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AMERICAN BASEBALL MONTHLY RECAP: JUNE

NORTHEAST U.S.A. (June 30, 1881) – June is about to turn into July, and that means the four competitions have crossed the midway point. Here are how matters stand in the A.P.B.L., N.B.B.O., C.B.C., & P.C.B.L.:

AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS

The conferences equalized a bit during June, although the bottom half of the Colonial Conference remains much stronger than the bottom half of the Metropolitan Conference.

COLONIAL CONFERENCE

And right on cue, here comes St. John’s. They had a conference-best month fueled by excellent pitching, fielding, & baserunning. The remarkable thing: none of their regular Batsmen have an Average over .300, with Joseph Evans leading them at .298.

Massachusetts Bay remains right near the top of the standings thanks to a lineup that has seven Batsmen hitting between .300 & .335, consistency that gives them the chance to take an unlikely pennant. Shamrock fell off a bit last month, but they remain two games back thanks in no small part to Greenhorn 1B George Collier (.347, 1 HR, 42 RBI, 2.2 WAR) batting much better than expected. Niagara had a rough June due to the familiar offensive issues that sprouted back up.

Flour City remains competitive in spite of their weaknesses, with RF Floyd Hoffman (.358, 1 HR, 51 RB), and Greenhorn #1 Steve Breland (15-11, 3.04, 55 K, 4.0 WAR) excelling. If it wasn’t for John Ratican (14-11, 2.51, 75 K, 4.0 WAR) Newark would be in A LOT of trouble. Alleghany again has very little offense. Port Jersey is snakebitten, the first team ever to be in last place at the end of June or later with a positive Run Differential.

METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE

Kings County stormed to 1st with an attack that now leads the league in AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, H, XBH, 2B, & HR. Repeat B.o.t.M. Garfield Koonce had the best first half in A.P.B.L. history, and the front half of their lineup is clobbering the ball.

Orange has maneuvered their way into 2nd with a lineup that has seen stellar work from the All-Star trio of 2B Charles Whitehead (.332, 41 RBI, 1.9 WAR), LF John Meier (.329, 42 SB, 2.5 WAR), & RF Jonathan Cobb (.368, 42 RBI, 2.6 WAR). Excelsior vaulted up to 3rd with an attack that now looks extremely dangerous since Greenhorns Charles Blaise (.324, 33 SB, 3.3 WAR) & Johnny Holcombe (.330, 45 RBI, 2.7 WAR) have adapted to the pro game. Knick is lurking in 4th with a lineup that has been inconsistent but with pitching that remains elite.

Tiger is hovering around .500 thanks to the star INF pairing of Griffin Gray (.321, 29 RBI, 18 SB, 1.6 WAR) & Martin Prince (.341, 34 RBI, +11.4 ZR, 3.3 WAR). Gotham is not at all where they were projected to be after a poor June that sees both halves of their Pitching Duo exit with ERA’s over 4.00. Quaker St. has been significantly hurt by the departures of Ross Gill & Ned Morganti. The bottom has fallen out for American (June: -61 RD), now batting just .238 (.592 OPS) as a team.

A.P.B.L. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Garfield Koonce (1B, KC)* – .454, 1.132 OPS, 26 R, 49 H, 14 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 5 BB, 2.4 WPA, 1.9 WAR
*Koonce also won B.o.t.M. for May.

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Andrew Miller (ORA) – 9-3, 2.45 ERA, 114.0 IP, 12 CG, 29 K, 14.5 K/BB, 8.4 H/9, 0.95 WHIP, 2.6 WAR, 3.0 rWAR

GREENHORN OF THE MONTH
Johnny Holcombe (2B, EXC) – .374, 1.009 OPS, 23 R, 40 H, 13 2B, 5 3B, 28 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SB, 1.8 WPA, 1.6 WAR

Koonce hit .453/.474/.594 during the opening month of the season and HE DID BETTER THAN THAT IN JUNE, with a slash line of .454/.475/.657. Nobody came close to his June output, and all totaled Koonce had what was easily the best opening half to a season in A.P.B.L., and possibly all of baseball, history.

