The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell

[sflcat]

Scamps!!!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by sflcat

Scamps!!!

You said it, sflcat.

[Big Six]

Wellesley Townsman, August 24, 1933

WELLESLEY POLICE ARREST FIVE; OTHERS ESCAPE

A night of reveling in the park turned into a chase early Wednesday morning when the police crashed the party.

At 1:22 a.m. on August 23, Wellesley police responded to a citizen's complaint about excessive noise coming from Centennial Park. When the officers arrived on the scene, several people fled into the wooded area at the park's center. The police pursued them, and eventually apprehended five of them.

All five were visibly intoxicated, and a later examination of the area they had fled revealed an empty whiskey bottle, eleven empty beer bottles, and other litter.

Arrested and charged with public drunkenness, disturbing the peace, and littering were the following: James Robert Phillips, 18, of Framingham; Peter John McClary, 18, of Wellesley; Joseph Paul Fiorentino, 18, of Wellesley; Mary Louise Herring, 18, of Wellesley; and Patricia Ann Healey, 18, of Framingham. At least two other individuals managed to elude the officers...

[Big Six]

12 Lowell Road
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

Mr. Roy Hitt
1105 St. Gregory Street
Cincinnati, Ohio

September 1, 1933

Dear Roy,

It was wonderful to hear from you the other day. I received your letter when I arrived home from a meeting with the club's "top brass." I was pleased to learn that they wanted to extend my contract for three more years, and with a tidy raise, too. Naturally, I signed the papers before they pulled them away from me!

Thank you for your unsolicited information about the Pittsburgh club! If, when all is said and done, we meet them in the World Series I will put the "dope" to good use, I assure you. I agree that they have done a splendid job of dealing from their strengths to assemble a powerful club. With Joe Cronin at short, they could afford to move "Arky" Vaughan over to third; that made Freddie Lindstrom expendable, and they obtained Lefty Grove for him! Of course, they still have the Waners.

With Grove and Red Lucas pitching as many as five games of a Series, and with Hal Smith pitching as well as he has been, they will be awfully tough to beat.

You asked me about the Athletics, and between you and me, I find it almost incredible that they are still in the American League race. Al Simmons isn't hitting for power, and except for Hilton Smith, their pitchers have never been more than journeymen--until this season! Take Bill Harris, for example. He's spent most of the past ten years in the minors, and suddenly he's 12-3 for a team that is battling for a pennant. The youngster, Dick Barrett, looks like he might be a good one, however.

The Tigers are a club without any glaring weaknesses. They are also a club that has been very carefully constructed to be successful in the long run. They have added some excellent young players over the past two or three years, men like Hank Greenberg, Gee Walker, and Lyn Rowe. The players who have been their stars for the past few years are all in their early thirties, too, so most of them should remain productive while the young players reach their potential.

Right now, of course, we are tied with the Tigers, and the Athletics are a game behind us. There's nothing like a pennant race, is there?

You might be interested to hear that Charlie Hollocher has decided to retire at the end of this season. He is one of the last players still active from our barnstorming days, and he has been a valuable reserve for us since we signed him two years ago. I would love to have him go out with one more World Series ring.

I confess that I am sometimes concerned about the age of our club. The only truly exceptional young players we have in our organization right now appear to be Josh Gibson and Ray Brown, both of whom are in the major leagues already. Gibson is still only 21, and since the All-Star break he has hit well over .300. Brown is 24, and he has shown signs of turning the corner in the past few weeks, too. At my meeting today, I emphasized the necessity to increase the amount of resources we devote to player development. There is nothing a ball club can spend its money and energy on that is more worthwhile.

I've taken up too much of your time, I'm afraid. I look forward to seeing you in Cooperstown next month, as always. I don't believe I'm jinxing anything to say that I believe Joe Wood is a shoo-in for election this year, and our whole clan will be attending his induction. Joe is family, after all!

Thank you again for your kind letter, Roy. I value the friendship we've built over the years, and hope we continue it for many, many more.

Your old barnstorming pal,
Pat

[Big Six]

Boston Herald, September 25, 1933

THANK YOU, SKINNY GRAHAM!
Journeyman Hurler Beats "Schoolboy" Rowe, 2-1
Sox Clinch Pennant Despite Loss To Browns

CLEVELAND--Forgive Bill Carrigan for believing that if the Boston Red Sox were going to clinch the 1933 American League pennant today, it would happen via a Boston victory, rather than a Detroit Tigers defeat.

