The United Baseball Association: The New York Chronicle

[Big Six]

Come on, Reading! Hopefully their pennant fight against Washington has them sharp and focused, rather than worn out. Chicago rolled through the regular season...could they be overconfident heading into the Series?

Wash Teal didn't have a great season, but hopefully he'll be at his best in the clutch. I wonder if he's related to the Chicago 2B?

I'm assuming you're using a modified name set to get all those great early 20th century names. They really give your dynasty an authentic flavor.

I'll be looking forward to seeing the Reds close this thing out.

[ryanivr]

Originally Posted by Big Six

Come on, Reading! Hopefully their pennant fight against Washington has them sharp and focused, rather than worn out. Chicago rolled through the regular season...could they be overconfident heading into the Series?

Wash Teal didn't have a great season, but hopefully he'll be at his best in the clutch. I wonder if he's related to the Chicago 2B?

I'm assuming you're using a modified name set to get all those great early 20th century names. They really give your dynasty an authentic flavor.

I'll be looking forward to seeing the Reds close this thing out.

Chicago had a hell of a year, but Reading will be a tough squad to face off against. The Columbia League in general is a bit weaker, as their squads are mostly built from United League bench/fringe players. Over the next 4-5 years they will even out, but the United League does have a bit of an edge.

I certainly am using a modified name set. It definitely allows me to immerse myself in the universe.

Teal did have a down year, for sure. The big selling point of this series, to me, is Whitey Upchurch against Owen Chaney. Both guys had great seasons on the mound. Chicago doesn't have the pitching depth though, as their #3 and #4 guys spent a good amount of time in the developmental league this season.

[ryanivr]

Chicago Takes Game One, 13-3

CHICAGO, IL. August 27, 1914 -

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Reading		0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1			3	9	1
Chicago		0	1	6	0	0	0	2	4	x			13	13	2

The United Baseball Association's first ever Presidents Cup Series began yesterday in Chicago at Weeghman Park. The Reading Reds, winners of the United League, faced the Chicago Whales, winners of the Columbia League.

The festivities began with a parade through downtown Chicago, with players, coaches, and even owner Charles Weeghman sitting atop floats headed toward Weeghman Park.

When game time arrived, President Woodrow Wilson met at the mound with United League president W.A. Willman and Columbia League president James A. Gilmore. After posing for pictures, President Wilson threw out the first pitch, which was caught by Whales catcher Spider Snider.

Finally, at 1:32 PM, the first Presidents Cup Series began with a ball from Chicago pitcher Emile Zimmerman.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the first run of the game was scored on a triple from Enos Teal of Chicago, a deep shot hit to right-center field.

A six-run inning in the bottom of the 3rd gave Chicago a 7-0 lead. While Reading did cut it to 7-2 in the top of the 5th, Chicago didn't let up, scoring six more runs and ended up winning the game 13-3.

Emile Zimmerman actually pitched a rather poor game for the Whales. Through 9 innings, he gave up 9 hits and 9 walks and only struck out three.

[ryanivr]

Sorry, Big Six. It's only one game but that was rough.

[ryanivr]

Reading Ties Up Series with 3-2 Comeback Win

CHICAGO, IL. August 28, 1914 -

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Reading		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3			3	5	0
Chicago		0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0			2	7	1

It was a defensive battle through 5 1/2 innings. In the bottom of the 6th, Chicago put two runs on the board with a home run from Dutch Mcdaniel over the left field wall.

The Whales cruised through the next two innings, and in the top of the 9th sent out Charlie O'Donnell to finish the complete game shutout. But things didn't go according to plan.

Reading hit two straight doubles, scoring a run. A walk put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Then, pinch hitter Mose Drew came to the plate and hit a double off of the wall. The man on second came home easily, but the runner on first, Angus Mulkey, ran faster than we've ever seen him run. He darted home as the ball came in, and with the umpire giving the "safe" sign, the Reds had come back and taken the lead.

Solomon Maurer went back out onto the mound for the 9th inning. A quick ground-out gave him confidence, but a single put a man on with 1 out.

Then, one of the greatest plays we've ever seen occured. With Duck Bucher up for the Whales, he hit a towering flyball to right center field. It looked like a clear double, maybe even a triple, but there was absolutely no doubt that the run would score. But right fielder Hunkey Howel would have none of it. He darted toward the wall and in a magnificent lunging motion, he put his glove on the ball but couldn't squeeze it. Tumbling over himself, Chicago fans cheered. But the ball wouldn't find the ground. As Howel tumbled over, he caught sight of the ball, stuck out his glove, and watched the ball fall into it.

But it wasn't over yet. Another single put runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. Maurer put the hitter in a 1-2 count, but missed with two straight pitches, making it a full count. After a hard foul ball down the left field line, Layman hit a weak ground ball to 1st base. The defender picked it up, tagged first base himself, and Reading took game two, tying the series at 1-1.

