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AMERICAN BASEBALL JULY RECAP

NORTHEAST U.S.A. (July 31, 1878) – July is turning into August, and it is time to play out the final few weeks of the regular season. Here is how each of the four competitions stand:

A.P.B.L. STANDINGS

COLONIAL – Shamrock no longer looks like Fool’s Gold, as a +47 RD during their impressive July run kept them atop the conference. St. John’s remains right behind with the league’s best RD, so with sixteen games left it would be of little surprise if the defending champions finish in first. That said, don’t sleep on Niagara, who also had a very good July thanks to their defense & pitching.

Mass. Bay was the best of the rest, but a poor first two months meant a 16-10 July with a +53 RD only has them tied for 5th. Alleghany’s offense crashed while William Trowbridge was out for 10 days due to injury, and they’re now too far back to be a pennant threat. Pt. Jersey lost their last four in July, finally looking like an expansion team. Flour City is treading water and not much of a problem. Newark is having a miserable debut season.

METROPOLITAN – The top three are identical to the end of June in terms of position and Games Back after all went 14-12 during July. However, Knick has to run a bit of a gauntlet to end the season because their first three series after the All-Star Game are vs St. John’s, at Kings Co., and at Shamrock. If they survive, Knick will be the Metropolitan champs. American plays vs Newark, at Excelsior, and at Mass. Bay out of the break, so they have a fair chance to close the gap over the next two weeks.

Gotham had a strange July: 13-13 with a -58 RD, scraping by in wins and getting hammered in losses. Still, they’re in fourth. Defending Metro champs Excelsior had a poor July, and they’re out of the running. Quaker St. showed signs of life during a .500 July and moved out of last place. Things are going as planned for Tiger, with the lineup developing around the brilliance of Martin Prince. Things are DEFINITELY NOT going as planned for Orange.

A.P.B.L. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Nelson Townsend (RF, StJ) – .475, 1.095 OPS, 41 R, 56 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 16 RBI, 11 BB, 29 SB, 4.3 WPA, 2.1 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Howard Burns (StJ) – 9-5, 1.92 ERA, 43 K, 107.2 IP, 8 CG, 3.9 K/BB, 1.16 WHIP, 2.3 WAR, 1.4 rWAR

GREENHORN OF THE MONTH
Alexander Hammond* (CF, GOT) – .339, .847 OPS, 30 R, 43 H, 10 2B, 5 3B, 20 RBI, 3 BB, 13 SB, 1.5 WPA, 1.0 WAR
*Hammond was also G.o.t.M. for June

An absolutely absurd month from inaugural B.o.t.Y. Townsend. Others had more Extra-Base Hits & RBI, but aside from that Townsend led the league in ten categories from the leadoff spot in the St. John’s order: AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+, H, R, SB, WPA, & WAR. In the end, this was possibly the most dominant month from a batsman in A.P.B.L. history.

There was a pair of nine-Win Pitchers during July: Burns and Niagara’s Tomoharu Mukai. Mukai had the better record at 9-4 and the better WHIP at 1.05, but Burns’ statistical output was superior in every other area, and because of that he earned P.o.t.M. for the third time in his career.

Hammond repeats as G.o.t.M., and thus becomes favorite for Greenhorn of the Year, with another fine overall month with the bat. Quaker St. SS George Ellison had a higher Average (.388) but only five Extra-Base Hits and a dozen fewer runs (18 vs 30). Mass. Bay P Everett Arrington had an 8-3 record but his ERA was 4.14, so he was also passed up.

A.P.B.L. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .397 by Garfield Koonce (1B, Kings Co.)
OPS: .943 by Konrad Jensen (1B, St. John’s)
Home Runs: 3 by twelve different batsmen
Runs Batted In: 100 by George Kassabian (LF, American)
Runs: 113 by Nelson Townsend (RF, St. John’s)
Stolen Bases: 76 by James Burke (American)
Batsman WPA: 7.0 by Nelson Townsend (RF, St. John’s)
Batsman WAR: 4.6 by Anthony Mascherino (2B, Knick)

Wins: 26 by Bertram Landreth (Knick) & Tomoharu Mukai (Niagara)
ERA (50+ IP): 2.37 by Bertram Landreth
Strikeouts: 131 by Jim Creighton (Excelsior)
Complete Games: 29 by Bertram Landreth & Tomoharu Mukai
WHIP (150+ IP): 1.08 by Harper Cundiff (Alleghany)
Pitcher WAR: 6.8 by Jim Creighton
Pitcher rWAR: 8.7 by Tomoharu Mukai

