Worst to First - The Sequel

[dynaboyj]

Ooh. If you hadn't won the Series when you did, it would've been a loooong time before you'd win...

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by dynaboyj

Ooh. If you hadn't won the Series when you did, it would've been a loooong time before you'd win...

Yeah, this was the first time I noticed that, and really glad that I got lucky with the Browns!

[NYY #23]

The Braves were on a roll until Maurice Archdeacon went down with an injury, and finished the month 5 games out of first place in fourth.

We made a deal to start June, sending RF Al Luplow to the New York Yankees, getting back CF Gary Geiger. That should help get us through the Archdeacon injury, and allow Matsui to get some more playing time.

Ruth hit .263 for the month of May, but added 6 home runs and 20 RBI.

Career Home Run List
1. Cy Williams - 105
2. Dick Allen - 98
3. Home Run Baker - 91
4. Rogers Hornsby - 72
5. Chipper Jones - 67
6. Manny Jiminez - 64
7. Mike Napoli - 64
8. Wes Covington - 63
9. Red Murray - 63
10. Art Wilson - 62
11. Fred McGriff - 61
12. Lance Parrish -61
13. Walt Moryn - 60
14. Barry Bonds - 59
15. Geronimo Berroa - 58
16. Tony Clark - 58
17. George Foster - 53
18. Hank Leiber - 53
19. Lou Clinton - 51
20. Danny Gardella - 50
21. Mark Funderburk - 49
22. Fred Beck - 48
23. Willie Stargell - 48
24. Dan Driessen - 47
25. Hal McRae - 46
26. John Russell - 46
27. Bobby Hofman - 45
28. Jack Dittmer - 44
29. Jim Rice - 44
30. Babe Ruth - 43

[NYY #23]

A 14-11 month put the Braves just 2 games behind the first place Giants, 1 1/2 behind the Reds, and 1 game behind the Cards. It's certainly tight at the top, as we hold a slim 1/2 game lead over Brooklyn, and a 1 1/2 game lead over the Pirates.

Our offense is struggling to score runs outside of the long ball, and we miss the presence of Archdeacon in our line-up

Ruth hit .237 in June with 4 homers and 14 RBI, and his 16 home runs for the season have tied the record.

Career Home Run List
1. Cy Williams - 106
2. Dick Allen - 98
3. Home Run Baker - 91
4. Rogers Hornsby - 72
5. Chipper Jones - 69
6. Manny Jiminez - 64
7. Mike Napoli - 64
8. Wes Covington - 63
9. Red Murray - 63
10. Lance Parrish -62
11. Art Wilson - 62
12. Fred McGriff - 61
13. Walt Moryn - 60
14. Barry Bonds - 59
15. Geronimo Berroa - 58
16. Tony Clark - 58
17. Hank Leiber - 54
18. George Foster - 53
19. Lou Clinton - 51
20. Danny Gardella - 50
21. Willie Stargell - 50
22. Mark Funderburk - 49
23. Fred Beck - 48
24. Dan Driessen - 47
25. John Russell - 47
26. Babe Ruth - 47

[NYY #23]

With a 19-9 month, I couldn't ask for much more. We pitched well, and hit well, and moved in to first place and hold a 1/2 game lead over the Giants. Brooklyn remains just a game and a half out, and the Cardinals are 4 1/2 games out.

Ruth hit .333 in July with 6 home runs and 17 RBI, and has set a single season home run record, and is now in the top 20 for career home runs.

Career Home Run List
1. Cy Williams - 106
2. Dick Allen - 99
3. Home Run Baker - 91
4. Rogers Hornsby - 72
5. Chipper Jones - 70
6. Manny Jiminez - 65
7. Fred McGriff - 65
8. Mike Napoli - 64
9. Lance Parrish -64
10. Wes Covington - 63
11. Red Murray - 63
12. Art Wilson - 62
13. Barry Bonds - 60
14. Walt Moryn - 60
15. Geronimo Berroa - 59
16. Tony Clark - 59
17. Hank Leiber - 54
18. George Foster - 53
19. Babe Ruth - 53

[NYY #23]

A 15-11 month for the Braves and we are neck and neck with Brooklyn, holding a slim 1/2 game lead. I have a feeling that it's going to come down to wire. There are 4 games left with Brooklyn.

Babe Ruth won the Batter of the Month award, hitting .313 with 7 home runs, 16 RBI, and 23 runs scored.

Career Home Run List
1. Cy Williams - 106
2. Dick Allen - 99
3. Home Run Baker - 91
4. Rogers Hornsby - 72
5. Chipper Jones - 72
6. Manny Jiminez - 68
7. Fred McGriff - 66
8. Lance Parrish -65
9. Mike Napoli - 64
10. Wes Covington - 63
11. Red Murray - 63
12. Art Wilson - 62
13. Tony Clark - 61
14. Geronimo Berroa - 60
15. Barry Bonds - 60
16. Walt Moryn - 60
17. Babe Ruth - 60

[NYY #23]

154 games later, the Braves and Brooklyn each finish with a 88-66 record, so we are forced into a one game playoff.



