New Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB) with random introduction feature opens in 1901

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1923 Season


Ty Cobb and the Boston Red Sox were the story in the American League. Cobb battled only his past in the batting race, coming within a single point his single-season batting record, finishing at .418. Cobb set a new mark for hits with 273, won his 4th consecutive batting title and his 3rd consecutive Outstanding Hitter award, while leading the Red Sox to their 3rd straight AL pennant. He was assisted by Rookie of the Year 1B Dick Stuart, 15-142-.316, who set a new single-season RBI mark.

However, the Red Sox were upended in an exciting seven-game World Series by an extremely talented Pittsburgh Pirates team. The Pirates were led by their middle infield combination of Rod Carew and Honus Wagner, who finished 1-2 in the NL batting race at .371 and .365 respectively. Rookie of the Year catcher Jim Pagliaroni (7-72-,327) also helped the Pirates cause.

Three pitchers also exceed major milestones in 1923::
• Early Wynn, Reds, gained win #300, finishing the season with 309 wins for 3rd on the all-time list. Wynn is an exceptional case with a 309-315-3.00 record.
• Jared Weaver, ChC, & John Smoltz, NYY, each passed the 200 win plateau, Weaver finishing the season at 208-160-262 (10th all-time), and Smoltz finishing at 204-170-2.77 (12th all-time)

Retired
• Salvador Perez, C, Det, 34-954-.288, 227 3B (1st all-time), 2nd in car. G, AB, H, TB, 1B
• Johnny Bench, C, NYG, 94-909-.250-56, 7th in HR, 8th in RBI
• Matt Holiday, LF, Cle, 61-703-.277-104
• Willie Davis, LF, CHW, 21-688-.273-471

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1924 Season


Surprisingly, the 3-time defending champion Red Sox got some competition in the American League from the upstart St Louis Browns. Boston held what looked to be a comfortable 4-game lead going into August but the Browns ran off 9 of 10 going into September to take a 1-game lead. The Browns stayed hot, winning 9 of the next 11, finally taking the pennant by 2 games. All this despite a record-setting season by the Sox’ Ty Cobb, who hit .445, ending his 6th season in MLB with a career average of .398.

Over in the NL, the Pirates, led by Honus Wagner, Ryan Braun and Rod Carew, were the class of the NL That is, until seemingly out of nowhere, the resurgent New York Giants, in the midst of an 8-game winning streak and a Pirates 8-game losing streak, caught the Pirates with 8 days to go and shot past them to win by 3 games.

The World Series was a low-scoring affair. The Giants took Game 1, 4-1, behind Chris Zachary. From then on, however, the Browns shut the Giants down by scores of 2-1, 5-3, 3-0 and 1-0 to win the 2nd World Championship in the team’s history. Josh Hamilton was the series MVP, going 11-19-.579, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R.

Besides setting a new record with a .445 avg, Ty Cobb also set single-season records with a .494 OBP, .654 SLG, 1.148 OPS, and 397 TB.

Nap Lajoie became the first player in MLB to get hit #3000 on 5/10, off 300-game winner Early Wynn. Lajoie ended the season the holder of 8 MLB career records.

Preacher Roe reached victory #300, and pitchers Monty Stratton, Bill Vinton and Bret Saberhagen all reached victory #200.

On 10/29/24, P Vic Aldridge, 1902-19, became the 2nd player elected to the MLB Hall of Fame. Aldridge finished 248-215-3-2.75. He is currently 6th in career W, 5th in IP, 7th in K’s, 5th in G, 6th in GS and 5th in CG.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1925 Season


The Brooklyn Robins, after 4 disappointing seasons, were determined to make a run in 1925. They traded for SP turned Closer John Smoltz from the Yankees and teamed him with Francisco Rodriguez to form the best bullpen in baseball. Add the rotation of Jake Peavy, Bret Saberhagen, Don Gullett, Jim Clancy and Trevor Cahill and the Robins’ staff was formidable. Their bigger question was could they generate enough offense. Enter pick 1-8, Rookie of the Year CF Ginger Beaumont, who proceeded to produce an 8-102-.350-43 stat line with 119 runs, and the Robins would win the NL pennant by a comfortable 7 games over the Cubs.

Their World Series challenge would be tougher, however because the Red Sox were back for the 4th time in 5 seasons, having outlasted the Senators by 4 games. Ty Cobb was his usually brilliant self at 10-91-.401-68 for the Sox. Pitcher Bob Black took Pitcher of the year honors yet again with a 23-11-9-2.97 record.

Unfortunately both clubs would be without their CFs, Cobb and Beaumont, due to injury for the World Series, making the outcome anyone’s guess. However the Red Sox had experience and they had Bob Black, winning in 5 games as Black went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA to win series MVP.

Other notable performances:

Gavvy Cravath, Was, put down his claim as the top power hitter of his era, crushing the MLB single-season records for HR: 33 (prev 27 by Cravath), RBI: 161 (prev 142), and 2B: 55 (prev 53). On 5/16 he went 5/5 with 3 HR (including a Grand Slam), 3B, 2B and 10 RBI. By the end of the season, Cravath had 157 HR, with 4 of Mickey Mantle for the All-Time lead.

The leagues’ outstanding hitters:
Rogers Hornsby hit .408 to beat out Cobb for the AL batting title with a 24-107-.408 line.
Honus Wagner posted a 13-76-.399-60 line to lead the NL in batting.

Nap Lajoie, 39, Bro-PhiN, retired after 19 seasons, holding MLB career records for AB, R, H, TB, 1B, 2B, RBI. Hi Final Line in 2499 G: 43-1160-.307-662, 3129 H; played on 4 NL Championship teams, 1 Batter of the Year, RBI leader 4 times, Batting leader 3 times, 6 Gold Gloves.

Milestones:

Mickey Mantle and Chipper Jones each reached hit #2500

Fleury Sullivan reached win #250
Doc McJames reached win #200

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
The First Quarter Century


The first quarter century of Metaphysical League Baseball has been a fascinating journey. At the highest level, much of what was expected has unfolded. Pitching dominated the first 20 years, and the last 5 years hitting has emerged, led by great stars like Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby and Honus Wagner. Nap Lajoie proved he could hit in any era.

The individual stars have now emerged. Along with those named above, Gavvy Cravath has become the most dangerous power hitter in the game, barring injury soon to surpass Mickey Mantle. Other big sticks have struggled vs superior pitching, but have still but up good numbers relative to their peers, guys like Chipper Jones and David Wright for example.

The big surprise has been in the pitching. Four 300-game winners have already been crowned. Their names: Harry Salisbury, Early Wynn (with a losing record), Anibal Sanchez and Preacher Roe, from different eras. No less than 13 other pitchers have already notched 200 wins in their careers, some who seemed that they would not be that strong, but had staying power.

As for the clubs, mostly there have been meteoric rises and falls among the franchises. The Boston Red Sox, however, have clearly emerged as the dominant team, with 3 World championships and another AL Championship in the last 5 seasons to go along with another 2 previous World Championships. The Brooklyn Dodgers have bee the most frustrated club, winning 5 NL titles without a World Series victory. The Chicago White Sox lead in futility with no league titles in 25 years.

The stars have been so exciting:

Ty Cobb: ..445 season average, .398 career avg to date

Rogers Hornsby, .408 average to nose out Cobb for the batting title

Gavvy Cravath’s 33-161-.331 season to break HR and RBI records and almost upset the Red Sox

Nap Lajoie playing 19 seasons, winning year after year for Brooklyn but never quite reaching the pinnacle

Honus Wagner’s excellence every year for Pittsburgh

Mickey Mantle and Chipper Jones toiling for 2nd-division clubs Cleveland and Chicago Whte Sox, yet putting up some of the best totals in MLB history.

Relative unknown Harry Salisbury carrying Cincinnati to NL titles but failing in the World Series

Bob Black leading the Red Sox pitching both in the regular season and when int counts most in the World Series

Surprising Anibal Sanchez matching Salisbury for best all-time before finally falling a bit short

Jackie Robinson matching up with the best of the early 1900’s

It’s been a great ride. Up next, the second 25 years. Play Ball!

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1926 Season


The 1926 season belonged to the Cleveland Indians, and their superstar, Mickey Mantle. The Indians had finished a mediocre 77-77 in 1925, 17 games back. With Mantle turning 36, on gimpy knees, they moved him from CF to 1B to start the year, and used a 5-man rotation of Jackie Brandt, Henry Larkin, Fred Nicholson, Danny Tartabull and Alan Wiggins in the OF to great effect (all 5 hit at least .295). Around the infield, 2nd-year 2B Jason Kipnis hit .307, 3B Kevin Seitzer was solid, and SSs Everett Scott and Alcides Escobar split time adequately. Mike Grady earned the C job and hit .281. Mantle, relieved of OF duties, played in his most games in 6 years, hitting .273 with 12 HR and 83 RBI (best since 1922) and an MLB record-setting 138 BB, scoring 102 runs.

The biggest difference, however, may have been in the pitching. Number 1 draft pick Cinders O’Brien went 22-11-11-3.40, winning Rookie of the Year while leading the league in Saves (as a starting pitcher). Jonathan Papelbon went 4-2-2-1.43 out of the bullpen. The bullpen led the league with a 2.82 ERA.

Cleveland also made three big trades in June, acquiring veterans Deacon Phillippe and Hideo Nomo for the starting rotation and Bob Lawrence for the bullpen. These paid off as they parlayed a 1 1/2 game lead at the end of June to a full 6 game margin at the end of the season. These players would also play big roles in the World Series.

The 1926 World Series pitted the Phillies (84-70) vs the Indians (88-66)

The Phillies were led by Miguel Cabrera, Wade Boggs, Jackie Robinson and Paul Derringer. In game 1, Cleveland took a 7-1 lead, but star SP Cinders O’Brien left after 5 IP with an elbow sprain. Cleveland won 8-4, but the concern turned to their staff for the remainder of the series.

The Indians Bobo Newsom won Game 2, 4-3, behind Fred Nicholson’s 3-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI game.

In Game 3, Deacon Phillippe, a 23-game loser, came up big with an 8-0 shutout and Cleveland pulled within a game of the title.

In Game 4, the other trade acquisition, Hideo Nomo, also dominated, winning 4-2, behind Mickey Mantle’s 3-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R performance.

Cleveland swept to win their 3rd World Championship in 4 tries, all during the Mickey Mantle era. Mantle and Nicholson were names co-MVPs.

1926 Awards and Achievements:

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, Bos, .392; NL: Al Wickland, Chi, .373
Rookie of Year: AL: Cinders O’Brien, Cle, 22-11-11-3.40; NL: Fred Carroll, StL, 8-85-.333-8
Mgr of Year: AL: Cy Williams, Cle, 88-66; NL: Jim Ware, Bos, 79-75, 3rd
Pitcher of Year: AL: Joe Blong, StL, 22-19-4-2.17; NL: Bill J Sweeney, Cin, 23-12-3-3.24
Hitter of Year: AL: Braggo Roth, Bos, 9-90-.380-42, #1 in 3B (31), R (139), OBP (.465), SLG (.586)
NL: Al Wickland, Chi, 7-82-.373-20, #1 in avg, H (215), R (114), OBP (.445)


Other notable performances:

Mickey Mantle set the MLB single-season record for BB with 138, and continues to hold the career HR record of 173.