N.B.B.O. REGIONAL LEADERS

BROOKLYN: Atlantic at 38-23 (Eckford & Empire 3 GB; Cont’l 5 GB; Bedford & Nassau Co. 7 GB)
NEW YORK CITY: New York Athletic Club & Union at 41-20 (Metro 5 GB)
UPSTATE N.Y.: Minuteman at 37-24 (Utica 3 GB; Frontier 4 GB; Victory 7 GB; Syracuse 8 GB)
COASTAL: National at 41-20 (Maryland 3 GB; Trenton Utd. 4 GB; P.B.C.C. 7 GB)
INLAND: Susquehanna at 46-15 (Lancastra 3 GB)
NEW ENGLAND: Portland at 43-18 (Quinnipiac 7 GB)


BROOKLYN – Atlantic was 13-8 in July while both Eckford & Empire were 11-10, and thus their lead atop Brooklyn has grown from one game to three with nine to play. Atlantic hosts Nassau Co. this week before ending the season at Empire. Empire hosts Star before visiting Atlantic, and Eckford plays at 4th-place Continental before visiting last-place Marathon (15-46) to end the season. Eckford has the schedule advantage, but is that enough to overcome a three-game gap?

NEW YORK CITY – N.Y.C. remains a three-team race, but it’s now closer to two after N.Y.A.C. went 15-6 during July & Union was 14-7 to leave both tied for first and Metro a week of wins behind them with all others eliminated. The New York City pennant will be decided during the final week, when Union, 20-10 at home, hosts N.Y.A.C. at the Morrisania Grounds.

UPSTATE N.Y. – Minuteman was a pedestrian 11-10 during July, but they remain three games out in front because of the parity among the upstate teams. They play at Binghamton (28-33) this week and won the opener, while ending the season at Syracuse. The schedules of Utica and Frontier are roughly equal in difficulty to Minuteman’s, so the ’76 champions should take the pennant.

COASTAL – The pendulum swung back the other way. National was 14-7 during July while Maryland was just 10-11, so D.C.’s team has retaken the lead. They host Trenton Utd. this week before ending the season vs Lord Baltimore (26-35), while Maryland hosts Bunker Hill (27-34) and then plays at Brighton (20-41). Trenton Utd. hosts Diamond State (21-40) to end the season. Maryland has the easiest schedule, but as with Eckford in Brooklyn it’s a question of whether they’ll be able to make up a three-game deficit with it.

INLAND – The two-team race is going straight to the wire. Susquehanna was a blistering 16-5 during July but Lancastra was 15-6, so just three games separate them with nine left on the schedule. Susquehanna hosts Lake Erie (19-42) this week and then plays at Scranton (32-29), while Lancastra hosts Merrimack Mills (28-33) and then plays at Pioneer (30-31). Advantage: Susquehanna.

NEW ENGLAND – Portland used an N.B.B.O.-best 17-4 July to take total control of New England, with only Quinnipiac remaining in slight contention for the pennant. Portland, 23-7 at home, hosts Quinnipiac this week and won the opener by the score of 12-6, so it’s just a matter of time before they clinch their sixth pennant in eight years.

N.B.B.O. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMEN OF THE MONTH
NYL: Francis Smith (CF, MET) – .408, 1.042 OPS, 31 R, 42 H, 13 XBH, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 3 BB, 10 SB, 1.3 WPA, 1.3 WAR
NEL: William McCrory (LF, CAN) – .440, 1.087 OPS, 32 R, 44 H, 7 2B, 3 3B, 23 RBI, 15 BB, 19 SB, 2.3 WPA, 1.6 WAR

PITCHERS OF THE MONTH
NYL: Jacob Wesolowski (SYR) – 10-3, 2.24 ERA, 17 K, 104.2 IP, 8 CG, 2.1 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP, 2.4 WAR, 2.9 rWAR
NEL: Francis Molinari (PORT) – 11-2, 2.61 ERA, 33 K, 107.0 IP, 9 CG, 1.6 K/BB, 1.38 WHIP, 1.8 WAR, 2.8 rWAR

GREENHORNS OF THE MONTH
NYL: Lee Thompson (3B, STAR) – .381, .844 OPS, 16 R, 32 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 0 SB, 1.0 WPA, 0.7 WAR
NEL: Kelly Stingley (P, DS) – 8-3, 3.45 ERA, 41 K, 107.0 IP, 8 CG, 2.3 K/BB, 1.51 WHIP, 2.7 WAR, 2.8 rWAR

N.B.B.O. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .400 by Lucas Maxwell (2B, Susquehanna)
OPS: 1.013 by Leroy Moore (RF, P.B.C.C.)
Home Runs: 3 by Felix Charles (RF, Scranton) & Jemke van Zutphen (2B, STAR)
Runs Batted In: 86 by Frederick Pike (2B, P.B.C.C.)
Runs: 95 by John Schultz (CF, Susquehanna)
Stolen Bases: 81 by Speedy Brown (CF, Continental)
Batsman WPA: 6.2 by Leroy Moore (RF, P.B.C.C.)
Batsman WAR: 3.9 by Lennon Haley (2B, Lancastra)

