen bases.
• One of the few (if, maybe, only) players to play a decent amount of major league ball and finish his career with more triples than doubles, Long led the NL with 25 three-baggers in his first of three full seasons.

10. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .272 average, 622 at-bats, 83 runs, 27 doubles, 14 triples, 27 stolen bases.
• A slight slump for the Giants’ tablesetter, but he remained effective enough to make the cut here.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .369 average, 144 runs, 208 hits, 31 doubles, 13 triples, 99 RBIs, 118 walks, 96 stolen bases, 38 caught stealing, .486 on-base percentage.
• Cobb stayed healthy and out of trouble to retain his status as the AL’s premier hitter.

2. EDDIE COLLINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .332 average, 118 runs, 173 hits, 22 doubles, 10 triples, 77 RBIs, 119 walks, 46 stolen bases.
• Along with Joe Jackson (below), Collins was one of two Hall-of-Fame-caliber stars who helped turned typically clueless White Sox hitting around—while thrilling typically exasperated White Sox pitchers.

3. JACK FOURNIER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .322 average, 86 runs, 20 doubles, 18 triples, 77 RBIs, 15 hit-by-pitches, .491 slugging percentage.
• Before emerging as an all-around solid hitter with Brooklyn in the 1920s, Fournier experienced the most efficient (and busiest) year of a relatively fleeting major league existence during the 1910s. Note that of all the great names on this list, he outslugged them all.

4. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 81 runs, 183 hits, 31 doubles, 19 triples, 112 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• Long-time Cobb teammate Crawford, enjoying the last great year of his career, co-led the AL in RBIs with…

5. BOBBY VEACH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .313 average, 81 runs, 178 hits, 40 doubles, 10 triples, 112 RBIs, 68 walks.
• …Tigers teammate Veach, enjoying the first great year of his career.

6. TRIS SPEAKER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 108 runs, 176 hits, 25 doubles, 10 triples, 81 walks, 29 stolen bases.
• In his last year as a Red Sock, Speaker was happy to let pitcher Babe Ruth (four homers in 92 at-bats) do the power thing while hitting none for only one of two times in his long, star-studded career.

7. RAY CHAPMAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .270 average, 101 runs, 17 triples, 70 walks, 36 stolen bases.
• Five years from meeting his fate against Carl Mays, the proactive Chapman reached peak performance after the White Sox attempted to trade for him. (Chicago had to “settle” for Joe Jackson instead.)

8. JOE JACKSON, CLEVELAND-CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 14 triples, 5 home runs, 81 RBIs.
• The shoeless one produced a mild batting average by his standards (some 50 points below his eventual career mark), but the White Sox were all too happy to secure a naturally gifted hitter—something they seemed to had forever lacked.

9. BURT SHOTTON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 93 runs, 11 triples, 118 walks, 43 stolen bases.
• Shotton did everything a leadoff guy was expected to do, placing in the AL’s top five in walks, steals and on-base percentage; he might have also been in the top five for runs had the Browns’ lineup behind him not been so lackluster.

10. BRAGGO ROTH, CHICAGO-CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .268 average, 109 games, 67 runs, 17 triples, 7 home runs, 26 stolen bases.
• Whereas the average of Joe Jackson (above) went down after he was dealt to Chicago, Roth—the main guy going the other way in the trade—punched it up with the Indians, hitting .299 with 14 steals in 39 games.

NL Pitchers

1. PETE ALEXANDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.22 ERA, 31 wins, 10 losses, .756 win percentage, 36 complete games, 12 shutouts, 376.1 innings, 241 strikeouts.
• Pete Alexander never threw a no-hitter, but he repeatedly came close in 1915—throwing four one-hitters.

2. TOM HUGHES, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.12 ERA, 16 wins, 14 losses, 9 saves, 50 appearances, 280.1 innings.
• No relation to pitcher Long Tom Hughes from a decade earlier, this Hughes went long and short for the Braves by relieving in as many games as he started. He certainly enjoyed the advent of spacious Braves Field, where he posted a 0.38 ERA (and allowed just 16 hits) over 47.2 innings.

