The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell

[Big Six]

A promotional poster that appeared in Wichita, Kansas:

YOU LIKE BASE BALL?? YOU'LL LOVE THIS!!

ROY HITT'S ALL-AMERICAN BARNSTORMERS
APPEARING IN WICHITA, OCTOBER 29-30-31!!!

You read it right! Major league star pitcher Roy Hitt and his famous All-Americans barnstorming team will be in Wichita for a series of games!

This year's All-American squad is the most star-spangled in history!

See these major league stars in action!

Pat O'Farrell, Joe Wood, and Walter Johnson of the World Champion Boston Red Sox!
Pol Perritt of the National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals!
Ty Cobb, Joe Jackson, Roy Hitt, Del Mason, Jim Nealon, and more!

Their opponents? The Wichita Wranglers, semi-professional champions of Kansas for the last 9 years running!

Don't miss this chance to see base ball's best!

OCTOBER 29-30-31
WICHITA BASE BALL GROUNDS

[jdw]

Big Six wrote:

> Those of you who are awaiting Pat's 1920
> stats, have no fear: they will be posted soon.
> I've been looking forward to Roy Hitt's
> All-Americans and their barnstorming tour
> for so long that I wanted to get started on it
> right away!!

Don't worry about it, Six. I think most of us readers are looking forward to the barnstorming as well.


> The statistical notes, etc. on the 1920 season
> will be interspersed among the tales from the
> barnstorming tour, so whichever you're most
> interested in, you'll have something you'll
> hopefully enjoy.

I'm sure we will. It's part of the beauty of the thread - the breaks inbetween posting only make us appreciate it even more when we see it pop up on the front page with something new. The thread is a bit like a flower that goes in and out of blossoming - you wait for the blub to pop open, enjoy it, then wait patiently for the next bulb to blossom. If it was in blossom year around, we might take the beauty for granted.


John, looking forward to Six introducing us to Pat's beloved grandfather Colonel O'Farrell

[Big Six]

Thanks for your comments, John!

I have to admit I wish I had time to make sure the bulbs bloomed a little more often! Hopefully now that my school year is well underway and I've reaccustomed myself to the demands of five classes, with tests and essays, plus meetings and committees, I'll be able to fit in more OOTP fun.
The Colonel will soon make his first appearance, and I have another surprise that I hope Pat's fans will think is fun, too.

I thought I'd share with all of you a little bit about how I'm making the barnstorming tour work. I created a new league with six teams: the All-Americans, the Negro League stars, and four other squads that represent some of the other teams the All-Americans will be playing.

I edited the All-Americans first, adding Pat and his teammates, and then the Negro League stars. I used my copy of the 1923 Negro National League season for Replay baseball (my favorite baseball board game) as my primary reference when creating the Negro Leaguers. The roster for that team is a lot like the All-Americans'; it includes several of the greatest NL stars of the era, like Oscar Charleston and Bullet Joe Rogan, as well as a few minor stars and "average" players. The four other teams were left as the game generated them.

I've playtested the "barnstorming league" a little bit, and I'm pleased with the outcome. Hopefully you'll all enjoy it, too.

[Big Six]

Mrs. Sarah O'Farrell
145 Cherry Street
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

October 27, 1920

Dearest Sarah,

I am writing this as our train rolls across eastern Kansas, on our way toward Wichita. We finally have the entire team together, as we met two of the fellows who play for St. Louis teams there yesterday.

The experience of traveling with a team like this is very different. Naturally, in any group of players, there will be cliques of sorts, groups of men who get along better than others. Because most of the All-Americans are still getting to know each other, we have spent most of our time in small groups.

I am more fortunate than many of the others, for I have several teammates, or former teammates, for companions. I have also spent some time talking to Del Mason and our "host," Roy Hitt, both of whom are fine gentlemen. One other fellow, whom I had not met and whom I have enjoyed getting to know, is Charlie Hollocher, from Chicago. The three Southerners on the team, Cobb, Joe Jackson, and Del Pratt, tend to stick together especially closely.

I have to admit that Cobb and I have never been able to get along particularly well. We have been on several All-Star teams together, and we have never exchanged more than a few "hellos." And, as you might remember, when the Red Sox and Tigers were battling for the pennant almost every year, Ty could be absolutely nasty. I still have that scar on my shin where his spikes caught me once. However, Ty does understand that if he chooses to slide into second base with his spikes high, he also knows to perhaps expect a firmer tag than usual, or a head-high relay throw to first that will force him to keep low. That, after all, is base ball.

