SABR Baseball Research Journal 17

THE
ase a esearc
JOURNAL
B
ASEBALL LENDS ITSELF to oral journalism The Seventeenth Annual
like no other sport. The game's stately pace, Historical and Statistical Review
endless complexity, and utter unpredictability of the Society for American Baseball Research
make it fertile ground for storytellers. And the best of
them seem to be ex~players. If SABR members were
Retroactive Cy Young Awards, Lyle Spatz 2
polled about their favorite baseball book, odds are the Batting Eye Index, Cappy Gagnon 6
runaway winner would be The Glory of Their Times, Bill Sisler, Ed Brooks 10
,Lawrence Ritter's interviews with stars from the early Buzz Arlett, Gerald Tomlinson 13
years of the century. R,otisserie Leagues and New Stats, Ron Shandler 17
In this issue we are pleased to excerpt the Frenchy Bill Mazeroski, Jim Kaplan 21
Bordagaray interview from a new oral history, Innings Latin American All..Star Game, Edward Mandt 23
Ago: Recollections by Kansas City 'Ballplayers of their Days in Player.. Managers, Bob Bailey 25
the Game, by Jack Etkin. Don't let the regional approach Runs Produced Plus, Bobby Fong 34
fool you: The subject is baseball-universal. Interviewing Denny McLain in 1968, Larry Amman 38
former major~league Athletics, minor~league Blues, and Bob Gibson in 1968, Peter Gordon 41
Retooling the Batter, Gaylord Clark 45
Negro~league Monarchs, Etkin discovered a range of
Willie Wells, John Holway 50
baseball experience from sudden success to unfulfilled
The Times Were A ..Changin', Ron Briley 54
talent to squandered opportunity. "Dick Howser once
Jet Lag and Pennant Races, Bruce Goldberg 61
said that all ballplayers felt they could have been better," Musing on Maris, Ralph Houk and Robert W. Creamer 65
says Etkin, a sportswriter for the Kansas City Star and Regular..Season/Post..Season, Eric Wm. Olsen 73
Times. "This theme manifested itself." 19th Century Baseball Writing, Robert C. Olson 76
Innings Ago will tug at your emotions, too. It's available Kid Gleason, Garrett J. Kelleher 79
for $11.95 from Normandy Square Publications, 1125 Schuey's Big Day, Ren Speer 82
Grand, Suite 500, Kansas City, MO 64106. Frenchy Bordagaray, Jack Etkin 83
We're also excerpting Season of Glory: The Amazing
Saga of the 1961 New York Yankees (G. P. Putnam''S Sons, Editor: Jim Kaplan
$18.95), an oral history/journalistic narrative by Ralph Associate Editors: Len Levin, Elizabeth McGrail
Houk and Robert W. Creamer. It's part of how this
edition rediscovers the 1960s, that often~neglected de~
Cover Art hy Dennis Bingham. Top row: Wandering Brave, Shocked Mil,
cade between Mickey, Willie & the Duke and the co,ming waukee fan, ACLU lawyer, White Sox owner Arthur Allyn. Middle row:
of free agency. Mantle, Maris, Mazeroski, McLain, Gib~ Marvin Miller, Birdie Tehhetts, Dick Allen, Felipe Alou, Bo Belinsky and
Mamie Van Doren. Bottonl row: C.C. Johnson Spink, Jim Brosnan, Joe
son, and social protest-all are detailed on the next Pepitone. Inside front cover and hack cover art hy Boh Carroll.
eighty~eight pages.
Many thanks to publications director Paul Adomites,
BASEBALL RESEARCH JOURNAL (ISSN 0734,6891, ISBN
associate editors Len Levin and Elizabeth McGrail, and 0,910 13 7,34,X). Puhlished hy Society for American Baseball Research, Inc.,
Deb Wilds and company at Ag Press and Pete Palmer for P.O. Box 10033, Kansas City, MO 64111. Postage paid at Manhattan, KS.
Copyright 1988 Society for Aillerican Baseball Research, Inc. All rights
his advice on statistical subjects and manuscript selec~ reserved. Reproduct'ion in whole or in part without written permission is
tion. And thanks to tile members who responded to our prohibited. Printed by Ag Press, Manhattan, KS.
plea by flooding us with ideas and stories. For faster
processing in the future, please query first, then send Photo sources: Page 10, Ed Brooks; Pages 12 and 64, New England Sports
double~spaced manuscripts with biographical notes on Museum; Page 14, Gerald Tomlinson; Page 49, Vincent T. Walsh; Page 51,
John B. Holway; Page 80, Garrett J. Kelleher; Page 82,Ren Speer; Page 85,
the authors. Jim Kaplan National Baseball Lihrary.
----------------------e; ~
Retroactive Cy Young Awards
LYLE SPATZ
In a special SABR project, a membership poll creates

Cy Young awards in years when there weren't any or
when awards went to only one pitcher. Here are the results.
O
N THE MORNING of November 29, 1956 the In 1912 Johnson finished second despite a won.. lost
sports section of the The New York Times, record of 32.. 12, a league..leading earned run average of
otherwise almost completely devoted to the 1.39, and a 16..game winning streak. Up in Boston,
Melbourne Olympics, carried a baseball story. Buried on however, Smokey Joe Wood was compiling his own
page five, the story announced that the Cleveland Indi.. 16..game winning streak on his way to a 34..5 record and
ans had selected Kerby Farrell as their new manager. In the Cy Young Award. In 1916, Johnson again finished
the notes that followed, it was revealed that the Baseball second to a young Red Sox ace, Babe Ruth.
Writers Association of America had named Brooklyn's Grove won six consecutive awards between 1928 and
Don Newcombe the Major League Pitcher of the Year. It 1933 after finishing fourth in 1927. Following an injury..
was the first year for the citation, officially called the Cy plagued year in 1934, his first with the Red Sox, he
Young Award in honor of the legendary pitcher. bounced back to finish second in 1935 and 1936 and
At that time pitchers from both leagues competed fourth in 1937, 1938, and 1939. The most consecutive
against one another, with only one award given. This awards won in the National League were four, by Math..
practice continued through 1966. For the 1967 season an ewson in 1907.. 1910 and Sandy Koufax in 1963.. 1966
award was given to the best pitcher in each league. (thre~ from the BBWAA, one from SABR). Those who
Despite suggestions that the honor be split further, be.. won three years in a row include Cy Young himself
tween starters and relievers, that is still the way it's done. (1901 .. 1903), Walter Johnson (1913 .. 1915), Pete Alex..
Since the award's inception, the prestige it bestows and ander (1915 .. 1917), Bob Feller (1939.. 1941), and Hal
the interest it generates have come to approach that of the N ewhouser (1944.. 1946).
Most Valuable Player awards. In recognition of this inter.. The relationship between Feller and Newhouser is an
est SABR conducted a survey to determine pre.. 1967 intriguing one. Feller was baseball's premier pitcher -
winners of the Cy Young Award. Retroactive winners the winner of three straight Cy Young Awards - when
were selected in the National League for the years World War II interrupted his career. The four years that
1900.. 1955, 1958, 1959, and 1961; and in the American he lost could well have yielded up to 100 wins in addition
League for 1901 .. 1957, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, and to his lifetime total of 266. Four more years could con..
1966. The selections for the years 1956..66 were for a Cy ceivably have resulted in four more Cy Young Awards
Young Award winner in the league not represented by the (1942.. 1945), giving him seven straight.
BBWAA winner. The voting was done on the BBWAA's In 1944 and 1945 Newhouser took Feller's place as
5..3.. 1 point basis for first, second, and third places. The baseball's dominant pitcher. He went 29..9 in 1944 and
winners are presented in the accompanying table. 25 ..9 in 1945. His earned run average was 2.22 in 1944
It should come as no surprise that the pitchers with the and a league..best 1.84 in the pennant..winning 1945
most awards are those generally regarded as the game's season. He not only won the Cy Young Award those two
alltime best. Christy Mathewson with seven and Pete years but the American League's Most Valuable Player
Alexander and Warren Spahn (including one. from the Award. Still, there were those who downgraded New..
BBWAA) with six each had the most in the NL, while houser's accomplishments because they had come against
Lefty Grove and Walter Johnson each had six to lead the "wartime" players. The critics awaited 1946 to see if he
AL. Mathewson had two seconds and a third to go with
his seven wins, and Johnson had five second..place fin.. Lyle Spatz is a regional economist for the u.S. Department of
ishes with his six \vins. Commerce.
THE BASEBALL RESEARCH JOURNAL
could continue to be as successful pitching against Di~ many other years, however, the "best pitcher" was far
Maggio, Williams, and the other returning veterans. from obvious. The five closest races were: Al Orth over
Feller too had something to prove: that he could come Addie Joss (AL 1902), Christy Mathewson over Mor~
back from his long Naval service and regain his pre~war decai Brown (NL 1909), Larry Benton over DazzyVance
form. Both men succeded. Newhouser led the league in (NL 1928), Tex Hughson over Ernie Bonham (AL 1942),
wins for a third straight year (26~9) and again in ERA and Hank Wyse over Charley (Red) Barrett (NL 1945).
(1.94). Feller tied Newhouser for most wins with 26 Barrett, who started the '45 season with Boston, had a
(losing 15) and had an_ERA of2.18. In an extremely close record of 2~3 when he was traded to the Cardinals. He
vote Newhouser edged Feller to win his third straight Cy went 21~9 to finish with a league~leading 23 wins. If he
Young Award. Dave Ferriss, who went 25~6 for the had won the Cy Young that year, he would have been the
pennant~winningRed Sox, finished a distant third. The only winner to have pitched for two teams in his award
All~Star game played at Fenway Park that year is best season. Brown's close loss to Matty in 1909 was the
remembered for Ted Williams leading the American second of three consecutive years in which he finished
Leaguers to a crushing 12~0 victory. But let's not forget runner~up to his archrival. No one else had three con~
that Feller, Newhouser, and Jack Kramer of the Browns secutive second~place finishes, although Carl Hubbell
shut out the National Leaguers on just three singles. The finished second on four separate occasions (1932, 1934,
confrontations between Feller and Newhouser were a~ 1935, and 1937), the most in the National League.
mong the most anticipated and exciting pitching match~ Other close years: Bill Donovan over Noodles Hahn
ups in history. Hal Newhouser remains the only pitcher to (NL 1901), Pat Malone over Dazzy Vance (NL 1930),
have won three consecutive Cy Young Awards without Johnny Antonelli over Robin Roberts (NL 1954), arid
making the Hall of Fame. Jim Perry over Chuck Estrada (AL 1960). In 1965 Jim
In many years one pitcher clearly was the best in his Grant barely defeated AL rivals Sam McDowell and Mel
league and the overwhelming choice of the voters. For Stottlemyre in the closest three~man race ever.
CY YOUNG WINNERS 1900--1966

National League American League National League American League
1900 Joe McGinnity BKl 1900 1934 Dizzy Dean STl 1934 lefty Gomez NY
1901 Bill Donovan BKN 1901 Cy Young BOS 1935 Dizzy Dean STl 1935 Wes Ferrell BOS
1902 Jack Chesbro PIT 1902 Cy Young BOS 1936 Carl Hubbell NY 1936 Tommy Bridges DET
1903 Christy Mathewson NY 1903 Cy Young BOS 1937 Jim Turner BOS 1937 lefty Gomez NY
1904 Joe McQinnity NY 1904 Jack Chesbro NY 1938 Bill lee CHI 1938 Red Ruffing NY
1905 Christy Mathewson NY 1905 Rube Waddell PHI 1939 Bucky Walters CIN 1939 Bob Feller ClE
1906 Mordecai Brown CHI 1906 AIOrth NY 1940 Bucky Walters CIN 1940 Bob Feller ClE
1907 Christy Mathewson NY 1907 Addie Joss ClE 1941 Whit Wyatt BKl 1941 Bob Feller ClE
1908 Christy Mathewson NY 1908 Ed Walsh CHI 1942 Mort Cooper STl 1942 Tex Hughson BOS
1909 Christy Mathewson NY 1909 George Mullin DET 1943 Mort Cooper STl 1943 Spud Chandler NY
1910 Christy Mathewson NY 1910 Jack Coombs PHI 1944 Bucky Walters CIN 1944 Hal Newhouser DET
1911 Pete Alexander PHI 1911 Walter Johnson WAS 1945 Hank Wyse CHI 1945 Hal Newhouser DET
1912 Rube Marquard NY 1912 Joe Wood BOS 1946 Howie Pollett STl 1946 Hal Newhouser DET
1913 Christy Mathewson NY 1913 Walter Johnson WAS 1947 Ewell Blackwell CIN 1947 Bob Feller ClE
1914 Bill James BOS 1914 Walter Johnson WAS 1948 Johnny Sain BOS 1948 Gene Bearden ClE
1915 Pete Alexander PHI 1915 Walter Johnson WAS 1949 Warren Spahn BOS 1949 Mel Parnell BOS
1916 Pete Alexander PHI 1916 Babe Ruth BOS 1950 Jim Konstanty PHI 1950 Bob lemon ClE
1917 Pete Alexander PHI 1917 Ed Cicotte CHI 1951 Sal Maglie NY 1951 Ed lopat NY
1918 Jim Vaughn CHI 1918 Walter Johnson WAS 1952 Robin Roberts PHI 1952 Bobby Shantz PHI
1919 Jesse Barnes NY 1919 Ed Cicotte CHI 1953 Warren Spahn MIL 1953 Bob Porterfield WAS
1920 Pete Alexander CHI 1920 Jim Bagby ClE 1954 Johnny Antonelli NY 1954 Bob lemon ClE
1921 Burleigh Grimes BKl 1921 Red Faber CHI 1955 Robin Roberts PHI 1955 Whitey Ford NY
1922 Eppa Rixey CIN 1922 Eddie Rommel PHI 1956 Don Newcombe BKl 1956 Herb Score ClE
1923 Dolf Luque CIN 1923 George Uhle ClE 1957 Warren Spahn MIL 1957 Jim Bunning DET
1924 Dazzy Vance BKl 1924 Walter Johnson WAS 1958 Warren Spahn MIL 1958 Bob Turley NY
1925 Dazzy Vance BKl 1925 Stan Coveleski WAS 1959 Sam Jones SF 1959 Early Wynn CHI
1926 Ray Kremer PIT 1926 George Uhle ClE 1960 Vern law PIT 1960 Jim Perry ClE
1927 Jesse Haines STl 1927 Waite Hoyt NY 1961 Warren Spahn MIL 1961 Whitey Ford NY
1928 larry Benton NY 1928 lefty Grove PHI 1962 Don Drysdale lA 1962 Ralph Terry NY
1929 Pat Malone CHI 1929 lefty Grove PHI 1963 Sandy Koufax lA 1963 Whitey Ford NY
1930 Pat Malone CHI 1930 lefty Grove PHI 1964 Sandy Koufax lA 1964 Dean Chance lA
1931 Bill Walker NY 1931 lefty Grove PHI 1965 Sandy Koufax lA 1965 Jim Grant MIN
1932 Lon Warneke CHI 1932 lefty Grove PHI 1966 Sandy Koufax lA 1966 Jim Kaat MIN
1933 Carl Hubbell NY 1933 lefty Grove PHI Choice of BBWAA
Games won was the category most connected to win.. earned his first award in 1902 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
ning the award. Forty..eight of the sixty NL winners and, Detroit's Willie Hernandez won the 1984 Cy Young
fifty.. three of the sixty.. two AL winners either le~ or tied Award amid much controversy, the usual refrain for a Cy
for most wins in their League. In ERA only twenty.. two of Young relief pitcher. No matter how outstanding a Mike
sixty NL and seventeen of sixty.. two AL leaders won the Marshall or Rollie Fingers or Bruce Sutter might be, a
award. This is somewhat surprising, since ERA is usually significant number of fans and sportswriters oppose giving
considered a better gauge of performance than games the award to a reliever. Yet as far back as Doc Crandall of
won. the 1910 New York Giants, pitchers who were primarily
None of the retroactive winners pitched for a team that or exclusively relievers were included in the retroactive
finished in last place. Three American League winners balloting. The importance of the relief pitcher has greatly
pitched for seventh..place clubs: Walter Johnson for the increased over the last twenty years, but earlier bullpen
1911 Washington Senators, Red Faber for the 1921 aces such as Fred Marberry, Joe Page, and Hugh Casey
Chicago White Sox, and Ed Rommel for the 1922 Phil.. were important members of their teams, too. SABR
adelphia Athletics. In the National League Dazzy Vance members understood their importance. In 1952 Hoyt
(for Brooklyn in 1925) and Sandy Koufax (for Los Wilhelm of the Giants and Joe Black of Brooklyn, both
Angeles in 1964) pitched for teams that finished tied for relievers and rookies, finished second and third behind
sixth. Twenty.. eight National League winners and winner Robin Roberts. Still, the only relief pitcher to win
twenty..six American League winners helped lead their a pre.. BBWAA Cy Young award was Jim Konstanty of the
team to pennants. 1950 Phillies, who also won the National League's Most
In twelve of those years both winners came from the Valuable Player Award. All of Konstanty's 74 regular
pennant..winning team. One conjures up images of the season appearances were in relief. His only start was a 1.. 0
opening World Series game with the best pitcher in each loss to the Yankees' Vic Raschi in the World Series
league facing one another. In the retroactive period this opener. Konstanty, who was thirty..three in 1950, had
has happened only twice: in 1938, when Red Ruffing of made his big league debut in 1944 and continued to pitch
the Yankees bested Bill Lee of the Cubs 3.. 1, and in 1963, until 1956, but he never again approached his 1950
when Sandy Koufax of LA defeated Whitey Ford and the brilliance.
Yanks 5..2. Oddly, both of those Series ended in four..
game sweeps, with Ruffing and Koufax again beating Lee
and Ford in Game Four. The only other Cy Young Series
matchup during this period was Game Five of the 1943
I F THERE IS any winner who could be classified as a
one..year wonder, however, it would have to be Bill
James. Breaking in with the Boston Braves in 1913, he
Series, when Spud Chandler defeated Mort Cooper 2..0 as went 6.. 10. The following year he was 26.. 7 and helped
the Yankees won the Series four games to one over St. lead the "Miracle Braves" to the National League pen..
Louis. Recent history has seen Cy Young Award winners nant. World Series performance doesn't count in the
.facing each other in the World Series on several other voting, but James pitched a 2.. hit shutout in the 1914
occasions. In 1968, Bob Gibson of the Cardinals won the Series as the Braves swept the heavily favored Phil..
opener and the fourth game over the Tigers and Denny adelphia Athletics. In the balloting he defeated Pete
McLain. The following year the' Orioles' Mike Cuellar Alexander and teammate Dick Rudolph. James was never
(co..winner with McLain) won Game One over Tom again an effective pitcher. In 1915 he fell off to 5..4,
Seaver and the Mets. In Game Four Seaver defeated the suffered a shoulder injury, pitched one game in 1915, and
Orioles, but Baltimore starter Cuellar was was not in.. then was gone.
volved in the decision. There are some years worth noting because of the
Since the award was established in 1956, only Fer.. dominance of a particular team's pitching staff. In 1906
nando Valenzuela, in 1981, has won it in his rookie year. Mordecai Brown, Ed Reulbach, and Jack Pfiester of the
SABR's retroactive survey produced three rookie Cubs finished first, second, and fourth in the voting. The
winners: Pete Alexander of the 1911 Phillies, Jim Turner Giants' Mathewson won the following year, but the Cubs
of the 1937 Boston Bees (Braves), and Gene Bearden of had five pitchers in the top seven (Orval Overall, Brown,
the 1948 Indians. Carl Lundgren, Pfiester, and Reulbach). The Cubs won
In 1904, three..quarters of a century before Gaylord pennants in 1906, 1907 and 1918, when Jim Vaughn won
Perry became the first to win the award in each league, the award and teammates George Tyler and Claude Hen..
Jack Chesbro had accomplished this feat. He won a drix fit1islled tllirJ and fourth. In 1925 Eppa Rixey, Pete
record..setting 41 games as a member of the AL New York Donohue, and DolfLuque of Cincinnati finished second,
Highlanders, a team he had joined a year earlier. He had third, and fourth behind Dazzy Vance.
The late, lamented St. Louis Browns were the only Bender pitched one to even the Series after they were
team never to have a Cy Young Award winner. Second.... blanked by Mathewson in the opener. Mathewson, Mc..
place finishes by Urban Shocker in 1923 (to George Ginnity, and Matty again shut out Philadelphia in Games
Uhle), and Ned Garver in 1951 (to Ed Lopat) were the Three, Four, and Five, giving John McGraw his first
best they could do. World Series championship.
Although the 1920 Chicago White Sox were the first Eddie Plank, second that year, had finished third two
team to have four 20.. game winners, the Cy Young Award 'years earlier. It's interesting that Plank, a Hall of Farner
that year went to Jim Bagby, who won 31 for Cleveland. who won 306 games in the American League (and 21 in
The only other team to have four 20.. game winners was the 1915 Federal League), was never considered the
the 1971 Baltimore Orioles. The American League's Cy league's best pitcher. Don Sutton and Phil N iekro are not
Young winner that year was Vida Blue of the Oakland the only 300.. game winners never to have won a Cy Young
Athletics. Award.
There were several teams whose pitchers finished one.. Other pitchers who reached the Hall of Fame without
two in the voting. In 1920 Stan Coveleski was second to having won the award are Plank's Philadelphia teammate
Cleveland teammate Jim Bagby; five years later and now Bender, Red Sox and Yankee star Herb Pennock, and
pitching for Washington, Coveleski won and Walter longtime White Sox ace Ted Lyons. This in no way
_Johnson finished second. Some other teammates who detracts from their reputations among the game's alltime
finIshed one.. two include: Joe McGinnity and Mathewson best pitchers. It is, however, indicative of how keen the
of the 1904 Giants, Pat Malone and Charley Root of the competition for the award is and how much pitchers like
1929 Cubs, Wes Ferrell and Lefty Grove of the 1935 Red Johnson and Grove dominated their respective eras.
Sox, Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer of the 1939 Reds, Several pitchers who won neither Cy Young Awards
and Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout of the 1944 Tigers. nor Hall.. of.. Fame plaques are also worth mentioning.
In two cases pitchers from the same team took the top Consider Pirate great Wilbur Cooper. A lefthander who
three slots. Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia pitched in the majors for fifteen years, he never played for
'finished one.. two.. three for the Indians' 1954 pennant a pennant winner despite winning 216 games and retiring
winners. This was the team that set an American League with a 2.89 ERA. Of all pitchers with more than 3,000
1record for games won (111), and broke a Yankee streak of innings, only seven have better lifetime ERA's. From
five straight world championships. In the World Series, 1917 to 1924, Cooper never won fewer than 17 games,
however, they were swept by the Giants, who had their and four times won more than 20.
own Cy Young winner in Johnny Antonelli. The only Some others who seem to have slipped through the
other team to capture win, place, and show was the 1905 cracks of fame include Deacon Phillipe, Jess Tannehill,
Philadelphia Athletics, with Rube Waddell, Eddie Plank, Vic Willis, and Urban Shocker. Perhaps the greatest
and Andy Coakley, finishing first, second, and third. value of this project is the extent to which it made us look
They too were beaten in the World Series by the Giants, not only at Mathewson, Johnson, and Grove, but at
four games to one, every game a shutout. The A's Chief players like Newhouser, Cooper, and Willis~
Batting Eye Index:
Walks Over Whiffs
CAPPY GAGNON
Some ballplayers can draw walks. Others avoid strikeouts.

But who can do both? Here's a formula to determine once
and for all the greatest batting eye in baseball history.
T
HE CONCEPT of "batting eye" has fascinated all time, eight of the top 11, and 11 of the top 23. In 1954
me ever since the early '50s, when I began playing he drew 136 walks in only 117 games, while fanning 32
Ethan Allen's "All Star Baseball" table game. It times, for an astounding. 889 figure. During his monster
was easy to visualize a player's relative offensive capa.. 1941 season he reached. 825 with 145 free passes and only
bilities as you lay his card on the spinner. I favored players 27 whiffs. Ted didn't get these big numbers by playing
who drew a lot of walks but who didn't strike out much. patty cake at the plate, either, since his 521 career home
What do you call a player who fits this category? In his' runs exceed the total of the next ten men on the B.E.I.
Baseball Abstract each year, Bill James refers to a player's list.
walk/strikeout ratio. My formula is a method to put a Many of the players on this list had nicknames which
number on this ability. The batting eye index is deter.. suggest their B.E.I. prowess: Brat, Camera Eye, Crab,
mined by subtracting strikeouts from walks and dividing Devil, etc. Johnny Pesky even had an apt surname; Stan
the result by games played. Hack did not. It's too bad that Bris Lord, "The Human
What is a "good eye?" It is not just drawing walks, Eyeball," didn't make it.
because Reggie Jackson did that. Nor is itmerely avoiding Five of the top eight on the career list played for Connie
strikeouts, because Yogi Berra did that. The "B. E. I." Mack (Fain, Bishop, Collins, Cochrane, and Speaker).
combines those two attributes. Was he the first manager to recognize the value of a good
Who is the all..time best? Ted Williams. Hands down. batting eye? His 1927 second..base platoon paired two of.
No contest. I'm glad, because he would be the consensus the top six "eyes" of all time. Twenty..six..year..old Bishop
choice if baseball experts were asked the question. There.. and forty..year..old Collins walked 165 times and scored
fore, the B. E. I. validates conventional wisdom. 130 runs, while hitting an even .300. In Cochrane's worst
I am even happier because the career top 50 of the season for strikeouts, he had 26.
B. E. I. also uncovers some favorite players of~-mine and Catcher Rick Ferrell is an interesting contrast to his
introduces as many lesser..knownplayers as Hall of 'brother Wes. Rick is in the Hall of Fame. But Wes
Famers. How can you not like a stat that includes Ferris outslugged him by an astounding 83 points.
Fain with Lou Gehrig, Johnny Bassler with Mickey Coch.. Joe Sewell's strikeout column looks like a misprint.
rane, and Elmer Valo with Ty Cobb? From 1925 through 1933, he struck out only 48 times. (A
On the all.. time B. E. I. list are players from the nine.. single month's swinging for Dave Kingman.) Joe's big
teenth century, dead..ball, lively..ball, World War II, brother Luke, a catcher, was also a tough guy to fan.
modern and expansion eras. There are large and small Elmer Valo was the only player who accompanied three'
players. Every defensive position and spot in the batting different franchises to new homes (the Philadelphia Ath..
order is covered. The only missing ingredient is a Latin letics, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the Washington Sena..
player (refer to my list of "leading Latin walkers" to see
why). Cappy Gagnon, former SABR president and definitive author..
In case anyone questions if Teddy Ballgame had the ity on Notre Dame major leaguers, is the only known French.. '
greatest "eye" in history, the B.E.I. removes all doubt. surnamed softball player to make an unassisted triple playas a
The Splendid Splinter produced the five highest ratings of lefthanded third baseman.
tors). Players like Valo, with little power and average have only part of their careers included, and incomplete
batting skill, truly had great "eyes," since it is unlikely data kept others from being considered.
they were being pitched around. Those who led off, like Generally, the highest figures were in the '20s and the
Stanky and Yost, were especially valuable for setting up lowest were in the '60s. The 1949 Red Sox had a very
the heart of the lineups that followed. good team B. E. 1. with 835 walks and only 510 strikeouts.
Just under the minimum career figure of . 250 were Zeke The 1935 Phillies had no single player with more walks
Bonura, Willie Kamm, Joe DiMaggio, Andy High, Joe than strikeouts, including Ethan Allen.
Judge, and Nellie Fox. An 800.. game career minimum Second basemen have fared well with this stat. The
lopped off Johnny Lipon and Topper Rigney. Because of
incomplete strikeout figures, sO,me of the dead.. ball players
B.E.I. Single Season Records
1. Ted Williams 1954 .889
LIFETIME B.E.I. LEADERS 2. Ted Williams 1941 .825
Name Games BB K Margin Index
Ted Williams 2292 2019 709 1310 .572 5. Ted Williams 1949 .736
Ferris Fain 1151 903 261 642 .558
Max Bishop 1338 1153 452 701 .524 6. Johnny Evers 1910 .720
Eddie Stanky 1259 996 374 622 .494 7. Mickey Cochrane 1935 .704
Johnny Bassler 811 437 81 356 .439 8. Eddie Stanky 1945 .693
Eddie Collins 2113 1213 286 927 ~439 9. Ted Williams 1958 .689
Mickey Cochrane 1482 857 217 640 .432 10. Ted Williams 1950 .685
T ris Speaker 2173 1145 220 925 .426 11. Ted Williams 1955 .684
Johnny Evers 824 488 142 346 .420 12. Luke Appling 1949 .683
Lu Blue 1615 1092 436 656 .406 13. Arky Vaughan 1936 .672
Joe Sewell 1902 844 114 730 .384 14. Eddie Collins 1925 .670
Roy Cullenbine 1181 852 399 453 .384 15. Ted Williams 1951 .662
Elmer Valo 1806 943 284 659 .365
Arky Vaughan 1817 937 276 661 .364 16. Elmer Valo 1952 .659
Johnny Pesky 1270 663 218 445 .350 17. Max Bishop 1927 .658
Charlie Gehringer 2323 1185 372 813 .350 18. Max Bishop 1929 .651
Rick Ferrell 1884 931 277 654 .347 19. Lou Gehrig 1935 .631
Augie Galan 1742 979 393 586 .336 20. Ted Williams 1942 .627
Lou Gehrig 2164 1508 789 719 .332 21. Ferris Fain 1953 .625
Eddie Yost 2109 1614 920 694 .329 22. Lu Blue 1929 .623
Stan Hack 1938 1092 466 626 .329 23. Ted Williams 1948 .620
Jackie Robinson 1382 740 291 449 .325 24. Eddie Collins 1918 .619
Joe Morgan 2650 1865 1015 850 .321 25. Eddie Stanky 1950 .618
Luke Appling 2422 1302 528 774 .320
Jim Gilliam 1956 1036 416 620 .317 26. Augie Galan 1947 .605
Wade Boggs 848 522 254 268 .316 27. Charlie Gehringer 1940 .604
Ossie Vitt 989 437 131 306 .309
Ty Cobb 2013 963 357 606 .301
Nick Etten 937 480 199 281 .300 Most Times Leading League In B.E.I.
Stan Musial 3026 1599 696 903 .298
Mel Ott 2732 1708 896 Ted Williams 13
812 .297
Willie Randolph 1614 957 479 .296 Joe Morgan 12
478
Lou Boudreau 1646 796 309 .296 Jim Gilliam 8
487
Babe Ruth 2503 2056 1330 Max Bishop 5
726 .290
Richie Ashburn 2189 1198 571 Eddie Collins 5
627 .286
Albie Pearson 988 477 195 282 .285 Willie Randolph 5
Harry Hooper 1795 919 412 507 .283 T ris Speaker 4
Paul Waner 2549 1091 376 715 .281 Paul Waner 4
Eddie Lake 835 546 312 234 .280 Mel Ott 4
Buddy Myer 1923 965 428 537 .279 Arky Vaughan 4
Cap Anson 2162 892 294 598 .277
Tommy Holmes 1320 480 122 358 .271 Eddie Stanky 4
Earl Combs 1454 670 278 392 Albie Pearson 4
.270
Billy Werber 1295 701 363 'Carl Yastrzemski 4
338 .261
Mike Hargrove 1559 926 521 Mike Hargrove 4
405 .260
Tommy Henrich 1284 712 383 329 .256 Johnny Evers 3
Sid Gordon 1475 731 356 375 .254 Lou Gehrig 3
Muddy Ruel 1461 606 238 368 .252 George Burns 3
Elbie Fletcher 1415 851 495 356 .251 Augie Galan 3
7
first leader in B. E. I. was Johnny Evers. His. 720 mark in B. E. I. in 1929, only to finish second to Max Bishop. Max
1910 was not equalled for 31 years. In 1923, keystoner did the same thing to four Hall of Famers in '32, when his
Eddie Collins struck out only 8 times to go with 84 free .588 annihilated Cochrane, Ruth, Gehrig, and Sewell.
passes. His .524 edged out Speaker (who outhomered his Second basemen Jackie Robinson, Jim Gilliam, Joe
15 strikeouts by 2) and the Babe (who drew a Ruthian Morgan, and Willie Randolph have all proved they have
number of 170 walks and hit .393). Lu Blue put up a .651 the "necessities" to make this exclusive group. In fact,
YEAR BY YEAR B.E.I. LEADERS

Year Name Games BB K Margin B.E.I. Year Name Games BB K Margin B.E.I.
1910 Johnny Evers 125 108 18 90 .720 1938 Charlie Gehringer 152 112 21 91 .599
1911 Jimmy Sheckard 156 147 58 89 .571 1938 Arky Vaughan 148 104 21 83 .561
1912 Miller Huggins 120 87 31 56 .467 1939 Luke Appling 148 105 37 68 .460
1913 Joe Jackson 148 80 26 54 .365 1939 Mel Ott ' 125 100 50 50 .400
1913 Al Bridwell 135 74 28 46 .343 1940 Charlie Gehringer 139 101 17 84 .604
1914 Eddie Collins 152 97 31 66 .434 1940 Elbie Fletcher 147 119 54 65 .442
1914 Johnny Evers 139 87 26 61 .439 1941 Ted Williams 143 145 27 118 .825
1915 Eddie Collins 155 119 27 92 .594 1941 Cookie Lavagetto 132 80 21 59 .447
1915 Johnny Evers 83 50 16 34 .410 1942 Ted Williams 150 145 51 94 .627
1916 Tris Speaker 151 82 20 62 .411 1942 Stan Hack 140 91 .40 54 .386
1916 Heinie Groh 149 84 34 50 .336 1943" Luke Appling 155 90 29 61 .394
191 7 Eddie Collins 156 89 16 73 .468 1943 Augie Galan 139 103 39 64 .460
1917 Heinie Groh 156 71 30 41 .281 1944 Nick Etten 154 97 29 68 .442
1918 Eddie Collins 97 73 13 60 .619 ! 1944 Augie Galan 151 101 23 78 .517
1918 Max Flack 123 56 19 37 .301 1945 Eddie Lake 133 106 37 69 .519
1919 Jack Graney 128 105 39 66 .516 1945 Eddie Stanky 153 148 42 106 .693
1919 George Burns 139 82 37 45 .324 1946 Ted Williams 150 156 44 112 .747
1920 Tris Speaker 150 97 13 84 .560 1946 Eddie Stanky 144 137 56 81 .563
1920 Charlie Hollocher 80 41 15 26 .325 1947 Ted Williams 156 162 47 115 .737
1921 Babe Ruth 152 144 81 63 .438 1947 Augie Galan 124 94 19 75 .605
1922 Tris Speaker 13i 77 11 66 .504 1948 Bob Elliott 151 131 57 74 .490
1922 Charlie Hollocher 152 58 5 53 .349 1949 Ted Williams 155 162 48 114 .736
1923 Eddie Collins 145 84 8 76 .524 1949 Eddie Stanky 138 113 41 72 .522
1924 Ken Williams 114 69 17 52 .456 1950 Eddie Stanky 152 144 50 94 .618
1924 Rogers Hornsby 143 89 32 57 .399 1951 Ted Williams 148 143 45 98 .662
1925 Eddie Collins 118 87 8 79 .670 1951 Ralph Kiner 151 137 57 80 .530
1925 Max Carey 133 66 19 47 .353 1952 Elmer Valo 129 101 16 85 .659
1926 Tris Speaker 150 94 15 79 .527 1952 Jackie Robinson 149 106 40 66 .443
1926 Paul Waner 144 66 19 47 .326 1953 Ferris Fain 128 108 28 80 .625
1927 Max Bishop 117 105 28 77 .658 1953 Stan Musial 157 105 32 73 .465
1927 George Harper 145 84 27 57 .393 1954 Ted Williams 117 136 32 104 .889
1928 Max Bishop 126 97 36 61 .484 1954 Richie Ashburn 153 125 46 79 .516
1928 Paul Waner 152 77 16 61 .401 1955 Ted Williams 98 91 24 67 .684
1929 Max Bishop 129 128 44 84 .651 1955 Richie Ashburn 140 105 36 69 .493
1929TGeorge Grantham 110 93 38 55 .500 1956 Ted Williams 136 102 39 69 .463
1929TMei Ott 150 113 38 75 .500 1956 Jim Gilliam 153 95 39 56 .366
1930 Max Bishop 130 128 60 68 .523 1957 Ted Williams 132 119 43 76 .576
1930 Mel Ott 148 103 35 68 .460 1957 Johnny Temple 145 94 34 60 .414
1931 Babe Ruth 145 128 51 77 .531 1958 Ted Williams 129 98 49 49 .380
1931 Paul Waner 150 73 21 52 .347 1958 Johnny Temple 141 91 41 50 .355
1932 Max Bishop 114 ,110 43 67 .588 1959 Eddie Yost 148 135 77 58 .392
1932 Mel Ott 154 100 39 61 .396 1959 Jim Gilliam 145 96 25 71 .490
1933 Mickey Cochr~ne 130 106 22 84 .646 1960 Eddie Yost 143 125 69 56 .392
1933 Paul Waner 154 60 20 40 .260 1960 Jim Gilliam 151 96 28 68 .450
1934 Lou Gehrig 154 109 31 78 .507 1961 Albie Pearson 144 96 40 56 .389
1934 Arky Vaughan 149 94 38 56 .376 1961 Jim Gilliam 144 79 34 45 .313
1935 Mickey Cochrane 115 96 15 81 .704 1962 Albie Pearson 160 95 36 59 .369
1935 Arky Vaughan 137 97 18 79 .577 1962 Jim Gilliam 160 93 35 58 .363
1936 Lou Gehrig 155 130 46 84 .542 1963 Albie Pearson 154 92 37 55 .344
1936 Arky Vaughan 156 118 21 97 .672 1963 Jim Gilliam \148 60 28 32 .216
1937 Lou Gehrig . 157 127 49 78 .497 1964 Dick Howser 162 76 39 .37 ,228
1937 Gus Suhr 151 83 42 41 .272 1964 ]imGilliam 11'6 42 21 21 .181
4
since the asterisked season, only Joe Morgan (twice) and LEADING LATIN,BORN WALKERS
Willie Randolph have bettered .500. Name Home BB Year
The two highest second..place scores were achieved by 1. Martinez Puerto Rico 87 1985
Gehrig in 1935 and Appling in 1949. Lou's .631 was a 2. Minoso Cuba 86 1956
nice figure, but he was easily outdistanced by Cochrane's 3. Carrasquel Venezuela 85 1954
4. Estallela Puerto Rico 85 1942
.704. In '49 Old Aches and Pains had a mighty .683, but 5. Guerrero Dominican Rep. 83 1985
the Splinter was 53 points ahead. 5. Perez Cuba 83 1970
Because of the free ..swinging approach now in vogue, 7. Avila Mexico 82 1955
8. Moreno Panama 81 1978
current players do not fare well under B. E. I. ,scrutiny, 9. Phillips Panama 80 1967
although Boggs seems destined for the top 20 and Ran.. 10. Mantilla Puerto Rico 79 1965
dolph ranks only a fraction behind Ott, Musial, and 10. Minoso Cuba 79 1957
10. Tartabull Puerto Rico 79 1987
Cobb.
13. Carew Panama 78 1978
As further proof, in 1987 only eleven players had 13. Lezcano Puerto Rico 78 1982
B.E.I.'s greater than .200! 15. Cardenal Cuba 77 1975
15. Carty Dominican Rep. 77 1970
15. Lezcano Puerto Rico 77 1979
YEAR BY YEAR B.E.I. LEADERS 15. Minoso Cuba 77 1954
Year Name Games BB K Margin B.E.I. 19. Chacon Venezuela 76 1962
1965 Albie Pearson 122 51 17 34 .224 19. Minoso Cuba 76 1955
1965 Jim Gilliam 111 53 31 22 .198 21. Carew Panama 74 1974
1966 Curt Blefary 131 73 56 17 .130 21. Dejesus Puerto Rico 74 1978
1966 Joe Morgan 122 89 43 46 .377 21. Estallela Puerto Rico 74 1945
1967 Al Kaline 131 83 47 36 .275 21. Guerrero Dominican Rep. 74 1987
1967 Joe Morgan 133 81 51 30 .226 21. Mangual Puerto Rico 74 1975
1968 Carl Yastrzemski 157 119 90 29 .185 21. Minoso Cuba 74 1953
1968 Rusty Staub 161 73 57 16 .099 21. Perez Cuba 74 1973
1969 Harmon Killebrew 162 145 84 61 .377 28. Carew Panama 73 1979
1969 Willie McCovey 149 121 66 55 .369 28. Cruz Puerto Rico 73 1984
1970 Carl Yastrzemski 161 128 66 62 .385 30. Cruz Puerto Rico 72 1979
1970 Willie McCovey 112 137 75 62 .408 30. Guerrero Dominican Rep. 72 1983
1971 Paul Schaal 161 103 51 52 .323 30. Minoso Cuba 72 1951
1971 Joe Morgan 160 88 52 36 .225 33. Minoso Cuba 71 1952
1972 Roy White 155 99 59 40 .258 33. Orta Mexico 71 1980
1972 Joe Morgan 149 115 44 71 .476 35. Martinez Puerto Rico 70 1987
1973 Carl Yastrzemski 152 105 58 47 .309 35. Oglivie Panama 70 1982
1973 Joe Morgan 157 111 61 50 .319 37. Carew Panama 69 1977
1974 Carl Yastrzemski 148 104 48 56 .378 37. Cruz Puerto Rico 69 1977
1974 Joe Morgan 149 120 69 51 .342 .37. Rodriguez Puerto Rico 69 1974
1975 John Mayberry 156 119 73 46 .315 40. Bemazard Puerto Rico 68 1985
1975 Joe Morgan 146 132 52 80 .548 40. Martinez Puerto Rico 68 1984
1976 Mike Hargrove 151 97 64 33 .219 40. Taylor Cuba 68 1962
1976 Joe Morgan 141 114 41 73 .518 '43. Bemazard Puerto Rico 67 1982
1977 Mike Hargrove 153 117 58 59 .386 43. Carew Panama 67 1976
1977 Joe Morgan 153 117 58 59 .386 43. Carew Panama 67 1982
1978 Mike Hargrove 148 107 47 60 .405 43. Carty Dominican Rep. 67 1976
1978 Joe Morgan 132 79 40 39 .296 43. Minoso Cuba 67 1961
1979 Willie Randolph 153 95 39 56 .366 43. Montanez Puerto Rico 67 1971
1979 Pete Rose 163 95 32 63 .387 49. Aparicio Venezuela 66 1969
1980 Willie Randolph 138 119 45 73 .529 49. Cardenas Cuba 66 1969
1980 Joe Morgan 141 93 47 46 .326 49. Cedeno Dominican Rep. 66 1980
1981 MikeHargrove 94 60 16 44 .468
1981 Joe Morgan 90 66 37 29 .322 Prepared by Cappy Gagnon, February 1988, with assistance from
1982 Willie Randolph 144 75 35 40 .278 Bob Davids and Bob Hoie. Please send additions and corrections to
1982 Bill Russell 153 63 30 33 .216 3714 Lankershim Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90068
1983 Wade Boggs 153 92 36 56 .366
1983 Joe Morgan 123 89 54 35 .285
1984 Willie Randolph 142 86 42 44 .310
1984 Ozzie Smith 124 56 17 39 .315
1985 Toby Harrah 126 113 60 53 .421
1985 Pete Rose 119 86 35 51 .429
1986 Wade Boggs 149 10') 41 64 .430
1986 Ozzie Smith 153 79 27 52 .340
1987 Willie Randolph 120 82 25 57 .475
1987 Ozzie Smith 158 89 36 53 .335
Bill Sisler: Career Minor Leaguer
ED BROOKS
The quintessential minor,league lifer, Sisler played for

