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Big Six · 07-16-2009, 08:23 PM

1923 Season Summary

Code:

NATIONAL       W   L    PCT  GB
Philadelphia   98  56  .636  --
Cincinnati     90  64  .584   8
New York       82  72  .532  16
Milwaukee      76  78  .494  22
Chicago        75  79  .487  23
Pittsburgh     73  81  .474  25
St. Louis      66  88  .429  32
Brooklyn       66  88  .429  32

AMERICAN       W   L    PCT  GB
Baltimore      86  68  .558  --
Cleveland      83  71  .539   3
Boston         78  76  .506   8
Washington     76  78  .494  10
Detroit        76  78  .494  10
New York       75  79  .487  11
Chicago        72  82  .468  14
Kansas City    61  93  .396  25

PACIFIC        W   L    PCT  GB
Oakland        87  67  .565  --
Hollywood      84  70  .545   3
Seattle        84  70  .545   3
San Francisco  80  74  .519   7
Los Angeles    74  80  .481  13
Portland       73  81  .474  14
Sacramento     72  82  .468  15
San Diego      61  93  .396  26

The 1923 season was perhaps the most exciting yet, as a dandy pennant race in the Pacific Coast Division kept fans interested well into autumn. At some point during the last three weeks of the season, Oakland, Hollywood, and Seattle all held first place, and a late surge by the Oaks, who won five of their last six games, earned the defending World Series champions a spot in the playoffs.

There, they met the Cincinnati Reds, owners of the second-best record in baseball. The Oaks played like champions, defeating the Reds in a thrilling seven-game Divisional Series.

The powerful Philadelphia Phillies won the National Division handily, making their mediocre 1922 season look like a fluke. Most experts figured they'd handle the American Division champion Baltimore Orioles with ease. Instead, the Orioles eliminated the Phils in four games. The Orioles and Oaks would now meet in a rematch of the 1922 Series.

This time, the Orioles swept the Oaks and wrested the World Series trophy from the Pacific champions' grasp.

Most of the Orioles' heroes were familiar ones. CF Rick Mar's batting average slipped a bit to .294, but he ripped 21 triples and 11 homers, drove in 87 runs, and stole 34 bases. LF Dave McBride (.342-7-85) shook off the effects of a May concussion, and SS Chris Gunn hit .282 and belted nine homers.

Baltimore ace Mike Crawford (17-15, 3.07) suffered some bad luck, but veteran John Ferris (23-8, 3.15) enjoyed the best season of his career. Closer Andres Ramirez (9-9, 2.07, 16 saves) gave the O's a powerful weapon in the endgame.

Oakland's Tim Stephens (.348-9-81, .867 OPS, 98 R) added to his reputation as the league's best catcher, while LF Heinie Manush (.316-11-93, 94 R, 191 H) beat the sophomore jinx in style. The remarkably balanced Oaks batting order featured seven players who drove in at least 60 runs.

Oaks ace Nestor Ornelas, known as "The Hobo" because of a boyhood habit of stashing aboard box cars, produced a season for the ages (23-8, 2.00, 123 K, 5 shutouts) and won the Outstanding Pitcher Award.

The hard-hitting duo of 3B Howard Mooney (.360-2-91, 204 H, 114 R, 95 BB, .450 OBP) and 2B Joe Boyd (.347-2-115, 47 2B), powered the Phillies, with Bernardo Piniella (21-6, 2.57) and reliever deluxe Stephen Turner (18-5, 19 saves, 2.84) providing the pitching punch.

Hollywood LF Arnold Burns (.373-4-93, 18 triples, 98 R, 224 H) won the batting title and the Outstanding Hitter Award, outdistancing Portland CF Robert Wallace (.363-2-73, 73 BB, .463 OBP), who might well have taken the prize from Burns had he not been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia that ended his season in July.

Rookie of the Year Jim Bottomley of Washington (.366-8-87) and 1B Joe Hauser of the Cubs (.341-23-116) also enjoyed banner seasons in '23. "Unser Choe" won the home run and RBI crowns. Seattle CF Gabriel Morales stole 90 bases, establishing a new league record; he also scored 123 runs.

It was a great year for relief pitchers, as closers like Randy Lynch of the Giants (5-4, 1.78, 20 saves) and Alex Carey of the Seals (10-5, 2.40, 21 saves) joined the ranks of the league's best twirlers. Lynch worked enough innings to win the league ERA championship.

The 1923 draft class was even better than the impressive 1922 contingent. The Boston Red Sox chose RHP Leroy "Satchel" Paige with the first overall pick. Paige is as raw as they come--he didn't turn 17 until after the draft--but his upside is tremendous. He was hit hard and often by professional hitters while pitching for the Birmingham Barons, but the Red Sox think they've treated themselves to a future ace.

The San Diego Padres are equally thrilled with CF James "Cool Papa" Bell, whose blazing speed can change a game no matter which team is at bat. LF Al Simmons reported straight to the New York Yankees after being drafted #3 overall, and hit a respectable .265.

Other notable draftees include RF Chick Hafey (#6, San Francisco) C Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe (#7, Portland), 2B Charlie Gehringer (#8,Pittsburgh) P Red Ruffing (#9, Hollywood) and CF Earle Combs (#10, Washington). The Senators also might have struck gold in Round Two, when they chose LF George "Mule" Suttles, who hit .
328 with 10 homers in 77 big league contests.

Note: I added Satchel Paige to the draft list based on the fact that he supposedly began his career in 1924. Therefore, he'd belong in the rookie draft class of '23. And, if Bill Veeck's research was accurate, Satch would have been at least 23 years old in 1923.

