Introducing the Footnote League

[luckymann]

October 14th, 1905 World Series Game 3: New York Highlanders (1-1) @ Chicago Cubs (1-1)
CHC: Jim McAndrew (14-10; 3.08) v NYY: Kirk McCaskill (17-9; 2.64)

No respite in this already epic Series, with Highlanders young gun Kirk McCaskill squaring off against the underrated Jim McAndrew as the action moves to Chicago. The Cubs were 56-21 at home in the regular season and see West Side Park as a fortress, so the lads from New York will have to be at their very best during their time here if they even want to make it back home.

The visitors get a huge early lift as Hod Ford gives them a 2nd inning lead with an inside-the-park home run, the first four-bagger of the Series, and it seems to rattle the hosts, with a poor error by Jay Johnstone in right leads to them scoring a second run on a Doug Glanville two-out single.

But Chicago is a professional and disciplined unit, and they shake it off and hit back immediately. Charlie Gelbert keeps the inning alive with a two-out single, steals second and then scores on another hit by Woody Woodward.

Both sides waste good scoring chances in the third and the Cubs seem intent to give the game away, committing 4 errors thru 6 innings but the Highlanders fail to cash in on any of them, so it almost seems against the run of play when they manage to tie it up in the home 6th with Dunwoody scoring on a Gelbert fielder’s choice after he’d got aboard with a one-out double. That causes the Highlanders to fall apart a bit, as McCaskill loads them up on walks with two out and 2B Danny McConnell then bungles a routine grounder to gift Chicago the 3-2 lead. A lead that doesn’t last a half-inning as an RBI single by Frank Schulte ties it straight back up again.

Despite the many twists and turns that transpire over the next 2 innings, it almost feels inevitable when this game goes into extra frames still knotted at 3.

Then the first batter for New York – Frank Schulte, who had 6 homers in the regular season – silences the parochial home crowd with a monster blast into the right field seats. Two hitters later, Frank House deposits one in almost the exact same seat.

Ron Herbel is summoned from the Highlanders bullpen to lock down the win, which he duly does with a 1-2-3 inning.

I doubt either pitcher will be happy with their game tonight, and Chicago’s defence needs to spend some time in the fungo cage because they were dreadful in this one. That said, it was another fascinating contest with those two huge 10th-inning home runs sure to be etched into the annals of Highlander folklore.

FINAL SCORE: New York 5, Chicago 3 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE

[luckymann]

October 15th, 1905 World Series Game 4: New York Highlanders (2-1) @ Chicago Cubs (1-2)
CHC: Lefty Leifield (0-1; 2.53) v NYY: Jeremy Bonderman (1-0; 1.64)

A rematch for the Game 1 starters here and, while every game now is crucial, this is a must-win for the Cubs one would think.

The visitors come out swinging with singles to leadoff man Glanville – who then swipes second – and O’Connell, and only a sensational throw by left-fielder Gross to nail Glanville at home keeps them from going ahead. But only briefly, as Gross undoes all his good work with a misplayed flyball and the Highlanders do indeed take the lead, 1-0.

The Cubs hit back in the second, as a leadoff single by Tresh and a Skinner double put them both in scoring position with none out. Bonderman then puts himself under more pressure by walking Dunwoody to load ‘em up, and the hosts tie it at 1 on a poor error by New York shortstop Andre Robertson on a DP ball he’d usually turn in his sleep. That’s pressure for you. Unbelievably he does the exact same thing with the next batter and the Cubs go ahead and still have the bases loaded with no outs made. It all falls apart for the visitors, as Bonderman gives up a 2-run double his opposing pitcher and another one as the Cubs finally register an out on an RBI groundout by Johnstone. There’s seemingly no stopping the home side, as Larker makes it 6-1 with a run-scoring single and then New York makes their third error in what will forever be referred to by Highlanders fans as The Inning, this time with Wilson throwing one over the third-baseman’s head to plate yet another run. A two-out RBI single by Skinner completes the nightmare, much to the joy of the very parochial home crowd, who are understandably enjoying all of this immensely.

That ends Bonderman’s game, one I’m sure will haunt him for a long time, as Matt Barnes is called into action. He gets out of that inning, only to run into trouble of his own in the next, as some waywardness on his part and two more errors turn this game into sheer farce as the Cubs go 11-1 ahead.