There have been a few whispers about the fact that a few of the fellows have some misgivings about playing games against Negro players, despite the fact that Hitt made it perfectly clear from the beginning that would be the case. I cannot honestly understand why a man's color should matter on a base ball diamond, or anywhere else, for that matter. I suppose if you have been raised to believe that a man with darker skin than yours is somehow your inferior, it is a difficult concept to abandon.

I suppose I should close now, and wander down to the dining car for a bit of lunch. We should be arriving in Wichita in time to settle into our hotel before dinner, and tomorrow we shall take the field for the first time. Give my love to the children, and save lots for yourself as well.

Always,
Pat

[jdw]

Big Six wrote:

> I have to admit I wish I had time to
> make sure the bulbs bloomed a little
> more often! Hopefully now that my
> school year is well underway and I've
> reaccustomed myself to the demands
> of five classes, with tests and essays,
> plus meetings and committees, I'll be
> able to fit in more OOTP fun.

No need to worry about it, Six. We like the pace!


> The Colonel will soon make his first
> appearance, and I have another
> surprise that I hope Pat's fans will
> think is fun, too.

Woo-hoo~!


> I thought I'd share with all of you
> a little bit about how I'm making
> the barnstorming tour work. I
> created a new league with six
> teams: the All-Americans, the
> Negro League stars, and four other
> squads that represent some of the
> other teams the All-Americans will
> be playing.
>
> I edited the All-Americans first,
> adding Pat and his teammates, and
> then the Negro League stars. I
> used my copy of the 1923 Negro
> National League season for Replay
> baseball (my favorite baseball board
> game) as my primary reference
> when creating the Negro Leaguers.
> The roster for that team is a lot
> like the All-Americans'; it includes
> several of the greatest NL stars of
> the era, like Oscar Charleston and
> Bullet Joe Rogan, as well as a few
> minor stars and "average" players.

Oh... this is so cool, Six. It will be great to watch Oscar and Bullet Joe go against the big leaguers.


John

[Carlton]

Hey Six

Just to let you know...

Cobb wasn't as racist as he got older...and the only reason he refused to play against Negro League teams was not because they were black, but in Cuba...they cheated. 2nd base was 3 inches further away from 1st then it should have been...Cobb figured it out after being thrown out 3 times...and had it measured.
He was correct, asked for it to be fixed...and they said no. He went back to the US vowing never to play them again

[Big Six]

Hey, Carlton! Long time no see!

Thanks for the info about Cobb. I read the story about his experiences in Cuba somewhere, too. I'm changing the story just a bit for the sake of a plot line I want to follow a little bit, though.

You're right; Cobb was really like a lot of Southerners who softened their views about race as time went on, as they saw more of the world, and as attitudes about race throughout America began to change. I grew up in Georgia, and knew quite a few people like that when I was a boy. George Wallace did the same thing, as did Strom Thurmond, to cite two examples from politics.

Cobb here is still the angry young man, and if I'm overdrawing his character a bit, it's for the sake of the story. My apologies, of course, to any fans of the players (Cobb, Jackson, or Pratt) who might be offended by my drawing them in such broad strokes. They won't be stereotypical rednecks, because those kinds of characters aren't fun at all.

I admit I'm taking a little artistic license here, but since my main character is completely fictional, I hope you'll all excuse it for the sake of what I hope will be a good story.

[Big Six]

Wichita Eagle, October 30, 1920

WRANGLERS RALLY TO BEAT BARNSTORMERS, 5-2
Local Ballists Rough Up Smoky Joe Wood

WICHITA--Roy Hitt's traveling All-Americans pulled into town yesterday with a roster full of major league stars. Today, they sent to the hill one of baseball's most renowned pitching stars, Joe Wood, in his first performance in his home state since he left Ness City in 1906. The huge assemblage that packed every available seat at the Base Ball Grounds probably expected the home town team, the semipro stalwart Wranglers, to provide some competition for the All-Americans, but little more than that.

What they saw, instead, was a spirited late-innings charge by the Wranglers that resulted in five runs and a 5-2 victory over the major leaguers in the opening game of their barnstorming tour.

For six and a half innings, things proceeded according to script. Wood's crackling fastball mowed down the Wranglers like wheat. The Red Sox star struck out thirteen men in eight innings of work, so it cannot be said that the Wranglers caught him on a day when his "stuff" was lacking.

The All-Americans scored two runs in the third inning. Shortstop Charlie Hollocher of the Cubs singled, and Wood, a fine batsman, did likewise. That brought to the slab lead-off man Tillie Shafer, of the Giants, who smacked a double, Hollocher scoring and Wood taking third. Ty Cobb next singled, plating Wood. Wranglers pitcher Jeffrey Terrell then bore down and whiffed Pat O'Farrell, going on from there to retire the side.

