The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

The career-long tit-for-tat between the Sultan and the Rajah continues...

[luckymann]

... that always seems to strike the Cards just at the most inopportune moment has done so again.

[luckymann]

The lads do pull it together and then some, losing just 1 of the month’s first 15 games, with the pitching much-improved, and Traynor, Williams and Walker leading the offence.

Cobb returns from the IL but has to be content with a bench role for the moment as Walker is simply too hot not to play every day. A wobble in which we drop 4 straight signals a general cooling-off but still we keep on winning more than we lose and end the month with a superb 21-6 record and a stranglehold on the division once again.





Williams (25) and Beckwith (22) have both surpassed the previous single-season club record for HR, and Ken needs just 9 more RBI to get past Jimmie Williams long-held mark. Walker has been a massive add for us and he seems to be getting better as the season progresses, as shown by his 389/491/663 August with 4 HR and 24 RBI. Let's hope that continues to the end.




Another player who seems to follow this pattern every season is Wilbur Cooper, and he's at it again this year. After that horror start he is now an outside chance of another 20-win season and has made me seriously rethink how we proceed with him, contract-wise. By dint of his 6-1 / 2.70 performance, he wins the monthly pitching award. Foster will be back in the next week or so after a brief rehab assignment to scrape off the rust.




So we aren't quite home yet but certainly where we want to be. The AL race pretty much begins now with the Yanks and BoSox tied heading into the final month and four other teams still some hope if they get a wriggle-on.




Awards, news, leaders. In addition to still being well in line for the NL Triple Crown, Rajah needs just 18 RBI to break Charlie Hickman's season record of 151 set all the way back in 1901, the league's first year of existence.






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[luckymann]

Can't remember any player so far who has had the impact in their first two seasons Al has. He is a gun.




This is just another walk in the park for him.

[luckymann]

I toyed with the idea of reversing it but I think Joe's done. He's been so good, especially in the clutch, and with 4 Waddell Medals and 3 Championships should be a HoF lock.






Meanwhile Babe is still setting the pace for career HR. He's currently 14 clear of HJ. I'm thinking if he makes 600 all up it'll be a good result.

[luckymann]

And while on the topic of the Yanks, they look to have seen off the BoSox, 5 games up with 14 to play and with an MN of 11.

[Makonnen]

I think allowing yourself to be fired is a good thing. Lots of good narratives in taking an underperforming team and returning them to glory. There is also an odd satisfaction in seeing how quickly the AI ruins the franchise you so carefully built ..

[luckymann]

Amazing what the absence of gamblers, gangsters and tightwad owners can do for a guy's career... He did this in style, shutting us out on 6 hits.

Not sure this gets him a plaque but for sheer endurance alone he must get serious consideration. Personally, however, 60-odd career WAR doesn't get my vote unless it comes with a lot more wins.

[luckymann]

... a few posts ago re this lad.

[luckymann]

Our 4-into-3 outfielder problem is “solved” when we lose Williams for a fortnight to a foot injury early in September. Then it is unsolved again when Cobb goes down with a niggle that limits him to PH duties for a week or so.

Nevertheless, we wrap it up in mid-month and avoid our traditional post-clinch swoon to go on to win the division by 17 games.





Just a superb all-round season from the group. John Beckwith does indeed set new franchise marks for HR (28) and RBI (121) with Ken Williams (25 / 107) not far behind. Walker is simply magnificent, slashing 364/444/542 with a career-best 7.5 WAR and Cobb and O'Farrell also hit 300+. Dave Brown leads a strong pitching performance with 26 wins, nigh on 11 WAR and top-3 finishes in two of the TC categories, while Sam Streeter also wins 20. Ralph Comstock deserves special mention with a 1.21 ERA over 74 IP from the BP.





The Yankees have finally arrived. You'll hear more on them in a bit.




Rogers Hornsby puts together the best individual season to date, winning the NL Triple Crown and amassing a walloping 12.7 WAR, beating Babe's 12.4 of a few seasons back. Al Simmons wins the AL batting title. HJ emerges triumphant in the HR race with 44 in a blanket finish.






Finally, here are the Top 20 players by WAR for the year.






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[luckymann]

New York Yankees (87-67) v Pittsburgh Pirates (97-57)

Best-of-seven, Yankees with the home-field advantage.