Of the five nine-Win Pitchers during June Miller had the top overall statistical output. Of particular interest was his total of 29 Strikeouts to just two Bases on Balls over more than 110 innings of work for Orange. Of the other four, Excelsior’s Elmer Seabold, who was 9-4 with a 1.44 ERA and one Shutout, had the best month.

After needing a month to adjust to the highest level of play, Holcombe let loose in June, leading all Greenhorns in OPS by slightly over 200 points and showing the league why he was the second-biggest transfer prize of the winter behind Shamrock C Joseph Sullivan. Flour City #1 Steve Breland (8-5, 2.75 ERA, 22 K, 1.6 WAR) had another fine month with the ball.

A.P.B.L. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .453 by Garfield Koonce (1B, Kings Co.)
OPS: 1.101 by Garfield Koonce
Home Runs: 3 by Jesse Noss (3B, Flour City)
Runs Batted In: 60 by Garfield Koonce
Runs: 61 by Alfred Williams (3B, Kings Co.)
Stolen Bases: 42 by John Meier (LF, Orange)
Batsman WPA: 4.3 by Garfield Koonce
Batsman WAR: 3.6 by Vincent Dixon (2B, Pt. Jersey)

Wins: 17 by Hugo dos Santos (Kings Co.)
ERA (100+ IP): 2.51 by John Ratican (Newark)
Strikeouts: 91 by Nicholas Banfield (Alleghany)
Complete Games: 23 by Bertram Landreth (Knick)
WHIP (100+ IP): 1.13 by Bertram Landreth & Andrew Miller (Orange)
Pitcher WAR: 5.2 by Howard Burns (St. John’s)
Pitcher rWAR: 5.3 by Willie Gray (Tiger S.C.)

NATIONAL BASE BALL ORGANIZATION REGIONAL LEADERS

NEW YORK LEAGUE

BROOKLYN: Atlantic at 24-13 (Continental & Nassau Co. 3 GB; Bedford & Eckford 6 GB)
NEW YORK CITY: Metropolitan at 25-12 (N.Y.A.C. 1 GB, Hilltop 5 GB, Mutual & Union 6 GB)
UPSTATE N.Y.: Frontier at 27-10 (Syracuse 5 GB; Minuteman 7 GB; Columbia & Utica 8 GB)

BROOKLYN: A steady 13-9 June kept Atlantic atop the standings. However, preseason favorites Continental went 15-7 and placed themselves right back in contention. Nassau Co. (Proj. 24-46) still being just 3 GB after the midway point is a major surprise, as is their top-ten overall offense. Bedford & Eckford are lurking, with Eckford remaining an ever-present danger.

NEW YORK CITY: A 16-6 June that featured the continuing excellence of 1B Zeke Cornaro & CF Francis Smith moved Metro up from 3rd to 1st. N.Y.A.C. is one game back after a 12-10 month, although that is no fault of Charles Rhodes (15-4, 1.92, 94 K, 6.0 WAR). Hilltop, Mutual, & Union remain at arm’s length, all three teams with big strengths but major weaknesses.

UPSTATE N.Y.: Frontier’s 17-5 June, powered by Ed Pelham’s P.o.t.M. effort, has put them in the coachman’s seat. Syracuse fell back because their offense isn’t performing as well as expected. Minuteman’s 10-12 month occurred due to some downright pitiful luck. Utica has fine offense & poor fielding, with Columbia the other way around.

NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE

COASTAL: Maryland at 26-11 (National 3 GB; P.B.C.C. 5 GB; Trenton Utd. 7 GB)
INLAND: Susquehanna at 28-9 (Squirrel Hill 4 GB; Lancastra 6.5 GB; Pioneer & Scranton 9 GB)
NEW ENGLAND: Sons of the Ocean at 24-13 (Quinnipiac 1 GB; Granite, Green Mtn., & Portland 6 GB)

COASTAL: Maryland’s 16-6 June proved their May was no fluke, and they now have 1st place to themselves. National’s attack still isn’t performing as it should, but they remain close due to excellent pitching and the best fielding in the N.E.L. James Burke (B.o.t.M.) and Leroy Moore (.361, 42 RBI, 1.8 WAR) are still belting the ball, but Philadelphia B.C.C. has had some unlucky bounces. As usual, Trenton Utd.’s fielding is keeping them above water.

