1916 World Series Preview
 

Pittsburgh Pirates (104-50) v Boston Red Sox (98-56)

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

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

BOSTON RED SOX S+ PAGE

Well this matchup kind of feels many years in the making. It sees the two winningest teams over the past few seasons finally meet head-to-head in what can easily be viewed as a heavyweight title fight.

At least that’s how it looks on paper.

But, with our late-season fadeout and all the playoff baggage we are carrying, there’s no doubt in my mind they have the edge on us. We will need to be at our absolute best to beat them. The offences are fairly even and both pitching squads – with the exception of Leonard – are more workmanlike than stacked with superstars. It is our defence that concerns me. Errors and poor plays are so magnified in these short series, and it is hard to ignore the vast (70 ZR) gap in favour of their defensive formation over the course of this season.

We cannot slip up here. The Cards are coming and coming fast and I’m not sure we can rely on too many more chances to get more shots at the title.

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1916 World Series Recap
 

Game 1 in Pittsburgh, October 8th 1916
Rube Vickers (30-12, 2.51) v Dutch Leonard (29-9, 1.98)

As I mentioned in the preview, these are two evenly-matched sides. Which means the team that minimises its mistakes and maximises its opportunism will almost certainly emerge victorious. A home win against Leonard would be the perfect start for us.

An error in the 2nd by Charleston bodes ill and lets them go ahead 1-0 and they get another one in the next as Vickers struggles to find his rhythm.

We load the bases in the 5th but just can’t find the key hit and when Hooper leads off the 6th with a solo shot we’re in trouble deep, with only a fine OF assist at home by Rice keeping it at that.

We cancel that one out with a run on a two-out Fisher single in the home half and get back to 3-2 on a Carey run-scoring hit in the next.

I lift Leonard for a PH in the 8th but we still trail by a run as Drucke takes the hill. He gets a 1-2-3 9th and we get the winning runs on with one out but Carey GIDPs to end the game at 3-2.

Red Sox 3, Pirates 2

BOX SCORE



Game 2 in Pittsburgh, October 9th 1916
Wilbur Cooper (25-11, 2.24) v Bert Gallia (23-16, 2.51)
Red Sox lead series 1-0

Cooper had a great year and needs to deliver in this one to avoid us heading to Beantown in an 0-2 hole.

We fall behind in the 2nd on a costly mistake pitch by Cooper that Weaver deposits into the LF bleachers for a 3-run homer and things spiral from there as he puts in an absolute shocker, unable to finish the 3rd and eventually giving up 6 runs on 11 hits. Adams comes in.

We need runs quick, and Charleston obliges with an RBI triple and scores on a groundout by Baker, who is yet to register a hit. We chip away with another run in the next on a Cobb groundout to make it 6-3.

But then our defensive shortcomings come to bear as a Cobb error opens the door to a 2-run 6th and we are in all sorts yet again.

Again the bats respond as Carey singles one in and Smith – hitting for Adams – makes it 8-6 with a two-out two-run two-bagger, chasing Gallia. A Cobb single makes it a one-run affair. Williams enters the fray.

The momentum shifts as they make two errors and we tie the game at 8 on a Smith single then go ahead on a Cobb SF.

Williams stays in, sends them down in order, and we get a huge, miraculous win. Great effort by the lads.

Pirates 9, Red Sox 8

BOX SCORE



Game 3 in Boston, October 11h 1916
Claude Hendrix (25-13, 2.61) v Carl Mays (18-10, 3.61)
Series tied 1-1

A massive contest here, especially with Leonard back up next, and Mays will need to be at his very best against the underrated Hendrix.

We open the scoring in the 1st on a Charleston bloop single with Cobb at third, then two-out singles to Groh and Carey double our lead. We know their left-strong meat will be trouble here and through them, they come straight back with a deuce.

Cobb has found his swing and his speed is giving them trouble as well, and he’s in the thick of it again when we retake the lead on a Rice triple in the 2nd. Charleston then doubles and it’s 4-2 and a Baker single adds another one.

Speaker and Hooper once again smash Mays about in the 4th but he recovers to just let one run score and we immediately square it off with one in the 5th on a Fisher single. Cobb then crushes a long double to straightaway CF to make it 7-3 and that’s it for Hendrix. Gehring, his replacement, gets a rude welcome from Rice, who triples in another run.

We know no lead is truly safe from their lineup so I urge the lads to keep pressing. Fisher does what’s needed in the top 6th, banging a 2-run trip to make it 10-3. Now we need to keep it tight. Ingerton replaces Cobb at 1B.

A 2-run double by Fisher in the 8th puts the finishing touches to another strong offensive showing but Mays can’t see it through, coming out after giving up a 2-run homer to Milan. Dauss is unconvincing, giving up another run before we finally close it out 12-6.

Pirates 12, Red Sox 6

BOX SCORE



Game 4 in Pittsburgh, October 12th 1916
Dutch Leonard (1-0, 1.00) v Rube Vickers (0-1, 3.38)
Pirates lead series 2-1

Around we go again, Leonard v Vickers II.

An error by Weaver in the 1st puts us in the frame with a run and Carey plates another one with a single.

After a couple of near-misses in the early going, Vickers finally cracks in the 4th as they get a run. Ominously, Leonard has found his groove after that early wobble.

Vickers is a great competitor, and he gets us all the way to the 8th in front, only to stumble and they smack him all over the park in the 8th, scoring 4 before I can get him out, cursing my decision not to go to the bullpen. A decision that costs us the game as they post an 8-spot and we go down without a sound.

Red Sox 9, Pirates 2

BOX SCORE



Game 5 in Boston, October 13th 1916
Bert Gallia (0-0, 11.12) v Wilbur Cooper (0-0, 16.20)
Series tied 2-2

No time to mope about after yesterday’s disappointment, we need to get back at it straight away and put things to rights. The decision of who would be our starter here was – to put it mildly – a close-run thing. Cooper’s playoff performance spanning these past two Series has been nothing short of diabolical, with his ERA in 3 games north of 10. With Williams available as another southpaw option to try and counter their big LHB, I only just opted for the status quo by a hair’s breadth. Rest assured, the hook will be the shortest in MLB history, as I’m sure will be the case in the opposition camp. The last thing I want is for us to head home facing elimination again.

Things do not start well, as Lewis takes him deep in the 1st to make it 1-0, making it four homers to none in their favour for the series.

A two-base error by McDonald puts Baker on in the 3rd and Carey knots it up with a two-out single, with another by Easterly putting us in front.

The pitchers settle down until the bottom 7th, when they get a rally going and eventually tie it at 2.

Baker finally contributes meaningfully, singling one in for us in the 8th to make it 3-2.

We get men at the corners with one out in the 9th and I pull the trigger, hitting Bigbee for Cooper, and he comes through for us with a run-scoring double and Ingerton makes it 6-2 with a 2-run single. Drucke finishes them off with a clean bottom half for the win.

Pirates 6, Red Sox 2

BOX SCORE



Game 6 in Pittsburgh, October 15th 1916
Carl Mays (1-0, 5.62) v Claude Hendrix (0-1, 15.43)
Pirates lead series 3-2

We have been here before. This series is just as even as the moment the first pitch of Game 1 was thrown. We don’t close this out today then we have to do so against Leonard. It’s that simple.

We go ahead in the 1st on a two-out Baker hit and Carey adds two more with a double. The bats start the way we need, with Cobb adding a 4th in the next on a single and Charleston makes it 5-0 with a two-out triple.

A couple of outstanding plays by our cornermen in the next really lift the spirits. But there’s a long, long way to go.

They start to find their range and score two, with Charleston nailing one at home to kill the rally.

They keep belting Mays and I’ve seen enough, lifting him for Williams after they’ve scored one and put another on in the 5th.

The hits have completely dried up for us and they are full of running, scoring again in the 6th to make it a one-run affair.

We finally get a rally going in the bottom of that inning and I hit Harvey for Williams but it comes to nought.

Drucke into action to start the 7th. He gets a clean inning but then gives up the lead with a run conceded in the 8th.

5-5.

They bring Leonard on in relief.

Baker greets him with an ITP home run. With two out and a man on second, they choose to pitch to Fisher despite the empty base. He singles to make it 7-5.

Three lousy outs. Instead, we let them load the bases on two hits and an error by Cobb. That’s Drucke done.

