The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[Brad K]

What a comeback! Almost did it!

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

What a comeback! Almost did it!

A truly epic Series.

[luckymann]

AL 1903 HISTORY INDEX

AL AWARDS HISTORY

NL 1903 HISTORY INDEX

NL AWARDS HISTORY

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/03.

There are just six new Legacies entering the League:

• Chicago White Sox: Ed Walsh (65.9 WAR; 426 games pitched)
• Philadelphia Phillies: Sherry Magee (59.4 WAR; 1521 games played)
• New York Giants: Art Devlin (36.1 WAR; 1116 games played)
• Chicago Cubs: Frank Schulte (23.7 WAR; 1564 games played)
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Howie Camnitz (15.9 WAR; 277 games pitched)
• Brooklyn Superbas: Harry Lumley (14.6 WAR; 730 games played (conceded-one club player))

NB Frank Smith (22.1 WAR; 237 games pitched) was also eligible for the White Sox, but Walsh’s higher WAR makes him the selection. Hooks Wiltse (30.0 WAR; 339 games pitched) was also eligible for the Giants, but Devlin’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There were 95 rookies for this season, so the Draft consisted of 5 rounds.

The Draft order was as follows (winning percentage from 1903 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Chicago White Sox (438) – Ed Walsh
2. Philadelphia Phillies (409) – Sherry Magee
3. New York Giants (604) – Art Devlin
4. Chicago Cubs (594) – Frank Schulte
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (650) – Howie Camnitz
6. Brooklyn Superbas (515) – Harry Lumley
7. Washington Senators (314; 47.5 GB)
8. St. Louis Cardinals (314; 46.5 GB)
9. Boston Beaneaters (420)
10. St. Louis Browns (468)
11. Detroit Tigers (478)
12. Cincinnati Reds (532)
13. New York Highlanders (537)
14. Cleveland Naps (550)
15. Philadelphia Athletics (556)
16. Boston Americans (659)

Rounds 2 thru 5

1. Washington Senators (314; 47.5 GB)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (314; 46.5 GB)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (409)
4. Boston Beaneaters (420)
5. Chicago White Sox (438)
6. St. Louis Browns (468)
7. Detroit Tigers (478)
8. Brooklyn Superbas (515)
9. Cincinnati Reds (532)
10. New York Highlanders (537)
11. Cleveland Naps (550)
12. Philadelphia Athletics (556)
13. Chicago Cubs (594)
14. New York Giants (604)
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (650)
16. Boston Americans (659)


So we get our first proper Legacy in Howie Camnitz, a RHP who projects well and should prove handy down the line. But if I had my way, I think I’d rather just have the Pick and use it for a position player. I’ll expand on this a bit later. Anyhow, nothing to be done about it. It is what it is.

Our second pick isn’t until almost at the end of the 2nd Round, by which time I anticipate little quality being left. I have my eyes on a few tradable types in both the pitching and batting pool, bit almost nil expectation of garnering any players of utilitarian value other than that.

We end up taking the following players:

1. P Howie Camnitz
An age-22 RHP who has decent enough stuff and command but is raw and will need plenty of work.

2. OF Rip Cannell
Decent enough left-hitting OF who plays all three spots. Makes Hoffman instant trade bait.

3. C Tom Doran
Only a handful of position players left by this point and his selection means I can consider flipping Charlie Luskey for a prospect of some description (the league rule stipulates that drafted players cannot be traded for a year) and have Tom around if the world collapses in on itself.

4. OF Art Bader
Only 17 – who knows what could happen?

5. RHRP Tom Barry
Will wear the dreaded “reliever of last resort” mantle until I trade or release him.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .349 average, 97 runs, 44 doubles, 14 triples, 75 RBIs, 53 stolen bases.
• That Deadball Era pitchers intensified their stranglehold over the hitters had no effect on Wagner, who remained head and shoulders above all other NL batters.

2. SAM MERTES, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .276 average, 28 doubles, 11 triples, 4 home runs, 78 RBIs, 47 stolen bases.
• Though pitching won much of the day for the NL champion Giants, Mertes continued to be the team’s most reliable (and effective) hitter.

3. FRANK CHANCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .310 average, 89 runs, 6 home runs, 42 stolen bases.
• With his superior batting average, Chance easily stood out within a Cubs lineup that featured no other player hitting higher than the .260s.

4. HARRY LUMLEY, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 23 doubles, 18 triples, 9 home runs, 78 RBIs, 30 stolen bases.
• Lumley outhomered his Brooklyn teammates, 9-6, after being carted over from the Pacific Coast League for his major league debut.

5. DAN MCGANN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .286 average, 6 home runs, 71 RBIs, 18 hit-by-pitches, 42 stolen bases.
• Being hit 18 times was nothing for McGann, who five years earlier was struck 37 times by pitches (errant or otherwise).

6. JAKE BECKLEY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 179 hits, 9 triples.
• Age and a switch to the Cardinals led to no issues for the 37-year-old Beckley, whose batting average was second in the NL to Wagner.

7. ART DEVLIN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 81 runs, 66 RBIs, 62 walks.
• A dropout from Georgetown University three years earlier, Devlin lived the dream to become a major leaguer and put forth a fine rookie debut for the Giants.

8. GINGER BEAUMONT, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 97 runs, 185 hits.
• Beaumont remained the tablesetter for the Pirates’ offense, leading the NL in hits for the third straight season.

