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1913 in MLB
The Houston Hornets powerhouse seemed to grow even stronger on paper in 1913 with the unexpected emergence of Aitor Cerda. The Mexican slugger came from a time before well-organized leagues where he was, making his official recognized debut along with CABA at age 39 for Salvador. After spending 1912 with Merida and leading the Mexican League with 39 homers, he signed with the Hornets.
Cerda would play only one season with Houston, but his 1913 would be remarkable, setting MLB records with 58 home runs and 175 RBI. The RBI record would remain untouched for more than a century. Cerda earned 1913 MVP and helped the Hornets to a MLB best 105-57 and new MLB record 1024 runs, the second team to cross 1000. Josh Davis, in his second year in Houston, earned his fifth career pitcher of the year and first in the American Association.
Memphis placed second in the Southern League at 98-64 with only 82-win Charlotte also finishing above .500 in the SL. In the Western League, Denver grabbed first at 104-58. Defending WL champ Los Angeles grabbed the second spot at 102-60 for a fifth straight playoff berth; which would ultimately be their last playoff spot for a decade.
The Hornets defeated the Angels in four games in the first round of the playoffs and the Mountain Cats outlasted the Dragons on the road for a five-game upset. The AACS would see a shocking result though as Memphis knocked out Houston in five games. Despite a $33,450 payroll compared to Houston’s massive $81,476 payroll, the Mountain Cats advanced and started would what become the franchise’s signature run.
In the National Association, Omaha emerged for their first playoff berth, leading the Midwest League at 104-58 led by the one-two pitching punch of Chris Krych and Casey Esnault. Defending ML champ Kansas City placed second at 98-64, just defeating Cleveland (97-65) for the spot. Duel pitcher/outfielder Angel Guerra won his second MVP in his final year with the Cougars. The Cuban would oddly bounce around to 10 teams in 12 years in the remainder of his career with mixed results.
No one dominated in the Eastern League as Boston picked up its first-ever playoff spot with the EL title at 93-69. Matt “Banjo” Newman, a small but very hard throwing righty and second-overall pick 1905, earned pitcher of the year from the Red Sox. Pittsburgh picked up the franchise’s second playoff appearance, finishing second at 91-71, four games over Hartford.
The Pirates were the top scoring NA team and used that to upset Omaha in four games in the first round. Kansas City stunned Boston in five, pitting the second-place finishers against each other in the NACS. Pittsburgh defeated the Cougars in six games for their only National Association crown of the 20th century. The World Series crown though would go to the Memphis Mountain Cats, who easily took the title in five games.
Other notes: Los Angeles pitcher Dennis Belch threw MLB’s third perfect game in a speedy three strikeout game against Denver on 8/30.
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