The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

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In the meantime, we make our one FA play. It takes longer than expected, but we end up getting our guy.




Wes will begin the season in the BP but will be one of the first to be called upon in case of injuries or form slumps in the spin. He also plays LF and will see limited action there. Probably more so from next year or the one after when in all likelihood O'Doul will be gone.

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Three new official Legends of the Game.

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The Cardinals’ “Gashouse Gang” overcomes all sorts of internal strife and a dogged Giants outfit – mainly thanks to the cause of most of the strife, Dizzy Dean, who becomes the last player in the Senior Circuit to win 30 games – to narrowly take the NL pennant, then go on to beat the 100-game winning Tigers in an acrimonious seven-game Fall Classic.

AL CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (95-58)
NL CHAMPIONS: Detroit Tigers (101-53)
WORLD SERIES: Cardinals 4, Tigers 3

AL MVP: Mickey Cochrane (Tigers)
NL MVP: Dizzy Dean (Cardinals)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. MEL OTT, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 119 runs, 190 hits, 29 doubles, 10 triples, 35 home runs, 135 RBIs, 85 walks, 13 intentional walks.
• For the second of three times in his Hall-of-Fame career, Ott had to share the home run crown at season’s end—this time with #2 below.

2. RIPPER COLLINS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .333 average, 116 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 12 triples, 35 home runs, 128 RBIs, .615 slugging percentage.
• Lost in the Dizzy Dean media circus at St. Louis was the dazzling offensive tear of Collins, the brief wonder who was never better than in 1934.

3. PAUL WANER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .362 average, 122 runs, 217 hits, 32 doubles, 16 triples, 14 home runs, 90 RBIs, 68 walks.
• The Pirates’ hitting machine scooped up the league’s top batting average and hit total for the second time in his career.

4. ARKY VAUGHAN, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .333 average, 115 runs, 186 hits, 41 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 94 RBIs, 94 walks, .431 on-base percentage.
• A tough July kept Vaughan from competing with Waner for the NL batting title—something he’d take care of the following season.

5. JOE MEDWICK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 110 runs, 198 hits, 40 doubles, 18 triples, 18 home runs, 106 RBIs.
• “Ducky” scored and knocked in at least 100 runs each for the first of five straight years; his 18 triples registered as a career high.

6. WALLY BERGER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .298 average, 92 runs, 183 hits, 35 doubles, 8 triples, 34 home runs, 121 RBIs.
• Berger had five multiple-homer games as he continued to carry the Braves on his back offensively.

7. BILL TERRY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .354 average, 109 runs, 213 hits, 30 doubles, 8 home runs, 83 RBIs, 60 walks.
• The Giants’ player-manager excelled once more at the plate, but people will remember the 1934 season as the one he should have kept his mouth shut about the Brooklyn Dodgers.

8. CHUCK KLEIN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 115 games, .301 average, 78 runs, 27 doubles, 20 home runs, 80 RBIs.
• Some believe that Klein’s muted numbers in his first year with the Cubs had much to do with his absence from Philadelphia’s stat-happy Baker Bowl, but playing on a bum leg for much of the year also had a bit to do with it.

9. LEN KOENECKE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 123 games, .320 average, 79 runs, 31 doubles, 7 triples, 14 home runs, 73 RBIs, 70 walks.
• The temperamental Koenecke enjoyed his one solid, full year at the major league level before fatally trying to overtake a passenger plane the next year.

10. SAM LESLIE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .332 average, 181 hits, 29 doubles, 9 home runs, 102 RBIs, 69 walks.
• At first the Dodgers looked as if they had got the raw deal in obtaining Leslie for Lefty O’Doul and Watty Clark a year before—but in 1934, Leslie shined while the two other two depreciated.