The mathematics were very simple. The Boston club could assure themselves of the chance to defend their World Series title by winning the game; a loss by the Tigers would also do the trick. While Carrigan's Red Hose faced a tough veteran pitcher in Molly Craft of the St. Louis Browns, the Tigers were sending rookie sensation Lyn "Schoolboy" Rowe to the mound to face the seventh-place Cleveland Indians. Pitching for the Indians would be hard-luck Skinny Graham, the losingest pitcher in the major leagues. Graham, who has made a career of pitching mediocre baseball for even worse teams, looked like a cinch to tie his career record for losses in a single season at twenty-five.

Instead, Skinny Graham pitched a masterpiece of a game, holding the potent Tigers hitters to five hits and a single run. The Browns hit Rowe just hard enough to score twice, giving Graham his twelfth victory of the year.

Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Molly Craft was pitching as well as Graham was in Cleveland. Craft's teammates were hitting Boston hurler Buster Ross hard and often, with Johnny Frederick doing the most damage. The outfielder came to the plate in the sixth with the bases loaded and cleared the sacks with a ringing double, giving him an even hundred RBI for the season. Goose Goslin and Turkey Stearnes drove in the other Browns runs, Goslin plating two with a triple in the second, and Stearnes logging his 106th RBI in the seventh on a sacrifice fly.

When the Red Sox reached the dugout at the conclusion of the game, losers by a 6-1 margin, they learned that Graham had outdueled Rowe and enabled the Sox to secure the pennant. This news did not trigger the sort of celebration that usually occurs when a team wins the pennant, however.

“We don’t celebrate when we lose,” veteran catcher Johnny Bassler said, straight-faced. “The fact that Detroit also lost today doesn’t change that one bit.” When asked if the team would acknowledge its victory in the pennant fight, Bassler answered in the affirmative. “We’re on our way back to Boston tonight, and we’ll celebrate with our fans there. We just lost a ballgame, and right now we don’t feel like a party.”

The victory will allow the Red Sox to set their pitching rotation for the Series, as they await the conclusion of the National League race. The Pittsburgh Pirates now lead the St. Louis Cardinals by one game, a race tightened considerably by a five-game Cards winning streak. Thanks to a delightful bit of scheduling, the contending clubs play tomorrow in Pittsburgh. The Cardinals’ pitcher will be 22-game-winner Al Grabowski, while the Pirates will counter with Clint Brown, winner of sixteen contests himself.

“We’re ready for whichever club wins,” Carrigan assured Red Sox fans.

[Big Six]

The Sporting News, September 27, 1933

NL CONTENDERS SETTLE PENNANT RACE WITH BOOMING BATS

PITTSBURGH--Two days ago, a fearsome offensive barrage pulled the St. Louis Cardinals into a tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates, forcing a playoff game to settle the National League pennant.

Yesterday, an even more impressive display of batting prowess gave the Pirates the pennant, and a date with the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

On the 25th, the Cardinals hit Pittsburgh starter Clint Brown hard and often, scoring eight runs before the second inning ended and chasing Brown from the box. A series of Pirate relievers failed to cool down the Cardinals bats.

Joe Medwick and George Watkins led the Cardinal strikers, each pounding four hits. Medwick doubled twice, scored three runs, and drove in two, while Watkins lashed a triple, scored twice, and drove in four.

The large crowd that had come out to cheer the Pirates grew silent as the afternoon progressed, and began to file out of Forbes Field before the game was half over. No more than a few thousand remained to note the final score: St. Louis 16, Pittsburgh 3. Al Grabowski was the winning pitcher; it was his 23rd victory of the season.

The Cardinals victory deadlocked the standings and forced a one-game playoff, also played in Pittsburgh. The Cardinals sent impressive youngster Dizzy Dean to the hill, while the Pirates countered with ace Red Lucas, the National League's Most Outstanding Pitcher for the season.

The night before the game, Dean brashly announced that he would shut out the Pirates in their own home park. The Pirates made that prophecy false before Dean recorded a single out.

Lloyd Waner led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple, and after Dean struck out Gus Suhr, Paul Waner drilled a Dean fastball over the right field fence. The Pirates scored three more times in the frame, and when they tallied thrice in the third, Dean headed for an early shower.

Just as the day before, the losing team's relievers failed to stem the tide of runs. In fact, St. Louis' bullpen was even shakier than Pittsburgh's, and the Pirates scored 18 runs to the Cardinals' 4, delivering the pennant to the home team.