Sig Jakcuki of the Yankees picked up career win number 200.

Our minors saw a mass exodus of players, as five players announced their retirement. C Fran Healy, C Jose Reyes, 1B Bill Batsch, RF Scott Little, and SS George Bone all retired.

Career Home Run List
1. Cy Williams - 106
2. Dick Allen - 99
3. Home Run Baker - 91
4. Chipper Jones - 74
5. Rogers Hornsby - 72
6. Manny Jiminez - 70
7. Fred McGriff - 66
8. Lance Parrish -65
9. Tony Clark - 64
10. Mike Napoli - 64
11. Wes Covington - 63
12. Red Murray - 63
13. Geronimo Berroa - 62
14. Barry Bonds - 62
15. Art Wilson - 62
16. Babe Ruth - 61

[NYY #23]

We hosted Brooklyn for a one game playoff, with t he winner advancing to the World Series. Ken Raffensberger,who went 17-17 took the ball for Brooklyn. We were sending out Mike Mason, who went 18-13 for the year.

Mason got in trouble in the first, but got out of the inning surrendering just one run. Carlos Santana led of the bottom of the first with a single, and advanced to third on a single by Dickie Thon. Babe Ruth grounded into a double play, but the tieing run scored.

The score remained tied until the fourth inning, when Gary Geiger hit a leadoff double, and came home to score on an Endy Chavez single. The bottom of the fifth Babe Ruth singled and came home to score on a Gary Geiger single, and the bottom of the sixth Endy Chavez hit a solo home run.

On the mound Mike Mason was rolling right along, giving up only the first inning run as we beat Brooklyn 4-1 to advance to the World Series. Mike Mason picked up the 19th win of the season, and we now take on the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.

[yougo1000]

Hope you can win the series.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by yougo1000

Hope you can win the series.

Thank you!

[NYY #23]

Year 4 with the Braves and we are heading to the World Series to face off against the Detroit Tigers, who finished with a 85-69 record. The Tigers had the best offense in the AL, and allowed the second fewest runs. They've got a solid team with a rotation featuring Big Jeff Pfeffer (16-13, 2.77), Tom Walker (21-16, 3.08), Monte Ward (19-14, 2.36), and Ned Garver (15-16, 3.90). Their offense features Willie McCovey (.320, 8, 87), and Jim Rice (.289, 2, 68).

I have to admit I'm a little surprised to have made the World Series already with the Braves. Probably the most telling is our pythagorean record of 81-74, so yes, we got real lucky with a +8 difference. But sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. And once you make the World Series anything can happen. One note, the 1919 through 1921 World Series was played as a best of 9, so we need to win 5 more games, or more likely lose 5.

On to the game, where Monte Ward would take on Orval Overall. I've only made a couple big trades in Boston, but one of the two was to bring aboard Overall. He's still just 24, but it's games like this where I wish I still had the experience of Joe Hesketh. I looked after the game and Hesketh was injured this season in July, and is still out for the World Series.

But Overall was pretty bad tonight, giving up 7 runs on 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings. We scraped together three runs, but in the end it was a game one blowout where the Tigers routed the Braves 10-4. Two off those runs came in the bottom of the ninth during garbage time.

[NYY #23]

Today's game was a pitching duel between Ned Garver of the Tigers and Nig Cuppy, although both teams got on the board in the first inning with one run apiece.

There would be no more scoring for the rest of regulation, as we went into extra innings with the score tied at 1.

Ray Chapman reached on a one out single in the tenth for the Tigers and came home to score on a Wayne Nordhagen single to put the Tigers up 2-1. We went down in order in the bottom of the tenth to fall behind 2-0.

I do take comfort that no team ever was swept 5 games to 0, although that was a small four year sample size. I expect that we'll lose the series, but I really don't want to get swept and go down without a fight.

I can't fault Nig Cuppy too much, pitching 10 innings and giving up just 2 runs. Our offense only managed five hits over 10 innings, and has to take the majority of the blame.

[NYY #23]

We hit the road for Game 3 with Tommy Hanson getting the ball against Big Jeff Pfeffer. The Tigers scored 2 in the second, and 1 in the third to put us in an early 3-0 hole. With the way our offense is playing it felt like the end of game 3.

But sometimes you just need a big inning to break a slump. Hideki Matsui led off the fourth with a single with Babe Ruth coming up to the plate. With a 3-0 count I began expecting something big to happen, but Ruth grounded into a double play.

With two outs Richie Sexson was hit by a pitch, which started off a string of consecutive singles by Carlos Santana, Dickie Thon, Jack Farrell, and Tommy Hanson. A wild pitch scored the fourth and final run of the inning, all coming with two outs, to give us the 4-3 lead.

My excitement last all of a half inning as Tommy Hanson allowed a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 4.

Carlos Santana led off the sixth with a solo homer to put us ahead by 1, and Hanson and Andrew Cashner combined to 1 hit the Tigers for the final four innings.

The Braves got on the board with a 5-4 victory to narrow the series deficit to 2 games to 1.