AL Hitters

1. LOU GEHRIG, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .363 average, 128 runs, 210 hits, 40 doubles, 6 triples, 49 home runs, 166 RBIs, 109 walks, .465 on-base percentage, .706 slugging percentage.
• Like Mel Ott, Gehrig was a New York “nice guy” who proved nasty on opposing pitchers; his rude treatment was worth a triple crown, the AL’s second in a row. He might have collected nine triples, but three of them were washed away in a single game at Washington’s voluminous Griffith Stadium when rain halted a game before it became official. Despite all of the above, Gehrig finished just fifth in the AL MVP vote.

2. JIMMIE FOXX, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 120 runs, 180 hits, 28 doubles, 44 home runs, 130 RBIs, 111 walks, 17 intentional walks, 11 stolen bases.
• Not even Foxx’ continued greatness could keep the A’s from recording their first losing record in 10 years.

3. HANK GREENBERG, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .339 average, 118 runs, 201 hits, 63 doubles, 7 triples, 26 home runs, 139 RBIs, 63 walks.
• Greenberg’s breakout year included the fourth-highest season total of doubles in history, and two home runs on September 10 against the Red Sox after being given the green light to play on Jewish New Year by a local rabbi.

4. CHARLIE GEHRINGER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .356 average, 135 runs, 214 hits, 50 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, 127 RBIs, 99 walks, 11 stolen bases.
• Right behind Lou Gehrig in the AL batting race—as well as the baseball encyclopedia, alphabetically—was Charlie Gehringer.

5. HAL TROSKY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .330 average, 117 runs, 206 hits, 45 doubles, 9 triples, 35 home runs, 142 RBIs.
• A scintillating debut for the 21-year-old rookie first baseman—who was not to be confused with ex-Lenin sidekick Leon Trotsky—as he played every inning of every game for the Indians.

6. EARL AVERILL, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .313 average, 128 runs, 187 hits, 48 doubles, 6 triples, 31 home runs, 113 RBIs, 99 walks.
• Averill felt back at home in Cleveland’s cozy League Park after struggling to fuel his power stroke at nearby, monstrous Cleveland Stadium.

7. AL SIMMONS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .344 average, 102 runs, 192 hits, 36 doubles, 7 triples, 18 home runs, 104 RBIs.
• Bucketfoot Al’s miserable experience at Comiskey Park continued, even as the White Sox brought in the fences (actually, they moved home plate closer to the wall) to feed his power-driven ego; despite another stellar overall average, the home runs still weren’t a ‘coming.

8. BOB JOHNSON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 111 runs, 168 hits, 26 doubles, 34 home runs, 92 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• The second-year Athletic made like Babe Ruth’s instant heir, slamming 20 homers in his first 50 games before cooling off.

9. BILL WERBER, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 129 runs, 200 hits, 41 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs, 77 walks, 40 stolen bases.
• Werber was the sole pleasant surprise among the many pricey underachievers brought into the Red Sox fold by new owner Tom Yawkey.

10. BABE RUTH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 125 games, .288 average, 78 runs, 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, 104 walks.
• The Bambino’s fading swan song at Yankee Stadium paled to his earlier years of legend, but averaging nearly a walk per game showed that opposing pitchers were still heavily weary of his presence.

NL Pitchers

1. CARL HUBBELL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.30 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 8 saves, 49 appearances, 35 starts, 25 complete games, 313 innings, 37 walks.
• Despite Dizzy Dean’s spectacular scene-steal of a season, chances are the experts would have still picked Hubbell to be their guy if their lives depended on it. (But then again, he was a combined 1-4 against Dizzy and Daffy Dean.)

2. DIZZY DEAN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.66 ERA, 30 wins, 7 losses, .811 win percentage, 50 appearances, 33 starts, 7 shutouts, 311.2 innings, 195 strikeouts.
• Dean entered the books as the NL’s last 30-game winner to date with the help of the hometown scorer, who credited him with two victories that really should have gone to others.