forty,five teams over four decades, pitching and manag'
ing through a lifetime of "misfortune and hardship."
HE rrRIP FROM ELMIRA to Auburn through
T New York State's Finger Lakes region takes less

than two hours by automobile. For William F.
Seeler, aka Bill Sisler, it described twenty~eight years of
wandering through Organized Baseball's minor leagues.
The journey, in Bill's own words, was filled with "mis~
fortunes and hardship." Fifty contracts signed and actual
appearances in forty~five cities, large and small, added up
to an odyssey unrivaled in the annals of professional
baseball.
A long search concerning Sisler's whereabouts ended
successfully with the discovery that he was living in
Sisler managing in Auburn, N. Y.
Florida. In several exchanges of correspondence, Bill
expressed reluctance to discuss his career, calling it "a rookie. rating." The same news item stated that Bill had
very poor one" and wanting to "forget it." His final joined a semi~pro club in Cherokee, Iowa. He spent the
opinion was that baseball is "only the National Pastime rest of the summer in that northwestern Iowa league, in a
for the few." Sisler died]uly 6, 1988, at age eighty~seven. circuit that included the Sioux City Giants, a "colored"
Based solely upon the record, one would have to agree club, and played three or four times a,week. He was 12~2
with Bill: his career included 208 games pitched, 47 wins for Cherokee. He had another victory while pitching a
and 64 losses, and a managerial career in which no season game for the non~league Cushing club. Sisler had a fine
was completed. But it is not the record, noteworthy only year, but now he was tagged as a "veteran:" a tag that
for its longevity, that makes Bill's career a subject worthy meant space on lower minor~league rosters would be
of investigation. The story of Bill Sisler is the story of the limited for him. This "veteran" status led to Bill's release
ongoing problems, periodic triumphs, and occasional from several clubs who exceeded the limit of "veteran"
flashes of brilliance that are the shared experiences of the players allowed them.
thousands of young men who take their skills to the Nonetheless, Sisler had some other creditable years-
professional game. The experiences of this career minor~ 5~2 with St. Thomas of the Ontario League in 1930, 5~4
leaguer are useful in gaining insight into the careers of all with Thomasville of the N.C. State League in 1937. His
those baseball Bedouins who tred the minor~league trails, 8~ 10 record for Stanton, Virginia, in 1942 was notable for
particularly in the first half of this century. a team last in the standings, in team batting average (21
There were high spots in Sisler's career. His best year points behind the second~to;..last club) and in fielding.
was 1925. He signed with Moline, in the Mississippi Bill was responsible for one~fourth of the club's victories.
Valley League, through a recommendation from Fred The single game that Bill always recalled in interviews
Merkle; he won his first two starts. Nevertheless, he was was the one he pitched for Syracuse in 1944. Signed by
released. Immediately signed by Ottumwa, in the same the Chiefs in that war year as a player~coach, he had his
league, he won against his old mates that afternoon.
Again he drew a release. Shortly afterward the Moline Ed Brooks is a retired high school history teacher and a con~
Daily Dispatch attributed the releases to "doubt as to his tributor to SABR's Minor League Stars.
first start early in May. Facing Tom Sunkel and the Eastern Shore League, he kept the club over .500 through
Montreal Royals, he won a 10,inning game, giving up 8 July 6, when he was released. Fred Lucas, Sho' League
. hits and only 2 runs. War or not, this was a great per, president in 1949, reported that Sisler had done a good
formance for a forty,three,year,old pitcher. A few days job with the club, but that since it was not drawing well, a
later, he pulled a leg muscle in a pre,game workout, spent shakeup was deemed necessary. After Bill's departure, the
three weeks out of action, and was used sparingly and not club's performance declined and it finished under .500. In
as effectively upon his return.
Obviously, there were many low points. Even Sisler's
WILLIAM F. "BILL," "POP," "HIPPY" SISLER
fans have to acknowledge the several instances in which
his first appearance with a club \vas his last or those in 1900,1988 HT: 5'6" WT: 150 B:L T:L
which, after a couple of bad outings, he was sent on his Year Club League G W L
1923 Elmira (N.Y.) New York Penn 3 0 0
way. Probably the extreme example occurred with Min, 1924 Montreal/Rutland (Que., Vt.) Que. ,Ont.,Vt. 2 0 0
neapolis in 1945. In his first start he lasted 213 of an 1925 Moline/Ottumwa (Ill., Io.) Miss. Valley 3 3 0
inning, gave up 1 hit and walked 4. The very next day, he 1926 Lawrence (Mass.) New England 1 0 0
1927 Shamokin (Pa.) New York Penn did not play
started again~ Apparently this time he decided that he 1927 Muskogee (Okla.) West. Assn. 4 0 1
'would at least get the ball over. Result: 1213 innings 1928 Martinsburg (W. Va.) Blue Ridge 2 1 0
pitched, 6 hits and 1 walk. Despite a pitching shortage, 1928 Clarksburg/Charleroi/ Mid,Atlantic 11 3 1
Cumberland
manager Bill Kelley had seen enough and Bill was gone.
(W.Va., Pa., Md.)
Sisler's managerial career began in 1946 with the 1929 Lewiston (Me.) New England 2 1 0
Granby (Que.) Red Sox of the Border League. The club 1930 Scranton (Pa.) New York Penn 5 0 0
played over. 500 during the time he managed, but on June 1930 St. Thomas (Ont.) Ontario 11 5 2
1931 Clarksburg (W. Va.) Mid,Atlantic 1 1 0
15 he was fired. Apparently the president of the club, a 1932 Dayton (0.) Central did not play
'local impresario, had been interfering with Sisler's field 1933 Johnstown (Pa.) Mid,Atlantic 16 5 8
decisions. Sisler made more serious charges and asked for 1933 York (Pa.) New York Penn 5 1 3
1934 Muskegon (Mich.) Central did not play
an investigation by the National Association office, but 1935 Terre,Haute (Ind.) Three, I did not play
nothing came of it. Bill's popularity with the players was 1936 Ogdensburg (N. Y. ) Can,Am 8 2 2
evidenced when fourteen of the club members signed a 1937 South Boston (Va.) Bi,State 3 1 1
1937 Thomasville (N.C.) N.C. State 15 5 4
statement threatening a strike if the firing went through.
1938 Portsmouth (Va.) Piedmont did not play
The club president assuaged them by allowing them to 1938 Bluefield (W.Va.) Mt. State 2 0 1
elect their own manager, pitcher Hank Washburn. The 1938 Danville (Va.) Bi,State 1 0 1
club dropped under .500 after Sisler left. 1939 not in organized baseball
1940 Sunbury (Pa.) Interstate 2 0 1
In 1948, Sisler managed the Harlan, Kentucky, team 1940 Oneonta (N.C.) Can,Am 1 0 0
in the Mountain State League. He took over a new 1940 St. Joseph (Mich.) Michigan State 1 0 1
independent club, recruited players, supervised park and 1940 London (Ont.) PONY 6 0 2
1941 Newport News (Va.) Virginia 4 3 0
field construction, held tryouts for local aspirants, and 1941 Gadsen (Ala.) Southeastern 2 0 0
even conducted a contest for a club nickname. The young 1942 Ft. Pierce (Fla.) Florida P. Coast did not play
club got off to a great start, playing over .500 ball into 1942 Staunton (Va.) Virginia 23 8 10
1942 Quebec City (Que.) Can,Am 2 1 1
July. After a week or ten days of slumping, Bill suddenly
1943 Trenton (N.J.) Interstate 9 1 6
resigned, citing "general conditions." About a week later, 1943 Springfield (Mass.) Eastern 16 1 8
it was disclosed by the local sportswriter that he, the 1944 Syracuse (N. Y.) International 8 1 0
writer, had been negotiating behind the backs of Sisler 1945 Binghamton (N.Y.) Eastern 2 0 0
1945 Memphis (Tenn.) So. Assn. 6 0 2
and the club's figurehead president for a working agree, 1945 Minneapolis (Minn.) American Assn. 2 0 2
ment with the Boston Braves. That agreement was 1946 Granby (Que.) Border mgr. to 6/15
reached but the club record did not significantly improve. 1 0 1
1946 Anderson (S.C.) Tri,State 8 0 0
Again, Sisler showed that he insisted on control of his Gainsville (Fla.) Big State 6 1 1
1947
team. 1947 Daytona Beach (Fla.) Florida State 2 0 1
Sisler was always popular in the places where he ap, 1947 Bridgeport (Ct.) Colonial 1 0 1
1947 Nyack (N.Y.) No. Atlantic 6 2 2
peared, and Harlan was no exception. A long,planned
1947 Smithfield,Selma .(N. C.) Tobacco State 1 0 0
"Sisler Day" went forward, and Bill received many gifts, 1948 Harlan (Ky.) Mt. State mgr. to 7/24
as well as praise from the club president as a "tireless 4 1 1
'worker, a good baseball man, and a good friend of the' 1949 Rehoboth Beach (Md.) Eastern Shore mgr. to 7/6
1950 Auburn (N.Y.) Border mgr. to 5/9
Harlan club." At Rehoboth Beach, Maryland, in the Totals 208 47 64
How did he manage to keep obtaining contracts, de~ the Spring of 1950, he signed to manage Auburn, New
spite more apparent failure than success? He maintained York, of the Border League. He took the club through
his connections with the baseball network. He was a spring training, managed it in the opening game and
talented self~promoter, keeping The Sporting News and resigned because of ill health. This ended his professional
newspapers in his native Rochester and elsewhere con~ journey.
stantly informed as to his availability, whereabouts, and Bill's commitment to the National Game continued
prospects. He studied baseball's "bible" to determine until he was well into his seventies. He did some scouting,
which clubs needed help, a tactic that found Bill affiliated ,but his main interest was in the Bill Sisler Baseball School
with many second~divisionclubs. He was always in shape, and Juvenile Program. This enterprise was conducted
a man of good habits, "a good guy to have on a ball club, " throughout Eastern Canada, in Florida, New Jersey, and
always willing to go anywhere for a contract. Finally, he ? no doubt elsewhere. Testimony regarding the quality of
persevered longer than most, .despite the setbacks. his teaching ability came from comments in many news~
So disregard the record and look at the man and what papers in cities where the school operated.
he symbolizes. Here's to Bill Sisler, career minor leaguer! What motivated Sisler's baseball journey? Bill did not
In an era when anything less than number one is medio~ answer that question. Undoubtedly the ans~er is a simple
ere, history may ignore the fact that the performance of' one: "love of baseball and a need to be affiliated with the
the supporting cast is an essential ingredient in a suc~ . professional game. " Sisler was not without other occu~
cessful effort. To fail to acknowledge the role of the career pational skills. At various times in Rochester, New York,
minor.. leaguer is to disregard a basic factor in the func~ he held jobs as an optical worker, ironworker, ware~
tioning of the professional game. Bill Sisler simply played houseman and house painter. At age eighty~three, he
that role longer, and, perhaps, with less visible success plied the latter trade on his son's home in Rochester. But
than most. He was a "good baseball man." the call of the game was one he could not resist.
~~f~
~~ 0\\ others II
-that S h00\1~ at II
.BABE RUTH's
I:r~ne seaSOn is tbe ::~~~d of60 bome runs
~e ~s:n" by wbich all other b Standard of Como
/u ged. ome.cun"Strio "
gs
q~J7
THE TWINS OF THE MAJORS 'record

as official;n the Big Leagues makes them the stand.
ard by which all other base balls are judged ... a
record maintained since the beginning of the
Big Leagues.
Latest proof of this is their selection as tht stand
ard for resi/imC] with which all Minor League base
balls must conform beginning next year.
A Minor~League Legend:
Buzz Arlett, the "Mightiest Oak"
GERALD TOMLINSON
He could pitch, he could hit, and he could slug-in fact, he

may have been the greatest minor,leaguer of all time. The
Oakland Oaks star was undoubtedly the most popular.
F
EW PLA YERS have ever dominated a down the hitters, got himself a victory at the regulars'
minor-league club as Buzz Arlett of the Pacific expense, and would up as a moundsman for the Oaks.
Coast League's Oakland Oaks. First as a tireless His first year's earned run average was his best ever,
spitball pitcher and later as a legendary power..hitting 2.70, but he won only 4 games and lost 9 in the war..
outfielder, he became a one..of..a..kind hero from 1918 to shortened season. Starting in 1919, he put in four good
1930 at the Oaks b?llpark in Emeryville and from 1932 to years as a pitcher for Oakland, winning 95 garnes, losing
1934 at several other stops. Why was he held to one 71, and compiling a 3.21 ERA. He was an excellent
big..league season? Because of a flaw that hardly seems fielding pitcher, too-"like a cat on his feet for a big man
consequential today. fielding bunts," according to one account.
Buzz Arlett's exploits began in his horne town of Oak.. His best year on the mound was 1921, when he pitched
land, the third largest city in California in the 1920s. In 427 innings (Coast teams routinely averaged 200 games a
the aftermath of San Francisco's devastating earthquake season), winning a league..leading 29 garnes, losing 17,
and fire in 1906, more than 50,000 refugees crossed the and posting a 2.89 ERA for a sixth..place club. "The old
bay to relocate. Stucco homes with tile roofs sprang up on whip was great in those days," Buzz told an interviewer.
hillsides beyond the business district. In downtown Oak.. He clearly had a future as a pitcher. He proved it in 1921
land, the First and Last Chance Saloon on Webster Street when he won 19 games and again in 1922 when he upped
stood as a natives' reminder of the frontier days and of his total to 25.
their city's most famous son, Jack London. Arm trouble ended his regular pitching duties during
Oakland had a fine ballpark, opened in 1913, with the 1923 season and his record fell to 4..9 with a 5.76
good crowds and dedicated fans like leather..lunged Mush ERA. No matter. That same year-there was no break in
the Ragman. Although the Oaks won only one pennant the action for Buzz-he went into the lineup as an
between 1912 and 1948-the 1927 season under Ivan outfielder, played in 149 garnes, cracked 31 doubles and
Howard-they fielded some classy teams all the same. 19 homers, drove in 101 runs, and batted .330. Not bad
Hack Miller played for Oakland in 1921, Ernie Lombardi for an ailing pitcher.
from 1926 to 1930, Irish Meusel in 1928, Harry Krause Nineteen..twenty..three was quite a year in the PCL. It
from 1917 to 1928-and Buzz Arlett for the decade and was the year Paul Strand had 325 hits for Salt Lake City, a
more. season's total never equaled in Organized Baseball. It was
Buzz broke in almost accidentally. Scoop Gleeson, a the year Pete Schneider of Vernon hit 5 homers and a
longtime San Francisco sportswriter, remembered the double and drove in 14 runs in one game. And it was the
details years later. The story began in spring training, year Buzz Arlett, at age twenty..four, really carne into his
1918, at Boyes Springs, where the whole Arlett family, own as a ballplayer.
including Buzz, had settled in. Said Gleeson: "No one had He had exceptional power at the plate. A local sports..
extended him an invitation to get on the field in uniform writer described him as "built on heroic lines, standing
and shag flies, or otherwise work out with the rookies."
But one thing led to another, and before long Buzz was Gerald Tomlinson, a partisan of the minors, is the author (with
pressed into service as a pitcher in a squad game. Nine.. twenty..three key contributors) of The Baseball Research Hand..
teen years old and' a veteran of the semipros, he mowed book, published by SABR in 1987.
w~ll over six feet [actually, 6'3"], weighing 230 pounds And so he went on playing for Oakland. In 1929, to
. . . and . . . handsome as most male movie stars are take one of his better years, he collected 270 hits, in..
supposed to be and aren't." Friendly, free . . spending, eluding 70 doubles and 39 home runs, drove in 189 runs,
happy.. go.. lucky, he was idolized by Oakland fans. Buzz stole 22 bases, and batted .374 in 200 games. Even given
was a switch hitter, and from 1923 through 1930 he the long season on the Coast, those are towering stats.
batted a .352, averaging 52 doubles and 30 home runs a In 1930 it looked as if he was going up at last, to the
year. Colorful and popular, though sometimes tempera.. Brooklyn Robins. The "checkbook was on the table," one
mental, he swelled the gate. He seemed to everyone to columnist wrote, with the "fountain pen dripping." Alas,
have big.. league potential, given his power and con.. big Buzz picked that moment to get into a rhubarb with
sistency at bat. But he didn't go up. Why? PCl umpire Chet Chadbourne and received a nasty cut
His lack of defensive skills in the outfield hurt, but the over the eye when Chadbourne whacked him with his
real problem was something else. The Oakland owners, mask. The Robins decided to sign the Missions' .448.. hit..
independent operators in that free . . wheeling, pre.. farm . . ting Ike Boone instead.
system era, felt they had a bonanza on their hands in this At the end of the 1930 season, when Buzz was thirty..
handsome pitcher.. turned.. slugger. They wouldn't sell him one years old, the Philadelphia Phillies finally picked him
to the majors for a penny under $100,000. Now, Babe' up from Oakland for an undisclosed sum. He was a
Ruth was worth that kind of money in 1920. lefty Grove's major.. leaguer at last. "He opened the 1931 season with a
spectacular five . . year stint in the International league was flash," a reporter recalled, "and gave promise of earning
deemed to be worth it in 1924. But Buzz Arlett, the top ranking as the most valuable 'rookie' of the year, but
mightiest Oak, simply didn't figure to attract a hundred injuries and advancing years took their toll. By the middle
thousand dollars. of August, Arlett had lost his regular place in the Phillies'
lineup and served only as a pinch hitter for the balance of
the year."
"I reckon the Phillies thought they had drawn a blank,"
Buzz told the reporter. But for all the laments, he had a
solid season in the majors. He batted .313, and his
slugging average of .538 was fifth in the league behind
Chuck Klein, Rogers Hornsby, Chick Hafey, and Mel
Ott. He tied Babe Herman for fourth place in homers with
18.
The reporter also noted: "Arlett's chief weakness was in
the field, where he finished far down among the out..
fielders with a percentage of .955, being charged with 10
errors in 220 chances." There it was again. No Tris
Speaker. No gazelle. Indeed, his fielding average as an
outfielder for the Oaks from 1923 through 1930 had been
an unimpressive .966. like so many other great minor..
league sluggers-Ike Boone, Smead Jolley, Moose CIa..
baugh, to name a few-Buzz never overcame his problems
with the glove. And in those pre.. DH, pre.. defensive
specialist days, a bad glove could be too much to bear.
After the 1931 season, the Phillies put Arlett on
waivers, got no takers, and traded him to the Baltimore
Orioles of the International league. So Buzz Arlett rates
just one rather striking line in the major.. league Baseball
Encyclopedia.
In 1932 Buzz tore up the International league and went
on a home.. run rampage that was the talk of the circuit. In
one game against Buffalo, on May 5, he hit his third
homer in two days, his eleventh of the new season. It was
an unusual home run. According to the wire.. service
Arlett as a Phillie (Minneapolis Tribune photo). story, "The ball soared over the rightfield fence, crashed a
THE BASEBALL RESEARCH JOUR-NAL
window in a home, and hit Mrs. Ida Moore, 45, on the 4~homer games, one onJune 1, another onJuly 4. By early
head. Mrs. Moore was playing bridge when she was hit." July, he had belted 44 homers, and there were those who
Buzz made the record books that year with a pair of figured that Joe Hauser's record of 63-also for Baltimore,
RUSSELL LOUIS (BUZZ) ARLETT

Born January 3, 1899, in Oakland, Calif. Died May 16, 1964 in Minneapolis, .Minn.
Batted left and right. Threw right. Height, 6.03. Weight: 225.
Arlett was the top switch hitter in the minor leagues." For Baltimore in 1932 he hit 4 home runs in a game on June
1, and again on July 4.
YEAR CLUB LEA POS G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB PCT
1918 Oakland P.C. P~2~1 26 71 9 15 4 0 1 8 1 .211
1919 Oakland P.c. P 58 144 15 42 8 2 1 19 2 .292
1920 Oakland P.c. P~lB 64 178 26 45 5 4 5 26 2 .253
1921 Oakland P.c. P 64 128 12 28 5 1 3 14 1 .219
1922 Oakland P.C. P~OF 74 174 23 42 9 4 4 21 0 .241
1923 Oakland P.C. OF~P 149 445 76 147 31 5 19 101 9 .330
1924 Oakland P.C. OF~P 193 698 122 229 57 19* 33 145 24 .328
1925 Oaklalld P.C. OF 190 710 121 244 49 13 25 146 26 .344
1926 Oakland P.C. OF~lB~P 194 667 140 255 52 16 35 140* 26 .382
1927 Oakland P.C. OF~P 187 658 122 231 54* 7 30 123 20 .351
1928 Oakland P.C. OF~P 160 561 111 205 47 3 25 113 10 .365
1929 Oakland P.C. OF~lB~P 200 722 146 270 70* 8 39 189 22 .374
1930 Oakland P.C. OF~P 176 618 132 223 57 7 31 143 8 .361
1931 Philadelphia Nat. OF 121 418 65 131 26 7 18 72 3 .313
1932 Baltimore Int. OF 147 516 141* 175 33 4 54* 144* 11 .339
1933 Baltimore Int. OF~lB 159 531 135* 182 40 3 39* 146 20 .343
1934 Birmingham South OF 35 128 28 42 9 4 7 23 3 .328
Minneapolis A. A. OF 116 430 106 137 32 1 41 * 132 8 .319
1935 Minneapolis A.A. OF 122 425 90 153 26 2 25 101 6 .360
1936 Minneapolis A.A. OF 74 193 55 61 10 4 15 52 1 .316
1937 Syracuse Int. PH 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Majors 121 418 65 131 26 7 18 72 3 .313
Minors 2390 8001 1610 2726 598 107 432 1786 200 .341
PITCHING RECORD
YEAR CLUB LEA G IP W L H R ER BB SO ERA
1918 Oakland P.c. 21 153 4 9 150 60 46 43 34 2.70
1919 Oakland P.c. 57* 348 22 17 315 172* 116 112 79 3.00
1920 Oakland P.C. 53 427* 29* 17 430 162 137 134 105 2.89
1921 Oakland P.c. 55 319 19 18 371 180 155 115 101 4.37
1922 Oakland P.c. 47 374* 25 19 396 171 115 112 128 2.77
1923 Oakland P.C. 28 125 4 9 182 106 84 47 34 5.76
1924 Oakland P.c. 2 4 0 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1926 Oakland P.c. 5 14 2 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1927 Oakland P.c. 1 9 1 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1928 Oakland P.c. 7 27 1 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1929 Oakland P.c. 17 61 1 4 83 46 40 17 17 5.76

1930 Oakland P.c. 3 3 0 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Minors 296 1864 108 93 1927 897 693 580 498 3.45
Buzz Arlett's career record, from SABR's Minor League Baseball Stars.
~
in 1930-was sure to fall. It didn't. Fate intervened. him with a new Ford convertible between games, and
Arlett was benched for thirty..one days with a shoulder capped it off with a standing ovation for the player the
injury, and when the season ended, he had only 54 home Oakland Tribune dubbed "the mightiest Oak of them all."
runs. That "only," his all..time high, proved enough for It was quite an event for a minor league home..town
the league lead, as did his 141 runs scored and 144 RBIs. favorite. Big Buzz, who still looked as if he could hold his
The Orioles finished in second place, 15 1/2 games behind own against PCl pitching, was visibly moved. He re..
one of Colonel Ruppert's great Newark Bears teams. marked, "I don't know of any case in baseball where a
Buzz returned to Baltimore for another year and won player was honored in this manner after being away from
the home..run crown again, with 39. Nonetheless, he was the team for sixteen years." Sports fans back in Minnesota
sent packing after 1933, first for a brief stopover in were impressed too. "The affair made a big man of me in
Birmingham, then on to Minneapolis. Minneapolis," Buzz said. "Minneapolis folks, even those
For decades the Minneapolis Millers fielded some fine who watched me play ball there in 1934, figured I must be
teams in the American Association. Among the best were pretty important if Oakland would give me a civic party
the teams of 1934 and 1935. Donie Bush, ex..big..league and an automobile."
shortstop and manager, led the Millers to pennants in Important? It depends on how you define it. If the
both years, with Buzz Arlett, Joe Hauser, Spencer Harris, minors are important to baseball, then Buzz Arlett was
Johnny Gill, and AbWright-a virtual all..star cast of important. When SABR members picked the leading
career minor.. leaguers-supplying massive power at the minor..leaguers of all time, the great Oakland pitcher..
plate. The Millers batted .303 and .308 in '34 and '35, outfielder, not surprisingly, ranked among the top fifteen.
while Buzz hit. 319 and. 360. In 1934, for the third year in After all, it's a game of statistics and charisma, and Buzz
a row, he led his league in homers, clouting 41 of them to , Arlett had them both.
top the AA-and that despite his thirty..five ..game, 7..ho..
mer start at Birmingham of the Southern Association.
Arlett hit a lot of home runs in his days in the high
minors. In fact, except for Hector Espino, who hit 484
homers with Tampico and Monterrey in the Triple..A
Mexican league from 1960 to 1984, Arlett hit more
homers in the minors than any of the 400,000..plus players
who have been in Organized Baseball since its inception.
[Including Crash Davis.-Ed.] From 1918 to 1937, he hit
432, not counting his 18 homers for the Phillies. Next in
line are Nick Cullop (420), Merv Connors (400, mostly
in the low minors), and Joe Hauser (399).
In 1935 Arlett hit .360, with 25 homers and 101 RBIs
for his last great season. He slowed down noticeably in
1936, appearing in just seventy..four games for the Mil..
lers. As he prepared to call it quits he still hit. 316 and
belted 15 homers. For fourteen years in a row-one year
in the majors, the rest in the minors-he had topped the
.300 mark. In fact, his. 313 with Philadelphia was the
lowest he ever hit as a full .. time outfielder.
After his retirement, managerial and coaching jobs
never materialized. Buzz made his home in Minneapolis,
where he ran a thriving restaurant and tavern.
In the summer of 1946, sixteen years after he had left
the Oaks to join the Phillies, Buzz Arlett had a gala "day"
in Oakland. He arrived from Minneapolis at Oakland's
Sixteenth Street Station aboard the City of San Francisco.
On August 11 he was given a breakfast at the Hotel
leamington. That afternoon the Oaks played the San
Diego Padres in a doubleheader. The fans turned out
12,000 strong at the old Emeryville ballpark, presented
Rotisserie Leagues and New Statistics:
Combining the Best of Both Worlds
RON SHANDLER
Ouming your oum Rotisserie League team is a thrill second only to

oumingyour oum baseball team. Here's asystem for makingRotis..
serie League baseball every bit as professional as the real thing.
I
REMEMBER WHEN I was just a New York Mets fan. Maybe yes. But the typical Rotisserie League would
Things were easy back then. I knew who to root for. I only allow him to accumulate 8 wins no matter who 'his
knew all the names in the box score. If Dwight "teammates" are. This brings to light the underlying
Gooden pitched a shutout, I felt good. No questions conceptual unfairness of Rotisserie statistics. Rotisserie
asked. Leagues are vehicles that create competition by merely
Today, when Gooden pitches a shutout, my loyalties accumulating numbers. We draft "teams" of players to
are tom. I still consider myself a Mets fan, but Gooden is accomplish this, but these are not really "teams." They
now on the "other" team. Actually, the Doctor is prob.. are just groups of players performing in their own par..
ably on hundreds of "other" teams. But not on mine. ticular situations. They are not separated from the con..
Such is life when you're outbid in Rotisserie League texts in which they perform in real life. And, because of
baseball. this, any semblance of reality-any approximation of
It was four years ago when my RonSue Perbs drafted its accurate performance-is lost.
first roster. Now, it's been four years of living and dying by There is no "my tealn is better than your team" be..
Hubie Brooks, Von Hayes, and Bob Knepper. Four years cause, in essence, there are no real teams in Rotisserie
of USA Today, ESPN SportsCenter, and Sports Phone. League baseball. The missing ingredient is the ability to
Four years of turning on the Game of the Week even isolate a player's performance so that he might be placed
when the Mets aren't playing. in any situation, on any team of players, and perform as he
The Perbs have never finished higher than third, would be expected to in that reality. We don't want to see
despite consistently having the best team on paper. The Nolan Ryan as he performs on the Astros; we want to see
best statistical team: not the most RBIs, or the most wins, him as he would perform on the Perbs, or any fantasy team
or the lowest pitching ratio, but the best overall sta.. in any league.
tistically superior team. This team, if ever assembled on a This is where the "new statistics" come in. Runs
playing field, would wipe out the opposition. "You could Created, Linear Weights, and Total Average are some of
loo~ it up." the new gauges that isolate player performance from
Now I find myself yearning for more. The current situation. They are based in many of the "raw" stats we all
Rotisserie League concept just doesn't do it for me. It's not know and love - but use only those categories that
satisfying. A team cannot .live by eight statistical cat.. measure an aspect of performance that is situationally
egories alone. Home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, batting independent. In other words, stats such as RBIs (you can't
average, wins, saves, ERA and pitching ratio do not tell drive in runs if there is nobody on base) and wins (you
the whole story. can't win games if your team doesn't score enough runs for
In 1987, Nolan Ryan had a 2.76 ERA yet won only 8 you) are excluded.
games for the Houston Astros. He achieved such a low With these gauges, we can create anew statistical
win total because he had players like Craig Reynolds and model for Rotisserie Leagues. In particular, we've found
the aging Jose Cruz as mainstays of the Astro offense. On a that using Linear Weights provides us with enough flexi..
typical Rotisserie team, Ryan might be on the same roster bility to accomplish two goals - the isolation of per..
with players like Andre Dawson and Darryl. Strawberry.
Could he reasonably be expected to replicate such a Ron Shandler is a professional forecasting analyst and publisher
performanceona team of this caliber? of Sports Forecaster Report.
formance from situation, and the ability to convert total with a positive ( + ) LWTS are helping your team; players
performance into a realistic method of ranking Rotisserie with a negative ( - ) LWTS are not.
teams. Then, if you total up your team's offensive LWTS and
Developed by Pete Palmer in The Hidden Game of pitching LWTS, you can see - at a glance - how well
Baseball, the premise of Linear Weights (LWTS) is that your team is doing. If your offensive or pitching total has a
all events in baseball are linear, that is, the output (runs) + LWTS, then it is performing above your league aver..
is directly proportional to the input (offensive events). age. Totals with - LWTS show below average
Each of these events is weighted according to its relative performances.
value in contributing to scoring runs, so that a single is Now comes the best part. With a simple formula, these
worth .46 of a run, and a HR is worth 1.4 run; being LWTS totals can be converted into a projected Won.. Loss
caught stealing costs the team. 6 of a run. The result of the record:
expression is a number of runs produced above or below (Offensive LWTS + Pitching LWTS) / 10 +
(.5 x No. Games Played to Date) = WINS
the league average, whatever that may be. A player
No. Games Played To Date - WINS = LOSSES
performing exactly at the league average would have a
If our chart represented the final stats after a full
LWTS of o. The formula:
162.. game season, it would look like this:
(.46 x IB) + (.8 x 2B) + (1.02 x 3B) + (1.4 x HR) +
(.33 x BB) + (.3 'x SB) - (.6 xeS) - (NF x (AB - H))
(119 + (-10)) /10 + (.5 X 162)
NF is a normalizing factor built into the formula. It 109 / 10 + 81
represents the relative value of each out - a variable 10.9 + 81
based on the level of play in a league. In 1987, the AL 91.9, or 92 WINS
factor was approximately. 2&, the NL's .27. NF can be This team would have been projected to finish at
92.. 70.
calculated by a slight modification to the formula:
The most important part of this model is its flexibility.
.46 x IB) + (.8 x 2B) + (1.02 x 3B) + (1.4 x HR) +
(.33 x BB) + (.3 x SB) - (.6 xes)) / (AB - H)
All of these LWTS numbers are variable, ever.. changing
as the level of play in your league changes over the course
By keeping this variable updated throughout the
of a season. Because of the normalizing factor, your league
season, you will get a true reading of individual and team
average will always equal zero (0). This is the com..
performances relative to your league average.
putational base. No matter how big or small your league is
The formula for pitching LWTS is considerably.
- whether there are sixteen interleague teams or four
simpler:
stock.. piled superstar squads - performances will always
IP x (League ERA / 9) - ER
be rated as above or below that base of o.
Here, the normalizing factor is your league ERA. An example ...
At first glance, this looks like a ton of weekly data input Last year in the American League, Bret Saberhagen's
for your league satisfaction. In actuality, there are fewer LWTS was + 31. That very same performance (3.36 ERA
stat categories to deal with than in the traditional Rotis.. in 257 IP) in the National League would have achieved a
serie format. LWTS of only + 21 (the NL average ERA was lower, so
ROTISSERIE: AB, H, HR, RBI, SB, IP, HA, BB, ER, W, SV = 11 Saberhagen's performance would not have surpassed that
LWTS: AB, H, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, SB, CS, IP, ER = 10 average by as much as in the AL). Put Saberhagen into a
You save yourself one category and, at the same time, 4.. team superstar league and his LWTS might only come
capture only those events that are truly indicative of a out to + 5 or + 10.
player's performance level. In short, all performances are relative, completely
Exhibit 1 shows an abbreviated hypothetical roster - dependent upon the contest in which they're performing.
in Rotisserie League format, and a possible format for our How do the results of this new model compare with the
LWTS model. Note that there is not too much of a traditional Rotisserie League format? In 1987, the league
difference. Theoretically, the only category that needs to in which my RonSue Perbs are a part ran a parallel test to
appear on the LWTS model is LWTS, but we've included evaluate each format. Four of our owners drafted superstar
several other familiar ones to maintain some comfort level teams and conducted busines as usual, using Rotisserie
with the stats. Besides, those categories have to be com.. rules. At the same time, we compiled stats for the LWTS
piled anyway. model.
Now, in addition to following each player's "raw" stats In Exhibit 2, you'll note that the finishes were slightly
as we've always done, we can also follow their LWTS different. This, as we've described, owed to the inclusion
numbers. The impact of each player's performance re.. of only situational independent stats in the LWTS model.
lative to the rest of your league is easy to evaluate. Players But one other interesting thing is also accomplished here.
EXHIBIT 1
Traditional Rotisserie League Model Linear Weights/Fantasy League Model
POS PLAYER TEAM AB H HR RBI SB AVG POS PLAYER TEAM AB H HR SB AVGLWTS
1B V Hayes PHA 556 154 21 84 16 227 1B V Hayes PHA 556 154 21 16 277 38
2B R Sandberg CHIC 523 154 16 59 21 294 2B R Sandberg CHIC 523 154 16 21 294 20
3B B Bell CIN 522 148 17 70 4 284 3B B Bell CIN 522 148 17 4 284 15
SS H Brooks MTL 430 113 14 72 4 263 SS H Brooks MTL 430 113 14 4 263 -4
OF P Guerrero LA 545 184 27 89 9 338 OF P Guerrero LA 545 184 27 9 338 45
OF C Candaele MTL 449 122 1 23 7 272 OF C Candaele MTL 449 122 1 7 272 -13
OF A Van Slyke PIT 564 165 21 82 34 293 OF A Van Slyke PIT 564 165 21 34 293 30
CA G Carter NYM 523 123 20 83 0 235 CA G Carter NYM 523 123 20 0 235 -12
TOTALS 4112 1163 137 562 95 283 TOTALS 4112 1163 137 97 283 119
POS PITCHER TEAM IP H+BB W SV ERA RATIO POS PITCHER TEAM IP ERA LWTS
SP N Ryan HOU 212 242 8 0 2.76 1.14 SP N Ryan HOU 212 2.76 31
SP K Gross PHA 201 291 9 0 4.35 1.45 SP K Gross PHA 201 4.35 -6
SP M Krukow SF 163 228 5 0 4.80 1.40 SP M Krukow SF 163 4.80 13
SP J Moyer CHIC 201 308 12 0 5.10 1.53 SP J Moyer CHIC 201 5.10 23
RP R Horton STL 125 169 8 7 3.82 1.35 RP R Horton STL 125 3.82 4
RP J Orosco NYM 77 109 3 16 4.44 1.42 RP J Orosco NYM 77 4.44 -3
TOTALS 979 1347 45 23 4.17 1.38 TOTALS 979 4.17 -10
You'll notice that the Home Runs category probably earned run allowed.
made the most difference between the Perbs' first.. and' Much of the drama, tension, and obsession (take your
second.. place finishes in the two models. In the Rotisserie pick) of playing in a Rotisserie League is the daily ritual of
ranking, the Perbs got 3 points for their finish and the following your team's statistics via USA Today, ESPN and
Lemons 2: but the gap was a hefty 58 HRs! In essence, the .Sports Phone. Needless to say, none of these media
LWTS model serves to weight each team's relative posi.. sources reports daily LWTS totals.But, that's okay.
tion within each category. LWTS is just the sum of all its parts - a formula in
In a Rotisserie setting, the Lemons may have decided to which all the events in a baseball game are given a weight.
concede the HR race at some point, settle for holding This in no way detracts from following the individual
third, and concentrate on beefing up in other categories events themselves. Reading that Andre Dawson went 3
where they were more competitive. In the LWTS model, for 5 with 2 HRs will still mean cause for celebration
it just does not pay to do that. Every HR has a value in the (unless he's on the "other" team). But the LWTS model
final standings, as does every hit, walk, stolen base, and .will make you look at his performance a little bit
EXHIBIT 2
RotisserielLinear Weights Model 1987 Parallel Test
HOME RUNS RUNS BATTED IN WINS SAVES
Hedonists 393 "Hedonists 1417 Lemons 108 Lemons 107
Perbs 390 Perbs 1361 Critters 99 Critters 83
Lemons 332 Critters 1282 Perbs 98 Hedonists 80
Critters 295 Lemons 1277 Hedonists 85 Perbs 76
STOLEN BASES BATT. AVERAGE ERA RATIO

