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italyprof · 03-01-2018, 03:36 AM

As expected, the 1905 season saw an NL race between Ty Cobb and Hank Greenberg's Chicago Orphans, and Ted Williams' Cincinnati Reds. The Orphans came in at 92-62, two games ahead of the Reds. Interestingly, both Cobb at .367 (24 HR), and Williams at .342 (23 HR) hit right around their lifetime RL averages.

But the big story in the American League was...the Cleveland Blues ! Unexpectedly, despite some veterans like Charlie Hayes, Chris Chambliss and Gary Maddox declining to the bench or retirement, the Blues came roaring out of the gate, never let up to finish at 92-62, 12 games ahead of the Athletics.

How did we do it? Pitching mostly. While Jim Kaat, our longtime ace declined to 11-18 with a 4.01 ERA, our perennial number 2 starter Dock Ellis took over and won 20 games. Luis Tiant, in his second season, won 16, and Frank Papish surprised everyone as our 4th starter with a 2.05 ERA and a 15-2 record. Calvin Maduro, Johnny Ruffin and Tug McGraw excelled in the bullpen.
The pitching keeping us afloat, the hitting came through as needed, despite lacking any real superstar seasons. Bobby Murcer after four straight near-MVP seasons hit .280 with 17 homers in right field. Rookie Johnny Frederick hit .247 with 17 homers taking over in Center for aging Gary Maddox. Kirby Puckett continued to excel at .294 with 24 home runs. Rookie Todd Frazier taking over third as Charlie Hayes retired hit .273 with 31 home runs.Ripper Collins, another rookie filled in for retired Chambliss and hit .306 with 18 home runs, and Yogi Berra, obtained in a trade, hit .291 with 16 home runs.

In the World Series we faced the Orphans, and quickly jumped out 2-0 behind strong pitching. We were up 3-1 after four games, thanks to timely home runs in games 1 and 4 by....wait for it....our shortstop Freddy Patek, who hit 2 all season ! (shades of Al Weis in 1969...). The Orphans came roaring back, with Cobb hitting .486 with 4 homers in the Series by the end.

We were tied 3 games apiece. And Papish hurt his arm in the third inning of game 6, so our bullpen was exhausted.

Game 7, Dock Ellis didn't have it - he game up three in the first inning as Cobb and Greenberg hit back-to-back homers. But a three-run homer by Todd Frazier gave us the lead, only for us to lose it to Greenberg's second homer in the 7th inning. Patek tripled to lead off the 8th inning, and McGraw was allowed to hit with no one out. He promptly singled in the go ahead run. We took a two-runlead in the top of the 9th as Puckett singled and Frazier doubled him in. McGraw gave up a hit to the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the ninth with the Blues holding an 8-6 lead. Ty Cobb came to the plate,with one out, but McGraw struck him out. Two down. Greenberg worked a walk however and Jim Kaat, the only man left not burnt out in the bullpen, came on to try to get the last out. Ron Coomer singled to load the bases, Dib Williams walked to make it a one-run game. Harry Arndt came up with two outs and the bases loaded, a one-run lead for the Blues, seeming ever more tenuous. Kaat pitched, Arndt hit it well to left, and Kirby Puckett pulled it in to make the Blues the World Champions !

In the AL, Mike Donlin won yet another batting title, hitting .351. Corey Seager had another great year, hitting .343. Ty Cobb's .367 led the NL with Ted Williams in second at .342. Frank Robinson hit 48 home runs for the Athletics, most in the majors, while the Brookyln Superbas' Del Ennis hit 41 to lead the NL: Each HR champ led their league in RBI as well: 133 for Robby, 123 for Ennis. Braggo Roth (who?) led the NL with 73 steals, and Tim Raines stole 81 to lead the AL. Tex Hughson's 2.13 ERA for the Giants edged out Kershaw's 2.11 for the Phillies. Papish's amazing 2.05 ERA for the Blues was better than Pedro's 2.29 for the White Sox. But Pedro won 24 games, most in the majors, while Pat Malone of the Orphans and Whitney Glazner of the Reds tied with 23 wins in the NL. Baltimore's Mario Soto struck out 343 batters, Pedro coming in at 294.Malone struck out 323 to lead the NL.

Can the Blues repeat?