INLAND: Susquehanna lost their last three games to end June, and that has allowed surprising Squirrel Hill to move to less than five games from first place. Lancastra, as always, is well above .500 and looking dangerous although not likely to catch the Inland rulers. Pioneer (fielding) & Scranton (pitching) are better than break-even but have significant weaknesses.

NEW ENGLAND: Quinnipiac had an 11-10 June, so although they have the #11 offense in the N.B.B.O. Sons of the Ocean is the new leader thanks to the combo of 1B Jesse Craig (.355, 30 RBI, 2.1 WAR) & LF Peter Huff (.360, 20 RBI, 1.3 WAR). Of the trio of 18-19 teams behind the top two, Portland is obviously the most dangerous due to their pennant-winning history.

N.B.B.O. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMEN OF THE MONTH
NYL: Jonathan Toppin (2B, MUT) – .452, 1.078 OPS, 25 R, 42 H, 8 2B, 4 3B, 30 RBI, 3 BB, 8 SB, 2.2 WPA, 1.3 WAR
NEL: James Burke (CF, PBCC) – .394, 1.100 OPS, 35 R, 39 H, 15 XBH, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 14 BB, 20 SB, 1.3 WPA, 1.9 WAR

PITCHERS OF THE MONTH
NYL: Edward Pelham (FRO) – 10-1, 2.10 ERA, 107.1 IP, 9 CG, 1 SHO, 25 K, 2.3 K/BB, 1.17 WHIP, 2.0 WAR, 3.2 rWAR
NEL: Weldon Petrie (SotO) – 10-2, 1.48 ERA, 115.2 IP, 11 CG, 1 SHO, 18 K, 1.1 K/BB, 1.03 WHIP, 1.9 WAR, 4.8 rWAR

GREENHORNS OF THE MONTH
NYL: Jacob Chartier (CF, MAR) – .390, .925 OPS, 26 R, 41 H, 9 XBH, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 4 BB, 10 SB, 2.0 WPA, 1.4 WAR
NEL: John Porretta (2B, SUS)* – .373, 1.007 OPS, 35 R, 38 H, 14 XBH, 1 HR, 32 RBI, 6 BB, 13 SB, 2.3 WPA, 1.7 WAR
*Porretta also won G.o.t.M. for May

N.B.B.O. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .420 by William Kubel (1B, Nassau Co.)
OPS: 1.102 by James Burke (CF, Philadelphia B.C.C.)
Home Runs: 3 by four different Batsmen
Runs Batted In: 65 by Scott Lyons (C, Susquehanna)
Runs: 62 by John Porretta (2B, Susquehanna)
Stolen Bases: 40 by Jack Anastasio (RF, N.Y.A.C.)
Batsman WPA: 3.7 by Lucas LaRose (SS, Granite)
Batsman WAR: 3.1 by John Porretta

Wins: 16 by Edward Pelham (Frontier)
ERA (100+ IP): 1.92 by Charles Rhodes (N.Y.A.C.)
Strikeouts: 94 by Charles Rhodes
Complete Games: 17 by Charles Rhodes
WHIP (100+ IP): 1.07 by Ben Lauppe (National) & Charles Rhodes
Pitcher WAR: 6.0 by Charles Rhodes
Pitcher rWAR: 6.3 by Ben Lauppe

COASTAL BASEBALL CONFERENCE LEADER

Bridgeport at 28-9 (Capitol City 6 GB; Essex Co. 7 GB; Olympic 8 GB)

After the C.B.C. saw a three-way tie to end May, Bridgeport decided they’d had enough of that and ripped off a 17-5 June to take control of the conference. On pace to finish with a Run Differential of close to +300, the leaders are scoring an incredible 1.7 Runs per Game more than any other team, and that makes the odds of them crushing the competition very high.

