[Matt from TN]

1918 National League

Team                        W   L   %  GB
New York Giants            99 55 .643 -
Boston Braves              88 66 .571 11
Philadelphia Phillies      75 79 .487 24
Cincinnati Reds            75 79 .487 24
Chicago Cubs               75 79 .487 24
St. Louis Cardinals        73 81 .474 26
Brooklyn Robins            66 88 .429 33
Pittsburgh Pirates         65 89 .422 34

League AVG: .275
League ERA: 3.01


The Giants once again dominated the NL. They won their 9th pennant in 10 years. Doc Crandall (30-9), Jeff Tesreau (24-14) and Rube Marquard (23-11) finished 1-2-3 in wins. Crandall became the 8th pitcher since 1876 (all from 1908-18) to record 30 or more wins. 3B Heinie Groh led the league's top offense and finished among the very top of the league leaders in several categories (.358 avg, .800 OPS, 85 RBI).

The Phillies may have posted a losing record, but their pitching staff was second to none. Harry Coveleski (21-12, 2.26) and Eppa Rixey (19-18, 2.38) finished with the 2nd and 4th best ERA's in the NL.

36-year-old Johnny Bates highlighted an otherwise disappointing season for the Braves by winning his 4th Top Batter award in five seasons. The Cubs' season was brightened by Top Rookie Charlie Hollocher. The 22-year-old shortstop hit .311 with 61 RBI.



Batting AVG
.360 Johnny Bates, BSN
.358 Heinie Groh, NYG
.338 Bobby Byrne, STL
.338 Larry Doyle, NYG
.337 Ed Konetchy, STL

HOMERUNS
14 Cy Williams, CHC
9 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
9 Fred Luderus, PHI

RBI
88 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
85 Heinie Groh, NYG
85 Larry Doyle, NYG
81 Fred Merkle, NYG
81 Fred Beck, BSN

OPS
.828 Johnny Bates, BSN
.800 Heinie Groh, NYG
.792 Vic Saier, CHC
.781 Bobby Byrne, STL
.780 Rafael Almeida, CIN

STEALS
47 Armando Marsans, CIN
33 Max Carey, PIT
32 George Burns, NYG
30 Josh Devore, NYG
30 Harry Pattee, BRO

ERA
2.24 Wilbur Cooper, PIT
2.26 Harry Coveleski, PHI
2.37 Rube Marquard, NYG
2.38 Eppa Rixey, PHI
2.57 Lefty Tyler, BSN

WINS
30 Doc Crandall, NYG
24 Jeff Tesreau, NYG
23 Rube Marquard, NYG
22 Art Nehf, BSN
22 Wilbur Cooper, PIT

STRIKEOUTS
137 Claude Hendrix, PIT
133 Ed Reulbach, CHC
120 Rube Marquard, NYG
113 Nap Rucker, BRO
108 Harry Coveleski, PHI
108 Les Backman, STL

POY: Doc Crandall, NYG, 31, 30-9, 2.78 ERA, 40 BB, 108 K, .271 OAVG, 1.17 WHIP
BOY: CF Johnny Bates, BSN, 36, .360, 73 RBI, 20 SB, .828 OPS
ROY: SS Charlie Hollocher, CHC, 22, .311, 61 RBI, 21 SB, .682 OPS

Gold Gloves:

Pitcher: Sam Frock, BSN, 2
Catcher: Dick Cotter, PHI, 3
First Base: Fred Beck, BSN, 6
Second Base: Jack Coffey, BSN, 2
Third Base: Joe Ward, PHI, 6
Shortstop: Alex McCarthy, PIT, 4
Leftfield: Zack Wheat, BRO, 2
Centerfield: Hy Myers, BRO, 1
Rightfield: Cy Williams, CHC, 2




1918 American League

Team                        W   L   %  GB
Philadelphia Athletics     95 59 .617 -
New York Yankees           88 66 .571 7
Boston Red Sox             88 66 .571 7
Detroit Tigers             82 72 .532 13
Cleveland Indians          75 79 .487 20
Washington Senators        65 89 .422 30
Chicago White Sox          63 91 .409 32
St. Louis Browns           60 94 .390 35

League AVG: .274
League ERA: 2.99


Going into the final four game of the season, Philadelphia led New York by three games in the standings. The Yankees needed a sweep to win the pennant. There was indeed a sweep, but it was the Athletics doing the sweeping. The A's offense, led by Top Batter Shoeless Joe Jackson, led the AL in runs per game. Eddie Collins stole "just" 43 bases at age 31, but he led the majors with 113 runs scored. Jackson was right behind him with 100 runs. Frank "Home Run" Baker led the league with 93 RBI.

The Yankees pitching staff was tops in the league. Hippo Vaughn (25-16, 2.31) and Russ Ford (22-14, 2.41) led the way. This team improved for the second straight season, but the roster is aging and their window for winning a pennant could be quickly closing.

The Red Sox finished 3rd in offense and pitching, and they finished 2nd for the 4th straight year. Babe Ruth led the league with 12 homeruns, but he continues to struggle with a low average (despite his 9 over 10 contact rating!). He hit .241 last season and .234 this season.



Batting AVG
.376 Ty Cobb, DET
.366 Joe Jackson, PHA
.356 Bris Lord, PHA
.335 Buck Weaver, CHW
.335 Hal Chase, NYY

HOMERUNS
12 Babe Ruth, BOS
9 George Sisler, SLB
8 Tris Speaker, BOS

RBI
93 Frank Baker, PHA
88 Ty Cobb, DET
83 Joe Jackson, PHA
83 Tris Speaker, BOS
70 Ping Bodie, CHW
70 Babe Ruth, BOS

OPS
.855 Joe Jackson, PHA
.830 Ty Cobb, DET
.806 Bris Lord, PHA
.766 Eddie Collins, PHA
.751 Joe Harris, NYY

STEALS
44 Ty Cobb, DET
43 Eddie Collins, PHA
29 Clyde Milan, WSH
27 Ray Chapman, CLE
24 Burt Shotton, SLB

ERA
2.07 Hugh Bedient, BOS
2.16 Guy MOrton, CLE
2.20 Herb Pennock, PHA
2.31 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
2.40 Hooks Dauss, DET

WINS
29 Hugh Bedient, BOS
25 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
24 Herb Pennock, PHA
22 Jack Rowan, DET
22 Russ Ford, NYY

STRIKEOUTS
114 Jack Rowan, DET
113 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
110 Joe Wood, BOS
108 Gene Krapp, CLE
99 Jake Scott, CHW
99 Ed Walsh, CHW

POY: Hugh Bedient, BOS, 28, 29-10, 2.07 ERA, 49 BB, 74 K, .259 OAVG, 1.15 WHIP
BOY: LF Joe Jackson, PHA, 29, .366, 83 RBI, .855 OPS
ROY: C Frank Gibson, DET, 28, .263, 66 RBI, .631 OPS

Gold Gloves:
Pitcher: Vean Gregg, CLE, 2
Catcher: Roxy Walters, NYY, 1
First Base: Hal Chase, NYY, 6
Second Base: Eddie Collins, PHA, 4
Third Base: Charlie Pick, WSH, 1
Shortstop: John Knight, PHA, 3
Leftfield: Ping Bodie, CHW, 1
Centerfield: Tris Speaker, BOS, 4
Rightfield: Shano Collins, CHW, 2