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Matt from TN · 04-22-2004, 02:57 PM

September 1931

The Braves and Phillies put together one of the finest and most exciting pennant races in history this month. The Braves, who had led the league for most of the season, had a much tougher schedule than the Phillies in September. The most interesting part was the fact that the two teams would face each other during the final week of the season.

The Braves started the month at 8-5 against the Giants, Robins and Cubs. Meanwhile, the Phillies started at 11-3 by sweeping 6 games against the Cardinals as well as victories over the Reds and Cubs. With a 9-1 win over the Cubs on September 16th, Philadelphia pulled into a tie for the NL lead with ten days left in the season.

The Phillies went on to win three more games against Chicago, while the Braves won 2-of-3 against the Pirates. The two teams now faced each other in Boston with the Phillies owning a 1-game lead in the standings. The Braves won 2 of the 3 games, including a 1-0 10th inning victory, and they were once again tied for the NL lead. Now, there were just 3 games left for both teams.

On September 24th, the Braves dropped a 10th inning heartbreaker to the Reds, but the Phillies lost 1-0 to Brooklyn, thanks to a near-perfect game by Frank Smith, who allowed no hits but one walk in an exceptional performance. The Phillies bounced back to win 11-5 on the next day, but Boston also won in a 4-3 squeeker over Cincinnati.

So on the final day of the season, the two teams were still tied for the NL lead. This is where the pennant race separated itself from other good races in the past. Boston was down 3-2 in the top of the 9th against Reds' 20-game winner Brett Smith, but thanks to 3 singles and a clutch double, they took a 5-3 lead. Then Whiskey Allen, Jr. sat down the Reds hitters 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th to give the Braves a much-needed win.

In Philadelphia, the Phillies and Robins went to extra innings in a 1-1 tie ballgame. In the top of the 11th, Brooklyn scored 2 runs, including one on a fielding error. Now down 3-1, Philadelphia led off the bottom of the 11th with a double and a walk. Brooklyn reliever Garland Reed induced a double play, leaving the Phillies with a runner on 3rd with two outs. After a walk to John Falise, centerfielder Scott Michas singled home a run, but then pinch hitter Gabby Gluyas flied out to end the game and send Boston to the World Series.

Code:

American League Standings 
  
New York (A)    100  54 .649 -
Chicago (A)      80  74 .519 20.0 
Detroit          79  75 .513 21.0
Philadelphia (A) 78  76 .506 22.0
St. Louis (A)    77  77 .500 23.0 
Washington       75  79 .487 25.0
Boston (A)       73  81 .474 27.0
Cleveland        54 100 .351 46.0
 
National League Standings 
 
Boston (N)       93  61 .604 -  
Philadelphia (N) 92  62 .597 1.0
Cincinnati       80  74 .519 13.0 
New York (N)     80  74 .519 13.0
Pittsburgh       76  78 .494 17.0 
Chicago (N)      73  81 .474 20.0
Brooklyn         64  90 .416 29.0 
St. Louis (N)    58  96 .377 35.0

World Series

The Braves finished the season with a 14-8 record over a very grueling September schedule. The Yankees went just 12-11 over the month despite (or perhaps due to) having the pennant sewn up early. Statistically, the Yankees appear to be a far more dominant team. They throttled the rest of the AL all season long, finishing 20 games ahead of their nearest competitor. The have the top team batting average, most runs scored and most stolen bases in baseball. Their pitching staff had the 5th best ERA in the majors and was among the best in all categories, except perhaps allowing homeruns.

The Braves would argue that they have a better pitching staff, which boasts an impressive 3.02 team ERA. Opponents hit just .237 off of them, which was the best mark in the majors. They also allowed the 2nd fewest runs in the majors, but their one weakness has been allowing walks. Boston's offense is the biggest question mark. Despite plenty of talent, they had trouble scoring runs all season. In fact, they finished 11th in the majors in that category and in team batting average.

My Prediction: This is a tough Series to predict. The Yankees won 100 games this season, but went just 29-24 over the last two months of the season. The Braves won 93 games in a much tougher NL, but they could be worn out after the exhausting pennant race. Both teams have exceptional pitching staffs, and despite the Braves offensive problems, both teams are fully capable of scoring runs. I first was leaning toward New York, but the Braves did so well over the final two weeks of the season against tough competition while the Yankees struggled. So going with the hotter team, I predict the Braves to win in 7 games.

