HOB2 - 1933 The Babe Gets His Wish

[Tiger Fan]

1933 AMATEUR DRAFT

      ROUND 1

    Washington pick:  P  Schoolboy Rowe

    Chicago (A) pick:  1B Hal Trosky

    Chicago (N) pick:  1B Dolph Camilli

    Boston (N) pick:  LF Bob Johnson

    Pittsburgh pick:  P  Dutch Leonard

    Detroit pick:  P  Johnny Marcum

    Philadelphia (N) pick:  P  Ira Hutchinson

    Boston (A) pick:  P  Luke Hamlin

    St Louis(A) pick:  RF Phil Weintraub

    Cincinnati pick:  P  Ray Prim

    New York pick:  P  Elden Auker

    St. Louis (N) pick:  P  Ralph Birkofer

    New York (N) pick:  P  Russ Vanatta

    Brooklyn pick:  P  Thornton Lee

    Philadelphia (A) pick:  C  Frankie Hayes

    Cleveland pick:  CF Hank Leiber

1933 FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
National League clubs played revolving first basemen as Lou Gehrig left Cincinnati for the Cubs. Cincinnati found a more than adequate replacement in ex-White Sox third baseman Jimmie Foxx. Foxx, at 26 years of age and just 3 years removed from a .398, 170 rbi season, will shift from third to his natural first base position with the Reds. The Phillies lured Jim Bottomley away from the Giants. The Giants found a suitable replacement by luring Joe Hauser away from the World Series champion Indians.

The biggest signing in the American League was the Cleveland Indians ability to resign World Series MVP Freddie Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons originally refused to negotiate with the Tribe but had a change of heart in the offseason and elected to remain in Cleveland. The White Sox inked the other marquee free agent pitcher, signing Hal Wiltsie who was 15-13 for the Dodgers last season. Former rookie of the year Chuck Klein signed with Detroit.




HOB 1933 SEASON RECAP
NEW YORK - NEW YORK
Babe Ruth has accomplished almost everything you could dream of doing as a baseball player. 12 MVP Awards, 2 allstar game MVP's, 4 gold gloves, he is the alltime homerun king and the only man to more than once hit over 50 homers in a season, having done that 5 times including a record 61 in 1930. However, there is one thing the second overall pick in the 1914 draft has yet to accomplish - Ruth has never played in the World Series...until now.

After 6 losing seasons with the Browns in St Louis, Ruth signed with Cleveland in 1922 and expected to see plenty of postseason action with the defending American League champs. Things did not work out that way and Ruth and the Indians never did make the World Series together. In 1932, despite still being a fan favourite at Cleveland Stadium, Ruth left for the big money and big spotlight only the Big Apple could provide. He signed with the Yankees figuring this would be his chance at the World Series. You can only imagine how much Ruth must have second guessed himself when it was the Indians and not the Yankees who won the 1932 Pennant. However, in 1933 Ruth got his World Series wish at the age of 38. Personally, it was the worst offensive season in over a decade for the Babe but he was finally on a team with a decent pitching staff.

Despite season ending injuries to key starters Pat Caraway (20-13) and free agent pickup Ted Blankenship (9-1), the Yanks had plenty of depth on the mound. Hal Wiltse (13-13), Carl Hubbell (14-10), Tim McCabe (12-7) and Roy Parmelee (12-7) all saw significant time in the rotation. George Milstead pitched just 27 innings but won 7 games and saved 12 more.

The Indians finished second mainly on the strength of their offense. First baseman Joe Hauser left via free agency but was replaced by Paul Waner, who joined his brother Lloyd for the first time in their careers. Lloyd hit .342 but lost the batting crown to Washington's Wally Roettger by less than .0005. Roettger enjoyed a breakout season with Sens after 3 years in the Siberia of the American League - St Louis.