Well, that’s three innings done...

Almost as if endeavouring to keep the crowd entertained, the Cubs then make two errors in the top 5th and the Highlanders start heading in the right direction with a pair of runs.

From there the game, as it could only ever really be, is a complete anti-climax. The Highlanders get a run in the 8th as the Cubs commit their fourth error of the afternoon, only for New York to commit their sixth as the Cubs score one to cancel it out. In fact, the only thing of note over those final few innings is an injury to Cubs backstop Joel Skinner, which may have some ramifications over the remainder of this series.

The defensive ineptitude shown in this game was really an embarrassment to baseball, which is a shame - especially on the biggest stage of all. Of the 12 runs Chicago score, 3 are earned; all 4 New York runs are unearned. That’s not a great look.

So let’s turn our thoughts forward and try to forget today ever happened. The series is now tied at 2, with Game 5 back here tomorrow. Momentum is a potent force in these short series, and there’s little doubt that force has shifted heavily back into the Cubs’ favour.

FINAL SCORE: Chicago 12, New York 4

BOX SCORE

[luckymann]

October 16th, 1905 World Series Game 5: New York Highlanders (2-2) @ Chicago Cubs (2-2)
CHC: Bob Ewing (1-0, 1.64) v NYY: Mike McCormick (0-1; 3.09)

Ewing v McCormick go at it again and, as we all know, Game 5 in any seven-game series tied 2-2 is pivotal. After yesterday, who knows what today might bring. I’ll tell you this, though, West Side Park is still abuzz. Joel Skinner is out for the Cubs after that collision yesterday, with Frank Roth his replacement.

Once again, poor fielding enters into proceedings, and very early, as Gelbert flubs a grounder and the run eventually scores on a Wilson groundout to give New York the lead. They almost get another in the next, but a great throw by Jay Johnstone from right-field nails House trying to score on a flyout.

Aside from a close call for New York when Glanville throws out a runner at home and a smattering of hits, the pitchers hold sway until the 6th. Then another error, this time by second-baseman Woody Woodward, costs them a run when John Wilson doubles to make it 2-0.

Compared to the hijinks of its predecessor, this game is positively pedestrian until the bottom 8th, when the Cubs string three hits together and score their first run of the afternoon on a single by Todd Dunwoody. But the New Yorkers have the ready response in the top 9th, when Hod Ford comes through with a two-out RBI double to restore the two-run advantage. McCormick polishes off the home side 1-2-3 and the Highlanders head back home needing just one win to secure the club’s first Championship.

While by no means overpowering, giving up 10 hits, McCormick was fantastic here, rarely letting the Cubs get into a rhythm. For Chicago, those two errors proved the difference and they’ve got a real uphill battle now to avoid back-to-back Series losses.

FINAL SCORE: New York 3, Chicago 1

BOX SCORE

[luckymann]

October 18th, 1905 World Series Game 6: Chicago Cubs (2-3) @ New York Highlanders (3-2)
NYY: Kirk McCaskill (0-0; 2.25) v CHC: Jim McAndrew (0-1; 3.60)

And so we come to the first elimination game of this series with New York back in front of their fans and in familiar surroundings needing the one win to win it all.

As is always the case in games of this nature, it is all about scoreboard pressure. We’ve already seen the effect that nerves can have on the players, but that goes exponential now, especially in the late innings when the stakes are as high as they can be.

McCaskill and McAndrew to renew their acquaintance in the most important game of their careers.

A nervous start by the visitors in the bottom 1st as a Schulte hit, a Woodward error and a wild pitch put two Highlanders in scoring position, but they get out of it OK.

Both pitchers seem to have brought their best stuff, with McCaskill in particular looking strong, but the Highlanders get a rally going in the home 4th and open the scoring on a single by Danny O’Connell.

Still plenty of time for the Cubs but now we’ll really see what stuff they are made of.

They get their chance immediately when O’Connell undoes his good work with a two-base throwing error and a WP brings the runner around to third with just one out. McCaskill looks to have squirmed out of the jam when he gets a huge second out, but Jim McAndrew – who, to be fair is a decent hitter for a pitcher with a BA of .285 during the regular season – comes through with perhaps the biggest hit of his life to bring one in and tie it up.