NEW YORK YANKEES S+ PAGE

PITTSBURGH PIRATES S+ PAGE

Careful what you wish for, hey...

I’m not as daunted by this Yankees side as you might expect. Not just yet, at any rate. We match up pretty well with them with our LHP-dominant rotation against their big bats, all of whom except Bob Meusel are also lefties. And, while we have struggled in the past against Vance, if we can get hot and stay hot with bat in hand then I really fancy our chances.

But if we don’t execute this could be over quickly. They are that sort of side.

Undoubtedly our biggest dilemma is who plays where. It’s a nice problem to have. Even though Charley had a pretty ordinary year and has run hot and cold in past playoffs, he’s just too good defensively to leave out. He’ll start at CF, Walker at RF and Williams at LF. Cobb will play 1B except against the southpaw Winters, when Bressler will take his usual spot. Rube will also come in as a defensive sub for Ty late in games. And I’ve opted for Toporcer over Moore at SS.

In the rotation, Foster gets the SP3 slot to begin with ahead of Wilbur. But this will be a fairly fluid arrangement dependent upon how things go.

[luckymann]

The AAA season comes to a close as the Amarillo Gold Sox lock up their first Championship with a hard-fought 3-2 series win over Scranton.



Walter Holke finishes the season with an astonishing 455 BA, while Brownsville's Wattie Holm passes his hit streak record with a still-alive 44-game string.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in New York, October 7th 1925
Dazzy Vance (22-20, 3.95) v Dave Brown (26-10, 2.73)

Two of the league’s premier pitchers get things underway. I’ll be happy if we can walk away with a split from this first pair of games.

They waste no time flexing their muscles as Gehrig takes Brown solo deep in the 1st but we hit back straight away as O’Farrell doubles one in for us in the 2nd.

The tie holds until the 5th when Brown gets into strife but does well to limit the damage to just the one run. Once again we have the ready response as a Williams solo shot in the 6th makes it 2-2. We then go ahead in the next on a two-out trip by Charleston.

With it still 3-2 entering the home 9th, I elect to leave Brown in. But he walks Gehrig and then Ruth singles him around to third and I go to the pen to try and get us home.

No dice, unfortunately, as Comstock gives up an RBI single to Glenn Myatt and now we’re in real danger of losing it. Comstock, however, regathers himself and it goes into extras.
We waste a bases-loaded and one-out chance to take the lead in the 12th and they walk it off with an unearned run in the home half of that frame.

Yankees 4, Pirates 3 (12 innings)
BOX SCORE



Game 2 in New York, October 8th 1925
Waite Hoyt (20-12, 3.29) v Sam Streeter (21-15, 3.78)
Yankees lead series 1-0

20-game winners go head-to-head here and the key will be Streeter running hot rather than cold. Either way, we’ll need to improve at the plate on our Game 1 performance, especially in the clutch.

Once again they use the longball, this time by George Harper, to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st and once again we answer immediately as Cobb doubles in a run in the next. O’Farrell walks to load them up with none out but we have to trade two-for-one as a runner scores on a Toporcer GIDP.

Specs comes through for us again in the 5th, with his solo shot making it 3-1. But it all comes unravelled in the home half as they load the bases with the help of an error and Gehrig bombs out a slam. Three more hits, a run, and Streeter is out of there. This was our big concern with him, he is far too inconsistent for someone with his talent.

There's no stopping Gehrig, however, as he smacks another 2-run homer off Cooper in the next and this one is well and truly done.

Just 6 hits for us and 3 of those in the 9th in another torpid performance. We better hope the return home sparks us into action because this series is getting away from us fast.

Yankees 8, Pirates 4
BOX SCORE



Game 3 in Pittsburgh, October 10th 1925
Willie Foster (11-7, 4.31) v Nip Winters (15-16, 4.22)
Yankees lead series 2-0

Two young guns whose raw talent is undeniable meet here. No doubt the one who handles their nerves better on the biggest stage of all will emerge victorious. Obviously a must-win for us. Moore in at 2B for a horribly out-of-form Traynor.

We score first on a solo HR by Snyder in the 2nd and add a second in the next on a Beckwith SF. Beck then tacks on 2 more in the 5th with a big fly.