9. JOE KELLEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 123 games, .281 average, 21 doubles, 13 triples.
• Reduced to a part-timer (albeit an effective one) in recent years, Kelley got more everyday work and proved he had plenty of baseball life left in him as he approached his mid-30s.

10. COZY DOLAN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .284 average, 88 runs, 6 home runs.
• Like teammate Kelley, veteran outfielder Dolan scratched for a chance to play every day and made the most of it.

AL Hitters

1. NAP LAJOIE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .376 average, 92 runs, 208 hits, 49 doubles, 15 triples, 5 home runs, 102 RBIs.
• While almost everyone else in the AL struggled to hit .300, Lajoie remained in a league of his own, leaning closer to .400.

2. ELMER FLICK, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 97 runs, 177 hits, 31 doubles, 17 triples, 6 home runs, 38 stolen bases.
• Flick might have been the star on any other team, but he was content to feed off of Lajoie’s presence to help pad his own numbers.

3. BILL BRADLEY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 94 runs, 183 hits, 32 doubles, 6 home runs, 83 RBIs.
• Bradley made it a trio of .300 hitters for the Naps; only one other AL player (Willie Keeler) managed to surpass .300 outside of Cleveland.

4. CHICK STAHL, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 83 runs, 27 doubles, 19 triples, 64 walks.
• The troubled outfielder, who would commit suicide three years later, remained a stable presence on the field for the Americans.

5. DANNY MURPHY, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 30 doubles, 17 triples, 7 home runs, 77 RBIs.
• In his second full season for the A’s—where he would spend a total of 12 seasons—Murphy set career highs in home runs, runs and RBIs.

6. FREDDY PARENT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .291 average, 85 runs, 6 home runs, 77 RBIs.
• Though he again put up strong numbers for Boston, Parent’s best move was to do nothing when Jack Chesbro threw his infamous wild pitch past him and helped the Americans secure their second AL flag.

7. WILLIE KEELER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .343 average, 78 runs, 186 hits.
• Wee Willie continued to be a veteran pest, bunting and hitting them “where they ain’t” with success that rivaled some of his peak efforts from the 1890s.

8. HARRY DAVIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 102 games, .309 average, 21 doubles, 11 triples, 10 home runs, 62 RBIs.
• Despite missing nearly 50 games, Davis still manage to win his first of four straight home run titles.

9. CHARLIE HICKMAN, CLEVELAND-DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .274 average, 28 doubles, 16 triples, 6 home runs, 67 RBIs.
• The nomadic Hickman was on the move again, starting the season with the Naps and ending it with the Tigers—where his play suffered to the point that he wanted another trade. (He got it a year later, to Washington.)

10. PATSY DOUGHERTY, BOSTON-NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 647 at-bats, 113 runs, 181 hits, 14 triples, 6 home runs, 21 stolen bases.
• Like Hickman, Dougherty changed addresses during the season—but unlike Hickman, his game seemed to improve upon his time with New York.

NL Pitchers

1. JOE MCGINNITY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.61 ERA, 35 wins, 8 losses, .814 win percentage, 5 saves, 51 games, 44 starts, 408 innings.
• Pitching over 400 innings for the second straight year, McGinnity didn’t need a bullpen; in fact, he became one for other Giants pitchers, leading the NL in saves.

2. KID NICHOLS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.02 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 317 innings.
• The 1890s ace, returning after a two-year absence from the majors to be pitcher-manager-part owner for a minor league team in Kansas City, provided one last hurrah for his outstanding career.

3. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 33 wins, 12 losses, 46 starts, 367.2 innings.
• For the moment, Mathewson remained the second-best pitcher on his team—if that was ever possible for a guy with 33 victories.

4. JAKE WEIMER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.91 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 307 innings.
• The sophomore southpaw won exactly 20 games again, keeping the ace’s seat warm in Chicago for Three Finger Brown.

5. NOODLES HAHN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.06 ERA, 16 wins, 18 losses, 297.2 innings.
• Hahn’s six-year run as the Reds’ ace came to an end with a bitter campaign in which he pitched well but received almost no offensive support from his teammates; his arm went dead the next year at age 26 and he never recovered.

6. THREE FINGER BROWN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.86 ERA, 15 wins, 10 losses.
• Brown’s debut for the Cubs was hardly the workhorse effort that he would give in later years, but the efficiency was clearly present.

7. JACK TAYLOR, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.22 ERA, 20 wins, 19 losses, 352 innings.
• The guy traded from the Cubs for Brown proved that it wasn’t such a lousy deal for the Cardinals—in the short run, that is.

8. DUMMY TAYLOR, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.34, 21 wins, 15 losses, 296.1 innings.
• With teammates McGinnity and Mathewson each winning over 30 games, Taylor’s 21 looked all but blasé in comparison—but it was an impressive achievement considering he was a deaf mute.

9. JACK HARPER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.30 ERA, 23 wins, 9 losses, 293.2 innings.
• So how does Harper rank four spaces lower on this list than teammate Hahn, despite a decidedly better record? Try this: Harper was given an average of 5.54 runs of support per start, while Hahn only got 2.97.

10. SAM LEEVER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses.
• The veteran hurler, second on the all-time franchise list for winning percentage, remained outstanding despite suffering 10-plus losses for the only time between 1901-10.