[ryanivr]

Reading Takes Game Three with 9-1 Win

READING, PA. August 30, 1914 -

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Chicago		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0			1	9	2
Reading		0	3	1	0	0	0	0	5	x			9	8	0

Reading jumped out to an early 4-1 lead at the Reading Grounds today and won easily, 9-1.

The player of the game was Owen Chaney, who pitched a complete game allowing 9 hits, 1 walk, and one run. He struck out 6. Chaney also drove in two runs while batting.

Upchurch, the pitcher for Chicago, didn't have good command today, allowing 7 walks in 7.2 innings.

[ryanivr]

Reading Goes up 3-1 in Victory

READING, PA. September 1, 1914 -

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Chicago		0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0			1	3	1
Reading		0	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	x			5	9	1

Once again, the Reading Reds jumped out to an early lead and never let up. But you can really give it up for Reds hurler Joel Sperry. He threw nine innings of three hit ball, giving up no earned runs and striking out four.

On offense, Yank Burk hit the games only double, and Sperry hit the only triple of the contest. Tomorrow is a travel day. The team's will take a bus trip to Chicago to play out games five and six in Weeghman Park. Reading needs two more wins to clinch the series.

[ryanivr]

Reading Beats Chicago 4-1 at Weeghman Park, Need One More Win

CHICAGO, IL. September 2, 1914 -

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Reading		0	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0			4	10	2
Chicago		0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			1	6	0

In another one run game from Chicago, Reading has taken a four games to one lead over the Whales and need one more to win the 1914 Presidents Cup Series.

Eddington of Reading pitched brilliantly, going nine innings and allowing six hits, one walk, and no earned runs, but he did only strike out one. The offense was led by Hunkey Howel, the Reds right fielder. He went two for four with two doubles, one RBI, and also scored a run.

Tomorrow's game will pit Solomon Maurer of Reading against Charlie O'Donnell of the Whales.

[ryanivr]

Reading Wins 1914 Presidents Cup Series!

CHICAGO, IL. September 3, 1914 -

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		R	H	E
Reading		2	0	1	0	0	0	0	5	1			9	11	1
Chicago		0	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	0			4	11	3

Reading has defeated the Chicago Whales in the first annual Presidents Cup Series!

In front of 18,292 paid fans, the Reading Reds, in their away gray uniforms, got out to a quick 3-0 lead. After the last four games, it looked like Reading was at it again and would cruise to an easy win. But not so fast; Chicago scored one in the bottom of the 3rd and then three in the bottom of the 5th, taking a 4-3 lead. When the Whales kept the score there for two more innings, it looked like they had a shot to keep their season alive.

But in the top of the 8th, Reading exploded. A walk, triple, intentional walk, and another triple put four runs on the board. Then a double, groundout, and single drove in another run, giving them a four run lead. They padded it in the top of the 9th with another run.

In the bottom of the 9th, a 1-out single kept Chicago alive, but then two fly ball outs clinched the win for Reading.

Congratulations to the Reading Reds!

[ryanivr]

The 1914 Reading Reds



The first Presidents Cup Series took place in 1914, a match-up between the United League Pennant winners, Reading, and the Columbia League Pennant winners, the Chicago Whales. The Whales, in their first season, put together the best record in the history of the league at the time, going 81-45.

However, the Reds, who went 71-55, played extremely well in the series. After losing game one, the team went on to win the next five games. In the sixth and deciding game, Reading came back from a one run deficit in the 8th inning by scoring five runs and went on to win 9-4.

On the mound, Owen Chaney was the anchor of the rotation. Going 21-10, he had a 1.90 ERA and struck out 252 men, the most in the UBA's three year history.

On offense, it was center fielder Wash Teal. The 35-year-old hit just .252, but hit 22 doubles, 8 triples, and 7 home runs.

[ryanivr]

1914 Final Standings

NEW YORK, NY. September 4, 1914 -

United League Standings
		W	L	GB
Reading		71	55
Washington		69	57	2
New York		63	63	8
Chicago		61	65	10
Pittsburgh		58	68	13
Cleveland		56	70	15
Columbia League Standings
		W	L	GB
Chicago		81	45
Baltimore		64	62	17
Brooklyn		61	65	20
St. Louis		60	66	21
Newark		59	67	22
Kansas City		53	73	28

[ryanivr]

Chaney Scoops up UL Top Hurler Award

NEW YORK, NY. September 17, 1914 - The W.A. Willman Pitcher of the Year Award for 1914 has been presented and the United League winner is Owen Chaney of Reading.

"It's always nice to receive an award like this," said Chaney. "I just hope I can improve on my performance next year and be in the running again," the Reds star told reporters.