Hitting Streaks:
Ty Cobb hit in 34 straight games
Honus Wagner hit in 31 straight games

Milestones:

David Wright reached hit #2500 (5th all-time)
Honus Wagner, Rogers Hornsby and Miguel Cabrera reached hit #2000 (10th - 12th all-time)

Jered Weaver reached win #250 (6th all-time)
Cliff P Lee reached win #200

Hall of Fame (elected 10/7/26):


Anibal Sanchez, Pit, 318 (4th)-266-5-2.28 (17th), 5369.1 IP (2nd), 2645 K (3rd), 862.4 VORP (1st)

Rip Egan, Bro, 245 (8th)-154-5-2.53 (44th), 3682.1 IP (13th), 2666 K (2nd), .614 win % (4th), 6.52 K/9 (1st)


Retirements:

Early Wynn, Browns, 334 (1st)-350 (1st)-11-3.09, 5959 IP (1st)

Parke Swartzel, A’s, 226-195-21-2.91, 3979.1 IP; 1914 Outstanding Pitcher; 2 x led lg in W, 4x K/BB, 3 x BB/9, 3 x CG

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1927 Season


The 1927 season marked the resurgence of the long-dormant Washington Senators in the AL, and the culmination of a maturing process by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL. The Pirates were aided by one of the most lopsided trades in league history. The Reds, looking to free up 1B for 21-year-old phenom Lou Gehrig, traded Hal Chase to the Pirates shortly after the 1926 season ended, receiving only 30-year-old 3B Gene Freese in return. While Freese sat the bench in Cincinnati, Chase went on to win the Triple Crown in Pittsburgh, posting a 13-136-.379-35 stat line, and combining with Honus Wagner, Rod Carew and Bill Madlock to lead the Pirates to a 4-game margin over the Cubs for the NL pennant.

The Senators margin of victory was even more impressive in the AL, taking the lead from Opening Day and winning by 17games over the defending champions Cleveland Indians. Part of the story for Washington was the emergence of Greg Maddux, who posted a 25-9-3.10 season, easily his best to date. Wiate Hoy was a strong #2 with a 21-10-3.75 line. The Senators were a well-balanced hitting machine, with 3 hitters racking up over 100 RBI’s: Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Charlie Hickman. Gavvy Cravath, #2 all-time in HRs, at age 38 played in 124 games and put up an 18-91-.302 stat line for the team. The Senators broke all offensive records for MLB by averaging over 5.8 runs/g over the regular season.

The Pirates put a score into the Senators in the World Series by beating Maddux in Game 2 and winning Game 3 to go up tow games to 1, but the Senators won the next 3 games to take the series 4-2 for their 2nd World Championship and 1st since 1906. The MVP was Frank Robinson with 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 2 IWs, and 8 Runs scored.

1926 Awards and Achievements:

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, Bos/A’s, .376; NL: Hal Chase, Pit, .379
Rookie of Year: AL: Chris Hoiles, NYY, 9-72-.323; NL: Will Clark, NYG, 5-57-.321
Pitcher of Year: AL: Greg Maddus, Was, 25-9-3.10; NL: Kid Nichols, Cin, 23-11-2-3.00
Hitter of Year: AL: Ty Cobb, Bos/A’s, 6-92-.375-68, 34 2B, 12 3B, 198 H, 105 R. Led league in avg., SB, SLG and OPS
NL: (Triple Crown!) Hal Chase, Pit, 13-136-.379-35, 44 2B, 14 3B, 248 H, 114 R. Led league in Triple Crown categories, SLG and Hits (setting NL record for RBI and H).


Other notable performances:

Hal Chase hit for the cycle twice in the same week, on July 1 and July 7.
Paul Molitor had a 6-6 day, RBI in the White Sox 15-3 win over the Red Sox
Hub Collins had a 6-7 day, RBI in the Yankees win over the Browns at Sportsman’s Park

Hitting Streaks:
Danny Tartabull, Cle, hit in 35 straight games
Hal Chase hit in 31 straight games
Joe Adcock, Cin, hit in 27 straight games
Jim Viox, Cin, hit in 25 straight games

Milestones:

Roberto Alomar, Braves, reached hit #2000 (13th all-time)
Ty Cobb reached hit #2000 (14th all-time)
Justin Verlander, A’s, reached win #200 (18th-tie all-time)

Hall of Fame (elected 10/7/26):


Harry Salisbury, Cin, 326 (2nd)-241-13-2.31 (18th), 5245.1 IP (3rd), 4833 H, 1108 BB, 2747 K (1st), 1.13 WHIP (10th), 704 G (2nd), 448 CG (2nd), 66 ShO (1st), 837.43 VORP (2nd), 170.3 WARP (1st). Won 20 games each of 1st 11 seasons in MLB. Pitcher of Year 3 consecutive seasons. Led league in K/BB 5 times.

Adonis Terry, ChC, 211(t15th)-198-18-2.80, 3696.2 IP, 3499 H, 1435 BB, 1834 K, 1.33 WHIP. Pitcher of Year 1911, winning 30 games with 1.93 ERA


Retirements:

Sherry Magee, ChC 65-970-.303-825 (2nd). Batter of Year 1913 & 1914. Led NL in SLG 4 straight seasons 1911-’14.

Preacher Roe, Braves, 319-236-9-2.84, 5240.2IP, 5181 H, 1342 BB, 2363 K. Third or 4th all-time in virtually every major cumulative pitching category. Rookie of Year in 1907. Pitcher of Year in 1909.

Goerge R Stone, Browns, 36-532-.331 (9th)-490. Rookie of Year/Batter of Year in 1911. Led league three times each in Hits, TB and SLG.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1928 Season


The 1928 pennant races were much like 1927 with the Washington Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates again winning league titles, this time by 11 games and 7 games respectively.

The Senators (93-61) were favorites over the Pirates (88-66) to win the World Series by virtue of their previous year’s victory, their better season record and by the fact that the Pirate’s leading RBI man, Hal Chase, 5-107-.324-11, was out with an injury.

The Pirates, however, won the series 4 games to 0, with the most lopsided victory in MLB history, by scores of 14-6, 14-5, 10-6 and 8-6. Jim Pagliaroni, (0-12-.474, 2 2B, 3B, 9 H, 3 BB, 4R), was named MVP. The Pirates sweep, along with the emergence with young stars like the Pirates’ Pagliaroni and Carew and the Reds’ Gehrig, Kid Nichols and Bill Sweeney caused many to wonder if maybe the tide of talent had finally turned toward to the National League after the previous 15 seasons of American League domination in which the AL had won 13 World Series.

1926 Awards and Achievements:

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, .358; NL: Rod Carew, Pit, .362
Rookie of Year: AL: Dave Winfield, Det, 15-80-.345-3; NL: Richie Ashburn, NYG, 4-67-.312-26
Pitcher of Year: AL: Greg Maddus, Was, 22-9-10–3.19; NL: Bill J Sweeney, Cin, 24-11-3-2.86
Hitter of Year: AL: Charlie Hickman, Was, 25-151-.340-12
NL: Lou Gehrig, Cin, 15-110-.331-3

Hitting Streaks:
Hal Chase hit in 37 straight games

Milestones:
Mickey Mantle, Cle, became 1st ever to pass 200 career HRs, ending season w/ 206 HRs
Gavvy Cravath, Was, reached hit #2000 (15th all-time)
Monty Stratton, Braves, reached win # 250 (7th all-time)
Bret Saberhagen, Bro, reached win #250 (8th all-time)
Paul Derringer, Phillies, reached win #200 (19th tie all-time)
Addie Joss, NYG, reached win # 200 (20th tie w/ Strasburg all-time)

Retirees:

David Wright, Was 1910-’28, A’s/Was, 150-1121-.286-297. Career: 4th RBI, 5th H (2547), R (1168), HR (tie); 3rd 2B (439), 6th AB (8893), 4th G (2336). Won World Championships with A’s in 1910 and Senators in 1927, and an AL Title with Senators in 1928.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1929 Season


Before covering the pennant races, it is worth noting that 1929 was a year where no less than 12 players reached major career milestones (the milestones are detailed at the end of this report). On the Pirates alone, 5 hitters passed either the 2500-hit or 2000-hit barrier this season, yet the Pirates finished in 2nd place. Erv Lange also pitched a no-hitter for the Browns, the first in a couple of season in MLB. Now on to the pennant races.

The Cincinnati Redlegs had suffered 17 straight seasons of frustration in the National League. By the end of May, however, it appeared that the Reds fans had something to hope for as their club held a 2 1/2 game lead over the Cards, led by their young 1B, Lou Gehrig, and two-time pitcher of the year Bill J Sweeney. The Reds held their ground in Jun, then rattled off 13 wins in 14 games to start July for an 8 1/2 game lead, and ewer never challenged. The Reds finally won the NL by 14 games over the Pirates, finishing at 100-54.

Back in the American League, the race was much closer. The Red Sox, paced by rookie sensation Joe Torre, led at the end of April at 11-3. The Tigers won 10 straight games in May to pass the Red Sox, but the defending Senators kept pace, and May concluded with Washington percentage points ahead of Detroit. Detroit, paced by Dave Winfield and Don Demeter, passed Washington in June and held on to by 1 game margin at the end of July. But Washington went 19-10 in August while Detroit faded at 11-15 and the Senators held the lead for good. Washington finished at 92-62, 7 games ahead of the hard-charging A’s of Ty Cobb.

The 1929 World Series would be Washington’s 3rd straight appearance, while the Redleg’s were returning for the first time since their loss in 1911. Cincinnati, however, took it right to the veterans, winning the first two games at home:
4-3 (10 inn) on an Alex Rodriguez game-tying HR in the 9th, followed by ARod’s 2-out 3-2 pitch 2-run walk-ogg 1B in the 10th.
Beating Greg Maddux, 3-2, on a Lou Gehrig 2-out 2-run 1B in the 8th
Then traveling to Washington, the Reds, behind Bill J Sweeney, took a 3-0 series lead by crushing the Senators 8-3.
Washington came bak to win the next 2 games, 6-0 and 5-3 to send the series back to Cincinnati.
At home, however, behind pitching Triple Crown winner Sweeney, the Reds sealed the deal in Game 6, 5-0, on Sweeney’s 5-hitter.

Sweeney was named series MVP, going 2-0-1.00 in 18 IP, 15 H, 1 BB, 7 K. Gehrig’s line was .348/.423/.565, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R

This was Cincinnati’s 2nd World series title, the 1st in 1908. This also constitutes the first time since 1907-1908 the the NL has won two consecutive World Series.