Perbs 331 Perbs .286 Lemons 3.29 Lemons 1.23
Lemons 302 Hedonists .283 Perbs 3.71 Critters 1.29
Critters 278 Lemons .280 Critters 3.73 Perbs 1.32
Hedonists 276 Critters .279 Hedonists 4.45 Hedonists 1.37
ROTISSERIE STANDINGS LINEAR WEIGHTS STANDINGS

RANK TEAM POINTS BEHIND RANK TEAM W L BEHIND
1 Lemons 24.0 1 Perbs 90 72
2 Perbs 22.0 2.0 2 Lemons 86 76 4.0
3T Critters 17.0 7.0 3 Critters 75 87 15.0
3T Hedonis~s 17.0 7.0 4 Hedonists 73 89 17.0
differently. for 5 with 2 HRs and know that his performance added
For starters, since each HR (and every other event) has' nearly 3 LWTS runs to your team total. Ten runs and
a value in the final standings, Dawson's performance will you've gained another game in the standings.
always have some impact on your team's record - even if The LWTS model adds a whole new strategy to the'
your team is dead last in your league in HR production. Rotisserie League experience. Batters who walk often,
If you were out of HR contention in a Rotisserie setting, speedsters who hit many triples but don't steal many
Dawson's performance might be meaningless. bases, and pitchers who have low ERAs but play for poor
In addition, the LWTS formula itself is fairly straight.. offensive teams - suddenly enjoy a new value. And
forward. Guaranteed that within a few weeks you'll have everything that goes on in those daily box scores will now
it memorized (we did). Then you can plug in Dawson's 3 add up to wins and losses, not points, on a scale.
Yankees' GWRBI 1920~42

HE YEARS 1920..42 were chosen primarily to'
T
number Gehrig had in his slump..ridden and disease..
focus on the most prod,uctive seasons of Ruth, affected final season. In 1930 new manager Bob Shawkey
Gehrig, and DiMaggio. Each performed much as experimented with Lazzeri in the clean..up position be..
expected, although the season GWRBI totals of Ruth and tween Ruth and Gehrig and Tony led the team with 19.
DiMaggio fluctuated considerably while Qehrig had thir.. Ruth had the season..high 26 in 1931, followed by Gehrig'
teen consecutive seasons of 12 or more. Some of the more with 24 in'1928 and DiMag with 24 in 1937. In 1931 Ruth
interesting or unusual results follow. had the GWRBI in 6 consecutive victories, and 9 in the
In Ruth's first big season, 1920, he hit 54 home runs but first inning.
finished second in GWRBI with 15. Del Pratt led the Below arelistingso(Yankees with'at least 10 GWRBI,
Yankees even though he batted second most of the season listed in theirbattiI.lg order. iii
anq hit only 4 ho~ers. In 1939 Red Rolfe batted second L. Robert Davids
but 'tied fifth ..hitting Bill Dickey with 17 GWRBI;
DiMag, the'<:leanup hitter" trailed with 10. In his batting.. ISJ33
$tregk seasdp. of 1941 Joe had 12, ironically the same Sewell Gehrig 12
Gehrig Dickey 11
Dickey Gordon 12
1920 1927 1939
Pratt 18 Ruth 21 Gehrig 22 Rolfe 17
Bodie 11 Gehrig 19 Lazzeri 14 DiMaggio 10
Ruth 15 Meusel 13 Dickey 17
Pipp 11 Lazzeri 11 1935
Chapman 10 Selkirk 10
Meusel 11 1928 Gehrig 17
1921 Ruth 17 Dickey 11 DiMaggio 14
Peck 13 Gehrig 24 Lazzeri 10 Keller 16
Ruth 17 Meusel 16 Gordon 10
Meusel 15 Lazzeri 10 1936
Pipp 14 DiMaggio 12 1941
1929 Gehrig 18 Henrich 11
1922 Ruth 22 Dickey 16 DiMaggio 12
Ruth 11 Gehrfg' 13 Lazzeri 11 Keller 13
Pipp 16 Gordon 11
1937
1923 Ruth' 12 DiMaggio 24 1942
Ruth 21 !Lazzeri 19 -Gehrig 14 Henrich 10
Meusel 14 Gehrig 15 Dickey 13 'DiMaggio 14
1924 Selkirk 11 Keller 13
Ruth 14 1931 1938 Gordon 14
Meusel 14 Ruth 26 Henrich 10
Pipp 18 Gehrig 19 DiMaggi<? 18
1925 Chapmqn 12
Meusel 18 19J2;
1926 Ruth 13 23..YEAR SUMMARY: Ruth, 227; Gehrig, 237; Dickey, 125;
Gehrig 21 Gehrig 19 Lazzeri, 121; Combs, 48; Crosetti, 42; Meusel, 123; Rolfe, 60; Selkirk,
Ruth 16 Chapman 11 53; Chapman, 64; DiMaggio, 94; Henrich, 53; Pipp, 69; Gordon, 54;
Lazzeri 13 Lazzeri 11 Keller, 49; Ruffing, 21.
Bill Mazeroski:
An Appreciation
JIM KAPLAN
Remembered for his Series~ending homer, Dazzlin' Maz

should be celebrated as the greatest defensive second
baseman in history-and as a classic baseball character.
I
N ONE OF BASEBALL'S supreme ironies, Bill for a single at..bat.
Mazeroski's greatest moment as a player forever Not that Max couldn't hit. Playing in a low..average era
obscured his true greatness as a player. (1956.. 72), he batted .260 with 2,016 hits. A good power
It wasn't the Shot Heard 'Round the World, but it was hitter for a middle infielder, he had at least 10 homers six
equally dramatic and more symbolic than the celebrated times. A great clutch hitter - his homer won the first
Bobby Thomson hit. On Oct. 13, 1960, Mazeroski, the game of the '60 Series as well as the last-he had 80 or
Pittsburgh Pirate second baseman, socked a ninth.. inning more runs batted in twice. But his superb fielding forever
homer over the brick wall 406 feet from home plate in distinguished him from his peers.
Forbes Field and beat the Yankees 10.. 9 in the seventh
game of the World Series. Waving his cap in circles,
Mazeroski had to fight his way thro~gh a crowd to reach
home plate. Elsewhere in Pittsburgh, people snake..
T HE SECOND BASEMAN is the most underrated
player on the field. He routinely averages as many
chances per game as his more celebrated running mate,
danced down the streets and stalled trolleys by throwing the shortstop. Second basemen, moreover, execute base..
tons of paper out windows. Worried police closed bridges ball's most critical defensive maneuver-the pivot on
and tunnels. Swamped hotel managers shut their lobbies. most double plays.
Finally breaking away from the celebration, the quiet "I never worried about anything but catching the ball
hero grabbed his wife and ran off to a Pittsburgh hill to sit and throwing it to Maz," says Dick Groat, Mazeroski's
still for a few moments and take stock of what had shortstop in 1956..62. "He'd make the DP after getting a
happened. perfect throw or a terrible one."
Plenty had happened. The only homer ever to end a "He was as good as I've ever seen at turning the double
World Series, Mazeroski's blast also concluded one of the play," says former Cub shortstop Don Kessinger. "They
wildest seventh games ever (remember the double..play called him No Touch because he threw so quickly he
grounder that hit a pebble and clipped Tony Kubek in the never seemed to touch the ball."
throat?). Maz's swing also ended what many consider the On one memorable occasion the Pirates were a run
best..played era in baseball history. The majors had in.. ahead of the Astros with one out in the ninth and men on
tegrated in 1947 without altering their two .. league, first and third. A Houston player hit a high hopper to
16.. team format: hence, the golden era of 1947..60. In shortstop Gene Alley, who made the only play possible
1961 the American League would add two teams, the and threw to Maz for the force. Girding for extra innings,
Nationals would follow in 1962, and baseball would head the Pirates leaned back on the bench and conceded a run.
down the road to dilution, divisional play, the DH and Seconds later they realized the game was over: Maz had
the domes. Mazeroski's homer would stand symbolically relayed to first in time for the DP.
at the peak of baseball history. "That was one of the best double plays I ever made,"
But the more he thought about what he'd done, the less says Mazeroski, 52, who retired from coaching recently
delirious Maz became. What a shame, he told friends after helping Julio Cruz become a fine second baseman at
later, that he'd be remembered for his bat rather than his
glove. Jim Kaplan is the editor of Baseball Research Journal and the
That's being modest: It's a shame the greatest defensive author of Playing the Field: Why Defense is the Most Fascinating
second baseman in baseball history should be remembered Art in Major. League Baseball (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill) .
Seattle and Tim Wallach a top third baseman at Mon.. equivalent of watching Ted Williams hit.
treal. "Everyone wound up on the ground. Alley fell down Baseball people love to listen to him, too. If pressed, .
making the throw, I turned it with my feet in the air, and Maz can discuss his gloves like a jockey describing his
Donn Clendenon hit the ground stretching for the ball at tack: "I used only two or three gloves in my career. I'd
first. I'm lucky I have such a strong arm. i never had to break in one in practice and use my main one in games.
wind up to throw, and that helped me a lot on the double Some guys have a new one every year; you can't get the
play." feel that way. I also used a small glove. When you reached
Mazeroski's best friends on the double play were his for a ball, it was there. We were already putting the index
powerful right wrist and forearm, which enabled him to finger outside the glove in those days. That creates an air
relay to first with a quick flip. With nimble and strong pocket. When the ball hits the glove, it's cushioned."
legs, the 5' 11 Yz", 185..pound Mazeroski could reach the "Bill Mazeroski's defensive statistics are probably the
base well ahead of the throw and push off before the most impressive of any player at any position," The Bill
runner arrived. James Historical Baseball Abstract reports. Maz led the
A purist, Maz believed that the most efficient way to league in putouts five times, total chances eight, assists a
make the pivot was to go straight at the runner ("Any record nine, range factor ten. He holds major..league
other way lengthens your throw"). He hung in so tough double..play marks by a' second baseman for a season
that teammates called himTree Stump. When an oppo.. (161), career (1, 706), and years leading the league (8).
nent crashed into him, they had to bring out a stretch~r His lifetime fielding average of .983 trails only his Pirate
for the runner. successor, Dave Cash (.9836), among National Leaguers.
"He was the best second baseman I've ever seen," says Cash played most of his career on artificial turf; Maz
Red Sox executive Johnny Pesky, a former shortstop who played most of his on what author and ex..pitcher Jim
teamed with Hall..of..Fame second baseman Bobby Doerr Brosnan described as the league's worst infield.
in Boston and later coached for the Pirates when Maz was In the 1983 Baseball Research Journal, Jim McMartin
playing. "One night lle dropped the ball. The next night created some all..time defensive listings using such factors
he took 100 grounders and never missed one. 'Hit it to as league leadership in putouts, assists and DP's and the
Maz,' we used to say. 'Hit it to Maz.' " Bill James range factor (putouts and assists divided by
In one .of his most spectacular fielding plays Maz ran games); McMartin's figures established that old number
down a grounder past first, fielded it near the right..field nine was the. most efficient middle infielder ever. In
line, and made a turnaround, off..balance throw of some Players' Choice, second basemen past and present rated
120 feet to nip the Mets' speedy Tommie Agee trying to him the best glove ever at their position.
score from second. There are those who will go further and declare Ma..
zeroski the greatest fielder ever to hang up his spikes. In
their highly respected book, The Hidden Game of Baseball,
B.
ILL MAZEROSKI'S BASEBALL BACKGROUND
is Baseball Classic. His first instructor was his father
(isn't it always like that?); the late Lew Mazeroski was
John Thorn and Pete Palmer devised a fielding formula for
"defensive wins" at every position but pitcher. Maz fin..
himself a prospect on the verge of a tryout with Cleveland ished first. (The only active player likely to pass Ma..
when a lump of hardrock coal smashed his foot in a zeroski, says Thorn, is St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith.)
mining accident. Bill reported to his high school team in So why isn't Maz in the Hall? "I don't get carried away
Tiltonsville, Ohio as a freshman, and his coach, Ai about that because I don't know if I belong, " he says in his
Barazio, told him, "I'm going to make big leaguer out of mild way. "I always thought you had to do it all-hit, run,
you. " Like many great second basemen, Maz was switched field, throw-to make it."
there from shortstop (by Branch Rickey, of course). Maz But isn't it a fact, he was asked, that many players made
also supplied the personal touches we associate with the Hall on their bats alone? "That's true. Seems it's an
old..fashioned ballplayers. Leaving church the day he was offensive place. If I had the records offensively that I do
married, Mazeroski stuck a chaw of tobacco in his cheek. defensively, I'd be in.'"
Maz has hunted and golfed andfished in his time; in fact, The recent enshrinement of Brooks Robinson, Luis
.he was called Catfish as a kid. Aparicio,. and Pee Wee Reese, who were as celebrated for
Major leaguers had other names for him. By the time he their fielding as their offense, augurs well for the future.
made his first All..Star team in 1958, the twenty..one.. "Maybe the tide is starting to turn," Maz says hopefully.
year..old Mazeroski was already being called Dazzlin' Maz Not fast enough. "It's an absolute disgrace, " says
and The Boy Bandit. When he rook infield practice, stars Groat, his voice rising to a. shout, "that Bill Mazeroski
from both leagues stopped to watch him-the fielding isn't in the Hall of Fame!"
Latin American All~Stars:
Los Ninos De Otono
EDWARD MANDT
A special Hispanic All.,Star Game was held at the Polo

Grounds in New York 25 years ago. For these boys of
autumn, it was the first-and alas, the last-of its kind.
UICK NOW, when was the last baseball game there couldn't have been more than a few hundred
Q played in the Polo Grounds? Was it:
(a) September 29, 1957

people.
The pregame ceremonies were hard for me to follow
since they were conducted mostly in Spanish by re,
presentatives of the Hispanic,American Baseball Feder,
(b) September 15, 1963 ation and the Spanish,language daily, EI Diario. There
(c) October 12, 1963 . were some obligatory beauty queens and later I fou~d out
that four old players were being inducted into the Latin,
Actually, all three dates represent. "last" games, but the American Hall of Fame: Aldolfo Luque, Hi Bithorn,
correct answer is (c). The New York Giants played (and Pancho Coimbre, and Pedro Cepeda. The "American"
lost) their last game on September 29, 1957 before head, League won a home,run contest 2,1 on homers by Hector
ing for San Francisco. Six years later the New York Mets Lopez and Vic Power against one by Felipe Alou. Power
closed the Harlem phase of their history on September 15, also received a trophy for being baseball's number one
1963. But before the Polo Grounds was razed to make Latin player-a strange choice I thought, given the likes
room for a housing project, one more game was played- of Roberto Clemente and Orlando Cepeda. Cepeda did
the first (and, to my knowledge, unfortunately, the last) get a trophy as the most popular Latin player. Juan
annual Latin American major,league All,Star Game. Marichal was recognized as the best pitcher.
Before the late 1950s Hispanics were not much of a The game itself, won by the Nationals 5,2, was a rather
'. factor in the major leagues. By the early '60s there seemed flat affair. Twenty,five game winner Marichal blanked
to be enough prominent players to justify a special game the Americans for four innings, giving up 2 hits and no
between the best of both leagues. Since the game was to walks while fanning 6. The Nationals jumped on Pedro
be played at the Polo Grounds, I saw the chance to be Ramos in the first. With one out, Tony Taylor walked,
present at both a "first" and a "last" and rode the subway stole second, and scored on a sharp single by Felipe Alou.
to 155th St. that fall Saturday afternoon twenty,five years As the top of the fourth. ended, I decided to watch the
ago. game from a different spot and got to a seat close to the
When I arrived, I discovered that I was practically the right,field foul pole just in time to see Cepeda, Tony
only Anglo in the park. Not that there were many Latinos Gonzalez, and Julian Javier string three singles together
for that matter. The official attendance was announced as for a run. With runners on second and third, Manny Mota
14,235 but someone must have been counting fingers and batted for Marichal and, as he was to do more often than
. toes. I watched most of the game from a box in the anyone in history, drove them both home with a pinch
leftfield upper deck. Except for a solitary usher who came hit. Al McBean, who was hot oflhis best season (13,3, 11
by periodically to eye me suspiciously, there wasn't a, saves), replaced Marichal and was only slightly less
nother person in the entire level. In fact, almost all the ;effective-3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, no runs in 4
. spectators were clustered behind the first, base dugout.
Now, I've always been bad at guessing the size of a small Edward Mandt is vice president of Maccabees Mutual Life
crowd in a large ballpark, but at the time I figured that Insurance Co., in Southfield, Michigan.
innings. Because regular..season rather than All..Star scor.. and Vic Power-and mainstays like Javier, Taylor, and
ing rules were used, McBean was awarded the victory Leo Cardenas. Finally, there were several journeymen
instead of Marichal. A .194 hitter during the season, Al like Joe Azcue, Ruben Amaro, and Hector Lopez. Thus,
also clouted a triple off Diego Segui to score Gonzalez in what you had was not an All..Star Game-All..Star
the sixth but was thrown out trying to stretch it into an Games are like beauty contests, artificial and almost
inside.. the ..park home run. The Americans finally broke unreal-but a game of baseball that was an attempt, albeit
through in the ninth when the Mets' Ed Bauta, presel1t for an unfortunately premature attempt, to showcase the
his second last game in the Polo Grounds, yielded a hit to talents of an emerging force in American sports. How the
Zodo Versalles and a walk to Segui, who had to bat for citizens of San Juan, Maracaibo, Mexico City, or Santo
himself. Bauta got the next two batters but wild..pitched Domingo must have salivated at the chance to see the
Versalles home. Segui moved to third and came in on a high..kicking Marichal make his first pitch to Luis Apa..
hit by Tony Oliva before Minnie Minoso made the final ricio! Or to see an outfield composed of Alou, Gonzalez,
out. It was no surprise the Americans lost: Hector Lopez, and Clemente.
a .249 hitter that season, batted cleanup. Which brings me to a closing thought. Years ago it was
The American League cause would have been common for sportswriters to refer to the outfield as a
strengthened if some of its no..shows had appeared: Vic "pasture." Although that was probably to be expected in
Davalillo (.292 in 90 games), Juan Pizarro (16 ..8, 2.39), more bucolic times, I always regarded it as rather corny.
Camilo Pascual (21 ..9, 2.46), or even Orlando Pena But, as I gazed onto the field from my upper..deck box, I
(12 ..20,3.69), but one doubts that even they could have thought that for Latin Americans on that day, the term
conquered a lineup with Alou, Cepeda, Gonzales, and was apt. There's a section of land in Southern California
Clemente at its heart. And had a series developed, I'm which the Spanish settlers thought so beautiful that they
sure that the NL would have dominated just as it has in called it "Las pasturas de los cielos. " With national heroes
the real All..Star game. Certainly the American League such as Aparicio, Clemente, Cepeda, and Marichal gam..
has had a number of outstanding Hispanics since 1963, boling on the brownish..green field, it was at least for that
but many of them, like Cookie Rojas, Mike Cuellar, and one day, "the pastures of heaven."
Pizarro were originally National Leaguers. The AL would
not approach the NL until the Dominican Explosion of American ABR H RBI National AB R H RBI
Aparicio, ss 4 0 0 0 Cardenas, ss.. 2b 4 0 0 0
the 1980s. An Oliva, a Tovar, or an Aparicio might be Power, Ib 3 0 0 0 Taylor, 3b.. ss 3 1 0 0
among the batting leaders in a given year, but the NL in Becquer, Ib 10 0 0 Alou, If 4 0 1 1
the 1960s and 1970s had the Alous, Mota, Perez,et al. In Oliva, rf 5 0 2 1 Cepeda, Ib 3 1 1 0
Lopez, If 2 0 1 0 Amaro, Ib 1 0 0 0
one year, ten NL Hispanics hit o~er .300-including the bMinoso, If 20 0 0 Gonzalez, cf 3 2 2 0
top three---Ied by Rico Carty's .366. And that was an Azcue, c 4 0 0 0 Clemente, rf 2 0 0 0
off..year for Matty Alou, who batted a mere .297! Mejias, cf 3 0 1 0 McBean, p 1 0 1 1
Mantilla, 3b 4 0 0 0 dPignatano 1 0 0 0
One reason for baseball's enduring fascination is that it Versalles, 2b 4 1 1 0 Bauta, p 0 0 0 0
'mirrors life in so many ways. The particular game I've Ramos, p 20 1 0 Javier, 2b 2 1 2 1
been describing was rather pedestrian. In fact, not only Segui, p 2 1 1 0 cFernandez, 3b 2 0 0 0
were there no great plays, it was marred by a hit batsman, - Barragan, c 3 0 0 0
Totals 36 2 7 Marichal, p 1 0 0 0
a wild pitch, a passed ball, and 4 errors. aMota, rf 2 0 2 2
But in retrospect at least, the game had a great deal of
poignancy to it. Four careers were over, but at the time Totals 32 5 9 5
only one player-Joe Pignatano, an Italian..American American .... O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2-2
evidently chosen because he spoke Spanish-knew it. National. .... 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 x-5
Four other careers were also finished for all practical Pitcher IP. H. R. ER. BB. SO.
Ramos (Loser) ..... 5 6 4 4 1 8
purposes. And in the years to come, three of the best Segui ............. 3 3 1 1 1 1
players on the field would be visited by misfortune or Marichal .......... 4 2 0 0 0 6
tragedy-Oliva's career would be cut short by knee in.. McBean (Winner) .. 4 3 0 0 2 4
Bauta ............ 1 2 2 2 1 0
juries, Clemente would be killed in an airplane crash, and
aSingled for Marichal in fourth. bStruck out for Lopez in sixth.
Cepeda would be convicted on drug charges.. cFouled out for Javier in sixth. dFouled out for McBean in eighth.
Six potential Hall of Famers played that day-Alou, 2B-Oliva. 3B-McBean. SB-Taylor, Javier, Aparicio. E-Taylor,
Aparicio, Cepeda, Clemente, Marichal, and Oliva. In Marichal, Mantilla, Versalies. PO.. A-Americans 24.. 9, National
27.. 11. DP-Mantilla and Power. HP-McBean (Minoso). WP-
addition to the stars, there was a core of solid Bauta. PB-Barragan. U-Gorman, Mahoney, and Cassesa.
performers-above..average hitters like Mota,Gonzalez, Attendance-14,235.
Player~ Managers:
A Noble Tradition
BOB BAILEY
Today player.. managers are the exceptions; yesterday they

were the rule. In those simpler days, men could play and
manage - and save their owners a bundle in the prog;ress.
I
T WASN'T ENOUGH for Pete Rose to return to League pennant. Even more impressive, he recruited the
. Cincinnati in 1984 to make his final assault on T y star player..manager of the nineteenth century.
Cobb. He also came home as the first National Adrian (Cap) Anson llad been a teammate of Spalding
League regular since Mel Ott to double as manager. on the Rockford Forest Citys in their National As..
Playing managers have become an oddity in major sociation days. When Spalding jumped from Boston to
league baseball. They were once the rule rather than the Chicago in 1876 he induced Anson to jump the Phil...
exception. In 1874 every National Association team had adelphia Athletics and join Chicago as its third baseman.
one. In the National League's inaugural season, 1876, Cap became manager in 1879 and remained the club's
five of the eight teams had a fulltime player..manager. first baseman and manager for nineteen years. In that
His job, however, was quite different from the man.. time he won five championships and finished out of the
,ager's job today. He was expected to recruit the team, first division only four times.
negotiate contracts, set up schedules, and secure grounds The franchis~ most enamored of the playing manager
and equipment. Many time.s star players were recruited as was Cincinnati. A charter member of the National
managers for their ability to bring other ballplayers with League, the Red Stockings used shortstop Charlie Gould
them. The 1876 pennant..winning Chicago team wa~ as manager in 1876. A unique outfield duo of Lip Pike and
built that way when owner William Hulbert hired Al Bob Addy managed in 1877. The ownership used two of
Spalding from Harry Wright's National Association Bos.. Spalding's Chicago St3fS, Cal McVey and Deacon White,
ton Red 'Stockings. Spalding was made manager and the next two years and hired Johnny Clapp in 1880. After
brought along Cal McVey, Ross Barnes, and Deacon being expelled from the National League in 1881, Cin..
White. cinnati joined the American Association in 1882 and
On the field a manager's job was very different also. won its first pennant with catcher Pop Snyder at the
Rosters were much smaller - usually ten..to..twelve men helm. Cincinnati didn't use another player..manager until
- and substitution rules were more restrictive than to.. 1892, the year the National League and American As..
day. As a result once a manager recruited his key players sociation merged in the NL and AA after the war with the
his lineup was set for a considerable period. The rules also Players Leagu'e. Cincinnati tapped an eight..term veteran
'barred non..players from the bench, so a non..playing of the player..manager ranks, Charlie Comiskey, who had
manager would have to sit in the grandstand during the handled the powerful American Association St. Louis
games. Browns in 1883..89 and 1891, with 1890 being spent as
Another advantage of player..managers was financial. playing manager for the Chicago franchise of the Players
Typically, a manager was the highest paid person on a League. He won four championships in this period, but
team's payroll. It was considerably cheaper to pay a player finished no better than fifth during his three..year stay in
a few hundred dollars extra than to hire a non..playing Cincinnati. Comiskey ended his mangerial career in
manager for $1,000..$1,500 per year. tenth place with the third best career winning percentage
In 1876 Al Spalding became the first playing manager
to bring home a championship when he pitched and Bob Bailey is a health..care director for Humana, Inc. in
managed the Chicago White Stockings to the National Louisville, Kentucky.
among major league managers (.607). Like Spalding he fielder Fred Clarke as manager. He managed twenty years,
would later own a Chicago franchise in the major leagues. including eighteen as a player. In 1899 the Louisville park
The use of playing managers waned slightly after 1884. burned down just as the National League was preparing to
Up until World War II the playing manager would rise cut four teams from the circuit. Louisville was one of the
only when the nation's economy fell. The economy went
into decline around 1892 and playing managers increased NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS
from that point. The seeds of rebirth were also sown in the Year Club Manager Position Finish Games
declining fortunes of the NL's Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, played
1876 Chicago Al Spalding P 1 R
and Washington franchises. These teams had little suc~ St. Louis Harmon Dehlman IB 1 R
cess competing with the strong New York, Boston, and Hartford Bob Ferguson 3B 3 R
Chicago teams. As their financial fortunes fell, they Louisville Chick Fulmer SS 5 R
began to give various players the opportunity to manage. Jack Chapman OF 5 18
Cincinnati Charlie Gould IB 8 R
The pool of player~manager talent was expanded rapidly Boston Harry Wright OF 4 1
with the advent of the Players League in 1890. True to its
name, the league had eight teams and eight player~ 1877 Hartford Bob Ferguson 3B 3 R
Chicago Al Spalding IB 5 R
managers. Four of the Players League skippers would Cincinnati Lip Pike OF R
continue their playing and managing careers when the Bob Addy OF R
, league folded after one season. The cost of competing Boston Harry Wright OF 1 1
1878 Cincinnati Cal McVey 3B 2 R
with the Players League had been high for the National Chicago Bob Ferguson SS 4 R
League and American Association: So high that after the Indianapolis John Clapp OF 5 R
1891 season the two leagues merged into one twelve~team
league and dropped four cities. The idea of playing man~ 1879 Providence George Wright SS 1 R
Buffalo John Clapp C 3 R
agers giving the ownership two employees for the price of Chicago Cap Anson IB 4 R
one and a half regained favor. Nine of the twelve NL Cincinnati Deacon White C R
teams were run by player~managers for at least part of the Cal McVey IB R
Cleveland Jim McCormick P 6 R
1892 season. In addition to Anson and Comiskey, the Syracuse Bill Holbert C R
player~managers with the most longevity to the tum of Jimmy Macullar SS R
the century were Patsy Tebeau of Cleveland (nine years), Mike Dorgan ALL 7 R
Troy Bob Ferguson 3B R
Monte Ward of Brooklyn and New York (five years), Chicago Frank Flint C R
Dave Foutz of Brooklyn (four years) and Buck Ewing at . Lew Brown IB R
Cincinnati (five years).
In the late 1890s the Pittsburgh franchise made sig~ 1880 Chicago Cap Anson IB 1 R
Cleveland Jim McCormick P 3 R
nificant historical contributions to player~managers and Troy Bob Ferguson 2B 4 R
managers in general. In 1889 the Pirates were going Cincinnati John Clapp C 8 R
nowhere in the middle of the National League pack. Buffalo Bill McGunnigle P/OF 9
Sam Crane 2B/OF 11
Two~thirds of the way through the season, having already
tried two other managers, they gave the job to light~ 1881 Chicago Cap Anson 18 1 R
hitting outfielder Ned Hanlon. Thus began themana~ Buffalo Jim O'Rourke 3B 3 R
Troy Bob Ferguson 2B 5 R
gerial career of tIle InaIl who later built the old Orioles in ClevelanJ Jim McCormick P R
Baltimore. Hanlon played and managed the Pittsburgh Mike McGeary 3B 7 11
entry in the Players League in 1890 and returned to the Worcester Mike Dorgan OF R
Harry Stovey IB R
NL fold for half a season before moving to Baltimore in
.1892. 1882 Chicago Cap Anson IB 1 R
In 1894 the Pirates, iagain going nowhere, gave their Boston John Morrill IB 3 R
catcher Connie Mack, a chance to manage the last 22 Buffalo Jim O'Rourke OF 4 R
Troy Bob Ferguson 2B 7 R
games. He stayed on to manage two more years while Worcester Tommy Bond OF/P 10
catching less and less. He went on to manage for 53 years.
The final chapter of Pittsburgh's contribution to 1883 Boston Jack Burdock 2B R
John Morrill IB R
player~managersactually starts in Louisville. In the 1890s
Chicago Cap Anson IB 2 R
Louisville was a chronic second~division club, never Buffalo Jim O'Rourke OF 5 R
finishing higher than ninth. Forty~three games into the New York John Clapp C 6 20
1897 schedule the ownership named fourth~year left~ Philadelphia Bob Ferguson 2B 20
Blondie Purcell OF R
thirteen World Series. McGraw had managed Baltimore in the NL and fledgling
In the National League, Fred Clarke, Frank Chance, AL before coming to New York in 1902. He continued to
and]ohn McGraw won every pennant from 1901 to 1913 play in occasional games through 1906. Clarke and
- five for McGraw and four each for Chance and Clarke. Chance became the premier playing managers during this
NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

Year Club Manager Position Finish Games Year Club Manager Position Finish Games
played played
1926 St. Louis Rogers Hornsby 2B 1 R 1942 New York Mel Ott OF 3 R
Boston . Dave Bancroft SS 7 R
1943 New York Mel Ott OF 8 R
1927 St. Louis Bob O'Farrell C 2 R Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS 3 6
Boston Dave Bancroft SS 7 R Philadelphia Freddie Fitzsimmons P 7 9
Philadelphia Stuffy McInnis IB 8 1
1928 Boston Rogers Hornsby 2B R
1929 St. Louis Billy Southworth OF 19 Brooklyn Leo Durocher 2B 3 2
Philadelphia Ben Chapman P/OF/3B 24
1930 Chicago Rogers Hornsby 2B 25
1946 Philadelphia Ben Chapman P 5 1
1931 Chicago Rogers Hornsby 2B 3 R New York Mel Ott OF/PH 8 31
St. Louis Gabby Street C 1 1
1947 New York Mel Ott PH 4 4
1932 Chicago Rogers Hornsby 2B R Pittshurgh Billy Herman 2B/IB 8 15
Charlie Grimm IB R
New York Bill Terry IB R 1948 Cincinnati Bucky Walters P 7
1933 New York Bill Terry IB 1 R 1951 Chicago Phil Cavarretta IB 8

Chicago Charlie Grimm IB 3 R Boston Tommy Holmes OF/PH 105
St. Louis Frankie Frisch 2B R
1952 Chicago Phil Cavarretta IB 5 42
1934 St. Louis Frankie Frisch 2B 1 R St. Louis Eddie Stanky 2B/PH 3 53
Chicago Charlie Grimm IB 3 R
Pittsburgh Pie Traynor 3B R 1953 St. Louis Eddie Stanky , 2B 4 17
Philadelphia jimmy Wilson C 7 R Chicago Phil Cavarretta PH 7 27
New York Bill Terry IB 2 R
Cincinnati Bob O'Farrell C 44 1955 St. Louis Harry Walker PH 11
1935 St. Louis Frankie Frisch 2B 2 R 1959 St. Louis Solly He'mus PH 7
New York Bill Terry IB 3 R
Pittsburgh Pie Traynor 3B 4 R 1962 Chicago El Tappe C 26
Philadelphia jimmy Wilson C 7 R
Chicago Charlie Grimm IB 1 2 1977 New York joe Torre IB 26
1936 New York Bill Terry IB 1 R 1984 Cincinnati Pete Rose IB 26

St. Louis Frankie Frisch 2B 3 R
Philadelphia jimmy Wilson C 8 R 1985 Cincinnati Pete Rose IB 2 R
Chicago Charlie Grimm IB 2 39
Pittsburgh Pie Traynor 3B 4 5 1986 Cincinnati Pete Rose IB 2 72
1937 New York Bill Terry IB 1 R 1949,50, 54, 56,58, 60,61, 63,76. 78,83. 87,88. None.
St. Louis Frankie Frisch 2B 4 17
Philadelphia jimmy Wilson C 7 39 * partial season
R regular player
1938 Chicago Gabby Hartnett C R
Philadelphia jimmy Wilson C/PH 4
1939 Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS 3 R

Chicago Gabby Hartnett C 4 R
1940 Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS 2 2

Chicago Gabby Hartnett C/IB 5 37
1941 Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS/2B 18

first wave. Like Anson, Chance was a first baseman.. until 1903. He became manager in 1905 and continued
playing manager. And Like Anson, the Peerless Leader dual duty through 1912, the last two years with the
was the acknowledged symbol of the Chicago team. He Yankees. Chance won four pennants and two World
had come to Chicago in 1898 and was primarily a.catcher- Series and never finished lower than third.
AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

played played
1901 Chicago Clark Griffith P 1 R 1911 Cleveland George Stovall IB R
Boston Jimmy Collins 3B 2 R New York Hal Chase IB 6 R
Baltimore John McGraw 3B 5 R St. Louis Bobby Wallace SS 8 R
Milwaukee Hugh Duffy OF 8 R
Cleveland Jimmy McAleer OF/IB/P 7 3 1912 Boston Jake Stahl IB 1 R
Chicago N ixey Callahan OF 4 R
1902 Boston Jimmy Collins 3B 3 R Cleveland Harry Davis IB R
Baltimore John McGraw 3B 20 Joe Birmingham OF R
Wilbert Robinson C R St. Louis Bobby Wallace SS R
Chicago Clark Griffith P 4 R George Stovall IB R
Washington Clark Griffith P/2B 2 2
1903 Boston Jimmy Collins 3B 1 R Detroit Hughie Jennings PH 6 1
Chicago N ixey Callahan 3B 7 R New York Harry Wolverton 3B/PH 8 33
New York Clark Griffith P 4 R
1913 Boston Bill Carrigan C R
1904 Boston Jimmy Collins 3B R Jake Stahl PH 2
Chicago N ixey Callahan OF R St. Louis George Stovall IB R
Fielder Jones OF R Jimmy Austin 3B R
Detroit Bobby Lowe 2B R Washington Clark Griffith OF/P 2 1
Washington Malachi Kittredge C R Cleveland Joe Birmingham OF 3 67
Patsy Donovan OF R Chicago N ixey Callahan OF 5 6
New York Clark Griffith P 2 12 New York Frank Chance IB 7 11
1905 Chicago Fielder Jones OF 2 R 1914 New York Frank Chance IB 1

Cleveland Nap Lajoie 2B 5 R Roger Peckinpaugh SS R
Washington Jake Stahl IB 7 R Boston Bill Carrigan C 2 R
Boston Jimmy Collins 3B 4 R Washington Clark Griffith P 3 1
New York Clark Griffith P 6 26 St. Louis Branch Rickey PH 5 2
Cleveland Joe Birmingham OF 8 14
1906 Chicago Fielder Jones OF 1 R
Cleveland Nap Lajoie 2B 3 R 1915 Boston Bill Carrigan C 1 46
Washington Jake Stahl IB 7 R New York Wild Bill Donovan P 5 10
Boston Jimmy Collins 3B 36
Chick Stahl OF R 1916 Boston Bill Carrigan C 1 33
New York Clark Griffith P/PH 2 17 New York Wild Bill Donovan P 5 10
1907 Chicago Fielder Jones OF 3 R 1917 Boston Jack Barry 2B 2 R