The Cubs threaten again in the next but just can’t get the run in as the serious business really begins in earnest. The pitchers retain control of the game as we go into the 8th still tied.

The Cubs mount a challenge as Johnstone leads off with a hit, steals second and finds himself at third with one out after a single by Greg Gross. Then it all comes unstuck for the hosts as Tom Tresh singles in the go-ahead run and a foolish throw by CF John Wilson gets the Cubs an insurance run. Frank Roth then singles but Tresh is thrown out at home by a fantastic throw by Schulte.

The Highlanders need a quick reply, and they get one when Schulte singles and scores on a Wilson double. Then Ernie Courtney comes off the pine to triple Wilson in. 3-3 with the go-ahead run now at third, one out. The give House the free pass to set up the DP and Hod Ford nearly obliges them, driving a grounder straight to Woodward. But he shows great hustle to beat out the relay by a step, putting New York ahead 4-3 and leaving them just three outs shy of the Championship.

McCaskill retires pinch-hitter Ed Stevens on a grounder to O’Connell. One away.

Art Howe singles. Can the Cubs pull off a miracle?

Ford misplays a grounder, the tying run is at second, the go-ahead at first.

Jay Johnstone grounds out, Howe goes to third. Just ninety lousy feet. Two away.

Larker at the plate, 0-for-4 on the day. He grounds a 2 and 1 slider to O’Connell.

O’Connell throws to first.

Game, and series, over.

The New York Highlanders are the 1905 Footnote League Champions.

A fitting end to an amazingly suspenseful series. The Highlanders were too good, but only just, and deserve their success.

New York left-fielder Frank Schulte wins the MVP award – he went .409 with a home run and 2 RBI.

Congratulations to all involved with the franchise and of course to their many fans. Tempus effulgeo! Shine on!

Final score: New York 4, Chicago 3

New York Highlanders win series 3 games to 2.

BOX SCORE

[luckymann]

Most Valuable Player

• American League: Heinie Peitz WAS (unanimous)
• National League: Leon Durham BSN

Cy Young Award

• American League: Ernie Broglio WAS (unanimous)
• National League: Lefty Leifield CHC (unanimous)

Reliever of the Year

• American League: No award given
• National League: No award given

Rookie of the Year

• American League: Beau Bell BOS
• National League: Lefty Leifield CHC

Manager of the Year

• American League: Jim Miller NYY
• National League: Tom Loftus CHC

Platinum Stick

American League

• P: Johnny Lush CLE
• C: Heinie Peitz WAS
• 1B: Ed Kranepool BOS
• 2B: Eric Young sr BOS
• 3B: Jim Davenport DET
• SS: Solly Hemus CWS
• LF: George Stone CWS
• CF: Austin Jackson CWS
• RF: John Titus WAS

National League

• P: King Cole CHC
• C: Ellie Rodriguez BRO
• 1B: Leon Durham BSN
• 2B: Adam Kennedy PHI
• 3B: Sean Burroughs BSN
• SS: Bill Spiers BSN
• LF: Greg Gross CHC
• CF: Jerry Browne BSN
• RF: David Murphy CIN

Gold Glove

American League

• P: Elmer Stricklett CWS
• C: Tucker Barnhart SLA
• 1B: Steve Cox CWS
• 2B: Danny O’Connell NYY
• 3B: Mike Mowrey SLA
• SS: Orlando Arcia WAS
• LF: Willie Wilson CLE
• CF: Oscar Charleston BOS
• RF: John Wilson NYY

National League

• P: Harry Gumbert STL
• C: Rick Dempsey BSN
• 1B: Ray Sanders STL
• 2B: Woody Woodward CHC
• 3B: Tom Tresh CHC
• SS: J.T. Riddle PIT
• LF: Gates Brown BSN
• CF: Luis Melendez PHI
• RF: Mike Shannon BRO

[luckymann]

I have added the full season wrap with links to all updates and players on OOML for anybody that's interested.

1905 FL SEASON

I've also added the Commissioner's final thoughts for the year HERE

Will be back with all of the 1906 FL action in a couple weeks.

Thanks for following along.

G

[luckymann]

Season previews have been posted to Out of My League for anyone that's interested.