1929 Awards and Achievements:

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, .374; NL: Roger Connor, Braves, .387
Rookie of Year: AL: Johnny Mize, Browns, 22-91-.342-0
Rookie of Year NL: Roger Connor, Braves, 20-97-.387-18
Pitcher of Year: AL: Greg Maddux, Was, 25-18-9-3.42 (3rd straight)
NL: Bill J Sweeney, Cin, 27-12-7-2.83, 155 K, won Pitching Triple Crown (also outstanding Pitcher in 1926 & 1928)
Hitter of Year: AL: Charlie Hickman, Was, 22-111-.357-11 (2nd straight)
NL: Roger Connor, Braves (see Rookie of Year)

Hitting Streaks:
Beals Becker hit in 33 straight games
Don Wert hit in 32 straight games

No-Hitter: Erv Lange, Browns, 9 0 0 0 2 1 in 6-0 win vs Detroit @ Navin Field, 9/22/29

Milestones:
Honus Wagner, Pirates, reached hit # 2500 (6th all-time)
Miguel Cabrera, Phils, reached hit # 2500 (7th all-time)
Rogers Hornsby, Yankees, reached hit # 2500 (8th all-time)
Tim Raines, Sr, Pirates, reached hit # 2000 (16th all-time)
Rod Carew, Pirates, reached hit # 2000 (17th all-time)
Willie McCovey, White Sox, reached hit # 2000 (18th all-time)
Hal Chase, Pirates, reached hit # 2000 (19th all-time)
John McGraw, Pirates, reached hit # 2000 (20th all-time)

Cliff P Lee, White Sox, reached win # 250 (9th all-time)
Doc McJames, Red Sox, reached win #250 (10th all-time) Won all but final 2 with Cubs
John Smoltz, Indians, reached win #250 (11th tie all-time)
Bob Black, Red Sox, reached win # 200 (22nd place tie w/ Strasburg all-time)

Retired:

Chipper Jones, 41, ChW, 137-1216-.268-204, 2672 H, 1253 R, 1392 BB, 2674 Games.
Second all-time (to still-active Mickey Mantle) in Games, RBIs, BB; 4th in Runs, 5th in Hits.
Played 17 seasons without ever getting to a World Series.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1930 Season


The 1930 season saw an explosion of offense in both leagues. The AL set all-time league batting avg (.308) and ERA (5.07) records. The NL was not far behind, with league averages of .291 and 4.48 respectively.

1930 also saw the resurgence of the winningest franchise in MLB history, the Boston Red Sox, who bounced back from a 6th place finish in 1930 to win the AL pennant by 6 games over the former league champion Senators and the White Sox. The Red Sox were led by a new young star, 27-year old Ken Williams, whose 37 HR shattered the single-season HR record previously held by Gavvy Cravath (33).

The NL pennant race was a much tighter affair, at least for a while. The aging Pirates of Honus Wagner got off to an 11-4 start to hold the lead through April. The Cardinals and Braves dominated May and June, with the Cards holding a 1 game lead going into July. By the end of July, their lead was up to 2 ½ games, but it was now the defending World Champion Reds in 2nd place after a 9-1 streak. Four days into August, the Reds took the lead, and were never headed, winning by 4 games over the Cardinals and the Giants.

The 1930 World Series featured the defending champion Reds (2-3 in World Series play and the Boston Red Sox (all-time leader at 5-1 in World Series play).

The first two games in Boston were won by the Red Sox by identical 6-5 scores. In Game 1, Ken Williams hit a walk-off 2-run HR in the bottom of the 13th after the Sox had fallen behind by a run in the top of the frame. In Game 2, Raul Mondesi’s walk-off 1B in the bottom of the 11th was the difference for the Red Sox. The Reds came back to win the first game at home, 5-4, on a 3-run 8th inning rally. The Red Sox, however, pounded out a 12-10 victory in Game 4, led by Ken Williams’ monster game: 4-5, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R. Game 5 was an easy win for the Red Sox, 8-3, behind Bob Black’s 3rd victory of the series. The Red Sox easily won their 6th World Series, by far the winningest franchise in World Sies history!

MVP Ken Williams: 3-13-.440 (11-25), set records for RBI in a World Series and for hits in a 5-game World Series.

Records:
Willie McCovey, ChW, broke career HR record with HR #207 on 5/11, surpassing Mickey Mantle. McCovey finished the season with 234 career HRs.

Ken Williams, Red Sox, set new single-season HR record with 37 HR.

Charlie Hickman, Was set new single-season RBI record: 177, and 2B record: 58.

Will Clark, NYG, set new NL single-season HR & RBI records with 31 HR and 154 RBIs, and set new MLB record with 426 Total Bases

Johnny Mize, Browns, set new single-season SLG record: .665

Rod Carew, Was, set new single-season Runs record: 161



1929 Awards and Achievements:

Triple Crown: Will Clark, NYG, 31-154-.376 (2nd ever in MLB play

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, .411 (5th time >.400); NL: Will Clark, NYG, .376
Rookie of Year: AL: Denny Lyons, Browns, 8-83-.304-4
Rookie of Year NL: Dale Long, Cardinals, 10-65-.366-0
Pitcher of Year: AL: Tommy Thomas, Bos, 25-11-2-2.99
NL: Kid Nichols, Cin, 27-4-3.72
Hitter of Year: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, 10-103-.411-28, 236 H, 53 2B, 17 3B, 123 R
NL: Will Clark, NYG, 31-154-.376-3, 242 H, 45 2B, 23 3B, 142 R

Hitting Streaks:
Ty Cobb hit in 48 straight games, most in MLB history



Milestones:
Ty Cobb, A’s, reached hit #2500
Roberto Alomar, Pirates, reached hit # 2500
Alex Rodriguez, Reds, reached hit # 2000
Jim Rice, Tigers, reached hit # 2000
Frank Robinson, Pirates, reached hit # 2000

Justin Verlander, A’s, reached win # 250
Greg Maddux, Was, reached win # 200

Retired:

Willie McCovey, 33, ChW, 234 (#1)-1155 (#9)-.295-18, 2244 H, 321 2B, 103 3B, 1130 R, 917 BB (#10); 6-time Gold Glove; Career HR leader, led league in HR 4 times.

Gavvy Cravath, Was, 191 (#4t)-1071-.284-120, 2053 H, 402 2B (#9), 114 3B, 1108 R, 892 BB; led league in HR 3 times and held all-time record until broken in 1930 by McCovey. Held single-season RBI record until broken in 1930.

Frank E Thomas, NYY, 103-909-.276-26, 1940 H. 292 2B, 38 3B, 926 R, 1171 BB

Bill Vinton, NYG, 211-170-24-3.07; Outstanding Pitcher 1915 & 1916.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1931 Season


The 1931 pennant races looked to be interesting. In the AL, the World Champion Red Sox were led by single-season HR champ Ken Williams and star pitcher Bob Black. Their principal rival, the Washington Senators, had 2B Charlie Hickman, coming off a single-season record 177 RBIs, LF Harmon Killebrew, 1B Rod Carew, and SPs Greg Maddux and Claude Passeau.

Over in the NL, the formidable Reds were led by 1B Lou Gehrig and SP Kid Nichols. They would be challenged by the very deep St Louis Cardinals, led by SP Waite Hoyt and position players C Joe Mauer, 1B Dale Long, 3B Ken Boyer, SS Joe Tinker and RF Roger Maris.

According to form, after the 1st month of the season, the Red Sox and Senators sat tied atop the AL. In the NL, the Reds held a 1 game lead over the surprising Braves and 1 ½ games over the Cardinals. On 5/19, the Cards, still 2 games back, made a big trade, acquiring 35-yr-old J.R. Richard, 4-1-1.75, from the Cubs for 4 players. However, by the end of May, they had fallen to 5 ½ games behind the Reds. Over in the AL, the White Sox had taken the lead over Boston and Washington.

By the end of June, order had been restored in the AL, with the Senators on top, the Red Sox trailing by a scant ½ game. Over in the NL, Cincinnati and Brooklyn were tied, St Louis in 3rd, 4 ½ games behind.

On July 10, Boston leading Washington, by 2 games, the league leaders pulled off an earth-shattering trade. Washington sent Charlie Hickman (of the 177 RBIs the previous season, but struggling) to Boston for speedster SS Terry Turner. Observers felt that this deal could very well decide the outcome of the AL race. By the end of July, however not much had changed, The Red Sox held a 1 game lead. In the NL, St Louis, by virtue Batter of the Month Boyer and Pitcher of the Month Hoyt, took a 2 game lead on Cincinnati. The Cards’ Dale Long led baseball in RBIs (84) and the Cards’ J.R Richard led baseball in ERA (2.22).

Injuries, however, began to hit the Cardinals. Mauer went out on 8/1 for 5-6 weeks, then Tinker, who had already missed over two weeks, would be delayed for another week. This slowed, but did not stop the Cardinals. When the Reds won 7 straight into early September while the Cards lost 3 in a row, the Reds pulled ahead by 5 games with 22 to play. At the same time, the Red Sox 8 game win streak and a Senators slump gave Boston an 8 ½ game lead and all but cinched the AL race.

On 9/17, the Red Sox clinched the AL pennant with 9 games remaining.

The NL, however, would prove to be quite another story. On 9/21, the Reds clinched a tie with 5 games remaining. They then lost the next two games, while the Cards won 2, setting up a 3-game finale at home vs the Cards. St Louis won the 1st game and the tension mounted. Finally, in game #153, Cincinnati defeated St Louis 7-3, on the back of Matt Joyce’s 2-4, HR, 4 RBI day to win the pennant.




The 1931 World Series would be a rematch of the defending champion Red Sox (all-time leader at 6-1 in World Series play) and the Reds (2-4 in World Series play).

Surprisingly, and controversially, the Reds announced that their ace, Kid Nichols, would not pitch until the 1st home game in Cincinnati. However, the Reds Bill J Sweeney (11-18) outdueled the Red Sox Bob Black, 2-1, in Game 1. In Game 2, Ken Williams’ 3-4, HR, 3 RBI day and Mike Hampton’s led the Sox to an easy 7-3 win. Nichols finally appeared in Game 3, and the visiting Red Sox promptly beat him, 4-3 behind Joe Horlen. The Rds bounced back in Game 4, as Sweeney again defeated Black, 4-3, on Norm Miller’s 1-our walkoff RBI 1B in the 9th. The Reds retook the series lead in Game 5 with a tense 2-1 victory on another walkoff, this time an Eric Hinske 2B in the 11th. Nichols got another chance vs Horlen in Game 6 in Boston. This one was a slugfest fitting of Fenway Park. The Reds took a 5-0 lead in the 1st, the key blow a Bob Watson 3-run HR. They increased their lead to as much as 8-2 by the top of the 5th. Then the Red Sox stormed back. By the end of 7 innings, the game was tied at 8-8. Cincinnati, however, had one more rally left, scoring two in the top of the 8th for a 10-8 lead. Nichols and Lee Smith finished up for the Reds win.

The Reds won their 3rd World Championship (2nd in 3 seasons), 4 games to 2.

Bill J Sweeney, 2-0-2.00 in 18 IP defeated the Red Sox star pitcher Bob Black in 2 games to garner the MVP honers.