We completely fall apart and they put 5 on the board. We have no response and take easily the toughest loss I’ve ever endured, made even more so by the fact that it is very much on me. In my stupid excitement, I left Drucke in too long and should have had Ingerton at 1B to replace Cobb. Sadly, there are neither crying nor mulligans permitted in baseball.

Red Sox 10, Pirates 7

BOX SCORE



Game 7 in Pittsburgh, October 16th 1916
Rube Vickers (0-2, 5.87) v Dutch Leonard (3-0, 1.35)
Series tied 3-3

I wish I had some juste mot or five at my disposal, but I do not. Just as with Joe Williams last year, our opponents decide to start Leonard despite him throwing 44 pitches yesterday.

We get to him early with a run on a Charleston triple in the bottom 1st but fail to bring him in. We do, however, get a second run the next inning on a Vickers groundout.

We get Rube another run in the 4th on a two-out Cobb single. He is giving it everything but they get on the board with one in the 6th and this is in the balance again. Even more so when they make it 3-2 in the next.

Bottom of the 9th, still 3-2. I don’t make the same mistake with Cobb, but leave Vickers in.

Torriente grounds out.

Wilson grounds out.

Scott pops out to Groh.

I pop a heart tablet. Then the cork off some champagne. I do believe we’ve earned it.

Pirates 3, Red Sox 2

BOX SCORE



PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Bob Fisher (Pittsburgh)


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1916 Offseason
 

A bit of carnage in the managerial ranks with Kid Camp (Yankees), Harry Davis (A’s) and Phil Powers (Braves) all in the market for a new gig.

Roger “The Duke of Tralee” Bresnahan announces his retirement, as does our stalwart long-time Pirate Danny Murphy. Other big names hanging them up include Ed Walsh (who you'd have to regard as a good chance for the HOF), Cy Falkenberg, and Tommy Leach.

After Andre White moves on, we hire Honus Wagner as our new Bench Coach.

We release Red Killefer and Nick Maddox.

1916 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1916 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1916 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

Number 4 MVP for Tris Speaker and our own Frank Baker wins his third award in the NL.

A great result for veteran Rube Vickers, who caps off his 30-win season and Game 7 heroics with his first CYA at age 38. Dutch Leonard wins his second in the AL.

And a great result for my NeL project with Heavy Johnson of the A's and the Cardinals' Dave Malarcher winning the respective RoY gongs.

The HR figure continues to remain high, which is working out as I want it so that the figures aren't squashed by the addition of the NeL guys. I don't fancy tinkering with the LTMs so hopefully this continues along the same vein into the 1920s and beyond. Only the 2B rate seems to be ticking up, which I'm OK with but will continue to monitor.

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Big signing news
 

The great Tris Speaker is headed to the NL as Brooklyn gets serious...

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All Aboard!!
 

... as are we with this signing.

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No need I'm sure to explain the significance of this acquisition for our club. We've lacked a true ace for some time and, with Vickers' career winding down, needed someone like Train to step in. But we've gone down this route before and been disappointed, so there are no guarantees.

Still, 5 CYA, 277 wins and a career 2.25 ERA aren't to be sniffed at. And he is still just 29. One can only speculate why Washington let him go, as is the case with Boston and Spoke (I'd say the presence of Torriente may have had something to do with this one...), and the Giants with gun infielder Larry Doyle, who has been snapped up by the Indians.

Hopefully, their loss is our gain.

WALTER JOHNSON PAGE

Look out world...
 

The 20th-century version of Shohei Ohtani has made the switch to everyday player first, pitcher second.

Here, one would suspect, come the Yankees...

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Cooperstown is open for business...
 

The holdouts need their heads read...

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1916/17 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/1916.

Another really weak class coming through for 1917 with just 3 Legacies and Youngs the only certified superstar.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1917 season:

New York Giants: Ross Youngs (32.3; 1211)
New York Yankees: Aaron Ward (13.9; 908 – conceded 99.3% at one club)
Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Ring (12.3; 218)

There are 108 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1916 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. New York Giants (566)
2. New York Yankees (519)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (595)
4. Philadelphia Athletics (235)
5. St. Louis Cardinals (392; dice roll)
6. Cincinnati Reds (392; dice roll)
7. Pittsburgh Pirates (422)
8. Chicago Cubs (438)
9. Washington Senators (497)
10. Cleveland Indians (500)
11. St. Louis Browns (513)
12. Detroit Tigers (565)
13. Chicago White Sox (578)
14. Boston Braves (586)
15. Boston Red Sox (591)
16. Brooklyn Robins (610)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Philadelphia Athletics (235)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (392; dice roll)
3. Cincinnati Reds (392; dice roll)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (422)
5. Chicago Cubs (438)
6. Washington Senators (497)
7. Cleveland Indians (500)
8. St. Louis Browns (513)
9. New York Yankees (519)
10. Detroit Tigers (565)
11. New York Giants (566)
12. Chicago White Sox (578)
13. Boston Braves (586)
14. Boston Red Sox (591)
15. Philadelphia Phillies (595)
16. Brooklyn Robins (610)


No Legacy for us this year. Our IRL counterparts were still in a rut in ’16, so we get a fairly high pick again here. No outright superstars up for grabs but some decent enough depth pieces which is pretty much all we are after.
Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. SS Dick Lundy, 20

• Dick isn’t exactly the all-round utility I was after but his projected potential made him a fairly straightforward selection. All the scouts love his makeup and were surprised he didn’t go before our pick. Only plays SS and 2B, but reportedly hits a ton and works his hindquarters off. A switchie who hits both handed pitchers equally well and, should Lloyd waste the one final chance we’re offering him to make everyday SS his position for the next few years, King Richard will be there waiting.

2. P / 1B Dutch Reuther, 23

• A bit of a punt here as there weren’t any players left even remotely suitable for us. Dutch profiles as a fairly handy southpaw who also plays first and bats OK. It is this latter attribute that sealed the deal, because I’m not sure his pitching alone would get him a spot at the table.

3. OF Frank Walker, 22
4. P Vic Aldridge, 23
5. 3B Arch Reilly, 25

• Scout’s picks.

A decent Draft for us, if things go as planned.

FULL DRAFT LOG

1917 The First Time Around
 

The White Sox finally make it back to the playoffs after a few years (with a 100-win campaign that is still the franchise record), easily winning the AL Pennant by 9 games from the Red Sox. The Giants reclaim the NL Pennant, but the Pale Hose prove too strong in the World Series, winning it in six.

AL CHAMPIONS: Chicago White Sox (100-54)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (98-56)
WORLD SERIES: White Sox 4, Giants 2

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. ROGERS HORNSBY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 86 runs, 24 doubles, 17 triples, 8 home runs, 66 RBIs, .484 slugging percentage.
• The Rajah’s rise to stardom included a league leading slugging percentage in spite of just eight home runs. He’d lead the NL again in the former department—but with a few more pops.

2. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 103 runs, 180 hits, 25 doubles, 13 triples, 75 walks, 40 stolen bases.
• The consistent Burns, who hit anywhere between .272 and .303 over 11 full-time seasons, gave it a little extra while NL offense in general slumped.

3. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 82 runs, 178 hits, 14 triples.
• Using a 48-ounce bat said to be the heaviest ever in the bigs, Roush won his first NL batting crown.

4. GAVVY CRAVATH, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 29 doubles, 16 triples, 12 home runs, 83 RBIs, 70 walks.
• It must be said: 11 of Cravath’s 12 home runs were hit in two ballparks (Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl and New York’s Polo Grounds) with cozy porches down the lines.

5. BENNY KAUFF, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 89 runs, 172 hits, 68 RBIs, 30 stolen bases.
• The Ex-Fed searching for superstardom in the NL came the closest to it in 1917.

6. HEINIE GROH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 156 games, .304 average, 91 runs, 182 hits, 39 doubles, 11 triples, 71 walks, .385 on-base percentage.
• After often just missing the .300 mark in his first four everyday seasons, Groh finally finished above it—as he would do for three of the next four years as well.

7. MAX CAREY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 82 runs, 12 triples, 7 intentional walks, 46 stolen bases, 30 caught stealing.
• Though leading off for much of the year, Carey’s 51 RBIs led an otherwise dormant Pirates offense.

8. HEINIE ZIMMERMAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 22 doubles, 9 triples, 5 home runs, 100 RBIs.
• Going by Henry as anti-German sentiment swept across wartime America, Zimmerman nevertheless felt at home playing in his birthplace of New York City.

