OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - What Could Have Been: An Alternate Baseball Reality

Big Six · 08-17-2009, 02:35 PM

September 14, 1936

Two of the busiest weeks many fans could remember have fans across the nation tuning in their radios and picking up their newspaper sports pages to find out what's happened next!

On the morning of September 8, sharp-eyed fans noticed a change in the American League Pacific standings. The San Diego Padres, winners of six of their last seven games, slipped past the Hollywood Stars into second place behind Oakland. The Padres were four games off the pace, but they were closing fast.
That day, Chicago White Sox second baseman Wilton Schmitt took a step toward baseball immortality when he singled off San Diego's Vic Sorrell for his 3000th career base hit. Schmitt, a fixture for the last 17 seasons at the top of the White Sox batting order, carries a .324 lifetime average, and has scored 1564 runs. Never a power threat, he's hit only 43 homers, but has accumulated over 1000 RBI. The red-hot Padres came from behind to win the game, 4-3.
Schmitt's long-time teammate Oscar Eckhardt also passed the 3000-hit mark this season. It may be a long time before a pair of teammates racks up as many hits as this White Sox duo has accumulated while playing together.
On September 10, Cleveland righthander Art Smith entered the ninth inning of the Indians' game against Pittsburgh without allowing a single baserunner. He got the first man out, but then he hit pinch-hitter Jonathan Brown with a pitch. Smith recovered to complete his no-hitter. Oddly enough, Smith did not strike out a single batter during his masterpiece. Art is a perfect example of a journeyman who, for one day, is almost as dominant as a pitcher can be. He has won 11 games this season against 14 defeats, and his ERA is 5.37. It just goes to show why baseball is such a fascinating game.
A third player joined the exclusive 3000-hit fraternity today. Jigger Statz of the Cincinnati Reds had been scheduled for a day off, but when the Reds put two runners in scoring position in the eighth inning, his manager sent him up to pinch-hit. Statz delivered a game-winning single and made history at the same time. Statz, 38, is second all-time in runs scored (1696) and third in doubles (555), and he's a career .327 batsman. Philadelphia's Rusty Chandler gave up Jigger's historic hit.
Out in San Diego, the Padres completed a three-game sweep of the Oaks that left the teams tied for first place in the Pacific Division. "I'm putting this team on my back and carrying it home," said San Diego star James "Cool Papa" Bell.

08-17-2009, 02:35 PM	#123 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,494 Thanks: 146 Thanked 100x in 79 posts	September 14, 1936 Two of the busiest weeks many fans could remember have fans across the nation tuning in their radios and picking up their newspaper sports pages to find out what's happened next! On the morning of September 8, sharp-eyed fans noticed a change in the American League Pacific standings. The San Diego Padres, winners of six of their last seven games, slipped past the Hollywood Stars into second place behind Oakland. The Padres were four games off the pace, but they were closing fast. That day, Chicago White Sox second baseman Wilton Schmitt took a step toward baseball immortality when he singled off San Diego's Vic Sorrell for his 3000th career base hit. Schmitt, a fixture for the last 17 seasons at the top of the White Sox batting order, carries a .324 lifetime average, and has scored 1564 runs. Never a power threat, he's hit only 43 homers, but has accumulated over 1000 RBI. The red-hot Padres came from behind to win the game, 4-3. Schmitt's long-time teammate Oscar Eckhardt also passed the 3000-hit mark this season. It may be a long time before a pair of teammates racks up as many hits as this White Sox duo has accumulated while playing together. On September 10, Cleveland righthander Art Smith entered the ninth inning of the Indians' game against Pittsburgh without allowing a single baserunner. He got the first man out, but then he hit pinch-hitter Jonathan Brown with a pitch. Smith recovered to complete his no-hitter. Oddly enough, Smith did not strike out a single batter during his masterpiece. Art is a perfect example of a journeyman who, for one day, is almost as dominant as a pitcher can be. He has won 11 games this season against 14 defeats, and his ERA is 5.37. It just goes to show why baseball is such a fascinating game. A third player joined the exclusive 3000-hit fraternity today. Jigger Statz of the Cincinnati Reds had been scheduled for a day off, but when the Reds put two runners in scoring position in the eighth inning, his manager sent him up to pinch-hit. Statz delivered a game-winning single and made history at the same time. Statz, 38, is second all-time in runs scored (1696) and third in doubles (555), and he's a career .327 batsman. Philadelphia's Rusty Chandler gave up Jigger's historic hit. Out in San Diego, the Padres completed a three-game sweep of the Oaks that left the teams tied for first place in the Pacific Division. "I'm putting this team on my back and carrying it home," said San Diego star James "Cool Papa" Bell. __________________ My OOTP dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: where it all began The Connecticut Shore League: a fictional league story Three Pals, a Base Ball Story: my newest fictional story Last edited by Big Six; 08-17-2009 at 02:38 PM.