Do-Over--A History of Baseball, 1901-2023

[Lord Byron]

Awards for April:
AL Best Batter: Left fielder Pop Foster (Washington Senators), with 1 home run, 9 RBIs, and 9 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), with 2 home runs, 10 RBIs, and 11 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Charles Bender (Washington Senators), with a 4-0 record and a 1.05 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Rube Waddell (Pittsburgh Pirates), with a 4-1 record and a 1.20 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 1 home run, 11 RBIs, and 10 runs scored.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Quait Bateman (Chicago Cubs), with a 2-1 record and 2.96 ERA.

In the AL, the Washington Senators are a surprising first at 13-2, three ahead of the Chicago White Sox. In the NL, there is a closer race, with the Pittsburgh Pirates in first place, a half-game ahead of the New York Giants, 1 and a half games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, and 2 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals.

[Lord Byron]

Awards for May:
AL Best Batter: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 29 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Third baseman Jim Delahanty (Chicago Cubs), with 1 home run, 21 RBIs, and 12 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Earl Moore (Cleveland Naps), with a 6-1 record and a 0.51 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Christy Mathewson (New York Giants), with a 7-0 record and a 1.48 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 29 runs scored.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Quait Bateman (Chicago Cubs), with a 5-2 record and a 2.16 ERA (for the season so far).

In the AL, the Washington Senators are in first place with a 31-10 record, 9 games ahead of the Boston Americans and New York Highlanders, who are tied for second place. In the NL, it's closer, with the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies by 2 games and the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds (who are tied for third place) by 3 games.

[Lord Byron]

Awards for June:
AL Best Batter: Third baseman Bill Bradley (Cleveland Naps), with 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 16 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Center fielder Homer Smoot (New York Giants), with 1 home run, 25 RBIs, and 14 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Robert Yeager (Cleveland Naps), with a 6-1 record and a 1.33 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Christy Mathewson (New York Giants), with a 5-2 record and a 1.57 ERA (for the season so far).
AL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Mike Lynch (St. Louis Browns), with a 4-1 record and a 1.88 ERA (for the season so far).
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Howie Camnitz (Brooklyn Superbas), with a 5-0 record and a 2.21 ERA.

In the standings, the Washington Senators are still dominating the AL in first place, with a record of 47-19, 12 and a half games ahead of the Cleveland Naps, who are in second place. In the NL, the Pittsburgh Pirates have fallen to fourth, but are only 4 and a half games behind the first-place New York Giants, with the Cincinnati Reds in third and Brooklyn Superbas in second. It will be seen if both leads hold as the summer goes on.

[Lord Byron]

-On July 25th, the Philadelphia Athletics traded starting pitcher Chick Frasier (30) to the Brooklyn Superbas for starting pitcher Ernie Ross (24) and second baseman Bob Unglaub (23).
-On July 30th, the St. Louis Browns traded left fielder John Anderson (30) for relief pitcher Howard Murphy (22).
-On July 31st, the New York Giants traded third baseman Mike Mitchell (24) to the St. Louis Browns for relief pitcher Rusty Hall (30).
-The Boston Beaneaters traded first baseman Fred Tenney (32) to the Pittsburgh Pirates for shortstop Terry Turner (23) and relief pitcher George Merritt (24).
-The St. Louis Cardinals traded first baseman Dan McGann (33) and relief pitcher Henry Gehring (23) to the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Moose McCormick.

[Lord Byron]

Awards for July:
AL Best Batter: First baseman Sam Dungan (Washington Senators), with 0 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 16 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), with 2 home runs, 19 RBIs, and 27 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Eddie Plank (Philadelphia Athletics), with a 6-2 record and a 2.34 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Christy Mathewson (New York Giants), with a 7-1 record and a 1.41 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Mike Lynch (St. Louis Browns), with a 2-5 record and a 2.08 ERA.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Quait Bateman (Chicago Cubs) with a 5-2 record and a 1.89 ERA.

In the AL, barring a massive collapse, the Washington Senators are the likely favorites to take the pennant and go to their first World Series, as they are 16 games ahead of the second-place Cleveland Naps. In the NL, meanwhile, the New York Giants have a 5 and a half-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates, so it's still up in the air as to who will win the pennant.