POST

I honestly believe the 1906 Footnote League season will be one of the closest-run yet, with a host of teams in the mix for post-season action. I cannot wait to see how things play out. Tempus effulgeo to all players, shine bright and shine long, gentlemen!

PLAY BALL!

[luckymann]

Cribbed from THIS article on SABR Bio by Dennis Auger.

Don’t judge a book by its cover, goes one old saying. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, goes another.

Both apply in spades to Hobe Ferris.

5’8” and 160-odd pounds with a lifetime .239 batting average and .265 on-base percentage as well as a reputation for slick fielding at second base that, according to the Washington Post, “made Larry Lajoie look like a second-rater.”, Hobe seems your typical all glove, no bat middle infielder.

Dig a bit deeper and you’ll find this isn’t necessarily so.

Despite his lean statistics and diminutive stature, Ferris was one of the hardest hitters in the American League. Twenty-eight percent of the right-hander’s 1,146 career hits went for extra bases, a ratio exceeded only by 10 other American Leaguers during the Deadball Era, and higher than such renowned sluggers as Ty Cobb, Frank Baker, Elmer Flick, and Jimmy Collins. During his nine-year major-league career, Ferris ranked in the league’s top five in triples and home runs three times each.

If the stories are to be believed, he hit with his fists almost as hard as he did with the bat.

Albert Ferris was born in England (the date is disputed, but thought to be December 7, 1877), and immigrated to the United States a couple of years later. At a game in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1898, Hobe filled in for a shortstop who had failed to show and handled 22 chances perfectly, thereby winning him the position. He reported to Pawtucket of the New England League the following year, where he finished with a .295 average and won accolades for his fielding. Another strong season at the plate and in the field followed in 1900 for Norwich in the Connecticut League, where he played shortstop and batted .292 with 31 extra-base hits.

Hobe was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds before the 1901 season, but jumped to the American League to play for the Boston Americans. Forced to play second in the offseason after shortstop Freddy Parent signed with the club, Ferris committed 61 errors in 1901, the second highest total by a second baseman in American League history (after Detroit 2B Kid Gleason’s 64 that same year). At the plate, the 23-year-old Ferris batted .250, drove in 63 runs, and led all AL rookies with 15 triples. He had another excellent offensive year in 1902, hitting eight home runs (tied for seventh best in the league) and 14 triples while driving in 63 runs and was much-improved defensively as well, committing 22 fewer errors and showing brilliant range.

At the same time, however, he was garnering a reputation as a troublemaker, especially with umpires. He received his first suspension from American League president Ban Johnson in May of that year. It would not be his last.

Still, he was an integral part of the Boston club as it captured the 1903 American League pennant. Despite his batting average slipping to .251, Hobe hit a career-high nine home runs and scored a career-best 69 runs. In the Americans’ World Series triumph over Pittsburgh, Ferris recovered from a poor showing in the first game, in which he made two errors (and briefly raised suspicions that Boston had thrown the game), to make a spectacular unassisted double play on a Honus Wagner line drive in Game Two, preserving a 3-0 Boston victory. In the eighth and final game, Ferris drove in all three Boston runs off Deacon Phillippe to secure the franchise’s first world championship.

Another pennant followed in 1904 and, while he slumped badly at the plate (finishing the season with a .213BA, he figured prominently in Boston’s narrow victory in the American League pennant race, scoring from second base on a fly ball and error in a showdown end-of-season series with the New York Highlanders to give Boston a 1-0 victory. The next three seasons were lean ones at the team level as the aging Boston roster unraveled, but Ferris continued to rank among the league leaders in extra-base hits (despite not hitting for much average) and provide superlative defence at second base.

The beginning of the end for Hobe was an incident in September of ’06 in which he and teammate Jack Hayden got into a mid-game fight that ended with both men being arrested (though neither pressed charges against the other) and Hobe suspended for what was left of the campaign. After one more season in Boston, Hobe was traded to the Browns.

That 1908 season – perhaps Hobe’s best as a professional, as he posted career highs in batting average (.270), on-base percentage (.291), and RBIs (74), as well as a retrospectively-calculated 4.1 WAR – would also prove his swansong. With Jimmy Williams already established at second base for his new club, Ferris shifted to third, where he combined with shortstop Bobby Wallace to form what one writer called “the stonewall defense.”