Starting Lineups:

**Ancestors in BLUE

Yankees
CF Ping "The Outlander" Hung, .318, 9 HR, 81 RBI, 111 R, 55 SB
2B Swervin' Ervin Skjerly, .319, 63 RBI, 13 SB
3B "Fat Gus" Kahle, .363, 5 HR, 79 RBI
1B Ralph "Thunder" Tumbridge, .299, 18 HR, 110 RBI
RF Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, .305, 7 HR, 90 RBI, 104 R, 56 SB
LF Allen March, .281, 48 RBI
SS Clarence Bazart, .340, 73 RBI, 36 SB
C Benny Damerell, .321, 16 RBI

SP #1 - Davie "Nightmare" Kendrick, 20-10, 2.66, 142 K
SP #2 - Patrick Paulsen, 21-15, 4.99, 129 K
SP #3 - Art Booth, 22-11, 3.66, 146 K

Emergency SP - Luke Riley, 14-10, 3.93
Emergency SP - Freddie Miller, 10-4, 4.16
Closer - Steve Schaefer, 4.45, 6 Sv

Of Note:
Jimmy "The Schnozz" Ditty, backup OF

Key Injuries:
C Harry Finley, .323, 56 RBI, 41 SB, on the DL

Braves
2B Jude McGill, .337, 52 RBI, 87 R
C Dud Dietzsch, .269, 4 HR, 56 RBI
RF George "The General" Ward, .334, 5 HR, 60 RBI
LF John Schmeider, .280, 9 HR, 69 RBI
CF Roy "The Natural" Hobbs, .320, 5 HR, 81 RBI
1B Grover "Sluggo" Warren, .238, 12 HR, 77 RBI
SS Marcus Fortson, .259, 8 HR, 61 RBI
3B Lonnie Mitchell, .248, 42 RBI

SP #1 - Otto "Kaiser" Kahle, 20-8, 2.43, 109 K
SP #2 - Bourbon Allen, 18-16, 2.74, 140 K
SP #3 - Whiskey Allen, Jr., 19-8, 2.21, 87 K

Emergency SP - "Jersey" Piccininno, 12-11, 3.08
Closer - Pooky Antillon, 1.72, 7 Sv

Of Note:
Horst "Harry" Nagel, backup C/1B/3B
David "Harlequin" Hunter, backup 2B/SS

**It's funny that Graham and Hobbs are the only 2 fictional baseball players I added to this league and they are both playing in this series.