Cleveland Nap Lajoie 2B 4 R
Boston Cy Young P R 1918 St. Louis Jimmy Austin SS R
Bob Unglaub IB R Detroit Hughie Jennings IB 7 1
Deacon McGuire C/PH 6
Detroit Hughie Jennings SS/2B 1 1 1919 Clevelaud T ris Speaker OF R
New York Clark Griffith P 5 4
St. Louis Jimmy McAleer PH 6 2 1920 Cleveland Tris Speaker OF R
1908 Cleveland Nap Lajoie 2B 2 R 1921 Cleveland T ris Speaker OF 2 R

Chicago Fielder Jones OF 3 R Detroit Ty Cobb OF 6 R
Boston Deacon McGuire IB 1
New York Kid Elberfield SS 19 1922 Detroit Ty Cobb OF 3 R
Cleveland T ris Speaker OF 4 R
1909 Cleveland Nap Lajoie 2B 2 R Washington Clyde Milan OF/PH 6 42
Detroit HughieJennings IB 1 2
Chicago Billy Sullivan C 4 R 1923 Detroit Ty Cobb OF 2 R
1910 New York Hal Chase IB R Washington Donie Bush JB/2B 4 10
Cleveland Deacon McGuire C 5 1 St. Louis Jimmy Austin C 1
St. Louis Jack O'Connor C 8 1
The crest of this first wave came in 1905 when all eight Brooklyn; Joe Kelley (five years at Cincinnati and Bos--
NL squads had a player--manager during the season. Other ton); Red Dooin (five years with the Phillies); and Fred
NL player--managers during this period include Patsy Tenney (four years with Boston).
Donovan, who spent five years managing St. Louis and The most successful AL player--manager was Boston's
AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

played played
1924 Washington Bucky Harris 2B 1 R 1938 Boston Joe Cronin SS 2 R
Detroit Ty Cobb OF 3 R Chicago Jimmy Dykes 2B/3B 6 26
St. Louis George Sisler IB 4 R
Cleveland T ris Speaker OF 6 R 1939 Boston Joe Cronin SS 2 R
Chicago Jimmy Dykes 3B 6 2
1925 Washington Bucky Harris 2B 1 R
St. Louis George Sisler IB 3 R 1940 Boston Joe Cronin SS 4 R
Detroit Ty Cobb OF 4 R
Chicago Eddie Collins 2B 5 R 1941 Boston Joe Cronin SS 2 R
1942 Boston Joe Cronin IB/3B 2 R
1926 Cleveland T ris Speaker OF 2 R Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 4 R
Washington Bucky Harris 2B 4 R St. Louis Luke Sewell C 3 6
Chicago Eddie Collins 2B 5 R
Detroit Ty Cobb OF 6 R 1943 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 3 R
St. Louis George Sisler IB 7 R Boston Joe Cronin PH/3B 7 59
1927 Washington Bucky Harris 2B 3 R 1944 Boston Joe Cronin IB 4 R

Chicago Ray Schalk C 5 16 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 5 R
1928 Washington Bucky Harris 2B 4 R 1945 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS R

Chicago Ray Schalk C 2 Boston Joe Cronin 3B 3
1929 Detroit Bucky Harris 2B 6 4 1946 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 6 R

Chicago Lena Blackburne P 7 1 New York Bill Dickey C/PH 3 54
Chic~go Ted Lyons P 5
1930 none
1947 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 4 R
1931 Detroit Bucky Harris 2B 7 4
1948 Cleveland Lou Boudreau 55 R
1932 Boston Marty McM:::tnus 2B/3B R
Chicago Lew Fonseca OF/P 7 18 1949 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 3 R
1933 Washington Joe Cronin SS 1 R 1950 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 4 R

Boston Marty McManus 3B 7 R
St. Louis Rogers Hornsby 2B 11 1952 St. Louis Marty Marion SS 7 R
Chicago Lew Fonseca IB/PH 6 23 Boston Lou Boudreau 2B/3B 6 4
Detroit Fred Hutchinson P 11
1934 Detroit Mickey Cochrane C 1 R
St. Louis Rogers Hornsby 2B 6 24 1953 St. Louis Marty Marion 3B 8 3
Washington Joe Cronin SS 7 R
Chicago Jimmy Dykes 3B R 1954 Philadelphia Eddie Joost SS/3B 8 19
1935 Detroit Mickey Cochrane C 1 R 1961 Kansas City Hank Bauer OF 43

Boston Joe Cronin SS 4 R
Chicago Jimmy Dykes 3B 5 R 1975 Cleveland Frank Robinson DH 5 49
St. Louis Rogers Hornsby 2B 7 10
1976 Cleveland Frank Robinson DH 4 36
1936 Chicago Jimmy Dykes 3B 3 R
Boston Joe Cronin SS 6 R 1979 Chicago Don Kessinger SS 56
St. Louis Rogers Hornsby 2B 7 2
Detroit Mickey Cochrane C 2 44 1951, 55,60,62,74, 77,78, 80,88, None.
1937 Chicago Jimmy Dykes 3B/IB 3 R * partial season

Boston Joe Cronin SS 5 R R regular player
St. Louis Rogers Hornsby 2B 65
Detroit Mickey Cochrane C 2 27
third baseman Jimmy Collins. In six years he won two twenty..four..year..old Deacon McGuire took the reigns for
pennants and the first modern World Series in 1903. the rest of the season. Deacon only played occasionally,
After relieving Collins of his post late in the 1906 season, appearing in one game in 1907 as a catcher and one in
Boston management gave the job to centerfielder Chick 1908 at first. He would also appear in one game in 1910 as
Stahl for the last eighteen games of the season. The 1907 manager of the Cleveland Indians.
season opened with Cy Young exchanging lineup cards at The Red Sox made a small entry in the record books in
home plate. Cy decided after seven games that managing 1912 when they hired Jake Stahl as manager. Coupled
was not in his future. George Huff filled in for eight games with his brother's tour of duty as Boston manager in 1906,
and first baseman Bob Unglaub for twenty..eight before they became the only brother combination to have man..
aged the same team, and as player..managers on top of it.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION PLAYING MANAGERS Stahl lasted another half season before giving way to
Year Club Manager Position Finish Games catcher Bill Carrigan. Carrigan finished 1913 in fourth
played
place. In three more terms as player..manager Rough Bill
1882 Cincinnati Pop Snyder C R
Louisville Leech Maskrey OF R
Jim Oyler OF 1 UNION ASSOCIATION PLAYING MANAGERS
St. Louis Ned Cuthbert OF R Year Club Manager Position Finish Games
Ed Brown OF 2 played
Baltimore Henry Myers SS 6 R
1884 Cincinnati Dan O'Leary OF R
Sam Crane 2B R
1883 St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB R
Baltimore Charlie Levis IB R
Cincinnati Pop Snyder C 3 R
Boston Tim Murnane IB R
Louisville Leech Maskrey OF R
Chi,Pit Joe Battin 3B 18
Joe Gerhardt 2B R
Joe Elleck OF R
Pittsburgh Joe Battin 3B R
Kansas City Ted Sullivan OF/SS 11 3
Baltimore Bill Barnie C/OF/SS 8 17
Philadelphia Fergy Malon C 1
1884 Louisville Joe Gerhardt 2B R

Cincinnati Will White P R
PLAYERS LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS
Pop Snyder C R
Year Club Manager Position Finish Games
Toledo Charlie Morton P/IF/OF 8 R
played
Pittsburgh Joe Battin 3B R
George Creamer 2B R 1890 Boston King Kelly C/IF/OF 1 R
Bob Ferguson OF/IB/3B * 10 Brooklyn Monte Ward SS 2 R
Indianapolis Bill Watkins 2B/3B R New York Buck Ewing C 3 R
Chicago Charlie Comiskey IB 4 R
1885 St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB R Philadelphia Jim Fogarty OF R
Philadelphia Lou Knight OF R Charlie Buffington P R
Cleveland Henry Larkin IB R
1886 St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB 1 R Patsy Tebeau 3B R
Baltimore Bill Barnie OF/C 8 2 Pittsburgh Ned Hanlon OF 6 R
Buffalo Jack Rowe SS 8 R
1887 St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB R Jay Faatz IB R
New York Dave Orr IB R
St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB R FEDERAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

1888
Louisville John Kerins OF R Year Club Manager Position Finish Games
Kansas City Sam Barkley 2B R played
Dave Rowe OF 32 1914 Chicago Joe Tinker SS 2 R
Baltimore Otto Knabe 2B 3 R
1889 Louisville Dude Esterbrook IB/OF/SS * 11 Kansas City George Stovall IB 6 R
Chicken Wolf OF R Pittsburgh Rebel Oakes OF R
Dan Shannon 2B R St. Louis Mordecai Brown P R
St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB 2 R Buffalo Larry Schlafly IF/OF 4 51
Brooklyn Bill Bradley PH 5 7
1890 St. Louis Tommy McCarthy OF R
1915 Pittsburgh Rebel Oakes OF 3 R
1891 St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB 2 R Kansas City George Stovall IB 4 R
Baltimore George Van Haltren OF R Newark Bill McKechnie 3B R
Philadelphia George Wood OF R Buffalo Walter Blair C R
Cin,Mil King Kelly C R Harry Lord 3B R
Boston Arthur Irwin SS 6 Baltimore Otto Knabe 2B 8 R
Washington Pop Snyder IB/C/OF 8 Chicago Joe Tinker SS/2B/3b 1 31
Dan Shannon SS/2B 19
Sandy Griffin OF 20
finished second and took two pennants and two World Frankie Frisch, Charlie Grimm, and Joe Cronin grabbed
Series. He retired in 191 7 and second baseman Jack Barry one each in St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington, re . .
finished the season to complete Boston's affair with spectively. The 1934 World Series was the last in which
player.. managers. player.. managers opposed each other, Frisch's Gas House
Other AL playing managers of the period met with Gang romping past Cochrane's Tigers. Some might argue
indifferent success. Clark Griffith would win the first AL that 1935 was the last Series with rival player.. managers,
pennant in 1901 with Chicago but came up short in nine but the Cubs' Charlie Grimm appeared in only two games
other seasons at the helm with the White Sox, Yankees, that year and did not put himself in the lineup against the
and Senators. Nap Lajoie would get as high as second Tigers.
once in five seasons with the Indians, and Fielder Jones The 1940s saw Joe Cronin, Lou Boudreau, and Mel Ott
would take his Hitless Wonders to one world cham.. continue Hall.. of.. Fame careers as player.. managers. Leo
pionship in five seasons. Durocher would ~)ccasionally insert his name into the
From the late teens until the mid 1920s, the use of the Dodger lineup as late as 1943. But the player.. manager was
player.. manager began to fade. While the playing manager clearly in eclipse. Veterans Freddie Fitzsimmons, Ben
did not disappear from the face of the earth, most were Chapman, Bill Dickey, and Ted Lyons would make brief
aging stars put in to draw crowds and get some use out of appearances as both players and managers. Lou Bou..
their relatively high salaries. The current model for man.. dreau's nine.. year stint at Cleveland ended in 1950.
agers was John McGraw, who had first been a player.. The Sporting News Guide noted that 1956 was the first
manager in 1899 with the Baltimore team when Ned year in the history of maj or.. league baseball there were no
Hanlon moved to Brooklyn. player.. managers. In the prior season Harry Walker would
The manager's job had changed from the 1800s. The manage St. Louis and pinch.. hit in eleven games. This
task of contract negotiations had been taken over by the had been the pattern since 1951. Eddie Stanky, Phil
club ownership. The League had responsibility for sched.. Cavarretta, Marty Marion, Eddie Joost would keep the
ules. The reserve clause had curtailed the winter rec.. flame alive with a few game appearances. In 1959 Solly
ruitment of players. Expanded rosters and the greater use Hemus played in two games, pinch.. hit in twenty.. two
of non.. playing managers had increased the complexity of others and managed the Cardinals to seventh place.
the manager's field and clubhouse duties. He had to satisfy In six of the last thirteen seasons players have managed
twenty. or so men, most of whom felt they should be at least briefly. Does this signal a return to the player..
starters. He had to juggle eight.. to.. ten.. man pitching manager? Probably not. The field manager's job is cer..
staffs. Furthermore, the use of pinch.. hitters, relief pitch.. tainly more complex today than it was in 1907. He
ers, and defensive substitutions had made it more difficult manages quite nicely from the bench.
to manage and play simultaneously.
The 1919.. 29 era provided the century's second wave of
playing managers. Cleveland named Tris Speaker man..
ager in mid.. 1919. Ty Cobb joined the fraternity in 1921.
Shortstop Dave Bancroft took over the Boston Braves in
1924. In 1925 Rogers Hornsby managed St. Louis and, for
fifty.. three games, Rabbit Maranville ran the Chicago
Cubs. In the AL, Speaker and Cobb were joined by
Washington's Bucky Harris, St. Louis' George Sisler, and
the White Sox' Eddie Collins. Eight of sixteen major
league teams were run by player.. managers destined for the
Hall.. of.. Fame. Five other managers who began as player..
managers would also make it to Cooperstown! John
McGraw, Bill McKechnie, Branch Rickey, Wilbert Rob..
inson, and Connie Mack.
By 1929 there were no regular and only three part.. time
players managing. The final wave of playing managers
appears in 1933.. 37. Eight of ten pennants, including all
five in the NL, were won by player.. managers. Bill Terry
won three pennants as McGraw's successor in New York,
Mickey Cochrane captured two flags in Detroit, and
Runs Produced Plus
BOBBY FONG
N ow that runs produced has become a familiar and

respected figure, here are a couple ofinteresting wrinkles:
lifetime runs produced and runs produced per game.
UNS PRODUCED (R + RBI and Bobby Doerr. Nellie Fox, with similar credentials,
R
HR) has
become a familiar formula to baseball should eventually join this company.
fans. It designates the number of team runs which Table 2 lists those players active in 1987 who have
a player has contributed to producing, either by scoring accumulated 1,500 LRP. Five players should be over
the run or by driving it in. 2,000 LRP after 1988: Buddy Bell, Dave Parker, Dwight
Like hits, runs produced is an indicator of offensive Evans, Keith Hernandez, and Robin Yount. In future
value, and 200 RP, like 200 hits, is a notable achievement years, Eddie Murray, Andre Dawson, and Dale Murphy
for a season. RP can also indicate significant lifetime should make good tuns at that total.
thresholds. We're familiar with the thresholds for lifetime There is another way of looking at Runs Produced that
hits: 2,000 and 3,000; the latter achievement virtually is not so dependent on longevity, and that's Runs Pro..
punches a player's ticket for the Hall of Fame. At the end duced per Game (RP/G), derived by dividing RP by games
of the 1987 season 130 men had accumulated 2,000 played. A natural milestone for this statistic would be
Lifetime Runs Produced (LRP), and twenty of those had 1.00, indicating that a player averaged at least one RP for
3,000 LRP. Table 1 lists these players. A quick glance at each game he played. RP/G is particularly influenced by
the names reveals one particular virtue of RP: Unlike the general offensive context of an era. It is misleading, in
. other counting stats, RP can put both singles hitters and other words, to compare the RP/G of a player from the
sluggers on a single continuum without creating unfair or 1920..45 era with one who was active between 1961 .. 72.
irrelevant comparisons. We don't think of evaluating the The conditions of play, team offensive contexts, and
worth of Willie Keeler by his home runs, or Ernie Lom.. ballpark influences differ making 1920..45 an offensive
bardi by his stolen bases, or Billy Hamilton by his RBI, or golden age and 1961 .. 72 an offensive dark age. At the
Harmon Killebrew by his batting average. But if the same time, Table 3 does seem to distinguish the most
object of baseball offense is to contribute to team runs, productive hitters within each period. Note particularly
then by adding runs scored and RBI together we get a Jackie Robinson, Ralph Kiner, and Roy Campanella from
legitimate continuum that puts Pete Rose's total next to . the 1946..60 era and Dick Allen from the 1961 .. 72 period.
Babe Ruth's without gross injustice. All were players whose careers were too short for them to
As baseball historian Bill James has noted in the 1987 achieve 2,000 LRP, but whose brilliance is reflected in
BaseballAbstract, longevity is tied to excellence. Odds are their RP/G averages.
that a marginally productive player simply won't be kept Finally, Table 4 indicates the young talent as well as
around long enough to accumulate either 2,300 games or the old who are distinguished by 1.00 RP/G. Don Mat..
2,000 LRP. tingly, Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken Jr., and Darryl Straw..
Of those players eligible for the Hall of Fame, every berry are good bets to continue at this level of
player with 3,000 LRP and every player with 2,500 LRP productivity; only time will tell about Eric Davis, Mark
whose career began after 1900 have been elected as McGwire, Kevin Seitzer, and Ellis Burks.
members. Recent elections have also honored men who
accumulated 2,000 LRP while playing defensively crucial Bobby Fong is an associate professor of English at Berea (Ky.)
positions: Luis Aparicio, Pee Wee Reese, Arky Vaughan, College.
TABLE 1
LIFETIME RUNS PRODUCED
Rank Name Runs + RBI = Total - HR = LRP XSea
1. Ty Cobb* 2245 1961 4206 118 4088
2. Henry Aaron * 2174 2297 4471 755 3716
3. Babe Ruth* 2174 2211 4385 714 3671
4. Stan Musial * 1949 1951 3900 475 3425
5. Lou Gehrig* 1888 1990 3878 493 3385
6. Honus Wagner * 1740 1732 3472 101 3371
7. Cap Anson* 1719 1715 3434 96 3338 +2
8. Tris Speaker* 1881 1559 3440 117 3323
9. Pete Rose 2165 1314 3479 160 3319
10. Willie Mays * 2062 1903 3965 660 3305
II. MelOtt* 1859 1860 3719 511 3208
Carl Yastrzemski 1816 1844 3660 452 3208
13. Jimmie Foxx * 1751 1921 3672 534 3138
14. Ted Williams * 1798 1839 3637 521 3116
15. Jake Beckley* 1600 1575 3175 88 3087
16. Eddie Collins * 1818 1299 3117 47 3070
17. Frank Robinson * 1829 1812 3641 586 3055
18. Al Simmons* 1507 1827 3334 307 3027
19. Nap Lajoie* 1504 1599 3103 82 3021
20. Charlie Gehringer* 1774 1427 3201 184 3017
21. Ed Delahanty* 1599 1464 3063 100 2963
22. George Davis 1544 1435 2979 73 2906
23. Rogers Homsby* 1579 1584 3163 301 2862
24. Goose Goslin * 1483 1609 3092 248 2844
25. Paul Waner* 1626 1309 2935 112 2823
26. Sam Crawford * 1393 1525 2918 97 2821
27. Al Kaline* 1622 1583 3205 399 2806
28. Bill Dahlen 1611 1233 2844 84 2760
29. Hugh Duffy* 1553 1299 2852 103 2749
30. Reggie Jackson 1551 1702 3253 563 2690
3I. Frankie Frisch * 1532 1244 2776 105 2671
32. Harry Heilmann * 1291 1551 2842 183 2659
33. Mickey Mantle * 1677 1509 3186 536 2650
34. Lave Cross 1333 1344 2677 47 2630 +1
35. Jimmy Ryan 1643 1093 2736 118 2618
36. Jesse Burkett* 1713 952 2665 75 2590
37. George Van Haltren 1639 1014 2653 69 2584
38. Fred Clarke * 1626 1015 2641 67 2574
39. Joe DiMaggio* 1390 1537 2927 361 2566
40. Roger Connor* 1621 1077 2698 136 2526 +4
4I. Sam Rice* 1515 1078 2593 34 2559
42. Joe Kelley* 1426 1193 2619 65 2554
43. Tony Perez 1272 1652 2924 379 2545
44. Joe Morgan 1651 1134 2785 268 2517
45. Willie Keeler* 1722 810 2532 34 2498
46. Joe Cronin* 1233 1424 2657 170 2487
47. Robert Clemente * 1416 1305 2721 240 2481
48. Dan Brouthers * 1523 1056 2579 106 2473 +4
49. Billy Williams * 1410 1475 2885 426 2459
50. Eddie Mathews * 1509 1453 2962 512 2450
5I. Sam Thompson * 1263 1299 2562 128 2434
52. Ernie Banks * 1305 1636 2941 512 2429
53. Herman Long 1460 1052 2512 92 2420
54. Zack Wheat* 1289 1261 2550 132 2418
55. Mike Schmidt (A) 1435 1505 2940 530 2410
56. Pie Traynor * 1183 1273 2456 58 2398
57. Luke Appling* 1319 1116 2435 45 2390
58. Billy Hamilton* 1692 736 2428 40 2388
59. Enos Slaughter* 1247 1304 2551 169 2382
60. Jim Bottomley* 1177 1422 2599 219 2380
61. Joe Medwick* 1198 1383 2581 205 2376
62. Rusty Staub 1189 1466 2655 292 2363
*Member, Hall of Fame (A) Active in 1988

'35
LIFETIME RUNS PRODUCED (Continued)

Rank Name Runs + RBI = Total HR = LRP XSea
63. Lou Brock * 1610 900 2510 149 2361
64. George Sisler* 1284 1175 2459 100 2359
65. Bid McPhee 1684 726 2410 52 2358 +6
66. Heinie Manush * 1287 1173 2460 110 2350
67. Rod Carew 1424 1015 2439 92 2347
68. Mickey Vernon 1196 1311 2507 172 2335
69. Brooks Robinson * 1232 1357 2589 268 2321
70. Al Oliver 1189 1326 2515 219 2296
71. Harmon Killebrew * 1283 1584 2867 573 2294
72. Tommy Corcoran 1188 1135 2323 34 2289
73. Harry Stovey 1494 907 2401 120 2281 +6
74. Vada Pinson 1366 1170 2536 256 2280
75. Max Carey* 1545 800 2345 69 2276
76. Willie McCovey* 1229 1555 2784 521 2263
77. Willie Stargell * 1195 1540 2735 475 2260
78. Yogi Berra* 1175 1430 2605 358 2247
79. Kiki Cuyler* 1305 1065 2370 127 2243
80. Bob Johnson 1239 1283 2522 288 2234
81. Ed McKean 1227 1069 2296 66 2230 +1
82. Jim O'Rourke * 1446 830 2276 51 2225 +4
83. Dave Winfield (A) 1218 1331 2549 332 2217
84. Sherry Magee 1112 1182 2294 83 2211
85. Ted Simmons (A) 1068 1378 2446 246 2200
86. Duke Snider* 1259 1333 2592 407 2185
87. Steve Garvey 1143 1308 2451 272 2179
88. Harry -Hooper * 1429 817 2246 75 2171
89. Doc Cramer 1357 842 2199 37 2162
90. Jim Rice (A) 1170 1351 2521 364 2157
91. Joe Kuhel 1236 1049 2285 131 2154
92. Earl Averill * 1224 1165 2389 238 2151
93. Joe Judge 1184 1037 2221 71 2150
94. Bobby Wallace * 1057 1121 2178 35 2143
Joe Sewell * 1141 1051 2192 49 2143
96. Darrell Evans (A) 1265 1251 2516 381 2135
97. Ron Santo 1138 1331 2469 342 2127
98. Don Baylor (A) 1208 1242 2450 331 2119
99. Bobby Doerr* 1094 1247 2341 223 2118
100. Orlando Cepeda 1131 1365 2496 379 2117
101. Dummy Hoy 1426 726 2152 40 2112
102. Rabbit Maranville * 1255 884 2139 28 2111
103. Tommy Leach 1355 810 2165 62 2103
104. Craig Nettles (A) 1188 1300 2488 389 2099
105. Pee Wee Reese* 1338 885 2223 126 2097
106. Johnny Mize * 1118 1337 2455 359 2096
107. Arlie Latham 1478 641 2119 27 2092 +5
108. Bob Elliott 1064 1195 2259 170 2089
109. King Kelly* 1363 794 2157 69 2088 +2
Willie Davis 1217 1053 2270 182 2088
111. Mike Griffin 1406 719 2125 41 2084 +1
112. Johnny Bench 1091 1376 2467 389 2078
113. Jimmy Dykes 1108 1071 2179 109 2070
114. Chuck Klein* 1168 1201 2369 300 2069
Statistics were taken from The Baseball Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 1985, and the Baseball Encyclopedia Updates for 1986 and 1987. Figures for
players active in 1987 were taken from the Elias Sports Bureau summaries in the 19 October 1987 Sporting News. Thirteen players, however,
were active in y~ars before 1888 for which RBI records are still incomplete. The Encyclopedia's policy has been to refrain from crediting any
RBI for those se~sons. I have indicated for such players the number of additional seasons (XSea. ) for which they still need to be credited with
RBI. Unfortunately, the Encyclopedia's policy would have excluded four players, Harry Stovey (2281), Arlie Latham (2092), ~1ike Griffin
(2084), and Fred Pfeffer (2018) from the list because each needed RBI from those missing seasons to reach the minimum of 2000 LRP. For
these four players, RBI totals are taken from Neft and Cohen's Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 6th ed., 1985, which apparently has credited
players from this era with RBI from those incomplete records. Finally, two other players deserve mention:
Tom Brown 1521 R + 528 RBI = 2049 - 64 HR = 1985 LRP with 5 XSea.
Billy Nash 1072 R + 976 RBI = 2048 61 HR = 1987 LRP with 1 XSea.
In both cases it is possible that RBI from the missing season totals would push the player over 2000 LRP. But since neither the Encyclopedia nor
N eft and Cohen indicate possible totals, Brown and Nash have been left off this list.
36
THE BASEBALL RESEARCH OURNAL
LIFETIME RUNS PRODUCED (Continued)

Rank Name Runs + RBI = Total HR = XSea
115. Monte Ward* 1408 686 2094 26 2068 +4
116. Mike Tieman 1313 851 2164 108 2056
117. Bobby Veach 953 1166 2119 64 2055
118. Jimmy Sheckard 1295 813 2108 56 2052
119. Bobby Lowe 1135 984 2119 70 2049
120. Bill Terry* 1120 1078 2198 154 2044
,12l. Luis Aparicio * 1335 791 2126 83 2043
122. George Brett (A) 1143 1128 2271 231 2040
123. Patsy Donovan 1318 736 2054 16 2038
124. Nellie Fox 1279 790 2069 35 2034
125. Ben Chapman 1144 977 2121 90 2031
126. Bill Buckner (A) 1047 1146 2193 169 2024
127. Fred Pfeffer 1094 1019 2123 95 2018 +2
128. Edd Roush* 1099 981 2080 68 2012
129. Gil Hodges 1105 1274 2379 370 2009
130. Arky Vaughan * 1173 926 2099 96 2003
TABLE 2 TABLE 3
PLAYERS ACTIVE IN 1987 WITH 1500 LRP PvST--WORLD WAR II PLAYERS
Reggie Jackson 2690 Robin Yount 1898 WITH 1.00 RP/G*
Mike Schmidt 2410 Cecil Cooper 1896 1946.. 1960
Dave Winfield 2217 Hal McRae 1846 Ted Williams 1.36 Minnie Minoso 1.07
Ted Simmons 2200 Gary Matthews 1827 Stan Musial 1.13 Jackie Jensen 1.07
Steve Garvey 2179 Dave Concepcion 1823 Dom DiMaggio 1.13 Yogi Berra 1.06
Jim Rice 2157 Carlton Fisk 1815 Vern Stephens 1. 12 Bob Elliott 1.06
Darrell Evans 2135 Ron Cey 1800 Jackie Robinson 1.12 Del Ennis 1.04
Don Baylor 2119 Eddie Murray 1774 Mickey Mantle 1.10 Eddie Mathews 1.03
Graig Nettles 2099 George Hendrick 1757 Ralph Kiner 1. 10 Roy Campanella 1.02
George Brett 2040 Gary Carter 1693 Larry Doby 1.09 Duke Snider 1.02
Bill Buckner 2024 Ken Griffey 1684 Enos Slaughter 1.00
Buddy Bell 1988 Fred Lynn 1677
Dave Parker 1972 Andre Dawson 1619 1961.. 1972
Dwight Evans 1938 Bill Madlock 1617 Hank Aaron 1. 13
Jose Cruz 1933 Dale Murphy 1545 Willie Mays 1.10
Keith Hernandez 1899 Larry Parrish 1517 Frank Robinson 1.09
Dick Allen 1.07
TABLE 4 Roberto Clemente 1.02
PLAYERS ACTIVE IN 1987
WITH 1.00 RP/G + 1973.. 1987
Don Mattingly 1.17 Jose Canseco 1.03 Jim Rice 1. 14 Dave Parker 1.02
Jim Rice 1.14 Paul Molitor 1.03 George Brett 1.10 Fred Lynn 1.02
Wally Joyner 1.13 .Bob Hornero 1.02 Rickey Henderson 1.08 Dale Murphy 1.02
Eric Davis 1.10 Danny Tartabull 1.02 Eddie Murray 1.07 Andre Dawson 1.01
George Brett 1.10 Tim Raines 1.02 Mike Schmidt 1.07 Keith Hernandez 1.01
Rickey Henderson 1.08 Dave Parker 1.02 Bobby Bonds 1.05 Jack Clark 1.01
Mark McGwire 1.08 Fred Lynn 1.02 Dave Winfield 1.05 Cecil Cooper 1.00
Wade Boggs 1.07 Dale Murphy 1.02
Eddie Murray 1.07 Andre Dawson 1.01 Minimum of 4000 AB
Mike Schmidt 1.07 Keith Hernandez 1.01
Kevin Seitzer 1.05 Jack Clark 1.01
Dave Winfield 1.05 Cecil Cooper 1.00
Darryl Strawberry 1.04 Ellis Burks 1.00
Cal Ripken 1.04 Kent Hrbek 1.00
Juan Samuel 1.04 Julio Franco 1.00
+ Minimum of 100G Played 1987 in Japan
Denny McLain's Superb '68:
A Pennant and 31 Wins
LARRY AMMAN
Whatever else has happened in his weird and not always

wonderful life, Danny McLain has the satisfaction ofhaving
pitched the only 30,win season in recent baseball history.
D
ENNIS DALE MCLAIN was not very popular good fastball, Denny now had mastered the hard slider.
. with Detroit Tiger followers as the 1968 season He threw a very good curve, either overhand or sidearm.
began. There had been a bitter taste in the And he used the changeup effectively.
mouths of Motor City baseball fans since the Tigers lost June began slowly. After a no,decision against New
the pennant on the last day of the season in 1967. Denny York, McLain started a game in Boston on just two days'
McLain was a logical target of the bitterness. He did not rest. He was taken out after 6 innings with Detroit ahead.
pitch at all the last week of the season because of a At home against Cleveland, the Tigers were unable to
mysterious foot injury. His season record was a very score a run for Denny for the first time in the season. In
disappointing 17,16. this "Year of the Pitcher, " Indian hurler Luis Tiant had an
The 1968 campaign started auspiciously for the Tigers, .earned run average even lower than McLain's. The eu,
if not for McLain. In Denny's first two starts Detroit won ban bested Detroit 2,0.
in the late innings after he had been removed from the Denny gave up just one run in each of his next three
game. When McLain got his first win of the year, on April starts to raise his record to 12,2. On June 24, Jim North,
21, it was the seventh of 9 consecutive wins for his club. rup's two grand,slam homers led the Tigers to a 13,4 win
In his next three starts the brash, blond righthander at Cleveland for McLain. In his next start, another
pitched complete,game victories, each coming after a Northrup homer with the bases loaded gave Denny his
Detroit loss. margin of victory. In this season in which runs scored
After defeating California at Tiger Stadium on May 5, dropped to an all,time low, Detroit averaged over 5 runs
Denny told reporters, "Detroit fans are front,runners and per game when McLain pitched. The team averaged just
the world's worst. " In spite of a Detroit newspaper strike, over 4 runs per game over the whole season.
that quote was repeated all over the city. On Sunday, July 7, Detroit beat Oakland 5,4 at Tiger
Fortunately for McLain, his next start was in Wash, Stadium. Willie Horton hit a home run in the ninth to
ington on the 10th. The Tigers won 12,1 to go into first give McLain his 16th win and put the Bengals in first by
place, where they would remain the rest of the season. 9Vl games going into the All,Star break.
On the 15th Denny started against Baltimore in Tiger Two days later, at Houston, Denny pitched the third
Stadium. He was booed all through the 2 innings he lasted and fourth innings of the All,Star Game, allowing no
(he gave up 4 runs). McLain's record was now 5,1. runs. He flew in and out of Houston in a jet from Las
After a 10.. inning victory in Minnesota, Denny won his Vegas. Tllis year McLairl would becorne known as an
seventh game on the 25th in Oakland. In this contest he airplane pilot and as an organist almost as much as he was
beat out a bunt in the eighth inning and scored his team's known as a pitcher.
first run. A shutout of California on May 29 brought his In his next two starts, the Tiger righthander showed
record to 8,1. Over a whole season he might win. . . No. there would be no repeat of the mid,season collapse of
Tiger followers knew better than to play that game with 1966. He did not give up an earned run in either Min,
Denny McLain. Two years before, the brash youngster nesota or Oakland, running his string of consecutive wins
was the All,Star Game starter with 15 wins. That year he to 8 and complete games to 7.
just barely won 20. Still,! McLain looked much better and OnJuly 20 Denny lost to Baltimore. He was removed in
much more poised in 1968. Perhaps the lessons of pitch,
ing coach Johnny Sain were sinking in. In addition to a Larry Amman is a travel agent in Washington, D.C.
the middle of an inning for the first time that season; pitcher had reached that mark before August 1 since
pitcher Dave McNally had hit a 2..run homer off him. Just 1931, when Lefty Grove of the A's won 31 games. Denny
a week later McLain got revenge on the Orioles by followed this up with 5 straight wins in which he allowed
winning his 20th game in Baltimore. It was the first time a only 4 earned runs.
Denny McLain - 1968

DATE OPPONENT OUTCOME INN H R..ER BB SO DECISION RECORD
4.. 11 Bos 4..3 W 7 6 3..3 3 6 NO 0..0
4.. 17 Cle 4..3 W 7 6 2..2 2 9 NO 0..0
4.. 21 at Chi 4..2 W 9 7 2.. 2 1 8 W 1..0
4..27 at NY 7..0W 9 5 0..0 2 6 W 2..0
5.. 1 Min 3..2 W 9 6 2..2 0 9 W 3..0
5..5 Cal 5..2 W 9 7 2..2 1 7 W 4..0
5.. 10 at Was 12.. 1 W 9 7 1.. 1 0 7 W 5..0
5.. 15 Bal 10..8 L 2 4 4..4 1 0 L 5.. 1
5..20 at Min 4..3 W 10 7 3..3 0 7 W 6.. 1
5..25 at Oak 2.. 1 W 9 6 1..0 1 8 W 7.. 1
5..29 at Cal 3..0W 9 4 0..0 1 13 W 8.. 1
6..2 NY 4..3 L 8 9 3..3 1 4 NO 8.. 1
6..5 at Bos 5..4W 6 5 4..3 1 4 W 9.. 1
6..9 Cle 2..0 L 8 3 2..2 0 4 L 9..2
6.. 13 Min 3.. 1 W 9 6 1.. 1 1 6 W 10..2
6.. 16 at Chi 6.. 1 W 7 3 1.. 1 2 5 W 11 ..2
6..20 Bos 5.. 1 W 9 3 1.. 1 2 10 W 12.. 2
6..24 at Cle 14..3 W 9 9 3..3 0 8 W 13.. 2
6..29 Chi 5..2 W 9 8 2.. 2 2 5 W 14.. 2
7..3 Cal 5..2 W 9 4 2..2 2 10 W 15.. 2
7..7 Oak 5..4W 9 5 4..4 1 9 W 16..2
7.. 12 at Min 5.. 1 W 9 3 1..0 4 5 W 17.. 2
7.. 16 at Oak 4..0W 9 8 0..0 0 8 W 18..2
7..20 Bal 5..3 L 4.1 6 5..5 3 4 L 18..3
7..23 at Was 6..4W 7 8 4..4 4 7 W 19..3
7..27 at Bal 9..0W 9 3 0..0 2 7 W 20..3
7..31 Was 4..0W 9 4 0..0 1 8 W 21 ..3
8..4 at Min 2.. 1 W 9 5 1..0 4 4 W 22 ..3
8..8 Cle 13.. 1 W 6 6 1.. 1 3 2 W 23 ..3
8.. 12 at Cle 6..3 W 9 5 3..3 1 5 W 24..3
8.. 16 at Bos 4..0W 9 7 0..0 1 9 W 25 ..3
8..20 Chi 10..2 L 5.2 9 9..2 2 3 L 25 ..4
8..24 at NY 2.. 1 L 7 5 2..2 0 6 L 25 ..5
8..28 Cal 6.. 1 W 9 6 1.. 1 2 11 W 26..5
9.. 1 Bal 7..3 W 9 7 3..3 2 9 W 27 ..5
9..6 Min 8..3 W 9 9 3..3 1 12 W 28..5
9.. 10 at Cal 7..2 W 9 9 2..2 1 12 W 29..5
9.. 14 Oak 5..4W 9 6 4..4 1 10 W 30..5
9.. 19 NY 6..2 W 9 8 2..2 3 7 W 31 ..5
9..23 at Bal 2.. 1 L 7 5 2.. 1 5 4 L 31 ..6
9..28 Was 2.. 1 L 7 2 0..0 0 4 NO 31 ..6
GS CG IP H BB SO SHO W..L PCT ERA