Despite finishing a distant 6th the Athletics had both the MVP and the Markle Award winner. Frank Shellenback (20-7, 1.96) had one of the greatest seasons ever in the HOB2 especially considering the team he pitched on. The A's era without Shelleback was 4.87, nearly 3 runs worse. Hack Wilson, who was overshadowed first by Lou Gehrig while he was in the National League and last year by Ruth, finally moved center stage. Wilson won his first MVP and home run crown.

First overall pick Schoolboy Rowe didn't dissappoint, jumping straight to the majors and was named the top rookie after going 16-15 for the Senators.

[Tiger Fan]

GIANTS JOIN YANKS TO MAKE IT A SUBWAY SERIES
For the second year in a row the Giants and Dodgers fought it out for the National League Pennant. This time New York came out on top as Al Simmons and Joe Hauser led the league's top scoring offense. 23 year old Dizzy Dean put it all together in his third season going 22-7, while veteran Waite Hoyt really seems to have found a home in New York. Hoyt (18-12) has had 2 straight winning seasons after struggling for the first decade of his career with Cleveland and the Browns. Hoyt was injured late in the season and will miss the World Series, as will starting shortstop Stu Clarke.

The free agency loss of Chuck Klein and Wes Ferrell proved too much for the Dodgers to overcome in their bid to repeat. Emil Yde (19-12) had another strong season but newcomers Les Burke and Frank Wilson could not make up the loss of Klein's bat.

Lou Gehrig won his 5th MVP award and missed the triple crown by 1 rbi and .002 batting average. Dixie Walker of St Louis took the batting crown while Al Simmons of the Giants had 101 rbi's. Gehrig's 30 homers were 6 better than the man who replaced him in Cincinnati - Jimmie Foxx.

AD LISKA
Possibly the greatest one year turnaround ever. Despite being chosed third overall in 1929 Cubs pitcher Ad Liska never showed any sign of being a superstar until this season. He was 9-21 for the last place Cubs a year ago but won the Markle Award with a sensational 25-8, 2.11 era season. Liska did show a little potential in 1931 when he was 17-13 but no one expected this. Chicago's 14 game improvement from last place to third can almost entirely be traced to Liska - although Gehrig's bat in the lineup helped a little too:-)

After 4 years in the minors, Chief Hogsett of Cincinnati won the National League rookie of the year award, going 17-16 with a 3.57 era. Hogsett, a second round pick in 1929 by the Reds, was 41-34 in the minors at AA New Orleans and AAA Seattle.

   American League       W   L   PCT    GB   AVG  ERA

   New York             96  58  .623    --  .277  3.34 

   Cleveland            89  65  .578     7  .280  3.63 

   Detroit              77  77  .500    19  .272  3.64 

   Chicago (A)          75  79  .487    21  .266  4.16 

   Philadelphia (A)     74  80  .481    22  .277  3.76 

   Washington           74  80  .481    22  .279  4.18 

   Boston (A)           67  87  .435    29  .274  4.28 

   St Louis(A)          64  90  .416    32  .270  4.53 

 

 National League        W   L   PCT    GB   AVG  ERA

   New York (N)         88  66  .571    --  .253  3.30 

   Brooklyn             83  71  .539     5  .250  3.25 

   Chicago (N)          80  74  .519     8  .262  3.13 

   Pittsburgh           77  77  .500    11  .252  3.04 

   St. Louis (N)        77  77  .500    11  .236  3.14 

   Cincinnati           73  81  .474    15  .245  3.28 

   Philadelphia (N)     72  82  .468    16  .244  3.15 

   Boston (N)           66  88  .429    22  .242  3.33 

1933 ALL STAR GAME
While offense was down as a whole in the majors this season, no one told that to the participants in the 1933 allstar game. Last hit wins seemed to be the order of the day as each club scored 3 times in the 9th inning but the National League won by a 12-11 score. Only the inagural game of 1901 had a higher score - it was 15-14 American Leaguers.