9. RED SMITH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 31 doubles, 2 home runs, 62 RBIs.
• After a poor start, Smith kicked it into high gear and nearly hit .300 for the first time in his career.

10. HAL CHASE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .277 average, 602 at-bats, 28 doubles, 15 triples, 86 RBIs.
• The veteran first baseman reportedly began to show that his above numbers could have been better had gambling money not taken a higher priority.

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .383 average, 588 at-bats, 107 runs, 225 hits, 44 doubles, 24 triples, 6 home runs, 102 RBIs, 55 stolen bases, .444 on-base percentage, .570 slugging percentage.
• Perched at or near the top of practically every offensive category, Cobb had one of his most dominant campaigns yet.

2. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .352 average, 90 runs, 184 hits, 42 doubles, 11 triples, 67 walks, 7 intentional walks, 30 stolen bases.
• Another terrific year for Spoke despite a scary beaning in mid-August that cost him just over a week of play; it might have been far longer had the ball struck him an inch lower, according to the team doctor.

3. BOBBY VEACH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 182 hits, 31 doubles, 12 triples, 110 RBIs, 9 hit-by-pitches.
• For no particular reason, Veach hit 100 points higher on the road (.368) than he did at home (.268).

4. EDDIE COLLINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 91 runs, 12 triples, 89 walks, 53 stolen bases.
• A rare showing below the .300 mark didn’t keep Collins from remaining one of the AL’s most potent offensive threats.

5. JOE JACKSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 91 runs, 20 doubles, 17 triples, 75 walks.
• Shoeless Joe had the lowest batting average of his career, but it could have been even worse; he was hitting as low as .261 in mid-August before going on a rampage down the stretch.

6. RAY CHAPMAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 98 runs, 170 hits, 28 doubles, 13 triples, 52 stolen bases, 22 caught stealing, 67 sacrifice hits.
• Growing into his own as a shortstop and leadoff hitter, Chapman gave the Indians a big lift at the top and up the middle—and set a major league mark with 67 sacrifice bunts.

7. HAPPY FELSCH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .308 average, 177 hits, 10 triples, 6 home runs, 99 RBIs.
• Even as opposing pitchers quelled White Sox stars Eddie Collins and Joe Jackson (above) to a modest degree of success, they then had to contend with Felsch, who outhit, out-RBI’d and outhomered the other two.

8. BRAGGO ROTH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 72 RBIs, 73 strikeouts, 51 stolen bases.
• Roth stole a career-high 51 bags—six of them at home, just two shy of the all-time mark.

9. GEORGE SISLER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .353 average, 190 hits, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 37 stolen bases.
• Were it not for Sisler—who hit some 100 points higher than his teammates—the Browns would have surely landed in the AL cellar.

10. SAM RICE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 177 hits, 35 stolen bases.
• Rice was the latest in a growing trend of future Hall of Famers (Sisler, Babe Ruth) who arrived as hot pitching prospects and emerged as even better hitters.

NL Pitchers

1. PETE ALEXANDER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.83 ERA, 30 wins, 13 losses, 44 starts, 34 complete games, 8 shutouts, 388 innings, 56 walks, 200 strikeouts.
• Alexander finished his salad days at Philadelphia—leading the NL in wins, shutouts and ERA for the third straight year—before reporting to the front lines of the Great War.

2. FERDIE SCHUPP, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.95 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 272 innings.
• Later wildness would make Schupp’s wonderful 1917 effort stand out like a major spike in his year-by-year ledger.

3. FRED TONEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 24 wins, 16 losses, 339.2 innings.
• Never more needed with a career-high number of innings, Toney showed he was well-prepped for his 10-inning no-hit victory over fellow no-no contender Hippo Vaughn; he once threw a 17-inning no-hitter in the minors.

4. FRED ANDERSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.44 ERA, 8 wins, 8 losses, 38 appearances, 18 starts.
• A Federal League refugee who years earlier had quit baseball to take up dentistry, Anderson was all smiles upon returning to the game and stealing away with the NL ERA title.

5. SLIM SALLEE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 18 wins, 7 losses, 4 saves.
• After struggling to reach .500 with some bad Cardinals teams of the early 1910s, Sallee found victorious bliss from a much more supportive Giants lineup.

6. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 295.2 innings.
• Though he didn’t win the one game in which he threw no-hit ball for nine innings (thanks, Fred Toney), Vaughn still managed to rack up enough victories to set a personal mark.

7. POL PERRITT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.88 ERA, 17 wins, 7 losses.
• Throwing a career-high 12 innings without conceding an earned run in his last start of the year made Perritt one of three Giants pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA.

8. ART NEHF, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.16 ERA, 17 wins, 8 losses.
• The young southpaw gave signs of good things to come by throwing a Braves franchise-record 41 consecutive scoreless innings toward the end of the season.

9. EPPA RIXEY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.27 ERA, 16 wins, 21 losses, 281.1 innings.
• A notorious clubhouse destroyer when he lost, Rixey probably had his teammates scurrying to clear their lockers early, fast and often in 1917 with 21 defeats in spite of a fine ERA.

10. WILBUR COOPER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.36 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 297.2 innings.
• A sole shining light on a Pirates team that was clearly baseball’s worst; they were 34-92 in games in which he didn’t have a decision.

AL Pitchers

1. EDDIE CICOTTE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.53 ERA, 28 wins, 12 losses, 49 appearances, 346.2 innings.
• Cicotte was a long way from the bad ol’ days when the Tigers traded him to a minor league team in exchange for ballpark rent.

2. STAN COVELESKI, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.81 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 9 shutouts, 298.1 innings.
• As the career of older brother Harry began to disintegrate in Detroit, Stan’s took off in Cleveland in his second full season, posting a career-low ERA.

3. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 23 wins, 16 losses, 47 appearances, 8 shutouts, 328 innings, 188 strikeouts, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• The Big Train’s ERA finished above 2.00 for the only time in the decade, but he still managed to do all the other things—win games, strike out batters, etc.—and do them quite well.

4. JIM BAGBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.96 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 7 saves, 49 appearances, 320.2 innings.
• While Sisler, Ruth and Rice went from pitching to hitting, Bagby went the opposite way—thriving as a screwball pitcher after years toiling as a minor league outfielder.

5. CARL MAYS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.74 ERA, 22 wins, 9 losses, 289 innings, 14 hit-by-pitches.
• Known for his penchant of throwing in at hitters—as Ray Chapman would fatally find out in 1920—Mays led the AL in hit batsmen for the only time in his career.

6. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.01 ERA, 24 wins, 13 losses, 35 complete games, 326.1 innings.
• In his last year as a full-time starting pitcher, Ruth continued to perform as if he would be a cinch for the Hall of Fame based on his exploits on the mound.

7. REB RUSSELL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.95 ERA, 15 wins, 5 losses, .750 win percentage.
• Despite being occasionally sidelined from a sore arm—said to be the fault of trying to learn the curve—Russell still looked sharp when healthy.

8. DUTCH LEONARD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 16 wins, 17 losses, 294.1 innings.
• Hard-luck season for Leonard, whose sharp ERA was complicated by poor offensive support (less than three runs per start).

9. HOOKS DAUSS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 17 wins, 14 losses, 270.2 innings.
• The eventual 223-game winner threw six of his 22 career shutouts in 1917.

10. RED FABER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.92 ERA, 16 wins, 13 losses.
• Playing for a championship team with that ERA, you would think Faber would have won more games; he made it up by nailing down three W’s in the World Series.

1917 Preseason / Spring Training
 

Other than our big signing, the other offseason moves and FA signings of note are:

• OF Tris Speaker: Robins, 8 years / $77600
• 2B Larry Doyle: Indians, 5 years / $30500
• P Eddie Cicotte: Senators, 4 years / $24300
• P Red Ames: White Sox, 2 years / $3800

The Robins trade P Harry Coveleski and OF Merlin Kopp to the Reds for 3B Del Paddock and OF Pat Duncan.

ALL TRANSACTIONS

We go 10-8 in ST, little to report. Everyone seems ready.

Those “in the know” are expecting a rematch between ourselves and the BoSox, but for both races to be extremely close—especially in the AL where they are tipping just a dozen games to cover the field. The Yankees are notable improvers in their eyes.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1917 Opening Day
 

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

I feel confident that the injection of new blood will stave off any staleness and complacency in the group. My main focus early on will be how our new defensive formation is working out and what, if any, tinkering is needed. Here’s the squad as it lines up on OD.