Foster is strong early, allowing just 2 hits over 5 scoreless. But they get to him in the 6th as Gehrig continues his hot streak with an RBI single. Then Ruth unleashes a mighty blast and suddenly it is 4-3.

We are still clinging to our single run as we go into the 9th with Comstock on the hill. He gets us a clean inning and our first win of the series.

Pirates 4, Yankees 3
BOX SCORE



Game 4 in Pittsburgh, October 11th 1925
Dave Brown (0-0, 2.25) v Dazzy Vance (0-0, 3.38)
Yankees lead series 2-1

The Game 1 combatants renew acquaintances after their draw in that one. Charleston just has to get going, 1-for-14 to this point. Walker also very quiet so far.

Beckwith’s good form carries over as he singles in the game’s first run in the bottom 1st and Williams does likewise to double our advantage. Then Beck, running hot indeed, makes it 3-0 in the 3rd with a run-scoring triple and Williams plates him with a long double, eventually scoring as well on an O’Farrell single.
That’s more like it.

Doubles to Charley and Walker in the next push our lead out to 6, chasing Vance in the process.

Brown is magnificent but runs out of puff in the 9th as they load the bases, none out. One of those scores but that’s it as we square the series at 2.

Pirates 6, Yankees 1
BOX SCORE



Game 5 in Pittsburgh, October 12th 1925
Sam Streeter (0-1, 5.06) v Waite Hoyt (1-0, 4.00)
Series tied 2-2

Always pivotal, this game is more significant to us than them given they get to play at home from this point on. We need Streeter to bounce back from that Game 2 shocker. Traynor is still hitless.

We go ahead in the 2nd on a Cobb groundout and that run holds up until the 5th when Gehrig belts his 4th of the series to tie it up. Streeter barely gets out of that inning and the BP gets busy.

Beckwith restores our lead with a run-scoring triple and an O’Farrell SF brings him home.

Gehrig, fairly unstoppable, goes solo yard again in the next and Sam is done.

Beckwith restores our 2-run lead in the bottom half with a SF after Charleston had doubled to lead it off.

Mirabal gets us a clean 8th but then lets the tying runs get aboard in the 9th before I call on Braxton to try handle their big LHB. He gets the key second out but then walks Gehrig to load the bases. But Ruth can only fly out harmlessly to LHB and we get the win.

Pirates 4, Yankees 2
BOX SCORE



Game 6 in New York, October 14th 1925
Nip Winters (0-1, 4.50) v Willie Foster (1-0, 3.38)
Pirates lead series 3-2

No question this is the biggest game either of these guys have pitched in and, again, whichever handles the occasion best will almost certainly win it. Walker breaking out of his mini-slump would undoubtedly enhance our chances of success.

Charleston has woken up and he gives us the lead with a solo home run in the 2nd. Walker then knocks in his second run of the series with a single in the next.

Beckwith stays hot with a 2-run blast in the 4th to make it 4-0 and a similar strike by Charleston in that same inning really puts the cat among the pigeons.

Foster shows he is the real deal, going the distance with a 3-hitter to give us World Championship number 9. What a bunch of legends.

Pirates 6, Yankees 0
BOX SCORE



PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-2

SERIES MVP: John Beckwith (Pittsburgh)





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[luckymann]

I’m disappointed and saddened but not surprised when Oscar Charleston decides to void the remainder of his contract. He signed a long-term deal that is cheap by current standards and we had pretty much convinced ourselves this would happen. We offer both him and Wilbur their QO, which each subsequently declines.

A few other players also need action taken. We exercise the options over Rube Bressler, Les Mann and Ralph Comstock but not Oliver Marcell.

Our 1B Coach Dave Drew retires.

The White Sox cut skipper John Taber, as do the Giants with Otis Clymer.

Once again we lose some legends of the game to retirement. These include Jose Mendez, Eustaquio Pedroso, Frank Baker, Ben Taylor, Amos Strunk, Del Pratt, Claude Hendrix, Heinie Groh and of course Smoky Joe Williams. The HOF ballot in 5 years will be a busy one indeed. Former Pirates Vin Campbell and Louis Drucke also call it a day.

The Browns extend veteran SS Harry Spratt’s contract for another 2 years / $18,000.