3. LON WARNEKE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 22 wins, 10 losses, .688 win percentage, 43 appearances, 35 starts, 291.1 innings.
• The Cubs’ ace started the year in style, throwing one-hitters in each of his first two outings—including an Opening Day outing in which he didn’t give up his first hit until one out in the ninth.

4. FREDDIE FITZSIMMONS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.04 ERA, 18 wins, 14 losses, 38 appearances, 37 starts, 263.1 innings, 51 walks, 32 grounded into double plays.
• The veteran pitcher’s nine-year run of consistent success at New York would come to an end as the wear and tear would catch up to his arm the following season. Yet he would continue as a major leaguer all the way to just short of his 42nd birthday.

5. CURT DAVIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.95 ERA, 19 wins, 17 losses, 5 saves, 51 appearances, 31 starts, 274.1 innings.
• The rookie gave the Phillies something they hadn’t seen in ages: Quality pitching.

6. WAITE HOYT, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.93 ERA, 15 wins, 6 losses, .714 win percentage, 48 appearances, 17 starts, 43 walks.
• The primary ace of the great Yankees teams of the 1920s, Hoyt finally found a stable home in Pittsburgh as one of the NL’s stingiest relievers after bouncing about the previous three years. (Hoyt’s bullpen ERA was 1.89; when he started, it was 3.62.)

7. VAN LINGLE MUNGO, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.37 ERA, 18 wins, 16 losses, 45 appearances, 38 starts, 315.1 innings, 104 walks.
• Sure, the man whose name could be a tongue-twister for annunciation test participants was the workhorse of the year—but still, a 3.37 ERA is impressive considering he gave up more hits (300), walks, doubles (62) and triples (15) than anyone else.

8. HAL SCHUMACHER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.18 ERA, 23 wins, 10 losses, .697 win percentage, 41 appearances, 297 innings, 10 wild pitches.
• Sandwiched in between a pair of 19-win campaigns was Schumacher’s only finish above 20; hitting six home runs on his own didn’t hurt the effort. (And if you’re thinking he benefitted with cheap homers down the short lines of the Polo Grounds, think again; five of those six came on the road.)

9. PAUL DEAN, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.44 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses.
• The “quiet” Dean was muted through the season’s first half with an ERA teetering near 5.00, before turning up the volume the rest of the way; the highlight down the stretch was a September 21 no-hitter—something his star-studded brother never accomplished.

10. ROY PARMALEE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.42 ERA, 10 wins, 6 losses, 22 appearances, 21 starts.
• A modest but solid campaign for Parmalee, who missed two months early on after undergoing an appendectomy.

AL Pitchers

1. LEFTY GOMEZ, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.33 ERA, 26 wins, 5 losses, .839 win percentage, 38 appearances, 33 starts, 25 complete games, 6 shutouts, 281.2 innings, 158 strikeouts.
• One Lefty (Gomez) replaced another (sore-armed Grove) as the AL’s dominant ace.

2. MEL HARDER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 20 wins, 12 losses, 4 saves, 44 appearances, 29 starts, 6 shutouts, 255.1 innings.
• After getting hosed the year before at monstrous Cleveland Stadium with a league-leading ERA but sub-.500 record, Harder and the Indians returned to bandboxed League Park where his ERA actually dropped—it was actually 1.98 at home—as greatly enhanced support from his mates got him to 20 wins for the first time in his career.

3. SCHOOLBOY ROWE, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.45 ERA, 24 wins, 8 losses, .750 win percentage, 45 appearances, 30 starts, 266 innings.
• In his first full (and best) season, Rowe joined the long list of AL pitchers who worked up a 16-game win streak—but couldn’t make it to 17. He also hit over .300 for the first of two straight years.

4. JOHNNY MURPHY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.12 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses, 4 saves, 40 appearances, 20 starts.
• The future closer for the Yankees proved himself as a worthy part-time starter in his rookie campaign.