1909, however, was a different story entirely, as Ferris’s average plummeted to .216. At its conclusion, hewas released to Minneapolis of the American Association, where he spent the next four seasons before drawing his release. Hobe then played one season for Wilkes-Barre of the New York State League before once again being released. His only involvement in the game after that was the occasional appearance at the semipro level. He settled in Detroit, where he spent the remainder of his life.

On March 18, 1938, in the middle of relating to his wife a newspaper account of ex-Tiger Fatty Fothergill’s hospitalization, Hobe Ferris died of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.

Hobe is a Foundation Member of the Footnote League, picked 20th overall by the Phillies in the Inaugural Draft in 1901. He spent that year at Hazleton, where he won the PSL World Series, before being traded in the offseason to the Cards. He spent four seasons at St. Louis, mainly in a utility role, winning the FL World Series in 1903 before the club released him at the end of last season.

The Reds signed him as a Free Agent in the preseason and so far in the ’06 campaign he has hit .260 with 1 HR and 13 RBI from the #3 spot in the lineup. This is his age-34 season, so I’m not sure he’ll be around the league much longer, but I hope he continues to shine brightly for as long as he remains. Tempus effulgeo, Hobe!

BASEBALL REFERENCE PAGE

S+ PAGE

[luckymann]

Just a quick run through of where our Spotlight players are as season 1906 gets underway:

Ed Head is currently an unsigned FA and I don’t hold much hope of him making any further appearances in the league.

Otto Hess is heading the rotation for Bridgeport, the Giants’ PSL club, where he has so far gone 3-2 with a 5.62 ERA. He seems destined to play out the remainder of his career (he is in his age-33 season now) in the minors.

Arnold Hauser has made just 2 plate appearances so far this season for Wichita Falls, going 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.

Rawmeat Bill Rodgers is at Reading and has also only seen limited game time, hitting .154 with 2 ribbies in 26 AB.

After a solid season for Fort Worth last year, Dave Rozema is struggling so far in ‘06, with a blowout ERA of 10.12 in just 2+ IP.

Dickey Kerr was traded in the offseason from Cleveland to the World Champion New York Highlanders, where he has made a bright start for his new club with a 3-1 record and sparkling 1.70 ERA.

Harry Lumley continues to be an integral member of the Chicago White Sox, although for him 1906 has begun indifferently with a .284 BA and just 5 RBI.

Johnny Broaca is now holding down the closer’s role for the Phillies, where he has so far gone 3-2 with an ERA of 3.38 in 40 innings of work.

Craig Shipley is stuck at Cedar Rapids and isn’t getting much playing time at all, having gone just 1-for-3 to this point.

After starring for the NL Champion Chicago Cubs last season, Tom Tresh has again started promisingly with a .294 BA and 6 RBI.

Curt Roberts, Cy Seymour and Ray Starr are all now former players.

More updates at the end of the year.

[Makonnen]

How up to date is https://atl-02.statsplus.net/footnot...ers/?history=1 ?

Was wondering how recently you had the first player cross the 1,000 hit mark? I presume it's Willie Wilson.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Makonnen

How up to date is https://atl-02.statsplus.net/footnot...ers/?history=1 ?

Was wondering how recently you had the first player cross the 1,000 hit mark? I presume it's Willie Wilson.

Nice spotting!

I actually updated the S+ site too early, when I was doing the Ferris feature. I usually don't do it until I've put out the update.

The reportage of Wilson reaching 1000 - the league's first player to do so - is a part of my April / May update which will probably be out on the weekend.

There was no notification of it in-game. I only noticed it myself when I was looking for Ferris's stats. I realised that's because my milestone for the league is set at 2000.

PS Loving the WBL mate. Great stuff.