04-22-2004, 02:57 PM	#876
Matt from TN Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a funk.... Posts: 3,413	September 1931 The Braves and Phillies put together one of the finest and most exciting pennant races in history this month. The Braves, who had led the league for most of the season, had a much tougher schedule than the Phillies in September. The most interesting part was the fact that the two teams would face each other during the final week of the season. The Braves started the month at 8-5 against the Giants, Robins and Cubs. Meanwhile, the Phillies started at 11-3 by sweeping 6 games against the Cardinals as well as victories over the Reds and Cubs. With a 9-1 win over the Cubs on September 16th, Philadelphia pulled into a tie for the NL lead with ten days left in the season. The Phillies went on to win three more games against Chicago, while the Braves won 2-of-3 against the Pirates. The two teams now faced each other in Boston with the Phillies owning a 1-game lead in the standings. The Braves won 2 of the 3 games, including a 1-0 10th inning victory, and they were once again tied for the NL lead. Now, there were just 3 games left for both teams. On September 24th, the Braves dropped a 10th inning heartbreaker to the Reds, but the Phillies lost 1-0 to Brooklyn, thanks to a near-perfect game by Frank Smith, who allowed no hits but one walk in an exceptional performance. The Phillies bounced back to win 11-5 on the next day, but Boston also won in a 4-3 squeeker over Cincinnati. So on the final day of the season, the two teams were still tied for the NL lead. This is where the pennant race separated itself from other good races in the past. Boston was down 3-2 in the top of the 9th against Reds' 20-game winner Brett Smith, but thanks to 3 singles and a clutch double, they took a 5-3 lead. Then Whiskey Allen, Jr. sat down the Reds hitters 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th to give the Braves a much-needed win. In Philadelphia, the Phillies and Robins went to extra innings in a 1-1 tie ballgame. In the top of the 11th, Brooklyn scored 2 runs, including one on a fielding error. Now down 3-1, Philadelphia led off the bottom of the 11th with a double and a walk. Brooklyn reliever Garland Reed induced a double play, leaving the Phillies with a runner on 3rd with two outs. After a walk to John Falise, centerfielder Scott Michas singled home a run, but then pinch hitter Gabby Gluyas flied out to end the game and send Boston to the World Series. Code: American League Standings New York (A) 100 54 .649 - Chicago (A) 80 74 .519 20.0 Detroit 79 75 .513 21.0 Philadelphia (A) 78 76 .506 22.0 St. Louis (A) 77 77 .500 23.0 Washington 75 79 .487 25.0 Boston (A) 73 81 .474 27.0 Cleveland 54 100 .351 46.0 National League Standings Boston (N) 93 61 .604 - Philadelphia (N) 92 62 .597 1.0 Cincinnati 80 74 .519 13.0 New York (N) 80 74 .519 13.0 Pittsburgh 76 78 .494 17.0 Chicago (N) 73 81 .474 20.0 Brooklyn 64 90 .416 29.0 St. Louis (N) 58 96 .377 35.0 World Series The Braves finished the season with a 14-8 record over a very grueling September schedule. The Yankees went just 12-11 over the month despite (or perhaps due to) having the pennant sewn up early. Statistically, the Yankees appear to be a far more dominant team. They throttled the rest of the AL all season long, finishing 20 games ahead of their nearest competitor. The have the top team batting average, most runs scored and most stolen bases in baseball. Their pitching staff had the 5th best ERA in the majors and was among the best in all categories, except perhaps allowing homeruns. The Braves would argue that they have a better pitching staff, which boasts an impressive 3.02 team ERA. Opponents hit just .237 off of them, which was the best mark in the majors. They also allowed the 2nd fewest runs in the majors, but their one weakness has been allowing walks. Boston's offense is the biggest question mark. Despite plenty of talent, they had trouble scoring runs all season. In fact, they finished 11th in the majors in that category and in team batting average. My Prediction: This is a tough Series to predict. The Yankees won 100 games this season, but went just 29-24 over the last two months of the season. The Braves won 93 games in a much tougher NL, but they could be worn out after the exhausting pennant race. Both teams have exceptional pitching staffs, and despite the Braves offensive problems, both teams are fully capable of scoring runs. I first was leaning toward New York, but the Braves did so well over the final two weeks of the season against tough competition while the Yankees struggled. So going with the hotter team, I predict the Braves to win in 7 games. Starting Lineups: Ancestors in BLUE Yankees CF Ping "The Outlander" Hung, .318, 9 HR, 81 RBI, 111 R, 55 SB 2B Swervin' Ervin Skjerly, .319, 63 RBI, 13 SB 3B "Fat Gus" Kahle, .363, 5 HR, 79 RBI 1B Ralph "Thunder" Tumbridge, .299, 18 HR, 110 RBI RF Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, .305, 7 HR, 90 RBI, 104 R, 56 SB LF Allen March, .281, 48 RBI SS Clarence Bazart, .340, 73 RBI, 36 SB C Benny Damerell, .321, 16 RBI SP #1 - Davie "Nightmare" Kendrick, 20-10, 2.66, 142 K SP #2 - Patrick Paulsen, 21-15, 4.99, 129 K SP #3 - Art Booth, 22-11, 3.66, 146 K Emergency SP - Luke Riley, 14-10, 3.93 Emergency SP - Freddie Miller, 10-4, 4.16 Closer - Steve Schaefer, 4.45, 6 Sv Of Note: Jimmy "The Schnozz" Ditty, backup OF Key Injuries: C Harry Finley, .323, 56 RBI, 41 SB, on the DL Braves 2B Jude McGill, .337, 52 RBI, 87 R C Dud Dietzsch, .269, 4 HR, 56 RBI RF George "The General" Ward, .334, 5 HR, 60 RBI LF John Schmeider, .280, 9 HR, 69 RBI CF Roy "The Natural" Hobbs, .320, 5 HR, 81 RBI 1B Grover "Sluggo" Warren, .238, 12 HR, 77 RBI SS Marcus Fortson, .259, 8 HR, 61 RBI 3B Lonnie Mitchell, .248, 42 RBI SP #1 - Otto "Kaiser" Kahle, 20-8, 2.43, 109 K SP #2 - Bourbon Allen, 18-16, 2.74, 140 K SP #3 - Whiskey Allen, Jr., 19-8, 2.21, 87 K Emergency SP - "Jersey" Piccininno, 12-11, 3.08 Closer - Pooky Antillon, 1.72, 7 Sv Of Note: Horst "Harry" Nagel, backup C/1B/3B David "Harlequin" Hunter, backup 2B/SS It's funny that Graham and Hobbs are the only 2 fictional baseball players I added to this league and they are both playing in this series.