Records:
Ty Cobb, A’s, set single-season record for 2B: 62


1931 Awards and Accomplishments:

Triple Crown: Will Clark, NYG, 21-118-.355 (3rd ever in MLB play, 2nd consecutive for Clark)

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, .396 (6th in a row, 11th leading lg); NL: Will Clark, NYG, .355
Rookie of Year: AL: Baby Doll Jacobson, Cle, 13-83-.359-3
Rookie of Year: NL: Cliff Johnson, ChC, 21-79-.269-1
Pitcher of Year: AL: Bob Black, Bos, 23-8-2.65
Pitcher of Year: NL: Kid Nichols, Cin, 24-9-2.92 (2nd consecutive)
Hitter of Year: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, 4-81-.396-37, 233 H, 62 2B, 13 3B, 126 R (2nd Consecutive)
Hitter of Year: NL: Will Clark, NYG, 21-118-.355-2, 224 H, 36 2B, 20 3B, 123 RBI (2nd Consecutive)

Hitting Streaks:
Ty Cobb hit in 33 straight games
Joe Adcock hit in 32 straight games

Milestones:
Honus Wagner, Pirates, reached hi # 3000 (2nd all-time to Nap Lajoie, 3129)
Rod Carew, Senators, reached hit # 2500

Bobo Newsom, Indians, reached win # 200

Hall of Fame:

Early Wynn, 1902-26, 334-350-11-3.09; 762 G, 694 GS, 5956 IP, 5968 H, 2034 BB, 2255 K, 500 CG. All-time leader in Wins, GS, CG, IP, Losses. One World Championship (SLA ’24), one League Championship.

Parke Swartzel, 1910-26, 226-195-21-2.91; 3979.1 IP,3897 H, 800 BB, 1488 K. Outstanding Pitcher: 1914, led league in W (2), CG (3), K/BB (4). Two World Championships (A’s ’16, ’19).

Retired:

Jackie Robinson, 1918-29, 77-758-.282-131. Six Gold Gloves (5 @ 2B, 1 @ 1B)

Overachiever:
Doug Rader, 1916-31, 81-918-.281-17

Underachiever:
Fred Lynn, 1916-31, 108-820-.273-34

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1932 Season


The 1931 draft was a boring one. The only player who would play a major role in the 1932 season was SP Chief Bender, 18, drafted 5th by the Philadelphia A’s.

The 1932 season, however, was far from boring. In the AL, the 2-time defending champion Red Sox were wracked by injuries and fell by the wayside early. It became a two-team race between the A’s, led by Ty Cobb & Bender, and the Washington Senators, led by Rod Carew and Claude Passeau. The Senators came as close as 1 ½ games on 8/1, but in the end, the A’s prevailed by 4 games.

In the NL, the surprising Dodgers took the early lead, but were passed by the Cardinals in May. The defending World Champion and 3-straight NL Champion Reds were in the race, pulling as close as 1 ½ games out on July 25, but then faded. The Cards held a 2-game advantage over Will Clark’s Giants going into August. But the Giants won 8 of 10 while the Cards dropped 7 of 10, and the Giants led by 3 games going into September.

Then September saw 2 amazing performances. The Cards’ Joe Mauer, attempting to lead his team to the NL title, hit in 28 straight games to close out the season. But the Giants as a team were better. The Giants won their last 12 straight games to close out the season, pulling away from the Cards and winning by an 8-game margin.


The 1932 World Series would pit the New York Giants (93-61), 1-4 in World Series play, having last won 31 years ago in 1901, vs the Philadelphia Athletics (90-64), 3-2 in World Series play, having last won in 1919 – over the Giants!

This series was a battle of the deepest pitching staffs in years. Game 1 featured the only 2 20-game winners: the A’s Chief Bender (23-9-3.15) and the Giant’s Frank E Smith (20-9-4.49). The game was a 7-6 slugfest with the Giants pushing across the winning run on a Richie Ashburn full-count RBI BB in the bottom of the 9th. The Giants’ Smoky Joe Wood bested the A’s Justin Verlander, 7-2 in Game 2. The A’s Josh Beckett beat the Giants’ Jack Morris, 5-2 in Game 3. In the Game 4 re-match, Smith outpitched Bender, 2-1 and the Giants had a 3 games to 1 lead. But the game A’s won the next two games, 8-1 and 6-3 to set up a Game 7 in New York.

Bender vs Smith for all the marbles. The A’s jumped out to leads of 4-2 after 3, and 5-3 after 4 innings. The Giants, however, took advantage of 2 Bender BBs, a Will Clark RBI 2B, a Bob Bailety RBI 1B and a Scioscia SF for a 6-5 lead after 5 innings. They padded the lead to 7-6 in the 6th. Then PH Aurelio Rodriguez hit a 4-7’ Grand Slam in the 7th for the game clincher – Giants 11, A’s 5, and the Giants had the 1st World Championship in 31 years!

The Giants MVP was Jim Landis, who scored 7 R, had 5 RBIs and hit .345 in the series.


1932 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, .381 (7th in a row, 12th leading lg)
Batting Avg: NL: Joe Mauer, StL, .338
Rookie of Year: AL: Chief Bender, A’s, 23-9-3.15
Rookie of Year: NL: Norm Siebern, ChC, 11-70-.309
Pitcher of Year: AL: Chief Bender, A’s (see above)
Pitcher of Year: NL: Andy Pettitte, StL, 24-10-3.39
Hitter of Year: AL: Ty Cobb, A’s, 8-97-.381-29, 231 H, 51 2B, 14 3B, 122 R (3rd consecutive)
Hitter of Year: NL: Will Clark, NYG, 21-96-.311, 196 H, 44 2B, 24 3B, 125 R (3rd consecutive)

Hitting Streaks:
Gary Holman, Browns, hit in 26 straight games
Joe Mauer, Cards, hit in 28 straight games

Milestones:
Ty Cobb, A’s, reached hit # 3000 (3rd all-time to Nap Lajoie, 3129); Finished season with 3174 hits, 2nd all-time to Honus Wagner, 3252 hits. Cobb is 4-4 in the game, followed by 3-3 the next day! Cobb hits .467 for the month of May with 32 R & 26 RBIs.

Rogers Hornsby, Yankees, reached hit # 3000, 4th all-time
Orlando Cepeda, ChW, reached hit # 2000
King Kelly, Cardinals, reached hit # 2000
Bill Madlock, Pirates, reached hit # 2000

Ty Cobb, A’s, reached 1500 runs scored, 3rd all-time to Honus Wagner

Cliff Lee, ChW, reached win # 300, 5th all-time to Early Wynn
Bob Black, Red Sox, reached win # 250
J.R. Richard, Cardinals, reached win # 200
Pud Galvin, Pirates, reached win # 200

No –Hitter: Grant Jackson, ChW, 1 BB, 0 K, in 6-0 win at Red Sox

Record for HRs in a single month: Ken Phelps, Tigers, 12, August, 1932

Hall of Fame:

Sherry Magee, ChC, 65-970-.303-825, 2343 H, 1118 R. Batter of Year: 1913-14. League Leader in SLG 4 times, OBP 3 times, TB 3 times, Avg & 2B 2 times, HR, RBI & SB once each. 2nd all-time in SB.

Preacher Roe, Braves, 319-236-9-2.84, 5240.2 IP, 5181 H, 1342 BB, 2363 K. Rookie of Year: 1907, Pitcher of Year: 1909. 3rd all-time in Wins, 4th all-time in IP & K.

Retired:

Doc McJames, ChC, 281-264-17-3.68, 5th all-time in K’s: 2322.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1933 Season


The 1932 draft had some great prospects. The top 7:
Eddie Plank, Dodgers
Derek Jeter, Braves
Alfonso Soriano, Cardinals
Josh Clarke, Senators
Frank Killen, Yankees
Albert Pujols, Cubs
Jhonny Peralta, Dodgers

The Dodgers would benefit most in the short-run from the draft. Both Plank (14-18-3.50) and Peralta (5-49-.304) found themselves as starters, and with the addition of 1B/OF Bob Bailey (14-77-.309), added in the off-season from the Giants in exchange for SP Jim Hughes, the Dodgers were in the middle of the hunt in the NL the first time in several seasons. Fixtures CF Ginger Beaumont (5-64-.318), 2B Jeff Kent (11-95-.294) and RF Alexis Rios (14-99-.289-11), NL RBI leader, gave the Dodgers plenty of offense. Johnny Vander Meer (23-9-2.76, 201K), league leader in Wins and Ks was the staff ace, backed up by Steve Woodard (14-6-2.77), Bill V Swift (8-2-3.72), Yovani Gallardo (7-3-3.45) and Plank. The Dodgers were also one of the first clubs to make great use of a bullpen ace, Wilcy Moore (13-7-15-3.27).

At the end of June, the Dodgers found themselves in 2nd place, 3 games back of Cincinnati. The Dodgers then made two great trades: On 7/1. They acquired SP Andy Pettitte from the Cardinals for 5 prospects. Pettitte replaced Gallardo in the rotation. On 7/19, they acquired C/3B Earl D Averill from the Cardinals for 5 more prospects. Averill became the starting catcher, freeing Marty Martinez to become their super-utility player. At roster expansion, Gallardo moved back to the rotation and Pettitte joined Moore as a killer relief duo. Pettitte finished 4-4-5-3.80 with Brooklyn. Averill was equally important, batting 6-31-.305 in 55 games down the stretch.

In September, the NL was the tightest race in years. At the end of August, Brooklyn led Cincinnati by 1 ½ games, the Braves by 3 ½ and NYG by 4.
On 9/11, the top 3 teams were within 2 games of each other. Brooklyn topped the list at 81-56, NYG 1 ½ back, Cin 2 back.
On 9/21, still a 4-team race: Brooklyn 2 ½ up on NYG and 3 up on the Braves and Reds.
The Dodgers would up their lead to 3 games, then on 9/26, the 152nd game, Alexis Rios’ Grand Slam would put the Dodgers ahead of the Phillies by 4-0, and Bob Bailey would finish the job with a 3-run shot. Brooklyn 8, Philadelphia 0, and the Dodgers won the pennant with 2 to play.

The AL unfolded much differently. The defending champion A’s were out of it early as Ty Cobb missed 11 weeks of the season with injuries between May and August and the usually dominant Verlander, now 38, fell apart at 6-15-5.85. The customarily tough Red Sox only played .500 ball as their leader Ken Williams never got untracked and was eventually traded. That opened the way for the Tigers, who were expected to be tough, and the White Sox, who surprised everyone.