The victorious Pirates will travel to Boston to open the World Series tomorrow. Neal Brady or Waite Hoyt will work the first game for the American League champions, while the Pirates will almost certainly hand the ball to Lefty Grove.

[John P. Yuda]

Originally Posted by Big Six

The large crowd that had come out to cheer the Pirates grew silent as the afternoon progressed, and began to file out of Forbes Field before the game was half over. No more than a few thousand remained to note the final score: St. Louis 18, Pittsburgh 4.

The victorious Pirates will travel to Boston to open the World Series tomorrow. Neal Brady or Waite Hoyt will work the first game for the American League champions, while the Pirates will almost certainly hand the ball to Lefty Grove.

Aroo? Who won?

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by John P. Yuda

Aroo? Who won?

I should know better than to try to write posts at work, shouldn't I? I make WAY too many mistakes.

Thanks for catching this classic, John!

[Big Six]

Bill O'Farrell is a sixth grader at Wellesley Central School. As part of the arrangement that allowed him to be excused from school for the World Series, Bill was assigned a report on the Series by his English teacher, Mrs. Bradley.

Note: The paper appears exactly as Bill wrote it. He is a good student who usually makes As and Bs in Mrs. Bradley's class.

The 1933 World Series
By Bill O'Farrell

I attended all seven games of the 1933 World Series, which were played in Boston and Pittsburgh. Here is my report about the games, which were very exciting. I will also tell you a little about the city of Pittsburgh.

The first game was played in Boston on September 29. Waite Hoyt was the Boston pitcher and Lefty Grove pitched for Pittsburgh. This game was very close and both pitchers had very good games. The Red Sox won 2-1. Nobody hit a home run, and the most exciting play was a double hit by Josh Gibson of the Red Sox. It was also exciting when Lloyd Waner and Ernie Orsatti of the Pirates stole bases, although I of course wanted the Red Sox to win. Hoyt did not pitch the whole game but he was the winning pitcher. Mike Griffin pitched very well in the last inning. Grove was the only pitcher for the Pirates and he got the loss.

The next day the teams played again in Boston. This time the pitchers were Neal Brady for Boston and Red Lucas for Pittsburgh. The Pirates made a very good comeback and won this game 3-1. Their catcher, Earl Grace, hit a home run in the ninth inning. Lucas pitched a great game and the Red Sox got only three hits. No Red Sox player hit a home run. Now the Series was tied 1-1 and it was time to get on the train and travel to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is a very large city in the western part of Pennsylvania. There are many factories there. I saw three different rivers there: the Alaghany, the Ohio, and the Monangahila. The baseball stadium in Pittsburgh is called Forbes Field. It is located near a very nice park where people have picnics and walk their dogs.

The third game was played on October 2. It was the most exciting one yet, and the only thing that would have made it better was if the Red Sox had won. Pittsburgh won 3-2 when Joe Cronin hit a long fly ball and Lloyd Waner ran in from third base to score a run. Waner had four hits in the game. Boston's pitcher was Buster Ross and Pittsburgh's pitcher was Hal Smith. Nobody hit a home run in this game. After this game, Pittsburgh led the Series two games to one.

The next day, Waite Hoyt and Lefty Grove pitched again. That usually happens in a World Series because both teams usually let their best three pitchers start all the games. Boston won this game 5-2, which meant that Hoyt had won two games and Grove had lost two. Phil Todt got two RBIs in this game, which did not surprise me because he had been the best Boston batter for the first four games. I especially liked the way the Red Sox turned two double plays. Both times it happened when Martin Dihigo fielded ground balls and threw to Judy Johnson, who touched second base and threw to Lou Gehrig at first. Both times the play was close, but the good teamwork of the Red Sox won out. Now the teams had won two games each. There would be one more game in Pittsburgh and then we would all go back to Boston to finish the Series.

On October 4, it was very cloudy and windy and the weather was cool. This game was still a lot of fun because although the Pirates won 7-6 lots of runs were scored. Red Lucas and Neal Brady were the pitchers. Just like Waite Hoyt, Lucas won both games he pitched so far. There were lots of extra base hits in this game: eleven in all. The triples were the most fun to watch. Frank Frisch and Martin Dihigo hit triples for Boston, and Paul Waner hit one for the Pirates.

We all traveled back to Boston the next day. I was worried that the Red Sox would not win the Series because all the Pirates had to do was win one of the next two games. That is really very easy for a team as good as the Pirates to do.

