Got a bunch of things going on right now so updates won't be as detailed but really enjoying some of the storylines I am following so sims will keep coming.
JULY 1, 1922
With the scandal of the 1921 World Series now hopefully behind us the focus can once again return to what happens on the field. The Cincinnati Reds, despite losing ace pitcher Gervais and outfielder Roush seemed to settle down and won 8 of 13 games after Landis made his decision. Babe Ruth hit 9 homeruns during that span to tie him with young Chicago White Sox slugger Hack Wilson for the major league lead at 23.
Despite the Reds fine performance they found themselves 13.5 games out of first place as June came to an end. The St Louis Cardinals went 18-8 during the month and, at 50-23, are a full 7 games ahead of second place Brooklyn. The Cards could always hit, with the likes of Rogers Hornsby (.424,14,67), Joe Sewell (.408,1,50), Harry Heilmann (.352,4,50) and Austin McHenry (.366,9,41) leading the way, but what really put St Louis over the top was the off-season signing of ex-Federal Leaguer Bullet Joe Bush. The 29 year old 4-time Federal League pitcher of the year started the season with the Cards by going 14-3 with a 2.36 era.
It is very early but there is some talk of an all-St Louis World Series - the second ever - as the Browns are leading the American League by a game over the White Sox. Ty Cobb (.364,2,36) and 24 year old rookie Riggs Stephenson (.401,6,41) lead the Browns. Stephenson missed all of last season after breaking his elbow in spring training.
Last year the Yankees won their first American League pennant, this season the Chicago White Sox are hoping to do so. The White Sox, who debuted in 1882, have never finished second and only finished as high as third twice in franchise history. The big story in Chicago, and throughout the American League, has been 22 year old outfielder Hack Wilson (.324,23,71), who is matching the legendary Babe Ruth homer for homer this year. Last season as a rookie Wilson started just 83 games but still managed to hit 16 homeruns.