[FuzzyRussianHat]

Originally Posted by RMc

I hear ya, brother. My own real-life dynasty (which I've been shamefully ignoring of late) also lacks a colour line, with a Black pitcher becoming a star in Richmond, of all places. And fewer tragic endings: Jim Creighton doesn't die young, for one thing.

Yeah and it is fascinating to learn about some of these people especially this far back where I'm completely unfamiliar. Like Charlie Ferguson, whose been an MVP two-way guy in this game, the real guy was dead at age 25 to typhoid fever.



Both American League divisions had lead changes in August. In the East, Baltimore not only passed two-time defending World Series champ Boston, but grew their lead to five games. The Orioles were a dominant 22-7 for the month, including taking three of four over the Red Sox. Boston was a decent 17-13, but now faces the possible end of their four-year division title streak. Baltimore is 83-53 with Boston 78-58 and one more four-game series between them hosted by the O’s. Cleveland at 69-67 is firmly out of the hunt.

Milwaukee meanwhile passed Minnesota in the West with a 21-8 August for the Brewers. The Twins did still take three of four to end the month against Milwaukee, but that only barely got them above .500 in August. The Brewers are 78-58 with Minnesota 75-61 and Kansas City a distant third at 70-66. Milwaukee does host the Twins in the final four games of the season.

AL Batter of the Month went to Baltimore RF Bug Holliday with a .376 average, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 20 runs. Milwaukee’s Red Ehret was the top arm with a 5-2 record, 2.51 ERA, and 29 strikeouts over 43 innings. Washington’s Charlie Petty was the top rookie and a new arrival, getting traded from Kansas City last month. He had a 3.43 ERA and 21 Ks in 39.1 innings.

Former all-star pitcher Peek-A-Boo Veach just can’t catch a break. The Washington ace missed all of 1887 to a torn UCL, then missed a big chunk of 1888 to a herniated disc. Veach was pitching well in the summer for the Nationals, but in early August suffered a torn labrum. Officials fear he’ll be out at least 12 months.

August saw five different AL players with a 20+ game hitting streak. The longest was Boston’s Cap Anson at 28 games, falling one short of Billy Taylor’s record 29 from 1884. Minnesota’s Thomas Gorman made it 25 games; both Chicago’s Jocko Milligan and Cleveland’s Henry Moore went 22, and Baltimore’s Tommy Tucker went 21. All but Milligan’s streaks were ended between August 27-29.



Pittsburgh’s dominance continued in the National League East at 88-48, giving the Pirates a strong chance to pass the 1884 White Sox for the most wins in a season at 102. New York (74-61) and Boston (72-63) aren’t having bad seasons, but both need a major collapse from Pittsburgh to make the playoffs. It was at least a notable turnaround for the Giants, who took last in the East last year.

The NL West remained a three-team race with little shifting once August was complete. Indianapolis holds first at 76-60, followed by St. Louis 2.5 back at 73-62 and Louisville three away at 73-63. The Colonels ended the month going 8-2 in their last ten. The Clowns host the Cardinals in the final four-game series of the season. Louisville still faces the other two mid-month as well.

Boston LF Mike Tiernan was NL Batter of the Month on a .416 average, 17 home runs, 33 RBI, and 31 runs. He’s four away from having four consecutive 40+ homer seasons to start his career. St Louis’s Charley Radbourn was Pitcher of the Month as Old Hoss saw a 7-0 record, 2.60 ERA, and 32 Ks over 55.1 innings. Pittsburgh’s George Borchers was Rookie of the Month with 11 Ks and a 3-0 record over 18.1 innings.