The sixth game was a thrilling one because both teams had the lead and battled back and forth. The Red Sox were behind 6-2 but scored 5 runs in the fifth inning. Then the Red Sox scored two more runs which was a good thing, because the Pirates scored twice in the ninth. Finally, some Red Sox players hit home runs. Martin Dihigo and Judy Johnson, who do not hit many home runs, hit one each. I was a little surprised that they were the first Red Sox batters to hit them, because Lou Gehrig and Chick Hafey hit many more homers than they do. Joe Cronin hit a home run for the Pirates. The final score was Boston 9, Pittsburgh 8.

Everybody knew that the seventh game would decide the Series because each team had won three games now. It would be Waite Hoyt and Lefty Grove pitching again. The bleachers and grandstands at Fenway Park were more full than I have ever seen them.

The score was tied 1-1 when the Red Sox batted in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lou Gehrig hit a ball that bounced all the way to the wall and he made it to second base for a double. I was standing on my seat yelling and cheering with the other fans. Then Chick Hafey hit a ground ball to the second baseman. He made an out, but Gehrig was alert and ran to third. The next batter was Josh Gibson. He hit the ball right back to Lefty Grove, the pitcher. I groaned at first because that is almost always an out, and Gehrig would not be able to score on that play. But Grove threw the ball over the first baseman's head and it rolled into right field. When Lou saw that, he ran hard toward home plate and scored very easily. I went from groaning to cheering very quickly!

The score was 2-1 and that is the way it ended. Waite Hoyt got carried off the field by his teammates because he won three games in the World Series. I am sure Lefty Grove feels terrible because he lost three games and made an error that let the Red Sox score the winning run. He should not feel like he lost the World Series, because the Pirates got two chances to bat after that and did not score any runs. It was not all his fault that his team lost.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed the World Series. All seven games were lots of fun, even the ones the Pirates won. If you get a chance to watch a World Series game, you should definitely go. If you like baseball you will have a wonderful time, and even if you don't like it as much as I do you will be excited by the big crowds.

[Big Six]

Here are the batting leaders for the American League's 1933 season:

BATTING AVERAGE        AVG
 1 A. Simmons (PHA)   .356 
 2 E. Averill (CLE)   .355 
 3 C. Bell (DET)      .354 
 4 G. Goslin (SLA)    .351
 5 L. Gehrig (BOS)    .337
 6 B. Chapman (NYA)   .332 
 7 H. Rice (NYA)      .326 
 8 B. Terry (WS1)     .317 
 9 J. Hayes (WS1)     .316 
10 T. Stearnes (SLA)  .315

Five players had a chance to win the batting title on the last day of the season. Simmons went 3-4 and moved from fourth to first.

ON BASE PERCENTAGE     OBP
1 L. Gehrig (BOS)     .465 
2 J. Foxx (CHA)       .431 
3 E. Averill (CLE)    .425 
4 G. Goslin (SLA)     .423 
5 A. Simmons (PHA)    .422

Five of the league's top stars rise to the top of this list. Al Simmons has had an interesting career in Pat's universe. He has never developed into a power hitter; his career high of 24 homers now seems like a fluke, as he hasn't hit more than 14 in any other season, and is usually in single digits.

SLUGGING AVERAGE      SLG
1 L. Gehrig (BOS)    .641 
2 J. Foxx (CHA)      .626 
3 H. Greenberg (DET) .584 
4 E. Averill (CLE)   .567 
5 M. Hillis (PHA)    .562

Mack Hillis has been a fun, late blooming "surprise star." At age 31, he emerged from obscurity to hit 15 homers and drive in 86 runs for the Browns, and after a trade to Philadelphia, he posted a .311-16-88 season, with 59 doubles and 18 triples. "If he could run, he'd be Pat O'Farrell," said one scout.

ON BASE + SLUGGING     OPS
1 L. Gehrig (BOS)    1.107 
2 J. Foxx (CHA)      1.057 
3 E. Averill (CLE)    .992
4 H. Greenberg (DET)  .981 
5 G. Goslin (SLA)     .956

Gehrig won the Most Oustanding Batter award and, more importantly, another World Series ring. At age 31, he is the American League's biggest and most popular star. Young Greenberg's terrific debut earned him the Rookie of the Year nod.

HOME RUNS               HR 
1 J. Foxx (CHA)         40 
2 L. Gehrig (BOS)       35 
3 H. Greenberg (DET)    31 
4 T. Stearnes (SLA)     23 
5 B. Herman (CLE)       22

In a so-so year for power hitters, Foxx rose to the occasion. His Power rating (106) and his age (25) portend many, many more big seasons.