[Lord Byron]

Awards for August:
AL Best Batter: Second baseman Nap Lajole (Philadelphia Athletics), with 1 home run, 20 RBIs, and 19 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Third baseman Art Devlin (Philadelphia Phillies), with 0 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 13 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Charles Bender (Washington Senators), with a 6-1 record and a 1.57 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Christy Mathewson (New York Giants), with a 7-1 record and a 1.70 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 2 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 20 runs scored.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Red Ames (Boston Beaneaters), with a 4-3 record and a 1.94 ERA.

In the AL, the St. Louis Browns have been eliminated from contention, not that it matters, as the Washington Senators seem on track not only to win the pennant, but to become the first team in the post-1901 era to end at 100 wins or above. Meanwhile, in the NL, the New York Giants are still in first place, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are only 3 and a half games out of first, so they could catch up with the Giants.

[Lord Byron]

Awards for September:
AL Best Batter: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 2 home runs, 19 RBIs, and 18 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), with 1 home run, 14 RBIs, and 18 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Pitcher George Mullin (Chicago White Sox), with a 6-1 record and 1.68 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Pitcher Ham Iburg (Philadelphia Phillies), with a 5-1 record and 0.83 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 2 home runs, 19 RBIs, and 18 runs scored.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Doc Scanlan (New York Giants), with a 5-1 record and 1.36 ERA.

Regular season awards:
AL Best Batter: Third baseman Nap Lajole (Philadelphia Athletics), with 7 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 93 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), with 7 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 102 runs scored.

The Washington Senators win the AL pennant going away, ending with a 106-48 record and a 27-game lead over the second-place team, the Boston Americans (the 1903 World Series winners). Meanwhile, in the NL, the New York Giants finish with a 94-60 record and a 6-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For the 1904 World Series, it's the Washington Senators (106-48) vs. the New York Giants (94-60).

[Lord Byron]

The 1904 World Series: Washington Senators vs. New York Giants

Results
Game 1, October 13th, 1904, the Polo Grounds
oad Win Lifts Washington to 1-0 Lead in WS
When the games really matter, the Washington Senators put on their best show, beating the New York Giants by a final score of 6-4 today. Case Patten threw 13.0 innings of 7-hit ball. Washington now leads New York 1-0 in the best-of-7 affair.
Patten went the distance for Washington, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 6.
"Every team in baseball loses," Giants manager George Davis said. "We're in the playoffs and we still have the same guys that got us here. We'll bounce back."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Polo Grounds in New York.
Senators lead 1-0

Game 2, October 14th, 1904, the Polo Grounds
Starter Ed Walsh was sensational for the Washington Senators in his team's 3-2 triumph over the New York Giants in Game 2 of the World Series today. Walsh pitched well, but Washington picked up the win to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Walsh threw well for Washington, thwarting the New York offense. The right-hander tossed 103 pitches over 9 innings. He allowed just 2 runs on 3 hits.
"By the skin of our teeth, man," Walsh told the Washington Daily News. "But hey, it still counts. A few more by the skin of our teeth is fine with me."
Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday at American League Park in Washington.
Senators lead 3-0

Game 3, October 16th, 1904, American League Park
The Washington Senators are one game away from a sweep after beating the visiting New York Giants, 3-2, at American League Park today. Senators right-hander Charles Bender had a standout performance in which he threw 9.0 innings of 6-hit ball. Washington now holds a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-7 World Series.
The Senators liked what they saw from Bender. The 20-year-old pitcher had a commanding presence on the mound, limiting the Giants to 2 runs on 6 hits over 9 innings, and striking out 7.
"We lost," New York manager George Davis said later. "We'll deal with it. The series isn't over."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at American League Park in Washington.
Senators lead 3-0

Game 4, October 16th, 1904, American League Park
The Washington Senators are champions, today and forever. The Senators topped the New York Giants 5-3 at American League Park today to claim the World Series crown.
"Nobody can take this away from us, not ever," said series MVP and right fielder Harry Lumley after his club had sealed the victory. "We worked hard and we accomplished our goal."
The atmosphere was electric as the newly-crowned champs stormed the field at the conclusion of the game. Fans cheered, gloves flew in the air, high fives and hugs were the order of the day.
"From day one of spring training, I could see it in their eyes," said Washington manager Jim Manning. "The players had that look of intensity, of hunger, of a desire to accomplish something great, and today they did that. They're champions of the world."
The Senators took the series 4-0. The new titleholders completed the regular season with a first-place finish in the AL and a 106-48 record.
Senators win World Series 4-0

Series MVP: Harry Lumley

[Lord Byron]