[luckymann]

WHITE SOX, A’S WITH NARROW LEAD IN AL BUT NO CLEAR PATTERN JUST YET

SAME WITH NL AS SUPERBAS, BEANEATERS & CARDS WITHIN A GAME AT THE TOP

Notable Performances

• April 12th: a pair of NL Opening Day routs see the Superbas rack up 22 hits in a 16-2 thrashing of the Beaneaters, while the Cards pound the Bucs 14-2.
• April 14th: ex-Cleveland pitcher Dickey Kerr gets his career with the Highlanders off to the ideal start with a 5-hit shutout of the Americans in a 3-0 home win.
• April 18th: a huge game for Cleveland’s Turkey Stearnes, who has 5 hits including a double and 2 homers plus 5 RBI in a 7-4 win over the Browns. It is just the 13th multi-HR game in FL history.
• April 22nd: Brooklyn’s Jack Pfeister allows just one hit over 8 against the Giants only to lose the game on a 2-run error.
• April 23rd: a couple of gems on the mound today, with Cleveland’s Cy Falkenberg two-hitting Chicago in a 2-0 win and Boston’s Charlie Smith shutting out the Phillies in a 4-0 decision. Smith pitches another shutout in his next start against the Superbas to continue his good form.
• May 5th: Eric Young sr (we have both of them in the FL!) goes 5-for-5 but his Americans still lose 6-4 to the Senators. The next day Dale Sveum suffers the same fate as his efforts can’t stop the Reds dropping a 7-6 decision to the Cards.
• May 8th: Cleveland’s Jack Rothrock goes 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI in a 15-4 thrashing of Detroit.
• May 9th: Chappie McFarland hurls a one-hitter with 4 strikeouts as the Beaneaters blank the Phillies 6-0.
• May 11th: Chicago’s Andy Messersmith pitches a three-hitter in a 9-0 win over the A’s.
• May 12th: Heinie Peitz goes 5-for-5 with 2 ribbies as the Sens clip the Tigers 5-4.
• May 14th: another 5-hit performance, this time by Pittsburgh’s Buddy Lewis in a losing cause as the Bucs drop a 10-3 contest to the Phillies.
• May 16th: Turkey Stearnes is at it again with another 5-hit game including 2 doubles and a trip as the Naps smoke Boston 11-1.
• May 29th: what a fantastic pickup Rube manning has been for the Highlanders so far. He pitches a 3-hit here to get them past the White Sox 4-0, leaving him with a 9-2 record and 1.69 ERA. Dickey Kerr, their other offseason signing, has been just as good with a 7-2 start and FL-best 1.05 ERA.

Achievements

• April 23rd: AL PotW – Turkey Stearnes (Cleveland); NL – Art Howe (Chicago); PSLA – Jerry Mumphrey (Shreveport); PSLN – Billy Maloney (Wichita Falls).
• April 30th: AL PotW – Cy Falkenberg (Cleveland); NL – Charlie Smith (Boston); PSLA – Craig Wilson (Shreveport); PSLN – Harry Arndt (Harrisburg).
• May 7th: AL PotW – Willie Wilson (Cleveland); NL – Lloyd Moseby (Brooklyn); PSLA – John Knight (Williamsport); PSLN – Ryan Rayburn (Wichita Falls).
• May 7th: Cleveland’s Willie Wilson becomes the first player in the FL to reach the 1000-hit plateau.
• May 14th: AL PotW – Heinie Peitz (Washington); NL – Mike Shannon (Brooklyn); PSLA – Jimmy Ripple (Waterloo); PSLN – Simon Nicholls (Wichita Falls).
• May 21st: AL PotW – Mike McCormick (New York); NL – Ian Desmond (Cincinnati); PSLA – Jimmy Ripple (Waterloo); PSLN – Simon Nicholls (Wichita Falls).
• May 28th: AL PotW – Rube Manning (New York); NL – Al Shaw (New York); PSLA – George Chalmers (Joplin); PSLN – Terry Turner (Jersey City).