AL Pitchers

1. JACK CHESBRO, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.82 ERA, 41 wins, 12 losses, .774 win percentage, 55 games, 51 starts, 48 complete games, 454.2 innings.
• Happy Jack was never happier than 1904 (save for one ill-timed wild pitch), and although Ed Walsh would eventually topple his AL record for innings thrown, Chesbro’s 41 wins remain untouched as the most in AL history.

2. CY YOUNG, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.97 ERA, 26 wins, 16 losses, 10 shutouts, 380 innings, 29 walks.
• Lacking the generous offensive support that helped him pace the AL in victories over each of his first three years in Boston, Young had to fight for every win in 1904—reflected by the fact that a career-high 10 of his 26 wins were by shutout. (He also walked a remarkable 0.69 batters per nine innings.)

3. RUBE WADDELL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 1.62 ERA, 25 wins, 19 losses, 46 starts, 383 innings, 349 strikeouts.
• Waddell’s 349 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher since the mound was moved back to 60’6”—and the most until Sandy Koufax reigned supreme six decades later.

4. FRANK OWEN, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.94 ERA, 21 wins, 15 losses, 315 innings.
• Owen began the first of three straight years shining in 20-win territory, sandwiched in between dormant campaigns where he failed to win even 10.

5. ADDIE JOSS, CLEVELAND
Key Numbers: 1.59 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses.

• Despite being derailed for part of the season by illness—unrelated, we assume, to the meningitis that would take his life seven years later—Joss produced his first of two ERA crowns.

6. EDDIE PLANK, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.17 ERA, 26 wins, 17 losses, 37 complete games, 357.1 innings.
• It could easily be argued that the 1904 season was the most prodigious of Plank’s productive career, setting career highs in wins, innings and complete games.

7. BILL DINNEEN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.20 ERA, 23 wins, 14 losses, 335.2 innings.
• Part of Boston’s five-man starting rotation—and its five-man pitching staff—Dinneen was a 20-game winner for the last time, five years before starting a second career as an umpire.

8. JACK POWELL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.44 ERA, 23 wins, 19 losses, 45 starts, 390.1 innings.
• Lost amid Jack Chesbro’s phenomenal season was that teammate Powell ate up quite a few innings of his own, finishing second in the AL with 390.1 frames. (He’d never throw over 300 again.)

9. JESSE TANNEHILL, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.04 ERA, 21 wins, 11 losses, 281.2 innings.
• After a one-year, so-so experience with the New York Highlanders, Tannehill relocated to Boston and returned to the prime form he enjoyed back in his days with Pittsburgh.

10. HARRY HOWELL, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.19 ERA, 13 wins, 21 losses, 299.2 innings.
• The spitball artist was the winner of the AL’s hard-luck pitcher award, sporting a lousy record and terrific ERA—a state of affairs that unfortunately would continue for the next five years.

[luckymann]

FYI, we released Charlie Irwin at the end of last season and he decided to retire.

Cardinals hurler Pink Hawley suffers multiple injuries in a fall at home but should be right by Opening Day.

We go 12-6 in ST. The boffins are anticipating close races in both divisions, with the Highlanders and Reds to come out on top, albeit very narrowly. They are looking for us to go 83-71 and finish runners-up, three GB of Cincy.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

I have spent most of the offseason fretting – perhaps unnecessarily – about our overt reliance on Honus and the detrimental effect it would have on our club if he lost form or, God forbid, went down with a long-term injury. We have Dexter able to cover SS but that is a huge step down and Charlie has shown himself to be much more useful when deployed in a backup role.

So I am definitely on the lookout for the right player to help us out in this regard.

If you’re not already familiar with our squad, HERE is our team page. But here’s them listed for the more casual observer.

Catchers

• C Ossee Schreckengost (R) – will start OD this year as our everyday catcher, let’s see how he goes.
• Billy Maloney (L) – will backup Ossee v RHP and also fill in at CF

Infielders

• 1B Charlie Hickman (R)
• 2B Danny Murphy (R)
• 3B Harry Steinfeldt (R)
• SS Honus Wagner (R)
• Charlie Dexter (R) – will get his usual split of game time all over the place
• Charles Moran (R) – only to eat innings in blowouts with the occasional cameo as needed

Outfielders

• LF Fred Clarke (L)
• CF Matty McIntyre (L)
• RF Kid Nance (R)
• Danny Hoffman (L)
• Rip Cannell (L)

Rotation

1. RHP Deacon Phillippe
2. RHP Jack Chesbro
3. RHP Frank Owen
4. LHP Nick Altrock

Bullpen

• RHP Mike O’Neill
• RHP Doc McJames
• LHP Win Kellum
• RHP Charlie Smith

[luckymann]

No messing about or time to ease into things here as we don’t get an off-day until early May. That’s 20 straight, which will certainly test our depth from the off.

154 games all told this season, up from the previous 140.

We win our first two then drop five on the trot with some decidedly middling performances, both hitting and pitching. Aside from Nick Altrock, that is, who gets absolutely bombed by Cincy in his first MLB start as we are thrashed 11-1.

We settle down to a certain degree, although our spotty performances persist, to finish this short month at 7-9. That only leaves us 2½ games back in a very even beginning to the campaign.

Hot

• Fred Clarke: 333 BA / club-best 0.9 WAR from our Mr Reliable.
• Deacon Phillippe / Jack Chesbro: our rotation in April is a tale of two halves; this is the good one.