Spud Davis of the Cubs was named MVP of the game on the strength of his 3 run, 3 rbi performance. Brooklyn's Les Burke had 3 hits and a pair of rbi's for the National Leaguers. Lou Gehrig of the Cubs and Pittsburgh's Pinky Higgins had 2 hits each. Even the pitchers got in on the act as starter Ted Lyons had 2 hits and 3 rbi's. Molly Craft of the Cardinals was not only the winning pitcher in his first all-star game, but he also homered for just the third time in his career.

Yankee third baseman Andy High had a 4 hit night for the American League. Earl Smith of Detroit, Philadelphia's Freddie Spurgeon, Chicago's Dale Alexander and Babe Ruth of the Yankees each had 2 hits. Surprisingly none of the American League's 19 hits left the yard. Harry Courtney of the Senators took the loss.

[Tiger Fan]

1933 WORLD SERIES : NEW YORK YANKEES vs NEW YORK GIANTS
For the first time ever the 2 New York teams will meet in the World Series. The Yankees had faced the Brooklyn Dodgers before but this is the first all New York meeting. The Giants are making only their second World Series appearance in franchise history - they beat the White Sox in 1905. The Yankees are here for a record 9th time, winning it all in 1903,1904,1909 and 1923. The Bronx Bombers last appearance was 1929 when they lost to Lou Gehrig and the Cincinnati Reds.

Both teams enter the series with injuries. The Yanks are without number 1 starter Pat Caraway, number 2 starter Ted Blankenship and starting shortstop Buster Chatham. Things are nearly as bad for the Giants who will be missing number 2 starter Waite Hoyt and starting shortstop Stu Clarke.

An interesting note: Frankie Frisch of the Yankees will be playing in his 8th World Series. He has played in 4 series with Brooklyn, two with the Cubs and one with the Phillies. He has been on the winning team twice.

GAME 1 -The series of course starts in New York, well Yankee Stadium to be exact. Babe Ruth drives in the winning run but it is Ed Morgan's 3 hits that key the Yankee attack in a 3-1 win. Carl Hubbell allowed just 3 Giants hits to get the win. Dizzy Dean took the loss in his first postseason appearance.

GAME 2 - If Game 2 is any indication this is going to be quite a series. The Giants lead 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth but Yankee shortstop Ed Murray (an injury replacement who hit .194 during the season) delivers an rbi single to tie the game. The Yankee celebration is short-lived however, as centerfielder Tom Miller's throwing error in the top of the 10th allows pinch runner Bob Seeds to score the go-ahead run for the Giants. The Yankees aren't done yet, or so it seems. Reliever Larry Benton of the Giants loads the bases with two out for Yankee catcher Ben Paschall. Paschall rips one over the first base bag but Joe Hauser stabs the liner to end the game and preserve a 3-2 Giants victory.

GAME 3 - Giants bats come alive at the Polo Grounds, rapping out 12 hits as the National Leaguers win 8-3. Ed Brandt gets the win with Roy Parmelee taking the loss. Brandt aids his own cause with 3 hits for the Giants. Marty McManus and Chink Outon each have 2 rbi's.

GAMe 4 - This time it is the Yankee bats that are awakened. Tom Miller hits a grand slam and Babe Ruth adds a 3-run shot in the Yankees 11-1 win. Dizzy Dean is shellshocked, lasting just 5 innings. Carl Hubbell gives up just 5 hits and no earned runs.

GAME 5 - The Giants turn to win a laugher. 11-4 is the final as Jimmy O'Connell goes 4-for-4 with 4 rbi's. Replacement shortstop Eric McNair, who has just 30 career at bats, also gets four hits. Larry Benton earns his second win of the series with Hal Wiltse taking the loss. The Giants lead the series 3-2 as we head back to Yankee stadium.

GAME 6 - No question the Yankees mean business. They score 5 times and send 10 men to the plate in the first inning. The game ends 7-3 Yankees as Parmelee evens his record at 1-1 while Monte Weaver takes the loss. After surrendering 5 hits in the first inning Weaver allowed just 2 more the rest of the way.