41* 28* 336* 241 63 280 6 31 ..6* .838* 1.96
*led league
TEAM W..L PITCHERS

Bal 2..3 beat Phoebus (15 .. 15), Hardin (18.. 13). lost to McNally (22.. 10), Nelson (4..3), Watt (5 ..5).
Bos 3..0 beat Landis (3 ..3), Ellsworth (16.. 7), Lonborg (6.. 10).
Cle 3.. 1 beat Paul (5 ..8), Siebert (12.. 10), Romo (13 ..5). lost to Tiant (21 ..9).
NY 2.. 1 beat Peterson (12.. 11), Stottlemyre (21 .. 12). lost to Stottlemyre.
Oak 4..0 beat Krausse (10.. 11), Sprague (3 ..4), Dobson (12 .. 14), Segui (6..5).
Min 6..0 beat Merritt# (12.. 16), Kaat# (14.. 12).
Cal 5..0 beat Brunet (13 .. 17), McGlothlin* (10.. 15), Burgmeier (1 ..4), Messersmith (4..2).
Chi 3~ 1 beat Carlos# (4.. 14). lost to Peters (4.. 13).
Was 3..0 beat Moore (4..6), Ortega (5.. 12), Bertaina (7.. 13).
*lost twice to McLain fI: lost three times to McLain
Then Denny's luck deserted him, even if his skill McLain charged out of the dugout the first 30..game
didn't. Against Chicago he lost a game on his teammates' winner in thirty..four years.
errors and followed it with a loss of a pitchers' duel to Mel In an interview with pitching immortals Dean and
Stottlemyre in New York. It was the only time McLain Sandy Koufax, McLain proclaimed Tiger fans, "the
lost two straight all year. world's greatest."
With sportswriters, broadcast people, agents, and cel.. In his next start McLain showed his newly acquired gift
ebrities all over the country following his almost every for crowd..pleasing. The Tigers were leading New York
step, Denny McLain pushed toward 30 wins. On the 1st of . 6.. 1 late in the game when Mickey Mantle came up for
September, against the Orioles, Denny converted a line what the fans sensed would be the last time in Tiger
drive off the bat of Boog Powell into a triple play on his Stadium. The great veteran slugger was tied with Jimmy
way to a 7..3 win. This seemed symbolic of the team's luck Foxx on the alltime home..run list with 534. The fans
all season in the "Year of the Tiger." A week later he won were on their feet chanting and applauding for a homer.
number 29 in Anaheim, California, after playing host to McLain gave Mickey a sign for a fast ball over the heart of
Ed Sullivan and Glen Campbell. While many athletes on the plate. Mantle hit it into the right..field seats, much to
the verge of great achievements complain of media pres.. the delight of the 9,000 people on hand. Denny went on
sure. Denny seemed to thrive on it. In this game McLain to win his 31st.
had 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Denny McLain won the Cy Young and the Most
On Saturday, September 14, the stage was set for the Valuable Player awards in the American League. In this
try at number 30. There were 33,000 people in the stands pitcher's year he did not dominate the pitching cat..
in Detroit and a national television audience. Brought egories. Three men finished ahead of him in ERA: Tiant
into help the NBC crew with the telecast was Dizzy Dean, and Sam McDowell of Cleveland and Dave McNally of
baseball's last 30..game winner. Baltimore. McDowell had more strikeouts and Tiant
The score was 4..3, Oakland as the bottom of the ninth more shutouts. McLain was 1..3 for the year against the
began. Reggie Jackson had hit 2 home runs off McLain. American League's three 20..game winners. Still, his
Al Kaline batted for McLain and walked. Mikey Stanley dominance in wins, innings pitched, and complete games
singled him to third. When Jim Northrup grounded to earned him the awards. However dismal the rest of Denny
first, Kaline scored on a bad throw and the score was 4.. 4. McLain's life, his 1968 season will always merit him
Willie Horton then singled to win the game. Denny respect.
Babe And Big Train

Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson went head..to..head ten Ruth also garnered 2.. 1 and 4..3 victories. Johnson won
times as pitchers, and Ruth had the best of some tense another distinguished duel 4..3 on a 10th..inning sacrifice
matchups. He won six of the eight games both men fly. Only twice were games one..sided: a 5.. 1 victory for
started. He won three times by 1..0 scores-once in a Ruth and a 6..0 coup for Johnson.
13.. inning classic and once while facing only 29 batters. Steven H. Heath
Bos.. Wash Johnson ERA 1.54 Ruth ERA 1.44

Date Place Score IP R ER H SO BB Decision IP R ER H SO BB Decision
08.. 14.. 1915 B 4..3 8 4 485 1 LP 9 3 2 3 5 2 WP
10..02 .. 1915 W 1..3 9 1 168 2 WP 2 0 0 0 2 2 NO
04.. 17.. 1916 B 5.. 1 6 5 4 11 1 0 LP 9 1 1 8 6 2 WP
06..01 .. 1916 B 1..0 8 1 046 2 LP 9 0 0 3 6 1 WP
08.. 15.. 1916 B 1..0 12.2 1 175 5 LP 13 0 0 8 2 3 WP
09..09.. 1916 W 2.. 1 9 2 2 460 LP 9 1 0 4 3 3 WP
09.. 12.. 1916 W 3..4 10 3 175 0 WP 8.2 2 2 6 7 3 NO
05 ..07.. 1917 W 1..0 9 1 147 1 LP 9 0 0 2 3 1 WP
10..03 .. 1917 B 0.. 6 9 0 o 7 7 2 WP 9 6 5 11 5 3 LP
05 ..09.. 1918 W 3..4 1 0 o 1 0 0 WP 9.2 4 4 11 1 5 LP
Totals 10 games 81.2 18 14 59 50 13 4.. 6 87.1 17 14 56 40 25 6..2
-------<8>-------
Bob Gibson In 1968:
Best Pitching Year Ever
PETER M. GORDON
Overlooked because Series rival Denny McLain won 31

games, Gibson's 22 ~9 and 1. 12 ERA was later called the
best postwar pitching season. It was even better than that.
baseball and basketball in high school and win a bas~
W
E REMEMBER 1968 as The Year of the
Pitcher. The National and American Leagues ketball scholarship to Creighton University. He signed
combined for a .237 batting average. Twenty~ with the Cardinals in 1957 but first played basketball for
one percent of all games played that year were shutouts. the Harlem Globetrotters. Gibson said that he disliked
Only five National League players batted over .300, and the clowning around the 'Trotters did because he burned
Carl Yastrzemski won the A.L. batting title with a whop~ to win all the time. Once Johnny Keane placed him in the
ping .301 average. Cardinals' rotation in 1961, he increased his win total
The pitching achievements that year, on the other each year-from 13 in 1961, to 15, 18, 19,20, and 21 in
hand, were prodigious. Gaylord Perry of the Giants and 1966. He was on track for 22 wins in 1967 when a Roberto
Ray Washburn of the Cardinals pitched consecutive Clemente line drive struck him on the leg in aJune game,
no~hit games in Candlestick Park in September. Jerry cracking his ankle. After being sprayed with pain killer
Koosman, then a rookie pitcher, won 19 games for the Gibson stayed in the game. He walked Willie Stargell, got
ninth~place Mets. Don Drysdale set the record by hurling Bill Mazeroski to pop up, and worked-Donn Clendenon to
58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings for the Dodgers in a 3--2 count before coming down hard following through
May, and Denny McLain won an astounding 31 games for on a fastball and snapping his already cracked bone.
the pennant~winning Tigers-the highest total since Gibson recovered in time to win a couple of games at the
Lefty Grove won the same number in 1931. end of the season and 3 games in the 1967 World Series.
Cardinal ace Bob Gibson had the best year of all, going The Cardinals were favored to repeat as National
22~9 and allowing a microscopic 1.12 earned runs per League pennant winners in 1968. A healthy Gibson was
game. Beating the previous marks set by demigods Walter expected to win at least 20 games. Most National League
Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander during the batters that year considered Gibson the best pitcher and
dead~ball era, Gibson set the record for lowest ERA in a hardest thrower in the league. On Opening Day, Felipe
season by any pitcher with more than 300 innings Alou said "A guy like Gibson makes us worry two months
pitched. Gibson's 1.12 ERA appears, in the words of ahead of time because we know he'll open the season
Roger Angell, one of "baseball's Everests like DiMaggio's - against us ... he's always challenging the batter and
56 consecutive game hitting streak." never lets up. He can reach back anytime and burn your
At the time, Drysdale and McLain's achievements bat."
received more attention than Gibson's. The image of Gibson threw a fastball that appeared to rise through
Gibson as one of the dominant pitchers of his time seems the strike zone from right to left and jump so sharply at the
to have faded from memory more than that of his con~ last minute that many batters mistook it for a slider.
temporaries Sandy Koufax and Tom Seaver. However, Gibson's slider arrived at about three~quartersthe speed of
Gibson's 1968 season, despite his relatively modest won~ the fastball, usually at the extreme corners of the plate.
lost record, may have been the greatest season a pitcher His curve broke down sharply and could freeze the most
ever had.
Bob Gibson overcame a fatherless, disease--ridden Peter M. Gordon has worked as a theater director and teacher
cllildllooJ (he suffered from rickets, asthma, pneumonia, and is currently employed by Home Box Office in New York.
and a rheumatic heart) in Om~ha's black ghetto to star in Jim Buklarawicz assisted him with statistics.
menacing batters. These pitches were delivered with a With the Cardinals way out in front of the'league and
hard~driving lunge off the mound that made Gibson look the pennant clinched in mid~September, Gibson may
a ifhe were leaping at the hitter. He would often finish his have unconsciously relaxed a little while going 2~3 for the
delivery falling of the mound to his left, but still fielded month. His ERA increased from 0.99 at the end of his
his position well enough to earn the Gold Glove for streak to the season~ending 1.12. He also, however, had
pitchers from 1965 to 1973. Many people considered him more than his share of hard luck. On September 18 he lost
the best athlete in the game. 1~O when Gaylord Perry pitched the first of the two
Gibson's scowling, intense demeanor intimidated bat~ consecutive no~hitters. Nonetheless, Gibson's skill and
ters. He worked rapidly, wasting no time between desire had already helped push his team to the top of the
pitches. As Tim McCarver, the Cardinals catcher, re~ league; he eminently deserved the Cy Young and Most
calls, Bob would get mad if the catcher came out to talk to Valuable Player Awards he won for the season.
him. A batter who tried to break Gibson's rhythm by Tim McCarver, Gibson's catcher, attributed Gibson's
stepping in and out of the batter's box often would usually great season t6his "amazing control" and great strength.
find himself sprawled in the dirt. Phil Niekro talked about Gibson's strength after losing to
Both the Cardinals and Gibson got off to slow starts in him 1~0. "That Gibson is such a great competitor that
1968. When Gibson lost a rain~delayed game to the when he makes his first pitch of the game he figures that
Giants 3~ 1, his record dropped to 3~5 and the Cards fell to it's the ninth inning and he's ahead by 1 run." McCarver
fourth. Gibson's ERA stood at 1.54; his teammates had told The New Yorker's Roger Angell that Gibson first
scored a total of 4 runs in his 5 losses. became a great pitcher in the summer of 1966, when he
learned to hit the corners consistently. That skill, com~
HE CARDINALS RALLIED, and Gibson pitched bined with his ability to throw hard for 9 innings, made
T. them into first place for good on June 2. Then he
threw 5 straight shutouts. Clete Boyer, the Atlanta
him unhittable in 1968. An amazing 92 percent of his
starts (32 of 34) were "quality" starts; only once did he
Braves third baseman and one of Gibson's frequent vic~ allow as many as four earned runs in a game. That year,
tims, called him "as great a competitor as I've ever seen Gibson was never relieved during an inning. Although he
. . . Gibson has such a great arm, such great motion, and was at times removed for a pinch hitter while trailing, no
such complete command of his situation that all we opposing team ever knocked him out of the box. He
opposing batters can do is admire him and maybe wait for completed 28 of his 34 starts, leading the NL with 268
him to hang a pitch." By July, Gibson was approaching strikeouts and 13 shutouts. There were other great pitch~
Don Drysdale's consecutive scoreless innings record. ers in the league at that time-Drysdale, Marichal, and
After 4 7 scoreless innings he allowed a Dodger to score on Seaver, to name a few-but Gibson stood head and
a wild pitch that many observers felt John Edwards should shoulders above all of them.
have caught. Gibson won the game 5~ 1, then shut out the Many fans looked forward to the '68 World Series
Giants and Juan Marichal in his next start. But for that because of the pitching matchup between 31~game win~
wild pitch, Gibson would have set a new mark with 65 ner Denny McLain and Gibson. McLain received the
consecutive scoreless innings. lion's share of the press attention. In 1968, proud, aloof
From June 2 to August 4 he allowed 2 earned runs in 99 black men like Gibson who forcefully spoke their minds
innings. After his victory over the Phillies on July 25 he were not often treated kindly by the press. Also, while it
had a 1.04 ERA for the season. The Cardinal bullpen had was easy to appreciate McLain's number of wins, Gibson's
taken to playing checkers and cards during his starts. ERA seemed only slightly better than that of his fellow
Gibson won relentlessly throughout August as the hurlers.
Cards opened up a 14V2~game lead. All in all, he won 15 The attention lavished on McLain may have spurred
straight games until Willie Stargell's home run beat him Gibson's already fierce competitive instincts. In the first
on August 24, 6~4. Three of the runs in that game were game of the Series, Gibson turned the Tiger batters into
unearned. In fact, had the Cardinal fielders done their job Little Leaguers, striking out 17 of them in one of the
Gibson might never have lost a game that summer. greatest individual performances of all time. Gibson con~
Typically, Bob won his 20th game on September 3 with~ centrated so intently on the game that in the ninth
out a great deal of offensive support, beating the Reds 1~0. inning, after fanning Al Kaline, he shouted impatiently
The clubhouse banter afterwards perfectly captured his at catcher Tim McCarver to throw the ball back. McCar~
frustration. "Maybe now you'll pass Marichal, [the league ver pointed instead to the scoreboard behind Gibson in
leader in wins,]" a teammate said. Gibby replied, "Not if center field. Gibson yelled, "Come on, let's go!" but
you guys keep getting only 1 run a game." McCarver didn't yield. Finally Gibson turned and saw the
GREAT PITCHING PERFORMANCES 1892;1987 Pet. Pet. ERAv.

Player Year Wins Losses Pet. ERA Team Team Tm. Lge. Team Abov. Lg.
Wins Loses Pet. ERA Wins Tm. Pet.
Rollie Fingers 1981 6 3 0.667 1.04 62 47 0.569 3.66 9.7 0.098 0.28
Bob Gibson 1968 22 9 0.709 1.12 97 65 0.598 2.99 22.7 0.111 0.37
Walter Johnson 1913 36 7 0.837 1.13 90 64 0.584 2.93 40.0 0.253 0.39
Three Finger Brown 1906 26 6 0.813 1.04 116 36 0.763 2.63 22.4 0.049 0.40
Christy Mathewson 1905 31 8 0.795 1.27 105 48 0.686 2.99 29.5 0.109 0.42
Dwight Gooden 1985 24 4 0.857 1.53 108 54 0.667 3.59 22.2 0.190 0.43
Cy Young 1901 33 10 0.767 1.62 79 57 0.581 3.66 41.8 0.187 0.44
Pete Alexander 1915 31 10 0.756 1.22 90 62 0.592 2.75 34.4 0.164 0.44
Ron Guidry 1978 25 3 0.893 1. 74 100 63 0.613 3.77 25.0 0.280 0.46
Lefty Grove 1931 31 4 0.885 2.06 107 45 0.704 4.38 29.0 0.181 0.47
Sandy Koufax 1966 27 9 0.750 1. 73 95 67 0.586 3.61 28.4 0.164 0.48
Willie Hernandez 1984 9 3 0.750 1.92 104 58 0.642 3.99 8.0 0.108 0.48
Warren Spahn 1953 23 7 0.767 2.1 92 62 0.597 4.29 25.0 0.170 0.49
Spud Chandler 1943 20 4 0.833 1.64 98 56 0.636 3.3 20.4 0.197 0.50
Carl Hubbell 1933 23 12 0.657 1.66 91 61 0.599 3.34 25.3 0.058 0.50
Lefty Gomez 1937 21 11 0.656 2.33 102 52 0.662 4.62 20.6 ,0.006 0.50
Tom Seaver 1971 20 10 0.667 1. 76 83 79 0.512 3.47 24.1 0.155 0.51
Jack Coombs 1910 31 9 0.775 1.3 102 48 0.680 2.53 30.4 0.095 0.51
Vida Blue 1971 24 8 0.750 1.82 101 60 0.627 3.47 23.8 0.123 0.52
Dazzy Vance 1930 17 15 0.531 2.61 86 68 0.558 4.97 19.8 ,0.027 0.53
Mort Cooper 1942 22 7 0.758 1. 78 106 48 0.688 3.31 20.8 0.070 0.54
. Hal Newhouser 1945 25 9 0.735 1.81 88 65 0.575 3.36 28.4 0.160 0.54
Dazzy Vance 1924 28 6 0.824 2.16 92 62 0.597 3.87 30.4 0.227 0.56
Steve Carlton 1972 27 10 0.730 1.97 59 97 0.378 3.46 45.8 0.352 0.57
Sandy Koufax 1963 25 5 0.833 1.88 99 63 0.611 3.29 25.3 0.222 0.57
Smokey Joe Wood 1912 34 5 0.872 1.91 105 47 0.691 3.34 32.4 0.181 0.57
Carl Hubbell 1936 26 6 0.812 2.31 92 62 0.597 4.02 28.3 0.215 0.57
Sandy Koufax 1965 26 8 0.765 2.04 97 65 0.599 3.54 26.8 0.166 0.58
Bucky Walters 1939 27 11 0.710 2.29 97 57 0.630 3.92 27.8 0.080 0.58
Cy Young 1892 36 11 0.766 1.93 93 56 0.624 3.28 38.7 0.142 0.59
Bob Feller 1940 27 11 0.711 2.61 89 65 0.578 4.38 30.3 0.133 0.60
Roger Clemens 1986 24 4 0.857 2.48 95 66 0.590 4.08 25.0 0.267 0.61
Babe Ruth 1916 23 12 0.657 1. 75 91 63 0.591 2.81 25.3 0.066 0.62
Jim Konstanty 1950 16 7 0.696 2.66 91 63 0.591 4.14 17.6 0.105 0.64
Walter Johnson 1924 23 7 0.767 2.72 92 62 0.597 4.23 25.0 0.170 0.64
Hal Newhouser 1944 29 9 0.763 2.22 88 66 0.571 3.43 33.0 0.192 0.65
Dizzy Dean 1934 30 7 0.811 2.66 95 58 0.621 4.06 31.6 0.190 0.66
Denny McLain 1968 31 6 0.837 1.96 103 59 0.636 2.98 30.1 0.201 0.66
Bobby Shantz 1952 24 7 0.774 2.48 79 75 0.513 3.67 30.4 0.261 0.68
Don Newcombe 1956 27 7 0.794 3.06 93 61 0.604 3.77 29.0 0.190 0.81
lannouncement that he tied Sandy Koufax's record for said, "If Flood didn't misjudge that fly ball, they might
most strikeouts in a World Series game. Gibson kicked still be out there pitching."
'impatiently at the mound while the applause from the By any standards, Gibson's 1968 season ranks among
crowd swelled, got the ball, and quickly struck out Norm the greatest of all time. Gibson's comparatively low total
Cash and Willie Horton to end the game. of 22 wins should not hide the fact of his absolute domi~
Afterwards, a reporter asked Gibson ifhe was surprised nance of the league. In his 34 starts, the Cardinals
by his performance. "I'm never surprised at anything I averaged a mere 2.8 runs per game-.8 runs less than they
do," he said. The Tigers certainly were. "I've never seen averaged overall. (This is a minuscule total for a pennant
such overpowering pitching," said Al Kaline. winner, but National League teams that year averaged
Gibson won the fourth game, too, beating McLain only 3.4 runs per game.) It's impossible to calculate with
10~ 1 and setting a record for most consecutive wins in certainty just how many games Gibson would have won
World Series games with 7. Gibson and Lolich were had the Cardinals scored a normal amount of runs; I
deadlocked O~O into the seventh inning of the final game, attempted to estimate it two different ways.
when Card centerfielder Curt Flood misjudged a two~out, First, I calculated that if the Cardinals scored their
two~on fly ball hit by Jim Northrup. Northrup ended up average amount of runs during Gibson's starts, they
with a triple, driving in the game~winning runs. Bob should.havescored 112 runs. Their actual total was 87.
Br?eg, of the St. Louis Post.. Dispatch, put it well when he Thus, the Cardinals scored 29 percent fewer runs ~n
Gibson's starts than they would have if they were able to because single..season won..lost records do not reliably
maintain their average performance. It's reasonable to reflect a pitcher's worth. Evaluating a pitcher's ERA
assume that these additional runs would result in ad.. against the rest of his league substantially removes any
ditional wins. Increasing Gibson's wins by 29 percent and illusion caused by playing conditions (i. e., poor batting
decreasing his losses subsequently, we arrive at a record of averages) that year; 1968 may have been The Year of the
28..3, more in line with his ERA. Pitcher, but only Bob Gibson had a 1. 12 ERA. Chart One
Secondly, I studied the box scores for each of his starts. sorts the 40 seasons I selected by pitcher's ERA vs. league,
Manager Red Sclloendienst took Gibson out of a game with the lowest, or best, numbers, first. Surprisingly,
only ifhe was behind, so I assumed he would remain in the Rollie Fingers' 1981 season is first and Bob Gibson's 1968
game with a lead. Also, since no 011e ever scores precisely season is second. Walter Johnson's 1913 season is third,
3.6 runs per game, I calculated the outcome for each game followed by Brown in 1906 and Mathewson in 1905. This
had the Cardinals scored at least 3 runs and then at least 4 measurement places Gibson in the company of some of
runs while Gibson was pitching. Had the Cardinals scored the greatest pitchers of all time. Note that McLain's 1968
at least 4 runs for each of Gibson's starts, he record would season ranks fourth from last.
have been 31 .. 2, with one no..decision, all other things In 1981, Finger's ERA vs. league was the lowest by .09,
being equal. Had they scored at least three runs, his as a relief pitcher he won or saved 54 perc,ent of his team's
record would have been 27..5, with two no..decisions. It's games. He pitched during a strike..shortened season,
certainly reasonable to conclude that decent offensive however, and worked only 78 innings. Even if he su
support would have resulted in a much higher win total tained this level of performance over the season, his total
and brought Gibson the attention he deserved. innings pitched would have been much fewer than Gib..
How does Gibson's 1968 rank against other spectacular son's. I rate Gibson's season higher since he sustained a
seasons? Once I established a study group of forty famous high level of performance over many more innings.
seasons, I decided to compare each pitcher's performance The choice between Johnson in 1913 and Gibson in
to that of his team and his league. I calculated the 1968 is much tougher. The Big Train is only. 02 behind
percentage of team games won by each pitcher and the Gibson in ERA vs. league, and he won 14 more games for
differences between the pitcher's winning percentage and a team with a slightly worse record. However, Johnson
that of his team to determine how much the pitcher's pitched during the dead..ball era, where home runs were
performance rose above that of his team. To measure a not a factor. Despite the low batting averages in 1968, the
pitcher's performance versus the rest of his league I de.. home run was a constant threat. Willie McCovey led the
cided to use a statistic developed by Bill James in The NL with 36, followed by Dick Allen with 33 and Ernie
Historical Baseball Abstract. James measured a pitcher's Banks with 32. In 1913 Frank Baker led the American.
effectiveness versus his league by dividing the pitcher's League with 12, followed by Sam Crawford with 9. So I
runs allowed by the average league runs allowed. A result rate Gibson's season a hair greater.
of 1.00 meant that the pitcher performed at the league Despite the Cards' third..place finish in 1969, Gibson
average; the lower the number the better the per.. won 20 games that year with a 2.18ERA. In 1971, he won
formance. James said that only the greats went as low as 23 games and his second Cy Young award, while batting
.50. Gibson's percentage for 1968 was .42, by far the .303. An arthritic elbow and sore knees began to take a
lowest post..war figure. I did not have access to the runs toll, but when he retired after the 1975 season Gibson had
allowed data for the hurlers in my study, so I compared 251 wins and was second to Walter Johnson with 3,117
ERA to league ERA, which resulted in slightly lower career strikeouts. Bob Gibson should go down in history
numbers than James obtained. as one of the great pitchers of all time-as the pitcher who
I gave the most weight to a pitcher's ERA vs. league had the greatest season of all time.
Retooling The Batter
GAYLORD CLARKE
Here are some formulae that make hitters truly hitters,

sluggers truly sluggers, and base stealers properly credited
for "taking the extra base." You're welcome, Ty Cobb.
W
ITHOUT A DOUBT one of the loneliest player's offensive "hitting" ability, which is a product of
persons in the world is the batter in a hitting and power factors. The following hitting relation..
professional baseball game. He's a solitary ship should clarify this contention, and it does include a
warrior pitting himself against a cunning pitcher and factor that can provide a direct measure of raw hitting
eight other fielders, all desiring to make him look bad by power.
"getting him out." His every weakness will certainly be Slugging Average == Batting Average X power factor, or,
found and laid bare, and his numerous failures indelibly TBI AB == HIAB X TB/H
recorded. In this relationship the slugging average is the product
What follows is a look at some measurements by which of two factors, hit frequency and power, and becomes the
the offensive performance of the man at bat can be rate at which power is produced over a given number of
gauged. Two items not in the present statistical arsenal at.. bats. The power factor, or PF, is the true index of a
will be introduced and examined. One will serve to link a player's raw hitting power, because it deals directly with
player's batting average and slugging average into a single the total bases resulting from hits, not times at bat. It is, in
comprehensive mathematical relationship. But first I'm short, the average number of bases per hit. For batting
going to distinguish between "hitting" and "batting," two averages above .000, the power factor ranges between
terms commonly used interchangeably in baseball par.. 1.00 and 4.00; 1.00 if all hits are singles and 4.00 if all are
lance. While they both refer to a player's effort to get on home runs. Over the course of a season or career a PF of
base, "hitting" pertains to that specific aspect of batting 2.00 or more is exceptionally high; at the end of the 1987
that is concerned with "hits," whereas "batting" is some.. season it was held by only one of the 132 players listed in
what more comprehensive in that it includes bases on Section III of The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.
balls and times hit by pitchers. Every player except Amer.. That player is Babe Ruth, whose career power factor of
ican League pitchers can be considered both a hitter and 2.016 truly qualifies him as the Sultan of Swat. It was no
batter. great surprise to find that Phillies third baseman Mike
Hitting. The batting and slugging averages are the two Schmidt was a strong second with a PF of 1.989 (see Table
most commonly quoted "hitting" statistics. They have 2). This certainly certifies him as a power hitter of the first
always been recognized as loosely related; one rises or falls magnitude. The other components of the hitting re..
with the other. The batting average (which I wish had lationships bring comparisons between him and Ruth into
been named the "hitting average") is equal to a player's a more accurate perspective:
hits divided by his times at bat, or HIAB, and indicates a BA PF SA
player's hit frequency. The slugging average is the total Schmidt .2696 1.989 .5363
bases of all hits divided by the times at bat, TBI AB, and Ruth .3421 2.016 .6898
,for lack of anything better, it has been taken as a general These figures show that Schmidt hits for power but
indicator of hitting power. As such it is misused,. because hasn't produced it nearly as often as Ruth did. The
it only offers us a vague and indirect insight to raw power. superiority of the power factor over the slugging average
Why? Because in using it for that purpose, we are attempt..
ing to relate power hitting to at bats rather than to hits. Gaylord Clarke is an assistant project supervisor for the Indiana
Actually, the slugging average is a good measure of a Department of Highways construction division.
in interpreting raw power is evident when we examine

Schmidt's cumulative stats through 1984 and 1987: TABLE 2
ALL..TIME POWER FACTOR RANKINGS
BA PF SA 1 Babe Ruth 2.016
2 Mike Schmidt 1. 989 *
thru 1984 .2652 2.016 .5348
3 Harmon Killebrew 1.986
thru 1987 .2696 1.989 .5363 4 Ralph Kiner 1.966
5 Hank Greenberg 1.930
The data shows that his batting average was up about 1.908
6 Willie McCovey
five points as of the end of the 1987 season, and conse.. 7 Eddie Mathews 1.879
quently his slugging average was pushed up over one 8 Willie Stargell 1.877
point. This would lead one to conclude that his power was 9 Jimmie Foxx 1.873
10 Reggie Jackson 1.871
on the rise, but the power factor tells that his raw power 11 Mickey Mantle 1.868
had actually declined over 2 points. 12 Lou Gehrig 1.859
Harmon Killebrew is third with a whopping 1.986, 13 Willie Mays 1.848
14 Ted Williams 1.840
while Ralph Kiner's 1.966 is fourth. Those are certainly 15 Dick Allen 1.828
Hall.. of.. Fame power credentials. 16 Duke Snider 1.827
All hitting produces power, but the power factor allows 17 Frank Robinson 1.826
18 Ernie Banks 1.822
us to quantify it with a numerical value and compare its
19 Hank Aaron 1.818
production from player to player. I have characterized the 20 Roy Campanella 1.809
various power factor levels with a name: 21 Charlie Keller 1.808
1.00.-1.19, Banjo (or Judy) Hitter; 1.20.-1.29, Mini.. 22 Johnny Mize 1.800
23 Joe DiMaggio 1. 783
bopper; 1.30.-1.39, Bopper; 1.40.-1.49, Big Bopper; 24 Gil Hodges 1. 781
1.50.-1.59, Minibanger; 1.60.-1.69, Banger; 1.70.-1.79, 25 Johnny Bench 1. 779
Big Banger; 1.80.-1.89, Slugger; 1.90.-1.99, Big Slugger;
2.00 +, Super Slugger.
Of the twenty.. five players listed in Table 2, Ruth is the and McCovey (1.908). Schmidt had 2.00 + PF seasons in
'only "Super Slugger." HehadPFsof2.00+ in 1919, '20, 1975, '76, '77, '79, '80, '81, and '83. His best year was
'21, '22, '27, '28, '29, and '30, with 1920hishighof2.26. 1979, when he logged a 2.23. Killebrew had seven 2.00 +
There are five "big sluggers" in the list: Schmidt (1.989), seasons, with a high of 2.25 in 1962. Kiner reached the
Killebrew (1.986), Kiner (1.966), Greenberg (1.930), 2.00 plateau six years in a row, Greenberg twice, and
. McCovey four times.
All the tables in this article are based on the 132 batters
TABLE 1
ALL.-TIME BATTING AVERAGE RANKINGS listed by Bill James. In order to conserve space each table
1 Ty Cobb .3667 lists only the top twenty..five players in each hitting and
2 Rogers Hornsby .3585 batting category. Also, all the players' stats in this article
3 Joe Jackson .3558 may not rank high enough to appear in the tables, but
4 Ted Williams .3444
5 T ris Speaker .3443
each batter is one of James' 132 choices.
6 Babe Ruth .3421 Several interesting player comparisons can be made
7 Harry Heilmann .3416 using the hitting relationship's three components. Com..
8 Bill Terry .3412
9
pare Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, and George Sisler, three
George Sisler .3402
10 Lou Gehrig .3401 similar "hitters" of the early twentieth century:
11 Nap Lajoie .3390 BA PF SA
12 Al Simmons .3341
13 Paul Waner .3332 Cobb .367 1.40 .513
14 Eddie Collins .3328 Speaker .344 1.45 .500
15 Stan Musial .3308 Sisler .340 1.37 .467
16 Rod Carew .3301
17 Honus Wagner .3290 Cobb excels in batting average, but all three are excel..
18 Jimmie Foxx .3253 lent hitters for average while being somewhat anemic in
19 Joe DiMaggio .3246 their power potential. Cobb was the best in the rate of
20 Babe Herman .3245
21 Joe Medwick .3236 power production (slugging average), yet he ranked only
22 Edd Roush .3226 thirty..first in that department.
23 Kiki Cuyler .3210 There are three pairs of players whose credentials in all
24 Charlie Gehringer .3204
25 Chuck Klein .3201 the hitting categories could qualify them as near identical
twins at the plate:
BA PF SA TABLE 4
Bobby Doerr .288 1.6014 .461 ALL..TIME ON..BASE AVERAGE RANKINGS
Ken Boyer .287 1.6066 .462 1 Ted Williams .483
BA PF SA 2 Babe Ruth .474
Ted Williams .344 1.84 .634 3 Lou Gehrig .447
4 Rogers Hornsby .434
, Lou Gehrig .340 1.86 .632 5 Ty Cobb .433
BA PF SA 6 Mickey Mantle .429
Mickey Mantle .298 1.87 .5568 7 Jimmie Foxx .4283
8 Tris Speaker .4275
Willie Mays .302 1.85 .5574 9 Eddie Collins .424
10 Joe Jackson .423
Batting. Using the hitting relationship as a model, a
11 Mickey Cochrane .419
batting relationship, including walks and times hit by 12 Stan Musial .418
pitchers can be derived. The on..base average, OBA, is 13 Mel Ott .414
used as the basis for the relationship: 14 Hank Greenberg .412
15 Charlie Keller .4099
H + W + HBP / AB + W + HBP 16 Jackie Robinson .4096
The on..base average is substituted for the batting 17 Harry Heilmann .4095
average of the hitting relationship, and the power factor 18 Roy Thomas .407
19 Arky Vaughan .406
and slugging average are likewise expanded by adding 20 Paul Waner .404
walks and times hit by pitchers. The relationship becomes: 21 Charlie Gehringer .403
H+W+HBP/AB+W+HBP x TB+W+HBP/H+W+HBP = 22 Luke Appling .399
TB+ W +- HBP/AB+ W + HBP 23 Ralph Kiner .398
The first factor is the on..base average (which I would 24 Joe DiMaggio .398
25 Johnny Mize .397
prefer to have been named the "batting average"). The
second factor is related to the power factor of the hitting
limits of the on..base average and quantifies the on..base
relationship, but it no longer truly relates to raw power, so
frequency to produce a rate of offensive production,
I have termed it "the kicker," a term borrowed from Bill
which I call the "offensive average," or OA. In short, the
James's 1986 Baseball Abstract. As James puts it, the
batting relationship can be summarized as the on..base
"kicker" is that "something" that enhances a player's
average times the "kicker," which equals the offensive
offensive value. The second factor of the above batting
average, or:
relationship is that "something," and it removes the
OBA + Kicker = OA
The OBA of the batting relationship provides a more
TABLE 3 comprehensive look at a player's ability to reach base than
ALL..TIME SLUGGING AVERAGE RANKINGS
does the batting average. Likewise, the OA is a better
1 Babe Ruth .690
2 Ted Williams .634 index of actual productivity than slugging average.
3 Lou Gehrig .632 Table 4 (On.. Base Average rankings) and Table 5
4 Jimmie Foxx .609 (Offensive Average rankings) show that the top three
5 Hank Greenberg .605
6 Joe DiMaggio .579
batters in each are the same. Williams and Ruth dominate
7 Rogers Horsnby .577 the top two spots in both tables, Williams being number
8 Johnny Mize .562 one in career OBA and Ruth first in career offensive
9 Stan Musial .559 average. Ruth is a clear leader on the OA chart with a
10 Willie Mays .. 5574
11 Mickey Mantle .5568 .752 average; only he and Williams share the. 700 offen..
12 Hank Aaron .555 sive average plateau. Gehrig is a comfortable third in each.
13 Ralph Kiner .548 Armed with these two additional stats, we can further
14 Hack Wilson .545
15 Chuck Klein .543 compare Cobb, Speaker, and Sisler as well as the three
16 Duke Snider .540 pairs of hitting twins to see how they compare as batters.
17 Frank Robinson .537 Hitting Batting
18 Mike Schmidt .536 (thru '87)
19 Al Simmons .535
BA PF SA OBA OA
20 Dick Allen .534 Cobb .367 1.40 .513 .433 .564
21 Earl Averill .5333 Speaker .344 1.45 .500 .428 .563
22 Mel Ott .5331 Sisler .340 1.37 .467 .379 .499
23 Babe Herman .532
24 Ken Williams .531
Cobb was only a slightly better batter than Speaker, but
25 Willie Stargell .529
they both outdistanced Sisler by a sizeable margin.
47
BA PF SA OBA OA
TABLE 6
Doerr .288 1.60 .461 .362 .517
ALL,TIME MODIFIED OFFENSIVE
Boyer .287 1.61 .462 .351 .510
AVERAGE RANKINGS
BA PF SA OBA OA 1 Babe Ruth .7634
Williams .344 1.84 .634 .483 .711 2 Ted Williams .7134
Gehrig .340 1.86 .632 .447 .692 3 Lou Gehrig .7027
BA . PF SA OBA OA 4 Jimmie Foxx .6781
Mantle .298 1.87 .557 .429 .635 6 Mickey Mantle .6509
Mays .302 1.85 .557 .387 .611 7 Rogers Hornsby .6409
Finally, the basic batting relationship becomes more' 8 Willie Mays .6386
9 Ty Cobb .6334
comprehensive and the offensive average better defined 10 Mike Schmidt .6298
by adding stolen bases to the total bases. Since stolen 11 Joe DiMaggio .6287
bases are definitely a part of a player's offensive potential, 12 Ralph Kiner .6264
13 Stan Musial .6229
I don't have a lot ofhang~ups when it comes to doing that.' 14 Johnny Mize .6196
I consider them delayed extra bases taken after the batter 15 Frank Robinson .6190
becomes a baserunner. The modified batting relationship 16 Hank Aaron .6182
would then become: 17 Mel Ott .6147
18 Hack Wilson .6122
H+W+HBP x (TB+SB)+W+HBP = (TB+SB)+W+HBP 19 Charlie Keller .6110
AB+W+HBP H+W+HBP AB+W+HBP 20 Dick Allen .6106
21 Ken Williams .6100
The parentheses have no arithmetical value in the 22 Duke Snyder .6079
relationship; they are included merely to reinforce the 23 Joe Jackson .6042
idea that stolen bases are extra bases taken after a batter' 24 Tris Speaker .6004
gets on base. I considered deducting the times a player was 25 Earl Averill .5956
* At the end of the 1987 season
caught stealing, but since I have an aversion about sub~
tracting negative statistics from positive ones, I decided
not to. As a justification for that decision note that the extra base are never deducted from his hit total.
times a batter is thrown out trying to stretch a hit into an Using the modified offensive averages, the batting
comparison between Cobb, Speaker, and Sisler becomes:
OBA MOD.OA
TABLE 5
Cobb .433 .6334
ALL,TIME BASIC OFFENSIVE'
AVERAGE F~ANKINGS Speaker .428 .6004
1 Babe Ruth .752 Sisler .379 .5416
2 Ted Williams .711 Cobb's greater base'stealing skill now gives him a
3 Lou Gehrig .692 clearer edge over Speaker and Sisler, while the difference
4 Jimmie Foxx .669
between Speaker and Sisler remains about the same.
6 Mickey Mantle .635 Also, Cobb moves up from thirty~fifth on the basic OA
7 Rogers Horsnby .626 list of 132 players to tenth on the modified list; I can't help
8 Joe DiMaggio .625 but believe that this is a more realistic appraisal of his
9 Ralph Kiner .623
10 Stan Musual .617 relative offensive value.
11 Johnny Mize .616 The modified offensive average also serves to rectify the
12 Mike Schmidt .6114 * ranking of a much more recent player who rightfully
13 Willie Mays .6113
14 Mel Ott .607 should be regarded as more of an offensive threat than his
15 Hack Wilson .603 basic OA, wovld indicate. Anyone familiar with Cin~
16 Frank Robinson .6014 cinnati's Big Red Machine knows how valuable Joe Mor~
17 Charlie Keller .6012
18 Hank Aaron .6008
gan' was to that team. He tanks only sixty~fifth on the
19 Duke Snider .596 basic OA list of 132 players, but is raised to a more
20 Dick Allen .592 reasonable thirty~second on the modified OA list.
21 Harmon Killebrew .590 Certainly, the threat posed by base stealers such as
22 Willie McCovey .5861
23 Earl Averill .5857 Cobb and Morgan should be reflected in their rate of
24 Chuck Klein .5825 offensive production. In this regard the modified offen~
25 Willie Stargell .5821 sive average affords that added dimension necessary for a
* At the end of the 1987 season
truer perspective of a player's overall offensive production'
and consequent value to his team. about an all.. star match up between the following all.. time
A very respectable all.. time offensive team could be teams from each league with each position filled by the
assembled by picking the player at each position who has player with the highest MOA?
the highest modified offensive average. That team would AMERICAN NATIONAL
be: Mickey Cochrane (.5648) - c- Roy Campanella (.5640)
c - Mickey Cochrane
Leu Gehrig (.7027) -1 b- Stan Musial (.6229)
1b - Lou Gehrig Eddie Collins (.5713) -2b- Rogers Hornsby (.6409)
2b - Rogers Hornsby Joe Cronin (.5450) -ss- Honus Wagner (.5774)
ss - Honus Wagner Harmon Killebrew (.5914) -3b- Mike Schmidt (.6298)
3b - Mike Schmidt Ted Williams (.7134) -If- Ralph Kiner (.6264)
Mickey Mantle (.6509) -cf- Willie Mays (.6386)
If - Ted Williams
Babe Ruth (. 7634) -rf- Hank Aaron (.6182)
cf - Mickey Mantle
rf - Babe Ruth With all of them in their prime, what a game that
Quite a classy lineup, but who'd bat eighth? Or how would be!
o tempora, 0 mores, 0 nostalgia: It's the top of the ninth inning in Ehhets Field on August 25, 1957, with 21 ~year old Sandy Koufax and 40~year
old Sal Maglie warming up. The rightfielder is Gino Cimoli (Carl Furillo had the day off.) The Cardinals had pushed across a run in the hottom of the
eighth, forcing Don Drysdale from the mound. Koufax relieved Ed Roehuck in the ninth hut didn't last long. After he walked two hatters, Maglie
replaced him and ended the game hy striking out Ken Boyer on three pitches. Research hy Cliff Kachline, photo hy Vincent T. Walsh. (Copyright
1988, Princeton Desktop Puhlishing, Inc.)
-------40p-------
Willie Wells: A Devil of a Shortstop
JOHN B. HOLWAY
Willie Wells invented the modern batting helmet and

instructed Hall of Famers like Monte Irvin and Ernie
Banks. But mainly, Wells was one hell of a shortstop.
That fellow Wells is one of the greatest shortstops I have ever But perhaps his greatest contribution to the game was
seen. He is an AMAZING shortstop. Sixteen major league the invention of the modern batting helmet - a miner's
clubs could use him. hard hat with the gas jet knocked off - as a defense
Lloyd Lewis, against the notorious head..hunting of black hurlers.
Chicago Daily News And Willie was a great teacher. Among his pupils:
Monte Irvin, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe, and Ernie
T
HREE FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS - Charlie Banks.
Gehringer, Harry Heilmann, and Heinie .' Old..timers who saw him consider Wells the best black
Manush --:. got their own look at Willie (Devil) shortstop ever. His owner on the Newark Eagles, Mrs.
Wells in a four..game 1929 series against Wells, Cool Papa Effa Manley, amended that to "the best shortstop, black
Bell - and an all..star black squad in Chicago. or white."
111 tl1e first ganle, against Willis Hudlin (17.. 15 for the Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith said Wells
Indians), Wells went 2 for 5. His ninth.. inning triple and third baseman Ray Dandridge covered the left side of
knocked in the tying run, and he scored t11e wil1ner a tile infield better than any pair in baseball, including Pie
moment later on a steal of home, kicking the ball out of Traynor and Glen.n Wright of the Pirates. Griff used to
catcher Wally Schang's hand. beg sportswriter Ric Roberts, HW11e11 tllCJse twu buw ..
III tile seCUI1U game, Wells got 2 t1"iples and stole l10111e leggeJ Inerl carue back, please don't let me miss them."
again against Jake Miller (14.. 12 for Cleveland). Or, as another third baseman, Clarence (Half a Pint)
Finally, against Detroit's George Uhle (15 .. 11), he Israel, said, "Wells made playing third awful easy."
collected 3 more hits, the final one knocking in the Doby played under Wells on the Newark Eagles and
winning run in the ninth. under Lou Boudreau on the Cleveland Indians. Both men
The whites won one game of the four, 1..0. They were had weak arms and compensated by playing the hitters.
glad to see the last of Willie. Wells was better than Boudreau, Doby says.
It was a fairly typical Wells performance. In 29 games Kansas City Monarch pitcher Hilton Smith played
against white big leaguers - Grove, Feller, Whitehill, against both Wells and Phil Rizzuto. "I rate Rizzuto
Bridges, and Newsom among them - Willie hit .396. In second to Wells," he said.
the black leagues and Latin America he hit .327, in.. Pitcher..catcher Ted (Double Duty) Radcliffe points
eluding a league..leading .404 in 1930. Though not con.. out that Jackie Robinson was a shortstop in the Negro
sidered a home..run hitter, he ranks fifth among Negro leagues. "But I don't put Jackie on my all..time list,
league batters lifetime, and his 27 in 88 games in 1929 is because you talked to the best when you talked to Willie
the all.. time single..season record. Wells."
The Devil even outran his more famous teammate on Who would Wells be compared to today? Cubs scout
the St. Louis Stars, Cool Papa Bell. In 1926 Bell came to
bat 370 times and stole 23 bases; Wells had 254 at bats and John B. Holway is (l lerJding historitln of the Negro leagues, a
28 steals. He beat Bell in 1930 and '35 and tied him in frequent contributor to BRj, and the author of Blackball Stars
1932 and '33. (Meckler).
John (Buck) O'Neil, former Monarch first baseman, says,