Injuries

• April 19th: the Phillies outfield stocks are about to get tested as first Luke Scott’s season is over courtesy of a broken kneecap that will keep him off the paddock for roughly 6 months and then, later in the same game, Luis Melendez goes down with torn ankle ligaments and will miss about 6 weeks. Then, to really put them under the pump, they lose a third outfielder, Charles Thomas, late in the month to the same injury as Melendez. He’ll be out around 2 months. Then in early May – how unbelievable a run of poor luck is this? – they lose Norm Siebern as well when he tears his labrum in a collision running the bases, and he won’t return until late June / early July.
• April 24th: as if being sent down to Newark wasn’t enough, Highlanders World Series hero Kirk McCaskill is lost for the season to elbow ligament surgery.
• May 2nd: a torn rotator cuff ends Cincinnati hurler Jim Otten’s season.
• May 4th: luckless dual Cy Young Award winner Steve Cooke of the A’s goes down with radial nerve compression for the second straight year, and will miss the remainder of the 1906 season. He’s soon joined on the sidelines by fellow rotation member Dallas Braden, who’ll be on ice with bone chips in his elbow for a month or so.
• May 7th: Johnny Ray of the Highlanders suffers a fractured finger on a HBP and will be out of action for 7 weeks or thereabouts.
• 20th: a huge blow for the White Sox as they lose ace Elmer Stricklett for the season to a torn elbow flexor. Greg Harris, who has hardly seen any action over his 5 years in the league, will step into the rotation in his place.
• 27th: this just isn’t the Phils season, as they lose quality hurler Howie Camnitz for 2 months with an elbow strain. Little wonder’s they’re at the bottom of the NL standings.
• 29th: another elbow strain victim, this time the Cubs’ Jim McAndrew, who’ll miss 6 weeks.

Transactions

• April 21st: the Phillies re-sign outfielder Luis Melendez for 2 years on a deal worth just under $5,000.
• Monthly Awards

Monthly Awards – April

American League

Batter: Turkey Stearnes, Cleveland (.429 / 3 RBI / 12 R)

Pitcher: Bill Monbouquette, Chicago (4-0 / 1.66 / 22 K / 38 IP)

Rookie: Max Butcher, Cleveland (2-0 / 1.89 / 4 K / 19 IP)

National League

Batter: Mike Shannon, Brooklyn (.400 / 1 HR / 14 RBI)

Pitcher: Bernie Boland, Pittsburgh (3-0 / 1.72 / 12 K / 31 IP)

Rookie: Ed Lennox, Philadelphia (.571 / 5 RBI)

PostScript League American

Batter: Chris Denorfia, Waterloo (.326 / 7 HR / 15 RBI)

Pitcher: Speed Martin, Waterloo (4-0 / 3.22 / 42 K / 36 IP)

PostScript League National

Batter: Billy Maloney, Wichita Falls (.426 / 8 HR / 18 RBI)

Pitcher: Phil Collins, Reading (4-1 / 3.15 / 48 K / 40 IP)


Monthly Awards – May

American League

Batter: Harry Lumley, Chicago (.380 / 1 HR / 19 RBI / 15 R)

Pitcher: Fred Glade, Philadelphia (7-0 / 2.14 / 18 K / 63 IP)

Rookie: Max Butcher, Cleveland (4-3 / 3.23 / 23 K / 61 IP)

National League

Batter: Mike Shannon, Brooklyn (.367 / 22 RBI / 21 R)

Pitcher: Red Embree, St. Louis (8-0 / 3.00 / 25 K / 72 IP)

Rookie: Art Fromme, St. Louis (3-0 / 2.84 / 22 K / 32 IP)

PostScript League American

Batter: Stan Lopata, Shreveport (.361 / 8 HR / 23 RBI / 19 R)

Pitcher: Jake Thielman, Wilmington (5-2 / 3.38 / 48 K / 56 IP)

PostScript League National

Batter: Gary Matthews jr, Hazleton (.309 / 9 HR / 23 RBI / 23 R)

Pitcher: Dave Dravecky, Reading (5-2 / 3.44 / 54 K / 50 IP)

FL S+ PAGE

FL REPORTS HOME

OOML POST

[luckymann]

Win Probability Added for the 1906 season to date.

Batters

Pitchers

[luckymann]

The annual Rookie Draft was held tonight, and once again position players were heavily-favoured in the early picks. Seven infielders – plus two catchers – went in the first round. The highest-selected pitcher was 7th.

Here are the Round 1 picks in full:

1 Cincinnati Reds: LF Bob Bescher, 22

2 Cleveland Naps: C Bob Brenly, 25

3 New York Giants: 1B Craig Wilson, 21

4 Boston Americans: 2B Dick Egan, 21

5 St. Louis Browns: 3B Butch Huskey, 19

6 St. Louis Cardinals: LF George Browne, 23

7 Pittsburgh Pirates: P Bill Singer, 18

8 Philadelphia Athletics: 1B Art Griggs, 22

9 Chicago White Sox: P Brad Hogg, 20

10 Brooklyn Superbas: C John Jaso, 22

11 Detroit Tigers: RF Vince Barton, 21

12 Washington Senators: 1B Dale Long, 23

13 Boston Beaneaters: SS David Eckstein, 24

14 Philadelphia Phillies: P Bill Gullickson, 18

15 New York Highlanders: SS Wally Gerber, 20

16 Chicago Cubs, LF Kurt Abbott, 21

FULL DRAFT LOG

As per usual, I’ll report back later in the season with how the signing process is going. Tempus effulgeo to our new members of the Footnote League club.


