[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1916 Season


The 1915 draft was exciting! Top 10 Picks:
1. SS Rogers Hornsby, 17, Yankees (#1 rated on Opening Day)
2. 1B Honus Wagner, 21, Pirates (great to see this!) (#6 rated on Opening Day)
3. CF Fred Lynn, 20, Braves (#7 rated on Opening Day)
4. SP Justin Verlander, 20, A’s (#3 rated on Opening Day)
5. 1B Hal Chase, 20, Reds
6. RF Don Baylor, 19, Senators
7. SP J.R. Richard, 19, Cubs (#4 rated on Opening Day)
8. SP Johnny Marcum, 22, Browns
9. 3B Doug Rader, 22, Braves
10. LF Gus Zernial, 24, Phillies

The two-time defending champion Cleveland Indians were looking to make it 3 in a row in the AL, and were expected to be challenged by the A’s and Red Sox. In the NL, the defending champion Cardinals looked strong, overall they league looked balanced at the top of the standings going in.

Brooklyn’s Willie Davis got off to a great start on Opening day, hitting for the cycle, his final hit a HR.

On April 20th, 31-year-old Mark McGwire of the Red Sox hit career HRs #82 and #83 in the same game off Chris Nabholz to tie and then surpass the all-time mark previously held by Jim Wynn.

At the end of April, the Red Sox, paced by Pitcher of the Month Virgil Barnes, 4-1-2.08, sat atop the AL @ 11-6. The Boston Braves, paced by Rookie of the Month Doug Rader, 0-7-.356, 4 2B, 4 3B, 13 R, sat atop the NL @ 10-6.

May individual highlights:
• Brett Lawrie, Yankees– single-game record 4 triples in 16-inning victory @ Fenway
• Pedro Guerrero, Braves – hit #2000 (#2 all-time) in 1777 gms.
• Nap Lajoie, Brooklyn – 26-game hitting streak

By the end of May, the A’s led the AL @ 26-18, with the Yankees 1 back and Red Sox 3 back.
The Cubs led the NL @ 31-16 with the Reds 4 back. The Braves fell apart to 18-25.

June saw new leaders emerge in the Tigers and Giants, but both held tenuous ½ game leads over their predecessors. By the end of July, the A’s and Cubs had re-emerged.

Individual August highlights:
• Rig Egan, Brooklyn, win #200 (6th all-time). Career: 200-121-2.30
• Buck Herzog, Braves, 24-game hitting streak

In the AL, the A’s carried their lead the rest of the way, although always challenged, and they clinched the pennant with 2 games remaining. In the NL, the Cubs were still 2 games up on the Giants going into September with a 75-52 record, but then lost 14 in a row, and the Giants coasted to win the pennant by 5 games.

The Philadelphia Athletics (89-65) and New York Giants (90-64) met for the world title. This would be the A’s 4th appearance and the Giants 3rd appearance. Each held one previous championship.

This series was one of the most one-sided to date, as the A’s easily swept by scores of 5-2,
5-0, 3-2 and 4-2.
MVP: Parke Swartzel, 2-0-1.00 in 18 IP.
For the A’s, Jim Gilliam went 7-13, .538/.600/846; Harry Taylor hit the game-winning HR in Game 3 and had 4 RBIs in the series.
For the Giants, Bill Vinton had a 1.20 ERA in a losing cause. Every regular but 1 hit <.200.

Philadelphia is World Champions for the 2nd time in 4 tries, the last time in 1910.

Individual Season and Career Records/Milestones Broken or Tied in 1916:

Season:
• 1B: Nap Lajoie, Brooklyn, 202
Career:
• 200 Wins: Rip Egan, Brooklyn (6th pitcher in MLB history)
• 2000 Hits: Pedro Guerrero (2nd all-time)

Awards
• Avg: AL rookie Rogers Hornsby, NYY, ; NL rookie Doug Rader, Braves, .333
• Rookie of Year: AL Johnny Marcum, Browns, 21-17-1.97
• Rookie of Year: NL Doug Rader, Braves, 1-60-.333 (LL), 70 R, 153 gms
• Best Pitcher: AL Jered Weaver, NYY, 22 (LLt)-11-1.87
• Best Pitcher: NL Bill Vinton, NYG, (2nd straight), 23-9-1.97 (LL)
• Best Hitter: AL Rogers Hornsby, NYY, 8-81-.335 (LL)-23, led league in avg, SLG, OPS
• Best Hitter: NL Doug Rader, Braves, 1-60-.333. led league in avg, SLG, OPS, 2B, XBH, TB