[ayaghmour2]

September 5th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (80-55): 9
Cleveland Foresters (74-63): 0
Game 1

W: Tommy Wilcox (4-4)
L: Roger Perry (16-7)

I can finally enjoy the season now. No, it's not because we won. No, it's not because Tommy Wilcox tossed a shutout. But, because we are far enough out that I can enjoy the individual performances without the stress of fighting for a pennant. Our 100 loss seasons were more enjoyable then the last couple of months this year because I could enjoy seeing the guys I liked doing well instead of worrying about record. Don't get me wrong, I want to win every game the rest of the season, but the wins are going to be much more enjoyable and the losses much more bearable.

But back to the game. Considering the matchup of Tommy Wilcox and CA ERA leader Roger Perry, I would've bet my money on the Foresters with 9 instead of us. But, Wilcox looked like the pitcher I traded for, allowing just 3 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts in a beautiful outing. Tom Taylor had a dominant game as well, 3-for-5 with a homer and 5 RBI's. Mike Taylor was 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with an RBI. John Kincaid was 2-for-3.

September 5th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (81-55): 9
Cleveland Foresters (74-64): 3
Game 2

W: Jim Crawford (14-10)
L: Karl Johnson (12-13)

We got a big 6 run 9th and cruised to a 9-3 win to complete the double header sweep. Our top prospect Joe Johnson made his big league debut, going 2-for-5 with a double, run, and RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, run, and 2 RBI's. John Kincaid was 2-for-5 with a run scored and driven in. Russ Combs was 2-for-5 with a run scored and two driven in. Tom Taylor was 1-for-4 with a walk, run, and 2 RBI's. Jim Kyle was 1-for-4 with a walk, run, and RBI. Jim Crawford picked up the win, 10 hits with 3 runs, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings.

September 7th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (82-55): 5
Baltimore Cannons (63-75): 4

W: Max Wilder (12-8)
L: Clay Jackson (1-6)

We got a day off before starting a three game series in Baltimore with the Cannons. It was a close one, but we managed to take the opener by just a single run. Max Wilder picked up the win, going all nine with 10 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Mike Taylor had a big game, 4-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBI's. John Kincaid was 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored. Vince York was 1-for-4 with a double, walk, and 2 RBI's. Russ Combs was 1-for-5, but with a steal and two runs scored.

September 8th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (83-55): 9
Baltimore Cannons (63-76): 3

W: Dick Lyons (16-7)
L: Dutch Leverett (6-4)

The offense put up nine for the third time in four games, and we got a nice win to secure the series victory. Dick Lyons had a strong start, going all nine with 9 hits, 3 runs, and 7 strikeouts. Bill Ashbaugh was 3-for-5 with a pair of solo homers. Russ Combs was 4-for-5 with a walk, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Mike Taylor was 3-for-6 with a run scored and 2 RBI's. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a sac-fly and run scored. Cy Bryant was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. John Kincaid was 1-for-3 with a double and 3 walks.

September 9th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (84-55): 10
Baltimore Cannons (63-78): 2

W: Dick Leudtke (17-8)
L: Rabbit Day (16-15)

We piled on the runs in the finale, and finished off the sweep with a 10-2 win. Starter Dick Leudtke was excellent on the mound and at bat. He went all nine with 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, but also hit 3-for-4 with a run, sac-bunt, and 3 RBI's. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with 4 runs, 2 walks, a double, and an RBI. Mike Taylor was 3-for-5 with a sac-fly. John Kincaid was 2-for-6 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Vince York was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored.

September 10th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (84-56): 3
Brooklyn Kings (72-69): 14

W: Mike Murphy (6-1)
L: Tommy Wilcox (4-5)

Our first loss of the week, and guess who? Tommy Wilcox was absolutely terrible and he has now loss to both major league pitchers he's been traded for. Luckily, George DeForest is in AA or he'd probably lose to all three pitchers... And I'm not exaggerating when I say his start was awful, as he lasted just 1.1 innings with 10 hits, 8 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Dick Kadlec pitched mopup, 6 innings with 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. He was also our best hitter, 2-for-3 with an RBI. Vince York was 2-for-5 with a double and run scored. Cy Bryant was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-2 with a walk and steal.

September 11th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (85-56): 5
Brooklyn Kings (72-70): 3
12 Innings

W: Chick Meehan (3-1)
L: Del Lyons (8-5)
SV: Ace McSherry (1)

After tieing the game in the 6th, neither team scored until the 12th where we scored two runs and evened the series with a 5-3 win. John Kincaid was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Vince York was 2-for-5 with 2 triples and 2 runs. Mike Taylor was 2-for-5 with a double, walk, run, and RBI. Russ Combs was 1-for-4 with 2 walks and a run scored. Tom Taylor was 1-for-6, but with a double, 2 RBI's, and a steal.

Stars of the Week
Mike Taylor : 29 AB, 15 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .517 AVG, 1.132 OPS
Bill Ashbaugh : 26 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .385 AVG, 1.169 OPS
John Kincaid : 32 AB, 13 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .406 AVG, .972 OPS

Awards
Player of the Week: C Mike Taylor
Pitcher of the Month: SP Dick Leudtke

Weekly Summary
This is the last time I'll mention the standings all season, but even after going 6-1 for the week we're still 8.5 games behind the Stars (94-48). Their .662 win percentage is a 102 win pace which would be tied for the second most wins in a season by a CA team. The 1929 Sailors won a CA best 103 while the 1895 New York Gothams hold the most wins of all time, 105. Interesting enough, no other FA team has reached 100 wins.

We've got one more in Brooklyn before three in Montreal (59-82) and three in New York. We've actually been great on the road, going 43-26 (.623), which is the best road record in the CA. Interesting enough, the Baltimore Cannons are 41-23 (.641) on the road, but under .500 (37-40, .481) at home. They hold a 4.5 game lead over the Pioneers (74-68) with Detroit (73-68) and Boston (72-68) still in the race.

And after destroying Roger Perry on Monday, there's a new ERA leader in baseball. That would be reigning pitcher of the month Dick Leudtke, who just turned 31 on September 2nd. In 29 starts this year, he's 17-8 with a 3.01 ERA (148 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts in 245.1 innings pitched. Leudtke was a late bloomer, debuting at 27 in 1929 with the Gothams. He looked awful, going 0-2 with a 6.21 ERA (72 ERA+), 1.80 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts and there was a chance that his big league career would have ended then. Instead, he looked much better the following year in 12 starts and 10 relief appearances with the Gothams before we grabbed him in a trade. He was 9-5 with a 3.09 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.05 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts across 128 innings. I didn't think he'd sustain those numbers, but I thought he was interesting enough that I moved a few young big leagues in Lou Gaffin and Earl Johnson for him with expectations he'd be a nice back of the rotation arm. My scout was a huge fan, thinking he was this top of the rotation arm, and maybe he was right. Leudtke was just average the rest of 1930 and last season, but he's really found himself this season. Of course, my scout still loves him, ranking him as our 2nd best starter (behind Wilcox...) and he's slowly become our ace.