Catchers

• C Ted Easterly (L)

• Les Nunamaker (R) – will once again see almost all of his starts v LHP

Easterly was sensational last year for us and we’re looking for the same again this time around. Gibson isn’t too far off ready, O’Farrell still a while off.

Infielders

• 1B Oscar Charleston (L)
• 2B Heinie Groh (R)
• 3B Frank Baker (L)
• SS John Henry Lloyd (L)

• Scott Ingerton (R)
• Bob Fisher (R)
• Dick Lundy (S)
• Joe Schultz (R)

Pop gets one more chance at SS, but the line is taut. Lundy and Fisher both ready to step up. Keen to see how Charlie handles 1B.

Outfielders

• LF Elmer Smith (L)
• CF Max Carey (S)
• RF Ty Cobb (L)

• Carson Bigbee (L)
• Zaza Harvey (L)

Joe Schultz will actually get the LHP platoon in left. We'll rotate players whenever rest is needed.

Rotation

1. RHP Walter Johnson
2. RHP Andrew Foster
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Carl Mays

Well we’ve done everything possible to tighten this group up. Now it’s all about performing.

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Al Mamaux
• RHP Rube Vickers
• LHP Lefty Williams

Dauss, Adams and a few others ready to be deployed if and when needed.

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The View from the Gangplank: May 1, 1917
 

We fairly limp out of the gates going 4-6 over our first ten as the group struggles to find its feet, but then get it together and carry over into May a 10-game win string including a road sweep of four at the Redbirds.

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Lundy makes an immediate impact in the league, winning the Rookie award for the month with a 346/382/431 slash line and 13 RBI in just 52 AB. Lloyd remains our starting SS but not for long should this continue.

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Standings, awards, news, leaders.

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Stat of the Day
 

Just tidying up...
 

... some contract news from late April.

• The Red Sox give SS Arnold Hauser a 5-year extension worth $16180.
• The Senators lock P Dick Redding down until 1922 for $26580 and sign FA OF Bris Lord to a 1-year / $1920 deal.

The View from the Gangplank: June 1, 1917
 

We stretch our winning streak to an MLB-record 17 games before losing to the Braves. Perhaps the two oddest things about this are that, in all honesty, I feel we are playing beneath our best, especially on offence; and that we are still only a half-game ahead of the Robins when it ends, despite their big off-season signing Tris Speaker only slashing 202/319/277 to that point.

After a bit of a slump, we rediscover our mojo and eventually finish with an excellent 21-6 sectional.

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The bats are doing just enough to get us the few runs our pitchers need, which isn't many most of the time. They have gelled superbly and are really looking good.

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A good result late in the month over the Robins does finally kick us away from the pack. In the AL, the Indians are doing well, as are the Browns.

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Awards, news, leaders.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: wSB
 

The offseason stuff is always interesting.

How financially constrained are the teams? That is, will the acquisition of some higher end, older talent be challenging to the budget in a few years?

No real problem in this regard just yet, even with FA invoked in place of the Reserve Clause.

Our budget is like $750k vs our payroll of just under $100k. Things are changing now, though, with the onset of Ruth, so it will get a lot tighter in a decade or so.

Foster is the interesting one. He's only on $3k per and has an opt-out at the end of this season that I am 100% convinced he will exercise. It'll come down to how much he wants for how long as to whether we sign him or let him walk. That said, he'd have to be incredibly unreasonable for us not to re-sign him.

You see Pete Hill 2.0?

Some changes in the wind...
 

In the interests of making this game ever more challenging for me and interesting for you following along while still making it broadly representative of the historical, I have decided to make a few key changes to some of the game settings.

All Legacies will henceforth have a 2-year extension added to their 10-year contracts at the outset, with salaries reflective of the historical. The exception to this will be those whose IRL careers were 10 years' duration or fewer.

I will also be introducing a new class - Marquee Players.

A Marquee will be a Legacy Player with 70+ career WAR (as per BBRef) and a minimum 60% of career games played for the club that initially receives them as a Legacy.

One year will then be added to their extension per every 5% over 60% they played at that club, with those having played their entire career for the club receiving the maximum of 10 years or the same number of seasons their IRL career lasted.

Of the current Legacies this new distinction only applies to Detroit’s Harry Heilmann, who gets a 9-year extension; Babe Ruth, whose stay with the Yanks is extended by 6 years; and Rogers Hornsby, who gets a total of 4 more seasons with the Cards.

If we want to sign a Marquee Player when they become a FA, we can. However, once any deal has been consummated, we have to match that player's historical salary for the duration. We still cannot trade for them before that, nor trade away our Legacies and Marquees.

Other changes to be made are as follows:

• AI trading is currently set to VERY LOW. I will be ticking that up to LOW at the end of this season and again up to AVERAGE for the start of the 1920 season. I just feel some teams are being stuck with the same playing group and want to try and encourage the AI managers to be more proactive in building competitive squads.
• I always intended to introduce MiLB along the way, but my plan was to wait until 1950. Now I will be creating an AAA level for 1920. Then I’ll add an AA level in 1950 and see where that leaves us. A third level will almost certainly be brought in sometime around 1975-80. This, of course, will mean option years and waivers and all that, which should again encourage plenty of franchise-shaping.
• Injury frequency is currently set to VERY LOW. I will be upping this to LOW at the start of 1920 and looking to bring it up to NORMAL in the years after that. I just want to see how things play out first. The last thing I want is a host of big-name players taken out of the game for prolonged periods with injuries.
• FA eligibility, which is currently at 10 years, has just been moved down to 8. It will be reduced by another year at the end of each of the 1917, 1918 and 1919 seasons to make it 5 years come 1920. Arb eligibility will remain at the game-enforced 3-year setting. This will mean more players at younger ages entering the FA market or clubs having to be more aggressive in keeping them.
• Because I feel it is just too arbitrary, at the end of the 1917 season, I will be removing personality / morale / chemistry from the game.
• TCR is currently set at 120, and I just feel with both DEV and RECALC at play, having it set so high is making ratings and performance a bit too erratic. So at the end of the next few seasons I will be ticking it down to 100 then 75 then 50 for the start of 1920.

As I said, I need to keep an eye on what this all means for the game and will be quick to tinker further should I not like what I am seeing.

Any input and feedback welcome, as always.

G

The View from the Gangplank: July 1, 1917
 

We lose our way a bit this month, especially in the middle part, as both our offence and pitching comes off the boil somewhat. We steady the ship with some late wins and finish with a 15-9 June.

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We are getting plenty of hits (NL-best 272 BA), but have next to no power being generated, with just 6 HR so far by the group. The rotation isn’t as tight as we’d like it to be, although the bullpen – led once again by the redoubtable Drucke, along with Mamaux (the two have identical 0.55 ERAs over 16.1 IP) – is limiting the damage.

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The Cards go on the move with a 10-game win streak and their 23-5 month makes a huge statement. More importantly, it takes a huge chunk out of our lead, which now stands at 5 ½ games. We know, they know, everyone associated with the game knows one thing: this is going to be one heck of a battle for the 1917 NL pennant. Across in the AL, the Indians head in the wrong direction as the Browns continue to hold sway by a narrow margin over the Sens and Yankees. The Red Sox are really missing Speaker, entrenched toward the bottom of the junior circuit standings, although it's pretty tight top-to-bottom.

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We tidy up some arb-eligible players, inking Smith, Williams and Charleston to 1-year deals, and locking down Easterly for 3 more plus a team option at $8k per.

Awards, news, leaders. Not sure he'll be able to sustain it, but Boston's Bullet Rogan is on course for a 15 WAR season.

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Stat of the Day
 

A much-needed fillip...
 

... for the struggling BoSox. And against the Evil Empire, no less.

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Another milestone for the great man...
 

... just the third to reach this mark after Crawford (who leads the category all-time with 2933) and Lajoie (2723). Seven years Wahoo Sam's junior, it looks inevitable that Ty will sit atop this leaderboard before he leaves the game. But will he reach his IRL mark of 4189? I reckon he'll go pretty close unless something untoward gets in the way.

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Hippo on the move...
 

... mixed emotions about this one. I'm glad to see some clubs trading for team needs as we enter the stretch run, but Hippo is a Legacy and I would prefer Legacies to see out their initial contracts. Oh well, win some and lose some.