Babe Ruth hit only 18 homers and batted .269. The Bambino is 38 now, and he might not add much more to his all-time record total of 608 home runs. His nearest American League competitor, Gehrig, will reach the 300 mark with his next homer.

RUNS BATTED IN         RBI 
1 L. Gehrig (BOS)      130 
2 B. Herman (CLE)      124 
3 J. Foxx (CHA)        120 
4 T. Stearnes (SLA)    109 
5 J. Hauser (PHA)      106

First sackers dominate this list, as Stearnes has moved there to save his slowly-aging knees. Only Herman plays any other position, although he does so miserably.

HITS                    H 
1 C. Bell (DET)        220 
2 E. Averill (CLE)     201 
3 H. Rice (NYA)        194 
4 L. Gehrig (BOS)      187 
4 B. Chapman (NYA)     187

Cool Papa was back with another great season, after a mystifying 1932 season. He's a career .344 hitter and a future Hall of Famer in the making.

Harry Rice, the Yankees first baseman, has quietly assembled a very solid career. He's a consistent .300 hitter who bangs out sixty extra base hits a season. Rice was also a better player in the "real" major leagues than I realized. The "real" Harry played a lot more in the outfield than he did anywhere else.

RUNS SCORED            R
1 L. Gehrig (BOS)     138 
2 C. Bell (DET)       121 
3 J. Foxx (CHA)       117 
4 H. Manush (DET)     107 
4 J. Hauser (PHA)     107

Gehrig has scored over 100 runs nine seasons in a row, and since 1928 his lowest total in this category has been 134. For his career, the Iron Horse has just over half as many runs scored as Pat O'Farrell; that's how often Pat touched home plate.

STOLEN BASES          SB 
1 C. Bell (DET)       93 
2 F. Frisch (BOS)     37 
3 M. Dihigo (BOS)     24 
3 W. Wells (CHA)      24 
5 L. Lary (NYA)       21

Bell's 93rd steal was the 500th of his career, which says much more about the era in which he plays than it does about his talents as a base burglar.

[Big Six]

Here are the junior circuit's best pitching performances for 1933:

EARNED RUN AVERAGE     ERA 
1 H. Smith (PHA)      2.57 
2 W. Hoyt (BOS)       3.03 
3 K. Greenfield (DET) 3.04 
4 S. Rowe (DET)       3.10 
5 N. Brady (BOS)      3.18 
6 J. Brown (CHA)      3.58 
7 A. Campbell (CLE)   3.65 
8 B. Harris (PHA)     3.66 
9 M. Craft (SLA)      3.74 
10 T. Lyons (NYA)     3.76

More surprise stars here, and a few journeymen who had career years. Kent Greenfield fits into the latter category, although since he's been traded from the Giants to Washington to Detroit, he should be in a position to win quite a few games.

Others with whom you might not be familiar: Joe Brown, Archie Campbell, and Bill Harris. Molly Craft you know; he's been a star in Pat's universe for years now.

WINS                    W 
1 N. Brady (BOS)        27 
2 W. Hoyt (BOS)         25 
3 H. Smith (PHA)        24 
4 S. Rowe (DET)         21 
5 M. Craft (SLA)        19

I've said it before. What if the Red Sox had never traded Hilton Smith away? A nice debut for Schoolboy Rowe, and typical years from Brady and Hoyt.

STRIKEOUTS              K
1 H. Smith (PHA)       356 
2 N. Brady (BOS)       313 
3 M. Craft (SLA)       288
4 D. Coffman (WS1)     242 
5 W. Hoyt (BOS)        241

See comment on Hilton Smith above.

WHIP    
1 H. Smith (PHA)      0.97 
2 N. Brady (BOS)      1.00 
3 W. Hoyt (BOS)       1.09 
4 K. Greenfield (DET) 1.13 
5 M. Craft (SLA)      1.14

See comment on Hilton Smith above.

INNINGS PITCHED         IP 
1 W. Hoyt (BOS)      354.0 
2 H. Smith (PHA)     353.1 
3 N. Brady (BOS)     328.2 
4 D. Coffman (WS1)   321.1 
5 M. Craft (SLA)     313.0

See comment on Hilton Smith above. At least the White Sox got Jimmie Foxx when they traded him away.