Not

• Honus Wagner*: a super slow start for the champ, who doesn’t have a multi-hit game until the second week, although he does get some of his mojo back in the latter part and finishes April with a much more respectable 339 BA and a team-leading 9 RBI.
• Frank Owen / Nick Altrock: our rotation in April is a tale of two halves; this is the bad one.

Around the Leagues

• Apart from the Tigers, who are already 8½ games back after a 3-12 start, this looks like it is set to be a pretty even season in both divisions.
• A huge setback for the Beaneaters, who lose gun CF Jimmy Barrett for three months after an off-field accident.

Awards

• 04/25 POTW: AL – Ed Walsh (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 14 K / 18 IP; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) .500 / 1 HR / 7 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) .441 / 0 HR / 15 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Jimmy Collins (Chicago) .397 / 2 HR / 12 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Ned Garvin (St. Louis) 4-0 / 0.79 / 20 K / 34 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Jesse Tannehill (Brooklyn) 4-2 / 0.91 / 22 K / 49.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 3-0 / 0.24 / 23 K / 37.1 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Hooks Wiltse (Boston) 3-1 / 1.80 / 24 K / 40 IP.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

The parallels with ’03 are quite remarkable as we take our good sweet time finding anything approaching the sort of form we’ll need to compete here. A bunch of guys contributing little at plate is the main hindrance, but our pitching isn’t entirely blame-free even if Phillippe and Chesbro continue to shine. And yet, like last year, one can only be encouraged by the fact that we are still well within touch.

After three more poor starts – and I mean poor for a couple of them – I decide enough is enough and flip O’Neill into the SP4 role and push Altrock into the pen.

At this point we are 14-14.

There’s little to report from the second half of the month and no way to sugar-coat the fact that we are just playing well beneath ourselves. The lads sure seem to be working hard at it, but things simply aren’t going our way for the moment. It happens. I’m not going to overreact here; I’m just going to keep reiterating the fundamentals and hopefully the natural talent of the group will bubble back to the surface in due time.

The only point of note is a hamstring strain suffered by Danny Murphy, which will keep him on ice until sometime in mid-to-late June.

We go 13-13 in May and enter June at 20-22, some 5 games in back of the Giants.

Hot

• Honus Wagner: pretty much a one-man band as far as our offence goes, as he slashes 378/450/622 and is the only player with double-figure RBI for the month with 15. His 3.9 WAR clearly leads either league.
• Deacon Phillippe: while Chesbro just regresses a bit, Deacon flies the flag with a 5-2 / 1.60 month.

Not

• Charlie Hickman: simply having a filthy season so far, and May is no different as he manages to hit a measly buck-twelve with 5 RBI and an OPS+ of MINUS 5.
• Our pitching in general: second-worst ERA in the NL at 2.96, which might not sound too bad but keep in mind this is peak deadball era.

Around the Leagues

• Still incredibly tight in both circuits, and I take back my April comment about the Tigers – they now have a better record than we do...
• The White Sox lose Fielder Jones for 5 weeks to back spasms.

Awards

• 05/02 POTW: AL – Ned Garvin (St. Louis) 2-0 / 1.00 / 9 K / 18 IP; NL – Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) .586 / 0 HR / 8 RBI.
• 05/09 POTW: AL – Doc White (Detroit) 2-0 / 0.00 / 9 K / 17.1 IP; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) .545 / 4 RBI.
• 05/16 POTW: AL – Casey Patten (Washington) 2-0 / 0.00 / 4 K / 13 IP; NL – Sam Crawford (Cincinnati) .480 / 1 HR / 4 RBI.
• 05/23 POTW: AL – Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) .480 / 1 HR / 9 RBI; NL – Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) .440 / 2 HR / 7 RBI.
• 05/30 POTW: AL – Kid Elberfeld (Detroit) .435 / 4 RBI; NL – Rube Waddell (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.50 / 16 K / 18 IP.

AL Batter of the Month: Pop Foster (Detroit) .355 / 2 HR / 19 RBI.
NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) .378 / 2 HR / 14 RBI.
AL Pitcher of the Month: Doc White (Detroit) 5-3 / 1.66 / 39 K / 70.1 IP.
NL Pitcher of the Month: Christy Mathewson (New York) 7-0 / 1.52 / 41 K / 65 IP.
AL Rookie of the Month: Elmer Stricklett (Cleveland) 3-3 / 1.39 / 19 K / 58.1 IP.
NL Rookie of the Month: Hooks Wiltse (Boston) 3-4 / 2.56 / 26 K / 56.1 IP.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

Most games out of first

[luckymann]

We start the new month in positive fashion, winning 8 of our first 10, including a really good road sweep of the Jints.

In the middle of this, I pull the trigger on my first trade of the season, righting a wrong from the 1903 Draft.

TRADE 1 OF 5: (06/08): IF Charles Moran, OF Danny Hoffman and pitchers Joe Corbett and Tad Quinn traded to Cleveland for IF / OF Rabbit Robinson.

Rabbit was the player I wanted when we got Moran, but as you might remember went a pick or two before our turn. He gives us all different kinds of options but will start first of all at 2B until Murphy returns, then most likely kick around as our #1 fill-in. Cannell, as I said earlier, kind of made Hoffman redundant. The two pitchers were unlikely to ever see action. The price was perhaps a tad steep, but I don’t think by all that much in the grand scheme of things. I guess time will – as always – be the arbiter of this.