C.B.C. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Jacob Overfield (3B, BRI) – .411, 1.027 OPS, 35 R, 44 H, 10 2B, 3 3B, 29 RBI, 10 BB, 12 SB, 2.4 WPA, 1.9 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Edward Koch (BRI) – 10-1, 1.65 ERA, 98.1 IP, 8 CG, 15 K, 1.2 K/BB, 10.6 H/9, 1.30 WHIP, 1.5 WAR, 2.9 rWAR

C.B.C. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .390 by Euan Graham (1B, Bridgeport)
OPS: 1.000 by Euan Graham
Home Runs: 3 by Calvin Masters (SS, Highlander)
Runs Batted In: 49 by Louis Beane (SS, Bridgeport)
Runs: 58 by Jacob Overfield (3B, Bridgeport)
Stolen Bases: 26 by Robert Werstler (CF, Bridgeport)
Batsman WPA: 3.1 by Jacob Overfield
Batsman WAR: 2.3 by Louis Beane & Walter Kirby (LF, Bridgeport)

Wins: 16 by Edward Koch (Bridgeport)
ERA (100+ IP): 1.75 by Edward Koch
Strikeouts: 78 by Erasmus Kelschenbach (Highlander)
Complete Games: 14 by Edward Koch
WHIP (100+ IP): 1.11 by John Baker
Pitcher WAR: 3.8 by Erasmus Kelschenbach
Pitcher rWAR: 4.2 by Edward Koch

PHILADELPHIA CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE LEADERS

EAST: Minerva at 29-8 (Pt. Richmond 7 GB; Frankford & Spartan 10 GB)
WEST: Schuylkill at 23-14 (Overbrook 1 GB; Penn 2 GB; Merion 3 GB; Bartram Vill. 5 GB)

EAST: A brilliant 17-5 June has Minerva, whose Run Differential of +137 is 75 better than any other team, threatening to run away with both the East pennant and the #1 overall record. Their offense has been simply marvelous, leading the league in R/G, AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, H, XBH, 2B, 3B, BB, & SB – just about everything. Pt. Richmond (Proj. 31-39) still being in 2nd is a big surprise, but their attack (R/G: 4th) has been great. Frankford & Spartan are over .500, but as of right now have little chance.

WEST: Of course, the West is a packed chase. Overbrook has lost their last five games, which let Schuylkill sneak into 1st after winning eight of their last ten. Robert Nygren (13-9, 1.95, 71 K, 4.6 WAR) remains outstanding but Overbrook’s offense (R/G: 14th) is sputtering, while Schuylkill is up to 2nd in Runs per Game (8.3). Penn’s 9-13 June saw them fall to 3rd, but they’ve only played a dozen home games so the schedule is on their side. Merion’s pitching has been great, so they’ll be a handful to keep down. Bartram Village has the 5th-ranked attack, so if they can pitch a little better they’ll move up the standings.

P.C.B.L. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Martin Horst (3B, MIN) – .392, 1.041 OPS, 28 R, 38 H, 10 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 2 BB, 1.6 WPA, 1.3 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
John Mahaffey (BV) – 10-3, 2.55 ERA, 109.1 IP, 10 CG, 3.8 K/BB, 9.0 H/9, 1.11 WHIP, 2.4 WAR, 2.2 rWAR

GREENHORN OF THE MONTH
John Thomas (P, MIN) – 8-1, 2.06 ERA, 83.0 IP, 9 CG, 2.0 K/BB, 7.9 H/9, 1.12 WHIP, 1.4 WAR, 3.0 rWAR

P.C.B.L. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .383 by Charles Ross (SS, Keystone)
OPS: .952 by Harrison Comstock (LF, Schuylkill) & John Smith (RF, Independence)
Home Runs: 2 by four different Batsmen
Runs Batted In: 40 by Martin Horst (3B, Minerva)
Runs: 50 by Jonathan Auriemma (2B, Minerva)
Stolen Bases: 35 by Jonathan Auriemma
Batsman WPA: 3.8 by Harrison Comstock
Batsman WAR: 2.2 by Paul Ward (SS, Frankford)

Wins: 15 by Bud Forster (Minerva)
ERA (100+ IP): 1.95 by Robert Nygren
Strikeouts: 89 by Oliver Greene (Frankford)
Complete Games: 17 by Robert Nygren
WHIP (100+ IP): 1.10 by Robert Nygren
Pitcher WAR: 4.6 by Robert Nygren
Pitcher rWAR: 6.4 by Robert Nygren