The White Sox had been out of contention for 2 decades, having last appeared in, and lost, the World Series in 1904. Their 1933 story actually began on 7/28/32 with the trade of star and fan favorite Orlando Cepeda to the Braves for Jack Chesbro to anchor their pitching. Then in the offseason they made 2 deals for which they were highly criticized. They traded SP Gil Heredia (11-15-3.68 in 1932) for 3 prospects, only 1 of which, SS Eric McNair (2-18-.234) would play a role in 1933. In the other, they dealt starting 2B Benny Bowcock for 4 prospects who didn’t play a role this season. However, their manager, Phil Nevin, must have known something because he mixed and matched the remaining players skillfully and the club bloomed. He used 3 Catchers, 1B/3B Pedro Alvarez (18-67-.246), team MVP and league HR leader 2B/1B/LFJohn Lowenstein (20-99-.265), SS/2B/3B Paul Molitor (3-54-.316-12), 3B Willie Kamm, and SSs Eric McNair and Luis Aparicio in brilliant combination. Chesbro (21-12-2.90) was brilliant. Chesbro received support from Ian Kennedy (20-11-3.32), Johnny Gee (11-7-2.87), Paul Derringer (14-7-2.88) and Sam Gray (5-3-3.20). All-time Saves leader and 300-game winner Cliff Lee (5-11-7-5.19) while sometimes shaky, was the mainstay in the bullpen. Swingman Bill M Harris (8-13-4) started the year in the rotation and moved to the pen when Derringer was acquired in trade on 6/7.

The Detroit Tigers were in 1st by 3 games over the White Sox on 6/7 when the Derringer trade occurred. The White Sox never got closer than 2 games back at the end of August, then the teams split their final season series on 9/4-5, and the Tigers remained 2 games ahead with 20 to play. On 9/23, a Detroit win and Chicago loss gave the Tigers the pennant with 3 games to play. The Tiger leaders in the field were RF Dave Winfield (13-84-.328), CF Bernie Williams (15-76-.288-11), C Jim Pagliaroni (12-57-.267), 1B Ken Phelps (18-77-.280). On the mound the Tigers were led by incredible Earl Francis (26-4-2.33) and supported by Connie Johnson (16-11-3.45), hard-luck Reggie Cleveland (11-12-2.34) and Reb Russell (15-17-3.65). Bob Reynolds (7-5-13-2.69) was brilliant in the bullpen.

The 1933 series featured the Detroit Tigers, whose only previous World series appearance was a victory over Brooklyn in 1920, and the Brooklyn Dodgers, who last appeared in the World Series in 1925, and held a hapless 0-5 mark in World Series play.

Game 1 went to the Dodgers, 7-3, behind Bill V Swift’s 1-hit ball over 6 innings, and Britt Burns’ 3-inning Save.
In Game 2, Dodger ace Johnny Vander Meer continued to shut down the Tigers, allowing 2 hits over 8 innings in a 4-2 victory. Andy Pettitte notched the Save.
In Game 3, the Dodgers’ Steve Woodard outdueled Tigers’ ace Earl Francis, 1-0, again allowing only 2 hits over 8 innings, as Pettitte notched his 2nd Save.
Swift finished the job in Game, twirling 7 shutout innings, allowing 6 hits, in a 4-0 Brooklyn win.

Brooklyn easily won their first World Championship in grand style, 4 games to 0. Incredibly, the Tigers hit only .135 for the World Series, with 17 hits in 4 games. They had only 2 players hit .200 (3-15 each).

Bill Swift (2-0-0.69) was the series MVP.

Great Moments in 1933:

Frank Robinson, 33, Pit, continued to thrill fans throughout baseball. He broke the all-time career HR record previous held by Willie McCovey, and finished the year with 237 HRs. Robinson also passed 2500 Hits, finishing with 2512, currently 12th all-time.

Robinson’s teammate Honus Wagner, 39, Pit, for the first time in his fabled career, batted under .300 with less than 20 SBs in the same season. However, Wagner continued to add to his all-time record totals for Hits, 2Bs, Total Bases, Runs, and ABs. Wagner is in 2nd place in SBs and 3Bs, and 7th in Avg.

1933 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Red J Smith, Senators, .353
Batting Avg: NL: Kirk Gibson, Giants, .356
Rookie of Year: AL: Josh Clarke, Senators, 7-51-.288-27
Rookie of Year: NL: Albert Pujols, Cubs, 22-88-.285; beat out Cepeda & Gehrig for NL HR title. He was also named NL All-Star starter at 3B.
Pitcher of Year: AL: Earl Francis, Tigers, 26-4-2.33
Pitcher of Year: NL: Jim J Hughes, Giants, 22-9-1.94
Hitter of Year: AL: Dave Winfield, Tigers, 13-84-.328-8, 27 2B, 13 3B, 197 H, 98 R
Hitter of Year: NL: Kirk Gibson, Giants, 14-82-.356-11, 28 2B, 8 3B, 185 H, 78 R

Hitting Streaks:
Kirk Gibson, Giants, hit in 22 straight games
Billy Williams, White Sox, hit in 20 straight games

Milestones:
Cliff Lee, White Sox, set new career Saves record, 86, & increased his career wins to 303.

Dan Haren, Reds, reached win # 250
Paul Derringer, Phillies, reached win # 250
Greg Maddux, Senators, reached win # 250
Josh Beckett, A’s, reached win # 200

Stan Rees, Phillies, 8-9-18-3.95, 180 IP set single season record for Appearances: 96, all in relief.


Individual Game Performances:
Jim Landis, A’s, went 6-7 with 3 2Bs in 3-2 win @ Senators.
Albert Pujols, Cubs, hit for the cycle, 4-5 in 10-5 win @ Cardinals.
Roberto Kelly, Red Sox, hit for the cycle, 4-6 in 10-1 win at Indians.

Retired:

Dan Haren, 38, Pit/Cin, 251-211-82-3.45, 3817.1 IP, 4214 H, 749 BB, 1205 K.
2nd in career Saves, 16th in career Wins. 1923: Pitcher of Year & ERA Leader.
Led league in Saves 3 times and IP 3 times.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1934 Season


The 1934 pennant races mixed returning powerhouses with a couple of upstarts.

In the NL, the Giants and Reds returned to prominence challenged by the Cubs the usual doormats of the league. The Cubs added #1 overall pick SP George Meakin to returning Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols, along with Billy Hamilton, Jack Howell & Gene Tenace, and traded for Andy Pettitte mid-season in order to make a challenge. The Reds had Lou Gehrig, Tony Perez, Kid Nichols and Billy Pierce. The Giants had the best 1-2 punch in the league in Will Clark and Kirk Gibson and the league’s best pitcher in Jim J Hughes.

At the end of May, the Giants held a ½ game lead over the Reds and Pirates, while the Cubs were 4 ½ games behind. But in late June, the Cubs put together an 11-game winning streak to pull into a ½ game lead by the end of the month. The Giants almost put the title away with an August spurt. As August ended, the Giants led the Cubs by 5 ½ games and the Reds by 7 games. But the Reds had won their last 7, and continued to win. The Reds strung together a 15-game winning streak to pull within 2 games of the Giants on 9/8. The Cubs remained 5 ½ games behind. The Giants, however, again rallied, and finally won the NL by 4 games over both the Cubs and Reds.

The AL race was quite different. The surprising Chicago White Sox, who had not won the AL since 1904, jumped out to a big lead early. By the end of May, Chicago’s closest competitor was the Red Sox, 7 GB. By the end of July, the White Sox lead was still 5 ½ games. But the Red Sox kept plugging away and narrowed the lead to 2 games by the beginning of September. But the White Sox (having been in 1st since 5/14) clung to a 1-game lead with 3 games to play. When Chicago lost the next 2 and Boston won 1 of 2, the teams were finally tied with 1 game to play. Both clubs easily won their final game, setting up a 1-game playoff in Boston.

1-game Playoff: Chicago (Ian Kennedy 22-6-2.45(LL)) @ Boston (Mike Garcia 16-11-3.12)

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 8th, when Boston’s Gene Baker hit a 2-out 367’ solo HR for the only run of the game: Bos 1, ChW 0.
It was Baker’s only HR of the season, and he finished with only 6 RBIs.

The 1934 World Series featured the New York Giants (87-67), 2-4 in World Series play, last winning in 1932, vs the Boston Red Sox (93-62), 6-2 in World Series play (most wins ever), last appearing in 1931, last winning in 1930.

Game 1 went to the Red Sox, 3-2, as Kelvim Escobar outpitched the Giants ace Jim J Hughes.
In Game 2, Red Sox ace Bob Black defeated the Giants 6-2, as C Ed Crane went 3-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2R.
The Giants turned it around at home in Games 3 & 4, winning easily in Game 3, 8-2, and gaining revenge with Hughes in Game 4, 4-2, to tie the series. But the Red Sox’ Black again quieted the Giants in Game 5, winning 4-2 and sending the Red Sox back home with a 3 games to 2 lead.
The Giants came from behind to win Game 6, 5-4, behind Eddie Rommel (2-0) and send the series to Game 7. In Game 7, Hughes and Escobar each allowed a single run through 8 tense innings. Then Tommy Davis, best hitter of the series, led off the Red Sox 9th with a 1B, advanced on a ground out, and scored on Pat Burrell’s 1B for the Red Sox 2-1 victory.

The Boston red Sox win their unprecedented 7th World Series (in 9 tries), 4 games to 3.

Co-MVPs: 3B Tommy Davis 1-5-.423/.444/.731 & SP Bob Black 2-0-2.12, 17 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 11 K

Great Moments in 1933:

Harmon Killebrew, 36, Was, surpassed Frank Robinson with career HR #251 on 9/17 and finished with 252 HRs for the all-time lead, 2 HRs ahead of Robinson, 2 years Killebrew’s junior.

Two teams put together tremendous winning streaks yet failed to win the pennant. The Reds won 15 games in a row and the Cubs won 11 games in a row, yet the Giants were strong enough to defeat both by 4 games in the standings.



1933 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Rogers Hornsby, Yankees, .365
Batting Avg: NL: Ginger Beaumont, Dodgers, .349
Rookie of Year: AL: Bobby Thomson, Browns, 18-95-.342-0, 78 R
Rookie of Year: NL: Robinson Cano, Cardinals, 6-65-.352-0, 51 R
Pitcher of Year: AL: Ian Kennedy, White Sox, 22-7-2.41 (LL)
Pitcher of Year: NL: Jim J Hughes, Giants, 23(LL)-11-3.46 (2nd consecutive)
Hitter of Year: AL: Rogers Hornsby, Yankees, 9-64-.365-2, 41 2B, 11 3B, 110 R. Also HOY in 1916,’19,’25
Hitter of Year: NL: Albert Pujols, Cubs, 21-109-.335-1, 50 2B, 6 3B, 103 R

Hitting Streaks:
Jesse Barfield, Indians, hit in 29 straight games
Ken Williams, Phillies, hit in 25 straight games

Milestones:
Monty Stratton, Dodgers, reached win # 300
John Smoltz, Giants, reaches win # 300
Bob Black, Red Sox, reaches win # 300
Addie Joss, Giants, reached win # 250
Dolph Luque, Reds, reached win # 200
Claude Hendrix, Braves, reached win # 200

Honus Wagner, Pirates, reached hit # 3500 (first player ever)
Rod Carew, Dodgers, reached hit # 3000 (# 5 all-time)
Alex Rodriguez, Reds, reached hit # 2500
Orlando Cepeda, Braves, reached hit # 2500
Beals Becker, Dodgers, reached hit # 2000


Individual Game Performances:
Jesse Barfield, 21, Cubs, 1st MLB HR & RBIs are a Grand Slam (in his 20th AB)

Danny Tartabull, Giants, hit for the Cycle, 5-5, RBI, in 6-0 win @ Pittsburgh

Pedro Alvarez, White Sox, 6-7 2 HR, 2B, 9 RBI, in 12-10 (12 inn) win vs Detroit
Ken Williams, Phillies, 6-6, 2B, 4 RBI, in 12-6 win @ Boston

Retired:

John Smoltz, 300-285-57-3.36, 5195.1 IP, 5342 H, 1469 BB, 2118 K. All-time: Wins #8, Ks #8, IP #6. Pitcher of Yr: 1913 & 1922. LL: Wins 1913, Sv 1921, Ks 1917, 1920, ERA, 1922. 300+ IP 7 times.