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The Sens stay busy and swap another player only a couple days later with the other Chicago club. Not a Legacy this time, thankfully.

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Nice going, Ray...
 

... another no-no for the league's collection. Given his record this season, one can safely assume this came out of the blue.

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The deadline cometh...
 

... and with it some more trade action.

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Yet another no-no...
 

... making it three in each of the past two seasons.

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The View from the Gangplank: August 1, 1917
 

We begin the month with a truly epic series early against the Redbirds that sees us win 3 of 4, with every game a one-run affair. This seems to take it out of both teams, and we end up with a patchy 17-11 month in which we intersperse stretches of good form with poor.

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We've pushed out our lead a bit to 9 games. The AL looks set for yet another nailbiter as the Browns and Sens are tied entering August.

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Awards, news, leaders, full report in a month. Heavy Johnson of the A's appears ready to have a decent run at the AL Triple Crown.

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The View from the Gangplank: September 1, 1917
 

Not a great first half of the month for us at all. Not just with regard to our ordinary 5-5 record, but also the style in which some of those losses occur. Some big losses, some lucky escapes, some late-inning fadeouts – none of which are acceptable – and just a general malaise in how most of the squad is playing. Then Foster goes down with a shoulder injury and has to have a stint on the IL, just for the minimum thankfully but he’ll need to be monitored.

We do turn things around with 6 wins from 7, but this is nothing but a false dawn as we then proceed to lose 6 straight in which we score just 11 runs combined. When the Cards come to town for two to finish off the month, our lead is down to just 4.

The first of these games shows just how much trouble we are in as we give up 12 unearned runs and, despite the bats finally coming alive (including a 4 hit, 5 RBI performance by Lundy), take a ridiculous 14-12 loss after they score 8 in the 9th off Mamaux and Mays. We finally halt the skid with a most unconvincing 7-6 win on the final day of the month, with Lundy again starring. And so we finish August with a 13-14 record and enter the stretch a very shaky 4 to the good.

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Carey is struggling, as he seems to do every other year, to the point that – after hitting less than 200 for the month – I bench him. Foster’s 5.13 ERA (allowing an OBA of 278) for the month is another major concern and we need him to get back on track ASAP.

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Very much helping the Cards' cause is the fact that Rajah is putting together one of the best individual seasons on record. Nearly 10 WAR with just under 30 games to go, and he looks almost certain to break Honus's single-season mark of 12.12.

The AL race eases up a bit as, after a few different sides look set to challenge and the Sens stay level with them, the Browns put their foot down with a 17-9 sectional and kick 6 clear. What a dramatic change in the landscape.

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Awards, news, leaders. I suspect you'll be hearing from me sooner than I'd prefer.

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Stat of the Day
 

Stat of the Month: WAR
 

Wins Above Replacement - batters, season 1917 to date

Wins Above Replacement - pitchers, season 1917 to date

#300 for the Train
 

This makes Walter the 4th to reach this mark. Of the other three, only Charles Bender - the all-time leader with 325 - is still active, and I don't see him being so for much longer nor adding many to this total.

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The View from the Gangplank: end of regular season, 1917
 

A messy start to the month for both us and the Cardinals mean we still hold a 4-game lead when we head there for our last 4 scheduled (a key word here) regular season games against them. They take 3 of them and our lead is cut to 2 with 16 to play.

The lads somehow drag themself off the canvas and string 7 wins on the trot but still the Cards hang tough and our lead is only 3 with 10 to play.

They are almost dead on their feet at this stage, having played 14 days straight. When we do finally get a day off there are 7 to play, our lead is 2 ½ and our MN is 5.

2 wins against Philly coupled with 2 Cards losses put us 3 ½ ahead and needing just a win or St. Louis loss to clinch, as the Browns lock down their 2nd AL Pennant.

An emphatic 13-0 win at home over Brooklyn behind a Mamaux 3-hitter gets us there.

We finish the regular season with 97 wins, 5 clear of the Redbirds.

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While this race should never have been as close as it turns out to be, there are still many more positives than negatives to be taken from this campaign. The boys show so much heart in the final stretch, with everyone doing their bit.

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Easterly has been huge all year, Groh is arguably our best player over the past month after a sluggish start to the season. Lundy’s rookie season is a solid foundation on which to build what looks set to be a most promising career. Charleston has become a real force at the top of the lineup. Smith continues to improve. Cobb is just... well, Cobb. Even Carey and Baker finally show some form when we need it the most, credit where due, and the backups all contribute mightily when called upon to do so.

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On the pitching side of the ledger, while Foster doesn’t quite live up to expectations, Johnson more than compensates. Cooper, Mamaux and Mays all play their part, and the pen is once again as reliable as they come.

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That said, we need to be much better than this moving forward. I doubt very much the 1918 and beyond St. Louis Cardinals will permit us such profligacy in future.


Heavy Johnson claims his first batting title with a 338 BA and leads HR with 18, but comes up just 9 RBI short in his quest for the AL Triple Crown. Chicago’s Jim Viox pips Ty Cobb on the final day to win the NL crown by crumbs with a 343 mark. And Rogers Hornsby just fails to reach the all-time WAR seasonal figure, finishing with 11.7.


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Back for the Big Dance preview soon.


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1917 World Series Preview
 

St. Louis Browns (89-65) v Pittsburgh Pirates (97-57)

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

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Putting on my neutral cap for a second, this should be a fascinating Series between two sides that are not just evenly-matched, but also very similar. Each hits more for average than power. Each has a decent amount of speed on the bases. Each has had its problems on defence but saw some improvement this year.

Looking at things analytically, they probably edge us on offence, we probably edge them on pitching. I am expecting a lot of hits from both sides, and so those defensive issues I mentioned may very well come into play. I think there’ll be a few 5-4 and 6-5 results.

Our boys know what they need to do. Tightness and opportunism are the keys here. I think they’re ready.

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1917 World Series Recap
 

Game 1 in S. Louis, October 7th 1917
Joe Williams (24-13, 2.07) v Walter Johnson (27-16, 2.28)

Williams may not have had the utterly dominant season he did a couple of years ago when he haunted us in the playoffs, but he was still very good and will take a ton of beating here, especially in front of his adoring home fans. It has been a while since Train saw post-season action but he knows what it is all about nonetheless and we need him to step up here to get us off on the right foot.

Not a lot to report early as these two aces bring their A Game and there’s no score and only a handful of baserunners thru 6.

We finally break the deadlock in the 7th on a Baker single and he then scores all the way from first on a Groh double. An RBI single by Carey makes it 3-0 and Lundy then goes yard to add 2 more.

Train has only given up one hit to this point but their bats come alive in the home 7th as 3 straight hits get them on the board and a poor misplay by Cobb puts 2 more in SP with still none out. A double scores them both and it’s game on again.

They have lifted Williams and Perritt is on in relief. I stick with Walter, who settles down again and goes all nine to get us the key away win.

Pirates 5, Browns 3

BOX SCORE


Game 2 in St. Louis, October 8th 1917
Carl Weilman (25-10, 2.26) v Andrew Foster (19-14, 2.73)
Pirates lead series 1-0

Rube has struggled a bit this year and I’m not 100% sure the arm injury that took him out of action for a bit is totally right. But he is one of the most dogged competitors in the game and will be giving this his all. He’ll need to against Weilman, one of the more underrated pitchers going around. We’re not quite the same side against southpaws, so we must make sure we capitalise on whatever chances we get here.

We start positively as Charleston leads off the game with a triple and scores on a hit by Groh but then the pitchers once again gain the ascendancy with no further scoring until the top 7th when Lundy once again comes through with a 2-run longball to make it 3-0.

They come for us in the bottom 8th as the heart of the order comes alive with three straight singles to score a run but Foster recovers well to keep it at that.

Baker leads off the 9th with a solo shot to reinstate our 3-run advantage and Schultz pads it further with a 2-run triple, then scores himself on a wild pitch to put it at 7-1. A two-base error puts Foster at second and Ingerton knocks him in with a single.

We make a bit of a mess of the home half, allowing 2 to score before closing out another solid win that sends us back to Steeltown in a good position, albeit with plenty of work left to do.

Pirates 8, Browns 3

BOX SCORE


Game 3 in Pittsburgh, October 10h 1917
Wilbur Cooper (23-14, 2.55) v Juan Padron (4-3, 2.21)
Pirates lead series 2-0

Lefty against lefty here and Wilbur needs to improve upon his poor post-season showings of previous years.