"This boy (Ozzie) Smith of St. Louis could play with
Wells, but he couldn't hit with him."
Cool Papa Bell agrees. Wells hit about 20 homers a
year, Cool Papa says. "Smith ain't gonna hit that many."
Bell didn't see Pop Lloyd in his prime, but he sawall the
other great black shortstops - Dick Lundy, Dobie
Moore, Jake Stephens. "Wells played rings around
them," he says.
Pitcher Arthur W. Hardy, who played with Lloyd in
1910 called Wells better than Lloyd.
It was Wells' fielding that made eyes pop.
Catcher Larry Brown of the Memphis Red Sox saw
Wells and Dandridge - playing second - sparkle on a
double play in Mexico in the '40s:
A guy came up, hit a scorcher, Willie Wells caught the ball right at his
face, whipped it to Dandridge, Dandridge stepped on second and
whipped it back to Willie, and Willie threw the man out going to first.
Now you don't see that today, do you?
Mike Gonzalez [Cardinal coach] said, "Listen, I never saw guys play 'Willie Wells
ball like that."
I said, "Well, that's the way they play in the States."
WILLIE WELLS VS. MAJOR LEAGUERS
"Wells made another play you never see today, " Monte YEAR AB H 2B 3B HR PITCHER (W..L)
Irvin adds. "The second baseman crossed the bag from the 1929 5 2 1 1 o Willis Hudlin (17.. 15)
right, grabbed the ball, Willie crossed from the left, took 4 2 0 2 o Jake Miller (14.. 12)
the ball on a flip and threw to first." 4 1 0 0 o Earl Whitehill (14.. 15)
5 3 1 0 o George Uhle (15 .. 11)
Like Boudreau, Wells had a notoriously weak arm. 1930 3 1 - Billy Bayne (0..0)
Buck Leonard says: "He would 'lob' you out. He would 4 0 0 0 0 Freddie Fitzsimmons (19.. 7)
'toss' you out, add a little loop to it, but he would just get Lefty Grove (28..5)
1931 5 0 0 0 0 Heinie Meine (19.. 13)
you at first base. It was a close play, but he would get 'em. 4
A 3 2 1 0 Bill Walker
You'd say, 'Wells doesn't have an arm I'll just tap it to 1933..34 4 3 2 0 0 Bobo Newsom B (0..0)
shortstop,' and he'd throw you out. He'd just beat you!" 3 2 0 0 1 Hollis Thurston (6..8)
4 4 2 0 0 Larry French (18.. 13)
Said pitcher David Barnhill: "You could run alongside 3 1 0 0 1 French
the ball and watch it." But you couldn't beat it to first. 3 1 1 0 0 Newsom
At first Wells had a strong arm, but he hurt it playing 4 0 0 0 0 Newsom
3 1 0 0 1 Hollis Thurston (6..8)
sandlot basketball back home in Austin, Texas. Looking
4 2 0 0 0 ThtJfston
back, Wells calls tIle irljury a blessing. "By me being hurt, 3 2 0 0 1 Thurston
I learned how to play the hitters and position myself 1 Johnny Babichc
behind the different pitchers, until I knew everyone." 5 2 2 0 0 Newsom
4 3 2 0 0 Newsom, Lee Stine (0..0)
Satchel Paige shook his head in admiration, saying, 4 1 1 0 0 French
"Wells could go to the right just as well as he could go to 6 2 1 0 0 Thurston
the left. There's a lot ofshortstoppers can go one way good 5 2 1 0 0 Vic Frasier (1 ..3)
1935 4 2 1 0 0 Tommy Bridges (21 .. 10)
and can't go the other way. But Willie Wells would go,
Schoolboy Rowe (19.. 13)
and I don't know how he would pick it off his heel and Jim Vaughn
throw to first base to save my life. He was one of the 1939 4 0 0 0 0 Bob Feller (24..9)
1945 4 2 0 0 0 Hal Gregg (18.. 13)
greatest shortstops we ever had."
1 0 0 0 0 Ralph Branca (5 ..6)
Judy Johnson: "You think you got a hit until you look at 3 1 0 0 0 Virgil Trucks (0..0)
him coming up with the ball. Looked like he had roller 2 1 1 0 0 Red Barrett (23.. 12)
skates on to get balls." 29 games 111 44 18 4 5 Average: .396
Aestimated
Wells, eighty~two, still lives in his native Austin,
BNewsom won 30 in PCL in 1933, would win 16 in AL 1934.
Texas. He joined the St. Louis Stars of the Negro cBabich would be 7.. 11 in '34 with Brooklyn.
National league in 1924. It was a rough league.
I was the littlest thing that ever caine up. They said, "I'm going to send him when he wasn't in condition. Every day he was ready
you back." I said, "You're not going to send me nowhere." All those to play."
guys were six~footers - rough. They were rough when I came along.
"I lived clean," Wells says. "That's the import~nt thing
Rough, not educated boys like they are today. Yeah, it was rough.
They'd sit on the bench and file their spikes and say, "This is for you,
of becoming a great ballplayer. If you have that ability and
you son of a bitch, you. I'm gonna send you back to Texas." I said, treat your body right, you can make it if you have that
"You're not going to send me no place." desire. What I mean by treating yourself right is, you don't
Decent slides? There were no decent slides. A guy slid at me, I'd go ripping and running, you know what I mean - the
slide right back at him. All those guys were big six~footers, bigger than girls taking it away from the you, the drinks taking it away
me - I weighed 165 pounds. They'd say, "We gonna get you out of
from you, late hours taking it away from you.
there." But I'd take that ball and hit them right across their noses with
it. "What makes me proud of myself now: I didn't get
Wells wore a "pancake" for a glove. He took the mixed up in nothing wrong. I didn't get into any trouble,
padding out, cut a hole in the middle of the pocket, and dope trouble or anything. And I was faced with all the
wore it "almost skin tight." "He'd get dirt and ball and temptations. "
everything," laughs Quincy T rouppe, who later caught In the winter of 1933..34, Willie went back to Cal..
for the Indians. There were no bad hops on him - his ifornia, playing against big leaguers such as Larry French,
glove went right up with the ball- and neither Roberts Bobo Newsom, Hollis Thurston, and Vic Frasier. He hit
nor others remember seeing him make an error. .31 7 overall, but. 462 against them. Newsom, who had
Wells hit .264 as a rookie in 1924. He could hit the just won 30 games in the Coast league, was particularly
fastball but was afraid of the curve. That winter he played hard hit - 9 for 20.
in the California winter league against major..league and "This boy Bobo Newsom was kind of prejudiced. He
Pacific Coast League opponents. A black veteran, Hurley didn't mind you knowing. He'd come right out and tell
McNair, tied his left foot to the ground so he couldn't pull you: 'I'm not going to the major leagues until I can beat
away, then spent hours throwing curves at him. you niggers.' He talked like that."
But he was still troubled by beanballs. "They threw at "In '35 Wells faced Detroit's Tommy Bridges (21 .. 10)
me just like I was a rat or something. They'd tell me all the and Schoolboy Rowe (19.. 13), fresh from their World
time they're gonna kill me: 'We're gonna knock you down Series victory over the Cubs. He clipped them for a
tomorrow.' I mean they'd talk dirty to you: 'Say, you little double and single in four at..bats.
son of a bitch you, how am I gonna hit you, goddam it, if The following spring Willie moved to the Newark
you won't stand still?' Oh, it was rough when I came Eagles as manager. He also teamed with third baseman
along. It wasn't easy-it was not easy. You'd better believe Dandridge, second baseman Dick Seay, and first baseman
it. I was the first guy that bought a helmet." Mule Suttles on the fabled "Million Dollar Infield."
In self..defense, Wells got a miner's helmet, knocked And he gained a reputation as a sign stealer:
the gas jet off the front and wore it to bat, thus "invent.. Now when we're at bat, I sit and look at the other pitcher - and the
ing" the modern batting helmet. The pitchers laughed at catcher too. Like Josh Gibson would hold his right arm like this, with
the elbow sticking out. If I was coaching at third base, I'd watch, and if
it, Buck Leonard says. "We used to tell him they're gonna I saw his elbow move like that, just a little flicker - I knew it was a
knock that helmet off his head." curveball. If his arm didn't move it was a fastball. Pretty soon, they'd
But it worked. In '26 Willie raised his average to .378, say, "Heh, why are they hitting everything? What's happening here?"
Some catchers are good curveball catchers, some just love to catch
with 12 homers and a league..leading 28 stolen bases. that fastball. This is where the manager comes in. When they call a lot
"Wells was a great hitter," says Bell. "He made a great of curves, I say "Go ahead, go ahead and run - move off that base -
hitter out of himself. Wells turned out to be one of our steal." See, this is the difference, this is the finesse in baseball. This is
beautiful.
best hitters."
Wells played five summers in Mexico, replacing Rogers
Buck Leonard called him "the best batter I've ever seen
Hornsby as manager of Vera Cruz in 1947. He also played
hitting the ball up the middle. And he always hit the ball.
thirteen winters in Cuba as field captain for Adolfo
Very seldom he struck out - very seldom. I'd guess he'd
Luque's Almendares Blues, flashing pitching signals to
strike out less than any regular player. Could hit right..
catcher Fermin (Mickey) Guerra, who later caught for
hand pitchers or left..hand pitchers, all kind of pitching."
the A's and Senators. Only once, Wells says, did the
Wells moved deep in the box against fastballers, to get
quick..tempered Luque disagree with his calls. Buck Leo..
an extra split..second to swing. "He could hit Satchel
nard reports:
Paige good," says Memphis pitcher Verdell Mathis. "In
fact, he hit anybody." Dolf Luque was a little constable around Havana. He carried a pistol .
all the time, and we used to tell the ball players, "If you don't do what
"We used to call him 'Life,'" says Leonard, "because he Luque tells you to, he gonna shoot somebody." So one day Luque told
had.so much life in him. Life every day. I never did see Wells to do something, but Wells didn't do it. When we got to the
clubhouse, we heard some scuffiin' over there and then a shot. We target in a close game."
rushed over to see what had happened. Wells had Luque 'round the Wells says: "Monte Irvin, Larry Doby, Don New.,
neck, and Luque managed to get his pistol out and shot it into the top
of the clubhouse. We told Wells, "We thought you gonna be stretched combe, all those kids were my proteges. But they were
out over here dead when we get here. We knew you didn't have a three different characters, and here's where the manager
pistol, we knew it must be Luque shootin'." comes in, here's where you've got to use a little psychol..
Wells was a good teacher. "Wells was the best," says a ogy. Irvin was an easy fellow, very nice, easy to get along
onetime kid shortstop on the Eagles, Hall.,of.,Famer with. But Doby and Newcombe, there was something
Monte Irvin. "At the beginning Wells didn't like me, different. Here's a problem for me. Newcombe was kind of
though." Apparently Willie resented a rookie trying to temperamental a little. You handled him different. You
take his job. "Wells told me, 'you want to make this team? know, every ballplayer is a different character: What you
See out there [center field]? If you want to make this say to one you can't say to another. You have to sit and
team, you better go out there. ' So I got my glove and went watch his attitude and how he handles himself."
out there, and that's where I stayed. Wells was always ready to teach. Newark first baseman
"But I worked my way around him, and he showed me Lenny Pearson: "I've seen Ernie Banks talk to Wells for an
everything he knew. We talked about hitting - he was a hour after the game, and Wells was showing him this little
really good curveball hitter - about moving around on thing or that little thing about playing shortstop. Wells
different pitchers, especially lefthanders, moving up in had reached his pinnacle and couldn't go any further, and
the box, moving back, trying to throw the pitcher off, he knew this, but he was always there when you needed
trying to take a peek to see how the catcher is holding his help. Willie Wells was a hell of a man."
WILLIE WELLS
Year Team G AB H 2B 3B HR BA SB
1924 St. Louis 54 208 55 16 3 1 .264 2
1925 St. Louis 92 355 98 15 8 10 .276 13
1926 St. Louis 78 254 96 13 3 12 .378 28*
1927 St. Louis 64 234 81 12 1 18 .346 5
1928 St. Louis 47 181 63 12 2 6 .348 3
1928.,9 Cuba 152 51 7 3 1 .336 5
1929 St. Louis 88 334 123* 21 6 27+ .368 21
1930 St. Louis 73 275 111 * 30* 3 14 .404 17
1931 St. Louis 11 42 11 2 1 1 .262 4
1932 Det, Greys, KC 29 101 26 8 2 1 .257 6
1933 Chicago 20 82 22 2 0 0 .268 6
1933.,4 California 41 158 56 19 6 .317 16
1934 Chicago 16 66 16 4 2 0 .242 4
1935 Chicago 30 111 32 9 1 2 .288 7
1935.,6 Cuba 177 63 * 8 4 5* .356
1936 Newark 2 9 3 0 0 3 .333 0
1936.,7 Cuba 88 30 3 0 3 .349 1
1937 Newark 2 8 3 0 0 0 .375 0
1937.,8 Cuba 126 36 4 1 4* .286
1938 Newark 2 9 1 0 0 0 .111 3
1938.,9 Cuba 187 52 7 2 0 .278 3
1939 Newark 8 33 10 1 0 0 .308 0
1939.,40 Cuba 192 63 9 4 1 .328 10
1940 Mexico 84 339 117 30 2 3 .345 17
1941 Puerto Rico 106 40 .378
1944 Mexico 83 293 86 13 3 10 .294 9
1945 Newark 19 66 16 6 0 0 .242 0
TOTALS 4548 1487 279 67 132 .327 177
*Led league + Record
Note: Statistics are compiled from original box scores by Terry Baxter, Dick Clark, Harry Conwell, Debbie Crawford, Paul Doherty, Jorge
Figueredo, Troy Greene, Bob Hoie, Jim Holway, John Holway, Jerry Malloy, Bill Plott, Mark Presswood, Susan Scheller, Lance Wallace,
and Charles Zarelli. Figures may be updated.
53
The Times Were A~Changin':
Baseball As a Symbol of American
Values In Transition, 1963~1964
RON BRILEY
Twenty.,five years ago President Kennedy was as.,
sassinated, and society's fragile consensus began to crum.,
ble. Even baseball was challenged to re.,examine itself.
There's a battle outside raging Review., George Grella wrote: "Anyone who does not
It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls understand the game cannot hope to understand the
For the times are a.. changin' country."
-Bob Dylan In recent years, American historians have followed
Barzun's lead. Peter Levine's biography of A.G. Spalding
T
HESE LYRICS, written by Bob Dylan shortly focused on the efforts to use baseball to impose order upon
before President John Kennedy's assassination the chaos of post.. Civil War industrialization. Stephen
and later released on an album, well retlect the Riess, in his study of baseball in the progressive era,
winds of change that would assault the structure of orga.. emphasized the role sportswriters played in making the
nized baseball during the turbulent 1960s. Just as the sport appear relevant to the needs of middle.. class Amer..
Vietnam War, civil..rights movement, college demon.. icans. According to Riess, "The national pastime was
strations, counterculture, and violence in the streets portrayed in such a way that it supplied some of the
challenged the traditional values of many Americans, so symbols, myths, and legends society needed to bind its
dtd~he"issHes offree speech, racial unrest, player organiza.. members together." Richard Crepeau wrote that baseball
tion, economic grievances, and reserve clause force base.. was the game that "most typified American institutions
ball traditionalists to re.. examine the national pastime. and tea~hings in the 1920s and 1930s." And Jules Tygiel
Was baseball a symbol of values during the 1960s? utilized the story of Jackie Robinson to produce con..
Advocates of the game praise its stability. An individual siderable insights into race relations in post.. World War II
who died in 1900 could be resurrected today and still America.
follow the flow of a major..league baseball game. It might During World War II and the Cold War baseball was
not be so easy to make such a statement about football and identified with patriotic and traditional values threatened
basketball. Nevertheless, this stable, traditional game by the external enemies of fascism and communism. In
was rocked by change in the 1960s. Perhaps by focusing fact, viewers of late.. night TV may still be treated to
on the institution of baseball, we may learn something scenes of character actor William Bendix dying in action
about America and how the times were a.. changin' in that in the Pacific theater while asking for the score of a
unforgettable decade. Dodgers' game with his last gasp. Baseball in the Cold
Baseball has often been viewed as the sport most closely War era lacked the sentimentality of a William Bendix,
identified with American cultural and social values. A but the sport easily fit into the post.. World War II era
subcommittee report of the House Judiciary Committee consensus. The ideology of the consensus was based upon
in 1952 asserted, "Other sports flourish for a brief season two cornerstone assumptions: that the spread of commun..
and then sink to the background to await a rebirth of ism was a clear and present danger to the United States,
interest both in season and out. Whether it is in June or
December, the public is interested in the national game." Ron Briley is the assistant headmaster at Sandia Preparatory
Baseball has also been extolled by so many writers and School in Albuquerque, N.M. This story is adapted from a
scholars that some have dubbed it the "intellectual's paper he presented to the North American Society for Sport
game." Paraphrasing Jacques Barzun in the Massachusetts History in May, 1987.
and that our society was sound enough that postwar Frick full credit for this harmonious consensus. Cannon
difficulties could be solved by an expanding economy. In preached cooperation over conflict and insisted that the
coping with such issues as racism, union organization, players had an obligation "to get out and preach the
monopoly, and challenges to the reserve clause, organized baseball gospel, spread good will and improve public
baseball would emphasize the values of consensus in relations toward the game. " To paraphrase Charles Wil..
which the loyalty of the organization man would be son of General Motors, what was good for the owners was
rewarded. Conformity was the norm: There was no reason good for baseball. The players' legal counsel also took a
to rock the boat. Baseball executives, like businessmen somewhat paternalistic view toward his position. While
and government bureaucrats, assured one and all they visiting 1963 spring training camps, he insisted that he
were looking out for the welfare of the individual. How.. would not present any player request he considered un..
ever, the consensus would come apart in the 1960s as reasonable because "the best interests of the game should
minorities, women, and young people, both off and on forever be paramount." Cannon also believed "No player
the playing field, would challenge the assumptions com.. has a right to criticize publicly the club for which he is
monly held in the consensus. playing." Any complaints were to be submitted to the
Perhaps the best time to begin an investigation into the players' office, which would process them through proper
baseball breakdown is 1963, when Bob Dylan was com.. channels. In other words, player counsel Cannon
posing his anthem of national unrest and visions of preached the virtues of the organization man.
Camelot were destroyed by an assassin's bullet. Facing
increased competition from football and other sources of
entertainment, baseball entered 1963 with something of a
sense of foreboding. Nevertheless, The Sporting News
H OWEVER, IT WAS DIFFICULT for many players
to function within his narrow confines. Baseball has
a long history of individualism. The winds of change
insisted that there was nothing fundamentally unsound encouraged this tendency; management was determined
about the game. Publisher C.C. Johnson Spink labeled as to squelch it. In March, 1963, The Sporting News would
"rubbish" the claims of professional football to be the laud the Mets for releasing the forty.. year old Woodling for
sport of the 1960s. Baseball needed some cosmetic surgery his public criticism of management's handling of Marv
to keep up with the times, Spink admitted, but the sport Throneberry's contract dispute. Yes, the same Woodling
did not require a major operation. Spink advocated better who had praised player.. management relations inJanuary~
marketing, speeding up the game, better coordination Perhaps it did not take all that much courage to release an
between organized baseball and the college game, orderly aging outfielder. Baseball had a more difficult time deal..
expansion from the two ten.. team leagues, and a free . . ing with California pitcher Bo Belinsky, who had au..
agent draft to help provide additional talent for second.. thored a no.. hitter during his rookie campaign of 1962.
division clubs. This program hardly represented a radical Belinsky made headlines for his nocturnal activities and
overhaul of the game and fit well within the concept of relationship with Hollywood sex symbol Mamie Van
the consensus; baseball was a successful business that Doren. Embarrassed by Belinsky's antics, Angel officials
could solve any difficulties through the values of orderly insisted that the young pitcher keep his mind on baseball
expansion, efficiency, and reason. and demoted Belinsky to the minors during the 1963
And a docile work force. While baseball might occa.. season. Writing in The Sporting News, sportswriter Dan
sionally censure such corporate figures as the maverick . Daniel wondered what all the excitement was about. In
Bill Veeck, who had owned the Cleveland Indians and comparison to the antics of earlier ballplayers, Belinsky's
St. Louis Browns, most criticism was reserved for players. activities paled. Daniel. concluded that baseball had
Owners feared the hirelings might be infected with the changed in the postwar era from a game t-o a business:
virus of change. For their part, most players were quick to "The old tomfoolery finds itself precluded."
assert their loyalty and praise the magnanimous nature of The sport did attempt to accommodate eccentric play..
the owners. Player representative Gene Woodling of the ers who could still be placed within the consensus. Yan..
New York Mets insisted that players "have it so good that kee management excused Joe Pepitone's long hair by
we just don't know what to ask for any more." Bob Friend emphasizing that he belonged to a strongItalian family,
of the Pittsburgh Pirates described player.. management was married, and had two children. While the Yankees
relations as "utopian" and gave the credit for this state of tried to portray Pepitone as unthreatening-simply a
affairs to Judge Robert Cannon, legal counsel for the happy.. go.. lucky kid who meant no disrespect-the liter..
Major League Baseball Players Association. ary activities of Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Jim Bros..
Cannon, who had held the position of counsel since nan were viewed with alarm.
1959, gave the owners and baseball Commissioner Ford An effective pitcher with the Reds, Brosnan had made
himself persona non grata with Cincinnati President Bill batting averages, pitching records, fielding and other
DeWitt for his 1962 publication of Pennant Race. The statistics, birth dates and so forth, but no records on color
book chronicled the 1961 Reds' climb to the National or religion. We have no figures on whether players are
League pennant. Finding Brosnan's account to be irrev.. black, white, or yellow because they are selected on the
erent and earthy, DeWitt muzzled future publications by basis of whether they can pitch, hit, play second
referring to the players' contract stipulation forbidding base. . . . " The Sporting News had nothing but praise for
players from making statements that may be considered Frick's testimony and termed integration in baseball as a
detrimental to baseball. In May of 1963 the Reds shipped "fait accompli." This very complacency was the type of
Brosnan to the Chicago White Sox. Chicago General consensus thinking that fueled the civil.. rights movement
Manager Ed Short stated that Brosnan would not be and helped explain the violent turn race relations would
permitted to publish during the season, as such writing take during the late 1960s. Blacks were well represented
might undermine the morale and spirit of the White Sox, on the field, but there were no black managers and front
but that management could not control a player's off.. office personnel-issues that would provide plenty of
season endeavors. Although he was not given complete controversy for a "fait accompli" well into the 1980s.
freedom of expression, Brosnan announced he was glad to Baseball was even more condescending toward its His..
be with the White Sox and could live with the compro.. panic players. Shocked that hemispheric solidarity and
mise. Thus, baseball was grappling with dissent even as consensus could be disrupted by a Communist govern..
college campuses began to hear the refrains of the free . . ment in Cuba, Americans looked to baseball as a diplo..
speech movement. matic tool to prevent the spread of Castro and his cancer.
The Sporting News urged clubs to provide more baseball
A NOTHER CONTEMPORARY ISSUE that

threatened the baseball consensus was the civil..
rights movement. The response of baseball officialdom to
equipment for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Re..
public, as more balls and bats would "keep a bunch of kids
out of the clutches of Castro's agents." Owners like
racial unrest in America was self.. congratulatory. After Boston's Tom Yawkey earned praise for helping Red Sox
all, baseball had shown the way toward peaceful in.. outfielder Roman Mejias get his family out of Cuba. In
tegration with Jackie Robinson seven years before the exchange, Mejias promised, "I will kill myself for the Red
Brown vs. Board of Education decision. The Sporting News Sox."
lauded the fact that Little Rock, Arkansas "welcomed" Other Latin players, however, were less enthusiastic
Dick Allen, the first black player to ever don a Travellers' toward baseball and its established practices. San Fran..
uniform. Governor Orville Faubus, who had long cham.. cisco Giants outfielder Felipe Alou observed that while
pioned segregation, was given the honor of throwing out the sport was concerned with combatting the spread of
the first ball. Obviously, the turmoil brought about by the Castro, it was doing little to win the hearts and minds of
desegregation of Central High had abated, and baseball Spanish.. speaking players. Alou was upset over fines
would continue the healing process. The Sporting News Commissioner Frick had levied against him and Juan
stated, "Baseball provided the means for making [in.. Marichal for playing winter ball in the Dominican Re..
tegration] work in Little Rock as it has in almost every public. "These are our people," said Alou, "and we owe it
section of the country since integration became a reality to them to play for them." Alou demanded that a
after World War II." It is interesting to note, however, Hispanic representative be appointed to the com..
that Dick Allen had a very different perception of the missioner's staff.
events in Little Rock. Allen maintained that life in
Arkansas was a nightmare, and that he was often on the
verge of quitting baseball. He received threatening phone
calls, had the windshield of his car plastered with "nigger
T HE REAL ENEMIES of consensus and conformity,
however, weren't the players but the owners.
The Lords of Baseball were shattering the consensus by
go home" signs, and could not be served in a restaurant threatening to shift franchises. Kansas City owner Char..
unless accompanied by a white player. lie Finley wanted out of his municipal lease and began
While Allen was suffering these indignities, baseball wooing the cities of Dallas, Louisville, and Oakland. To
Commissioner Frick was extolling the virtues of in.. disconcerted Kansas City fans, Finley explained, "You
tegration before the Senate Commerce Committee. In see, this is a business." (The eccentric owner and insur..
response to an inquiry from Senator Warren Magnuson of ance magnate would later encounter considerable diffi..
Washington about the number of blacks currently in.. culty with players who exemplified the same attitude.)
volved in major league baseball, Frick replied that he Meanwhile, John McHale, president of the Milwaukee
didn't know b~cause no such records were kept: "We keep Braves, while negotiaing with the city of Atlanta and
sounding a little like Alabama Governor George Wall.. owners. In April of 1964 Braves management declared,
ace, insisted, "The Braves will be in Milwaukee today, "We are positively not moving. We're playing in Mil..
tomorrow, next year, and as long as we are welcome." waukee, whether you're talking of 1964, 1965, or 1975."
These rumors of team moves alarmed The Sporting News, By mid.. summer, reports persisted that the Braves were
which editorialized that franchise shifts would bring law.. already committed to Atlanta. John Doyne, Milwaukee
suits and the end to baseball's privileged exemption from county executive, threatened a lawsuit if the Braves
the antitrust laws. If baseball couldn't keep its own house attempted to leave Milwaukee. The club still had a year to
in order, the specter of federal legislation-baseball's go on its stadium lease, he pointed out. Doyne criticized
equivalent of the outside agitator-loomed ahead. Or so Commissioner Frick for not blocking the Braves man..
warned baseball's bible. agement. "How a ball club is permitted to come into a city
The year 1963 ended shakily. President Kennedy had like this, milk it for a dozen years, and then jump else..
been assassinated, and baseball could only agree to dis.. where, I can't understand," Doyne said. Braves ex..
agree. Some real enemies were arguably within, as the ecutives William Bartholomay and John McHale calmly
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and continued baseball frat . . replied that while Milwaukee attendance was up, Atlanta
ricide proved. To borrow from Pogo, the establishment offered a more lucrative radio and television market.
met the enemy and found it was itself. Sportswriter Dick Young also ridiculed Doyne for elev..
ating the proposed franchise shift to the level of a moral
HE JEREMIADS OF The Sporting News notwith.. issue. After all, Young reasoned, Milwaukee shed few
T standing, 1964 would be a year in which discussion
of baseball franchise shifts would dominate headlines. In
tears over Boston losing the Braves in 1953. Unlike
previous franchise transfers from Boston, Philadelphia,
January, Finley announced that he had signed an agree.. St. Louis, and New York, however, Milwaukee would be
ment with the city of Louisville that would bring the A's left with no major league outlet. Regardless of any moral
and major.. league baseball to Kentucky. However, a fran.. considerations, on October 21, 1964 Braves management
chise shift would require the approval of the other owners. voted to ask the National League for permission to shift
At a January 16, 1964 American League meeting in New the franchise to Atlanta. Approval was quickly granted by
York, permission to move was denied. Finley threatened the other owners, although local obstacles were able to
to sue the commissioner and Organized Baseball for vio.. keep the Braves in Milwaukee for the 1965 season.
lation of antitrust law. Missouri Senator Stuart Sym..
ington blasted Finley for his failure to negotiate with
Kansas City officials: "Is there anyone who would deny
that Mr. Finley has lowered the respect of the American
T HOSE WHO SUGGESTED that the actions of
Finley and Braves management proved baseball was
no longer a sport were given further ammunition in
people for professional baseball?" Symington's views were August, 1964, when CBS announced that it had pur..
echoed by the junior Senator from Missouri, Edward L. chased the N ew York Yankees from Dan Topping and Del
Long, who labeled Finley "irresponsible" in his attitude Webb for $11,200,000. With the CBS acquisition, the
toward the people of Kansas City and fans of the Yankees emerged as the perfect corporate symbol. They
Athletics. represented big business, mass media, New York City,
While Finley would withdraw his lawsuit in February and monopolistic success (from 1949 to 1964, the Yan..
and sign a four.. year Kansas City stadium lease, other kees won fourteen American League pennants and nine
baseball officials embarked on a new strategy. Com.. world championships). Their most successful manager,
missioner Ford Frick testified before the Senate Monopoly Casey Stengel, had emphasized a platooning strategy in
Subcommittee in favor of a sports bill that would extend which players functioned as interchangeable parts. Just as
to all professional team sports the exemption from anti.. many Americans would rebel against bureaucracy and
trust legislation now enjoyed by baseball. In 1922 Justice corporate society, so others concerned with maintaining
Oliver Wendell Holmes had delivered an opinion that competition in baseball assailed the CBS acquisition of
baseball was local and not interstate commerce. For a the Yankees. (Little did they realize the world would be
"sport" in the process of negotiating. a new $12 million turned upside down during the 1960s by both Vietnam
television contract, there was always fear that the courts and the baseball standings.)
might reverse Holmes. Frick's strategy was to abandon Chet Huntley, of rival NBC, said the CBS action was
baseball's lone.. wolf status and establish a consensus with "just one more reason to hate the Yankees." A more
the emerging competition: basketball, hockey, football. serious note of dissent was sounded by Congressman
Frick's legislation was quickly sidetracked by Great Emmanuel Cellers of New York, a longtime critic of
Society agenda and the continued foolishness of baseball baseball's monopolistic practices. Cellers observed that
the deal confirmed his view that baseball was big business part Bob Allison of the Twins were also prompt to main..
and should be investigated by the Justice Department. He tain their status as organization men and brand Kubek as a
also feared the impact corporate control might have on malcontent. Friend agreed that the players had discussed
competition. The congressman argued, "If the cor.. pay television, but he said Kubek was off base in regard to
porations which own these clubs are given an antitrust a union. The players, warned Friend, had not progressed
exemption permitting them to equalize the competitive by using threats. Allison concurred, stating that relations
strength of teams, there is a possibility that players may be between the players and owners "have never been bet..
traded around to provide closer races, and therefore more ter." As owners looked on approvingly, the player rep..
entertaining fare." Cellers was joined by Representative resentatives were advocating the consensus view of co..
Henry Reuss of Wisconsin, already angry with Braves operation and conciliation. The Sporting News also cen..
ownership, who proclaimed that baseball should forfeit its sured Kubek: If pay television were to produce dividends,
antitrust exemption. Letters to The Sporting News echoed then the players could certainly depend upon the owners
these sentiments. Representative is the comment from to look out for their interest and award them accordingly.
P. V. Ball ofA von, Connecticut who argued that baseball Kubek was further criticized for expressing his comments
was "deteriorating into a monopolistic organization." directly to the press rather than working through proper
To quiet the storm, CBS issued assurances that the baseball channels.
network would continue to air the "game of the week" If the baseball establishment came together to con..
and would not dabble in baseball business at the club.. demn Kubek, theY'were piecing together an increasingly
house level. Other owners seemed to agree. On Sep.. uneven fabric. Kubek was emerging as the voice of his
tember 9, 1964, an American League owners meeting ws times, demanding, assertive, daring to speak aloud about
held in Boston. After a five . . hour debate, the CBS pur.. a bona fide union.
chase was approved by a vote of ten to two, Finley and Kubek's protest was not the only voice of player dissent
Arthur Allyn of the White Sox expressing their dissent. heard in 1964. The publishing career of Jim Brosnan
The quotable Finley maintained that other owners were would once again provoke' controversy. In February,
intimidated by the Yankees, and that he was "disap.. White Sox General Manager Ed Short warned Brosnan to
pointed, disgusted, disillusioned, disenchanted, dis.. limit his off.. season publishing or find other employment.
couraged, and depressed." The anachronistic A's The relief pitcher was violating the privacy of the club..
owner-a nineteenth.. century self.. made man, a captain house, Allyn trumpeted. What he meant, was ruffling
of industry, perhaps a robber baron-was waging his own management's feathers. The Sporting News initially sup..
war with a twentieth.. century corporation. ported Brosnan's case, editorializing that the pitcher,
while sometimes irreverent, was nevertheless entitled to
B UT AS FINLEY and the Yankees feuded and the

Braves packed their tepees, what message were the
owners sending to their hired hands? What could one
his right of free speech. In a letter to the editor, Brosnan
thanked the publication for its stance, stating that argu..
ments on behalf of free speech "should please anyone but
expect from the players in a society increasingly em.. the stiffneckedmartinets who would control the very
phasizing the rights of the individual? One player taking breathing of the men who play the game. Overanxious
great pride in his independence and rebel image was organization men reflect their own insecurities when they
Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek, who refused to accept the suspect that ball players might degrade the game with
docile and cooperative player concept fashioned by Judge vocal antics."
Cannon. If the owners were looking for more lucrative In March, the unrepentant Brosnan was released by the
markets, so was the combative Kubek. He asserted that White Sox. Short maintained that he was unable to swing
players should be awarded a share of profits from the a trade for a pitcher whose White Sox won.. lost record in
proposed pay.. television market. To support his claim, 1963 was 3.. 8. Short omitted the fact that Brosnan had
Kubek uttered a phrase that sent shivers up the collective compiled an excellent earned run average of 2.84. When
spine of the baseball establishment. The Yankee infielder no teams rushed forth to sign the relief pitcher, some
insisted that the players had been discussing collective observers saw evidence of a blacklist.
bargaining and were "closer now to a ballplayers' union Now The Sporting News was on management's side. The
than we've ever been before." publication censured Brosnan when he asked the Amer..
Kubek's comments immediately brought forth rebuke ican Civil Liberties Union to present his case. Outside
from Cannon, who termed them "unfortunate and ill.. agitators were again intruding into the consensus world of
advised." National League Player Representative Bob baseball, the editorial argued. Squabbles should be settled
Friend of the Pirates and his American League counter.. through proper channels. One should not question the
fundamental principles of the game. as Ralph Andreano, a professor of economics at Earlham