I also activate Howie Camnitz, no point in him rotting on the RR vine.

We then set about the mid-season business of grinding out wins.

We get one of the club’s best-ever pitching performances from Frank Owen during this period when he one-hits the Phillies in a 5-0 win, fanning 6.

We finally get Murphy back after a couple setbacks, just in time, too, as Robinson hasn’t done much at all in his absence.

A nice three-of-four flourish against the Baby Bears in our final series for the month gives us a 16-8 sectional and puts us at 36-30, a game behind Boston.

I’m pretty happy with that. We are still playing nowhere near our potential with as many bad things going on as good, but the lads’ endeavour cannot be faulted and that’s all I ask for. Perhaps the best sign of how we are turning things around is our run diff: -4 at end May, now +26.

Hot

• Honus Wagner: scorching first half, but cooled off late and we need him to nip that in the bud. Still nabbed another monthly hitter award to add to the vast collection.
• Charlie Hickman: not hot per se, but a 280 June with 11 RBI at least means he is showing signs of defrosting after his early-season journey to Antarctica.
• Deacon Phillippe: has been our rock all season so far and June’s 5-0 / 1.92 / 1.9 WAR effort is no different. His 12 wins are equal best in either league.
• Mike O’Neill / Frank Owen: a combined 7-2 for the month and both with ERAs around 1.50.

Not

• Billy Maloney: really struggling to impose himself this year, and hits just 158 for June.
• Jack Chesbro: a 2-4 / 2.86 June perhaps makes this designation a little harsh, especially given his FIP- of 89 for the month, but we expect more from Jack than we are presently getting.

Around the Leagues

• A simply fascinating 1904 to this point, and both divisions are still anyone’s to win. Just 3 ½ games separate top from fifth in both the AL and NL.
• The Naps’ 15-game win streak early in the month shows they mean business after a lean start to their MLB existence, and they trail the A’s by just the solitary game in the junior circuit.

Awards

• 06/06 POTW: AL – Addie Joss (Cleveland) 3-0 / 0.95 / 10 K / 19 IP; NL – Noodles Hahn (Cincinnati) 2-0 / 0.57 / 3 K / 15.2 IP.
• 06/13 POTW: AL – Doc Gessler (New York) 455 / 1 RBI; NL – Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 500 / 8 RBI.
• 06/20 POTW: AL – Ed Walsh (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 11 K / 18 IP; NL – Shad Barry (New York) 526 / 5 RBI.
• 06/27 POTW: AL – Bill Bradley (Cleveland) 500 / 3 RBI; NL – Harry Lumley (Brooklyn) 450 / 1 HR / 4 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 360 / 1 HR / 26 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 307 / 2 HR / 16 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Addie Joss (Cleveland) 6-2 / 2.04 / 22 K / 66.1 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Bill Donovan (Brooklyn) 6-2 / 2.09 / 46 K / 69 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Jack Pfiester (Washington) 5-0 / 1.55 / 19 K / 46.1 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Hooks Wiltse (Boston) 4-2 / 2.04 / 49 K / 61.2 IP.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

With wins in each of our first two games for the month, we take the outright lead for the first time all season. The second of those is a three-hitter by Chesbro that sets the tone for him in July. Three straight wins coupled with our nearest rivals all stumbling a bit and all of a sudden we’re a couple clear.

We consolidate this by taking our next six games, including back-to-back extra-inning walkoffs against Boston, in the second of which Hickman has five hits including the game-winning RBI single.

This is our longest win streak so far and puts us four ahead at 44-32.

We drop our next three, however, including our worst of the year – a 14-2 humbling by the Phillies in which we commit seven errors that cost us 11 unearned runs. Even for us, that is poor.

We get back on track and by the end of the month (in which we post an 18-8 record) a slight schism seems to have appeared in the NL splitting ourselves, the Reds and the Cubs – who have been playing really well, with both going 18-9 for July – from the rest of the division. 4 ½ games separate the third-placed Reds from the fourth-placed Beaneaters, with another 3½ down to the fifth-placed Giants. As August commences, we are 54-38 and lead the Cubs by 1½.

Still early doors yet, though.


Hot

• Honus Wagner: snags himself another PotM Award for his 347/416/565 with 1 HR and 18 RBI.
• Charlie Hickman: the improvement continues as he hits 343 (second only to Dutchie) and post a 373 wOBA and 144 OPS+.
• Jack Chesbro: Happy bounced back strongly in July to go 7-1 with a 1.07 ERA and 1.6 WAR, and was most unlucky not to win the monthly award.
• Doc McJames: bullpens aren’t really a focus in this era but they play a key part all the same, and Doc seems to have found his role. 1.59 ERA for the season to date in 34 IP is an excellent performance.

Not

• Danny Murphy: it has been a dirty season from the get-go for our skipper and, after Danny hits just 210 with 5 ribbies for the month (putting him at 215 YTD), Dexter will now have a crack at everyday 2B. It would have been Robinson, except...
• Rabbit Robinson: a major bust so far hitting sub-200 and making little contribution.

Around the Leagues

• The Senators (17-9) and Highlanders (16-10) both make a move in the AL, and the Naps are still right in the mix. But the A’s are still hanging onto first by the barest margin, a half-game.
• Detroit’s Pop Foster hits for the cycle in a 5-2 win against the Naps.
• Boston deals 1B Mike Grady to Detroit for 1B Jack Burns and P Harry Kane.
• The Cards flip 2B Harry Arndt and P Bob Rhoads to the Cubs for P Lew Moren – bit of an odd one that, seems very lopsided.
• A strained oblique will sideline Brooklyn shortstop Bill Keister for 7 weeks or so.
• The updated Top 100 Prospects list is released. Howie Camnitz is at #3, Charlie Smith at #25.