5. TOMMY BRIDGES, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.67 ERA, 22 wins, 11 losses, .667 win percentage, 36 appearances, 35 starts, 275 innings.
• Armed with the best curve of his generation, Bridges won at least 20 games for the first of three successive years; it didn’t hurt that he was given six runs’ worth of support per start.

6. BOBBY BURKE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 8 wins, 8 losses, 37 appearances, 15 starts.
• A fabulous home stretch (4-2, 1.46 ERA over his last seven outings, all starts) rescued Burke’s season and separated him from a list of disappointing staff teammates.

7. RED RUFFING, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.93 ERA, 19 wins, 11 losses, 256.1 innings.
• The guy whose ERA never went below 4.00 for the Red Sox and never above it with the Yankees kept it below that figure thanks to the year’s longest (29.2) consecutive scoreless inning streak.

8. WES FERRELL, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.63 ERA, 14 wins, 5 losses, 26 appearances, 23 starts.
• The high-strung ace made the most of a late start after a refusal to report to Cleveland camp precipitated a trade to the Red Sox.

9. ELDON AUKER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.42 ERA, 15 wins, 7 losses, 43 appearances, 18 starts, 205 innings.
• With long-time reliever Firpo Marberry in decline, the 22-year-old Auker took over as the Tigers’ primary relief man.

10. BOBO NEWSOM, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 4.01 ERA, 16 wins, 20 losses, 5 saves, 47 appearances, 32 starts, 262.1 innings, 149 walks.
• It only made sense that Newsom’s AL debut—initiating a long and meandering run through the Junior Circuit—would be epitomized by a nine-inning no-hitter he would lose (along with the game) in the 10th late in the year against the Red Sox.

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Pretty sedate again in the offseason trade / FA market, with the following the most noteworthy transactions:

• OF Sam West: Phillies, 5 years / $93400
• OF Mule Suttles: Braves, 5 years / $86600
• C Spud Davis: Dodgers, 4 years / $86400
• 2B Max Bishop: Cardinals, 4 years / $72800
• OF John Stone: Yankees, 4 years / $72200
• 1B George Scales: Braves, 4 years / $64000
• P John Donaldson: Athletics, 3 years / $53200
• OF Babe Herman: Braves, 3 years / $51400 (extension)

• SS Dick Lundy from Cardinals to White Sox for 3B Charlie Gelbert and C Jim Spotts
• OF Tom Oliver from Braves to Dodgers for P Carl Glass and C Francis Healy
• OF Ed Coleman from Reds to Braves for 2B Rabbit Warstler
• 2B Otto Bluege from White Sox to Dodgers for P Flint Rhem
• OF George Stumpf from White Sox to Cardinals for P Bill Hallahan
• C Rick Ferrell from Braves to Senators for P Pat Malone and SS Mickey Haslin

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We go 12-6 in ST. More importantly: no injuries.

The pundits see a repeat of 1932 on the cards, very bullish on our chances and those of the Tigers. We’ll see about that.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS


Here are the Top 20 ranked position players and pitchers at OD:

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Our team page can be accessed HERE.

We enter the season with the 2nd-highest payroll ($266k) and 4th-lowest budget ($500k).

OD squad as follows:

Catchers

• C Earl Grace (R)
• C Ray Hayworth (R) v LHP and when Grace needs a rest

Hayworth was pretty disappointing last season, and Chuck Berry is ready to go at AAA should that look like continuing.


Infielders

• 1B Jimmie Foxx (R)
• 2B Willie Wells (R)
• 3B Martin Dihigo (R)
• SS Arky Vaughan (R)

• Andy Reese (R)
• Lonny Frey (L)
• Mark Koenig (S)

No change here. All four of our starting IF won Silver Sluggers last year and we are looking for more of the same. Koenig was fantastic last year in a supporting role.


Outfielders

• LF Lefty O’Doul (L)
• CF Earl Combs (L)
• RF Paul Waner (L)

• Lloyd Waner (L)
• Kiddo Davis (R)
• Wes Ferrell (R)

Reese and Dihigo will also see some time out here.