[luckymann]

AL 1925 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1925 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Rogers Hornsby joins Tris Speaker with 6 Wagner-Lajoie Medals after a unanimous win. Only Honus himself has more with 7. Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth finish 1-2 in the AL, with the Iron Horse taking his first gong.

The seemingly ageless Dick Redding wins his second Waddell Medal, as does our Dave Brown.

Lefty Grove and Mickey Cochrane win the RoYs.

Obviously the Sim Accuracy means nothing now with 1940 settings being used, but here it is anyway.

[luckymann]

It's a hazardous profession apparently...

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/1925.

Another interesting class with two Marquees and a bunch of HOFers.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1926 season:

Boston Red Sox: Joe Cronin (64.8; 1134)
Chicago White Sox: Tommy Thomas (25.3; 245)
Cleveland Indians: Willis Hudlin (30.6; 491)
New York Giants: Mel Ott (110.9; 2730 – one-club player) MARQUEE
New York Yankees: Tony Lazzeri (47.7; 1659)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Waner (74.7; 2154) MARQUEE
Washington Senators: Bump Hadley (35.1; 233)

Jack Russell (17.1; 242) was also eligible for the Red Sox, but Cronin’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

General Crowder (27.9; 236) was also eligible for the Senators, but Hadley’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 98 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1924* IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

*NB 1924 USED HERE BECAUSE I USED 1925 FOR 1925 IN ERROR

Round 1

1. New York Giants (608)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates (588)
3. Boston Red Sox (435)
4. New York Yankees (586)
5. Washington Senators (597; dice roll)
6. Cleveland Indians (438)
7. Chicago White Sox (431)
8. Boston Braves (346)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (364)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (422)
11. Philadelphia Athletics (467)
12. St. Louis Browns (487)
13. Chicago Cubs (529)
14. Cincinnati Reds (542)
15. Detroit Tigers (558)
16. Brooklyn Robins (597; dice roll)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Boston Braves (346)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (364)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (422)
4. Chicago White Sox (431)
5. Boston Red Sox (435)
6. Cleveland Indians (438)
7. Philadelphia Athletics (467)
8. St. Louis Browns (487)
9. Chicago Cubs (529)
10. Cincinnati Reds (542)
11. Detroit Tigers (558)
12. New York Yankees (586)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (588)
14. Washington Senators (597; dice roll)
15. Brooklyn Robins (597; dice roll)
16. New York Giants (608)


And so we get our first-ever marquee and what a good one he is. We also get a compensatory 2nd Round pick as well for Wilbur being signed by the Browns.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. OF Paul Waner, 22

• You now understand why the Charleston situation wasn’t so bothersome. Our first Marquee and just a true gun.

2. P General Crowder, 26

• No world-beater and older than we’d like for a rook, but if we get a run of injuries among our staff he’ll come in handy.

3. P Danny McFayden, 20

• Further back on the development continuum than Crowder but drafted for the same reason.

4. P Lefty Willis, 20
5. IF Howie Carter, 21
6. P Dick Jones, 23

• AAA filler Scout’s picks.

Full 1st Round:




FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

With Charley gone we sign FA Cliff Heathcote to a 3-year / $18k deal to restore some heft to our OF depth chart. He plays all 3 OF slots and will prove a handy backup.

[luckymann]

A highly entertaining season from go to whoa sees the Yankees and Cardinals win tight pennant races, setting up one of the most famous World Series meetings in history, etched into posterity mainly thanks to 39-year-old Pete Alexander’s heroics. A day after pitching his second CG win, Alexander came on in relief into the 7th inning of Game 7 with the bases loaded and the Cards up 3-2. He struck out Tony Lazzeri then blanked the Yanks for the remainder to give St. Louis the 4-3 series win and first MLB title. This game is also remembered for it ending with Babe Ruth being caught stealing second base, the only time a WS game has ended in this fashion.

AL CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (91-63)
NL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (89-65)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Yankees 3


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HACK WILSON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 97 runs, 170 hits, 36 doubles, 8 triples, 21 home runs, 109 RBIs, 69 walks, .539 slugging percentage.
• Wilson busted out in Chicago after the Giants lost him through a very costly clerical error (though some say New York manager John McGraw wanted him gone, anyway).

