Set in Stone... MLB Players Stay with Original Franchises

[tward13]

Great to see Lajoie finish with a strong season and take the Hits leadership. One of the more underrated great players in history.

[woody5254]

Wow, forgot that Edd Roush was on the White Sox to start his career. Of course he only played 9 games so it easy. The Reds will miss him

[Matt from TN]

1915 World Series


In the first World Series game ever played in Cincinnati, the Reds took a 3-1 lead Chief Bender after just 5 innings, and all three runs were unearned. A's SS John Knight led off the 8th with a triple off Rube Benton, and a single from Bender drove him home. However, Stuffy McInnis grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the 9th, the A's got two runners on with just one out, but Wally Schang grounded into a game ending DP.

Game 1: Philadelphia 2 - Cincinnati 3

Both teams scored 2 runs in the 6th, but that was all that Weldon Henley or Pat Ragan would give up. In the top of the 12th, the A's loaded the bases against Jean Dubuc with just one out. Bris Lord hit a 3-run double that was the game winner.

Game 2: Philadelphia 5 - Cincinnati 2



The A's took a quickl 1-0 lead against Orval Overall, but the Reds' veteran pitcher buckled down and did not allow another run. In the 7th, Overall himself hit a 2-run singled off Joe Bush that broke a 1-1 tie and provided the difference.

Game 3: Cincinnati 3 - Philadelphia 1

The Reds scored 4 first inning runs off Bender. Philly narrowed their lead to 4-2 after the 6th inning, but a four-run 8th sealed the A's fate.

Game 4: Cincinnati 8 - Philadelphia 2

Yet again the Reds scored four in the 1st inning. Then they added 5 more in the 6th to shock the favored A's, winning Cincy's first world championship.

Game 5: Cincinnati 9 - Philadelphia 2



Winner, 4-1: Cincinnati Reds, 1st Championship, 2nd Pennant

Philadelphia Athletics, 6th pennant

[dfsteele]

It is very interesting to see how many players became famous playing for a team other than the one where they started their career. I was expecting to notice it more when free agency started in real life, but obviously players who became famous have always been traded before they were stars.

[Matt from TN]

Key Incoming Rookies for 1916:


NATIONAL LEAGUE


Braves


P Jesse Barnes, "Nubby"
--- Age 23, 5/8/6 talent



P Art Nehf
--- Age 23, 5/8/8 talent


Robins

LF Hack Miller
--- Age 22, 7/7/9/3/6 talent


Reds


P Jim Bagby, "Sarge"
--- Age 26, 4/7/8 talent



RF Greasy Neale
--- Age 24, 7/7/7/4/6 talent


Pirates


LF Carson Bigbee, "Skeeter"
--- Age 21, 7/6/6/5/9 talent


Cardinals


2B Rogers Hornsby, "Rajah"
--- Age 19, 10/10/10/9/6 talent

CF Jack Smith
--- Age 20, 7/6/7/5/7 talent



AMERICAN LEAGUE


White Sox


P George Mogridge
--- Age 27, 5/8/7 talent



3B Jimmy Johnston
--- Age 26, 7/7/5/5/9 talent


Tigers


P Clarence Mitchell
--- Age 25, 4/7/5



P Lefty Williams
--- Age 23, 7/8/3 talent



RF Harry Heilmann, "Slug"
--- Age 21, 10/10/9/8/8 talent


Yankees


P Allan Russell, "Rubberarm"
--- Age 22, 9/5/3 talent


Athletics


P Stan Coveleski
--- Age 26, 7/8/8 talent



P Dave Danforth, "Dauntless Dave"
--- Age 26, 7/5/8 talent

CF Whitey Witt
--- Age 20, 6/5/5/9/7 talent


Browns

C Verne Clemons, "Stinger"
--- Age 24, 6/7/5/7/8 talent


Senators


1B Joe Judge
--- Age 21, 7/9/6/8/7

2B Joe Gedeon
--- Age 22, 6/7/3/7/7 talent

[tward13]

Hornsby and Heilmann. This should be fun.