3. JEFF TESREAU, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.29 ERA, 19 wins, 16 losses, 8 shutouts, 306 innings.
• With aging Christy Mathewson and burned-out Rube Marquard both fading out of the Giants’ spotlight, Tesreau took over as New York’s prime ace for the moment.

4. DICK RUDOLPH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.37 ERA, 22 wins, 19 losses, 43 starts, 341.1 innings.
• The Boston workhorse gave an equally worthy follow-up to his sensational 1914 campaign, even if the wins were harder to come by.

5. AL MAMAUX, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.04 ERA, 21 wins, 8 losses, 8 shutouts.
• The Pittsburgh native enjoyed the first of two 21-win seasons before a mid-career collapse.

6. FRED TONEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 1.58 ERA, 17 wins, 6 losses, 6 shutouts, .739 win percentage.
• After laboring briefly and with little success for the 1911-13 Cubs, Toney returned to the majors as a newborn pitcher; only Pete Alexander allowed a lower opposing batting average than the Nashville native’s .207.

7. JEFF PFEFFER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.10 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 6 shutouts, 291.2 innings.
• Never one to shy away from intimidating opponents, the husky (6’3”, 210 lbs.) Brooklyn ace began a three-year run in which he hit a total of 50 batters.

8. ERSKINE MAYER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.36 ERA, 21 wins, 15 losses, 274.2 innings.
• Like Al Mamaux (above), Mayer won 21 this year and 21 the next before becoming enshrouded in a fog of anonymity.

9. ERV KANTLEHNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 5 wins, 12 losses.
• The colorful, hard-luck southpaw who once claimed to be a master fisherman—but could never prove it—found it hard to reel in wins for the Pirates.

10. PAT RAGAN, BROOKLYN-BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses.
• Ragan’s tour of the National League brought him to the Braves after an early-season trade from Brooklyn, making much-needed improvement after going 32-51 with a 3.49 ERA that was substandard for Deadball Era times.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.55 ERA, 27 wins, 13 losses, 39 starts, 35 complete games, 7 shutouts, 336.2 innings, 203 strikeouts.
• The Big Train’s continued mastery of the AL made a lot of folks wonder how invincible he would have been had he fled to the Federal League, as he momentarily did before 1915.

2. JIM SCOTT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 24 wins, 11 losses, 7 shutouts, 296.1 innings.
• Entering the year with a career 2.34 ERA but a losing (70-82) record, Scott finally got way, way overdue offensive support in Chicago thanks to new White Sox arrivals Eddie Collins and Joe Jackson.

3. ERNIE SHORE, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.64 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, 247 innings.
• The second-year right-hander fashioned a great campaign with a career-high total of wins and the AL’s third-best ERA.

4. SMOKY JOE WOOD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.49 ERA, 15 wins, 5 losses, .750 win percentage.
• Long since unable to ply his trade as a workhorse that won him 34 games three years earlier, Wood pitched sparingly and in pain—but made it worth his while with the only ERA title of his career.

5. HARRY COVELESKI, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.45 ERA, 22 wins, 13 losses, 50 appearances, 312.2 Innings.
• In a decade in which the Tigers excelled with great hitting but poor pitching, Coveleski made great gains toward making the 1915 season an exception to the rule.

6. DOC AYERS, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 14 wins, 9 losses, 40 appearances, 16 starts.
• The rare case of a spitballer who threw underhanded, Doc provided proper relief from the bullpen (1.83 ERA in 24 non-starts).

7. HOOKS DAUSS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.50 ERA, 24 wins, 13 losses, 309.2 innings.
• In his third of 15 years with the Tigers, Dauss set a career high with 24 wins as Detroit hitters supported him to the tune of over five runs per start.