AL Great Glove Awards: Pitcher Robert Yeager (Cleveland Naps), catcher Lou Criger (Boston Americans), first baseman Candy LaChance (Cleveland Naps), second baseman John Farrell (Washington Senators), third baseman Jimmy Collins (Boston Americans), shortstop Joe Tinker (Cleveland Naps), left fielder Sam Mertes (Chicago White Sox), center fielder Jimmy Barrett (Detroit Tigers), right fielder Socks Seybold (Philadelphia Athletics)
NL Great Glove Awards: Pitcher Button Briggs (Boston Beaneaters), catcher Jack Warner (New York Giants), first baseman Charlie Hickman (New York Giants), second baseman Bobby Lowe (Boston Beaneaters), third baseman Lee Tannehill (Cincinnati Reds), shortstop Bill Dahlen (Brooklyn Superbas), left fielder Jimmy Sheckard (Brooklyn Superbas), center fielder Emmet Heidrick (St. Louis Cardinals), right fielder Elmer Flick (St. Louis Cardinals)
AL Platinum Stick Awards: Pitcher Jake Weimer (Boston Americans), catcher Mike Grady (Washington Senators), first baseman Sam Dungan (Washington Senators), second baseman Nap Lajole (Philadelphia Athletics), third baseman Bill Bradley (Cleveland Naps), shortstop Freddy Parent (Boston Americans), left fielder Pop Foster (Washington Senators), center fielder Cy Seymour (New York Highlanders), right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators)
NL Platinum Stick Awards: Pitcher Christy Mathewson (New York Giants), catcher Frank Roth (Brooklyn Superbas), first baseman Frank Chance (Chicago Cubs), second baseman Claude Ritchey (Pittsburgh Pirates), third baseman Art Devlin (Philadelphia Phillies), shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), left fielder Fred Clarke (Pittsburgh Pirates), center fielder Roy Thomas (Philadelphia Phillies), right fielder Elmer Flick (Philadelphia Phillies)
AL Rookie of the Year: Right fielder Harry Lumley (Washington Senators), with 12 home runs, 101 RBIs, and 96 runs scored.
NL Rookie of the Year: Center fielder Danny Hoffman (Brooklyn Superbas), with 3 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 79 runs scored.
AL Best Manager: Jim Manning (Washington Senators)
NL Best Manager: George Davis (New York Giants)
AL Pitcher of the Year: Starting pitcher Ed Walsh (Washington Senators), with a 29-10 record and 1.72 ERA.
NL Pitcher of the Year: Christy Mathewson (New York Giants), with a 35-9 record and 1.85 ERA.
AL MVP: Third baseman Nap Lajole (Philadelphia Athletics), with 7 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 93 runs scored.
NL MVP: Shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), with 7 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 102 runs scored.

[Lord Byron]

-The New York Highlanders, in the biggest firing of the season, fired manager John McGraw, but did renew the contract of general manager Josh Dora for 5 years.
-The Boston Americans renewed the contract of general manager Adrian Rose for 4 years.
-The Pittsburgh Pirates renewed the contract of general manager Nate Aeschliman.
-Among the retirements are Washington Senators second baseman Joe Quinn and Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Ed Delahanty. Delahanty's number #34 is retired by the Philadelphia Phillies.
-On November 12th, the St. Louis Browns traded left fielder George Hogreiver (35) and third baseman Mike Mitchell (24) to the Boston Americans for catcher Ossee Schreckengost.
-On December 13th, the Chicago White Sox trade third baseman Emil Batch (24) to the Cincinnati Reds for relief pitchers Alex Jones (34) and relief pitcher Dick Scott (21).

[Lord Byron]

Here are the top 10 picks in the 1904 Rookie Draft as selected by OOTP and who drafted them:
1. Ty Cobb (17), center fielder (#2--Boston Beaneaters)
2. Sherry Magee (20), left fielder (#3--Chicago Cubs)
3. Orval Overall (23), starting pitcher (#1--St. Louis Browns)
4. Ed Reulbach (22), starting pitcher (#5--New York Highlanders)
5. John Knight (19), shortstop (#3 in the second round--Chicago Cubs)
6. Bill Hinchman (21), left fielder (#16--Pittsburgh Pirates)
7. Homer Hillebrand (25), starting pitcher (#6--St. Louis Cardinals)
8. Irv Young (27), starting pitcher (#4--Chicago Cubs)
9. Mickey Doolin (24), shortstop (#17--New York Giants)
10. Jim Buchanan (28), starting pitcher (#7--St. Louis Cardinals)
-First baseman Hal Chase was drafted...by the Philadelphia Philles.