Rotation

1. LHP Willie Foster
2. RHP Ted Trent
3. RHP Paul Derringer
4. RHP Bobo Newsom

The progressive composition of our staff will depend entirely on form and injuries. I feel we’ve made some excellent progress here but remain worried we’re still a bit underdone.

Bullpen

• LHP Bill McCall (ST)
• RHP Wes Ferrell (MR)
• RHP Bill Swift (MR)
• RHP Ray Benge (LR)
• LHP Lloyd Brown (MR)

New recruits Lee and Wilson, plus those who’ve been sent down, are all on stand-by.

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Fairly inevitable this, you could see it coming a mile off after all the hassles he had last season. A great career ends - 4 Johnson-Waddell Medals but, sadly, no Championship ring. A plaque at C-Town might soften that blow, and he's almost a lock to get one of those come 1939 thanks to these numbers.

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Willie has been great, don't get me wrong, but he hasn't been as utterly dominant as his high price-tag demands. Is this to be that year? He has started like a man with his hair on fire, and reaches a milestone in the process.

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In undoubtedly the best pitching performance in AAA history, Newark's Willie Gisentaner pitches 11 no-hit innings in a 1-0 defeat of Syracuse. He's only ever had limited opportunities in the bigs but has acquitted himself well with an ERA of just 0.63 over 14 1/3 IP. This will be a nice one to tell the grandkids about.

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All-time leader: Ty Cobb (281)

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We open our 1934 campaign in emphatic fashion, belting the Cards 18-2 as Wells goes wild with 4 hits including 2 homers and 6 RBI. He is injured the following day, but thankfully it’s only minor and he’ll just need to be nursed a bit. That first week turns out to be something special, as we go 6-1 and outscore our opponents 64-12.

We keep it going, with no less than four walkoff wins and plenty of luck going our way. Then reality takes its inevitable bite during a nasty series against the Phils in which we are beaten badly a couple times and injuries to Earl Combs and then Martin Dihigo sees both off for an IL stint. A few games later, Wells is back in the wars and has to sit out a week with back tightness.

This is an excellent early test of the depth in our squad, one they pass with flying colours. The best evidence of this is a 10-5 win at the Phillies in which every starter collects at least 2 hits. We barely skip a beat until the three are back in action, nor after their return as we finish May at a stunning 32-10.





I think I'll just let the screenshots tell the story, other than to say that Lloyd Waner has forced his way into the everyday CF role with his superb form so far.





You'll see a couple names that weren't there on OD. We claim both pitcher Neck Stanley and catcher Rollie Hemsley on waivers. The latter hasn't worked out so well with him hitting just 143, and if that keeps up Ray Hayworth will be recalled. We also lock down Duke Derringer on a 5+2 extension deal for a max $84k.


Standings, awards, news and leaders.







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... for pure persistence.

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The first of these was #200 for his career, but still his Red Sox came up short. Life / baseball, hey...

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You know those eerie premonitions you often have when everything is running oh so smoothly? Well no word of a lie, with us on a win string of 8 and sitting a dozen games clear at 37-10, I get one on the very day we lose Bill Foster for 5 weeks as his iffy back flares up yet again.

I decide to give Wes Ferrell, who has been superb in long relief with an ERA of just 0.87 over 20+ IP (and whom I keep going to call "Will"...), a crack in the spin, a move somewhat necessitated by an injury to Bill Lee down at AAA. Plus it’s WF replacing WF, as if a sign.

After a bit of a stumble, the lads get back to their winning ways and eventually post another sparkling month, finishing it with a 21-6 record. That puts us at 53-16 overall and a whopping 18 games clear already.





Up and down the squad, the stats once again make for some fairly pleasant reading.