In response, John E. Coons, Chairman of the Illinois College, maintained that baseball owners were being
ACLU Freedom of Information Committee, accused shortsighted in their endeavor to create bland organiza,
Allyn of engaging in censorship. In an emotional letter tion men. Andreano argued that baseball's image problem
utilizing baseball metaphors, Coons argued, "The clubs' resulted from players becoming faceless corporation fig,
management has driven its well,honed spikes deep into ures rather than raffish individuals like the old St. Louis
Mr. Brosnan's career. In so doing, they have cut just as Cardinals Gas House Gang.
deeply into the sporting souls of all Americans who The baseball establishment, meanwhile, continued to
despise the censor's work, whether he strikes at pulpit, ignore growing storm clouds on the racial horizon.. The
Playboy, or pitcher's mound." Coons concluded that Sporting News observed that baseball had been exempt
baseball was in a position to engage in censorship because from the civil,rights demonstrations sweeping America:
the sport enjoyed a privileged monopoly through its The national pastime had proved that "Negroes and
exemption from the antitrust laws. whites could work together in perfect harmony and
White Sox owner Allyn exhibited his contempt for understanding." Baseball officials loved to laud such
both Brosnan and the ACLU by labeling Coon's charges black players as "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, who was honored
as "balderdash" and throwing his letter into the waste, at Wrigley Field on August 15, 1964. Stepping up to the
basket. Allyn's rather pompous reply was applauded by a microphone, Banks proudly announced, "First, I want to
Sporting News editorial, which complacently asserted, thank God for making me an American." Success stories
"The baseball position on civil rights is unassailable and like that of Banks, who had played in the segregated
has been since Jackie Robinson's entrance into the major Negro leagues, were emphasized to demonstrate that
leagues." [Brosnan's case was eventually dropped.-Ed.] baseball, having solved its integration problems and
Written out of the baseball consensus, Brosnan de, having welcomed blacks into the consensus, was immune
clared that if he couldn't pitch, he would at least have from the social conflict-and debate suddenly engulfing the
time to finish his novel. But Brosnan and Kubek were not nation.
the only players at war with their clubs in 1964. Manage,
ment comments and Sporting News editorials frequently
chided players for their lack of loyalty to the sport and the
owners who paid their salaries. Red Sox first baseman
C RITICS NOTEDTHAT while equality might exist
on the playing field, segregation had not disap,
peared in the broadcasting booths, front offices, and
Dick Stuart publicly chastised Manager Johnny Pesky for coaching and managing ranks. In a letter to The Sporting
humiliating the slugger by placing him on the B squad for News, reader H. M. Lasky of Chicago admonished the
exhibition games. The White Sox benched centerfielder baseball establishment and requested "a little less com,
Jim Landis when he refused to make television ap, placency in the future please." Jackie Robinson crusaded
pearances for the club without guaranteed compensation. for black inclusion in the higher echelons of the baseball
Pitcher Joey Jay of the Reds also made headlines, threat, world. The 1964 season offered an example that racism
ening to quit if he wasn't traded. Last but by no means was hardly dead on. the playing field. In the midst of an
least, crusty Cleveland Indian manager Birdie Tebbetts, a intense July pennant race, Giants manager Alvin Dark
frequent critic of the modern,day player, fined four mem, was interviewed by Stan Isaacs for Newsday, a large
bers of the Tribe for their failure to hustle. circulation daily on Long Island. A native Southerner,
Dark was quoted as saying, "We have trouble because we
HE SPORTING NEWS endorsed Tebbetts. Sound, have so many Negro and Spanish,speaking players on this
T ing very much like parents who did not understand
how their ungrateful children could complain in the midst
team. They are just not able to perform up to the white
players when it comes to mental alertness. One of the
of affluence, the paper editorialized, "Players today are biggest things is that you can't make them subordinate
paid more handsomely than ever, demand and receive themselves to the best interest of the team. You don't find
more concessions from owners than ever before and live pride in them that you get in the white player."
in the lap of luxury. For all of this, all they are asked to do Dark denied the remarks, but Isaacs, a respected re,
is bear down hard for a couple of hours a day. It is a sad porter, stood by his story. A threatened player revolt by
commentary when such dedication can be obtained only nonwhite players on the Giants roster developed. Re,
by hitting the players where it hurts in the pocketbook. " portedly, a strike was averted and Dark's job saved
In the eyes of the baseball establishment young players through the actions of team captain Willie Mays. Accord,
were behaving like permissive children of the Dr. Spock ing to clubhouse accounts, Mays asserted that he had
generation. However, some critics of management such nothing but contempt for Dark's racial attitudes, but that
Dark didn't allow his prejudice to interfere with his function to promote baseball; this duty would be shared by
. managerial decisions. (In fact, when Juan Marichal all players, not just a few stars. Allegedly speaking on
pitched, seven out of nine starters were either black or behalf of the players, Cannon promised, "We are going to
Latin. ) To show his support for Dark, an ill Mays came off let the club owners know that we will cooperate with
the bench to hit two home runs in a Giants victory over them in any way we can and that we would like their
the Mets. Despite his efforts, the Giants pennant bid fell suggestions. This is an honest, concerted, sincere effort to
short and owner Horace Stoneham relieved Dark of his show that we are interested in creating a better image for
managerial duties at season's end. Of more importance, baseball." As President Johnson would have put it,
complacency and consensus were once again shattered. "Come let us reason together."
Baseball was not immune to the conflicts and changes Neither the baseball consensus nor the political con..
sweeping America. sensus would last. The consensus supposedly formed by
Johnson in November, 1964 would be based on illusions
g UESTIONING MANAGEMENT'S MOTIVES

and actions, players were demanding free speech
an increased compensation. For his part, Judge Cannon
continued as the players' counsel and owners' mouth..
like American boys not fighting Asian wars. Judge Can..
non wouldn't be elevated to the status of commissioner,
the owners opting for an even more pliant candidate in
General William Eckert. The players weren't interested
piece. In the spring of 1964 he was once again touring in playing ball with him-or with Cannon. No longer
training camps and disseminating information on what he content with a company union, they would eventually
and baseball management considered to be the major select Marvin Miller to head the players association.
issues of interest to the players: tax.. saving tips and off.. Under Miller's leadership the players would strike a
season and post.. career opportunities for employment. more assertive pose, demanding an expanded pension
Cannon briefed players on what he considered to be an plan, increases in the player minimum salary, and an end
outstanding pension program, gained through a "spirit of tvo the reserve clause, the establishment of free agency,
cooperation among the players and owners, general man.. and salary arbitration. They would strike several times
agers, and administrators of baseball." and forever change the structure of maj or.. league baseball.
In other words, Cannon believed players would receive To the echo of "black power," black players would more
a larger slice of the baseball economic pie and be included publicly charge racism. Bob Dylan was right: There was a
in the sport's consensus if only they would maintain a battle outside raging that would shake the windows and
proper attitude of respect and conciliation toward the rattle the walls of even the most cherished American
owners. When Commissioner Frick announced he would institution.
not be a candidate for reelection, Cannon's name was In 1963 and 1964, though, baseball officials turned
floated as a possible successor. Commentators such as deaf ears to cries for change. At their 1964 winter meeting
Dick Young insisted that the owners did not want a strong the owners were in a self.. congratulatory mood, having
commissioner who would interefere with their actions. instituted a new free . . agent draft, approved what sports..
Cannon certainly made it clear that. he was not one to writer Red Smith called the "rape" of Milwaukee in
rock the consensus boat. In a speech before the Wisconsin supporting the transfer of the Braves to Atlanta, and
Academy of General Sciences, he again reminded players continued their satisfactory paternalistic relationship
and fans of the debts they owed to baseball owners. They with the players. Frick, now a lame.. duck commissioner,
might lose money, he said, but they had established "the admonished owners not to ignore the changes on the
greatest pension program in the history of this country." horizon. While hardly a man to challenge the owners,
In line with Cannon's conciliatory approach, Pirate Frick loved baseball and hated to see the owners stick
hurler Bob Friend presented the players' "demands" to the their heads in the sand. In a Cassandra.. like warning,
owners at the 1964 annual baseball winter meeting: Frick attempted to shatter the walls of baseball com..
increasing meal money from ten to twelve dollars per day, placency: "So long as baseball people refuse to look
increased complimentary tickets, compensation if pay beyond the day and the hour, so long as the clubs and
television proved successful, and the piece de resistance individuals persist in gaining personal headlines through
improved toilet facilities for players in the Kansas City public criticism of associates; so long as they are unwilling
stadium. to sacrifice the welfare of the individual for the benefit of
In exchange for these considerations, Cannon made it the whole; and so long as expediency is permitted to
~lear that the players would reciprocate by demonstrating replace sound judgment, there can be no satisfactory
their loyalty. Players would be available on request to solution. "
appear without compensation at any noncommercial The times were indeed a.. changin'.
Does Jet Lag
Affect Races?
BRUCE GOLDBERG
1988, Bruce Goldberg
Yes, says the author. In 1987 teams that traveled less won
more. Would you believe the White Sox could have possibly
contended in the AL West without their "travel games?"
AL WEST NL WEST
U
NTIL WALTER O'MALLEY and Horace
Stoneham took the Dodgers and Giants west in California 43,791 San Francisco 43,662
1957, major,league baseball was a game played Oakland 40,541 San Diego 41,698
Seattle 38,946 Los Angeles 38,340
almost exclusively east of the Mississippi River. Cities Texas 37,322 Houston 37,800
were nofurther apart than an overnight Pullman trip, and Kansas City 28,799 Atlanta 29,573
three,hour time changes, jet lag, and red,eye flights Chicago 26,752 Cincinnati 28,618
Minnesota 25,283
didn't exist.
AVERAGE 34,476 AVERAGE 36,456
Of course that's all changed now. Today's big league
ballplayer criss,crosses the country, making as many as As you can see, the "wanderlust champions," the
forty trips in a six,month season. The big leaguers face California Angels and the San Francisco Giants, traveled
many of the same travel hassles experienced by over a twice as far as the "stay,at..home" Milwaukee Brewers and
million Americans every day. But despite the constant Chicago Cubs. It's also interesting, and probably not
travel, it's always appeared, at least on the surface, that insignificant, that teams in the supposedly weaker West,
team performance was generally unaffected by the travel ern Divisions of each league travel considerably farther
grind. However, a closer look at the 1987 season suggests than their Eastern Division rivals.
that travel and jet lag may playa key role in determining The relationship between travel schedule and per,
who wins and who loses. In fact, jet lag may have turned formance is also evident when looking at the combined
at least one team last season from being a contender into standings in each league. The teams in the top half won
an also,ran. 21 percent more games than the teams in the lower half.
Clearly a favorable travel schedule is not going to make Of course the key difference between the top and bottom
up for a lack of pitching, hitting, or defense, but there is a teams is the talent level, but it is noteworthy that the top
connection between the miles a team travels and its teams traveled considerably fewer miles than the teams in
standing. Three of the four division winners traveled the the bottomhalf, 16 percent less in the American League
fewest or next..to,fewest miles of any te2m in their div, and 10 percent less in the National League.
ision. The only exception were the San Francisco Giants,
who actually traveled more miles than any other National AL WIL MILES NL WIL MILES
League team. The "frequent flyer mileage" standings for DET, TOR,
1987 were: MIL, NY, 623 ..511 192,918 STL, NY, 532..440 173,378
MIN, KC, MTL, SF,
OAK CIN, PHL
AL EAST NL EAST
Boston 29,827 Montreal 27,514 SEA, BOS,
Baltimore 28,884 Philadelphia 26,224 CHI, CAL, 511 ..623 230,092 PIT, CHI, 440..532 191,991
New York 27,551 New York 25,804 TEX, BAL, HOU, LA,
Toronto 24,581 Pittsburgh 23,923 CLE ATL, SO
Cleveland 24,570 St. Louis 21,566
Detroit 23,252 Chicago 20,657
Milwaukee 22,911 Bruce Goldberg is a marketing manager for Amtrak and the
AVERAGE 25,939 AVERAGE author of Amtrak: The First Decade.
Assuming that the fatiguing effects of travel are greatest Clearly, a team with a great number of travel advantage
in the first game after traveling, the opener of each 1987 opportunities in its schedule could conceivably benefit in
series was analyzed. (Opening Day and the first game after the standings. In 1987 the American League champion
the All,Star break were excluded.) Five of the twenty,six Minnesota Twins enjoyed the distance advantage thirty,
teams seemed to be unaffected by travel, but fourteen of one times, more often than any other American League
the remaining twenty,one teams had a lower winning team. Boston, on the other hand, had the edge only
percentage right after traveling. Somewhat surprising is eighteen times. Despite their presumably unfavorable
that seven teams actually recorded better records immedi, West Coast location the San Diego Padres had the advan,
ately after unpacking their bags. tage twenty,nine times, the most (along with Cincinnati)
The overall record of all teams in the first game after of any National League team. The Padres' California
traveling was 456,505, a .475 winning percentage. Since neighbors, the Los Angeles Dodgers, had only nineteen
the composite won, lost percentage of each league is distance advantages.
always .500, this is an indication that travel adversely
affects team performance. Rest Factor
There are two separate components that combine to So far we've looked only at the distance factor and tried
make up the travel factor: the "distance advantage" and to isolate that factor by looking at it only when there's an
the "rest factor." Generally, the te~m that travels fewer equal interval between both teams' previous game and the
miles spends less time enroute, so they have the distance series opener. In recent years, with the virtual elimin,
advantage. It is expressed simply as the difference in ation of "travel days" and the almost total demise of day
mileage that each team traveled to reach the series games on "getaway day," the available travel time be,
opener. The rest factor compares the amount of time each tween games has taken on added importance. Travel
team has from its previous game to the series opener. The between cities has become a hectic whirlwind, with late,
team with the longer break has the rest factor in its favor. night or overnight flights becoming the rule rather than
the exception. This would appear to affect both indi,
Distance Advantage
vidual and team performance. But on an individual game
In the 660 series' openers there were 490 in which there
basis, the 1987 season suggests that the rest factor just
was a distance advantage but in which the rest factor was
isn't that important.
equal. In these 490 openers, the team that traveled fewer
Both teams usually travel late at night following a night
miles won 36 percent more games than their opponents.
game, but about once in every four series one of the teams
Team Traveling has the rest factor working in its favor~ On 170 occasions
Fewer Miles Won Lost Advantage in 1987 one team had a day game and its opponent a night
game on the previous day, or one played and the other was
Home 217 158 37.3%
Visitor 65 50 30.0% off. However, the rest factor accounted for only a 7.3%
edge. And only the visiting team benefitted. Compare
TOTAL 282 208 35.6% these results with the 36% edge associated with the
The mileage differential, i. e. the travel time differ, mileage advantage.
ential, also has an impact. The team with the shorter trip
has the advantage. A distance advantage of less than 200 Team with
miles results in an edge of only about 13%. But as the Rest Factor Won Lost Edge
mileage difference increases, so does the edge. In the few Home 40 41 ..2.5%
cases where the distance advantage exceeded 2,000 miles, Visitor 48 41 19.5%
the edge for the team making the short trip went all the
TOTAL 88 82 7.3%
way up to 3,1.
Travel Advantage In some of the cases where one team had the rest factor
in Miles Won Lost Advantage working for it, its opponent either had the distance
200 miles or less 51 13.3%
advantage or may not have traveled at all. Next, look
45
201 ..750 miles 148 114 29.8% only at games where both teams had traveled. In this
751 .. 1500 miles 58 37 56.8% situation the rest factor edge increased to over 25%, but
1501 ..2000 miles 19 10 90.0% once again only the visiting team seemed to realize much
Over 2000 miles 6 2 300.0%
benefit. When the home team had time on its side, the
Total w/200+ mile advantage 282 208 35.6% impact was minimal.
Won Lost Edge in the first game after traveling, they would have found
Home 18 17 5.9% themselves far out of the National League West race with
Visitor 21 14 50.0% an otherwise sub,.500 performance. The exciting race in
TOTAL 39 31 25.8% the American League East might have been no race at all
if the runner,up Blue Jays weren't such great travelers, or
Another way to further isolate the rest factor was to if the division winning Tigers had played only. 500 ball in
consider only games where there is no significant distance their openers after arriving. Toronto was 23,13 off the
advantage (less than 200 miles). And although there were
airplane, a .639 pace, compared to Detroit's jet,lagged
only a few instances to consider, once again the rest factor
17,21 mark. Take away those travel games and the Tigers
seemed to have an impact when it favored the visiting
team. would have coasted to the title by 9 games.
The 1987 travel records by division were:
Won Lost Edge
AL NL
Home 4 13 ..225.0%
Visitor 9 6 50.0% EAST W L PCT.EAST W L PCT.
Toronto 23 13 .639 New York 20 15 .571
TOTAL 13 19 . 46.1% New York 19 17 .528 St. Louis 20 16 .556
Milwaukee 20 18 .526 Philadelphia 18 17 .514
Seventy,three times a team had both the mileage and Cleveland 18 20 .474 Pittsburgh 18 18 .500
time factor working for it. Surely in this case the double Detroit 17 21 .447 Chicago 17 19 .472
Baltimore 16 20 .444 Montreal 16 19 .457
advantage would create a strong edge. Right? Wrong! Boston 14 23 .378
The overall record of teams with the double advantage
was only 37,36, an insignificant edge of less than 3 AL NL
percent. And again the home team actually lost more WEST W L PCT.WEST W L peT.
times than it ~on, while the visitor gained a clear advan, Seattle 19 15 .559 Cincinnati 24 12 .667
tage. Minnesota 19 18 .514 Atlanta 19 18 .514
Kansas City 18 19 .486 San Diego 17 18 .486
California 17 19 .472 San Francisco 16 20 .444
Won Lost Edge Oakland 16 18 .471 Houston 17 22 .436
Home 29 30 ..3.4% Texas 15 23 .395 Los Angeles 11 25 .306
Visitor 8 6 33.3% Chicago 12 25 .324
TOTAL 37 36 2.8% While tightening up the American League East and

National League West races, the two travel factors had
It would seem that either team should benefit from the the opposite effect in the other two divisions. The White
extra time off, so why the rest factor benefits only visiting Sox definitely appear to have been jet,lagged out of
teams is something of a mystery. One plausible ex, contention in the American League West. If the travel
planation may be that when a team returns home from a games were removed from everybody's record, the White
road trip the players are so tired that the rest factor doesn't , Sox would have found themselves only 1 game behind the
help. Another possible explanation is that for a team on eventual World Champion Minnesota Twins. Instead
the road, the extra time off means the chance to rest (and' they finished 8 games back and were never even close to
avoid a night flight), but for a player at home that extra contention.
time turns into a disadvantage because it gets filled with In fact, without the travel games the AL West race
everyday activities and other distractions. Some ad, would have been a four,way race between Minnesota,
ditional research in 1988 may pinpoint the reason. Chicago, Kansas City, and Oakland. The National
League East title chase, which went down to the last few
The 1987 Pennant Race
days of the season, might have gone even further if not for
Now that both of the travel factors have been identified
the travel factors. The Montreal Expos .were 16,19 in
and quantified, what does it all mean in the real world?
post,travel games, the lowest winning percentage among
How did the travel schedules affect the 1987 pennant NL East teams, and that may have prevented them from
race? challenging St. Louis right down to the final day of the
Last season the top team coming off the plane was season.
Cincinnati. Pete Rose's Reds didn't let a little jet lag With the travel games removed, the 1987 standings
affect their performance as they won 24 of 36 games, a would have looked like this (actual season winning per,
.667 winning percentage. Were it not for this torrid pace c~ntage is shown in parentheses):
AL EAST W--L PCT. GB ACTUAL AL WEST W--L PCT. GB ACTUAL

OET 81,43 .653 (.605) MIN 66,59 .528 (.525)
TOR 73,53 .5.79 9 (.593) KC 65,60 .520 1 (.512)
MIL 71,53 .573 10 (.562) CHI 65,60 .520 1 (.475)
NY 70,56 .556 12 (.549) OAK 65,63 .508 2.5 (.500)
BOS 64,61 .512 17.5 (.481) TEX 60,64 .484 5.5 (.463)
BAL 51,75 .405 31 (.414) SEA 59,69 .461 8.5 (.481)
CLE 43,81 .347 38 (.377) CAL 59,69 .460 8.5 (.463 )
NL EAST W--L PCT. GB ACTUAL NL WEST W--L PCT. GB ACTUAL

STL 75,51 .595 (.586) SF 74,52 .587 (.556)
MTL 75,52 .591 .5 (.562) LA 62,64 .492 12 (.451)
NY 72,55 .567 3.5 (.568) HOU 59,64 .480 13.5 (.469)
PIT 62,64 .492 13 (.494) CIN 60,66 .476 14 (.519)
PHL 62,65 .488 13.5 (.494) ATL 50,74 .403 23 (.429)
CHI 59,66 .472 15.5 (.472) SO 48,79 .378 26.5 (.401)
The travel factors may not have changed the outcome miles, who mak~s the shortest trips, and who has the most
of division races in 1987, but its impact on several teams days on the ~oad. In the end, the key to whether Kansas
was undeniable. Clearly the potential is there for the City or Oakland can topple Minnesota, whether the Blue
division races to be decided by the travel schedule. So in Jays can win it this year, or whether the lV1ets can again
trying to predict who will win in the future, look beyond make it to the World Series may rest not between the
pitching, hitting, and defense to who,travels how many white lines or in the dugout, but at the airport.
A DOZEN IN A ROW and Herman hit a home run into the right..field stands
HE BROOKLYN ROBINS made 12 hits in a (12). Bissonette broke the string when he made an out.
T row in a game at Pittsburgh on June 23, 1930. With OH, BROTHER!
two men already out in the Brooklyn sixth, Johnny
Frederick singled (1); Wally Gilbert hit one deep to right
center for an inside.. the..park homer (2); Babe Herman
O N APRIL 29, 1931 Wes Ferrell pitched a no..hitter
for Cleveland against the St. Louis Browns. In the
St. Louis eighth Rick Ferrell, Wes's older brother, came
singled (3); Del Bissonette singled (4); Rube Bressler to bat. Would he spoil his brother's claim to fame? Rick
singled (5); Glenn Wright tripled (6); Mickey Finn hit the hardest ball of the day for' the Browns to deep
doubled (7); Al Lopez singled (8); Jumbo Elliott single~ short. Bill Hunnefield raced over to knock the ball down
(9); Frederick got his second single of the inning but made but had to hurry his throw. It was a little wild and Rick
the third out when he tried to stretch it to a double (10). was safe. The fans cheered when "error" was flashed.
In the seventh the first man up, Gilbert, doubled (11); Emil H. Rothe
Musing On Maris:
1961 Remembered
RALPH HOUK and ROBERT W. CREAMER
The man who managed Roger Maris and a writer who

covered him recall his friendship and rivalry with Mickey
Mantle, the pressures brought on him, and how he beat the Babe.
R
OGER EUGENE MARIS, lefthanded..hitting Put that one on the list, too. And notice again that
right fielder, 26, [by opening day, 1961], 6',200 Maris felt a high batting average was more apt to focus
pounds. Appeared in 161 games. Batted .269, attention on him than, say, hitting home runs. He simply
with 61 home runs. had no idea.
Maris was born in Fargo, North Dakota, on September Hitting .300 was a standard of excellence in 1961 that
10, 1934. A high school star in football as well as baseball, was a relic from the 1920s and 1930s, when all really good
he gave up a college football scholarship to sign with the hitters were expected to bat .300 or very close to it. In
Cleveland Indians after graduating from high school. He considering Mickey Mantle's popularity that season it
played four years in the minors at Fargo..Moorhead, Ke.. should be noted that he finished the year at .31 7, almost
okuk, Tulsa, Reading,. and Indianapolis before catching exactly what he was hitting early in August, whereas
on with the Indians in 1957. He showed consistent if not Maris's average fell 14 points to .269. A .269 batting
spectacular home..run power in the minors and during his average sounded awful in those days when the .300
rookie year with Cleveland (he hit 14 homers for the mystique was so strong. Yet Maris's .269 was 13 points
Indians while batting .235), but he was nonetheless above the league in 1961. Ifhe had played 25 years earlier,
traded to the Athletics in June 1958. He hit about the in 1936, and had batted 13 points above the league
same that year, .240, but increased his home..runtotal to average, Maris would have hit .302.
28. In 1959 with the A's he lifted his average to .273 but, To understand the antagonistic pressures that fell on
hit only 16 homers. That December the Athletics traded Maris later in the year, it's necessary to recognize the
him to the Yankees, along with Joe DeMaestri and Kent attitude he eyoked at the time. Maris was a splendid
Hadley, for Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, Norm Seibem and ballplayer, voted the Most Valuable Player in the league
Marv Throneberry, and in 1960 for the Yankees he not the year before, but he was a newcomer, a Johnny..come..
only batted .283, his major..league high, but hit 39 home lately. He was in his second year with the Yankees
runs and won the Most Valuable Player award. (Mantle was in 'his eleventh) and it was the first time in
"I was a better hitter on the road than I was at home," his brief career that Roger had played two successive full
. Maris said [before the 1961 season], "because I swung with seasons with the same club. Further, he was quiet and
the pitch. I was just trying to get hits. At the Stadium I reserved and in no sense colorful; baseball writers didn't
was trying to pull the ball toward the right..field seats all seek him out for quotations, and he didn't buddy up to the
the time. I'm going to change that." Add that to your list media, as many players do. His personality on the field
of famous predictions gone awry. reflected his personality off it; he was strong, capable and
Someone mentioned to Maris that he seemed to be in matter..of..fact. He was a powerful hitter, a superb fielder
pretty good shape despite all the banquets he had been to. with a fine arm, an excellent baserunner (although he did
He smiled his little smile and nodded. "I've been to a
dozen dinners," he said, "but I eat only the meat, no Reprinted by arrangement with G.P. Putnam's Sons from
trimmings, no dessert." Then, vehemently, he added, SEASON OF GLORY: The Amazing Saga of the 1961 New York
"But I've had it. Next year there'll be no banquet circuit Yankees by Ralph Houk and Robert W. Creamer. Copyright
for me, not even if I hit .380." 1988.
not steal bases; with Mantle usually coming to bat when homers in 1961 during that astonishing five . . week period.
Maris was on base there was little reason to). Roger played No one else-not Babe Ruth or Henry Aaron, not Willie
with great skill but quiet efficiency. Before his home;run Mays or Reggie Jackson or Ted Williams or Mickey
splurge, fans and sportswriters tended not to notice him Mantle, not Jimmie Foxx or Hank Greenberg or Ralph
the way they would a Willie Mays or a Mantle. Kiner, no one-has ever hit nearly that many homers in
Even the way he ran was markedly different from that length of time. Ruth came closest. Everyone knows
Mantle. When Mickey slowed to a trot he moved in an that the Babe hit 17 home runs in September of 1927, a
odd, cramped way, as though his feet hurt, but when he blistering run down the stretch that made it extremely
shifted into top speed he was like a rapidly spinning difficult for anyone chasing his record to catch him. But
wheel, a rhythmic, dynamic blur. Maris was fast, too, Ruth's great finishing surge began earlier, on August 16,
though not as fast as Mantle-nobody was-but he ran when he had 36 home runs and was still behind Lou
almost methodically, and when he slowed to a trot he Gehrig. Babe hit 24, the last 24 of his 60.. homer year,
moved in the same steady, unruffled manner, his impas; from August 16 through September 30, 24 in 46 days,
sive face showing no strain or emotion. He was by no embracing 41 games, an exceptional feat in itself, but
means ungraceful, but neither was there anything beauti; Maris simply blew that apart.
ful or striking about the way he did things. For years, writers commenting on challenges to Ruth's
He had a friendly little smile, but he didn't use it much. record warned how demanding September would be for
His face seldom showed much emotion, and he had what anyone trying to surpass the Babe. Maris met that chal..
many writers called "cold blue eyes." He had a small lenge, but he had his great September in the spring, in
mouth for such a big man, and in repose it tended to turn May and June. His 24 home runs in five weeks was a great
down at the corners, which made him look disdainful and baseball feat, and it deserves to be ranked with Di..
disapproving. He was well liked by other players and he Maggio's 56.. game hitting streak as an example of sus..
made strong friendships, but to those who didn't know tained, unrelenting achievement.
him he seemed almost to be sneering. When Maris started his great run he was seven homers
Even the way he spoke was deflating. Mantle had been behind Mantle. When he finished it, he was five ahead.
a difficult interview, but when he did talk he had an Mickey himself hit 12 in the same period, a demanding
engaging charm, a pleasant voice with an appealing rate per game that works out to 51 homers a season, and
southwestern "cowboy" accent. Maris's flat, almost mo; yet Maris hit twice. as many as Mantle did. If Roger had
notonous manner of speaking was as noncommittal as he maintained that impossible pace for the entire year he
was, and his voice was not noticeably deep or warm or would have hit more than 100 home runs.
resonant in tone. He tended in all ways to blend into the More and more frequently, the stories on their homers
background, which he preferred. Then all those home included mention of Ruth's pace in 1927 (the Babe was
runs he hit in 1961 forced him into the spotlight. back in the news again). Maris, with 35 homers, was now
19 games ahead of Ruth, and Mantle, with 33, was 8
N OONE MADE MUCH note of the home run Maris

hit back on May 17, his fourth of the year-Mantle
had ten at the time, Jim Gentile eleven, and Rocky
games ahead, but that same day Commissioner Frick'
made his feelings about the pursuit of Ruth's record
official. He issued a formal ruling that said no batter
Colavito, Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison each had pursuing the Babe would be credited with equaling or
.twice as many homers as Maris then-but it marked the breaking the record unless he accomplished it within 154
beginning of the most amazing stretch of home;run hit; games, the length of the season when Ruth hit his 60.
ting by any player in the history of the game. Mention is "Ford Frick threw a protective screen around Babe
frequently made that Maris hit fifteen homers in June, the P,-uth's record of 60 home runs yesterday," one newspaper
most he hit in anyone month that season, but that said with cynical accuracy. Frick said a player who hit 60
admirable statistic (not in itself a record) is artificially tied after the 154th game would be given recognition but
to the calendar month and does not reflect the extra; added-much to his l~ter chag~in-that such a record
ordinary extent of Maris's hitting. His great surge that would go into the record book with "a distinguished
began on May 17 ended on June 22, eight days before the mark" to show that it had been made in a 162.. game
end of the month (he hit no homers at all in the last week season. He didn't mention other records that might be
of June). But in the 37 days (a month plus a week) broken because of the eight extra games in the schedule,
between May 17 and June 22, Maris hit 24 home nor did he mention an asterisk, a word that was to haunt
runs-24 in 38 games (including the game he appeared in him the rest of his life. All he said was "a distinguished
for only half an inning). He hit nearly 40 percent of his 61 mark," but the baseball writers took it from there. They
assumed that the distinguishing mark would be an as.. Never mind records. Just put the money in the pot.
terisk, and because Frick's ruling aroused such strong It's kind of sad about Frick. He was a nice man, and he
feelings on both sides of the matter, "with an asterisk" loved baseball, but he was living in a reverse time warp.
became a catch phrase that eventually entered the Ian.. His mind was fixed in the 1920s and 1930s, and here he
guage as a term for a qualified success. Frick and "asterisk" was buffeted around by the turbulent, changing sixties.
became closely identified, so much so that when he wrote
his autobiography a dozen years later he called it Games,
Asterisks and People, even though he devoted barely a page
in the book to the whole Maris.. Ruth contretemps.
I NTEREST IN THE home.. run race was so great that
headlines began to say things like M&M Fail To
Connect, as though not hitting a home run was news. In
In 1961, though, his ruling was big news, and it served Cleveland in August the Yankees beat the sagging Indians
to make the home.. run race not a contest between Maris twice before a crowd of 56,000, by 20,000 the largest paid
and Mantle but one between Maris and Mantle and attendance in Cleveland all season, and despite the
Ruth--or, to be more accurate, eventually between Maris double defeat the crowd cheered loudly when Mantle hit a
and an artificial barrier at the 154th game of the season. home run and almost as loudly when Maris hitone.
From the day of Frick's ruling to the end of the season the Two days later in Los Angeles, on August 22, Maris hit
publicity attendant on the home.. run derby grew and his fiftieth homer of the season, the earliest by far that
grew, and Maris became, like Mantle, an intensely public anyone had ever reached 50. The previous record date
figure. was September 4-by Ruth in 1927 and Foxx in 1932.
Frick said that his decision to have two sets of records With the pennant race now definitely settled, the
was made only because he felt the 162.. game schedule was baseball writers had little more to dwell upon but Maris
temporary. "I'm certain we'll go back to the 154.. game and Mantle and their chase after the home.. run record.
schedule," he said, meaning that inflated records made Ford, having the greatest year of his career, was all but
during what he presumed would be only a brief inter.. ignored. "It was the damnedest thing," Ford said, "I'd
regnum of 162.. game seasons should be noted as some.. been with the Yankees for ten years and for ten years I'd
thing out of the ordinary. He said he expected four more been hoping to win 20 games. Now I win 25, and all
clubs to be added to the existing majors in a very short anybody asked me about was home runs."
time, which would give each league 12 teams-or, he Other players were disregarded, too. Consider the
said, there might be a realignment into three 8.. team Labor Day doubleheader when the Yankees swept two
leagues. Either way, he said, the old 154.. game schedule games from the Senators while the Tigers were losing, the
would work nicely, and he expected it to be restored. Ina coup de grace day that broke the pennant race apart for
12.. team league, each club would play every other one 14 good. The Yankees won two important, exciting games.
times (11 rivals times 14 games per rival equals 154). In an [Rollie] Sheldon pitched seven good innings in the
8.. team league each team would play each rival 22 times (7 opener and left with the score tied 3.. 3. In the eighth
x 22 equals 154). It was not possible to have that kind of Dohn] Blanchard hit yet another of his dramatic home
balanced scheduling in a 10.. team league with a 154.. game runs to give the Yankees the victory. Young [Hal] Reniff,
schedule. Thus the 162.. g ame slate. Thus, the eight extra who had pitched well since Houk brought him up from
games and the fuss about the home.. run record. the minors in June, got credit for the win, his second
Frick did not anticipate two things: that it would be against no defeats. In the second game [Bud] Daley ~
seven more years before baseball expanded again, and whose pitching had meant so much to the Yankees,
that at that time each league would be split into two pitched a complete game for his tenth victory of the
divisions, further upsetting the old idea of neatly balanced season. [Clete] Boyer homered in that game, [Moose]
schedules. Nor did he take into consideration the satisfac.. Howard and [Elston] Skowron hit back.. to.. back doubles,
tion that the clubs (and, by extension, the players) would [Bob] Cerv tripled and Boyer drove in the winning run
derive from the added income they gained from gate with a sacrifice fly. The legitimate heroes of the day-
receipts, parking fees, concessions, television and radio Sheldon, Blanchard, Reniff, Boyer, Howard, Skowron,
.revenue and the like from those eight extra games each Cerv-all were ignored. That was the day Mantle's fore ..
year. Eight extra games was a 5.. percent increase over the arm was so sore that he could not play, and Maris went oh
old season, and to the marketing experts who were taking for eight in the doubleheader, and those were the big
over control of the game 5 percent was-and is-a sub.. stories of the day: MANTLE HURT, MARIS HITLESS.
stantial figure. In short, once the 162.. game schedule was The demise of the pennant race coincided with their
put in place, there was little cllallce of ever gOillg back to lalesl burst of 110rners. During the [September] week after
the 154.. game level. Never mind balanced scheduling. Detroit died, Mantle hit a homer on Tuesday, Maris on
Wednesday, Maris on Thursday, Mantle on Friday, Maris can't remember one instance of a guy saying, 'I hope,
on Saturday, Mantle on Sunday. Their rhythmic one,two Mickey beats Roger.' If anybody ever said anything like
punch was unrelenting and irresistible. There had been a that I never heard it. I mean, I was pulling for Mickey. I
lot of attention paid to the two before, but now it became knew him better, I hung out with him all the time. It
almost unbearably intense-and sometimes ridiculous. A wasn't that I didn't like Roger. I liked him very much. But
stripper in Texas began calling herself "Mickey Maris." Mickey was my buddy, and I was pulling for him. But not
Maris had moved well ahead of Mantle, but when out loud."
Mickey's two home runs in the final Detroit game gave
him 50 to Roger's 53 he seemed to be back in the race. At RALPH HOUK:
the least it kept the M&M firm in business as a twin attack Roger Maris was just as nice a guy as you'll ever want to meet, but that
season really got to him. I think it really started in Minnesota late in
force on Ruth. But Mantle was fighting a losing battle. August just before we came back home to the Stadium to play the
Even though he hit those two homers against the Tigers Tigers. It had been bad enough before that, with everybody coming
after pulling the muscle in his forearm, when the injury around asking the same questions all the time. What about Frick?
What about expansion? What about the lively ball? Everybody asked if
forced him to miss the doubleheader the next day he lost a the ball was livelier. Oh, yeah. Every year, if somebody happens to do a
golden chance to gain ground as Maris went hitless. little better than they usually do, right away they start asking questions
Home,run champions almost always hit in streaks- about the lively ball. Or the bats. Maris had a great answer. He said the
players were livelier.
they're hot for a while and then cool off-and Mantle's
But then in Minnesota it began to get worse. He'd hit his fiftieth
arm injury came when he was hot. homer, so all of a sudden it was serious. Maybe he was going to bust
When he got back in the lineup again on the day after Ruth's record. We flew in from Kansas City and in Minneapolis they
the doubleheader, after taking physiotherapy again, he were all over him-him and Mickey both-as soon as the bus got to
the hotel from the airport. That was the first year the Twins were in
came to bat for the first time in the second inning and hit Minnesota, you know, and they were all excited about baseball. There
the first pitch six rows deep into the upper stands in right were mobs of people all around, and not just kids. Roger's brother said
field, a tremendous home run that tied the game 1,1 and there were old ladies who all they wanted to do was touch them.
T~.ey'd put their hands out and touch Roger or Mickey on the back and
moved him to within two homers of Maris (53 to 51). It then snatch their hands away. Mickey and Roger, they couldn't even
was an astonishing moment but it was Mantle's highwater take the elevator down to the hotel lobby, it was so jammed with
mark as far as his duel with Maris was concerned. He people waiting to see them. They'd have to go down a flight of stairs
never came that close to Roger again. and sneak out the back way.
Then after we swept Detroit in the Stadium it got bad everyplace.
But it served to complete the swing of emotional The newspapers figured the pennant race was as good as over, and they
support in his direction. To the fans and the press, Maris didn't have anything else to write about except Mantle and Maris. You
was a superb, mechanical home,run,hitting machine- never saw so many writers and photographers in your life. There were
writers there from everywhere, from Podunk, and they were always
unemotional on and off the field, efficient, cold, re, around Roger and Mick asking questions. They were all going to get
served. One writer quaintly referred to Maris as a "sober, the big story.
sides." Mantle, on the other hand, had become gallant, I remember after that doubleheader with the Indians, when Whitey
got knocked round and I had to take him out in the second or third
the wounded hero striving against adversity. His emo,
inning. His hip was bothering him again, and I'm sitting there
tions on the field, once dismissed as childish, now seemed thinking here's my big Series pitcher and he's hurting, and I don't
the legitimate reactions of a brave, frustrated man. He know how bad it is, and what if he can't pitch in the Series? I was
was no longer the bete noire of Yankee fans. Now Maris wondering what I was going to tell the writers, because I knew they
were going to be all over me about it after the game. I was the
was the upstart, and Mickey at last was the rightful damnedest thing. Nobody asked me a thing about Ford. They were all
successor to Ruth and DiMaggio. Mantle had become the around Maris and Mantle.
popular favorite. That's about when Roger started having trouble with the press. He
was a good guy. He always talked to the writers. He'd never had any
The crowd's attitude toward Maris shifted, and he was trouble with them. But he didn't realize that talking to them was one
having trouble holding even their mild affection for him. thing, and having every last thing he said printed in the paper was
He later blamed this vaguely on the Yankees- another, especially when every story was in the headlines. He couldn't
say anything that wasn't picked up and printed.
management, presumably-who, he said, "wanted
I'm pretty sure it was after that doubleheader with the Indians that it
Mantle to break the record, not me. They did everything started. Roger went oh for eight or something, I know he had a bad
possible to assure that. They wanted to reduce my chan, day, and the crowd was getting on him. When you play right field in
ces." That petulance had very little basis in fact. The the Stadium you're real close to the fans in those lower stands--or you
were then before they rebuilt the place in the 1970s. You felt like they
Yankees, staff and players alike, may have wanted Mantle were sitting on your shoulders. You could hear everything they said,
to break the record but, if anything, Maris got the prefer, and they could really blister you. I used to sit out in the bullpen, and I
ential treatment. As Mantle said, "I think if I batted third know.
So Roger had a bad day and the fans were getting on him bad, and he
all year I might have broke the record." Ford said, "If the
didn't like it. After the game some writer asked him what the crowd in
players were rooting for Mickey, they never showed it. I right field was like, and without even thinking about it Roger says,
: "Terrible. They're the worst fans in the league." obstacle. Maris hit homers away from home as frequently
He just said it, you know. So the guy asks him some more questions
and Roger says he's booed every time he makes an out, and he said
as he hit them in the Stadium, and the first two stops on
something about the fans weren't like that in Kansas City, where he this trip were in Chicago and Detroit. Tiger Stadium in
: used to play. He was just popping off. He was mad-he had a bad day Detroit was always a good home~run park, and Maris had
and the fans booed him and he didn't like it.
hit 13 homers off Chicago's pitching. It was accepted
But when the story comes out, here's Roger Maris blasting the
Yankee fans like he'd called a press conference and made a speech almost as a matter of faith in 1961 that the addition of the
about it. It was a big story, and that shook him up. Hell, he'd just been two expansion teams was the big reason why Maris was
blowing off steam. hitting so many home runs (which helps explain in part
That kind of thing kept happening. He'd say things honestly,
without thinking about them, and .they'd be exaggerated. Somebody Frick's fervor in protecting Ruth; he didn't want the
asked him if he really wanted to break Babe Ruth's record and Roger Babe's mark supplanted by a "cheap" record). Yet almost
said, "Hell, yes," and that was big news. Why wouldn't he want to 25 percent of Roger's home runs to this point (13 of 56)
break the record? Rogers Hornsby, I think it was, said, "Wouldn't it be
a shame for a hitter like Maris to break the Babe's record," and Roger
had come against the White Sox, one of the better teams
said screw Hornsby. He just said it, half kidding, but the writers were in the league, and he had hit only fouf against the
I jumping on things like that, and now that's in the headines: Maris Rips expansion Angels, whose home games were in little
Hornsby.
Wrigley Field. Go figure.
Maris had a country man's wariness of strangers, and
i RALPH HOUK:
more and more of the writers asking pointed questions :
When we got to Baltimore Roger was in pretty bad shape. We played