Wood cruised along with this lead until the seventh, when doubles by big Wrangler first baseman Eric McKibben and veteran second baseman Joshua Strader, sandwiched around a walk to Chris Hamilton, tied the score. Then, after Allan Palacio worked Wood for a base on balls, Kenneth Mistretta, pinch hitting for Fred Bruhn, hammered a third two-base hit. This blow brought Strader and Palacio home and set the Wichita rooters into a frenzy.

From there, it was up to the lanky Terrell, who pitched one of the most courageous games we have seen him work--and we have seen many over his fourteen years here in Wichita. Jeffrey allowed eight hits to the All-Americans, but did not walk a man, and struck out three.

Tomorrow, the All-Americans will likely send either Chuck Rose or Walter Johnson to the mound, while the Wranglers' likely starter will be Waldo Donley. The first pitch will take place at 2:00 p.m., and while all the reserved seats have been sold, there will be grandstand seating and standing room available at the Ball Grounds beginning at noon.

[Big Six]

Here is O'Farrell's stat line for 1920, along with his career totals:

	 G   AB    H    2B  3B  HR   RBI    R     BB   K    SB  CS  AVG  OBP  SLG   OPS
1920   147  556   204   33  23  11   113   146    97   51   97  20 .367 .458 .568 1.026 
Total 1870 6892  2281  393 200  87  1123  1431  1251  842  886 194 .331 .434 .484  .918

Pat achieved new career highs in home runs, runs scored, slugging, and OPS. The runs total is second all-time to Cobb's 157, also achieved this season.

Pat's 204 hits were the second highest total of his career, as were his 23 triples, his 113 RBI, and his 97 steals.

His .367 average was his third best mark ever, and his OBP was his fourth best.

Will Pat remain close enough to his peak to feast on the lively ball a little bit? We shall see...he celebrated his 33rd birthday on September 16, 1920.

[jdw]

Big Six wrote:

> Will Pat remain close enough to his
> peak to feast on the lively ball a
> little bit? We shall see... he celebrated
> his 33rd birthday on September 16, 1920.

While he might not remain at his peak, staying strong combined with the lively ball should give him more years of excellent numbers. These are his peers to check out (date of birth given):

12/18/86 - Cobb
05/02/87 - Collins
09/16/87 - O'Farrell
04/04/88 - Speaker

Collins:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/collied01.shtml
1923-.909-7
1924-.896-8
1926-.900-9

Speaker
http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/speaktr01.shtml
1921-.977-5
1922-1.080-2
1923-1.079-3
1924-.943-4
1925-1.057-2

Cobb
http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cobbty01.shtml
1921-1.048-3
1922-1.026-6
1923-.882-9
1925-1.066-1
1927-.921-8

They weren't as "strong" in the lively era as they had been prior to it. Not a suprise since they were older. But they remained among the best in the league for several years into the decade, and since offense went up so much, that led them to put up numbers that fit in with their earlier "peak".

Pat probably should do the same - he might fall back into the middle and lower end of the Top 10 in OPS, but those OPS might also be among the best of his career. Relative to league he declines, but the different envorinments between the 10s and 20s give the look of not declining for a while.

OOTP does have the feature of cutting down power in the 33-34 age range. There are several threads on this, and someone like Carlton could probably explain it better than me. The thing is, HR are going through the roof in this period, and Pat (as opposed to Cobb) might be one of the old timers who when watching teammate Ruth decide the more HR would be a good thing. I don't know how one would adjust him for that.

Pat is three year older than Ken Williams. He almost certainly is a much, much, much better hitter than Ken.

Ken hit 10 HR in 1920 (with very good 34/13/10 EBH numbers).

Ken followed Ruth's path and hit 24 in 1921. Then 39 and 29 the following two years. He was 32 when he hit 39. He actually hit for average those three years: 8-6-5 in the league in BA from 1921-23.

If Ken Williams can go from 34/13/10 with a .307 BA to 31/7/24 and 34/11/39 with a .347 and .332 BA, what could Pat with a 33/23/11 and a .367 BA do if he put his mind at it?

Something to think about, Six. I know Pat is very much of the Cobb and Tris model as a batter, and terrific at it. They largely stuck to their guns on the "right way" to play the game. It would be interesting to see if Pat goes in the other direction from his peers - a willingness to take a poke at the outfield wall. And also be able to read his thoughts (via the letters) on how the game is changing.


John

[Big Six]

Pat found himself, once again, among the American League leaders in most offensive categories. His days of leading the league in many of them might be done, particularly because of the emergence of his teammate, Mr. Ruth...but Pat is still very much a force to be reckoned with.

