We begin the month with arguably our worst game of the year, a 13-1 home spanking by last-placed St. Louis, but then right the ship with 6 wins from our next 6 to skip 4½ in front.
But then, just when we need them to step up, the bats once again go completely AWOL and we lose 3 straight at Boston. Then we lose O’Doul for the year to a knee injury.
Again, the loss of key players seems only to strengthen the group’s resolve and we get back-to-back wins against two of the best in Carl Hubbell and Andy Cooper, with Chaney White’s heroics I posted about earlier the highlight of that second win.
Three straight losses put us right back in the firing line as the Phils close to within a game and a half. Four more on the bounce at Brooklyn knock us out of top spot for the first time in a long time with just six games to play.
Even a return home can’t stop what has to go down as one of the greatest chokes in MLB history as we drop two more, making us 3-12 over the last 15, and eventually the Phillies clinch their first-ever pennant with a win at the Giants. On the same day, the Yanks do likewise as Ruth belts 2 homers in a 7-4 win at the A’s, thereby guaranteeing that a first-time World Champion will be crowned this year.
Look, as utterly galling as it is to lose in the manner we have here, if you’d have told me at the start of the season we’d win 84 games and be in the race until the very end, I’d probably have taken it no questions asked. Ignominious collapse aside, for us to even finish as close as we have is a feat unto itself. The key injuries we suffered exposed our lack of depth and in the end we just had too many holes and not enough fingers. At least I now know precisely what I need to go out and get in the offseason to get us over the hump. At least I have a better idea of whom I can count on moving forward and on whom I cannot.
John Beckwith posts another stellar campaign, winning the AL batting title with 367, while Heinie Manush's 347 nets him the NL crown. Chick Hafey leads the league with 35 HR from Babe's 33.
Red Ruffing wins a league-high 31 games, including a stunning 6-0 / 1.00 September that earns him the monthly award, while Andy Cooper's 232 K tops that category.
Final Top 20s by WAR for the year:
Final awards, news and leaders:
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