1903 Brooklyn Superbas (est. 1901)

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1901 - 68-72 - World Series: Boston Americans over Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2

1902 - 81-59 - World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles 4-2

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Major off-season changes...

The press says that Brooklyn has had the second best upgrades in either league... behind the Pirates. Sigh.

Notable Additions:

Ham Iburg (Trade with BSN)
Fred Jacklitsch (Trade with DET)
Billy Hamilton (Trade with BSN)
John Terry (Trade with WASH)
Candy LaChance (Trade with WASH)
Charlie Shields (Trade with CHN)

Notable Losses:

Gene Wright (Trade with BSN)
Joe Kelley (Trade with DET)
Sam Mertes (Trade with BSN)
Rube Vickers (Trade with BSN)
Frank Morrissey (Trade with CHN)

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March 11th, 1903

Eddie Plank was able to hang with the World Series Champs, keeping Brooklyn in the game.

Mauro Garza was not.

Pirates won 9-5.

John Morrison hit an inside-the-park home run.

WP - Weldon Henley (1-0)
LP - Mauro Garza (0-1)

Spring Record - 0-1

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It took 11 innings but the Beaneaters eked out a win over the Superbas courtesy of a Shad Barry inside-the-park home run.

John Terry pitched a very nice game in relief, going 3 inning without giving up a hit and walking one.

WP - Dan Adkins (1-0)
Save - Bill Dinneen (1)
LP - Dick Scott (0-1)

Spring Record - 0-2

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March 13th, 1903

The Cardinals kept the Brooklyn bats in check and topped them 4-2 in spring action.

WP - Red Ames (3-0)
Save - Bill Hart (1)
LP - Ham Iburg (0-1)

Spring Record - 0-3

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March 14th, 1903

Chris Hudson's big two-run homer led the Brooklyn onslaught as they trounced the Giants 12-4 for their first spring victory.

WP - Ken Turner (1-0)
LP - Andy Coakley (0-2)

Spring Record - 1-3

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March 15th, 1903

Charlie Shields performed well against his former team but the Cubs were still able to squeak past the Superbas, 3-2.

WP - Mal Eason (2-0)
Save - Lorenzo Baca (1)
LP - Jim St Vrain (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-4

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March 16th, 1903

Another Brooklyn loss, falling 5-3 to the Reds.


WP - Noodles Hahn (1-1)
Save - Fred Glade (1)
LP - Esteban Lopez (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-5

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March 17th, 1903

The Superbas continue to muddle their way through spring training, just like last year.

Eddie Plank was awful today and the Phillies stomped them 11-3.

WP - Al Orth (1-0)
Save - Ambrose Puttmann (1)
LP - Eddie Plank (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-6

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March 18th, 1903

Wow.

Pirates 14

Superbas 2

Wow...

WP - Jesse Tannehill (1-0)
Save - Bob Sherman (1)
LP - Jim Hughes (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-7

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March 19th, 1903

A much better game... but still a loss.

Brooklyn fell to the Beaneaters 2-1.

Both Ham Iburg and Bill Coughlin left the game with injury. Iburg's doesn't seem serious. We are waiting for word on Coughlin.

WP - Rube Vickers (1-1)
Save - Enrique Leal (1)
LP - Dick Scott (0-2)

Spring Record - 1-8

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Bill Coughlin tore a ligament in his thumb and will miss the next three weeks of spring training.

It is also cut time.

Coughlin goes to the D.L.

Sent to minor league camp:

Mauro Garza
Pat Clinch
Zak Wade
Pop Foster

Obviously that last one is a bit of a surprise. We'll see how this plays out.

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March 20th, 1903

Another day, anything woeful spring performance by Brooklyn.

On paper they are the second best team in the N.L.

Today the Cardinals beat them 5-1.

WP - Tom Donaldson (1-0)
LP - Ken Turner (1-1)

Spring Record - 1-9

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March 21st, 1903

They lost again. 7-2 to the Giants.

WP - Luther Taylor (1-0)
LP - Charlie Shields (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-10

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March 22nd, 1903

The Superbas celebrated their G.M.'s -65th birthday by getting a rare Spring win. The Cubs helped by committing 6 errors as Brooklyn won 10-6.

John Morrison had a nice 2 for 3, 3 RBI day.

WP - Esteban Lopez (1-1)
LP - Addie Joss (0-1)

Spring Record - 2-10

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TRADE

To CARDINALS

Pat Clinch
Zak Wade
Floyd Tucker

To SUPERBAS

Joe Parker
Brian Burke

Parker joins the Superbas. Lave Winham is activated from the D.L.

Bob Lawson and Cori Skinner are reassigned to the minor league camp, as is Burke.

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March 24th, 1903

Won 2 in a row!

Beat the Reds 7-3.

Ossee Shreckengost and Sam Crawford both hit home runs!

WP - Eddie Plank (1-1)
LP - Bob Wicker (2-1)

Spring Record - 3-10

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March 25th, 1903

Are the Superbas turning things around? Will they be ready once the season starts?

Today they beat the Phillies 9-3.

WP - Dick Scott (1-2)
LP - Snake Wiltse (1-2)

Spring Record - 4-10

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March 26th, 1903

Not only did Brooklyn win again, but they did so against the tough Pirates, beating them 2-1!

Joe Parker hit a home run!

WP - Ham Iburg (1-1)
Save - Jim St Vrain (1)
LP - Weldon Henley (2-2)

Spring Record - 5-10

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March 27th, 1903

Brooklyn came from behind to keep their winning streak going, beating the Beaneaters 5-4.

WP - Jim St Vrain (1-1)
LP - Rube Vickers (2-2)

Spring Record - 6-10