2. PAUL WANER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .336 average, 101 runs, 180 hits, 35 doubles, 22 triples, 8 home runs, 79 RBIs, 66 walks, .413 on-base percentage.
• “Big Poison” began his career with an average that, under today’s rules, would have won him the batting crown—but Cincinnati catcher Bubbles Hargrave was given the official title instead, even though he batted just 326 times during season.

3. KIKI CUYLER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 157 games, .321 average, 113 runs, 197 hits, 31 doubles, 15 triples, 8 home runs, 92 RBIs, 35 stolen bases.
• On the eve of his fall from grace at Pittsburgh, Cuyler remained the NL’s biggest overall offensive threat.

4. JIM BOTTOMLEY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 98 runs, 180 hits, 40 doubles, 14 triples, 19 home runs, 120 RBIs.
• After hitting .350 through the first three-plus years of his major leaguer career, Sunny Jim dropped below the .300 mark for the first time—but was still potent enough to lead the NL in RBIs and doubles.

5. BILLY SOUTHWORTH, NEW YORK-ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 99 runs, 16 home runs, 99 RBIs.
• Not only did the future Cardinals manager give St. Louis the better of a midseason trade that sent so-so Heinie Mueller to the Giants, but he rubbed in with a pennant-clinching homer at New York on September 24.

6. LES BELL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 189 hits, 33 doubles, 14 triples, 17 home runs, 100 RBIs.
• Peaking in 1926 before a gradual decline at age 25, Bell collected a higher average than any other Cardinal—yes, even higher than Rogers Hornsby.

7. ROGERS HORNSBY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 96 runs, 34 doubles, 11 home runs, 93 RBIs, 61 walks.
• While we’re on the subject of the Rajah, the future Hall of Famer’s .317 average paled in comparison to the .390 he otherwise hit during the 1920s—and his 11 homers also were the fewest he smacked during the decade. Still, he managed the Cardinals to their first world title.

8. EDD ROUSH, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .323 average, 95 runs, 182 hits, 37 doubles, 10 triples, 7 home runs, 79 RBIs.
• The long-time Red finished off his tenure before being sent to New York, where the Giants’ John McGraw badly wanted him; he returned briefly in 1931, just long enough to slip below Cy Seymour for the highest modern-era career average in Reds history.

9. GEORGE GRANTHAM, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 27 doubles, 13 triples, 8 home runs, 70 RBIs, 60 walks.
• The dependable yet frequently unacknowledged first baseman was one of five Pirate regulars to hit over .300—and one of four to co-lead the team with eight homers.

10. BABE HERMAN, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 81 RBIs.
• The rookie hit well over .350 into July before cooling off; of course, everyone will best remember his “doubling into a double play” when he was caught at third base with two fellow baserunners.

AL Hitters

1. BABE RUTH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .372 average, 139 runs, 184 hits, 30 doubles, 47 home runs, 153 RBIs, 144 walks, .516 on-base percentage, .737 slugging percentage.
• The Bambino returned to the Yankees’ good graces with a patented Ruthian onslaught—and once again came oh-so-close to snagging an AL triple crown (losing the batting race to Heinie Manush by just six points).

2. LOU GEHRIG, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .313 average, 135 runs, 179 hits, 47 doubles, 20 triples, 16 home runs, 112 RBIs, 105 walks.
• Playing his first season every day from start to finish, the Iron Horse would hit the fewest number of home runs in his career—but would collect a personal-best 20 triples.

3. GOOSE GOSLIN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .354 average, 105 runs, 201 hits, 26 doubles, 15 triples, 17 home runs, 108 RBIs.
• Cavernous Griffith Stadium continued to do its best to obscure Goslin’s power numbers; the muscular Senator hit all 17 of his homers on the road.

4. AL SIMMONS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 90 runs, 199 hits, 53 doubles, 10 triples, 19 home runs, 109 RBIs.
• In his third season, Simmons finally took a day off after playing in 394 straight games to start his career—an AL record that stood until Hideki Matsui in 2006.

5. HARRY HEILMANN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .367 average, 90 runs, 184 hits, 41 doubles, 8 triples, 9 home runs, 103 RBIs, 67 walks.
• If it’s an even year, it must have been a season between batting titles for Heilmann—who still was good enough to finish third in the AL batting race.