[Lord Byron]

-On December 16th, the New York Giants traded second baseman Danny Murphy (28) to the Philadelphia Phillies for third baseman Harry Wolverton and left fielder Danny Sullivan (22).
-The Chicago Cubs traded right fielder Cozy Dolan (32) and relief pitcher Sis Hopkins (22) to the St. Louis Cardinals for relief pitchers Willie Sudhoff (30) and Pat Hynes (20).
-On March 4th, the Philadelphia Athletics traded relief pitchers Wiley Piatt (30) and James Durham (23) to the Chicago Cubs for left fielder Jim Delahanty.
-The Cincinnati Reds failed to sign 5th-round draft pick Frank Owens.
-The New York Giants failed to sign 5th-round draft pick Bill McCarthy.
-First baseman Roger Connor was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the 1904 class.

[Lord Byron]

1905 preseason predictions

American League
New York Highlanders, 86-68
Washington Senators, 86-68
Chicago White Sox, 83-71
Detroit Tigers, 78-76
Philadelphia Athletics, 78-76
Boston Americans, 75-79
St. Louis Browns, 69-85
Cleveland Naps, 63-91

National League
Pittsburgh Pirates, 105-49
New York Giants, 94-60
Chicago Cubs, 81-73
Philadelphia Phillies, 79-75
Boston Beaneaters, 77-77
Cincinnati Reds, 68-86
Brooklyn Superbas, 58-96
St. Louis Cardinals, 57-97

Now, let's play ball!!!

[Lord Byron]

Awards for April:
AL Best Batter: First baseman Harry Davis (Philadelphia Athletics), with 0 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 8 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Shortstop George Davis (Philadelphia Phillies), with 2 home runs, 10 RBIs, and 11 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Roy Patterson (Chicago White Sox), with a 4-0 record and a 0.46 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Frank Smith (Pittsburgh Pirates), with a 4-0 record and a 1.25 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Ed Reulbach (New York Yankees), with a 3-1 record and a 1.25 ERA.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Jim Buchanan (St. Louis Cardinals), with a 2-2 record and a 1.50 ERA.

The Chicago White Sox are in first in the AL by one game over the Boston Americans while, in the NL, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the lead by 2 over the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds (who are in a tie for 2nd).

[Lord Byron]

Awards for May:
AL Best Batter: Second baseman Danny Shay (Cleveland Naps), with 0 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 20 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Shortstop Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates), with 0 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 18 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Ed Killian (New York Highlanders), with a 6-0 record and a 1.45 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Rube Waddell (Pittsburgh Pirates), with a 7-1 record and a 1.18 ERA.
AL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Buster Brown (Cleveland Naps), with a 4-2 record and 1.21 ERA.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Irv Young (Chicago Cubs), with a 5-2 record and a 0.85 ERA.

In the AL, the Detroit Tigers are now ahead by a game over the Washington Senators, with the Cleveland Naps, New York Highlanders, and Chicago White Sox not far behind. In the NL, meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are ahead (after falling out of first earlier in the month) by 1 and a half games over the Philadelphia Philles, and both pennant races look interesting as the season heads into summer.

[Lord Byron]

Awards for June:
AL Best Batter: Second baseman Nap Lajole (Philadelphia Athletics), with 1 home run, 20 RBIs, and 23 runs scored.
NL Best Batter: Right fielder Frank Schulte (Boston Beaneaters), with 0 home runs, 11 RBIs, and 19 runs scored.
AL Best Pitcher: Ed Reulbach (New York Highlanders), with a 5-2 record and a 1.54 ERA.
NL Best Pitcher: Jack Chesbro (Pittsburgh Pirates), with a 5-0 record and a 1.31 ERA
AL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Ed Reulbach (New York Highlanders), with a 5-2 record and a 1.54 ERA.
NL Rookie of the Month: Starting pitcher Irv Young (Chicago Cubs), with a 3-3 record and a 1.51 ERA (for the season).

Looking at the standings, the Detroit Tigers are 1 and a half games ahead of the New York Highlanders, while the Pittsburgh Pirates are 2 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL. As the summer goes on, it remains to be seen whether these leads hold.

[TC Dale]

Closing thread upon request.