Chaney excelled with an impressive 21-10 record in 32 starts. In 288.1 innings he yielded 196 hits and 113 walks, while striking out 252 and compiling a fine 1.90 ERA.

[ryanivr]

Upchurch Wins Columbia League Pitching Crown

NEW YORK, NY. September 17, 1914 - Whitey Upchurch was really special this season. You could feel the electricity in the air every time he took the mound for the Chicago Whales. Today he was honored by his selection as the 1914 Columbia League W.A. Willman Pitcher of the Year Award recipient.

He started 32 games, logging 264 innings, 23 wins, 8 losses, 199 strikeouts and a 2.01 ERA. Upchurch gave up 209 hits, while walking 73 and holding opponents to a .215 average.

[ryanivr]

Eli Calhoun Wins Best Bat Trophy

NEW YORK, NY. September 18, 1914 - Eli Calhoun really stood out with the bat in the United League this year as he put together a .305 batting average. Today he was named the winner of the coveted 1914 James A. Gilmore MVP Award.

He hit his way to an award-winning season with these stats: 138 hits, 5 home runs, 66 RBIs and 85 runs scored.

[ryanivr]

Kephart Tops Best Hitter List

NEW YORK, NY. September 18, 1986 - Warley Kephart had an impressive 1914 season against Columbia League pitchers and was acclaimed the league's James A. Gilmore MVP Award winner today.

The St. Louis second baseman hit .302 and collected 107 hits, 3 home runs, 58 RBIs and scored 58 times to win the coveted trophy.

[Big Six]

YEAH! That first game had me concerned, but the Reds really took care of business after that. Sperry, Eddington, and Chaney were tough, weren't they?

How old are the key players on the Reading roster? I hope they're young enough that they can stay together for a while and keep the pennants rolling in. I know Wash Teal is 35, but hopefully the rest of the team's stars are younger.

[ryanivr]

Originally Posted by Big Six

YEAH! That first game had me concerned, but the Reds really took care of business after that. Sperry, Eddington, and Chaney were tough, weren't they?

How old are the key players on the Reading roster? I hope they're young enough that they can stay together for a while and keep the pennants rolling in. I know Wash Teal is 35, but hopefully the rest of the team's stars are younger.

1. RF Hunkey Howel (.284, 5 Doubles, 13 RBIs) Age 27
2. C Dilly Munger (.251, 8 Doubles, 39 RBIs) Age 26
3. CF Wash Teal (.252, 14 Triples, 72 RBIs) Age 35
4. LF Mansfield Covington (.277, 20 Doubles, 21 RBIs) Age 36
5. 1B Angus Mulkey (.290, 17 Doubles, 66 RBIs) Age 33
6. SS Yank Burk (.256, 16 Doubles, 51 RBIs) Age 33
7. 3B Chester Shane (.266, 8 Doubles, 32 RBIs) Age 32
8. 2B Fritz Schweitzer (.226, 8 Doubles, 25 RBIs) Age 34

1. RHP Owen Chaney (21-10, 1.90 ERA, 252 K) Age 27
2. RHP Joel Sperry (15-12, 2.18 ERA, 62 K) Age 38
3. RHP Sydney Eddington (15-12, 2.84 ERA, 83 K) Age 30
4. RHP Solomon Maurer (13-13, 3.42 ERA, 64 K) Age 34

[ryanivr]

Washington Eagan Named UBA Commisioner

NEW YORK, NY. October 10, 1914 - After one full season of the United Baseball Association, the league has officially named their first commissioner.

Washington Eagan, a lawyer from Brooklyn, NY, will preside over the United and Columbia League. W.A. Willman and James A. Gilmore will continue to be the representatives of the United and Columbia Leagues, respectively.

[ryanivr]

UBA Owners Meetings This Week

NEW YORK, NY. October 14, 1914 - This week, team owners, league officials, league presidents, and Commissioner Eagan will meet at the Plaza Hotel in New York City to discuss the future of the United Baseball Association.

One main item that the league officials will discuss is a slight change to the free agency rules. Currently, players need eight years of major league service time to become free agents. According to sources, W.A. Willman and James A. Gilmore, along with Commissioner Eagan, would like to move the required number of years to four, making free agency a possibility after this season.

However, owners are unlikely to agree. Eight years allows them to hold on to younger talent through their prime. The problem, however, is players may be tempted to desert the UBA and move to the American or National League's if they feel that they're getting the same deal they would with the reserve clause. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[ryanivr]

United League, Columbia League Will Expand to Eight

NEW YORK, NY. October 20, 1914 - The owners meetings are over, and there are a few very interesting changes that are being instituted by Commissioner Eagan.

First of all, the most drastic news is that each league will expand by two teams. Locations have not been named yet.

Secondly, the amount of service time needed to reach free agency has been changed from eight years to five years. While we had thought the owners would never agree, Commissioner Eagan must have been able to convince them.