6. HEINIE MANUSH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .378 average, 95 runs, 188 hits, 35 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 86 RBIs.
• Manush was obviously good enough to make Detroit manager-center fielder Ty Cobb demote himself to a part-timer.

7. GEORGE BURNS, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .358 average, 97 runs, 216 hits, 64 doubles, 4 home runs, 114 RBIs.
• The man who set the major league record for doubles (later tipped by Earl Webb) won the AL MVP award in part because Babe Ruth, by virtue of being a previous winner, was ineligible.

8. JOHNNY MOSTIL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 120 runs, 197 hits, 41 doubles, 15 triples, 79 walks, 10 hit-by-pitches, 35 stolen bases.
• Mostil peaked as the White Sox’ leadoff man a year before news of his affair with teammate Red Faber’s wife led to a suicide attempt.

9. BIBB FALK, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .345 average, 86 runs, 195 hits, 43 doubles, 8 home runs, 108 RBIs, 66 walks.
• The Austin, Texas native put up numbers reminiscent of the man he replaced in left field: The expelled Joe Jackson.

10. TRIS SPEAKER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 96 runs, 52 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs, 88 RBIs, 94 walks.
• In his final season as Indians player-manager before age-old game-fixing allegations caught up to him, Speaker continued to plug away at age 38.

NL Pitchers

1. CARL MAYS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.14 ERA, 19 wins, 12 losses, 281 innings, 24 complete games, 34 grounded into double plays.
• The controversial pitcher’s on-and-off history of late was on again, a year after being restricted to 12 appearances and a 3-5 record; he would be off for the next three seasons as he entered his late 30s before stepping away from the game.

2. RAY KREMER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 20 wins, 6 losses, .769 win percentage.
• After a slow start owing to shoulder pain, Kremer went 15-3 over the final three months to secure his first of back-to-back ERA crowns.

3. PETE DONOHUE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.37 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 47 appearances, 36 starts, 5 shutouts, 285.2 innings, 39 walks.
• Along with Mays, Donohue effectively wound it up on the mound at Cincinnati before winding down as over-the-hill material.

4. JESSE PETTY, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 17 wins, 17 losses, 275.2 innings.
• Petty picked up the slack for a slumping Dazzy Vance and Burleigh Grimes in Brooklyn.

5. CHARLIE ROOT, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 18 wins, 17 losses, 271.1 innings.
• After a failed audition with the St. Louis Browns in 1923, Root returned to the majors as a top rookie pitcher with the Cubs—and absorbed more losses than any other National Leaguer despite earning the circuit’s second-best ERA.

6. GUY BUSH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.86 ERA, 13 wins, 9 losses.
• Right behind Root in the ERA race was Bush, who continued to contribute more from the bullpen than within the rotation (35 appearances, 15 starts).

7. PETE ALEXANDER, CHICAGO-ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.05 ERA, 12 wins, 10 losses.
• The old warrior’s season was rescued as he went from frustrated head-butting with Cubs manager Joe McCarthy to World Series legend for the Cardinals.

8. FLINT RHEM, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 20 wins, 7 losses, .741 win percentage, 258 innings.
• The colorful hurler—who could drink as much as the next guy, Alexander included—found his footing after a rough first two years in the majors (10-15 record, 4.85 ERA).

9. HAL CARLSON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.23 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 267.1 innings.
• A former spitballer who couldn’t get grandfathered when the wet pitch became illegal, Carlson must have been discretely lathering up the ball to get the kinds of numbers shown above while playing at an absolutely live park (Baker Bowl).

10. LEE MEADOWS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.97 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses.
• Under today’s rules, Meadows wouldn’t have gotten credit for his 20th win—he didn’t finish the fifth inning—but nevertheless became part of the last pair of Pirates (along with Ray Kremer) to each earn 20 victories in the same year.

AL Pitchers

1. GEORGE UHLE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 27 wins, 11 losses, .711 win percentage, 36 starts, 32 complete games, 318.1 innings, 118 walks, 8 wild pitches, 13 hit-by-pitches.
• Nobody allowed more hits and walks in the majors than Uhle, yet the Indians workhorse was still at his sterling best.

2. TED LYONS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.01 ERA, 18 wins, 16 losses, 283.2 innings.
• The right-hander walked twice as many batters (106) as he struck out (51), but only two other pitchers allowed a lower batting average (.252).