[Big Six]

The National League's premiere batsmen for 1933:

BATTING AVERAGE         AVG 
 1 B. Leonard (NY1)    .346 
 2 C. Klein (PHI)      .342 
 3 M. Haas (NY1)       .340 
 4 A. Vaughan (PIT)    .339 
 5 B. Myer (NY1)       .329 
 6 F. Thompson (BRO)   .325 
 7 D. Bissonette (BRO) .321 
 8 G. Watkins (SLN)    .320 
 9 G. Wright (CIN)     .319 
10 W. Kimmick (SLN)    .318

There have been several occasions when teams swapped superstars and both walked away happy. Ruth-for-Gehrig-and-Brady is the most famous, but the deal between the Pirates and Giants that sent Red Lucas to the Steel City and Buck Leonard to the Big Apple is the National League equivalent. Buck won his third straight NL MOB in 1933. As for Lucas, you'll see how he did later on.

ON BASE PERCENTAGE      OBP 
1 B. Leonard (NY1)     .437 
2 B. Myer (NY1)        .421 
3 M. Ott (BSN)         .415 
4 P. Waner (PIT)       .415 
5 A. Vaughan (PIT)     .404

The Pirates traded Fred Lindstrom to open up a spot for the 21-year-old Vaughan, and they're glad they did. He looks like the real deal.

SLUGGING AVERAGE        SLG 
1 B. Leonard (NY1)     .633 
2 C. Klein (PHI)       .618 
3 M. Ott (BSN)         .588 
4 G. Watkins (SLN)     .565 
5 O. Charleston (CHN)  .553

Oscar Charleston is 36 years old now. If his race and the inherent prejudices of the baseball establishment hadn't kept him out of the major leagues until he was 27, he would be on his way to accumulating career totals that would rival the best in history. As it is, they'll be pretty damn good.

ON BASE + SLUGGING      OPS 
1 B. Leonard (NY1)    1.070 
2 C. Klein (PHI)      1.015 
3 M. Ott (BSN)        1.003 
4 P. Waner (PIT)       .965 
5 G. Watkins (SLN)     .943

No surprises here, especially not the presence of Buck Leonard at the top of another list.

HOME RUNS               HR 
1 B. Leonard (NY1)      37 
2 M. Ott (BSN)          36 
3 C. Klein (PHI)        34 
4 O. Charleston (CHN)   29 
5 G. Watkins (SLN)      24

And the beat goes on. By the way, Mel Ott has 171 career home runs at the age of 24. Oscar needs one more to join Babe Ruth as the only players to hit 400 in their careers.

RUNS BATTED IN         RBI 
1 B. Leonard (NY1)     120 
1 C. Klein (PHI)       120 
3 G. Watkins (SLN)     119 
4 M. Ott (BSN)         115 
5 A. Vaughan (PIT)     110

Look! Someone managed to tie Buck Leonard for first place in a major offensive category! Klein's RBI production keeps Buck from an outright Triple Crown, but we won't quibble over that.

HITS                    H 
1 C. Klein (PHI)       201 
2 B. Leonard (NY1)     194 
3 A. Vaughan (PIT)     190 
4 G. Wright (CIN)      188 
5 G. Watkins (SLN)     180

I suppose it was inevitable that someone other than Buck Leonard would manage to lead the league in something worth leading the league in. Buck didn't miss this one by much, though.

RUNS SCORED             R 
1 B. Leonard (NY1)     146
2 C. Klein (PHI)       122 
3 B. Arlett (PHI)      115 
4 P. Waner (PIT)       108 
5 M. Ott (BSN)         107 
5 O. Charleston (CHN)  107

In 1933, it was all about Buck and Chuck. It's also cool to see Buzz Arlett last more than a year in the big leagues. Now I wish I had created him and Ox Eckhardt as youngsters so we could see what kind of major league careers they might have had.

STOLEN BASES            SB 
1 A. Graham (CHN)       40 
2 E. Swanson (CIN)      34 
3 B. James (BSN)        31 
4 C. Gelbert (SLN)      27 
5 R. Youngs (NY1)       21

Moonlight Graham broke an ankle making a leaping catch on August 2, and didn't return to the Cubs lineup until late September. He scored 86 runs in 112 games, so he would undoubtedly have been among the league leaders in that category had he not been hurt.