Awards

• 07/04 POTW: AL – Dan McGann (Philadelphia) 481 / 9 RBI; NL – Cy Seymour (Chicago) 455 / 3 RBI.
• 07/11 POTW: AL – Pop Foster (Detroit) 429 / 2 HR / 4 RBI; NL – Oscar Jones (Cincinnati) 2-0 / 0.00 ERA / 6 K / 18 IP.
• 07/18 POTW: AL – Mike Donlin (New York) 455 / 7 RBI; NL – Bill Keister (Brooklyn) 483 / 4 RBI.
• 07/25 POTW: AL – Kip Selbach (Philadelphia) 522 / 6 RBI; NL – Jimmy Barrett (Boston) 625 / 1 HR / 6 RBI.

• AL Batter of the Month: Kip Selbach (Philadelphia) 344 / 0 HR / 14 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 347 / 1 HR / 18 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Addie Joss (Philadelphia) 7-1 / 1.75 / 28 K / 67 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 7-1 / 1.62 / 65 K / 72 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 4-4 / 2.56 / 34 K / 66.2 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Beany Jacobson (Cincinnati) 3-1 / 2.47 / 20 K / 51 IP.

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Most innings without a no-decision

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A long roadtrip kicks August off. This, as you may remember, was the month that pretty much won us last year’s pennant. Hoping to repeat that this time around.

Early indications do not instil confidence of this happening, as we begin the month poorly, dropping five of our first seven games. The Cubs, on the other hand, are firing on all cylinders and zoom past us to the top of the standings.

Among this, we play consecutive marathons, winning in 15 against the Phillies (to narrowly avoid a series sweep), then dropping the next game in 16 to the Beaneaters.

The rest of the month is incredibly streaky, as best encapsulated by a seven-game run we have against the Giants in which we win the first three and lose the next four. The Cubs, meanwhile, are doing what you’re supposed to do in August – grinding out wins, doing to us what we did to the rest of them in ’03. Then they go on an absolute tear, winning 11 straight to close out the month (actually, they lose their last of August to snap the string).

And so, by this fairly quotidian combination of factors, we find ourselves 6½ back and, realistically one would think, out of contention.

Hot

• Honus Wagner: remains on track for his best season yet, and his 9.1 WAR is a full point above all other players. Cools off a bit late, but still hits 337 with a wOBA of 395 and a 183 OPS+.

Not

• Apart from Robinson, who is yet to settle here or contribute in any meaningful way (187 / 5 RBI), no player stands out as grossly underperforming. The situation in which we find ourselves isn’t really about us not playing well, or performing on the field, although there’s no doubt we’ve never fully hit our straps this season (we are four games worse off than at the corresponding point last season). This is more about the Cubs simply being a really strong club with arguably the two best pitchers in the league playing to their full potential.

Around the Leagues

• The Naps’ strong start to the month – winning their first six games – brings them right into contention. The Highlanders, too, continue to improve with each month, and post a 16-11 sectional. Both sides now sit 4 GB of the A’s, who continue to do things right and will be tough to run down.
• As mentioned above, the Cubs have just streaked the field with their impeccable form (20-6 for August) and look unstoppable from here. The Reds are a further 5 ½ adrift of us.
• Cubs ace Rube Waddell becomes this season’s first 20-game winner and must be some chance for the first ever pitching Triple Crown. Cleveland’s Addie Joss does likewise a few days later, the first in the AL.
• A’s immortal Nap Lajoie reaches the 100 RBI plateau and, the way things are looking, will be the only player to do so this season. The next best in either league is 78.

Awards

• 08/01 POTW: AL – Eddie Plank (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.00 / 11 K / 18 IP; NL – Kitty Bransfield (Boston) 632 / 4 RBI.
• 08/08 POTW: AL – Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 481 / 7 RBI; NL – Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.50 / 7 K / 18 IP.
• 08/15 POTW: AL – Doc White (Detroit) 2-0 / 0.00 / 5 K / 10 IP; NL – Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 440 / 2 RBI.
• 08/22 POTW: AL – Fielder Jones (Chicago) 565 / 2 RBI; NL – Harry Lumley (Brooklyn) 448 / 1 HR / 7 RBI.
• 08/29 POTW: AL – Doc Gessler (New York Highlanders) 577 / 2 RBI; NL – Rube Waddell (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 20 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Nap Lajoie (Philadelphia) 400 / 2 HR / 24 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Jimmy Sheckard (Brooklyn) 400 / 1 HR / 20 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Addie Joss (Cleveland) 6-2 / 2.88 / 25 K / 72 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Mordecai Brown (Chicago) 6-1 / 1.16 / 34 K / 70 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Elmer Stricklett (Cleveland) 4-0 / 2.85 / 20 K / 53 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Frank Smith (St. Louis) 4-2 / 2.48 / 27 K / 65.1 IP.