8. JOE BENZ, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.11 ERA, 15 wins, 11 losses.
• Like Jim Scott (above), Benz got a big bump in support from a better lineup; he won the same number of games as the year before, but lost eight fewer and saw his average runs per start jump from 2.86 to 4.61.

9. RED FABER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.55 ERA, 24 wins, 14 losses, 50 appearances, 299.2 innings.
• Ditto Benz above, but even better; he got 5.47 runs per start, helping to kick his Hall-of-Fame career into high gear with his first of four 20-win campaigns.

10. CARL WEILMAN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 18 wins, 19 losses, 295.2 innings.
• Weilman had to wait for George Sisler, his future Hall-of-Fame support, to realize he was a better hitter than pitcher.

Who said there's no room for romance in baseball?
 

Honus back where he should be, in a Pirates uniform. Purely for backup, pinch hitting duties and presence.

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1915 Preseason / Spring Training
 

Offseason moves and FA signings of note:

• P Eddie Plank: Reds, 3 years / $13200
• P Cy Falkenberg: Yankees, 3 years / $7320
• P Ralph Caldwell: Tigers, 3 years / $5160
• 1B Hal Chase: Red Sox, 1 year / $3060
• C George Gibson: Giants, 1 year / $2140
• 2B Nap Lajoie: Brooklyn, 1 years / $1800
• 3B Mike Mowrey: Giants, 1 year / $1720
• P Addie Joss: Cubs, 1 years / $1660
• P Eddie Summers: Giants, 1 years / $1660
• P Heinie Berger: Giantss, 1 year / $1640
• P Elmer Steele: Red Sox, 1 year / $1520

The White Sox traded P Eddie Cicotte and 1B Harry Williams to the Reds for OF Ernie Walker and 3B Bill Kindle.

The Cards re-signed SS Bienvenido Jimenez to an 8-year extension for $20860.

The Browns re-signed SS Harry Spratt to an 8-year extension for $17540.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


The Naps have officially changed their nickname to the Indians.

A 13-5 Spring Training, but the experts remain unconvinced just yet of our chances, tipping us to finish well back of the Braves at 80-74.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1915 Opening Day
 

Don’t forget you can access our team page if so inclined HERE, but here’s the annual summary.

Look, I am not expecting some miraculous surge straight off. All I want this season is for us to consolidate last year’s efforts and keep the trajectory headed in the right direction.

Catchers

• C Les Nunamaker (R)
• Roger Bresnahan (R)

Les holds the starting spot thanks to his great 1914 campaign.

Infielders

• 1B Ty Cobb (L)
• 2B Heinie Groh (R)
• 3B Frank Baker (L)
• SS Buck Herzog (R)

• Honus Wagner (R)
• John Henry Lloyd (L)
• Scott Ingerton (R)
• Larry Kopf (S)

Ty has been working non-stop on the defensive requirements of a first-baseman, and we’ll just have to see how he handles it in game situations. Oscar will most likely come in as a defensive sub late, with Ty rotating to CF, or some combination thereof. Not ideal, but hopefully the bat covers the glove.

Outfielders

• LF Elmer Smith (L)
• CF Max Carey (S)
• RF Zaza Harvey (L)

• Oscar Charleston (L)
• Armando Marsans (R)

Some concerns about Carey in the offseason, and form will dictate the composition here as we progress. Will almost certainly look different in the latter part of the season than the earlier.

Rotation

1. RHP Rube Vickers
2. RHP Babe Adams
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Hooks Dauss

After a couple years in the wilderness, Babe has worked super hard and deserves another shot. He must perform, though, or he’ll be done with us.

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Russ Ford
• RHP Al Mamaux
• LHP Lefty Williams

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The View from the Gangplank: May 1, 1915
 

An encouraging start with an 11-5 sectional. One highlight has been Babe Adams' continued resurgence, as he goes 4-0 with a sparkling 0.25 ERA to nab the NL Pitcher of the Month Award.

Standings, awards, news.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: RBI