He starts nervously, conceding 2 runs on 3 hits in the 1st but settles down and we get one of them back in the 4th when Groh triples and comes in on a Cobb single.

Then errors by Charleston and Groh seem to throw Cooper off his axis as they whack him all over the place and it’s 6-1 when I get the hook out. Some players just aren’t built for the big games, and I am afraid Wilbur seems among their number. Mamaux comes on in relief.

Their bats have certainly come alive and they hammer him as well, adding another in the 6th to make it 7-1, before Lundy continues his good form with a 2-run single in the home half.

But this is a flat performance from the group and they put us away with 3 more in the 9th and take it easily, 10-3.

Browns 10, Pirates 3

BOX SCORE


Game 4 in Pittsburgh, October 11h 1917
Walter Johnson (1-0, 3.00) v Joe Williams (0-1, 6.43)
Pirates lead series 2-1

As is almost always the case in a 7-game series, Game 4 is set to be a pivotal one.

Both teams waste 1st-inning chances but we take the lead in the next on a two-out single by Train after an error by their CF extends the inning. Their bats, however, pick up where they left off in G3 and get to Johnson big time in the 3rd, scoring 3 on 4 hits. Collins and Sisler, in particular, are having a field day, while our offence is quiet again.

Cobb is one exception to that, and he makes it a one-run game with an RBI trip in the 5th. Smith then singles him in to tie it at 3.

But Johnson can’t hold it as they go back ahead in the 6th. They have racked up 12 hits to this point. We then waste loaded bases and remain behind entering the 7th.

Train keeps us close but we just can’t get anything going and, down to our last out, look beaten. Then Gibson doubles and moves to third on a wild pitch to give us some hope, but Cobb grounds out meekly to 1B and the series is tied.

Browns 4, Pirates 3

BOX SCORE


Game 5 in Pittsburgh, October 12th 1917
Andrew Foster (1-0, 1.04) v Carl Weilman (0-1, 7.56)
Series tied 2-2

To go back to St. Louis needing two from two may well be a bridge too far, which makes this game even more important than it perhaps would be otherwise. It’s all on Rube now.

We load the bases on an error and two hits with none out in the 2nd, and another error gets us the first run of the game. A Schultz single adds another and Foster knocks in two more with a hit. A long fly by Charleston advances the runner to third and he scores on a Groh groundout.

They threaten in both the 3rd and 4th but Foster holds them at bay. We know, however, how their lineup can score on you in bunches, and I urge the lads to keep at it, not let up. They oblige with a run in the home 4th, although the Browns’ defence has more to do with it as they make 3 errors. Cobb twists the knife further with a two-out RBI single, ending Weilman’s day, and a 2-run double by Baker off Urban Shocker makes it 9-0.

Foster’s flirtations with trouble finally cost him 2 runs in the next but we get one ourselves in the bottom 6th on an Easterly single.

Rube’s travails mean 7 is all we get from him and Cobb gives the pen some more elbow room with a 2-run double in the home half.

They get 2 off Pernoll in the 9th before we close out a big win.

Pirates 12, Browns 4

BOX SCORE


Game 6 in St. Louis, October 14th 1917
Juan Padron (4-3, 2.21) v Wilbur Cooper (0-1, 4.15)
Pirates lead series 3-2

I’m not sure I’ve spent as much time deliberating over a choice of starting pitcher as I have for this game. In the end, I stick with Cooper because of their strong LHB bias and because I just don’t see Williams up to such a huge assignment at this point. Wilbur just needs to slow himself down and spot his pitches better and he’ll at least be more competitive than he has on a number of prior occasions. Their guy is pretty inexperienced, having logged less than 100 career innings in the bigs, so we need to get on him hard and early and stay that way all the way through.

Cooper starts strongly, retiring the first six he faces, but the 3rd inning is a shocker as Schultz makes two dreadful gaffes and they take their full measure with 3 runs.

If their lad is feeling any nerves, he certainly isn’t showing it, keeping us very quiet at plate with just two hits thru 5, and our defence lets us down yet again in the 5th as a Baker error gives them their 3rd unearned run to go ahead 4-0.

We finally get a run in the 7th on a Schultz double and I lift Cooper for a PH. He did all he could in this one, but those behind him let him and us down. That switch comes to nothing as Fisher flies out to end the threat.

Williams comes on in relief and gives us 2 scoreless. We load the bases with two out in the 9th, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of Smith, but he grounds out and we are off to yet another Game 7.

Browns 4, Pirates 1

BOX SCORE


Game 7 in St. Louis, October 15th 1917
Joe Williams (1-1, 3.50) v Walter Johnson (1-1, 3.94)
Series tied 3-3

For the unaligned this is about as good as it gets, with two top-notch teams led by two legendary pitchers going at it with everything on the line. No doubt whatsoever that the team who wins today deserves all the glory coming their way. This has been quite the Series, a true showcase for our great game.

Nice sentiment and all, and I hope we get a game worthy of the occasion, but more than anything I want to win.

Rain is in the forecast.

We take the lead in the 3rd on a two-out Easterly single after the inning stays alive on a Spratt error. Then Cobb, having a monster series, bangs in 2 more with a long double. Smith misses adding another couple by about 5 feet.

Lundy is another making a name for himself this October, and he adds a fourth for us in the next with a two-out double. A Groh error in the home half puts us under pressure but Train escapes unscathed.

We keep the score humming along with a run on a Cobb double and then Baker, having another quiet World Series, comes through with a two-out RBI single to make it 6-0. That is it for Williams.

The bats are on their game tonight and Carey extends our lead in the 7th with a 2-run double. They get their first run in the home half.

As much as I want to leave Walter in to finish things off, we get a man at third with one out in the 9th and I call for Schultz to pinch hit for him. He gets the run in on another Spratt error and then scurries home from first on a Charleston two-bagger to make it 10-1.

Pernoll lets two get aboard but closes it out without conceding for our 4th World Championship.

Due reward for the lads. It may not have been as cut-and-dried as we’d hope but that matters not now.

Pirates 10, Red Sox 1

BOX SCORE



PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-3

SERIES MVP: Ty Cobb (Pittsburgh)

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1917 Offseason
 

A massive shock when the Red Sox announce they have sacked two-time Champion manager Steve Martz. He’ll be joined in the unemployment queue by John Taber of the Tigers and the Phillies’ Tom Bannon.

We lose two club stalwarts to retirement in Rube Vickers and Legacy Player Babe Adams. Rube, on account of his 164 wins for us, will have #68 retired in his honour.

Others hanging up their cleats include Hans Lobert, Charlie Smith, Doc Gessler, Miller Huggins, Red Ames and Howie Camnitz.

We do not offer Scotty Ingerton arbitration, meaning he’ll become a Free Agent.

1917 Awards & Leaders
 

AL 1917 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1917 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


A fantastic year for the NeL players, who win all of the major awards save Rajah Hornsby's NL MVP. Heavy Johnson wins the AL MVP, Joe Williams (AL) and Bullet Rogan (NL) win the newly-minted Rube Waddell Award, while Detroit's George Britt and our own King Richard Lundy win the rookie gongs.

Everything green this year, including the HR.

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

Rube's got company...
 

https://i.imgur.com/GNqQ4h3.png?1

https://i.imgur.com/6PsDjtS.png?1https://i.imgur.com/Hgf6lxz.png?1

1917/18 Rookie Draft
 

Held on 12/20/1917.