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An incredibly challenging start to the season’s final stretch with consecutive doubleheaders in the first week, a challenge compounded by a little niggle Nance picked up that will keep him to very limited playing time for a week. Not ideal, and will test both the group’s intestinal fortitude and my skills of man management, but it is what it is and you just have to get on with it. What I’m looking for is to survive it without having lost further ground to Chicago. Anything above that is gravy. We still have seven games against the Cubs, including the very last series of the regular season, so I certainly haven’t given up hope. If we can start creeping up on them, anything can happen – as we saw in the AL last year.

We certainly begin positively enough, winning five of the seven in that opening week. More importantly, both Hickman – who goes yard twice in one game against the Reds – and Robinson seem to be finding form just at the right time.

We enter a four-game series with the Baby Bears trailing them by 5½.

Taylor outpitches Chesbro 2-1 in the opener as we can muster just three hits. The next day is a rainout that will be tacked onto that final season series. A series that loses most, if not all, of its significance when Waddell gets them a 3-2 win against Phillippe and Brown shuts us out 2-0 for the sweep to put them 8 ½ ahead of us.

In other words, game over.

Little more to add here, with us no chance of bridging the gap to the Cubbies, other than – with an eye to the future and with Deacon flagging after a long and arduous campaign (383 IP already) – I switch him out of the rotation over the final couple weeks to give Camnitz some experience. After being soundly thrashed by Matty and the Jints in his first start, he pitches a CG in his next to give us a nice 6-1 win. Something to build on for next year and beyond.

The Cubs clinch on the next-to-last day of September. The A’s duly follow suit the very next day.

We limp home to finish 84-70, in second place and some 8 GB the Cubs.

Hot

• Honus Wagner: finishes off the best season of his career and arguably the best ever by a position player, at least in terms of WAR, in which category he ends up accruing 12.2 – a full 2 points and then some clear of his nearest rival.

Not

• We just don’t have what it takes this season, from start to finish we are a step or two off the pace with all aspects of our game slipping a little from ’03.

Around the Leagues

• Rube Waddell becomes the first player to record 100 career wins, then the first player to record 30 in a season, capping off a season that may never be eclipsed as he leads the NL in wins (30) and strikeouts (a record 352) and misses the pitching Triple Crown by a fraction. He also sets a new high-water mark for pitcher WAR with 13.9.

Awards

• 09/05 POTW: AL – Jake Weimer (Boston) 2-0 / 0.50 / 7 K / 18 IP; NL – Frank Huelsman (New York) 778 / 1 HR / 2 RBI.
• 09/12 POTW: AL – Miller Huggins (Washington) 462 / 7 RBI; NL – John Titus (Philadelphia) 500 / 6 RBI.
• 09/19 POTW: AL – Mike Grady (Detroit) 370 / 2 HR / 6 RBI; NL – John Titus (Philadelphia) 500 / 4 RBI.
• 09/26 POTW: AL – Andy Coakley (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.50 / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Jack Powell (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.00 / 8 K / 19 IP.
• 10/03 POTW: AL – Chick Fraser (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.50 / 6 K / 18 IP; NL – Rube Waddell (Chicago) 2-0 / 0.00 / 20 K / 21 IP.
• 10/10 POTW: AL – Bill Reidy (St. Louis) 2-0 / 0.00 / 1 K / 18 IP; NL – Al Orth (Philadelphia) 2-0 / 0.00 / 6 K / 18 IP.

• AL Batter of the Month: Pop Foster (Detroit) 333 / 4 HR / 20 RBI.
• NL Batter of the Month: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) 375 / 3 HR / 16 RBI.
• AL Pitcher of the Month: Willie Sudhoff (Philadelphia) 6-1 / 1.09 / 13 K / 66 IP.
• NL Pitcher of the Month: Rube Waddell (Chicago) 5-3 / 1.33 / 64 K / 74.2 IP.
• AL Rookie of the Month: Ed Walsh (Chicago) 4-4 / 2.41 / 35 K / 67.1 IP.
• NL Rookie of the Month: Harry Lumley (Brooklyn) 333 / 4 HR / 14 RBI.

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Chicago Cubs (92-62) v Philadelphia Athletics (92-62)

Back to best-of-seven, Cubs with the home-field advantage.
Huge news on the eve of Game 1, as Nap Lajoie is ruled out of the Series with a torn hip flexor tendon he suffered in the very last game of the regular season. Baseball, as I’ve said before and will undoubtedly say many times more, is a cruel, cruel mistress.

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Game 1 in Chicago, October 13th 1904
Rube Waddell (30-15, 1.83) v Eddie Plank (23-15, 2.79)

A run-scoring double in the 4th by Cy Seymour is all the help Waddell gets, and all he needs, as he carries over his regular season form into the Series with a five-hit shutout win.

Chicago 1, Philadelphia 0


Game 2 in Chicago, October 14th 1904
Dummy Taylor (24-15, 1.94) v Charles Bender (23-19, 2.09)
Chicago leads series 1-0

The absence of their chief offensive weapon leaves the A’s all but impotent as they muster just two hits against Dummy Taylor and fall behind 2-0. Taylor helps his own cause with a bases-loaded walk in the 3rd to open the scoring and a solo shot by Joe Tinker in the next doubles the hosts’ lead. The A’s finally get their first run of the series in the 7th thanks to a passed ball, but the Cubs grab back the vital insurance run in the 8th on a Duff Cooley single and Taylor closes it out with a 1-2-3 9th.