Fleury Sullivan, 291-234-29-2.97, 4804 IP, 4781 H, 1201 BB, 2065 K. All-time: Wins #1, Ks #8.
Pitcher of Yr: 1912, 1920, LL: Wins 1912, 1917, 1920 (6-time 20-game winner), ERA 1920. One of a handful of pitchers in this era with Hits
J.R. Richard, 222-206-46-3.58, 1719K. Pitcher of Yr: 1924, 1925. LL: Wins 1925, Ks 1924, 1925, ERA 1931.

Hal Chase, 84-1072-.319-440. 401 2B, 113 3B, 1076 R, 2459 H (#15), 1927 Triple Crown.

Jim Rice, 170(#11)-1073-.319-18, 299 2B, 118 3B, 918 R, 2102 H

Roger Maris, 110-738-.266-5. Best single-season HR total: 17 (1922).

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1935 Season


The 1935 season was not one of pennant races, but of all-time greats chasing their place in history and, in the end, the beginning of a changing of the guard.

First, to the pennant races. In the AL, the defending champion Red Sox were never out of first place, starting the season 13-1, finishing 99-55, 13 games ahead of Detroit. The NL was not much different with the Phillies taking the lead for good on May 20, finishing at 90-64, 8 games ahead of the Cubs.

The major story, however, was several of the best hitters who may ever play the game at the same time, battling for all-time records and to convince the fans that each was the best of his generation, if not for all-time.

The pure hitters, with their career totals at the end of 1935, () indicate rank all-time:

HR( )-RBI( )-AVG( )-SB( ), Hits( ), Runs( ), OBP( ), SLG( ),
Other
Ty Cobb, 38,113(29)-1492(2)-.382(1)-791(4), 3579(3), 1694(3), .441(1), .538(1),
2B:661(2),3B:222(3), TB:5041(3), VORP:1186.3(1), WAR:114.29(1), AB:9363(7)

HWagner,41,134(24)-1466(3)-.327(10)-857(2), 3745(1), 1861(1), .386(19), .465(20),
2B:734(1), 3B:227(1), TB:5327(1), VORP:864.36(3), WAR:86.11(4), AB:11446(1)

RHornsby,37,235(4)-1544(1)-.335(5)-134(u), 3582(2), 1742(2), .395(11), .494(8),
2B:629(3), 3B:186(6), TB: 5288(2), VORP: 1033.02(2), WAR: 92.54(2), AB: 10699(2)

The power guys:

Harmon Killebrew, 37, led all baseball with 29 HR, increasing his all-time record to 281 HRs, lengthening his lead over Frank Robinson, 35, whose 20 HRs left him at 270 for his career.

In a year-ending shock, on Dec. 18th, Ty Cobb called a press conference for his 39th birthday to announce his retirement. Cobb, who hit .298 with 4 SBs in 1935, stated simply: “I always told myself, the year I don’t hit .300, it’s time to take off the spikes. Leave it to the other guys to keep adding up the numbers. I’ll take quality over quantity any day. I love this game!”
True to his word, one season below .300, and Cobb walked away form the game he loved. He never hit below .327 nor stole less than 17 bases before 1935.

1935 saw a rash of other big names retiring, a virtual changing of the guard in baseball. Among the position players:
C King Kelly, 36, Cardinals, 76-879-.301-252, 2115 H, 1050 R
2B Roberto Alomar, 37, Pirates, 84-1154-.304-376, 2620 H, 1329 R
OF Tim Raines SR, 43, Phillies, 58-847-.293-759(6), 2266 H, 1145 R

All 4 of the active 300-game-winning pitchers retired, as well as other 2 other high profile SPs:
Cliff P Lee, 43, White Sox, 313(6)-294-100(1)-3.49 (note Lee also is #1 all-time in Saves)
Monty Stratton, 45, Dodgers, 305(7)-304-58-3.33
Jered Weaver, 45 Giants, 302(8)-258-48-3.16
Justin Verlander, 40, Athletics, 301(9)-275-57-3.75
Bret Saberhagen, 42, Dodgers, 265-191-43-3.05
Ben Sheets, 37, Senators, 199-177-52-3.48

The 1935 World Series featured the Philadelphia Phillies (90-64), 2-2 in World Series play, last appearing in 1926, last winning in 1912, vs the defending Champion Boston Red Sox (99-55), 7-2 in World Series play (most wins ever).

The Red Sox went into the Series without their starting LF & CF, Batting Champion Tommy Davis 8-63-.354 and Torii Hunter 17-103-.302. The Phillies were without Rookie SP Bill Butland, 2-2-2.49 in 11 starts.

Surprisingly, the Phillies won both games in Boston to start out the series, 8-2 (Wise defeating Boston ace Black) and 6-5. Boston broke through in Game 3 at Philadelphia, 4-1. But Wise then outdueled Black, 1-0 in Game 4 for a 3-1 Phillies.series lead. Vance Worley and Stan Rees combined for a shutout in Game 5, 3-0, for a relatively easy 4 games to 1 Phillies victory.

The Philadelphia Phillies win their 3rd World Championship in 5 tries, their first in 23 years.

MVP Bill Wise was 2-0-1.00, 18 IP, 17 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 2 CG.



1935 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Tommy Davis, Red Sox, .354
Batting Avg: NL: Vin Campbell, Pirates, .341
Rookie of Year: AL: Andre Dawson, Indians, 13-77-.307-7, 87 R
Rookie of Year: NL: Mat Latos, Bees, 14-11-1-3.73
Pitcher of Year: AL: Bob Black, Red Sox, 20(LL)-7-2.65(LL)
Pitcher of Year: NL: Bill J Sweeney, Reds, 22(LL)-13-2.76(LL)
Hitter of Year: AL: Harmon Killebrew, Senators, 29(LL)-104-.294-0
Hitter of Year: NL: Kirk Gibson, Giants, 25(LL)-118(LL)-.324-13, also HOY: 1933

Hitting Streaks:
Will Clark, Giants, hit in 25 straight games
Tommy Davis, Red Sox, hit in 21 straight games

Milestones:
Jered Weaver, Giants, reached win # 300
Justin Verlander, A’s, reached win # 300
Bobo Newsom, Indians, reached win # 250
Waite Hoyt, Tigers, reached win # 200
Bill Hill, Pirates, reached win # 200
Bill J Sweeney, Reds, reached win # 200

Rogers Hornsby, Yankees, reached hit # 3500 (2nd player ever)
Ty Cobb, A’s, reached hit # 3500 (3rd player ever – 8 days after Hornsby)
Joe Tinker, Cardinals, reached hit # 2000
Wade Boggs, Phillies, reached hit # 2000
Ginger Beaumont, Dodgers, reached hit # 2000
Hall of Fame:

Bill Vinton, 42, Giants, 1911-30, 211-170-24-3.07, 3582.2 IP, 3398 H, 1235 BB, 1408 K,
Pitcher of Year: 1915-16, LL W: 1915, ERA: 1916

[rjl518]

just finished reading your dynasty...any more? kinda like it...i might do one too

[CT Wolverine]

Thanks for the interest. Any feedback is welcome.

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1936 Season


Rogers Hornsby’s New York Yankees had not won a pennant for 19 seasons, since his 2nd season in MLB. The Yankees had finished the previous year 71-83, in 6th place, 28 GB, and made only 1 move in the off-season, trading 2 minor-leaguers for 33-year-old SS Rod Dedeaux. They even failed to sign their #1 draft pick. So nobody predicted much for the Yankees in 1936.

Their returning position players looked as follows (1935 stats):
C: Jake Stahl, 2-50-.313-29
1B: Rogers Hornsby, 9-81-.285, moved from 2B, replacing Mize, moving to RF
2B: Paul Schaal, 5-82-.255, moved from 3B, replacing Hornsby, moving to 1B
3B: Jose Oliva, 2-14-.278, replacing Schaal, moving to 2B
SS: Willie Harris (2/3), 0-4-.356 (59 PA); Rod Dedeaux (1/3) 0-7-.275 (45 PA, ChC), replacing Tinker
LF: George Foster, 15-64-.251
CF: Willie Canate, 15-74-.281
RF; Johnny Mize, 19-114-.271, moved from 1B, replacing Hal Morris
These moved effectively improved the infield defense at 2B & 3B, while keeping both Hornsby and Mize in the lineup, forcing Morris to the bench, and replacing the aging Tinker at SS with a platoon.

The pitching staff (1935 stats):
SP: Ray Benge, 10-8-2-3.79
SP: Frank Killen, 11-14-4.98
SP: Al Pratt, 12-13-3.48
SP: Willard Schmidt, 10-17-5.78
SP: Eppa Rixey, 9-8-15-4.25, exchanged from the bullpen with Mauch
MR: Hal Mauck, 12-8-4.61, exchanged from rotation with Rixey
MR: Don Minnick 2-4-1-4.50

The season did not start well for the Yankees, when George Foster fractured his wrist on Opening Day and was out for 6 weeks, replaced by Hal Morris and Heinie Manush. The Yankees struggled through April, finishing 7-9, 4 games behind the 9-4 White Sox. But then CF Willie Canate got hot, and by 5/11, the Yankees were 16-10, in first place, ½ game in front of Chicago. ON 5/17, Manush went out for 6-7 weeks with a sprained ankle, but fortunately, Foster returned 3 days later to take his place and the Yankees kept rolling. Canate was named the Batter of the Month: 9-33-.343, 34 R. But the Yankees were surpassed by an even hotter Detroit team which won their last 8 straight to take a 1 ½ game lead over New York at the end of May.

The Yankees quickly regained the lead by 6/4, as George Foster was awarded Player of the Week on 6/8: 0-9-.480 (12-25), 4 R (YTD: 2-15-.338). Again, however, injuries struck as Mize and Foster both went down on 6/9, Mize for 4 weeks and Foster for 2-3 weeks. On 6/13, 2B Paul Schaal went out for 5-6 weeks. This time the Yankees took action by acquiring 1B Dale Long (31) from the White Sox, who had slid from the race, in return for 2 minor-leaguers. Pete Kilduff filled in at 2B, Hornsby at 1B, Morris in LF and Dave Collins in RF, while Long provided a strong bat off the bench and backup at 1B. Even when MP Don Minnick went down on 6/19 for 4 weeks, the Yankees kept winning, finishing June at 46-26, 2 games ahead of Detroit.
Canate again was awarded Batter of the Month for June: 3-26-.298, 24R.

