After Landis

RMc · 12-12-2019, 09:03 AM

On May 25, 1927, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Commissioner of Baseball, was in Portsmouth, Virginia, part of a tour of the Class B Virginia League. The hometown Portsmouth Truckers were at home at High Street Park, scheduled to take on the Petersburg Bronchos. The game was scheduled for 3:30, and the tiny ballpark was packed -- even the local schools had closed early to allow children to attend. It was a big event for the small town, and nobody gave much notice to the black clouds forming in the west.

Landis had just settled into his seat when a 72 mph gale ripped into the ballpark, tearing the press box apart and hurling it down the grandstand. Many avoided injury by running away, but thousands of pounds of timber suddenly crashed onto the screaming fans. In the end, 24 people lost their lives -- including Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

Tiger Fan · 12-12-2019, 09:09 AM

Interesting concept. Anxious to see where the story goes from here.

RMc · 12-12-2019, 09:22 AM

Interesting concept.

Thanks. I only learned about Landis' trip to Virginia just recently, in a book called "Death at the Ballpark", a fascinating (if morbid) listing of people who died playing or attending baseball games. The storm in Portsmouth described really did happen, and two people were killed, with scores injured.

You know, it's been said that Landis' appointment as commish was the best thing to happen to baseball -- and so was his death in 1944. (For one thing, he was unalterably opposed to integration, although he was hardly alone in that.) So, I thought, "what if Landis died in 1927? Who would take over baseball, and what would the game look like?"

Well, it would look like this...

RMc · 12-12-2019, 10:32 AM

John Heydler, president of the National League, was in his office in New York when he heard of the tragedy in Virginia. He took a train to Chicago, and attended a wake for Landis, who Heydler had recommended for the job in the first place.

Even before Landis' death, the game of baseball was in flux. American League founder and president Ban Johnson -- who was also Landis' implacable foe -- was to be removed from the AL's top job by the owners in January. Except...Johnson was too ill to attend the meeting, so he was placed on an "indefinite sabbatical". Johnson then tried to return in the spring and act as if nothing had changed, but his situation was becoming increasingly untenable.

Now, with Landis dead, Johnson saw his chance to seize power. He called an emergency meeting with Heydler and the owners of both leagues and announced that he (reluctantly, of course) would assume the post of Commissioner, "for the good of the game".

Not so fast. The NL owners had already had a confab and wanted their man Heydler to take baseball's top job. Johnson angrily called the National League bosses "interlopers", and loudly asked the AL owners to back him up.

They didn't. Ban Johnson, they decided, was not only not going to be Commissioner, but he was being removed -- immediately -- from the job as AL president, in favour of Tigers' owner Frank Navin. (Navin did not want the job full time, though, and soon passed it on to Indians' owner Ernest Barnard.) Humiliated, Johnson stormed out of the meeting, and Heydler was chosen as Commissioner of Baseball by acclimation.

Interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, the new commish was asked if he had "any new ideas for baseball". Heydler smiled and said, "Well, maybe a couple."

12-12-2019, 09:03 AM	#1
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,418	After Landis On May 25, 1927, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Commissioner of Baseball, was in Portsmouth, Virginia, part of a tour of the Class B Virginia League. The hometown Portsmouth Truckers were at home at High Street Park, scheduled to take on the Petersburg Bronchos. The game was scheduled for 3:30, and the tiny ballpark was packed -- even the local schools had closed early to allow children to attend. It was a big event for the small town, and nobody gave much notice to the black clouds forming in the west. Landis had just settled into his seat when a 72 mph gale ripped into the ballpark, tearing the press box apart and hurling it down the grandstand. Many avoided injury by running away, but thousands of pounds of timber suddenly crashed onto the screaming fans. In the end, 24 people lost their lives -- including Kenesaw Mountain Landis. __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..."

12-12-2019, 09:09 AM	#2
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,533	Interesting concept. Anxious to see where the story goes from here. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles Columnist- The Figment Sporting Journal MY FIGMENT LEAGUE BROOKLYN KINGS DYNASTY PAST DYNASTYS My History of Hockey Replay Tiger Fan's Sporting News : the mid 1940's Tiger Fan's All Sport Replay: The 1920s History of Sports 1901-15 Historical Tutorial and Feedback League My first fictional attempt The HOB4: The last of my series of history of baseball replays that go back to OOTP2 and the old message board.

12-12-2019, 09:22 AM	#3
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,418	Interesting concept. Thanks. I only learned about Landis' trip to Virginia just recently, in a book called "Death at the Ballpark", a fascinating (if morbid) listing of people who died playing or attending baseball games. The storm in Portsmouth described really did happen, and two people were killed, with scores injured. You know, it's been said that Landis' appointment as commish was the best thing to happen to baseball -- and so was his death in 1944. (For one thing, he was unalterably opposed to integration, although he was hardly alone in that.) So, I thought, "what if Landis died in 1927? Who would take over baseball, and what would the game look like?" Well, it would look like this... __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..." Last edited by RMc; 12-12-2019 at 10:34 AM.

12-12-2019, 10:32 AM	#4
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,418	John Heydler, president of the National League, was in his office in New York when he heard of the tragedy in Virginia. He took a train to Chicago, and attended a wake for Landis, who Heydler had recommended for the job in the first place. Even before Landis' death, the game of baseball was in flux. American League founder and president Ban Johnson -- who was also Landis' implacable foe -- was to be removed from the AL's top job by the owners in January. Except...Johnson was too ill to attend the meeting, so he was placed on an "indefinite sabbatical". Johnson then tried to return in the spring and act as if nothing had changed, but his situation was becoming increasingly untenable. Now, with Landis dead, Johnson saw his chance to seize power. He called an emergency meeting with Heydler and the owners of both leagues and announced that he (reluctantly, of course) would assume the post of Commissioner, "for the good of the game". Not so fast. The NL owners had already had a confab and wanted their man Heydler to take baseball's top job. Johnson angrily called the National League bosses "interlopers", and loudly asked the AL owners to back him up. They didn't. Ban Johnson, they decided, was not only not going to be Commissioner, but he was being removed -- immediately -- from the job as AL president, in favour of Tigers' owner Frank Navin. (Navin did not want the job full time, though, and soon passed it on to Indians' owner Ernest Barnard.) Humiliated, Johnson stormed out of the meeting, and Heydler was chosen as Commissioner of Baseball by acclimation. Interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, the new commish was asked if he had "any new ideas for baseball". Heydler smiled and said, "Well, maybe a couple." __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..."