[Big Six]

And, finally, the leading pitchers in the National League for 1933:

EARNED RUN AVERAGE     ERA 
1 S. Paige (CHN)      2.36 
2 R. Lucas (PIT)      3.06 
3 L. Grove (PIT)      3.31 
4 J. Weaver (PHI)     3.33 
5 H. Smith (PIT)      3.35 
6 B. Foster (BRO)     3.43 
7 L. Herrmann (BSN)   3.53 
8 R. Dobens (SLN)     3.66 
9 B. Frey (CIN)       3.78 
10 H. Goldsmith (PHI) 3.81

Satchel Paige missed the entire month of June with a strained biceps tendon, so his counting stats won't be overwhelming. Satch's injury might have cost him the MOP. At age 26, he has a career record of 149-95.

The biggest Surprise Star here is probably Ray Dobens. The lefty has won 21, 15, 15, and 20 games in his four seasons in O'Farrellworld.

WINS                   W 
1 R. Lucas (PIT)       26 
2 A. Grabowski (SLN)   23 
3 B. Nekola (NY1)      22 
3 S. Paige (CHN)       22 
5 B. Foster (BRO)      21

Bots Nekola switched leagues, moving from the Yankees to the Giants, but continued to pitch well. This is his second consecutive 20-win season.

STRIKEOUTS             K
1 B. Foster (BRO)     282 
2 L. Grove (PIT)      278 
3 R. Lucas (PIT)      244 
4 S. Paige (CHN)      221 
5 J. Weaver (PHI)     210

Mack Hillis has turned out to be a good player, but what on earth were the A's thinking when they traded Foster, who had just gone 29-9, 2.16, to the Browns to obtain him? Then, the Browns traded him to Brooklyn for Johnny Frederick. The sad-sack Dodgers are a seventh-place club, and they're looking to Big Bill to lead them to respectability.

WHIP 
1 S. Paige (CHN)     0.97 
2 R. Lucas (PIT)     1.01 
3 L. Grove (PIT)     1.17 
4 N. Greene (BSN)    1.17 
5 H. Smith (PIT)     1.20

Nelson Greene's nickname is Lefty, which should give you a clue about the hand he pitches with. He's a journeyman pitcher in Pat's world who has plied his trade for five different teams, and in 1933, he went 19-10 and made the All-Star team. It may never be this good for him again, but he'll always have 1933.

Dizzy Dean, on the other hand, will gladly give his 1933 season back. Diz suffered through another injury-plagued season. Just as he did in 1932, he went on the disabled list twice, but unlike 1932, he didn't pitch particularly well when he was healthy. His ERA of 4.54 was almost two runs higher than his 1932 figure.

[Big Six]

Miss Elizabeth O'Farrell '35
221 Meade Hall
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mr. Michael O'Farrell '37
202 St. Edward's Hall
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana

October 11, 1933

Dear Mike,

I only have a short time to compose my letter to you, as I have a lot of reading yet to do for tomorrow's American history class. Therefore, it won't be a very "newsy" letter; I'll write you one of those soon enough, I promise.

I know you despise it when I try to give you advice, and for that reason I often refrain from doing so. This time, however, I feel what I have to tell you is important enough that I cannot let it go unsaid.

Mike, you may not be aware of the fact that I know all about what happened in the park back in August. Wellesley Hills might be only a few miles outside Boston, but it is still a small town, just like Stockbridge. Pat Healey's older sister Marge is a very good friend of mine. Since Pat was unable to run fast enough to elude the police the way you and Dave Rice were, Marge and her family managed to learn all about your woodland Bacchanalia. Marge told me about the incident, and about your role in it, the very next day.

If you don't know what a Bacchanalia is, pick up a book and find out. I am sure that the fact that I identified Mr. Rice as the other partygoer who escaped arrest that evening proves to you that I am fully aware of what happened that evening.

I also know, dear brother, that this was no isolated incident, and that you have developed a habit of imbibing when you think you can get away with it. To put it more simply, I know you have started drinking too much.

I suppose this sounds like a lecture, and in a way, it is. I am older than you are, whether you like it or not, and I have seen more than you have of the problems that can be caused by too much alcohol. I'm not going to lie to you and try to tell you I haven't had a few drinks myself, but that is what it is: a few drinks. I have, however, seen friends of mine encounter all kinds of problems because of their use of alcohol. A few have been arrested, as you should have been in August. A few have become very ill, a fate you have escaped thus far, to my knowledge. At least three have flunked out of college because they chose to make good times a higher priority than their schoolwork. Most frighteningly, two were killed when the car one of them was driving ran off the road into a tree.