Here are his rankings among the AL's Top Ten:

BA: 4th
OBP: 3rd (behind Cobb and Ruth)
SLG: 2nd (behind Ruth)
OPS: 3rd (behind Ruth and Cobb)
Runs Created: 3rd, with 159.1 (behind Ruth and Cobb)
RC/27 outs: 3rd, with 10.87 (behind Ruth and Cobb)
Plate Appearances: 8th
Hits: 5th
Triples: 2nd (behind Larry Doyle of the White Sox)
Home Runs: T-8th
RBI: T-4th
Runs Scored: 2nd (behind Cobb)
Stolen Bases: 1st; new AL record
Bases on Balls: 2nd (behind Ruth)
Extra Base Hits: 3rd (behind Ruth, Bill Cunningham of the Senators, and Speaker)
Total Bases: 2nd, with 319 (behind Ruth)

It's easy to make a case that Pat was the third most valuable batter in the American League, behind a man who hit .347-34-157 and another who batted .425 with a .509 OBP and scored 157 runs. That ain't shabby.

John: I could see Pat responding to the arrival of the lively ball by swinging for the fences a bit more. I can't see him going too far in that direction, though. With Ruth hitting behind him, Pat will be likely to go to the plate with the idea of getting on base as often as possible. I wouldn't be surprised to see him hit 15-20 homers, though. His rating for Home Runs is at 54, so there's some pop in his bat.

[Big Six]

Broadview Hotel
Wichita, Kansas


Mrs. Sarah O'Farrell
145 Cherry Street
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

October 30, 1920

My dearest Sarah,

This will be a short letter, as the fellows and I are the guests of honor at a variety show at one of Wichita's theaters this evening. From what I have seen of Wichita so far, I am expecting a very pleasant experience.

I had never been to the West, of course, so I was admittedly expecting something from the pages of a dime novel. However, this has not been the case at all. Our hotel is situated on the banks of the Arkansas River which, as the local folk have made clear, is pronounced "Ar-KANSAS," with an emphasis on the name of the state in which we find ourselves. We dined last night at a wonderful restaurant called the Larkspur, where I ate perhaps the finest beefsteak I have ever tasted. And, the people we have met have been wonderful. The crowds at the ballgames have cheered lustily for both sides, although they have understandably given their local fellows the biggest ovations.

Today's game went very well for us. Walter pitched, and like Joe, received the warmest welcome from his fellow Kansans. He was magnificent, allowing the local fellows only one run and four hits, while he struck out eleven men. Most of us batsmen did some fair work ourselves, and we scored eleven runs. I had three hits, including two doubles, and I scored twice.

Cobb got his first hit of the trip today, and drove in two runs, but he is becoming visibly frustrated. He glared out at the pitcher, muttering something, after his first time at bat, when he hit a ball back to the mound that the pitcher turned into a double play. It looked like the pitcher--a strapping fellow named Donley--said something back to Cobb, which took some courage, as Ty is not exactly slow with his fists.

Ty's frustration notwithstanding, the fellows appear to be getting along well, and I look forward to coming to know them better as we continue our trip. And, of course, I particularly look forward to the day when you and Emily join us in California.

Give my love to "the kids," my dearest. I think of you constantly, and miss you more than my words can express.

With all my love,
Pat

[Big Six]

Wichita Eagle, November 1, 1920

BARNSTORMERS WIN RUBBER GAME, 7-1
Perritt Pitches a Beauty

WICHITA--Roy Hitt's All-Americans played the final game of their visit to our city yesterday before a large, enthusiastic crowd of rooters, and defeated the crack local semiprofessional Wranglers, 7-1.

St. Louis Cardinals star Pol Perritt was on the mound for the barnstormers, and his speed and curves kept the hometown batsmen off balance all afternoon. The Wranglers managed only one run and three hits off Perritt, who walked nobody and struck out eight men in the eight innings he pitched. Hitt pitched the ninth inning for his team, and allowed a double to Josh Strader, the only extra-base blow struck by the semipros.

The batting star for the All-Americans was once again shortstop Charlie Hollocher, who knocked in six runs during the three-game series. Ty Cobb's bat showed some signs of life as well, as he smacked a single and a triple, scoring two runs and driving in two more.

The All-Americans left on this morning's train to Denver, where they will begin a series of games tomorrow.

*****
For the series in Kansas, Pat went 4-10, with a pair of doubles. He scored four runs and drove in one. Pat drew three walks, struck out twice, stole a base, and made an error on a ground ball.