Some decent Legacies this year led by Waite Hoyt, with 7 in total.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1918 season:

Chicago Cubs: Charlie Hollocher (23.2; 760 (conceded – one-club player))
Chicago White Sox: Johnny Mostil (24.2; 972 (conceded – one-club player))
Cincinnati Reds: Dolf Luque (48.1; 395)
New York Yankees: Waite Hoyt (52.2; 365)
Philadelphia Athletics: Jimmy Dykes (34.1; 1702)
St. Louis Cardinals: Jesse Haines (32.6; 555)
Washington Senators: Tom Zachary (39.8; 273)

Bill Sherdel (31.1; 465) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Haines’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

Austin McHenry (10.0; 543 (conceded – one-club player)) was also eligible for the Cardinals, but Haines’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 90 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1917 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. New York Yankees (464; 28.5 GB)
2. Cincinnati Reds (506)
3. Washington Senators (484)
4. Philadelphia Athletics (359)
5. St. Louis Cardinals (539)
6. Chicago White Sox (649)
7. Chicago Cubs (481)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (331)
9. St. Louis Browns (370)
10. Brooklyn Robins (464; 26.5 GB)
11. Boston Braves (471)
12. Detroit Tigers (510)
13. Cleveland Indians (571)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (572)
15. Boston Red Sox (592)
16. New York Giants (636)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Pittsburgh Pirates (331)
2. Philadelphia Athletics (359)
3. St. Louis Browns (370)
4. New York Yankees (464; 28.5 GB)
5. Brooklyn Robins (464; 26.5 GB)
6. Boston Braves (471)
7. Chicago Cubs (481)
8. Washington Senators (484)
9. Cincinnati Reds (506)
10. Detroit Tigers (510)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (539)
12. Cleveland Indians (571)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (572)
14. Boston Red Sox (592)
15. New York Giants (636)
16. Chicago White Sox (649)



No Legacy for us this year. Thanks to the continued poor run of our IRL counterparts, we get the #1 pick, which allows me to go into the Draft with a fully-formed idea of how to proceed.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. 3B Oliver Marcell, 23

• McHenry is possibly a better prospect, but we are flush with outfielders (Lord, please don’t make me regret saying that...) and so we go with Oliver. He looks a lively type, although one-positional—a trait you’d know by now I am not a fan of. The plan is to see how he progresses with the view of easing him into the everyday 3B slot over the next couple seasons. Baker’s defence has really fallen off and this seems like the best move for us, both now and for the future.

2. P Bill Sherdel, 21

• The thinness of this year’s pool means that even the 17th overall pick doesn’t buy you much. That said, Bill profiles as a bit of a late bloomer and that might make him handy indeed a few years down the track.

3. P Red Causey, 24
4. SS Bob Larmore, 21
5. P Red Shea, 19

• Scout’s picks.

If things pan out as hoped, that first pick will have made this a worthwhile Draft for us.

FULL DRAFT LOG

1918 The First Time Around
 

WW1 shortened the season by 20-odd games and made baseball feel trivial yet altogether necessary for the folks at home. While the Cubs cruised in the NL, the Red Sox had to survive a tough stretch run with the Indians and Senators before just getting home. They went on to claim the Series in 6, blissfully ignorant of all the pain to follow in the Red Sox Nation and Cubland.

AL CHAMPIONS: Boston Red Sox (75-51)
NL CHAMPIONS: Chicago Cubs (84-45)
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox 4, Cubs 2

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .333 average, 18 doubles, 10 triples, 62 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, .455 slugging percentage.
• Roush missed out on what would have been his second of three straight NL batting titles, falling two points shy of first-place Zack Wheat.

2. GEORGE BURNS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 80 runs, 135 hits, 22 doubles, 40 stolen bases.
• It was a good year to be George Burns (see George Burns on the AL hitters’ list below).

3. MAX CAREY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 70 runs, 6 triples, 62 walks, 58 stolen bases.
• Carey led the NL in steals as usual, but also led the circuit in walks for the first of two times in his career.

4. SHERRY MAGEE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 15 doubles, 13 triples, 76 RBIs.
• The veteran star hitter made for a nice curtain call in Cincinnati by leading the NL in RBIs, even if it was only 76.

5. HEINIE GROH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 86 runs, 158 hits, 28 doubles, 54 walks, .395 on-base percentage.
• In a year where the ball was as dead as ever, Groh used his infamous bottle bat to emerge as the closest thing to an all-around hitting force in the NL.

6. CHARLIE HOLLOCHER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 131 games, .316 average, 509 at-bats, 72 runs, 161 hits, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 26 stolen bases.
• The rookie shortstop led the NL in hits and gave the Cubs their only .300 batter.

7. DODE PASKERT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 69 runs, 132 hits, 24 doubles, 59 RBIs, 53 walks, 49 strikeouts.
• The 37-year old led the NL in striking out—with 49.

8. GEORGE CUTSHAW, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 132 hits, 16 doubles, 10 triples, 5 home runs, 68 RBIs, 25 stolen bases.
• After six years spent with Brooklyn, Cutshaw had a productive first try with the Bucs.

9. AL WICKLAND, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 95 games, .262 average, 55 runs, 13 triples, 4 home runs, 53 walks.
• The sparingly used but nevertheless productive Wickland, in his first major league activity since plying his trade for the Federal League’s Pittsburgh Rebels in 1915, had no doubles but six triples in 44 games played at Braves Field.

10. FRED MERKLE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 25 doubles, 3 home runs, 65 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• The publicly disgraced one, who actually had a pretty good career, lifted the Cubs and made his fifth World Series. (Yes, we know, it should have been six—but, 1908.)

AL Hitters

1. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .382 average, 83 runs, 161 hits, 19 doubles, 14 triples, 64 RBIs, 34 walks, .440 on-base percentage.
• Cobb turned it up as the rest of baseball slowed down in preparation to close shop early, hitting .436 over his last 65 games.

2. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 73 runs, 150 hits, 33 doubles, 11 triples, 61 RBIs, 64 walks, 27 stolen bases.
• Spoke might have helped the Indians topple the Red Sox for the AL pennant, but he hit just .238 against his former team.

3. GEORGE SISLER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 69 runs, 154 hits, 21 doubles 9 triples, 45 stolen bases.
• Playing in his last relatively lean offensive campaign, Sisler was still good enough to finish third in the AL batting race and first in steals.

4. GEORGE BURNS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 130 games, .352 average, 178 hits, 22 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• Finishing as runner-up to Cobb for the AL batting crown after hitting .226 in 1917, Burns finally stole some limelight from the George Burns who starred for the Giants, and the George Burns who starred on Vaudeville.

5. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 95 games, .300 average, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 66 RBIs, 58 walks, 10 intentional walks, 58 strikeouts, .555 slugging percentage.
• Two of Ruth’s 11 triples were actually home runs that didn’t count since they were hit in extra innings with a man on first—rules then stipulated the batter being credited with only the amount of bases the lead runner needed to score. Still, it was the first of many home run titles for the Bambino.

6. HARRY HOOPER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 81 runs, 137 hits, 26 doubles, 13 triples, 75 walks.
• Beyond all the above numbers, Hooper’s biggest contribution of the year might have been encouraging Red Sox brass that, “Hey, this Ruth kid—you should have him bat every day.”

7. BRAGGO ROTH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 21 doubles, 12 triples, 59 RBIs, 53 walks, 8 hit-by-pitches.
• The Indians suspended Roth for the rest of the season in mid-August for being out of shape—never mind that he hit .329 over the six weeks before.

8. RAY CHAPMAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .267 average, 84 runs, 19 doubles, 8 triples, 84 walks, 35 stolen bases.
• The Cleveland sparkplug might have made it to double figures in both runs and walks had the season not been shortened by a month…

9. BOBBY VEACH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 139 hits, 21 doubles, 13 triples, 84 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• …And Veach might have gotten to 100 RBIs. As it was, he led the AL in that department for the third time in four years.

10. FRANK BAKER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 65 runs, 154 hits, 24 doubles, 6 home runs, 62 RBIs.
• Now with the Yankees, Baker continued to play well (but without the spectacular verve) in his post-“Home Run Baker” era.

NL Pitchers

1. HIPPO VAUGHN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.74 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, 33 starts, 8 shutouts, 290.1 innings, 148 strikeouts.
• The steady Cubs ace dominated the top of the pitching charts previously monopolized by war-bound teammate Pete Alexander.

2. LEFTY TYLER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.00 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, 269.1 innings.
• After solid but not spectacular results in eight years with the off-and-on Braves, Lefty righted his ship to the Cubs and produced his best year.

3. WILBUR COOPER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.11 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 3 saves, 273.1 innings.
• After losing seven straight decisions to start the month of June, Cooper got more than even by reeling off eight straight victories.

4. BURLEIGH GRIMES, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.14 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, 40 appearances, 269.2 innings.
• After suffering a miserable 3-16 mark with a rotten Pittsburgh team in 1917, Grimes escaped to Brooklyn and turned his luck around 180 degrees.

5. SLIM SALLEE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.25 ERA, 8 wins, 8 losses, 132 innings, 12 walks.
• Back issues ended Sallee’s season in mid-July and depressed his record even though he remained efficient; he walked less than one better per nine innings.

6. CLAUDE HENDRIX, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.78 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, .741 win percentage.
• Second in the NL—and on the Cubs, behind Hippo Vaughn—in wins, Hendrix had his best year since winning 29 for the Federal League’s Pittsburgh Rebels.