07-16-2009, 08:23 PM	#31 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,410 Thanks: 117 Thanked 91x in 73 posts	1923 Season Summary Code: NATIONAL W L PCT GB Philadelphia 98 56 .636 -- Cincinnati 90 64 .584 8 New York 82 72 .532 16 Milwaukee 76 78 .494 22 Chicago 75 79 .487 23 Pittsburgh 73 81 .474 25 St. Louis 66 88 .429 32 Brooklyn 66 88 .429 32 AMERICAN W L PCT GB Baltimore 86 68 .558 -- Cleveland 83 71 .539 3 Boston 78 76 .506 8 Washington 76 78 .494 10 Detroit 76 78 .494 10 New York 75 79 .487 11 Chicago 72 82 .468 14 Kansas City 61 93 .396 25 PACIFIC W L PCT GB Oakland 87 67 .565 -- Hollywood 84 70 .545 3 Seattle 84 70 .545 3 San Francisco 80 74 .519 7 Los Angeles 74 80 .481 13 Portland 73 81 .474 14 Sacramento 72 82 .468 15 San Diego 61 93 .396 26 The 1923 season was perhaps the most exciting yet, as a dandy pennant race in the Pacific Coast Division kept fans interested well into autumn. At some point during the last three weeks of the season, Oakland, Hollywood, and Seattle all held first place, and a late surge by the Oaks, who won five of their last six games, earned the defending World Series champions a spot in the playoffs. There, they met the Cincinnati Reds, owners of the second-best record in baseball. The Oaks played like champions, defeating the Reds in a thrilling seven-game Divisional Series. The powerful Philadelphia Phillies won the National Division handily, making their mediocre 1922 season look like a fluke. Most experts figured they'd handle the American Division champion Baltimore Orioles with ease. Instead, the Orioles eliminated the Phils in four games. The Orioles and Oaks would now meet in a rematch of the 1922 Series. This time, the Orioles swept the Oaks and wrested the World Series trophy from the Pacific champions' grasp. Most of the Orioles' heroes were familiar ones. CF Rick Mar's batting average slipped a bit to .294, but he ripped 21 triples and 11 homers, drove in 87 runs, and stole 34 bases. LF Dave McBride (.342-7-85) shook off the effects of a May concussion, and SS Chris Gunn hit .282 and belted nine homers. Baltimore ace Mike Crawford (17-15, 3.07) suffered some bad luck, but veteran John Ferris (23-8, 3.15) enjoyed the best season of his career. Closer Andres Ramirez (9-9, 2.07, 16 saves) gave the O's a powerful weapon in the endgame. Oakland's Tim Stephens (.348-9-81, .867 OPS, 98 R) added to his reputation as the league's best catcher, while LF Heinie Manush (.316-11-93, 94 R, 191 H) beat the sophomore jinx in style. The remarkably balanced Oaks batting order featured seven players who drove in at least 60 runs. Oaks ace Nestor Ornelas, known as "The Hobo" because of a boyhood habit of stashing aboard box cars, produced a season for the ages (23-8, 2.00, 123 K, 5 shutouts) and won the Outstanding Pitcher Award. The hard-hitting duo of 3B Howard Mooney (.360-2-91, 204 H, 114 R, 95 BB, .450 OBP) and 2B Joe Boyd (.347-2-115, 47 2B), powered the Phillies, with Bernardo Piniella (21-6, 2.57) and reliever deluxe Stephen Turner (18-5, 19 saves, 2.84) providing the pitching punch. Hollywood LF Arnold Burns (.373-4-93, 18 triples, 98 R, 224 H) won the batting title and the Outstanding Hitter Award, outdistancing Portland CF Robert Wallace (.363-2-73, 73 BB, .463 OBP), who might well have taken the prize from Burns had he not been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia that ended his season in July. Rookie of the Year Jim Bottomley of Washington (.366-8-87) and 1B Joe Hauser of the Cubs (.341-23-116) also enjoyed banner seasons in '23. "Unser Choe" won the home run and RBI crowns. Seattle CF Gabriel Morales stole 90 bases, establishing a new league record; he also scored 123 runs. It was a great year for relief pitchers, as closers like Randy Lynch of the Giants (5-4, 1.78, 20 saves) and Alex Carey of the Seals (10-5, 2.40, 21 saves) joined the ranks of the league's best twirlers. Lynch worked enough innings to win the league ERA championship. The 1923 draft class was even better than the impressive 1922 contingent. The Boston Red Sox chose RHP Leroy "Satchel" Paige with the first overall pick. Paige is as raw as they come--he didn't turn 17 until after the draft--but his upside is tremendous. He was hit hard and often by professional hitters while pitching for the Birmingham Barons, but the Red Sox think they've treated themselves to a future ace. The San Diego Padres are equally thrilled with CF James "Cool Papa" Bell, whose blazing speed can change a game no matter which team is at bat. LF Al Simmons reported straight to the New York Yankees after being drafted #3 overall, and hit a respectable .265. Other notable draftees include RF Chick Hafey (#6, San Francisco) C Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe (#7, Portland), 2B Charlie Gehringer (#8,Pittsburgh) P Red Ruffing (#9, Hollywood) and CF Earle Combs (#10, Washington). The Senators also might have struck gold in Round Two, when they chose LF George "Mule" Suttles, who hit . 328 with 10 homers in 77 big league contests. Note: I added Satchel Paige to the draft list based on the fact that he supposedly began his career in 1924. Therefore, he'd belong in the rookie draft class of '23. And, if Bill Veeck's research was accurate, Satch would have been at least 23 years old in 1923. __________________ My OOTP dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: where it all began The Baseball Life of Tom Haley: a story of a modern player The New England Baseball League: a fictional league story Last edited by Big Six; 07-16-2009 at 08:32 PM.