[NYY #23]

For seven inning it was a tight pitcher's duel between Mike Mason and Tom Walker. The Braves held a slim 2-1 lead heading into the eighth inning when we added an insurance run to make it 3-1.

The ninth inning was fun to watch as the Braves exploded for 6 runs to put the game out of reach and even up the series with a 9-1 victory. While the final score shows a blowout, the actual game felt a lot more tense until the final inning.

Babe Ruth went 3-4 with 4 RBI, and Dickie Thon was a perfect 4-4 with 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored, including a solo homer.

[NYY #23]

Oraval Overall got the start in Game 5 hoping to redeem himself after a poor playoff start. Rex Chapman tripled and scored in the top of the first to put the Tigers up 1-0, and the Tigers added a run in the fourth and sixth to go up 3-1.

Babe Ruth and Richie Sexson hit back to back singles in the eighth inning, followed by a Carlos Santana walk to load the bases. A walk to Dickie Thon brought the Braves within one run, and Jack Ferrell reached on an error on a groundball to the first baseman to tie up the score at 3 apiece.

With two on and one out in the top of the 9th with the Tigers threatening, Overall got a huge groundball double play to end the inning.

Gary Geiger and Hideki Matsui hit back to back singles in the bottom of the ninth to lead off the inning, bringing up Babe Ruth with a chance to be the hero. Ruth struck out to end the 8 pitch at-bat, bringing up Richie Sexson, who hit the walk off single to give the Braves a 4-3 victory, and take a 3-2 lead in the series.

[NYY #23]

Game 6 was another pitching battle between Ned Garver and Nig Cuppy through the first 6 innings. With the Tigers clinging to the 1-0 lead time we were running out of outs heading in to the bottom of the seventh.

Babe Ruth and Richie Sexson hit back to back singles to start off the inning, and Carlos Santana doubled home the tieing run. The hits kept coming though, as Dickie Thon and Jack Farrell singled, and John Rainey tripled home a pair of runs.

Gary Geiger tripled and come home on a wild pitch and ended the 7 run inning. The Tigers added one run in the eighth, but it was too little too late as we won 7-2 to take a 4-2 series lead.

If the Tigers come back and win the next three games I'm going to be pretty upset.

[NYY #23]

Tommy Hanson was on the mound tonight to try and close out the series for the Braves. With Big Jeff Pfeffer on the mound for the Tigers the game remained tied at 0 through the first five innings.

Hideki Matsui doubled home the first run of the game in the top of the 6th, and tripled home two more runs in the top of the 7th. For the game Matsui was 3-5 with 3 RBI, and Jack Farrell was 3-4 with an RBI.

Tommy Hanson was great tonight, pitching a complete game shutout.

It's hard to believe it, but the Braves won the game 4-0 and the series 5-2. Year 4 in Boston turned out to be a successful one.

I'll be back for a wrap-up from Boston, and begin taking on the next challenge, once again staying in the National League.

[dynaboyj]

...You've won? Already? But...but how?

Also, will you miss Babe Ruth?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by dynaboyj

...You've won? Already? But...but how?

Also, will you miss Babe Ruth?

I definitely didn't expect this one, and while I'll take the win I do have to admit I wasn't quite ready to move on. I feel like Ruth is on the cusp of greatness, and it would have been nice to see him put up a monster year for my team. But you take the good luck with the bad, and hopefully it all evens out in the end.

[NYY #23]

When I took over the Braves they were coming off a horrible season where they went 61-93 and finished 42 games out, and lost their best player to a career ending injury, at the age of 18.

After doing this so long between attempt #1 and attempt #2 you kind of get a feeling when your team turns the corner and becomes a contender. That doesn't mean you'll always win, but you feel like the team is good enough to win it all. I never got there with Boston, but sometimes you get lucky, win 8 more games than you should to finish the season in a tie, win the one game playoff, and come back from 2 down in the World Series to win 5 straight. It doesn't happen much from my experience though.

After two stops where I was dying to get out at the end, it is a little sad to walk away from Boston so suddenly. Babe Ruth was finally starting to produce, and I was really enjoying watching it. But I'll remember Boston fondly, and 1920 as a good year.

Making 1920 even more special is that I had ties to 4 of the 5 Hall of Famers that were inducted this year. I'm not even going to comment on whether they deserved it or not, just that they got in under the default settings.

Bert Abbey was the one pitcher I didn't have any ties to, but Wes Ferrell, Clayton Kershaw, The Only Nolan, and Harvey Haddix all were inducted into the Hall of Fame. A final look at my history in Boston:









Boston Braves - 61-93 (.396) 42 GB
1917 - Boston Braves 63-91 (.409) 40 GB (Season Score - 1)
1918 - Boston Braves 82-72 (.532) 14 GB (Season Score -46)
1919 - Boston Braves 76-64 (.543) 6 GB (Season Score - 49)
1920 - Boston Braves 89-66 (.574) - GB, Won World Series 5-2 over Detroit Tigers (Season Score - 79)



And on to my next stop, the Philadelphia Phillies.