Mike, you have a promising future as a student and an athlete; I don't need to tell you that. I love you and don't want to see you jeopardize that by drinking. Please take my advice to heart. I haven't mentioned anything to Mom or Dad about this, and unless I learn that you haven't turned over a new leaf, I never will, I promise you.

Good luck with classes and with freshman football. I promise I'll write you a more cheerful letter soon.

Love, your sis,
Beth

[NCBeachBum]

If he keeps drinking, Mike could have a promising future as a '40's manager.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by NCBeachBum

If he keeps drinking, Mike could have a promising future as a '40's manager.

He does appear to have good Talent ratings for Drinking at age 18, doesn't he? His potential for Mischief is also among the best out there, too.

[Big Six]

Michael O'Farrell '37
202 St. Edward's Hall
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana

Coach Joe Wood
Department of Athletics
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

December 3, 1933

Dear Uncle Joe,

I'm sorry I'm so late in replying to your letter. I've been very busy with football and classes, and today I am taking a break from writing a paper for my philosophy class.

Congratulations on your election to the Hall of Fame! I wanted very much to be in Cooperstown for your induction, but I had a football game that weekend. The freshman team's season went fairly well; we won 6 games and lost 2. The varsity has not been as successful, and there is some talk that Coach Anderson might not be returning next year. I suppose whenever a team like Notre Dame has a losing season, people begin to circulate rumors like that.

Thank you very much for answering my pitching questions, too. I talked one of our catchers into going into the gym with me the other day, and I experimented with the grip you suggested for my curve ball. After about ten pitches, I was getting such a sharp break on it that the catcher was having trouble getting a glove on it! I can't wait to try it out on real batters this spring. One day, I might even have a chance to pitch against your team at Yale.

I hope I get to see you, Aunt Emily, and my cousins this Christmas. I'll be getting home on the 21st, and won't have to be back at Notre Dame until January 17.

Sincerely, your nephew,
Mike

[Big Six]

New York Times, January 13, 1934

YANKEES SIGN YOUNG RUSSIAN PITCHER
Starffin, 17, Said To Possess "Big League Arm"

NEW YORK--In an attempt to challenge the dominance of American League powerhouses in Boston and Detroit, the Yankees have turned their attention overseas.

Today the club announced the signing of young pitcher Victor Starffin, a young man of White Russian birth who grew up and learned the game of baseball in Japan. Starffin, who stands six feet, three inches tall, impressed Yankees scouts with his lively fastball and powerful throwing motion.

Starffin spoke to Yankees representatives thruugh an interpreter, but he is an intelligent young man who will begin taking classes in English this winter. He will turn eighteen on May 1, and will live in New Bedford, Connecticut with the family of Japanese-American guardian William Nakanishi while he becomes accustomed to his new way of life.

Starffin will pitch for the New Bedford club in the Northeastern League this coming season. "We have tremendous confidence in Starffin's ability to pitch in the major leagues one day," said Tom Payton, the scout who is responsible for his signing.

********
To find out more about Starffin, take a look at Jim Albright's reserch on Japanese League stars.



Starffin pitching against the San Francisco Seals in 1949

[Big Six]

Mike O'Farrell's journal

April 18, 1934

I've never kept a journal before, so I don't know if I'm going to enjoy it or not. Right now there are so many things on my mind that I can't talk to anyone about, so this is the only way I can express them. I also don't know if writing them down will make me feel better or not, so this might be the only entry I ever make.

I wish I didn't have to play freshman baseball. The varsity has a new coach, Clarence Kline, who has the team playing excellent ball. I'm not challenged much on the freshman team. I find myself wishing more often that I had decided to play professional baseball instead.

I suppose I'm doing OK in my classes, although I find I have more time for myself than I did at Deerfield. There is a party somewhere almost every night, too. I'm staying away from the parties except on Friday and Saturday night, but on those two nights I'm having a good time. The wine, women, and song are very alluring, to say the least.

Speaking of women, there is nobody special in my life right now. That means I can flirt with all of them, which is quite a pleasant advantage. It gets lonely sometimes, however, and when I'm lonely I find myself drinking more. I know it's not good for me, but I'm careful not to drink when I'm preparing for something important like a ballgame or a test. Most of the fellows drink some, and they're able to handle everything just fine.

I've decided that writing in a journal does help, so I think I'll keep doing it.

[Big Six]

I hate to say this, but unless I can find a way to move my league files to my new computer, Pat's run might be coming to an end.

I've posted a thread in the troubleshooting forum with the details. Any suggestions you might have that haven't been tried already would be very welcome.

Say it ain't so, Pat...