Wins: 31 by William Hawk (Susquehanna)
ERA (150+ IP): 2.01 by George Cerven (N.Y.A.C.)
Strikeouts: 132 by Charles Rhodes (N.Y.A.C.)
Complete Games: 26 by John Faulkner
WHIP (150+ IP): 1.11 by George Cerven (N.Y.A.C.)
Pitcher WAR: 9,3 by Charles Rhodes
Pitcher rWAR: 9.9 by William Hawk

COASTAL CONFERENCE

LEADER: Olympic at 41-20 (Essex & Highlander 8 GB)

Olympic was 13-8 during July but the competition behind them really bunched up, with the teams in 2nd-5th beating up on each other and Olympic exiting the month eight games in the clear as a result. The leaders play at Highlander this week before finishing the schedule vs Capitol City (25-36), and with a Magic Number of two it won’t be long before they collect their first ever piece of champion’s silverware in 22 seasons of baseball.

C.C. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Euan Graham (1B, BRI) – .381, 1.013 OPS, 25 R, 37 H, 11 XBH, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 10 BB, 2 SB, 1.8 WPA, 1.5 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
William McClure* (HIGH) – 8-1, 1.93 ERA, 11 K, 98.0 IP, 6 CG, 2 SHO, 1.6 K/BB, 1.12 WHIP, 1.3 WAR, 1.6 rWAR
*McClure was also P.o.t.M. for June

C.C. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .345 by Euan Graham (1B, Bridgeport)
OPS: .871 by Euan Graham
Home Runs: 3 by three different batsmen
Runs Batted In: 65 by Noah Skiles (2B, Olympic)
Runs: 87 by Everton Pauline (LF, Olympic)
Stolen Bases: 50 by Everton Pauline
Batsman WPA: 4.2 by James Baker (1B, Essex Co.)
Batsman WAR: 2.9 by John Schoessow (3B, Lynn)

Wins: 21 by William McClure (Highlander)
ERA (150+ IP): 2.27 by Carl Bancroft (Olympic)
Strikeouts: 116 by Robert Murphy (Bridgeport)
Complete Games: 21 by William McClure
WHIP (150+ IP): 1.18 by Walt Harper (Sportsman’s)
Pitcher WAR: 7.9 by Carl Bancroft
Pitcher rWAR: 7.8 by Carl Bancroft

P.C.B.L. LEADERS

EAST: Frankford at 43-18 (Queen Village 1 GB; Sons of Ben 8 GB)
WEST: Overbrook at 40-21 (Penn & Schuylkill 6 GB; Merion 7 GB)

EAST – Frankford’s 16-5 July was just a bit better than Queen Village’s 15-6, so the 4x East champs are back where they belong late in the season. They host Keystone (24-37) and Spartan (26-35) to finish the schedule, while Queen Village plays at Minerva (34-27) and Sons of Ben. Based solely on that, the pennant should go to Frankford Arsenal.

WEST – Overbrook wasn’t overpowering during July at 14-7, but they were still able to lengthen their West lead from two to six games as Schuylkill was 10-11. The leaders host Independence (23-38) and Merion to end the season, and it’s likely they’ll wrap up their first pennant this week.

P.C.B.L. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Ben Roberts (RF, QV) – .433, 1.028 WAR, 30 R, 42 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 33 RBI, 3 BB, 1.4 WPA, 1.3 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Bud Forster (MIN) – 9-1, 1.99 ERA, 56 K, 104.1 IP, 8 CG, 1 SV, 3.3 K/BB, 1.12 WHIP, 3.0 WAR, 3.0 rWAR

GREENHORN OF THE MONTH
Vance King (SS, BV) – .389, .965 OPS, 21 R, 35 H, 6 2B, 5 3B, 22 RBI, 2 BB, 0 SB, 0.9 WPA, 1.0 WAR

P.C.B.L. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .365 by Milton Foster (C, Queen Village)
OPS: .908 by James Harris (CF, Frankford)
Home Runs: 4 by Peter Miller (2B, Germantown)
Runs Batted In: 76 by George Oman (RF, Schuylkill)
Runs: 90 by James Harris
Stolen Bases: 52 by Jonathan Auriemma (2B, Minerva)
Batsman WPA: 6.2 by Jonathan Bagwell (1B, Germantown)
Batsman WAR: 3.8 by James Harris

Wins: 23 by Oliver Greene (Frankford)
ERA (150+ IP): 2.26 by Oliver Greene
Strikeouts: 141 by Oliver Greene
Complete Games: 24 by Oliver Greene
WHIP (150+ IP): 1.14 by Albert Smiley (Schuylkill)
Pitcher WAR: 6.6 by Robert Nygren (Overbrook)
Pitcher rWAR: 10.2 by Robert Nygren