03-01-2018, 03:36 AM	#6
italyprof All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 991	As expected, the 1905 season saw an NL race between Ty Cobb and Hank Greenberg's Chicago Orphans, and Ted Williams' Cincinnati Reds. The Orphans came in at 92-62, two games ahead of the Reds. Interestingly, both Cobb at .367 (24 HR), and Williams at .342 (23 HR) hit right around their lifetime RL averages. But the big story in the American League was...the Cleveland Blues ! Unexpectedly, despite some veterans like Charlie Hayes, Chris Chambliss and Gary Maddox declining to the bench or retirement, the Blues came roaring out of the gate, never let up to finish at 92-62, 12 games ahead of the Athletics. How did we do it? Pitching mostly. While Jim Kaat, our longtime ace declined to 11-18 with a 4.01 ERA, our perennial number 2 starter Dock Ellis took over and won 20 games. Luis Tiant, in his second season, won 16, and Frank Papish surprised everyone as our 4th starter with a 2.05 ERA and a 15-2 record. Calvin Maduro, Johnny Ruffin and Tug McGraw excelled in the bullpen. The pitching keeping us afloat, the hitting came through as needed, despite lacking any real superstar seasons. Bobby Murcer after four straight near-MVP seasons hit .280 with 17 homers in right field. Rookie Johnny Frederick hit .247 with 17 homers taking over in Center for aging Gary Maddox. Kirby Puckett continued to excel at .294 with 24 home runs. Rookie Todd Frazier taking over third as Charlie Hayes retired hit .273 with 31 home runs.Ripper Collins, another rookie filled in for retired Chambliss and hit .306 with 18 home runs, and Yogi Berra, obtained in a trade, hit .291 with 16 home runs. In the World Series we faced the Orphans, and quickly jumped out 2-0 behind strong pitching. We were up 3-1 after four games, thanks to timely home runs in games 1 and 4 by....wait for it....our shortstop Freddy Patek, who hit 2 all season ! (shades of Al Weis in 1969...). The Orphans came roaring back, with Cobb hitting .486 with 4 homers in the Series by the end. We were tied 3 games apiece. And Papish hurt his arm in the third inning of game 6, so our bullpen was exhausted. Game 7, Dock Ellis didn't have it - he game up three in the first inning as Cobb and Greenberg hit back-to-back homers. But a three-run homer by Todd Frazier gave us the lead, only for us to lose it to Greenberg's second homer in the 7th inning. Patek tripled to lead off the 8th inning, and McGraw was allowed to hit with no one out. He promptly singled in the go ahead run. We took a two-runlead in the top of the 9th as Puckett singled and Frazier doubled him in. McGraw gave up a hit to the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the ninth with the Blues holding an 8-6 lead. Ty Cobb came to the plate,with one out, but McGraw struck him out. Two down. Greenberg worked a walk however and Jim Kaat, the only man left not burnt out in the bullpen, came on to try to get the last out. Ron Coomer singled to load the bases, Dib Williams walked to make it a one-run game. Harry Arndt came up with two outs and the bases loaded, a one-run lead for the Blues, seeming ever more tenuous. Kaat pitched, Arndt hit it well to left, and Kirby Puckett pulled it in to make the Blues the World Champions ! In the AL, Mike Donlin won yet another batting title, hitting .351. Corey Seager had another great year, hitting .343. Ty Cobb's .367 led the NL with Ted Williams in second at .342. Frank Robinson hit 48 home runs for the Athletics, most in the majors, while the Brookyln Superbas' Del Ennis hit 41 to lead the NL: Each HR champ led their league in RBI as well: 133 for Robby, 123 for Ennis. Braggo Roth (who?) led the NL with 73 steals, and Tim Raines stole 81 to lead the AL. Tex Hughson's 2.13 ERA for the Giants edged out Kershaw's 2.11 for the Phillies. Papish's amazing 2.05 ERA for the Blues was better than Pedro's 2.29 for the White Sox. But Pedro won 24 games, most in the majors, while Pat Malone of the Orphans and Whitney Glazner of the Reds tied with 23 wins in the NL. Baltimore's Mario Soto struck out 343 batters, Pedro coming in at 294.Malone struck out 323 to lead the NL. Can the Blues repeat?