[William4192]

How is "Wild" Bill Carrigan doing? How is he rated against other catchers? (I know this is about Pat and I have a lot of interest in him, but you made "Wild" Bill interesting to me.

[William4192]

Long time no hear, hope all is well Big Six (with you and with Pat..and Bill too!)

[Big Six]

William,

Sorry to be so late in replying! I've had a very taxing school year so far, which has left me with very little time or energy for OOTP. Believe me, I've missed it!

Carrigan, at age 36, appears to be reaching the twilight of a distinguished career. In 1919, he appeared in 123 games, hitting .248 with 60 RBI--but a huge spike in his strikeout rate sent up more than a few red flags. Bill whiffed 138 times, well over his previous career high of 90.

In 1920, the Sox traded for a young catcher, Johnny Bassler, and Rough Bill became a part-timer. He thrived in that role, bouncing back with a .273/.316/.391 season. His slugging percentage was his highest since 1915, although part of that increase is probably the result of an overall increase in offense throughout the American League.

Carrigan is currently a 1.5 star performer, and with his interest in coaching and managing, is pondering retirement as the 1920 offseason begins.

(Of course, I plan to keep Bill as a pivotal part of the story...he's way too good a character to allow to leave the stage right now!)

[Big Six]

Brown Palace Hotel
Denver, Colorado

November 8, 1920

Col. James F. O'Farrell
144 Grand Avenue
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Dear Grandpa,

I realized how long it had been since I had written to you, and the occasion of your ninetieth birthday next week motivated me to take up my pen and write to you before we board the train for California. I hope your birthday will find you in good health and fine spirits.

Our stay in Denver has been an exciting one. I had heard the Rocky Mountains are magnificent, but nothing could have truly prepared me for what I experienced when I first saw them, and growing up in the Berkshires as I did, I was accustomed to rolling terrain. Imagine how the "flatlanders" gaped when they saw mountains so high their tops were lost in the clouds.

The local team here was a fairly tough outfit. That didn't surprise me, as Denver is a much bigger city than Wichita. We won all five of our games, but all of them but the last one were close, one or two-run affairs. Yesterday, the locals sent an eighteen year-old lad out to pitch against us, a boy named Matthew Minner. He had some speed and a decent curve, and for several innings had things well under control...but we began to figure him out in the fifth inning and scored five times. Amazingly, the manager left him in the game, even when the poor fellow fell apart.

A few of us were angry at the treatment Minner was receiving, and Hooper, in particular, shouted a few things over to the dolt who was running the Denver club. Finally, poor Minner was relieved, but only after he had pitched eight innings and allowed nineteen runs, nineteen hits, and nine walks. We scored five runs off the reliever in the ninth, and Roy Hitt threw a shutout, so the final tally was 24-0.

It turns out that the promoter who had arranged our visit to Denver--a loud, flashy fellow--had told the manager to let the big leaguers whack the ball around the lot today; that the rooters would like to see us put on a show. He could not have done a worse job of figuring the mood of his clientele. They hated to see poor Minner, who is a local fellow, left in to take such a pounding. The only one of us who didn’t hit him hard was Cobb, whose frustration mounted higher with every pitch he failed to hit on the nose.

There have been a few whispers about the possibility of Cobb leaving the tour, perhaps before we reach California. He has spoken on several occasions about a bad experience he had in Cuba, playing against Negro ballplayers there, and some say he is less than willing to face them again. Others, however, chalk Cobb’s unhappiness up to the fact that he is not exactly tearing the cover off the ball. I am not sure if anyone is keeping track of the All-Americans’ statistics, but I would guess Ty is batting less than .250. Ty is a proud fellow, and I know he does not enjoy it when semiprofessional pitchers have so much success against him.

I should close this letter now, so I will have time to post it before we board our train. Once again, I hope your birthday is a joyous one, and that if I am lucky enough to reach my ninetieth year, I am as hale and hearty as you are.

Your loving grandson,
Pat

*****************
Many thanks to John (JDW) for providing me with the background for Pat's Grandpa, the Colonel. In fact, I can't take any of the credit for developing the Colonel. If you'd like to read about his history--a great tale of Civil War gallantry, service in Congress, and a distinguished career at the bar--take a look at the old thread, "Which players would you like to see on a barnstorming tour with Pat O'Farrell?", which I have bumped to the top.

[NCBeachBum]

Welcome back, Big Six.... we've definitely missed you and Pat.

[William4192]

Hey Big Six,

Can you put that other thread in your sig? Awesome to see you back. Can't wait to see Ole' Bill as a coach!

[Big Six]

Thanks, BeachBum and William. It's great to be back.

William, the link to the other thread is in my sig now.