Chicago 3, Philadelphia 1


Game 3 in Philadelphia, October 16th 1904
Willie Sudhoff (25-11, 1.97) v Mordecai Brown (23-13, 2.42)
Chicago leads series 2-0

Philadelphia’s offence finally comes to life with 11 hits, scoring all of their runs in the 5th, and Willie Sudhoff’s playoff experience plays its part as the A’s get their first win. Mordecai Brown puts the Cubs ahead with an RBI double in the top 5th, but the A’s hit back with interest in the home half, scoring 4 on 5 hits to take control. Sudhoff has his moments, giving up a run in the 7th on back-to-back doubles by Hartsel and Seymour, but regathers and ends up pitching all 9.

Philadelphia 4, Chicago 1


Game 4 in Philadelphia, October 17th 1904
Eddie Plank (0-1, 1.12) v Rube Waddell (1-0, 0.00)
Chicago leads series 2-1

More runs than in Game 1 but, ultimately, the same result as Chicago takes a stranglehold on the series with a gripping win. The two swap a run apiece in the 2nd and are tied 2-2 after 4, but a solo shot in the 6th by Chicago RF Danny Green proves the decisive blow, with Waddell using all of his guile and power to pitch his way out of a couple of jams and get them home.

Chicago 3, Philadelphia 2


Game 5 in Philadelphia, October 18th 1904
Charles Bender (0-1, 3.38) v Dummy Taylor (1-0, 0.00)
Chicago leads series 3-1

As we saw last year, it ain’t over til it’s over, but I’d be shocked if the A’s can make it all the way back from here.

As it turns out, they don’t even make it back to Chicago, as the Cubs wrap it up with a 5-2 win that is tighter than it might look at first glance. The game is tied 2-2 again into the latter stages after the A’s fight back from 2-0 down with runs in both the 5th and 6th. But once more, Chicago has all the answers as a rampaging Cy Seymour clears the bases with a double in the 7th and that’s all she wrote. A brave effort from the A’s without Lajoie but in the end the Cubs are just too good.

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 2


CHICAGO WINS SERIES 4-1
SERIES MVP: Rube Waddell (Chicago)


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AL 1904 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1904 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY

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Held on 12/20/04.

There are eight new Legacies entering the League, including – with apologies to the other players who have gone before – the first true superstar of the game since the Foundation Group.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1905 season:

• Brooklyn Superbas: John Hummel (11.7 WAR; 1139 games played)
• Chicago Cubs: Ed Reulbach (35.7 WAR; 281 games pitched)
• Chicago White Sox: Eddie Cicotte (59.0 WAR; 353 games pitched)
• Detroit Tigers: Ty Cobb (150.1 WAR; 2245 games played)
• New York Highlanders: Hal Chase (23.0 WAR; 1061 games played)
• Philadelphia Athletics: Rube Oldring (15.1 WAR; 1188 games played)
• Philadelphia Phillies: Mickey Doolan (13.7 WAR; 1302 games played)
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Lefty Leifield (21.3 WAR; 239 games pitched)

George Gibson (14.8 WAR; 1174 games played) was also eligible for the Pirates, but Leifield’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

There are 115 rookies for this season and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.
The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1904 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1
1. Detroit Tigers (408) – Ty Cobb
2. Chicago White Sox (578) – Eddie Cicotte
3. Chicago Cubs (608) – Ed Reulbach
4. New York Highlanders (609) – Hal Chase
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (569) – Lefty Leifield
6. Philadelphia Athletics (536) – Rube Oldring
7. Philadelphia Phillies (342) – Mickey Doolin
8. Brooklyn Superbas (366) – John Hummel
9. Washington Senators (252)
10. Boston Beaneaters (359)
11. St. Louis Browns (428)
12. St. Louis Cardinals (487)
13. Cleveland Naps (570)
14. Cincinnati Reds (575)
15. Boston Americans (617)
16. New York Giants (693)

Rounds 2 thru 5
1. Washington Senators (252)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (342)
3. Boston Beaneaters (359)
4. Brooklyn Superbas (366)
5. Detroit Tigers (408)
6. St. Louis Browns (428)
7. St. Louis Cardinals (487)
8. Philadelphia Athletics (536)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (569)
10. Cleveland Naps (570)
11. Cincinnati Reds (575)
12. Chicago White Sox (578)
13. Chicago Cubs (608)
14. New York Highlanders (609)
15. Boston Americans (617)
16. New York Giants (693)


We pick up another Legacy pitcher in Lefty Leifield, who should prove handy despite us once again really being in need of position players. Still, there’s the longer-term to think about as well.

This is easily the strongest and deepest group to come through so far, so we’re looking to pick up a couple of useful types in Rounds 2 and 3, then perhaps some trade bait in 4 & 5.

We end up taking the following players:

1. P Lefty Leifield
Not sure he’ll ever win a Cy Young, but he seems the nice reliable type you want as your SP4. Seems at least ready for bullpen duties from the off, which again fits into the broader scheme of things for the club.

2. OF Otis Clymer
A switch-hitting corner outfielder who projects to hit 290 with a couple dingers. More of a puzzle piece than the entire picture, especially given he is age-28.

3. UT Art Hoelskoetter
Acquired purely for his versatility, as he is handy at every IF slot including catcher, although not a hell of a lot of bat about him.

4. LHRP Ed Barry
Decent enough southpaw reliever who, again, is part of a bigger plan.

5. RHRP Joseph Myers
A bit of a dark horse who is a pretty good find so late in the game.

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