Hornsby averaged over .400 for a 5 year period.

The Athletics get another pitcher.

[Matt from TN]

1916 National League

Team                        W   L   %  GB
New York Giants           102 52 .662 -
Chicago Cubs               80 74 .519 22
Cincinnati Reds            79 75 .513 23
St. Louis Cardinals        76 78 .494 26
Boston Braves              75 79 .487 27
Brooklyn Robins            69 85 .448 33
Philadelphia Phillies      69 85 .448 33
Pittsburgh Pirates         66 88 .429 36

League AVG: .262
League ERA: 3.04


New York put to rest the claims that their dynasty was over by dominating the league by 22 games over second place Chicago. However, Rube Marquard seems to be slowing down. He started just 21 games and went 13-7 with a 3.07 ERA. On the other hand, Christy Mathewson (23-10, 3.14) had one of his best seasons and Doc Crandall (29-10, 2.33) took the torch as team ace.

The Cubs were just 80-74 as a second place team, but they shot up from a last place finish in 1915. Much of the credit went to 38-year-old 3B Bill Bradley, who won the batting title and led the league in OPS. 2B Heinie Zimmerman finished 2nd in OPS and hit 10 HRs for the second straight season. St. Louis rookie Rogers Hornsby hit .311 with 66 RBI.



Batting AVG
.336 Bill Bradley, CHC
.328 Alex McCarthy, PIT
.325 Heinie Groh, NYG
.318 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
.318 Ed Konetchy, STL

HOMERUNS
10 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
7 Tom O'Hara, STL

RBI
112 Fred Merkle, NYG
89 Buck Herzog, NYG
82 Fred Beck, BSN
82 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
80 Moose McCormick, NYG

OPS
.832 Bill Bradley, CHC
.796 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
.785 Johnny Bates, BSN
.778 Heinie Groh, NYG
.772 Rogers Hornsby, STL

STEALS
60 Armando Marsans, CIN
55 Max Carey, PIT
40 Josh Devore, NYG
38 Fred Snodgrass, NYG
31 Fred Merkle, NYG
31 George Burns, NYG

ERA
2.25 Pete Alexander, PHI
2.26 Orval Overall, CIN
2.29 Les Backman, STL
2.33 Doc Crandall, NYG
2.33 Ed Reulbach, CHC

WINS
29 Doc Crandall, NYG
23 Jeff Tesreau, NYG
23 Christy Mathewson, NYG
22 Ed Reulbach, CHC
22 Bill Schardt, BRO

STRIKEOUTS
204 Pete Alexander, PHI
193 Claude Hendrix, PIT
177 Ed Reulbach, CHC
176 Nap Rucker, BRO
160 Harry Coveleski, PHI

POY: Doc Crandall, 29, NYG, 29-10, 2.33 ERA, 63 BB, 152 K, .237 OAVG, 1.06 WHIP
BOY: 2B Heinie Zimmerman, 29, CHC, .318, 10 HR, 82 RBI, .796 OPS
ROY: 2B Rogers Hornsby, 20, STL, .311, 66 RBI, .772 OPS

Gold Gloves:

Pitcher: Christy Mathewson, NYG, 5
Catcher: Dick Cotter, PHI, 1
First Base: Fred Beck, BSN, 4
Second Base: Dick Egan, CIN, 5
Third Base: Alex McCarthy, PIT, 2
Shortstop: Rabbit Maranville, BSN, 3
Leftfield: Sherry Magee, PHI, 1
Centerfield: Solly Hofman, PIT, 8
Rightfield: George Burns, NYG, 1




1916 American League

Team                        W   L   %  GB
Philadelphia Athletics    105 49 .682 -
Boston Red Sox             84 70 .545 21
Cleveland Indians          78 76 .506 27
Chicago White Sox          76 78 .494 29
New York Yankees           76 78 .494 29
Detroit Tigers             72 82 .468 33
Washington Senators        64 90 .416 41
St. Louis Browns           61 93 .396 44

League AVG: .253
League ERA: 2.93


The season did not start out dominantly for Philly, but they A's went 29-9 from July 6 to August 17. That run cinched the pennant for Philly, who finished a monster 21 games ahead of Boston. The Red Sox went just 84-70 and have seen their win total drop from 102 to 97 to 89 to 84 over the past four seasons. Offense is not the problem for Boston. They scored the most runs in the league this season. However, their pitching staff allowed the 3rd most runs - just 17 fewer runs than the most in the league (Detroit).



Batting AVG
.381 Joe Jackson, PHA
.365 Tris Speaker, BOS
.343 Ty Cobb, DET
.330 Bris Lord, PHA
.328 Amby McConnell, BOS

HOMERUNS
11 Babe Ruth, BOS
8 George Sisler, SLB
8 Tris Speaker, BOS
8 Charlie Pick, WSH

RBI
104 Joe Jackson, PHA
95 Tris Speaker, BOS
93 Frank Baker, PHA
86 Ty Cobb, DET
79 Stuffy McInnis, PHA

OPS
.944 Joe Jackson, PHA
.927 Tris Speaker, BOS
.828 Ty Cobb, DET
.795 Frank Baker, PHA
.793 Bris Lord, PHA

STEALS
67 Ty Cobb, DET
60 Eddie Collins, PHA
53 Clyde Milan, WSH
47 Amby McConnell, BOS
43 Ray Chapman, CLE
42 Donie Bush, DET

ERA
1.72 Chief Bender, PHA
1.82 Joe Bush,PHA
2.14 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
2.25 Ed Walsh, CHW
2.41 Jim Scott, CHW

WINS
34 Chief Bender, PHA - Most in history since Al Spalding started every game for the 1876 White Stockings
31 Joe Bush, PHA
22 Gene Krapp, CLE
21 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
21 Joe Wood, BOS

STRIKEOUTS
176 Walter Johnson, WSH
173 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
172 Ed Walsh, CHW
153 Jim Scott, CHW
151 Chief Bender, PHA

POY: Chief Bender, 32, PHA, 34-6, 1.72 ERA, 27 BB, 151 K, .222 OAVG, 0.90 WHIP
BOY: LF Joe Jackson, 27, PHA, .381, 104 RBI, 20 SB, .944 OPS
ROY: SS Jimmy Johnston, CHW, .278, 62 RBI, 17 SB, .690 OPS

Gold Gloves:
Pitcher: Ed Walsh, CHW, 1
Catcher: Wally Schang, PHA, 1
First Base: Stuffy McInnis, PHA, 3
Second Base: Eddie Collins, PHA, 2
Third Base: Pep Clark, CHW, 4
Shortstop: Jimmy Johnston, CHW, 1
Leftfield: Bobby Veach, DET, 2
Centerfield: Ty Cobb, DET, 2
Rightfield: Bill Hinchman, CLE, 1

[woody5254]

Originally Posted by Matt from TN

WINS
34 Chief Bender, PHA - Most in history since Al Spalding started every game for the 1876 White Stockings
31 Joe Bush, PHA
22 Gene Krapp, CLE
21 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
21 Joe Wood, BOS

That pitching staff is unbelievable!!!

[darkhorse]

Originally Posted by woody5254

That pitching staff is unbelievable!!!

Indeedy.

[Matt from TN]

1916 World Series


The Giants drew first blood in the 1st, but Chief Bender settled down and in the 5th, the A's took a 2-1 lead. In the 6th, the A's tacked on 3 more runs agains Doc Crandall en route to a 6-2 win.

Game 1: New York 2 - Philadelphia 6

The A's held a 3-0 lead after 8 innings. Then in the 9th, the Giants got five straight singles before an out was recorded, tying the game and knocking Joe Bush from the mound. SS John Knight led off the bottom of the 9th with a single against reliever Ernie Shore. After two outs, Stuffy McInnis drew a walk to keep the inning alive. Then Joe Jackson singled home pinch runner Danny Hoffman with the winning run.

Game 2: New York 3 - Philadelphia 4



The A's pounded Jeff Tesreau while Hal Krause allowed just 1 run off 7 hits in a dominant win to give the team a 3-0 series lead.

Game 3: Philadelphia 7 - New York 1

A 2-out Stuffy McInnis double drove in two runs in the 6th to tie the score at 2-2. The score remained tied until the bottom of the 8th when Josh Devore got a clutch 2-out RBI single, scoring Larry Doyle from 2nd against Bender to keep the Giants alive.

Game 4: Philadelphia 2 - New York 3

The Giants scored 4 runs off Joe Bush in the 2nd inning. Bush allowed just 5 more hits the rest of the game - pitching all 9 innings. However, Rube Marquard was better. He did not allow a run intil the 8th, but New York held on to win and force a Game 6 in Philadelphia.

Game 5: Philadelphia 2 - New York 4



Hal Krause gave one of the most dominant performances in World Series history allowing just 1 run off 1 hit and 3 walks. Oddly enough, that lone run was not a result of the Giants' one hit or three walks. In the top of the 6th, Fred Snodgrass reached base on an error by 3B Frank Baker. He stole 2nd and then advanced to 3rd on a bunt. Fred Merkle then hit a sac fly that scored Snodgrass. That made the score 3-1, but the A's got that run back in the bottom of the 6th and won 6-1.

Game 6: New York 1 - Philadelphia 6



Winner, 4-2: Philadelphia Athletics, 4th Championship, 7th Pennant

New York Giants, 9th pennant

[Mucho Macho]

Damn...9 pennants for the Giants. Looks like they'll be a force for years, too.

[Matt from TN]

Key Incoming Rookies for 1917:


NATIONAL LEAGUE


Robins


P Leon Cadore, "Caddy"
--- Age 23, 6/8/5 talent


Cubs


P Vic Aldridge
--- Age 23, 6/7/8 talent


Reds


P Hod Eller
--- Age 22, 8/7/5 talent


Giants


1B Walter Holke, "Union Man"
--- Age 24, 6/5/6/3/7 talent


Pirates


P Hal Carlson
--- Age 24, 6/8/6 talent



P Burleigh Grimes, "Ol' Stubblebeard"
--- Age 23, 8/8/5 talent

3B Tony Boeckel
--- Age 24, 6/6/6/6/7 talent



AMERICAN LEAGUE


Tigers


P Howard Ehmke
--- Age 22, 7/6/7 talent



CF Baby Doll Jacobson
--- Age 26, 8/9/8/4/7 talent



CF Ray Powell, "Rabbit"
--- Age 28, 6/6/7/7/3 talent


Yankees


P Urban Shocker
--- Age 24, 8/9/5 talent



1B Joe Harris
--- Age 25, 7/9/7/9/7 talent


Browns


P Allen Sothoron
--- Age 23, 6/5/8 talent


Senators


RF Sam Rice
--- Age 27, 8/8/5/5/9 talent

[Matt from TN]

Originally Posted by Matt from TN

P Burleigh Grimes, "Ol' Stubblebeard"
--- Age 23, 8/8/5 talent

When I looked him up I was surprised to find out that his career wasn't overly spectacular, considering he's in the HOF. His 8/8/5 talents are a little more generous than ootp originally gave him.

[tward13]

We've got Grimes, the last legal spitballer.

Leon Cadore who pitched all 26 innings of a 1-1 tie in 1920. The opposing pitcher Oeschger also pitched 26 innings.

Rice, Shocker, Jacobsen.

I seem to recall Ehmke having a big part in a late 20's World Series for the A's. A surprise game 1 starter. Something like that. Struck out about 13.

[tward13]

Originally Posted by Matt from TN

When I looked him up I was surprised to find out that his career wasn't overly spectacular, considering he's in the HOF. His 8/8/5 talents are a little more generous than ootp originally gave him.

He won a good number of games. Pitched a lot in a good hitters park (Ebbets) then finished in the high offense 30's.

[Matt from TN]

Originally Posted by tward13

He won a good number of games. Pitched a lot in a good hitters park (Ebbets) then finished in the high offense 30's.

270 wins but in an era where the top pitchers got a lot more. And his career OPS+ is a measley 107. He had some pretty mediocre seasons and a few very good ones.

[metsgeek]

Damn, Joe Harris was one ugly mother. What is that thing on his face???

[Matt from TN]

Originally Posted by metsgeek

Damn, Joe Harris was one ugly mother. What is that thing on his face???

No clue, but here's an interesting tidbit about him:

February 4, 1922: Joe Harris, formerly with Cleveland, is reinstated by Judge Landis because of his good war record. Harris had been on the ineligible list for having played with and against ineligible players in independent games. "His service in France, where he was gassed after bitter fighting, caused him to do things he might not have done," says Judge Landis in reinstating him.

[Matt from TN]

1917 National League

Team                        W   L   %  GB
New York Giants           102 52 .662 -
Chicago Cubs               80 74 .519 22
Cincinnati Reds            79 75 .513 23
St. Louis Cardinals        76 78 .494 26
Boston Braves              75 79 .487 27
Brooklyn Robins            69 85 .448 33
Philadelphia Phillies      69 85 .448 33
Pittsburgh Pirates         66 88 .429 36

League AVG: .259
League ERA: 2.96


The Braves, having their 2nd best season since 1898, kept the pennant race close until a 13-14 run from August 31st to October 1st. At age 35, CF Johnny Bates had a superb season, hitting .352 with 67 RBI and being named Top Batter. The biggest surprise of the season though was Braves pitcher Sam Frock, who won 27 games, posted a 1.82 ERA and was named Top Pitcher.

The Giants had easily the best offense, outscoring 2nd place Boston by 70 runs. No one batter had a standout season, but many batters had very strong seasons. On the pitching side, Doc Crandall led the league with 28 wins, and Jeff Tesreau finished tied with Frock for 2nd with 27.

Pete Alexander went 23-13 with a major league best 1.70 ERA for the 4th place Phillies but was passed over for the Top Pitcher Award.

The Brooklyn Robins had their first winning season (79-75) in twenty years. Much of the credit goes to Top Rookie Leon Cadore, who posted a 21-15 record.



Batting AVG
.352 Johnny Bates, BSN
.333 Otto Miller, BRO
.326 Fred Merkle, NYG
.321 Alex McCarthy, PIT
.319 Wally Clement, PHI

HOMERUNS
10 Rogers Hornsby, STL
9 Bob Coleman, PIT

RBI
96 Fred Beck, BSN
88 Red Smith, BRO
82 Larry Doyle, NYG
77 Buck Herzog, NYG
77 Joe Connelly, BSN

OPS
.828 Johnny Bates, BSN
.772 Fred Merkle, NYG
.763 Larry Doyle, NYG
.756 Heinie Zimmerman, CHC
.754 Sherry Magee, PHI

STEALS
64 Max Carey, PIT
51 Armando Marsans, CIN
39 Larry Doyle, NYG
39 Fred Snodgrass, NYG
37 Danny Moeller, PIT

ERA
1.70 Pete Alexander, PHI
1.82 Sam Frock, BSN
2.02 Ed Reulbach, CHC
2.08 Harry Coveleski, PHI
2.26 Claude Hendrix, PIT

WINS
28 Doc Crandall, NYG
27 Jeff Tesreau, NYG
27 Sam Frock, BSN
23 Pete Alexander, PHI
22 Hank Robinson, PIT

STRIKEOUTS
214 Pete Alexander, PHI
196 Claude Hendrix, PIT
170 Sam Frock, BSN
170 Ed Reulbach, CHC
165 Harry Coveleski, PHI

POY: Sam Frock, BSN, 34, 27-13, 1.82 ERA, 71 BB, 170 K, .219 OAVG, 1.01 WHIP
BOY: CF Johnny Bates, BSN, 35, .352, 67 RBI, 30 SB, .828 OPS
ROY: Leon Cadore, BRO, 26, 21-15, 3.07 ERA, 69 BB, 101 K, .295 OAVG, 1.39 WHIP

Gold Gloves:

Pitcher: Hal Carlson, PIT, 1
Catcher: Dick Cotter, PHI, 2
First Base: Fred Beck, BSN, 5
Second Base: Jack Coffey, BSN, 1
Third Base: Alex McCarthy, PIT, 3
Shortstop: Buck Herzog, NYG, 2
Leftfield: Tom O'Hara, STL, 1
Centerfield: Johnny Bates, BSN, 1
Rightfield: Cy Williams, CHC, 1




1917 American League

Team                        W   L   %  GB
Philadelphia Athletics    105 49 .682 -
Boston Red Sox             84 70 .545 21
Cleveland Indians          78 76 .506 27
Chicago White Sox          76 78 .494 29
New York Yankees           76 78 .494 29
Detroit Tigers             72 82 .468 33
Washington Senators        64 90 .416 41
St. Louis Browns           61 93 .396 44

League AVG: .255
League ERA: 3.00


The Athletics led the AL for practically the entire season, but the Red Sox came on strong with a combined 36-18 record in July and August before struggling in September. The Tigers were strong early in the season but played just 2 games above .500 over the final four months.

Ty Cobb nearly carried the Tigers on his back. He was hitting .401 at the end of August but a .327 average in September dropped him to .387 on the season. He narrowly beat out Philly's Joe Jackson for Top Batter. Despite those impressive hitters, Tris Speaker and the Red Sox actually had the top offense. 22-year-old Babe Ruth led the league with 12 homeruns although he hit just .241.



Batting AVG
.387 Ty Cobb, DET
.377 Joe Jackson, PHA
.330 Tris Speaker, BOS
.316 Joe Harris, NYY
.312 Amby McConnell, BOS

HOMERUNS
12 Babe Ruth, BOS
10 Bill Hinchman, CLE
9 Ollie O'Mara, DET
8 Duffy Lewis, BOS

RBI
93 Harry Hooper, BOS
91 Frank Baker, PHA
87 Babe Ruth, BOS
87 Harry Heilmann, DET
86 Ty Cobb, DET

OPS
.950 Ty Cobb, DET
.916 Joe Jackson, PHA
.864 Tris Speaker, BOS
.812 Harry Heilmann, DET
.775 Wally Schang, PHA

STEALS
69 Eddie Collins, PHA
59 Ty Cobb, DET
55 Clyde Milan, WSH
46 Fritz Maisel, NYY
39 Ray Chapman, CLE

ERA
1.92 Hooks Dauss, DET
2.20 Dixie Walker, WSH
2.35 Vean Gregg, CLE
2.39 Herb Pennock, PHA
2.40 Ed Walsh, CHW

WINS
28 Hugh Bedient, BOS
26 Ed Walsh, CHW
24 Jack Rowan, DET
24 Joe Bush, PHA
23 Wean Gregg, CLE
23 Chief Bender, PHA

STRIKEOUTS
164 Ed Walsh, CHW
159 Walter Johnson, WSH
154 Jack Rowan, DET
154 Hippo Vaughn, NYY
146 Eddie Cicotte, DET

POY: Hugh Bedient, BOS, 27, 28-8, 2.42 ERA, 34 BB, 127 K, .247 OAVG, 1.03 WHIP
BOY: CF Ty Cobb, DET, 30, .387, 86 RBI, 59 SB, .950 OPS
ROY: RF Joe Harris, NYY, 26, .316, 62 RBI, 57 BB, .771 OPS

Gold Gloves:
Pitcher: Ed Walsh, CHW, 2
Catcher: Patsy Gharrity, WSH, 1
First Base: Hal Chase, NYY, 5
Second Base: Eddie Collins, PHA, 3
Third Base: Red Corriden, SLB, 1
Shortstop: Howie Shanks, WSH, 1
Leftfield: Jack Tobin, SLB, 1
Centerfield: Happy Felsch, CHW, 1
Rightfield: Harry Hooper, BOS, 1