GAME 7 - After 2 straight World Series sweeps it is nice to see another 7th game and this one is one for the ages. Perhaps even the Greatest World Series game ever played

Carl Hubbell, who has yet to allow an earned run in 18 innings, faces Dizzy Dean, who's confidence is shot following a game 4 drubbing and 2 straight losses to Hubbell and the Yankees.
Dean's shaky psyche takes yet another hit in the third as Frankie Frisch and Babe Ruth each hit solo homers to give the Yanks a 2-0 lead. Al Simmons leads off the top of the 4th with a triple and scores on an error by the Yankees first baseman Ed Morgan. However, the Yankees answer right back. Julie Wera, the other half of the shortstop platoon replacing the injured Buster Chatham, drives in catcher Ben Paschal to make it 3-1 Yankees.
In the bottom of the fifth Bob Fothergill hits a solo homer to lead off the inning. Hubbell is human. He has finally allowed an earned run. A Marty McManus double followed by a Joe Hauser single and the game is tied. A further blow to the Yankees as Paschal has to leave the game after the collision at the plate with McManus. Career minor leaguer Chick Autry, a 30 year old with less than 100 games major league experience must now step in behind the plate midway through Game 7 of the World Series.
The game remains 3-3 as the innings tick by. Both teams can get baserunners but neither club can score. The 9th inning comes and goes with the score still deadlocked at 3. Carl Hubbell gives way to Tim McCabe for the Yankees in the 10th. Ray Hayworth hits a 2 out double but pinch hitter Chink Outen cant cash him in. Ruth singles for the Yankees in the bottom of the 10th but is erased on a doubleplay.
Shortstop Eric McNair grounds out to lead off the 11th for the Giants but back to back pinch hit Frank Brazill and Tom Hughes put runners on the corners with one out. Marty McManus pops out to Frisch but Joe Hauser plays the hero delivering a double to score both runners. Hauser is stranded when Al Simmons flies out but the Giants lead 5-3 and are 3 outs away from their first World Championship in nearly 30 years.
Dizzy Dean, confidence restored but arm exhausted, gives way to Bunny Hearn. Hearn saved a league high 10 games this season for the Giants. Tom Miller, who's error cost the Yankees game 2, leads off with a single. Chick Autry, the reserve catcher, follows with another base hit. Ed Morgan singles to score Miller. Red Thomas walks and the bases are loaded with no one out and the score 5-4. The Dodgers are sweating but no stirring in the bullpen. Another Yankee pinch hitter, Johnny Moore, lines out to the shortstop. 1 away. Frankie Frisch singles scoring Autry but with just one out they hold Morgan at third. The bases remain loaded and the score is now tied. Frank Waddey, the Yankee leftfielder steps to the plate and.......rips a double to score Morgan. Yankee Stadium, so silent half an inning before, erupts as the Bronx Bombers score 3 times in the bottom of the 11th to win their 5th World Championship.

THE BABE GETS HIS RING
38 year old Babe Ruth, who drove in 11 runs in the series, is near tears as he finally gets his World Series ring. Ruth also gets the MVP Award although some say Hubbell deserved it more. This writer is by no means a Yankee fan but you can't help but feel good for the Babe, who accomplished so much, and did so much for the HOB2 but never saw the birght lights of the October stage.

Perhaps this is how it was meant to be. A younger, cockier Ruth, may not have had the maturity to handle this earlier in his career. 12 MVP's can certainly fill a trophy room but they also fill a young man's head. Not enjoying team success may have helped keep the Babe somewhat grounded. Now at age 38, he has the maturity to both handle and appreciate how special this moment is. Frankie Frisch was blessed with 3 rings and 8 trips to the October circus. But in just one October Babe Ruth knows far better than Frisch just how special and fleeting these moments can be.

