[AZTarHeel]

1916 Player Awards

Top Hurler Award
Charley Hall of Payson is truly moving into a class by himself. After an amazing season — and post-season — the 31-year-old nicknamed Sea Lion wins the Top Hurler Award for the Northern League. In 39 starts this year Hall struck out 221 batters over 350 innings of work. His ERA was 2.19, his record 25-13. He had 37 complete games and 6 shutouts. He ended up 1st in the Northern in ERA and 2nd in wins. And he was virtually unhitable in the playoffs for the AZL Champion Payson Longhorns.

The Southern Top Hurler Award winner went to Tucson southpaw Willie Mitchell. Like Hall, this is his first time winning the honor. He certainly earned it, striking fear into hitters all year long. His ERA of 2.73 helped him to a 24-14 record this year. He struck out 188 and walked 105 in 369.2 innings. Willie pitched one shutout and 35 complete games. He was 2nd in the Southern in ERA and 1st in wins.


Big Stick Awards
It's not surprising to see a player from Flagstaff earn a Big Stick Award. But for once, it's not OF Sam Crawford. Wahoo Sam, winner of nine Big Sticks, gave way to second baseman Steve Yerkes this time around. Yerkes' season numbers were: .309 AVG, 176 hits, 36 doubles, 10 triples and 7 longballs, along with 108 RBI and 92 runs scored. He was 5th in the Northern in batting and 1st in RBI.

Babe Ruth certainly made a splash in his first season in Tempe. In his first try, Ruth walked away with the Southern Big Stick Award. He literally walked a lot, 127 times. He also compiled a .295 batting average (156 hits in 528 at-bats). He drove in 103 runs, had an OBP of .450 and belted a Southern League best 26 home runs. Wow, what a career this could turn out to be. Ruth is just 21...


Rookie of the Year Awards
Prescott had a disappointing season from a W-L standpoint, but the Antelopes can celebrate having the league's top rookie in Frank Miller. In 41 starts this year Miller struck out 149 batters in 357.1 innings of work. His ERA was 3.90, his record 20-21. He had 37 complete games and one shutout. He was 7th in the Northern in wins.

It's no surprise that Babe Ruth took home this award as well. The Southern League top rookie had a slugging percentage of .530, and finished 2nd in the Southern in RBIs and 1st in homeruns.

Some more notes on the Babe:
• He had his first career hit April 3, off Phil Douglas of Carefree
• He had his first career home run off the eventual Top Hurler from the SL, Willie Mitchell, who was playing for Phoenix at the time before being traded to Tucson on 7/29 (I just now noticed that trade happened)...
• He was selected to the 1916 Allstar game...
• He won Batter of the Month for July, hitting .314 with 5 HR, 21 RBI...


Field General Awards

Northern Field General Award Winners:
Pitcher: Bill Doak (JER)
Catcher: William Rumler (FLG)
First Base: Tim Jordan (PRE)
Second Base: Eddie Collins (PRE)
Third Base: Fritz Maisel (PRE)
Shortstop: Ernie Johnson (PRE)
Leftfield: Harry Wolter (CTW)
Centerfield: Lee Magee (FLG)
Rightfield: Danny Moeller (PAY)

Southern Field General Award Winners:
Pitcher: Claude Hendrix (PHX)
Catcher: Art Wilson (CAR)
First Base: Babe Borton (YUM) - not the same Babe, unfortunately for Yuma
Second Base: George Cutshaw (TOM)
Third Base: Frank Baker (TUC)
Shortstop: Tommy Mcmillan (YUM)
Leftfield: Chet Chadbourne (CAR)
Centerfield: Joe Birmingham (TEM)
Rightfield: Grover Gilmore (BIS)