The AL is once again shaping up as a fierce contest this year. As we approach the halfway point it's not just the usual suspects in the mix, but also the A's, Indians and even the long-suffering White Sox. The poor old Sens, on the other hand, are having a diabolical season that currently has them on track for a record number of losses. That record is currently 110, shared by the 1928 Browns and ’06 Beaneaters.




Awards, news and leaders. Chick Hafey makes it to 300 HR; Bill Terry and Al Simmons to 2000 hits, Babe Herman 1500. Cleveland sophomore Hal Trosky sr is putting together a season for the ages - already at 20 HR with a 370/404/657 line. Can he keep it going?






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This year's All-Stars have been selected, with eight Pittsburgh players among them - the most of any club.





John Beckwith wins the HR Challenge, while The NL wins its first ASG by 7 to 3 with Phillies outfielder Sam West named MVP.

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While the Tigers are making their move with a long win streak, the White Sox' slow but steady resurgence has continued this season and this is another strong performance by one of those responsible for the turnaround.

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July starts in what can only be described as manic fashion.

Our pitching is pushed to the limit with back-to-back doubleheaders and the day after these we are smashed 17-2 by the Cubs. This after having given up a dozen two games prior, only to win it 13-12 (and win the late game 12-0). A few days later Bobo Newsom walks 10 and yet we still manage to sneak home 8-7 to avoid our first series loss of the year.

That’s the sort of season it has been for us so far.

And yet, it cannot be denied we have come off the boil. We lose three on the trot for the first time this season as just look a bit raggedy on both offence and pitching.

Bill Foster comes off the IL and I rehab him for a while at AAA. While that’s happening, we lose O’Doul – who has been among our best in what will be his final season with us – for 6 weeks to a hamstring tear. Mule Haas, whom we signed as a MiLB FA, comes up in his place. Then we lose Little Poison to an oblique strain for 3 weeks. I don’t replace him, we’ve got plenty of cover. For now.

As the month draws to a close, we finally lose our first series of the season as we continue to struggle for consistency, especially with our pitching. Nearly time for Foster to return, methinks.

We do round off the month with a few wins to stabilise things just a smidge, and finish the sectional with a 17-12 record.





Some slippage among the bats, which along with the loss of O'Doul and Lloyd Waner has made the contribution of Ferrell all the more important. This while he's also been holding his own in the rotation. With Foster's imminent return, however, he will go back to the pen.




An especially tough month for our starters, with Derringer's 3.88 ERA the lowest among them for the period. The BP's fine performance limits the damage to a certain degree but still we need to get back on track in this department.




The Tigers put their foot down with a 20-8 month to lead by 5 1/2 from Boston. The surprising Pale Hose are still well in contention at 55-43 and 7 GB.




Here are the Top 20s by WAR to this point:





And finally the awards, news and leaders. Marty McManus gets his 2000th hit, while our own Earl Combs reaches the 1500 mark. Satchel Paige sits within reach of the pitching Triple Crown.






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Another box ticked in an outstanding rookie season for the big Cubs 1B.

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Leading as comfortably as we are isn’t as easy a position to be in as you might expect. It is tough to grind it out on a daily basis, to keep players heads in the games, to maintain their inspiration when all the while you can’t help feeling there is less on the line.

That feeling isn’t just wrong. It is dangerous.

Which makes – despite the occasional raggedy performance along the way – our 19-8 August all the more admirable.

We even manage to exert a dose of payback for earlier in the season with a commanding 18-1 win against the Phils late in the month as Foxx drives in 7 and Vaughan belts two solo jacks.







Our magic number sits at 10. Across in the AL, there's plenty of juice left in the lemon with just 4 1/2 games separating the Tigers from the 4th-placed A's.




Just two major milestones this month: Lou Gehrig reaches 2000 hits, Al Simmons 300 HR. Satchel Paige, back to his absolute best after a few seasons in a wilderness of sorts, looks a good bet to lock down the AL Pitching Triple Crown.

Awards, news, leaders.






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