By the All-Star break, Canate led MLB in HR (15) and RBI (74). Frank Killen led MLB in Wins (12). Al Pratt led MLB in Ks (98).

By the end of July, the Yankees led by 2 ½ games, but now the formidable defending champion Red Sox were the team in 2nd place and moving up.

The Yankees continued to suffer in juries at an alarming rate, Jose Oliva out for 3 weeks starting 8/9, George Foster lost for the season on 8/23 with a herniated disc in his back, then Kilduff another 2 week on 8/25., but their deep roster kept coming through, The Yankees, 82-47, held a 1 ½ game lead over Boston at the end of August.

Then on 9/4-6, the Yankees won 2 of 3 from the Red Sox in their final meeting of the year to stretch their lead to 5 ½ games with 19 games remaining. Boston would never get close again. Final standings: New York: 99-55, Boston: 91-63, 8 GB. New York had its first American League Pennant in 19 seasons.

Beside losing Foster for the season in August, the Yankees suffered a final blow on 9/25, when consensus MVP CF Willie Canate went down with a strained oblique and would miss the World Series.

Over in the National League, the race was decided relatively early. The Cincinnati Reds built a 6 game lead by the end of June over Boston and St. Louis and never looked back, ultimately finishing at 95-59, 9 games ahead of the 2nd-place Chicago Cubs.

The Reds, sometimes referred to as the Big Red Machine, had a potent lineup (1936 stats):
C: Mickey Tettleton, 10-55-.270
1B: Lou Gehrig, 15-107-.305
2B: Billy Herman, 4-70-.292
3B: Tony Perez, 18-124-.359
SS: Carlos Guillen, 7-84-.291
LF: Bob Watson, 7-100-.319
CF: Michael Saunders, 3-34-.234; Alexis Rios, 4-27-.293
RF: Gary Holman, 8-62-.332

The 1935 World Series featured the Cincinnati Reds (95-59), 3-4 in World Series play, last winning in 1931, vs the New York Yankees (99-55), making their first appearance since winning in 1917.

The Yankees went into the Series without their starting CF, consensus MVP CF Willie Canate: 23-116-.289-3, and LF George Foster: 10-61-.307. The Reds would play without SP Billy Pierce: 13-13-4.80 and MR Juan Marichal: 2-0-2 with Cin (15 IP), 3-5-5-8.20 (56 IP) overall.

The Yankees and Reds split the first 2 games in New York. The Yankees won Game 1, 12-3, behind 7.2 strong IP from Al Pratt and Hal Morris’ 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R performance. Game 2 went to the Reds, 12-5 behind Larry Hackson’s CG, and performances by Lou Gehrig: 3-4, HR, 2B, BB, 3 RBI, 2 R; & Bob Watson: 3-5, record-tying 2 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R.

Then Cincinnati took charge at home in the next 2 games, 11-3 and 8-2 to take a 3 games to 1 lead.


Game 5 saw New York jump out to a 3-run lead in the 4th. New York held a 4-1 margin after 6 innings but Ray Benges tired and came out for Kyle Davies. Davies surrendered 2 Reds runs in the 7th to make the score 4-3. The Reds then rallied again in the 8th off Davies, first scoring on Tony Perez’ RBI 1B then on Carlos Guillen’s 2-out RBI 1B for a 5-4 lead. Troy Patton, who had entered for the Reds in the 8th, retired the Yankees in order in the 9th.

The Cincinnati Reds won their 4th World Championship in 8 tries.

MVP SS Carlos Guillen: 8-21-.429, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 R, game-winning hit with 2-out bottom 8th in final game.

1935 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Joe Delahanty, Tigers, .346
Batting Avg: NL: Tony Perez, Reds, .359
Rookie of Year: AL: Lee Mazzilli, White Sox, 5-62-.341-16
Rookie of Year: NL: Tony Conigliaro, Cardinals, 12-77-.289-2
Pitcher of Year: AL: Bob Black, Red Sox, 20(LL)-9-3.21, 2nd consecutive, 6th career
Pitcher of Year: NL: George Meakim, Cubs, 16-12-3.53
Hitter of Year: AL: Willie Canate, Yankees, 23(LL)-116(LL)-.289-3
Hitter of Year: NL: Tony Perez, Reds, 18-125-.359(LL)-0

Hitting Streaks:
Tony Perez, Reds, hit in 24 straight games
Andre Dawson, Indians, hit in 23 straight games

Milestones:
Bob Black, Red Sox, reached win # 335, surpassing Early Wynn as #1 All-time, finishing season with 343 Wins
Greg Maddux, Red Sox, reached win # 300
Andy Pettitte, Cubs, reached win # 200
Ian Kennedy, White Sox, reached win # 200
Eppa Rixey, Yankees, reached win # 200

Frank Robinson, Pirates, reached hit #3000
Harmon Killebrew, Senators, reached hit # 2000
Jim Pagliaroni, Tigers, reached hit # 2000

Career Records:
Honus Wagner, Pirates, new all-time record 2839 games played, surpasses Mickey Mantle.
Harmon Killebrew, Senators, finishes season with 299 career HRs, adding to his all-time record.
Al Pratt, Yankees, finishes season with 6.392 career K/9, 2nd all-time.

Individual Game Accomplishments:
Jim McCormick, Senators, no-hitter, 1 BB, 8 K in 6-0 home win vs A’s.
Orlando Cepeda, Bees, 6-7, HR, 3 2B, 5 RBI in 23-10 win @ Brooklyn.
Orlando Cepeda, Bees, 5-6, hits for cycle, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R in 10-8 win @ Cubs.


Retired:
Mickey Mantle, 47, Indians, 206-1347-.294-148, 2983H, 380 2B, 121 3B, 1564 R, 1908 BB, .403 OBP, .417 SLG, .820 OPS. Five-time Batter of Year: 1912, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919.
Holds career record for BB (1908) and K (1287), single-season record for BB (138). Third all-time in games played. Led league in HR 3 straight seasons 1916-18. Sadly retired 17 hits shy of goal of 3000 H.

Miguel Cabrera, 41, Bees, 169-1260-.307-8, 2846 H, 475 2B, 39 3B, 1149 R.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1937 Season


There were two major stories in 1937:
• The plethora of individual milestones reached throughout the season
• Rogers Hornsby and the New York Yankees

The Milestone assault began early, on the same day in fact:
• 4/21: Paul Derringer, 43, ChW, win #300 (10th tie all-time), 6-0, 5 hitter @ Browns &
Josh Beckett, 37, A’s, win # 250, (19th all-time), 9-8 @ home vs Bos. @ G. Maddux
And followed with regularity throughout the season:
• 4/22: Harmon Killebrew, 38, Was, HR #300, 1st in MLB history, 466’ off Sam Gray @ Yankee Stadium
• 5/26: Lou Gehrig, 31, Cin, hit #2000, 2B off Chris Leroux in 12-2 home win vs NYG
• 5/31: Britt Burns, 36, Browns, win #200, 5-3 @ ChW
• 6/3: Bob Black, 36, Red Sox, win #350, 1st in MLB history, 4-1 @ ChW
• 6/27: Frank Robinson, 36, Pit, HR #300, 2nd all-time to Killebrew, off D Davis, Phil
• 7/12: Orlando Cepeda, Cle, hit #3000, (7th all-time), 1B off Connie Johnson, ChW
• 7/23: Billy L Williams, ChW, hit #2000, 2B off Willard Schmidt -3-2 home win vs NYY
• 9/15: Kid Nichols, Cin, win #200, 4-1 @ home vs Bro

Rogers Hornsby, however, was arguably the biggest story of the season. Hornsby started the season at age 38, and shortly turned 39 on April 27th. As the season progressed, Hornsby surpassed the still-active Honus Wagner in career Hits, Runs and Games Played, finishing with a 6-68-.328-2 line for the season and career #s of: 250-1688-.335-140.

Hornsby led the New York Yankees to their 2nd consecutive AL title with an 87-67 mark. Their opponent in the World Series was the Pittsburgh Pirates, also 87-67, led by MVP candidate Larry Hisle and Outstanding Pitcher candidate Billy Hoeft.

The Yankees dominated the World Series, winning 4 games to 2. To cap it, off, Hornsby was named World Series MVP with 0-2-.429/.478/571 5R, 1 2B, 1 3B. Remarkably, Hornsby was 19 years old when he played on the last Yankees World Championship team in 1917.

It was the Yankees 4th World Championship in 5 tries.



1937 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Mike Piazza, Was, .370
Batting Avg: NL: Larry Hisle, Pit, .366
Rookie of Year: AL: Bill Dahlen, Was, 7-71-.305-10
Rookie of Year: NL: Bob Chance, Bro, 14-79-.334-1
Pitcher of Year: AL: Frank Killen, NYY, 23(LL)-7-2.75(LL)
Pitcher of Year: NL: Felix Hernandez, StL, 24(LL)-8-2.61(LL), 162K(LL), Pitching Triple Crown
Hitter of Year: AL: Reggie Smith, Was, 19-122(LL)-.336-15
Hitter of Year: NL: Larry Hisle, Pit, 12-88-.366(LL)-8

Hitting Streaks:
Wade Boggs, Phillies, hit in 24 straight games
Dale Long, ChW, hit in 22 straight games


Individual Game Accomplishments:
Ben Grieve, Browns, 3 HRs in 11-5 win @ NYY
Bruce Bochy, NYG, 6-6, HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI in 18-11 win @ ChC
Andy Carey, Red Sox, hit for cycle, 4-5, BB, 2 RBI in 13-10 home loss to A’s

Individual/Franchise Career Losses:
Red Sox lose two promising young players to career-ending injury this season:
• Ruben Sierra, 20, 3-26-.258-5 in rookie season, career-ending concussion
• Miguel Tejada, 24, 15-101-.285-4, 228 H (car), career-ending torn labrum (shoulder)

Losing streak – Cincinnati Reds, 1936 World Champions, spiraled to a 17-game losing streak in August and September, finishing 66-88, last in NL. They began a rebuilding effort after the season by trading off their two 200-game winning pitchers.

Hall of Fame Inductees:
• Doc McJames, ChC, 281(#14)-264-17-3.68, 4852 IP(#12), 5064 H, 1850 BB, 2322 K(#6), 1.42 WHIP, Rookie of Yr 1911, Pitcher of Yr 1014, led league in Wins 1912 & 1914 (25 each), led league in Ks 5 straight seasons 1912-16 (each >200Ks)

Retired:
• Alex Rodriguez, 38, Red Sox, 1918-27, Cin, 1928-36, 224-1453-.294-238, 2635 H, 1327 R. LL HR(1), RBI(3).
• Addie Joss, 39, NYY, 267-213-54-3.42, 4077.2 IP, 4372 H, 1155 BB, 1098 K, 1.36 WHIP. ROY & Pitcher of Yr 1919, LL W(2), ERA(1)
• Paul Derringer, 44, Phil, 307-334-53-3.70, 5470 IP, 6082 H, 1284 BB, 1643 K, 1.35 WHIP. LL W(1)

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1938 Season


The 1937 draft was the best in years. The top 7 picks:
1. 1B George Gore, Reds (unsigned)
2. CF Kenny Lofton, Browns
3. . RF Ted Williams, A’s
4. LF Reggie Jackson, Phillies
5. CF Sid Gordon, Dodgers
6. SP Dwight Gooden, Red Sox
7. SP Cole Hamels, White Sox

Going into Opening Day, Williams, Jackson and Gooden were rated the top 3 prospects in MLB.