3. LEFTY GROVE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 13 wins, 13 losses, 45 appearances, 33 starts, 258 innings, 194 strikeouts.
• The sophomore phenom introduced himself to a place he’d become very familiar with—the top spot among AL ERA contenders—thanks to a major cutdown in walks.

4. HERB PENNOCK, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.62 ERA, 23 wins, 11 losses, 266.1 innings, 43 walks.
• The veteran southpaw scored a career high in wins, adding two more in the World Series.

5. STAN COVELESKI, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.12 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses.
• At age 37, Coveleski performed one last admirable campaign before his arm petered out.

6. URBAN SHOCKER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.38 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses, 258.1 innings.
• Shocker electrified anew in New York City for the Yankees, who righted the previous wrong of trading him off to the Browns in 1918.

7. WAITE HOYT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.85 ERA, 16 wins, 12 losses.
• Had it not been for a late-summer slump created, it was said, by throwing too many pitches at a carnival, Hoyt could have jumped a bit higher on this list.

8. EDDIE ROMMEL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.08 ERA, 11 wins, 11 losses.
• Like Lefty Grove above, Rommel certainly deserved better than a .500 record.

9. FIRPO MARBERRY, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 12 wins, 7 losses, 22 saves, 64 appearances, 5 starts.
• Baseball’s first realization of the closer set his own record for saves; it would be 23 years before someone else (the Yankees’ Joe Page) would reset the mark.

10. GARLAND BUCKEYE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.10 ERA, 6 wins, 9 losses.
• The great-grandfather of future major leaguer pitcher Drew Pomeranz, Buckeye slipped into the list despite an underwhelming record—and because of his stifling ability to keep runners off base. His gem among gems was a two-hit shutout of the mighty Yankees—walking 10, four of which came against Babe Ruth (who went 0-for-0).

[luckymann]

Once again the Yanks throw their financial might around and look intent on going one step further with some big signings and trades. The Phillies, too, spend big over the break, while the Robins are also busier than usual.

Here are the main transactions from over the break:

• P Harry Salmon: Yankees, 6 years / $87800
• C Pat Collins: Yankees, 7 years / $75600
• SS Dave Bancroft: Phillies, 4 years / $54000 (extension)
• P Dick Whitworth: Yankees, 4 years / $40000
• P John Taylor: Phillies, 4 years / $39200
• P Walter Johnson: White Sox, 3 years / $31200
• 1B Ray Blades: Robins, 4 years / $24320 (extension)
• P John Donaldson: Phillies, 3 years / $23400
• P Jakie May: Giants, 4 years / $21740 (extension)
• OF Bernie Neis: Senators, 2 years / $17800
• P Elmer Ponder: Yankees, 3 years / $13180
• OF Oscar Charleston: Browns, 1 year / $8300
• P Wilbur Cooper: Browns, 1 year / $8300

• 1B Johnny Cooney from Robins to Cubs for P Ray Caldwell
• OF Wattie Holm, C Larry Brown and P Dutch Henry from Browns to Athletics for OF Cy Williams
• C Jimmie Wilson from Red Sox to White Sox for IF Sparky Adams and C Luke Sewell
• P Lou Schettler and C Bennie Tate from Cubs to Robins for IF Doc Prothro
• IF Heinie Sand from Browns to Reds for P Virgil Barnes and C John Hines
• P Steve Melter, C Charlie Berry and P Bob Osborn from Reds to Phillies for OF Earl McNeely
• 1B Chicken Hawks from Cardinals to White Sox for P Bill Force and IF Newt Allen
• P Harry Moran and OF Rap Dixon from Cardinals to Yankees for C Glenn Myatt
• OF Mule Suttles and P Carl Yowell from Athletics to Braves for IF Lew Fonseca

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We lose Webster McDonald for a month or so to an abdominal muscle strain but otherwise look ready for action with a 14-4 ST.

It’s a bit like a broken record in the NL as the tipsters are looking for us and the Cards to battle it out yet again. But in a major surprise they have picked the Tribe to win the AL. There’s no doubt Cleveland has been headed in the right direction the past few seasons, but I just can’t see where they’ve pulled this one from. I’ve got them pegged firmly in mid-standings.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS