What Could Have Been: An Alternate Baseball Reality

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Finally some hope for the Yankees! I'm hoping they can hold on for the rest of the season though.

It took a while, but the good players the Yankees drafted while they were struggling have begun to develop, and as they have, the team has become a contender.

Unlike the Beavers, whose draft day struggles I outlined earlier, the Yankees have come up with at least one big league regular in every draft. Their first round choices include players like Al Simmons (1923), Buck Leonard (1925), and Bill Swift (1931), who are among the most productive players in the game.

Fred Frankhouse (1926) went 58-24 for the Yankees in 1928-30, before injuries took their toll. George Earnshaw (1927) looks like he's about to put it together, and George Puccinelli (1929) has made the roster as a "super-utility" player. Dixie Walker (1930) and Bill Dietrich (1932) have very bright futures, and Dietrich is already making his presence felt at the big league level.

It seems like Simmons has been around forever, but he's still only 31. He should have some very productive seasons left. Leonard, 25, is just entering their prime. As their talented young teammates continue to mature, the Yankees should remain a team to be reckoned with.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Whitesox

Good updates. Sorry if you did cover the draft, if you did I missed it.

My Sox are only 2 games out, not that bad. Ill believe the Oaks not winning the devision when I see it.

I gave some draft highlights, but I forgot to mention who the White Sox drafted.

They had to wait until the 22nd pick--third from last--this time around. The White Sox might have taken a hitter like Zeke Bonura or Moose Solters, but they were gone by the time the Sox drafted. Bonura went to the Dodgers at #18, and Solters to the Pirates at #20.

The Sox decided to take LHP Al Smith, who might be the eventual replacement for Eugene Wise in their rotation. The other Sox starters--Ray Brown, Gordon Rhodes, Chet Brewer, and Gabriel de Klerk--are all either 25 or 26 years old.

[Big Six]

November 1, 1933

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN
New York Y      90  64  .584  --
Pittsburgh      87  67  .565   3
Boston          78  76  .506  12
Brooklyn        75  79  .487  15
Philadelphia    72  82  .468  18
New York G      66  88  .429  24

MID-EAST        W   L    PCT  GB
Baltimore       89  65  .578  --
Washington      83  71  .539   6
Cleveland       82  72  .532   7
Detroit         80  74  .519   9
Cincinnati      66  88  .429  23
Milwaukee       56  98  .364  33


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL     W   L    PCT  GB
Chicago W       94  60  .610  --
Chicago C       88  66  .571   6
St. Louis       81  73  .526  13
Portland        80  74  .519  14
Seattle         77  77  .500  17
Kansas City     54 100  .351  40

PACIFIC
Oakland         88  66  .571  --
Hollywood       80  74  .519   8
San Diego       75  79  .487  13
San Francisco   74  80  .481  14
Sacramento      71  83  .461  17
Los Angeles     62  92  .403  26

History was made on June 24 in Philadelphia, when Brooklyn 1B Mike Dickey became the first player to reach the 3000-hit milestone. Somewhat ironically, this line-drive machine’s historic hit was a home run, only the 92nd of his illustrious career. Phillies rookie Paul Dean was Dickey’s victim. Sadly, only 4193 fans were on hand to see the Dodger great’s big moment.

On the day he belted his historic homer, Dickey, 37, had a lifetime average of .361, with 1277 RBI and 1325 runs scored. His 589 doubles were the most in major league history, and he also belted 136 triples.

Unfortunately, Dickey couldn’t keep his Dodgers in the race, and before long the Yankees had a new challenger: the Pittsburgh Pirates. By early August, the Pirates caught the New Yorkers, and they passed the lead back and forth for a month.

Meanwhile, the Orioles took the Mid-East Division lead from the Senators and began to pull away. Baltimore’s star outfielder, Rick Mar, collected his 2500th hit on Independence Day, and with Mar, Dave McBride, and Mike Crawford once again leading a contending ballclub, the excitement of the mid-twenties was back at Memorial Stadium. Crawford, in particular, caught time in a bottle, leading both leagues with 23 wins and winning the third Outstanding Pitcher Award of his illustrious career.

Another veteran Mid-East Division star continued to defy the effects of age. Cleveland outfielder Ken Rich was hitting .391 as late as mid-August, and while he couldn't quite maintain that pace, his final .376 figure was good for another NL batting title--the third of his career. Rich turned 42 during the World Series.

Their chances for the postseason gone, Senators fans nonetheless enjoyed watching Mule Suttles catch and pass Hollywood slugger Joe Hauser in the career home run race. Suttles finished the season with 391 career homers, Hauser with 377. The Mule is 33 years old, and has his sights set on the 500-homer plateau. “Unser Choe,” 35, has an outside shot at that honor as well.

In late August, the Yankees retook the Northern Division lead for good, and Yankees fans watched as Al Simmons reeled off one of the longest hitting streaks in history. On September 5, he hit safely in his 44th consecutive game, breaking Ike Boone’s record; he was stopped by Ed Brandt of the Red Sox the next day.

In the American League, the defending division champions asserted their strength. The White Sox and Oaks took control of their races during the second half and won by comfortable margins. The San Francisco Seals, who played so well before the break, fell apart in July and dropped to fourth, while Hollywood and San Diego moved up.

Chicago righthander Ray Brown (21-11, 2.28, 170 K) won the AL Outstanding Pitcher award, and barely missed the pitchers’ Triple Crown, losing the ERA race to Oakland’s Ad Liska (2.23). Oscar Eckhardt (.347-10-90) and Arky Vaughan (.333-10-89) were among the leading hitters, just behind batting champion Arturo Martinez of Hollywood (.350).

Portland slugger Chuck Klein battled Kansas City strongman Jimmie Foxx for the AL home run crown, beating the Athletics star 39-38. Klein, who “slumped” to a .333 average, also led the league in RBI (115) and won his fourth AL Outstanding Batter Award.

Both leagues’ Rookie of the Year winners were pitchers. The National League chose Detroit southpaw Del Ellis (13-7, 3.12), while the American League honored San Francisco righthander "Poison" Ivy Andrews (15-14, 3.11). Ellis is among a number of young Tigers with sharp claws who pulled their team into contention, while Andrews might inherit the title of Seals staff ace from Colton Blanton, who announced his retirement at the end of the season.

The Yankees defeated the Orioles, 4 games to 2, to win the NLCS and advance to the World Series. The White Sox won the first game of the ALCS, but then Oakland reeled off four straight to capture their third straight pennant.

The World Series began with perhaps the greatest single-game pitching performance in history. Ad Liska walked NL Outstanding Batter Buck Leonard in the first inning, and retired the next 25 men in a row to complete a no-hitter.

The Series lasted seven games, and it with an equally memorable moment. Game Seven was played in Yankee Stadium, and after nine innings, the score was tied, 5-5. In the bottom of the tenth, the Yankees loaded the bases with two out against Oakland’s ace reliever, Ken Smith. Ed Walsh was summoned from the bullpen, and he allowed a Series-winning base on balls to Yankees pinch-hitter Neal Finn.

[Big Six]

January 1, 1934

It's time for the annual Best Player, Best Pitcher, and Best Prospect lists. First, the 20 best position players in the major leagues, as the 1934 season draws near:

PLAYER                 TEAM  AGE  POS   LW    AVG  HR  RBI
 1  Buck Leonard        NYY   26   1B    6   .375  40  120
 2  Lou Gehrig          PIT   30   1B    1   .285  37  126
 3  Chuck Klein         POR   29   RF    2   .333  39  115
 4  Al Simmons          NYY   31   CF    3   .311  20  112
 5  Jimmie Foxx         KC    26   1B    4   .297  38  101
 6  Cool Papa Bell      SD    30   CF   14   .345   2   68
 7  Earl Averill        STL   31   CF   NR   .344  15   66
 8  Jim Bottomley       WAS   34   1B   11   .317  25  103
 9  Charlie Gehringer   WAS   30   2B    5   .319  14   86
10  Arky Vaughan        CHW   22   SS   16   .333  10   89
11  Buzz Boyle          BOS   26   LF   13   .304  11   66
12  Wally Berger        STL   28   LF   10   .290  19  101
13  Mule Suttles        WAS   33   LF    9   .291  36  125
14  Bob Fothergill      WAS   36   RF    7   .335   4   76
15  Ken Rich            CLE   42   LF   NR   .376   1   73       
16  Willie Wells        WAS   25   SS   NR   .311  10   85
17  Josh Gibson         POR   22   C    NR   .271   5   53
18  Chris Clark         POR   34   3B   NR   .327   2   84
19  Tony Lazzeri        PIT   30   2B   NR   .265  15   89
20  Paul Waner          DET   31   RF   NR   .333   7   57

There's Josh Gibson, making what should be the first of many appearances on this list.

And here are the pitchers:

PITCHER                TEAM  AGE   LY   W-L    ERA    K
 1  Satchel Paige       BOS   27    1   16-13  2.35  188
 2  Tommy Bridges       PHI   27    2   18-10  2.27  192
 3  Jesse Hester        CHC   34    5   17-12  3.55   58
 4  Carl Hubbell        HOL   30    4   17-17  3.01  156
 5  Ray Brown           CHW   26    6   21-11  2.28  170
 6  Bill Swift          NYY   25    9   22-13  2.61  100
 7  Whit Wyatt          SF    26   13   16-9   2.37   91
 8  Jim Jessup          CLE   37    3   16-14  3.56  103
 9  Mike Crawford       BAL   37    8   23-7   2.41  120
10  Ed Brandt           BOS   29   10   18-8   2.89  159
11  Jonathon Vance      SAC   36    7   12-15  2.97   42
12  Ricardo Morales     SEA   27   14   13-17  3.98  119
13  Paul Baker          POR   26   NR   7-12   4.13   62
14  Grady Price         CHC   28   NR   3-3    3.70   40
15  Ad Liska            OAK   27   19   18-9   2.23  104
16  Dizzy Dean          WAS   24   NR   13-14  3.76  109
17  Eugene Wise         CHW   37   11   17-11  2.69   93
18  Pat Caraway         POR   28   16   18-12  2.91  140
19  Gabriel de Klerk    POR   24   NR   14-10  3.48   70       
20  Tex Carleton        HOL   27   18   15-16  3.20  152

This list is an interesting mix of pitchers who have been productive for a while and guys who, quite frankly, don't yet have the body of work to support their rankings. I suppose we'll find out if Baker and Price, and to some extent, Dean and de Klerk, are really among the best 20 pitchers in the majors.

And, finally, the ten best prospects:

PROSPECT               TEAM  AGE  POS
 1  Harlond Clift       DET   21   3B
 2  Bob McBryde         WAS   21   C
 3  Ray Dandridge       POR   20   3B
 4  Rudy York           NYY   20   C
 5  Jack Sutherland     WAS   20   P
 6  Jose Sanchez        CLE   25   CF
 7  Whitey Wilshere     PHI   21   P
 8  Augie Galan         CLE   22   LF
 9  Slick Castleman     BOS   20   P
10  Hal Trosky          CHC   21   1B

McBryde, Sutherland, and Sanchez are fictional players. I suppose until the "real" major leagues expands to 24 teams in 1969, we'll have some fictional guys playing roles in our story. I actually think that's fun, and I hope you do too.

And, yes, I'm planning to keep this dynasty running as far as I can go...

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Big Six

The World Series began with perhaps the greatest single-game pitching performance in history. Ad Liska walked NL Outstanding Batter Buck Leonard in the first inning, and retired the next 25 men in a row to complete a no-hitter.

The Series lasted seven games, and it with an equally memorable moment. Game Seven was played in Yankee Stadium, and after nine innings, the score was tied, 5-5. In the bottom of the tenth, the Yankees loaded the bases with two out against Oakland’s ace reliever, Ken Smith. Ed Walsh was summoned from the bullpen, and he allowed a Series-winning base on balls to Yankees pinch-hitter Neal Finn.

I got a little worried after the first game no-hitter, but I'm glad the Yankee's were finally able to build a team capable of winning the World Series.

I'm relieved to know that at least the Yankees have been drafting well, and hopefully they'll be able to stay on top at least a couple seasons....

[Dr. Wu]

I'm having a real hard time seeing Mel Ott in a Dodger uniform.

I miss the three-league setup, but it looks like the game is running along nicely. Go Seals!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

I got a little worried after the first game no-hitter, but I'm glad the Yankee's were finally able to build a team capable of winning the World Series.

I'm relieved to know that at least the Yankees have been drafting well, and hopefully they'll be able to stay on top at least a couple seasons....

I usually don't like spoilers, but I have to say this. You'll enjoy my post about the first half of 1934, NYY #23.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Dr. Wu

I'm having a real hard time seeing Mel Ott in a Dodger uniform.

I miss the three-league setup, but it looks like the game is running along nicely. Go Seals!

Ott does seem out of place in Dodger blue, doesn't he? The funny thing is- Master Melvin has ended up in Brooklyn in at least two of my historical dynasties, even when I assign rookies to their actual teams. Another time Ott got traded to the Tigers. I don't think he's ever remained a Giant.

I thought the Seals were going to make a run at the Oaks, but they faded down the stretch. That was a shame, because an intense Bay rivalry would be a lot of fun.

I miss the purity of the three-league setup, too, but there are two things that make up for its loss, as far as I'm concerned. There's an All-Star game now, which I'm really enjoying. The scheduling makes more sense. Instead of a team playing 154 games against 23 different opponents, they play only the teams in their league.

[Big Six]

June 20, 1934

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN        W   L    PCT  GB
New York Y      46  27  .630  --
Brooklyn        38  35  .521   8
Philadelphia    38  35  .521   8
Boston          35  38  .479  11
New York G      31  42  .425  15
Pittsburgh      30  43  .411  16

MID-EAST        W   L    PCT  GB
Baltimore       47  26  .644  --
Washington      39  34  .534   8
Detroit         36  37  .493  11
Cleveland       35  38  .479  12
Cincinnati      33  40  .452  14
Milwaukee       30  43  .411  17


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL     W   L    PCT  GB
Chicago W       44  29  .603  --
Seattle         43  30  .589   1
Portland        42  31  .575   2
Chicago C       38  35  .521   6
St. Louis       37  36  .507   7
Kansas City     30  43  .411  14

PACIFIC         W   L    PCT  GB
Oakland         44  29  .603  --
San Francisco   38  35  .521   6
Hollywood       37  36  .507   7
San Diego       31  42  .425  13
Los Angeles     27  46  .370  17
Sacramento      27  46  .370  17

It's only June, so it might not be fair to pass judgment so quickly, but so far 1934 would not make anyone's list of the most thrilling seasons in baseball history. Three of the four divisions appear securely in the hands of their leaders, and all four of last year's playoff teams are currently on pace to repeat their titles.

Only in the American League Continental is there anything resembling a pennant fight. The White Sox lead the Seattle Rainiers by one game, and the Portland Beavers are only two games back.

The Sox boast five starting pitchers with ERAs of 3.02 or better. Gabriel de Klerk has blossomed into an All-Star, while Gordon Rhodes (9-2, 2.87) and hard-luck Ray Brown (7-8, but a 2.58 ERA and 73 K) could be. Arky Vaughan continues to rake, teaming with Ox Eckhardt in the heart of the Pale Hose order.

Meanwhile, on the North Side, Cubs fans got a chance to recognize their soft-spoken star, Jordan Schneider. On May 21, the massive (6'5", 236 pounds) outfielder reached the 2500-hit plateau. Schneider arrived in Chicago in a 1929 trade with Cleveland that sent pitcher Ivan Burgos to the Tribe and that ranks among the most lopsided deals in baseball history.

Sentimental fans (at least those outside the Windy City) wouldn't mind seeing Seattle first baseman Joe Bazeley back in the postseason. Bazeley (.334-5-42) is one of the game's finest gentlemen, and the pride of French Lick, Indiana is well-liked throughout the league. He, catcher Dave Neal, second baseman Jerry Standaert, and a solid pitching staff have the Rainiers playing the best ball Sicks Stadium has seen in several years.

The Beavers traded catcher Henry Harris to the Cincinnati Reds to make room for phenom Josh Gibson. Big Josh has yet to realize his fearsome potential (.248-7-22), while Harris is knocking the cover off the ball for the Reds. Did the Beavers part with Harris too soon? It looks like the Beavers will rise as high as Chuck Klein will take them, at least for now.

Eastern fans might not know San Francisco shortstop Jose Carlos as well as the stars of their own part of the country, but Carlos' name was in the headlines all over America on May 17. The 38-year-old veteran recprded the 2500th hit of his fine career that day. Carlos, a career .319 hitter, has also won three Gold Gloves, and ranks third all-time in stolen bases with 635.

Carlos' Seals remain six back of the Oaks, whose magic touch has made a winner out of journeyman twirler Paul Hopkins (9-5) and a potent batsman out of Bill Knickerbocker.

It doesn't look like the New York Yankees will have nearly as tough a fight on their hands this summer; they've opened up a comfortable lead on the Dodgers and the Phillies. And, yes, you saw that right...the Pittsburgh Pirates are currently in last place, with one of the worst records in baseball. The Bucs' veterans are finally beginning to show signs of age, and Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri can't carry the club by themselves.

On the other hand, the grizzled vets down in Baltimore are proving themselves still ready, willing, and able to win ballgames. Players like Dave McBride, Rick Mar, Riggs Stephenson, Ted Lyons, and Mike Crawford--fellows we've been reading about since the early twenties--seem as frisky as colts with their club in first place. Dick Barrett, who seems positively youthful at age 27, is steadily distinguishing himself as one of the league's most dependable pitchers.

The Senators, eight games back of their rivals to the north, had a Day last week for their hard-hitting outfielder, Mule Suttles. The event was occasioned by Suttles' feat in May, when he became the first player in major league history to hit 400 home runs in his career. The Mule hammered #399 and #400 to power the Nats to a 12-5 victory over the Tigers in Detroit. The Tigers' outstanding fireman, Pat Richardson, allowed Suttles' historic homer.

For the second straight year, most experts believed the June draft class was among the weaker ones in history. The K.C. Athletics surprised many by choosing righthander Gene Schott with the first overall pick. The Milwaukee Braves, drafting second, were thrilled to grab Claude Passeau, whom they thought was the best player in the class, by far.

Outfielder Ival Goodman was the first position player chosen; he went to the Seals at #8. San Diego is pleased with their selection, infielder Buddy Lewis, whom they thought would never be available when their turn came up at #10.

The final player chosen in the first round was Wedo "Southern" Martini, a righthanded pitcher who is now the property of the Chicago White Sox.

The game's brightest stars of 1934 will take the field at Portland's Vaughn Street Stadium for today's All-Star Game. Here are the rosters for the National and American League All-Star teams:

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STARS

SP  Bill Swift         NYY   10-3, 1.93
SP  Ted Lyons          BAL   10-3, 2.65
SP  Emilio Alba        NYG   9-2, 2.48
SP  Jack Sutherland    WAS   8-0, 2.53
SP  Satchel Paige      BOS   10-5, 3.12, 85 K
SP  Dick Barrett       BAL   10-3, 2.59
RP  Mike MacMoran      BKN   5-5, 3.32, 9 SV
RP  Merle Settlemire   CIN   4-4, 2.37, 6 SV
RP  Don Brennan        BAL   4-3, 2.00, 7 SV
RP  Steve Swetonic     CIN   4-1, 3.61, 6 SV
RP  Jim Winford        NYY   3-1, 2.73, 4 SV
RP  Milt Shoffner      NYY   3-3, 2.89, 6 SV

C   Henry Harris       CIN   .366-1-24
C   Jimmie Wilson      PHI   .298-2-27
1B  Lou Gehrig         PIT   .309-16-48
1B  Buck Leonard       NYY   .356-26-70
1B  Jim Bottomley      WAS   .373-13-55
1B  Zeke Bonura        BKN   .310-13-52
1B  Hank Greenberg     MIL   .340-11-37
2B  Tony Lazzeri       PIT   .323-7-49
3B  Les Bell           NYG   .307-7-38
SS  Joe Cronin         MIL   .318-13-50
LF  Buzz Boyle         BOS   .361-6-38
LF  Joe Medwick        BKN   .337-12-46
CF  Jo-Jo White        WAS   .378-3-27
CF  Al Simmons         NYY   .339-12-60
RF  Mel Ott            BKN   .309-24-59
RF  Ripper Collins     CLE   .305-13-62
RF  Paul Waner         DET   .368-3-40


AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STARS

SP  Gabriel de Klerk   CHW   8-3, 2.05
SP  Syl Johnson        CHC   11-3, 2.70
SP  Palmer Foley       SF    10-4, 3.64
SP  Ricardo Morales    SEA   10-5, 3.14, 76 K
SP  Ed Walsh           OAK   7-5, 2.22
SP  Carl Hubbell       HOL   10-3, 3.36, 61 K
RP  Ken Smith          OAK   7-4, 2.89, 8 SV
RP  Jud McLaughlin     POR   4-3, 2.89, 11 SV
RP  Brennan Thomas     SEA   2-2, 2.03, 10 SV
RP  Carlos Moore       SAC   3-5, 1.69, 7 SV
RP  Lance Thompson     SEA   3-2, 1.90, 9 SV
RP  Luis Rodriguez     CHC   4-1, 3.69, 7 SV

C   Roberto Reyes      OAK   .333-5-44
C   Dave Neal          SEA   .341-4-29
1B  Jimmie Foxx        KC    .309-25-53
1B  Gus Suhr           CHC   .271-14-53
2B  Jerry Standaert    SEA   .357-5-39
3B  Rick Mann          KC    .338-3-28
3B  Joe Stripp         SAC   .321-2-32
3B  Harry Rice         STL   .296-2-38
SS  Arky Vaughan       CHW   .389-6-51
SS  Bill Knickerbocker OAK   .364-0-40
SS  Ed Montague        LA    .293-2-34
LF  Wally Berger       STL   .307-17-56
LF  Heinie Manush      OAK   .332-2-37
CF  Earl Averill       STL   .287-9-39
CF  Cool Papa Bell     SD    .322-1-43
CF  Frank Demaree      SF    .327-7-48
RF  Chuck Klein        POR   .346-19-67

Fans on the Eastern seaboard should keep their ears open for the ovation Beavers fans give Chuck Klein when he's introduced this afternoon. Rooters who live farther west are advised to use ear protection.

[ifspuds]

Did the Beavers get anything of note for Harris? Tough to trade an All-Star caliber catcher even if they do have Gibson, but if they picked up some decent prospects, I won't be too upset. Or is Harris just having a career year?

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Did the Beavers get anything of note for Harris? Tough to trade an All-Star caliber catcher even if they do have Gibson, but if they picked up some decent prospects, I won't be too upset. Or is Harris just having a career year?

Henry Harris is far from a one-year wonder. The only regular catcher the Beavers ever had, Harris has a lifetime batting average of .332 and a lifetime OBP of .389. In 14 seasons, Harris has batted at least .300 13 times; the one year he didn't, he hit .297.

Harris has never hit for much power (64 career homers in over 7000 AB), but he's driven in and scored 60 or 70 runs a year as regularly as clockwork. He has been a better-than-average receiver with a decent arm.

He and Tim Stephens, the long-time star of the Oakland Oaks, are usually regarded as the greatest catchers the league has ever seen. Incidentally, Stephens is currently Harris' backup with the Reds.

The Beavers acquired three players for Harris. Mike Christensen, 26, is now the Beavers' starting first baseman. A lefthanded hitter with a decent eye and line-drive power, Christensen is hitting .308 with 29 RBI in 59 games. Wally Pacheco, 23, is an infielder who offers nothing except tremendous defense; he's an automatic out at the plate who is hitting .179 with Lynn (Class A).

The real prize in the deal is Chris McPhee, a 22-year-old outfielder who projects as a tremendous leadoff man. McPhee has the potential to hit .300 with a .400+plus OBP, and he has plus-plus speed and baserunning instincts. He demonstrates superb range in centerfield.

If McPhee, who is ranked #15 on the latest list of top prospects, matures in to a star, the Beavers might come out of this deal on top. Of course, that also depends on Gibson becoming the superstar he's been predicted to be ever since the day he was drafted.

Thanks for the comment, Jeff.

[William Foster]

Good to see my Oaks building such an illustrious dynasty out in the California Division. Whats the state of the teams age? Are they going to run out of gas soon or have they kept relatively young?

Also is free agency turned on?

This is probably my favorite Dynasty going right now. Keep up the good work!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by William Foster

Good to see my Oaks building such an illustrious dynasty out in the California Division. Whats the state of the teams age? Are they going to run out of gas soon or have they kept relatively young?

Also is free agency turned on?

This is probably my favorite Dynasty going right now. Keep up the good work!

The Oaks have had quite an impressive run. In fact, through the end of the 1934 season (which I'll write about soon), the Oaks have moved within seven games of the Baltimore Orioles in the all-time standings.

Through 1933 (I don't want to spoil the suspense of the '34 pennant race), the Oaks had made the postseason 8 times, and had won 4 World Series ('22, '27, '31, '32). The Orioles also have four WS crowns ('23, '26, '28, '29), in seven post-season appearances.

Here's Oakland's usual starting lineup and their key pitchers, with their ages at the end of the 1934 season:

C   Ricardo Reyes       32
1B  Nathan Smith        25
2B  Luke Appling        27
3B  Art Scharein        29
SS  Bill Knickerbocker  22
LF  Heinie Manush       33
CF  Nelson Elliott      26
RF  Jimmy Welsh         32

SP  Ad Liska            28
SP  Ed Walsh            29
SP  Zack Corrigan       36
SP  Skip Campbell       22
SP  Paul Hopkins        30
RP  Ken Smith           32
RP  Brandon Watts       35

Most of the key players are in their prime. Reyes, Manush, and Welsh seem to be beginning their decline phases, but for now, they're still very productive players.

The Oaks have been rolling their lineup over very effectively during their run of success. Appling, for example, has started at SS, 3B, and 2B, moving around to accommodate the arrival of a promising young player. This year's breakthrough was Knickerbocker, and a couple years earlier, it was Scharein.

Oakland has two very promising youngsters in its system. 1B Phil Cavarretta is already a second-year pro at age 18; he hit .330 for Class A Tacoma, earning a mid-season promotion to Oklahoma City. There, he was a bit overmatched (.220), but he was a teenager playing AA ball.

Catcher Ray Mueller, 22, was the Oaks' first round pick in the 1934 draft. He moved straight to Oakland and hit .358 in 53 AB as Reyes' backup.

I'm not using financials or free agency, so the core of the Oakland lineup will stay intact unless the AI sees fit to make a trade.

Thanks for your comments, William. I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and I hope you'll keep following along.

[Big Six]

November 1, 1934

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN           W   L    PCT  GB
New York Y         95  59  .617  --
Brooklyn           81  73  .526  14
Philadelphia       75  79  .487  20
Pittsburgh         75  79  .487  20
Boston             72  82  .468  23
New York G         62  92  .403  33

MID-EAST           W   L    PCT  GB
Baltimore          89  65  .578  --
Washington         84  70  .545   5
Cincinnati         79  75  .513  10
Cleveland          77  77  .500  12
Detroit            69  85  .448  20
Milwaukee          66  88  .429  23


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL        W   L    PCT  GB
Portland           96  58  .623  --
Chicago W          92  62  .597   4
Seattle            92  62  .597   4
St. Louis          79  75  .513  17
Chicago C          65  89  .422  31
Kansas City        59  95  .383  37

PACIFIC   
Oakland            86  68  .558  --
Hollywood          84  70  .545   2
San Francisco      80  74  .519   6
Los Angeles        66  88  .429  20
San Diego          66  88  .429  20
Sacramento         59  95  .383  27

The second half of the 1934 baseball season was as intriguing as the first half had been mundane. At some point in the summer, three of the four division races were close, and one team who had led at the break lost its lead before the summer was through.

The one runaway winner was the mighty New York Yankees. The National League's Outstanding Hitter and Outstanding Pitcher both wore pinstripes: first baseman Buck Leonard and righthander Bill Swift. Leonard, a repeat award winner, hammered 52 homers, drove in 146 runs, scored 150 times, and batted .359. Swift became the third pitcher in major league history to win 25 games (25-5), and pitched to a 2.14 ERA.

Al Simmons enjoyed another banner year, and George Earnshaw and Brian Whaley emerged as 16-game winners, bolstering the Yankees pitching staff.

The Washington Senators got hot in late July and put pressure on the Baltimore Orioles. The Nats won seven straight games, including a three-game series sweep of the O's, and pulled within a game of the lead. The Orioles rose to the challenge, however, and behind the strong pitching of Mike Crawford, Ted Lyons, and Dick Barrett (18, 17, and 17 victories, respectively), the Baltimore nine defended their division title by five games.

The perennial AL Pacific champion Oakland Oaks won "only" 86 games in 1934, their lowest total since 1926. That was enough for them to qualify for postseason play for an unprecedented sixth straight year. Indeed, no team other than the Oaks has ever won the Pacific Division, since it was created in the 1930 realignment.

AL Rookie of the Year Bill Knickerbocker (.308-7-75) gave the Oaks another potent offensive player and a solid glove at short, while veterans like Heinie Manush and Jimmy Welch continued to hit with authority, and mound stars like Ed Walsh and Ad Liska kept retiring opposing hitters regularly.

On August 3, Oaks fans cheered 41-year-old outfielder Curt Reeves as he collected the 2500th hit of his major league career. Reeves spent most of his career with the New York Giants, arriving in Oakland in a June trade and giving the Oaks a solid bat off the bench. Reeves is a career .307 hitter who has scored 1276 runs and driven in 1208.

Despite their stars' best efforts, the Oaks' victory didn't come easily. The Hollywood Stars actually caught them in mid-August, powered by the big bat of Joe Hauser. "Unser Choe" hit .400-7-31 in August, winning the American League Player of the Month award and, on August 23, he joined Mule Suttles in the exclusive 400-home run fraternity. Hauser is 35 years old; can he remain productive enough to reach the magical 500 milestone?

The Continental Division race remained close until the first of August; by then, the Portland Beavers had taken it in hand. Chuck Klein hit .336 with eight homers and 36(!!) RBI during July, and pitcher Pat Caraway went 5-1 with a 1.88 ERA in August. Both Beavers stars received postseason honors; Klein (.348-36-133) claiming his fifth consecutive AL Outstanding Hitter prize, and Caraway (21-8, 3.10) his first Outstanding Pitcher Award.

Two youngsters from whom the Beavers have expected great things lived up to their billing over the second half of the season. Third baseman Ray Dandridge hit .331 from July 1 on, while catcher Josh Gibson posted a .335-13-50 line.

In the National League Championship Series, the Yankees disposed of the Orioles in five games. Bill Swift and Brian Whaley each pitched shutouts, and Whaley won two games as the New Yorkers defended their National League championship. Pat Caraway won twice for the Beavers, who ended the Oaks' reign by defeating them in five games. Long-suffering Beavers fans rejoiced as their beloved team advanced to its first World Series.

The Yankees won the first three games of the Series and looked to be on their way to an easy championship. Swift shut out the Beavers in Game Two, and Leonard won Game Three with a walk-off solo homer against Caraway.

Then, the Beavers turned the Series around, winning Games Four and Five easily. In Game Six, a huge Vaughn Street Stadium crowd went wild as Terry Moore singled in Klein to give the home team a 4-3 win in the bottom of the thirteenth inning.

After the thrills of Game Six, the deciding game seemed anticlimactic. Portland won, 5-3, to clinch the first World Championship in the team's history.

Among some fans, there was as much attention being paid to the bottom of the standings as there was to the top. That's because the June 1935 rookie draft class contains two players with the potential to turn a team around.

Outfielder Joe DiMaggio, a life-long Seals fan from the Windy City, and Iowa farm boy Bob Feller, a teenaged fireballer, will almost certainly be the first two players chosen in next June's lottery. The Kansas City Athletics and Sacramento Solons, by virtue of their tie for last place in the overall standings, will have the first shot at these stars-in-the-making.

[Big Six]

January 1, 1935

It's New Year's Day, and that means it's time for the Top Players, Top Pitchers, and Top Prospects lists.

First, the 20 best position players in the majors:

PLAYER                 TEAM  AGE POS  LY   AVG  HR  RBI
 1  Buck Leonard        NYY   27  1B   1  .359  52  146
 2  Al Simmons          NYY   32  CF   4  .364  30  124
 3  Charlie Gehringer   WAS   31  2B   9  .346   9   73
 4  Lou Gehrig          PIT   31  1B   2  .295  35  123
 5  Jimmie Foxx         KC    27  1B   5  .317  44  115
 6  Chuck Klein         POR   30  RF   3  .348  36  133
 7  Earl Averil         STL   32  CF   7  .329  24   84
 8  Josh Gibson         POR   22  C   17  .292  20   65
 9  Arky Vaughan        CHW   22  SS  10  .370  11   94
10  Bob Fothergill      WAS   37  RF  14  .358  12   84
11  Harlond Clift       DET   22  3B  NR  .310  15   77
12  Jim Bottomley       WAS   34  1B   8  .337  23  108
13  Cool Papa Bell      SD    31  CF   6  .305   3   68
14  Zeke Bonura         BKN   26  1B  NR  .316  27  128
15  Buzz Boyle          BOS   26  LF  11  .330  10   69
16  Wally Berger        STL   29  LF  12  .305  30  114
17  Joe Medwick         BKN   23  LF  NR  .346  23  103
18  Mule Suttles        WAS   33  LF  13  .297  37  123
19  Mel Ott             BKN   25  RF  NR  .298  43  113
20  Mickey Cochrane     STL   31  C   NR  .328   9   75

• For the first time ever, all 20 players on this list are "real."
• The Yankees manager must enjoy penciling Leonard and Simmons into the third and fourth spot on his lineup card every day.
• Gehringer had a tremendous season. He didn't make the All-Star team; if I'd noticed that sooner, I would have added him to the roster.
• Gehrig's batting average is dropping some, but his ratings are holding steady. I confess; Lou is one of the guys I root for in every dynasty I do. I hope he keeps playing well for another decade or so.
• Averill is the Cardinals' leadoff man. That's why he doesn't drive in many runs. He scores somewhere between 100-120 runs a year.
• Gibson, Vaughan, Clift, and Medwick are going to be a lot of fun to watch.
• Cool Papa Bell has 281 career triples. His single season high is 40 (!!), and he's hit at least 23 three-baggers every year since 1925.
• Cool Papa also has 710 career steals. He's not the all-time leader, though; Frank Jenkins is, with 803.
• Mel Ott has 227 career home runs at the age of 25.

And here are the top 20 pitchers:

PITCHER                TEAM  AGE  LW  W-L    ERA    K
 1  Satchel Paige       BOS   28   1  19-12  2.98  237
 2  Tommy Bridges       PHI   28   2  17-12  3.58  202
 3  Ray Brown           CHW   26   5  16-13  3.34  162
 4  Bill Swift          NYY   26   6  25-5   2.14   91
 5  Ed Brandt           BOS   29  10  16-13  3.14  161
 6  Whit Wyatt          SF    27   7  18-6   3.07  116
 7  Carl Hubbell        HOL   31   4  22-9   3.38  136
 8  Mike Crawford       BAL   38   9  18-12  2.72  106
 9  Brian Whaley        NYY   26  NR  16-14  3.59  127
10  Jesse Hester        CHC   34   3  8-18   3.88   52
11  Jonathon Vance      SAC   37  11  9-15   4.29   45
12  Paul Baker          POR   26  13  14-14  3.51  134
13  Dutch Leonard       SD    25  NR  13-12  3.15   48
14  Jack Sutherland     WAS   21  NR  13-8   3.73  139
15  Dizzy Dean          WAS   24  16  18-15  3.36  183
16  Gabriel de Klerk    CHW   26  19  17-7   2.48  137
17  Grady Price         CHC   28  14  12-16  4.51  121
18  Johnny Allen        SEA   30  NR  17-10  3.43  162
19  Gordon Rhodes       CHW   27  NR  16-8   3.57  109
20  Gene Schott         KC    21  NR  7-6    4.44   44

• Imaginary pitchers seem to fare much, much better in this world than imaginary batters do. Six of the above are fictional.
• Bill Swift ended the season with more wins (25) than walks allowed (19).
• Jim Jessup retired at the end of the 1934 season, which is why he's not on the list anymore.
• The Hollywood Stars have never made the postseason, which means Carl Hubbell has never had a chance to display his talent on the biggest stage of all. That's a shame.
• There might be something to the Curse of Jesse Hester after all. The Red Sox made the playoffs the year they traded him away; they haven't been back since.
• Jonathon Vance is an original Solon who has been as steady as they come for a long time. He'll win his 200th career game early in 1935.
• It's good to see Dizzy Dean's arm has apparently come back to life.

And, finally,the ten best prospects in the game:

PROSPECT               TEAM  AGE  POS
 1  Bob McBryde         WAS   22  C
 2  Gene Schott         KC    21  P
 3  Hal Trosky          CHC   22  1B
 4  Rudy York           NYY   22  C/1B
 5  Augie Galan         CLE   22  LF
 6  Felix Guerrero      DET   22  C
 7  Buddy Lewis         SD    18  3B
 8  Hank Leiber         PHI   23  CF
 9  Cookie Lavagetto    SAC   22  2B
10  Vicente Ortiz       PIT   23  P

• McBryde, fictional, embarrassed AA pitchers to the tune of a .442 average before his promotion to Chattanooga. He hit .301 for the Lookouts.
• Trosky batted .286 in 70 AB for the Cubs, and .333-9-52 for the Nashville (AAA) Vols.
• York, like McBryde, was too good for AA (.363-6-19, 91 AB), and was challenged more at AAA (.241 for the Newark Bears).
• Galan spent the entire '34 season with the Indians, but they got him only 97 AB. He hit .304. but would he have been better off playing every day in the minors?
• Guerrero is a brand-new fictional free agent with a decent bat and very, very good defensive skills. He has a rocket launcher for a throwing arm.
• Lewis hit .373-9-38 in 59 games at Salem (A). Opposing pitchers will be glad to see him move up.
• Leiber's .322-9-98 line for the Toronto (AAA) Maple Leafs has Phillies fans eager for his arrival.
• I didn't know Lavagetto was ever an infielder. He earned a cup of coffee with the Solons by hitting .322 for the Toledo (AAA) Mud Hens.
• Ortiz, fictional, is a native of Chile who went 15-12, 3.33 for the New Orleans (AAA) Pelicans. His inability to throw strikes is standing in his way right now.

[NYY #23]

Well, I guess we can't win every year, but it looked like a good World Series, none the less. Congrats to the Beavers for their first championship.

But it does look like we've still got a good combo with Leonard and Simmons. Coincidentally I was reading a book the other night and it had a nice section about Simmons. I probably paid closer attention knowing he is a Yankee in your universe.

Gehrig is someone I always root for as well, so hopefully this was just a one year dip for him, and not the beginning of the end. How ironic that Joltin' Joe could be going to the Kansas City Athletics since they were known as the Yankee's "farm team" in the 50's. A little virtual payback.

[blueturf]

Good to see Portland take home the crown. Klein still has some productive years ahead and Gibson is just starting to become a star.

[ifspuds]

Woohoo! Not just their first championship, but first title of any kind (division, league, otherwise), right?

What are Klein's career numbers? All those Outstanding Batter awards, he's got to be up there in the conversation for greatest ever.

[Big Six]

Thanks for the comments, everybody.

NYY #23: I've done the same thing--become much more interested in a player because he plays a crucial role in one of my dynasties. Addie Joss is one example. I always enjoyed seeing how his career turned out, and he usually won at least 300 games. I found a biography of Joss, read it, and enjoyed it very much.

I'd be shocked if the first team that has a shot at Joltin' Joe doesn't take him. I'm not sure how the tiebreaker between Sacramento and Kansas City will be settled. I'm sure Joe would rather play in Sacramento, since he's a California guy. That would mean Feller would almost certainly go to the A's, and play close to his Iowa home, too.

I realized there's going to be another stud in the 1935 draft class too: a big, power-hitting first baseman from Georgia named Mize. And, there's also Willard Brown, a slugging outfielder from the Negro Leagues.

blueturf: The Beavers seem to have been hitting the jackpot with their more recent draft picks. Gibson looks like he's on his way to stardom; with his ratings, he should be, and from everything I've ever read about him, he was one of the very greatest players of all time. And Ray Dandridge has given the Beavers a huge boost, too.

Portland's pitching staff is, at least, very solid. Pat Caraway has been a pleasant surprise, and Paul Baker, Ronald MacLagan, and Homer Blankenship are a decent supporting cast. The Beavers look like they could be contenders for a while, after a long period of mediocrity.

Jeff: You're right; the Beavers had never made the postseason before this year. In fact, until 1932, they had never finished higher than fourth in a six-team division, or fifth in the old eight-team Pacific Division. The closest the Beavers had ever come to first place was nine games back.

I've played the 1935 season up to mid-June, so here are Klein's career numbers to that point. Since he broke in at mid-season in 1927, these stats represent eight full big league seasons.

The numbers beneath some of the stats indicate Klein's current ranking on the career leaderboards.

 G     AB     H   2B   3B  HR   RBI   R    BB   K   SB  CS   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS   VORP
1105  4579  1666  297  46  315  988  869  353  230  21  18  .364  .407  .655  1.062  702.9
             94    87       4    44   91                      1     22    1     1     6

Chuck was born on October 7, 1904, so he'll turn 31 at the end of the 1935 season.

He might have problems remaining first on the career batting leaderboard. He'd need to stay ahead of Ken Rich, who has hit .356 over the course of his distinguished career. Ironically, Rich is now Klein's teammate in Portland, where at age 43, he is a part-time outfielder and a pinch-hitting specialist extraordinaire.

Klein is currently the only player in major league history with a career slugging average over .600. Buck Leonard (.591) is second, and at the rate he's going, Buck will push his career SLG over .600 soon. He's in his prime at age 27, and is coming off a year in whcih he slugged .715. Chuck's career single-season high is .777 (1930), and he slugged .716 in 1932.

Leonard is also second in OPS, at 1.006; again, he could gain a bit of ground. He gets on base more often than Klein does, because Klein doesn't walk often.

Chuck has a very good chance to hit 500 home runs in his career, and he's on pace for 3000 hits as well. He could approach 2000 RBI and runs scored. I'll be creating a Hall of Fame for my dynasty before long, and I don't think it's premature to say that once he gets his ten years in, Klein will find himself on a plaque one day.

[Big Six]

June 19, 1935

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTHERN        W   L    PCT  GB
New York Y      43  30  .589  --
Boston          42  31  .575   1
Brooklyn        42  31  .575   1
Philadelphia    32  41  .439  11
Pittsburgh      32  41  .439  11
New York G      28  45  .384  15

MID-EAST        W   L    PCT  GB
Washington      43  30  .589  --
Baltimore       39  34  .534   4
Detroit         39  34  .534   4
Cincinnati      38  35  .521   5
Milwaukee       32  41  .438  11
Cleveland       28  45  .384  15


AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS

CONTINENTAL     W   L    PCT  GB
Portland        45  28  .616  --
Chicago W       42  31  .575   3
Seattle         39  34  .534   6
St. Louis       34  39  .466  11
Chicago C       29  44  .397  16
Kansas City     28  45  .384  17

PACIFIC
Hollywood       42  31  .575  --
Oakland         41  32  .562   1
San Francisco   40  33  .548   2
Sacramento      38  35  .521   4
San Diego       32  41  .438  10
Los Angeles     28  45  .384  14

The 1935 baseball season has had something to offer almost any fan. If you like pennant races, there are the tight three-way battles for the AL Pacific and NL Northern leads. If the exploits of hard-hitting sluggers are your thing, there are two hitters with batting averages in the .400 range and plenty of home run hitters unloading with frequency. And, if you prefer pitching wizardry, there are a number of hurlers, both starters and relievers, enjoying great seasons so far.

The Hollywood Stars made a run at the Pacific League kingpins, the Oakland Oaks, last year and fell just short. This time around, it's the Stars with the lead at the season's halfway point. Second sacker Billy Herman (.363), first baseman Joe Hauser (10 HR) and newly acquired catcher Ernie Lombardi (.335-10-52) are giving Stars fans lots of reasons to cheer. Herman will miss the next two weeks with a concussion, but he's expected to recover fully.

All-Star reliever Ultse Spitsbaard, a product of Aruba, is enjoying a new lease on life at age 39. "I've been with the Stars for 16 years and I've never made the postseason," Spitsbaard said. "I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen."

The New York Yankees seem to face a stiff challenge every year in the NL Northern; this time, it's the Boston Red Sox and the Brooklyn Dodgers on their heels. A dominant season by fireballer Satchel Paige has the Red Sox back in contention, while the Dodgers boast a formidable lineup packed with sluggers like Mel Ott, Joe Medwick, Larry Bettencourt, and Bill Dickey.

The Yankees have fought through a series of minor injuries to remain on top. Buck Leonard has been a rock as the lineup changes around him. Now the Yankees are having to make do without the big bat of Al Simmons (.366-9-51), but he'll be back in a week or so.

In the Mid-East Division, the Washington Senators are back on top, as heroes old and new are making key contributions. Among the newcomers is Canadian catcher Bob McBryde, who's demonstrating the skill that made him one of the game's top prospects for the last several years. Charlie Gehringer, Mule Suttles, Bob Fothergill, and Jo-Jo White are familiar faces to Nats fans, and they're all continuing to do the things that made them famous. The "Capital Punishers" lead both leagues with a whopping .324 team batting average.

Portland Beavers rooters think their team has what it takes to defend their World Series title. Young catcher Josh Gibson is picking up where he left off in 1935, hitting for average and power. First baseman Mike Christensen, acquired from the Reds in the 1934 trade that sent Henry Harris away to make room for Gibson, is making the Beavers' brass appear to be clairvoyant, with a batting average in the .400 range. Bernardo Gutierrez, whom the Cardinals cast off at the end of last year, has solidified the Beavers bullpen and made the All-Star team.

Speaking of the Cardinals, they and their fans are enjoying the hitting feats of Earl Averill, who is making a bid to become the first player to hit .400 since Klein posted a .412 mark in 1930. "I wish Earl the best of luck," Klein said. "I still hope Mike [Christensen] beats him out, though. He's my teammate, after all," he added with a smile.

Two of the league's most well-liked veteran stars passed milestones this spring. On April 2, Baltimore outfielder Dave McBride recorded his 2500th hit. McBride, 39, is a lifetime .324 hitter.

Exactly a month later, Seattle 1B Joe Bazeley laced a single off Sacramento's Tony Kauffmann and became the second player in major league history to accumulate 3000 hits. A near capacity crowd gave Bazeley a standing ovation.

For good measure, Baze ripped three more singles in the Rainiers' 13-3 victory. Solons fans weren't quite so generous with their applause after those hits, however.

Bazeley reached the milestone at age 37, and on his historic day he boasted a .334 lifetime average and career totals of 91 home runs, 1288 RBI, 1336 runs scored, and 538 doubles.

On June 15, the most eagerly-awaited rookie draft in years took place. The Sacramento Solons won the tie-breaker for the first pick in the draft, and to nobody's surprise, the Solons chose CF Joe DiMaggio. Next, the Kansas City Athletics drafted right-handed pitcher...

Russ Bauers!!??!!!

The New York Giants, drafting third, couldn't believe their good fortune. They pinched themselves as they drafted Bob Feller.

Outfielder Willard Brown went to the Cubs at #4, and the Tigers selected Johnny Mize at #8. Two more sluggers, Jeff Heath and Bill Nicholson, went to the Red Sox and Seals at #9 and #15, respectively.

Drafting 22nd, the White Sox chose RHP Whitey Moore. The last player taken in the first round was OF Roy "Stormy" Weatherly, now a member of the world champion Beavers.

DiMaggio, already a polished player, stepped right into the Solons lineup, batting cleanup and playing center field. Mize and Weatherly, too, are already slated for regular duty for their new teams.

The Athletics sent Bauers to their Class A affiliate in York, Pennsylvania. Feller, who is already being called the top pitching prospect in baseball at age 16, reported to the Giants' AA farm team in Shreveport. Yesterday, Bob threw a 2-hit shutout against the Sioux City Soos, striking out 15 batters and winning 1-0.

The All-Star lineups are coming soon. I didn't want this post to be TOO long.