The pennant races were among the closest in years in both leagues. In the NL, with on week remaining, the Cubs held a 3 ½ game lead over the Reds, Giants and Pirates. The Pirates still had fate in their own hands if they could sweep the Cubs on the road. But the Cubs took the first 2 from the Pirates, and the other contenders also faltered. The Cubs clinched the pennant with 3 games remaining when the Phillies defeated the Giants. They finished 4 games ahead of the Pirates, who finished in 2nd place.

In the AL, the Yankees held a 2-game lead over the Red Sox with 7 games to play. The Red Sox pulled within 1 game before and Yankee win and Red Sox loss on 9/30 clinched the pennant with 2 games remaining.


The Chicago Cubs, 83-71, and New York Yankees, 87-67, squared off in the World Series. The Yankees came in as the defending champions, while the Cubs had not played in the World Series since 1918, some 20 years ago, their only appearance, and were still looking for their first world title.

This time the World Series was dominated by the Chicago Cubs, who win 4 games to 1, with the Yankees only win a 12-9, 10-inning affair in Game 4. The Cubs series clinching Game 5 win was a 3-0 shutout by George Meakim. The MVP was 3B Albert Pujols, 2-9-.400 (8-20), 5 R, 2 2B, 2 BB.

1938 Milestones:
Jason Waddell,, Boston Bees, began season with most Saves all-time @ 103, and extended record to 1121 by season’s end
9/21, Orlando Cepeda, Indians, surpassed Rogers Hornsby with 1703 RBI for #1 all-time, and ended season with 1709 RBI
Bill Hill, Pirates, reached win #250
Al Pratt, NYY, reached win #200
Wade Boggs, Phillies, reached hit #2500
Will Clark, Boston Bees, reached hit #2000
Carlos Delgado, Phillies, reached hit #2000
Ken Boyer, Bees, reached hit #2000



1938 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Hal Morris, Bos, .336
Batting Avg: NL: Bob Chance, ChC, .357
Rookie of Year: ALRobby Thompson, Det, 9-89-.318-13
Rookie of Year: NL: Doug Brocail, Bro, 7-1-10-1.93
Pitcher of Year: AL: Frank Killen, NYY, 21(LL)-8-2.96 (2nd consecutive)
Pitcher of Year: NL: Jim J Hughes, NYG, 22(LL)-8-2.90 (3rd time)
Hitter of Year: AL: Jake Stahl, NYY, 27-100-.333.31, LL in H, SLG and OPS
Hitter of Year: NL: Gene Tenace, ChC, 22-88-.278-0, LL in OBP, SLG and OPS; 2nd and 3rd place votes also went to Cubs; Bob Chance and Albert Pujols

Hitting Streaks:
Jesse Barfield, Cle, hit in 31 straight games
Hal Morris, Red Sox, hit in 27 straight games
John Anderson, Red Sox, hit in 22 straight games
Tony Perez, Reds, hit in 22 straight games


Individual Game Accomplishments:
Jesse Barfield, Indians, 3 HRs in 17-1 home win vs NYY
Eddie Plank, Bro, no-hitter in 4-0 home win vs 1st place Bees. Line: 9 0 0 0 7 4
Bill F Hart, Bro, no-hitter in 1-0 home win vs Cin. Line: 9 0 0 0 5 3.

Hall of Fame Inductees:
• Dan Haren, Pit, 251-211-82-3.45, 3817.1 IP, 4214 H, 749 BB, 1205 K, 1.30 WHIP.
Pitcher of Yr 1923, LL in BB/9 4x.

Retired: () indicate position in top 5 all-time at time of retirement
• Honus Wagner, Pit, 135-1501(5)-.326-864(2), 3841 H(2), 745 2B(1), 227 3B(1t), 1910 R(2). Batter of Yr 1921, ’22, ’24, ’25. LL TB 6x, SB 5x, R 3x, Avg 1922, ’25, OPS 6x. Holds MLB record for AB 11778, 2B 745, 3B 227 (tie).
• Harmon Killebrew, Was, 359(1)-1541(4)-.276-7, 2446 H, 357 2B, 48 3B, 1451 R. All-time HR leader in HR 359 (45 more than Frank Robinson). Batter of Yr 1935. LL HR 1935, ’37, ’38, R 1935, BB 4x.
• Bill Madlock, Pit, 95-1051-.300-98, 2494 H, 448 2B, 82 3B, 1172 R. ROY 1921.

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1939 & 1940 Seasons

1939 and 1940 saw a major changing of the guard in the Metaphysical Baseball League. On Opening Day, 1939, the seven-time World Champion Boston Red Sox were a harbinger of the tidal wave to come. Pitcher Bob Black, holder of the record for most wins in the history of the game, took his place in the bullpen, where he would spend the season because he no longer had the stamina to start. Teammate Greg Maddux, third all-time in wins took a seat in the dugout as the Opening Day starting honors went to a 19-year-old phenom named Dwight Gooden, who would shut out the defending AL Champion NY Yankees, 7-0, on 4 hits, striking out 10 hitters. Gooden would not be untouchable that season. He would lose 5 games. However in 36 starts, he would notch a decision every outing, winning 31 games, tying the single-season record for Wins, while posting a 2.00 ERA in what was arguably the greatest pitching season to date in MLB.

Over the course of 1939-40, Black (377 wins), and two 200-game winners (Andy Pettitte and Ian Kennedy) would retire, while Maddux (344 wins) would see his skills begin to fade. Eight pitchers who had been retired for at least five seasons (all with at least 200 wins) would be named to the Hall of Fame: Cliff Lee, J.P. Richard, Bret Saberhagen, John Smoltz, Monty Stratton, Fleury Sullivan, Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver.

On the position player side, Rogers Hornsby, holding all-time records for G, AB, R, H, TB and 1B, 2nd in RBIs 2B, VORP and WAR, 5th in Avg and OPS retired. MLB also lost Wade Boggs. Four players were named to the Hall of Fame: Hal Chase, Ty Cobb, King Kelly and Jim Rice.
Cobb and Hornsby may have been the two best players to grace the MLB to date.

Along with Gooden, Felix Hernandez of the Cardinals stood out as a youngster with the potential to live up to the accomplishments of these greats, but overall, the pitching in MLB has lost substantially more than it has gained.

On the other hand, while it may be hard for the young crop of hitters to live up to the Cobb/Hornsby/Wagner standards, there are an increasing number of very good young sluggers, led by the likes of Reggie Smith and Mike Piazza in Was, Ted Williams with the A’s, Rggie Jackson and Barry Bonds with the Phillies, Albert Pujols with the Cubs, Andre Dawson in Cleveland, George Brett with the Giants and Derek Jeter with the Braves.

The 1939 pennant race in the American League came down to the final day of the regular season with the Red Sox and Yankees tied for first place, and Boston scheduled to play in New York. The Red Sox’ Gooden and Yankees’ Goodall each started on 3 days rest. Gooden was better, winning 2-1, with a complete-game 5-hitter, 2 BB, 10Ks, for his record-tying 31st win.

The Red Sox then went on to defeat their cross-town rivals, the Boston Bees, 4 games to 1, to win their record 8th World Championship.

Pitchers of Yr: Dwight Gooden, Red Sox, 31-5-2.00 and Felix Hernandez, Cardinals, 21-9-2.85
Hitters of Yr: Reggie Smith, Senators, 29-127-.335-11 and Jason Bay, Cards/Bees, 18-98-.351-5



Turning to 1940, in the National League, the Cubs and Dodgers were tied with 2 games to play. Each lost game 153 to remain tied. Then each won their final game in extra innings to remain tied and force a 1-game playoff in Brooklyn, with Gary Nolan facing Daryl Kile. Nolan went 8.2 innings for the Cubs in a 3-1 win, giving the Cubs (87-68) the chance to face what looked like the much stronger Washington Senators (105-49). Shockingly, the Cubs kept their momentum, winning easily in 5 games as MVP Bill Steen pitched 2 complete games vs the vaunted Washington offense. It was the Cubs 2nd World Championship in 3 seasons after having suffered a championship drought in the previous 37 seasons.

Pitchers of Yr: Dwight Gooden, Red Sox, 18-14-2.81 & Felix Hernandez, Cardinals, 20-12-2.99
Hitters of Yr: Reggie Smith, Senators, 20-114-.360-9 & Reggie Jackson, Phillies, 25-106-.321-4

[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1941 Season


The 194o draft and 1941 season were rather uneventful. George Brett, drafted 3rd by the Giants, was probably the most promising player in the draft. Two new pennant-winners were crowned. The Philadelphia Phillies, on the strength of winning streaks of 12 games and 10 games, won the NL pennant by a whopping 25 games over the Pirates, with a 108-46 record. The Cleveland Indians struggled to win the AL, but finished at 88-66, 4 games over Chicago.

The Phillies demonstrated that they truly were the dominant team in baseball with a 4-game sweep over Cleveland in the World Series, for their 4ht World Championship. The Phillies were paced by Reggie Jackson, with a 2-5-.500/.556/1.071, 2 2B, 3 BB, 5 R line.
The Phillies lineup also included sluggers Barry Bonds and Carlos Delgado. The pitching staff included 20-game winners Ben Sanders, Daisy Davis and Mickey Harris, as well as Ron Reed, Billy Pierce and Charlie Root.

1941 Awards and Accomplishments:

Batting Avg: AL: Ted Williams, A’s, .350
Batting Avg: NL: Frank LaPorte, Phillies, .357
Rookie of Year: AL: Bill Joyce, A’s, 3-50-.248-32
Rookie of Year: NL: Lefty Gomez, Pirates, 14-13-3.04
Pitcher of Year: AL: Dwight Gooden, Red Sox, 24-10-2.58, 173K, (Pitching Triple Crown)
Pitcher of Year: NL: Ben Sanders, Phillies, 28-4-2.59
Hitter of Year: AL: Ted Williams, A’s, 17-83-.350-0
Hitter of Year: NL: Frank LaPorte, Phillies, 9-86-.357-7, 242 H, 121 R

Record: Single-season Winning Percentage: Ben Sanders, Phillies, .875 (28-4)

Retired: Top 10 all-time in ():

Rod Carew, Pirates, 44-1114-.357(3)-260, 3361 H(6), 480 2B, 215 3B(4), 1589 R(6), .412 OBP(5). ROY & Outstanding Hitter - 1920. One-time All-Star. LL in H: 6x; 3B: 2x; R: 4x; Avg 4x. Hit over .340 in each of his first 11 seasons and over .300 for 17 consecutive seasons.