FL STATS+ PAGE

OOML POST

[Brad K]

Craig Wilson is all over the field. Starts as 1B then gets ratings in (don't remember the order) C, LF, RF. Playing historical he eventually loses his C rating. Anyway i like him at C for a few years because its a good bat there.

Dale Long has done well in my current game. Is he too good for FL? Five years as regular 1B plus two years as a bench player (mere 87 PAs) he's .267/.339/.456 with 115 HRs 13.9 WAR.

Even though last year before free agency I kept him for the 1958 pennant run (finished a not close 2nd) and so now he's gone. Which is OK because Dr Strangeglove, Iron Fingers, the Boston Strangler spent most of 58 in AAA and its his turn next.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Craig Wilson is all over the field. Starts as 1B then gets ratings in (don't remember the order) C, LF, RF. Playing historical he eventually loses his C rating. Anyway i like him at C for a few years because its a good bat there.

Dale Long has done well in my current game. Is he too good for FL? Five years as regular 1B plus two years as a bench player (mere 87 PAs) he's .267/.339/.456 with 115 HRs 13.9 WAR.

Even though last year before free agency I kept him for the 1958 pennant run (finished a not close 2nd) and so now he's gone. Which is OK because Dr Strangeglove, Iron Fingers, the Boston Strangler spent most of 58 in AAA and its his turn next.

Wilson has joined the FL with ratings only at 1B / LF / RF. He's 22. Will watch to see if he turns into a catcher.

Long is good to go. 10.2 BBRef career WAR / low profile (apart from a lone AS appearance) makes him easily eligible. Tops out at 58 POT at the moment so not likely to be unbearably dominant.

Have recently noticed Andy Messersmith's presence, and with his appearance in the PBL realised he shouldn't be a FLer. Considered retiring him but again he's only maxing out now at age-25 in the low 60s ratings-wise, so he can just consider himself lucky to be in this great league

[Brad K]

Messersmith will decline to sign a contract and break up your reserve clause! Better get rid of him now while you can.

[Brad K]

My mistake on Dale Long. I checked and he has performed significantly better than real life in my current game.

Also his career transactions look like those of a true FLer. (The All Star selection must have been a fluke.

May, 1945: Traded by Middletown (Ohio State) with Kenneth Braden (minors) to the Cincinnati Reds for Dick Oder (minors) and Joseph Turczak (minors).

June, 1947: Released by the Cincinnati Reds.

June, 1947: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.

November 24, 1948: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers from the Boston Red Sox in the 1948 minor league draft.

December 5, 1949: Drafted by the New York Yankees from the Detroit Tigers in the 1949 minor league draft.

November 16, 1950: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Yankees in the 1950 rule 5 draft.

June 1, 1951: Selected off waivers by the St. Louis Browns from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

December 5, 1951: Purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the St. Louis Browns.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

My mistake on Dale Long. I checked and he has performed significantly better than real life in my current game.

Also his career transactions look like those of a true FLer. (The All Star selection must have been a fluke.

May, 1945: Traded by Middletown (Ohio State) with Kenneth Braden (minors) to the Cincinnati Reds for Dick Oder (minors) and Joseph Turczak (minors).

June, 1947: Released by the Cincinnati Reds.

June, 1947: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.

November 24, 1948: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers from the Boston Red Sox in the 1948 minor league draft.

December 5, 1949: Drafted by the New York Yankees from the Detroit Tigers in the 1949 minor league draft.

November 16, 1950: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Yankees in the 1950 rule 5 draft.

June 1, 1951: Selected off waivers by the St. Louis Browns from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

December 5, 1951: Purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the St. Louis Browns.

I'll keep an eye out for him 50 years from now in my Bucs save

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Messersmith will decline to sign a contract and break up your reserve clause! Better get rid of him now while you can.

If he Curt's me, I'll cut him...