1923 Season Review
…First month of the season saw great balance in AL, with three teams tied at 7-5 (Yankees, Athletics and Browns) and last team 2 games back; more differences in NL with a fast start by the Cubs (10-4) followed by Giants and Cardinals (9-5). Really bad start by the Reds, 3-11 after the first month of play. There is something strange in the air because Babe Ruth is not leading HR category. There were already 2 6 RBI games (Mickey Cochrane and Wally Pipp).
In May Babe begun crushing the ball, hitting 11 HR (13 in the season, passed 200 career HR) but Yankees are in third position. Leading the division after May was Philadelphia Athletics with 23-17, half-game ahead of Tigers and 2 and a half game on Yankees. In NL great month for the Giants, who gained the lead with 30-14 record* followed by Cardinals (29-16) and Cubs/Braves (23-19).
June saw the first hole created in both leagues. In AL Tigers got a 4 game lead on White Sox (40-28 record); under .500 Yankees and Red Sox. In NL Cardinals played a great baseball leading Giants by 6 at the end of June (48-24). There were also a one hitter (Pug Cavet, CHW) and a 11 innings complete game shutout (Lee Meadows, STL). Still no trades heading to July, but fireworks started early, with 9 trade completed before deadline.*Here are the most relevant:
1) Pittsburgh acquires star RP Dolf Luque from*Reds,*giving up 2 prospects
2) Cardinals reacquired Tink Riviere and another pitcher giving up 1922 World Series MVP Merwin Jacobson
3) Browns gave away*number 29 prospect Nat Hickey for help in starting rotation (Dutch Ruether)
In standings AL saw the rise of Philadelphia*Athletics, leading the division tied to Chicago White Sox with Tigers*0.5 games back; in NL*there were a Giants*comeback, now leading Cardinals by half-game with Braves only 1 game and a half-back.*Horsnsby*has a .403*BA*heading in august while Art Nehf with*two months to play has 18 wins. Earl S. Smith had the first 3 HR*game (3/4, 4 R,*7 RBI, 3 BB, 3 HR the complete line) of this*universe while Lefty Stewart (DET) had the first no-hitter against White Sox (no perfect game*due to*defensive*mistakes).
Heading to last month of regular season, in AL we have a very tight race, with 5 teams in 3 and a half game, 2 not too far and only the Red Sox out of the race. In NL it seems again an affair between Giants and Cardinals. There is also a shot at .400 BA from rookie Paul Waner (PHI) in NL, batting .410 at the start of september.
After a heartbreaking september, World Series were set up: in AL the pennant goes to Cleveland Indians, 2 games ahead of White Sox and 4 games ahead of Yankees and Browns; in NL after falling short for 2 years, the Giants made it beating Cardinals by 3 games.
Next post...final standings, stats recap