7. POL PERRITT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.74 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 233 innings.
• Perritt became the latest in a line of short-lived Giants aces; he would win just four more games over the next three years and never be heard from again in the majors.

8. PHIL DOUGLAS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 10 wins, 9 losses.
• Better late than never; Douglas turned in a fine performance despite missing the first two months while recovering from appendicitis.

9. FRED TONEY, CINCINNATI-NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 12 wins, 12 losses, 3 saves.
• A tale of two teams and two seasons for the right-hander; he was 6-10 with a 2.90 ERA with the Reds, but then 6-2 with a 1.69 figure for the Giants.

10. ART NEHF, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 15 wins, 15 losses, 28 complete games, 284.1 innings.
• Nehf was forced to labor hard for a Braves team that hit just .244 and featured no other pitchers with 10 or more wins; a move to the Giants in 1919 would take care of those woes.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 1.27 ERA, 23 wins, 13 losses, 8 shutouts, 326 innings, 162 strikeouts.
• In posting the second lowest ERA of his legendary career, Johnson made up for a shortened schedule by pitching into extra innings nine times.

2. STAN COVELESKI, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.82 ERA, 22 wins, 13 losses, 311 innings.
• Stan became part of the first brotherly duo in the majors (after Harry in 1914) to each win 20 games.

3. CARL MAYS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.21 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 30 complete games, 8 shutouts, 293.1 innings.
• In his last full (and mentally benign) campaign for Boston—and the Red Sox’ last with a championship for 86 years—Mays emerged as the team ace.

4. SCOTT PERRY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.98 ERA, 20 wins, 19 losses, 36 starts, 30 complete games, 8 shutouts, 332.1 innings.
• With no other A’s pitcher winning more than eight games, it’s easy to see why manager Connie Mack fought tooth and nail to keep the controversial 20-game winner.

5. ALLEN SOTHORON, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.94 ERA, 12 wins, 12 losses, 209 innings.
• After losing 19 games in his rookie season the year before, the spitballer still didn’t get much of a break from his teammates in the won-loss column—even as he led the AL with an opposing .205 batting average.

6. BULLET JOE BUSH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.11 ERA, 15 wins, 15 losses, 272.2 innings.
• Speaking of poor support, Bush got less than three runs per start while his Red Sox rotation mates each got over four. Thus, 15-15.

7. BABE RUTH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 16 wins, 5 losses, .762 win percentage.
• Ruth becomes the only player ever to make it on both a Top 10 hitter’s and pitcher’s list in the same season.

8. GEORGE MOGRIDGE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 16 wins, 13 losses, 7 saves, 45 appearances, 239.1 innings.
• Mogridge became Everyman for the Yankees, leading the team in innings and relief appearances (26).

9. JIM BAGBY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 45 appearances, 271.1 innings.
• Unspectacular yet respectable effort for the pitcher just two seasons away from hauling down over 30 wins.

10. HARRY HARPER, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 11 wins, 10 losses, 244 innings, 13 wild pitches.
• A year before his career crashed with a 6-21 record, Harper put together his most respectable grouping of numbers.

1918 Preseason / Spring Training
 

With the FA eligibility period shortened at the end of the '17 campaign, I expect the market to be busier than it is. Instead, a number of key extensions are signed. Here are the major deals:

• OF Pete Hill: Cardinals, 7 years / $47940 (extension)
• 1B Jack Fournier: Senators, 4 years / $46140 (extension)
• P Bullet Rogan: Braves, 7 years / $33660 (extension)
• 1B Ed McDonald: Reds, 5 years / $32000
• OF Sherry Magee: Phillies, 4 years / $19760 (extension)
• P Glenn Liebhardt: Cardinals, 3 years / $16800
• OF Dave Robertson: Athletics, 4 years / $16660 (extension)
• 2B George Cutshaw: Braves, 4 years / $15900 (extension)
• OF Josh Devore: Senators, 3 years / $14100
• OF Walton Cruise: Senators, 4 years / $8920 (extension)
• P Alex Malloy: Tigers, 3 years / $5820
• OF Vin Campbell: Tigers, 1 year / $4640
• P Heinie Berger: Braves, 1 year / $4540
• 1B Hal Chase: Tigers, 1 year / $3820
• 2B Jim Delahanty: Tigers, 1 year / $3560
• C Art Wilson: Braves, 1 year / $3200

Not a trade is done the entire off- and preseason. Go figure.

ALL TRANSACTIONS

We go 12-6 in ST. Baker struggles, and we will be monitoring him closely to see how he goes in the money games. Train looks in great nick.
If the experts are to be believed, we are in for grandstand finishes in both divisions, with the Red Sox just getting past the Browns in the AL and us seeing off a two-pronged challenge from the Giants and Cards in the NL.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

1918 Opening Day
 

Our team page can be accessed HERE, but here’s the annual summary.

A “threepeat” is exponentially harder than going back-to-back, and with no offseason moves aside from the addition of Marcell, we are relying on continued improvement from our existing group. No doubt Baker is a trade option if Oliver looks ready, we simply don’t need two 3B who can’t play elsewhere. And if the Cards and Giants do as expected, there’ll be no room for passengers on this bus.

That notwithstanding, here’s how we’ll lineup as at OD:

Catchers

• C Ted Easterly (L)
• Bob O’Farrell (R)
• Frank Gibson (S) – only keeps his spot because he can play 1B. Should the aforementioned trade eventuate, it may well be for a backup cornerman, which will put his spot in jeopardy.

Infielders

• 1B Oscar Charleston (L)
• 2B Heinie Groh (R)
• 3B Frank Baker (L)
• SS Dick Lundy (S)

• Oliver Marcell (R) will play 3B v LHP
• Bob Fisher (R)
• John Henry Lloyd (L)

Outfielders

• LF Elmer Smith (L)
• CF Max Carey (S)
• RF Ty Cobb (L)

• Carson Bigbee (L)
• Zaza Harvey (L)

Schultz was fantastic for us last year, but just hasn’t come on and has been put on the RR. We are too LHB-strong here and weak defensively. Another trade option beckons, although we don't have much leeway with both Bigbee and Carey being Legacies and Harvey, at 39, unlikely to garner any interest.

Rotation

1. RHP Walter Johnson
2. RHP Andrew Foster
3. LHP Wilbur Cooper
4. RHP Al Mamaux

Looking for a better year from Foster.

Bullpen

• RHP Louis Drucke
• RHP Carl Mays
• LHP Dutch Reuther
• LHP Lefty Williams

A few in reserve and Reuther will get first chance in the rotation should the need arise.

The Wheeling and the Dealing
 

A trade falls into our laps in the first week of the season when the Giants show interest in Bob Fisher. After perhaps the shortest negotiation I’ve been involved in, the following deal is made:

TRADE 1 OF 5 (04/20/18)

2B Bob Fisher traded to New York (NL) for IF / OF Spotswood Poles.

Spot is a handy switch-hitter who plays excellent defence at a variety of infield and outfield spots and moves us somewhat toward the flexibility we seek. He’s a bit weak at 3B, but I have my eye on another player who should fill that gap...

... and so, while the pen is still hot, I make that move as well:

TRADE 2 OF 5 (04/20/18)

OF Frank Walker and P Bunny Hearn traded to Chicago (NL) for IF Ernie Johnson, P Al Gould and P Oscar Horstmann.

Ernie, acquired purely to shore up our infield depth, will come onto the AR with Zaza Harvey unfortunately off to the RR to make room.

Forgot to post a team pic on OD, here's the updated one.

https://i.imgur.com/t4KgpDL.png?1

That pain was karma in advance for how they treated Bill Buckner and Steve Bartman.

Church!

Stan the Man...
 

Another no-no for the collection. Nice way to get your first win of the season. But those 7 walks must have made it hairy on occasion.

https://i.imgur.com/XevYIzT.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/3gPiq01.png?1

The View from the Gangplank: May 1, 1918
 

No apparent Championship hangover as we get a flyer, sweeping our first two series on the road against the Reds and Redbirds. We end up winning our first 11 before dropping one at the Cubs, then split the final two games to finish the month at a sterling 12-2.

Everything going well, as you'd expect with that record. Rube wins the monthly pitching award. Ghost Marcell has started well, but not as well as Carey and Smith.

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


Standings, awards, news, leaders.

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