Ruth says he will return for another season and after hitting 30 homers no one will tell him a 39 year old can't play this game. He desperately wants to hit 700 career homers and certainly longs for another chance to play in October. Here is a look at Ruth's career so far:

[Tiger Fan]

 BABE RUTH :

 

  YEAR   AVG HR RBI   G  AB   H 2B 3B   R SB CS  BB   K  OBP  SLG   TEAMS

  1914  1.00  0   0   1   1   1  0  0   1  0  0   0   0 1.00 1.00   SLB

  1915  .208  0   2  18  24   5  0  0   2  0  0   1   8 .240 .208   SLB

  1916  .277  0  25  87 253  70 15  2  33  5  3  24  74 .339 .352   SLB

  1917  .252  3  66 131 488 123 16 11  57 12  7  43 104 .313 .348   SLB,AL

  1918  .282 10  75 147 553 156 31  7  74 11  8  53  76 .345 .418   SLB,AL

  1919  .303 15  61 146 561 170 26 14  75 12  6  77  65 .387 .480   SLB,AL

  1920  .347 38 130 148 570 198 46 15 125  8  4  74  40 .422 .681   SLB,AL

  1921  .303 26 106 149 567 172 32 12 115 11  6  66  40 .376 .540   SLB,AL

  1922  .318 39 130 149 584 186 32 14 135  5  2  75  49 .396 .622   CLE,AL

  1923  .302 43 133 152 576 174 31 10 126 12  5  72  34 .380 .615   CLE,AL

  1924  .334 45 135 150 583 195 52  6 131 10  3  72  42 .408 .676   CLE,AL

  1925  .294 47 125 151 571 168 32 10 131 10  6  71  38 .372 .632   CLE,AL

  1926  .336 46 167 150 578 194 48 10 128  9  7  71  39 .408 .692   CLE,AL

  1927  .310 57 161 150 593 184 43 11 140  3  4  74  49 .387 .708   CLE,AL

  1928  .305 45 123 149 583 178 42 12 136  6  2  57  41 .367 .650   CLE,AL

  1929  .336 52 176 150 590 198 49 14 133  5  8  55  49 .392 .731   CLE,AL

  1930  .351 61 186 150 596 209 37 12 154  4  6  61  52 .411 .760   CLE,AL

  1931  .277 58 140 151 577 160 32  7 117  6  5  60  60 .345 .659   CLE,AL

  1932  .287 51 121 148 568 163 37 14 119  9  5  62  61 .357 .671   NYY,AL

  1933  .282 31 108 150 603 170 37  6 104  8  1  36  70 .322 .517   NYY,AL  



  Total AB  : 10019

  Total AVG : .307

  Total Hits: 3074 5th all time

  Total HR  : 667  1st all time

  Total RBI : 2170 1st all time

  Total Runs: 2036 2nd all time

  Total SB  : 146



  Drafted in the first round, 2nd overall by St Louis(A) in 1914

  American League MVP 1918,1920,1922-1924,1926-32

  All Star game MVP 1926, 1931

  World Series MVP 1933

  Gold Glove  1919,1923,1924,1925

  Holds single season Home Run record with 61 in 1930

  Holds single season RBI record with 186 in 1930

  Holds single season run record with 154 in 1930

  Only man to hit 3 homers in a single game on 3 different occassions

  5 times hit 50 or more homers in a season.

Ruth was taken second overall by the Browns. Bet you are dying to know what team was stupid enough to pass him
by. The Cardinals drafted pitcher Red Faber number 1 in 1914. Faber had a solid career, going 158-138 for the Cards and A's. He was rookie of the year in 1914 and won the Markle Award with the Athletics in 1922. He also won a World Series ring in 1918 but will forever be remembered as the mistake the Cardinals made when they could have had Ruth.

Speaking of Ruth, his twin brother pitcher George Herman Ruth never panned out. Ruth was just 9-13 when his elbow gave out in 1921 ending his career. He was drafted 9th overall by the Dodgers in 1914 and made his major league debut in 1917. He was 36-38 with a 3.93 era for AAA Montreal where he spent most of the time from 1914-20.

Next up the 1934 season. Also word from the league is a "Hall of Fame" will be built in Cooperstown, New York. This "Hall" will honour the greats of the HOB2. Plans are already underway to determine the initial inductees.