I were people he didn't know. He didn't much trust the
the doubleheader the first night there and he didn't hit any homers,
reporters he did know, either. Some ballplayers have and now it's the 154th game and he came to me and said, "Ralph, I
.rabbit ears. They hear every critical remark yelled from don't feel good. I'm not playing."
He looked awful. Maris was a very sincere and good guy, but there
the stands. Maris had eagle eyes-he seemed to have read are some people who just can't take the atmosphere of the press, all
or been made aware of everything derogatory that was that coverage, all the people, all the cameras, all the bullshit that goes
written about him, particularly those stories that distorted with it, and he was one of them. The pressure just got to him. His hair
was falling out, not in clumps, like some of those guys wrote, but it was
things he had said or done.
coming out, and it was turning gray.
In Chicago, he said to Mantle, "I can't take this He said, "I'm not playing," and he was kind of crying. It was sad. It
:anymore." Mickey said, "You've got to." was just we two in the office alone. He said, "Ralph, why don't you just
get me out of there?"
:M
..
ARIS WAS NOW in a pretty good position to
break Ruth's record. His bat was hot again, and he
Well, I talked to him and I said, "Hey, Roger, you gotta play." I
talked about the people in the stands who'd come to see him, and this
and that, and finally I said, "Look, Roger, why don't you go out and hit
needed only four to tie the Babe, five to beat him. He had in batting practice and let me put you in the lineup. You start the
game, and after an inning or two I'll take you out if you want. We can
20 games left in the season, 12 before Frick's arbitrary say you're sick." We talked a little bit more, and he went out and
154~game barrier. To tie the record in 154 games, Maris played, and that was the end of it. Nothing more happened. That was
needed to hit one homer every three games, and so far the night he hit his fifty..ninth home run, and that was the night we
clinched the pennant. I'll never forget that night.
during the season he had been hitting them more fre~
quently than that, about one every two and a half games. In the first inning, batting against Milt Pappas, Maris
, He had already overcome the bogeyman of Ruth's fabu~ lined out hard to right field, but in his second time at bat,
lous 17 homers in September. He didn't have to acceler~ in the third inning, he hit another line drove that carried
ate to beat Babe; he could even ease off a little. over the fence at the 380~foot mark for his fifty~ninth
For the 162~game season, Maris needed a homer only home run. That moved him ahead of Foxx and Greenberg
every four games-a much slower pace-to pass Ruth. and everyone else into territory only he and Ruth had ever
The numbers get a little heavy here but Maris to this point 'explored. A 32~year~0Id Baltimorean named Bob Reitz
had been hitting homers at a rate that would give him 61 caught the ball and held tightly on to it as ushers and
for a 154~game season, 64 for a 162~game season. He guards gathered around him. He was brought under the
could slow down to a 51~home pace and still reach 60 in stands to meet Maris, who came off the field between
154 games, equaling the Babe, and he could slow dow~ innings to talk to him. Reitz did not offer to give the ball
even further, to a 41~homerpace, and surpass Ruth's mark to Maris. He said he wanted money for it. How much?
in 162 games. Twenty~five hundred dollars, he said. Maris just shook his
But more and more attention was fixed on whether he head. They talked for another moment or two, and then
could do it in 154 games, and at that point he seemed a Maris said, "Are you really going to keep that ball?" Reitz
good bet to do it. He still had a doubleheader in the nodded. "Good luck to you," Maris said and returned to
Stadium against the inept Indians before the Yankees left the ball game.
on their last road trip of the year, and the road seemed no He needed one more home run now to tie Ruth. The
Orioles brought Dick Hall in to pitch, and when Maris neatly dressed and looking at peace with himself, left the
faced him in the fifth he hit one hard line drive foul to ball park. It seemed an extraordinary thing to do. There
right and then struck out. In the seventh he got his bat on were only four games left [in the season], and he still
one of Hall's pitches and lifted a powerful drive high up needed one more homer to pass Ruth, yet he chose not to
toward the right,field seats-but it curved foul by ten feet. play. Houk told the wondering press that Maris said he
In the Yankee bullpen Coates yelled, "Come on, Ro, was "too bushed" to play, but he added, "Roger's exhaus,
ger, baby, hit it to me." Stepping into the batter's box tion isn't physical. It's mental. He hasn't had a moment of
again, Maris hit a long fly in Coates's general direction, peace for the last two months. All things considered, I
but the ball was caught in right center field, close to the think he's handled himself beautifully. He's been living in
fence. a madhouse."
His final time at bat, his last chance to catch Ruth, When Maris returned to the club on Friday night he
came in the ninth inning against Wilhelm, who had said, "I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time. " He
relieved Hall. Maris fouled off one of Wilhelm's knuckle, went hitless as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 2,1, aI,
balls, then half swung at the next pitch and topped the though he walked twice on three,and,two pitches and
ball along the first, base line, where Wilhelm fielded it, scored the winning run in the ninth inning.
almost apologetically, and tagged Maris out. On Saturday Maris again got few good pitches to hit
It was over. and went one for three as the Yankees beat the Red Sox.
The team returned to N ew York for the final week of Once again the crowd in Yankee Stadium was relatively
the season, with five games left for Maris. He had hit only small. The left,field sections were all but empty, while
three home runs in 15 games, and on Tuesday night only fans, eager to catch the home,run ball, jammed into the
19, 000 people were on hand in Yankee Stadium to see stands and bleachers in right.
him hit number 60. It came in his second time at bat, in Now it came down to the last day of the season,
the third inning, when he lifted a fly to right that carried' Sunday, October 1. After getting his fifty,eighth homer
against the front of the upper stands for a home run. The in Detroit on September 17 Maris had hit only two home
crowd made up for its size with its exuberance and cheered runs in two weeks-memorable home runs, it's true, his
wildly until Maris reluctantly came out of the dugout and fifty,ninth and sixtieth, but still only two of them-and
waved his 'cap to ,the fans he had derided a few weeks he had been at 60 since Tuesday. Attendance in Yankee
earlier. Stadium on that momentous Sunday was only
A curtain call like that, so common today, was an 23, 154-although it should be noted that a crowd that
extraordinary event in that era, almost unprecedented. size on such an occasion was not as small in 1961 as it
Five years earlier, in May 1956, Dale Long of the Pirates would be now. Nevertheless, it'demonstrated that for all
accomplished the extraordinary feat of hitting a home run the glamor of home runs and for all the attention given to
a game for eight straight games. No one before had ever Maris, a game between contending teams in a close
hit homers in more than six straight, and no one would pennant race would have attracted far more people to the
after him until 1987, when Don Mattingly equaled his ball park than the last shot at the home,run record did.
record. When Long hit one in his eighth straight gam~, In this last game under intense pressure, Maris was
the crowd cheered so loudly and for so long that his Pirate remarkably relaxed. He told teammates in the Yankee
teammates made Long go out of the dugout and wave his bullpen, "If you catch the ball, don't throw it to me. Hang
thanks so that the game could go on. Long's curtain call on to it. It's worth five grand."
was almost as big a story as his home runs, and Maris's bow Tracy Stallard, a big, amiable, hard,throwing right,
in 1961 had much the same effect. Red Barber, who had hander, was on the mound for Boston. In Maris's first time
been broadcasting major league baseball for more than 25 at bat, Roger sliced a fly ball to left field that brought an
'years, was almost beside himself with excitement as he "Oooh!" from the ,crowd, but it was caught without
described Maris coming reluctantly from the dugout to difficu,lty by left,fielder Carl Yastrzemski.
wave to the crowd. Things 'like that just didn't happen In the fourth inning, with Stallard still pitching, ,the
then. Nor, for that matter, did 60 home runs. score still 0,0, Maris swung at a fastball on a two,and,
nothing count and lifted a high fly to right field that
M ARIS SHOWED UP at the ball park on Wednes,

day but, once again, asked Houk for the day off.
His wife was in town, there was no game scheduled the
floated into the throng in the lower stands. It was his
sixty,first, the record,breaker.
Nineteen,year,old Sal Durante, from the Bensonhurst
next day and he could have a nice little respite, a 48,hour section of Brooklyn, was at the game with his fiancee,
vacation from the tension. Houk said,;okay and Roger, Rose Marie Calabrese, and his friend John Tortorella.
They had come by subway all the way from Brooklyn and compared to 136 a year earlier, an increase of more than
had reached the Stadium an hour early. Durante jumped 12 percent. That can readily be attributed to the addition
on to the seat when Maris hit the ball. As the ball dropped of the two new expansion teams, which supposedly di~
into the crowd another fan tried to trap it with his coat but luted pitching strength in the league. But in 1961 the
the lithe, slender Durante raised his bare right hand and National League, which had not yet expanded, also went
caught the ball over his head. He made the catch so easily up in homers, from 130 per team to 150, a 15~percent
that some of the people scrambling around him thought jump, a greater increase than the American League had.
the ball had fallen and went down on their knees to look No one has ever been able to explain that.
under seats for it. Ushers moved quickly to protect Dur~ Maybe it was just 1961. It was a very strange year.
ante and took him under the stands and through the Whatever caused it, and in spite of Frick's ruling, in spite
passageway under the structure to the corridor behind the of expansion, in spite of the livelier ball, if such existed,
Yankee dugout. in spite of everything, Joe Cronin's earlier statement was
Maris meantime had made his circuit of the bases, right. A season is a season, and in the season of 1961
running fairly quickly in his balanced, even stride, his Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's record.
arms held low, his eyes on the ground. He crossed home It didn't do him much good. He broke the record and
plate, touched hands with teammates gathering to greet was named Most Valuable Player in the American League
him and quickly disappeared into the dugout. The crowd for a second straight time, but his life in baseball went
was cheering uproariously and again Maris was forced to downhill from then on. In 1962 he hit 33 homers and
come out of the dugout onto the field to acknowledge the batted in 100 runs and despite those impressive figures he
salute. Maris was smiling, almost shyly, as he waved his was considered to have had a disappointing season and
cap at the crowd. He ducked back into the dugout, but his was dismissed by short~sighted critics as a flash itl the pan,
teammates lifted him into view again. They kept pushing a one~season phenomenon. But his home~run hitting
the smiling Maris out of the dugout to take bows and wave from 1960 to 1962 was hardly that of a flash in the pan. He
his cap. They had a lot of fun, their affection for their hit 133 home runs in three years, which is better than
sometimes dour teammate obvious. Mantle ever did, or Henry Aaron, or Hank Greenberg, or
Maris played the rest of the game but struck out and Reggie Jackson, or Ted Williams, or Mel Ott, or Willie
popped out in his last two times at bat. Stafford and Daley McCovey, or Hack Wilson, or Mike Schmidt.
combined to shut out the Red Sox and give the Yankees But Maris had things working against him. One was
their 109th victory of the year. The final score was 1~0, that low batting average, particularly in his 61~homer
with Maris's homer the margin of victory. It was the 240th year. It was awfully hard for baseball traditionalists to
and last home run that the Yankees hit that season. recognize that a .269 batting average was not nearly as
While news stories about the sixty~firsthomerun made important as the fact that Maris led the league in runs
some mention of the 154~game dispute, their emphasis scored and runs batted in. Few people would put Maris on
was simply that Maris had topped Ruth, as indeed he had. a level with Al Kaline, the Tigers' fine rightfielder, now
It's impossible to give proper weight and balance to the deservedly in the Hall of Fame, but in 1961, when Kaline
variables that exist in different baseball seasons- "outhit" Maris by 55 points (..324 to Maris's .269), Roger
liveliness of the ball, size of the ball parks, quality of the had 42 more home runs than Kaline had, 60 more runs
pitchers, impact of relief pitching, night baseball, day batted in and 16 more runs scored. In Maris's three big
baseball, and so on. The essential fact is that with his seasons, 1960~ 1962, when Kaline was in the middle of his
sixty~first home run Maris broke Ruth's record. He had career and reaching or approaching his best or second~
590 at bats and 94 walks in 1961 for 684 plate appearances best career figures in hits, doubles, triples, homers and
(not including whatever minor number of sacrifices or runs scored, Roger averaged 23 more homers a year than
hit~by~pitcher stats he might have had). In 1927 Ruth Kaline, 37 more runs batted in and 17 more runs scored.
had 540 at bats and 138 walks for 678 plate appearances, And he was in Kaline's class as a fielder and a baserunner.
an almost identical figure. Maris hit one homer for every Yet suggest that Maris was a better ballplayer than
11.2 times he came to the plate; the Babe hit one every Kaline-as he might have proved if his later career had
11.3 times. No matter how you slice it, Maris was a valid not been chopped down by chronic injury-and baseball
record~breaker, a legitimate successor to the Babe. people look askance.
The splendor of Maris's 1960 season is often overlooked
W HY DID HE HIT so many homers in 1961? Well,

wIlY did everybody 11iL su lual1Y that year? Tile
American League averaged 153 homers per team in 1961
in appraising the performance he gave in 1961. Among
uLlleI' LlIillgs, lIe was well Ullllis way Lu llillirlg H1Ule lilail
50 home runs in 1960 before he was hurt in August.
Maris's resentment of the incessant publicity he received York, not as a player, not as anything else. He wasn't coming back, and
in 1961 stemmed in part from a contempt he felt for the that's all there was to it. He was going to quit baseball. When Roger
left the Yankees, he was pissed off at the world.
ignorance some of the writers displayed. Although they Then we made the deal with St. Louis. What we did, we gave him
had named him Most Valuable Player in 1960, much of his free agency, really, and he agreed to go to St. Louis because he was
the press had not really noticed that he had hit an amazing from that general area anyway.
That was the best thing that ever happened to Roger because, jeez,
number of home runs during that pre.. expansion season. they really took care of him, gave him that Budweiser dealership in
When he did the same thing in 1961 they looked upon Florida as part of the deal. He brought his brother Rudy in, and Rudy
him as a one.. year phenomenon, a freak created by expan.. took over the paperwork, that sort of thing. Rudy ran the business and.
Roger was sort of the figurehead. He worked at it, but he was more or
sion, which wasn't true. Maris didn't suffer fools gladly, less the front man.
and a lot of the media people besieging him in 1961 were, Roger changed a lot then, too. He was in the selling business and he
he felt, just that. had to appear at dinners and play a lot of golf with customers and
Maris broke the most sacrosanct record in baseball, yet prospects, things like that. I saw quite a bit of him for a couple of years
there, and he was always talking with people. Roger was peculiar that
few really admired him for it. He was probably the most way. If you got him at the right time-a sportswriter, anybody-he'd
misunderstood and least appreciated of American sports sit and talk and be as nice as you want. Other times he wouldn't. That's
heroes. just the way he was.
Basically he was a nice guy. I always liked Roger. And hewas a great
In 1963 Maris suffered a succession of leg injuries and ballplayer.
missed more than 70 games. When he did play, his
performance suffered. Booed by the fans for not running Other great athletes-Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Joe Na..
hard on ground balls to the infield, he reacted angrily. He math, Muhammad Ali-had their great fallings . . out with
played much better in 1964, but in 1965, after he hurt his press and public but eventually won their way back to
hand sliding, he lost much of his old power. He missed popular acclaim. Except for the cheers of crowds weI..
100 games that season and 40 in 1966 and complained coming him to the few Oldtimers Garnes he attended,
constantly about the hand injury, even though the Yan.. Maris never regained the spotlight. Of course, that was
kees said doctors could find no evidence of serious injury. the way he liked it, which was something the press and
He wasn't happy with Houk after Ralph moved to the the public failed completely" to understand, particularly in
front office to become general manager in 1964, and by 1961.
1966 said he wanted to quit baseball. The Yankees traded He and Mantle remained good friends for the rest of his
him to the St. Louis Cardinals and Maris stayed in the life, and Mickey, who had been unnerved by his father's
game after August Busch, the Cardinals' owner, gave him early death from Hodgkins Disease, a form of cancer,
a lucrative contract that included the promise of a Bud.. grieved when Maris was afflicted with cancer in his
weiser beer distributorship in Florida. Maris stayed two forties. After Roger died in December 1985, at the age of
years with the Cardinals, and though he was able to play 51, Mantle was one of a group of Maris's close friends who
only about two.. thirds of the time he helped St. Louis win made the long trek in the depth of winter to his funeral in
two pennants and a World Series, and he was happier remote Fargo, North Dakota. It was characteristic of the
than he had been in years. Maris family, which had lived in Florida for nearly 20
After the 1968 World Series he retired from the game years, to have the requiem mass and the burial in the
at the age of 34 and spent the rest 'of his life as the nominal distant North, in Roger's hometown, where he grew up.
(and prosperous) head of the beer distributorship. His His grave is in a quiet, tree.. studded cemetery north of
brother Rudy was the active force in the business, but town, on the edge of the prairie. The small, distinctive
Maris worked at his end, which, in one of the great headstone of dark, polished stone is in the shape of a
paradoxes, required him to be friendly and convivial with baseball diamond. On it, beneath the name Maris, is a
customers and prospects. Perhaps not so paradoxical at small figure of a baseball player swinging a bat, along with
that, because despite his unhappy public image, Maris the numerals "61 . . '61" and the words "Against All Odds. ",
could be a warm, friendly, engaging man when he was out Separate from the headstone is a small footstone that says,
of the public eye. He had an exceptionally happy married "Roger Eugene Maris, Sept. 10, 1934.. Dec. 14, 1985."
'life and was a close and attentive father to his six children. The great irony of Maris's life came after his death. In
RALPH' HOUK: 1961 he was looked upon as a usurper by the defenders of.
Roger was unpopular because the fans wanted Mantle to break the tradition, a pretender to Babe Ruth's crown. But when he
record, and I guess the press did too, though it really wasn't until Maris died the great asterisk controversy was mentioned only in
came along that Mickey became a hero. They booed Roger somet~ing
passing. The average reader looking at the headlines that
awful, and they kept on booing him. It got so bad that later he didn't
want any part of New York anymore. After the 1966 season he told me had so often denigrated Maris saw him only for what he
he wouldn't come back. Just definitely would not come back to New was: the man who broke Babe Ruth's record.
Regular~Season Play
And Post~Season Success
ERIC WM. OLSEN
A team wins its division by nine or more games. Its

post.. season opponent wins by two and a half or less. Which
one is more likely to win the league championship series?
R
EMEMBER THE 1987 Detroit Tigers, the team 1904 season are not included for the obvious reason that
that went to the last day of the season before there was no postseason championship. Secondly, the
clinching their division in a pressure~packed 1981 season can be discounted for any number of reasons:
pennant pursuit? Remember too their pathetic per~ Most notably, the length of the season(s) was not great
formance in the League Championship Series when they enough to clearly establish a strong winner, if one did
. disintegrated at the hands of the Minnesota Twins? Con~ indeed exist. In fact all eight supposed winners won 'their
versely, recall the 1984 edition of the same franchise. divisions by two or less games. Including them in the
That team burst out of the gate like a rocket and never let analysis would seriously distort the results.
up, winning the American League East by 15 games and Table 1 lists the 61 teams with a high MOY (9 or
coasting through the LCS and World Series with com~ more). Table 2 lists the 52 with an MOY of 2V2 or less.
parative ease. This observation poses an interesting ques~ An examination of the two tables reveals that of the
tion: Do teams that win their divisions (leagues before the sixty~one high MOY teams, forty~two, or 69 percent,
idea of divisionalized play blemished the purity of the won in the post~season. On the other hand, of the
.game) with a relative amount of comfort fare better in the fifty~two low MOY teams, only twenty~two (42 percent)
postseason than teams that win by narrow margins under enjoyed postseason success. Furthermore, if we adjust our
bone~crushing pressure? This study suggests a. very defi~ 'perimeters regarding high and low MOY teams, an inter~
nite relationship exists between margin of victory (hence~ esting trend develops. For those teams whose MOY is
forth denoted as MOY) and postseason success. only 1Y2 or fewer games-thirty in all-a mere 30 percent
What constitutes a large or narrow MOY? For the (nine teams) were postseason winners. Similarly, as the
purpose of this study, I have defined a large MOY as 9 or MOY is scaled upward from 9 games, the rate of post~
more games while a narro\y MOY is2V2 games or less. season success also increases. Table 3 illustrates the post~
That these definitions are arbitrary and may not truly season success rates based on varying MOYs.
'reflect the intensity of a pennant race is granted. Clearly, O~e of the reasons we disregarded the 1981 season was
the '87 Twins won the Western Division with greater ease because any playoffs would involve low MOY teams, and
than the Tigers, although both finished with a 2~game with one postseason success and one postseason failure an
MOY. The fact was, the Twins had their division absolute certainty, the value of the success percentages
wrapped up with more than a week left in the season and . would be compromised.
then proceeded to lose their last 5 games to dilute their A like situation occurs in nineteen other instances in
MOY. While the Twins' 2~game MOY is not a true this study. From 1910 through 1986, a pair of high MOY
reflection of a tight race, it is an exception to the rule. teams have met in the World Series or LCS a total of
For the purpose of this article, "postseason" play refers eleven times. Low MOY teams have gone head~to~head
to the World Series from 1903 to 1968 and the LCS from in the postseason a total of eight times, .the first in 1908,
1969 to 1987. A brief analysis comparing MOY and the last in the 1987 ALCS. To eliminate the "canceling
World Seties performance since 1969 is included later in
this article. Eric Wm. Olsen is an operations supervisor for Waste Manage..
Two other points are worth noting. The results of the ment, Inc. in Germantown, Wis.
out" effect that similar MOY teams would have on the

TABLE 1 postseason success rates, the thirty.. eight teams involved
DivisionlPennant Winners with Large Margins of Victory are discounted and a subsequent analysis of the adjusted
Year Team MOV Postseason* total number of teams is made. As Table 4 indicates, 79'
1903 Boston, AL 141/2 Won percent of the adjusted high MOY teams (thirty.. one of
1905 New York, NL 9 Won
thirty.. nine) compared to only 39 percent of the low MOY
1906 Chicago, NL 20 Lost
1907 Chicago, NL 17 Won teams (fourteen of thirty.. six) were postseason winners.
1910 Chicago, NL 13 Lost
1910 Philadelphia, AL 141/2 Won TABLE 2
1911 Philadelphia, AL 111/2 Won
DivisionlPennant Winners With Narrow Margins of Victory
1912 New York, NL 10 Lost
1912 Boston, AL 14 Won Year Team MOV Postseason*
1913 New York, NL 121/2 Lost 1905 Philadelphia, AL 2 Lost
1914 Boston, NL 101/2 Won 1907 Detroit, AL 11/2 Lost
1917 New York, NL 10 Lost 1908 Chicago, NL 1 Won
1917 Chicago, AL 9 Won 1908 Detroit, AL 11/2 Lost
1918 Chicago, NL 101/2 Lost 1920 Cleveland, AL 2 Won
1919 Cincinnati, NL 9 Won 1922 New York, AL 1 Lost
1923 New York, AL 16 Won 1924 New York, NL 11/2 Lost
1927 New York, AL 19 Won 1924 Washington, AL 2 Won
1929 Chicago, NL 101/2 Lost 1926 St. Louis, NL 2 Won
1929 Philadelphia, AL 18 Won 1927 Pittsburgh, NL 21/2 Lost
1931 St. Louis, NL 13 Won 1928 St. Louis, NL 2 Lost
1931 Philadelphia, AL 131/2 Lost 1930 St. Louis, NL 2 Lost
1932 New York, AL 13 Won 1934 St. Louis, NL 2 Won
1936 New York, AL 19 1/2 Won 1938 Chicago, NL 2 Lost
1937 New York, AL 13 Won 1940 Detroit, AL 1 Lost
1938 New York, AL 91/2 Won 1941 Brooklyn, NL 21/2 Lost
1939 NewYork,AL 17 Won 1942 St. Louis, NL 2 Won
1940 Cincinnati, NL 12 Won 1944 St. Louis, AL 1 Lost
1941 New York, AL 17 Wo~ 1945 Detroit, AL 11/2 Won
1942 New York, AL 9 Lost 1946 St. Louis, NL 2** Won
1943 St. Louis, NL 18 Lost 1948 Cleveland, AL 1** Won
1943 New York, AL 131/2 Won 1949 Brooklyn, NL 1 Lost
1944 St. Louis, NL 141/2 Won 1949 New York, AL 1 Won
1946 Boston, AL 12 Lost 1950 Philadelphia, NL 2 Lost
1947 New York, AL 12 Won 1951 New York, NL 1** Lost
1953 Brooklyn, NL 13 Lost 1952 New York, AL 2 Won
1955 Brooklyn, NL 131/2 Won 1956 Brooklyn, NL 1 Lost
1956 New York, AL 9 Won 1959 LosAngeles,NL 2** Won
1958 New York, AL 10 Won 1962 San Francisco, NL 1** Lost
1963 New York, AL 101/2 Lost 1964 Sl. Luuis, NL 1 Won
1966 Baltimore, AL 9 Won 1964 New York, AL 1 Lost
1967 St. Louis, NL 101/2 Won 1965 Los Angeles, NL 2 Won
1968 St. Louis, NL 9 Lost 1966 Los Angeles, NL 11/2 Lost
1968 Detroit, AL 12 Won 1967 Boston, AL 1 Lost
1969 Baltimore, ALE 19 Won (L) 1971 San Francisco, NLW 1 Lost
1970 Cincinnati, NLW 141/2 Won (L) 1972 Detroit, ALE 1/2 Lost
1970 Baltimore, ALE 15 Won (W) 1973 New York, NLE 11;2 Won (L)
1971 Baltimore, ALE 12 Won (L) 1974 Pittsburgh, NLE 11/2 Lost
1971 Oakland, ALW 16 Lost 1974 Baltimore, ALE 2 Lost
1972 Pittsburgh, NLE 11 Lost 1976 Kansas City, ALW 21/2 Lost
1972 Cincinnati, NLW 101/2 Won (L) 1977 New York, ALE 21/2 Won (W)
1975 Cincinnati, NLW 20 Won (W) 1978 Philadelphia, NLE 11/2 Lost
1976 Philadelphia, NLE 9 Lost 1978 Los Angeles, NLW 2Y2 Won (L)
1976 Cincinnati, NLW 10 Won (W) 1978 New York, ALE 1** Won (W)
1976 New York, ALE 101/2 Won (L) 1980 Philadelphia, NLE Won (W)
1977 Los Angeles, NLW 10 Won (L) 1980 Houston, NLW 1** Lost
1980 Kansas City, ALW 14 Won (L) 1982 Atlanta, NLW 1 Lost
1983 Chicago, ALW 20 Lost 1982 Milwaukee, ALE 1 Won (L)
1984 San Diego, NLW 12 Won (L) 1985 Toronto, ALE 1 Lost
1984 Detroit, ALE 15 Won (W) 1985 Kansas City, ALW 2 Won (W)
1986 New York, NLE 211/2 Won (W) 1987 Detroit, ALE 2 Lost
1986 Houston, NL~r 10 LUSl 1987 ~1inllt~6otu, l&\L \V 2 Won (\Xl)
*LCS since 1969 with World Series result in parenthesis. *LCS since 1969 with World Series result in parenthesis.
**Pennant/Division won as a result of postseason playoff.
While we factor out head..to..head matchups between Conversely, low MOY teams are not necessarily domi..
teams with similar MOYs, it is interesting to highlight nant and merely fall victim to superior competition in the
those postseason contests between high and low MOY postseason. This explanation clearly applies to the past
teams. In twelve World Series and one LCS, teams with a two decades, when interdivisional play during the season
MOY of 2Vl or less games have faced teams with a MOY already helped mold a measure of comparable dominance
of 9 or more. Aside from Series victories for the St. Louis between the postseason participants. Prior to 1969, how..
Cardinals of 1942 and 1946, the low MOY teams have ever, regular..season play was contained within the indi..
come up empty against their high MOY counterparts. A vidual leagues, and the factors that determined a given
complete list of high vs. low MOY contests in Table 5. team's margin of victory were totally independent of one
As we mentioned, postseason competition was defined another. In other words, a team's MOY is a reflection of
to reflect only LCS play from 1969 to 1987. Since div.. that team's dominance within the league only, and should
isionalized leagues, eight low MOY teams and thirteen have no bearing on its postseason success.
high MOY teams have won the LCS. Five teams in each
category eventually became World Champions. As Table TABLE 5
6 shows, the success rates are almost inversely related to Postseason Matchups
those in Tables 3 and 4. Do the statistics in Table 6 Between High and Low MOV Teams
indicate that once a low MOY team wins a LCS, its *Denotes Winner
confidence level is boosted and a World Series victory is Year Event HiMOV LowMOV
1905 W.S. NY (NL)* Phil (AL)
more easily obtained? Do these same statistics indicate 1907 W.S. Chi (NL)* Det
that high MOY teams that win the LCS become over.. 1927 W.S. NY (AL)* Pitt
confident and fall flat in the Fall Classic? Perhaps, but 1938 W.S. NY (AL) * Chi (NL)
probably not. Realistically, adjusted samples of six or 1940 W.S. Cin* Det
1941 W.S. NY (AL) * Bkn
1942 W.S. NY (AL) StL (NL) *
TABLE 3 1944 W.S. StL (NL) * StL (AL)
1946 W.S. Bas (AL) StL (NL) *
Postseason Success Rates 1956 W.S. NY (AL) * Bkn
Measured Against Regular Season 1966 W.S. Balt* LA
Margin of Victory 1967 W.S. StL * Bas
Total Successful 1976 ALCS NY* KC
MOV Teams Teams PCT.
2Y2 or less 52 22 42%
1Y2 or less 30 9 30% Here's another possible cause for the different post..
9 or more 61 42 69% season success rates between high and low MOY teams:
11 or more 39 29 74% After the pressure of a tight race, a low MOY team is
12 or more 36 28 78%
14 or more 22 18 82%
psychologically drained and collapses during the post..
season, while a high MOY team has the luxury of utilizing
the last few weeks ofthe regular season to both physically
seven teams does not provide a meaningful basis for
and mentally prepare for the next round of competition.
analysis. Including the "second round" of postseason play
This explanation holds up whether the post..season com..
in the main study would serve only to cloud the findings.
petitor is from another league or merely another division.
What then, do these results tell us? Two plausible
A team's psychological fitness is a purely independent
explanations come to mind. One is that high MOY teams
factor that has no bearing on the 'psychological fitness of
TABLE 4 TABLE 6
Postseason Success Rates World Series Performance of Teams
Against Regular Season MOV Measured Against Regular.. Season MOV:
with Postseason Play 1969.. 1987
( Between Like Teams Factored Out Adjusted Adjusted
Adjusted Successful Total Successful Total Successful
MOV Teams Teams PCT. MOV Teams Teams PCT. Teams Teams PCT.
2Y2 or less 36 14 39% V2 to 2Y2 8 5 62.5 % 6 4 66.7%
9 or more 39 31 79% 9 and up 13 5 38.5% 7 2 28.6
so totally dominate their competition that victory in the ,another team. A team should fare better when playing
postseason is merely a natural culmination of their efforts. stressed..out opponents.
75
Nineteenth~Centuty
Baseb'all Writing
ROBERT c. OLSON
What characterized old.,fashioned baseball writers? Snob.,
bery, partisanship, hyperbole. But, judging from some Chi.,
cago Tribune samples, plenty of color, style, and fun, too.
S
PORTSWRITERS of the nineteenth century left The game was marked by some fine bits of fielding, the best being a
behind some colorful descriptions of major,league catch by O'Rourke off Barnes in the second inning when it seemed as if
the ball was bound away over his head. The game was characterized by
games. Samples of reportage in the Chicago Tri., more than the usual number of accidents, White getting an ugly foul
bune:from several different years reveal the development tip in the forehead which left a picturesque lump. McVey was also hit
of a peculiar style that pretended to an amateur's gentility in the groin and laid up for a few minutes while Morrill had his hand
split in the eighth inning and had to change with O'Rourke [who
and sportsmanship, but still was highly partisan. switched from catcher to center field].
In 1876 the Chicago National League club was called
It is clear that teams with ten,man or eleven,man
the White Stockings. The anonymous genteel reporter
rosters played with injured players to a greater extent than
for the Tribune sought to have his readers know that the
today. In 1897, for instance, a reporter wrote that "Louis,
members of the local team were gentlemen who never
ville fielded three players, five cripples and a boy."
took a drink or graced the inside of a saloon. He told of a
The Tribune carries a lively account of a game in
director of the St. Louis Brown Stockings who had offered
Chicago with Boston on July 18, 1876, when on a beauti,
to meet a Chicago player in "a certain public resort" in
ful day a meager "audience," hardly more than 1,500
order to offer him financial incentives to jump from the
people, was present. Ross Barnes's ability to hit "fair
'Chicago team and play for St. Louis. The player re, ,
fouls" that season may have led to abolition in 1877 of a
sponded that "he was not in the habit of going to beer
rule that allowed a ground ball that hit once in fair
gardens to do business or for any other purpose."
territory and then went foul before reaching first or third
The reporter went on to tell of this same St. Louis
base to be ruled fair. Barnes could also garner hits by
reptesentativeoffering "preposterous salaries"
faking a "fair foul" as explained in this account:
($3,000,$4,000 per annum) to entice honorable gentle,
Barnes began the third inning by laying out for a fair foul, and then,
men to abandon Chicago and play for St. Louis in 1877. when he had tempted Schafer away from his base, he cracked a fine
The Chicago players, he insisted, were impervious to bounder just where the third baseman had a moment before stood.
attempts to subvert their moral principles. The side batted around that inning, and when Barnes
The members of the Chicago team are, as is known, gentlemen in all came to bat again he hit a genuine "fair foul" for two
their actions and there is not in the whole field a gambler, a "kicker" or bases. The reporter blamed Boston pitcher Dick McBride
a rough. The consequence has been this year a degree of harmony,
good will, and general enjoyment of the game, and in intercourse off and catcher Lew Brown for extending the Chicago rally
the field, never equaled. by failing to field a pop fly near home so that Harry
The writer suggested, on the other hand, that some Schafer, the third baseman, had to rush in. Un,
rival clubs were in a constant state of internecine war. He fortunately, he dropped the ball. The Bostonians scored
expressed disgust over the unbusinesslike, extravagant in the next inning, although their rally was cut off by a
offers being made and the frantic bidding of some clubs, relay from outfielder Paul Hines to second baseman
with the hope of enticing White Stocking players from Barnes to third baseman Cap Anson to throw out Jim
Chicago. O'Rourke. The report recounted the action in these
T uming to action on the field, the reporter described a ,sentences~_~he second of which is not quite grammatical:
game played on June 2, 1876, which the White Stockings
won from Boston, 9,3. It should be remembered that Robert C. Olson is a re~ired Lamar (Texas) l.Jniversity English
almost half of the 1875 Boston National Association team professor who "saw Babe Ruth hit pop flies that took five
had been enticed to join Chicago in '76. minutes to come down."
O'Rourke also smote one fiercely away over Hines' head for two bases, and brought down a three baser, Williamson easily plucked two bags
and Leonard scored. The running was, however, too ambitious, and in and Kelly, Bums, Corcoran, and Pfeffer did likewise. The game
trying to make third base on his hit was put out by Hines' and Barnes' abounded in fine points. Corcoran was in excellent trim, not having
quick return to Anson. played since Tuesday. He propelled the sphere over the home plate
with intent to deceive, and duplicated Anson in a variety of ways.
For some years early in the history of the game, the Capt. Anson was reliable at the bat and on his base. Flint caught five
batter had the option of calling for either a high or low innings without an error and then went to right field. Kelly donned the
ball and it took more than four balls to work a walk off the mask in time to make one of the neatest high foul catches that ever
created enthusiasm on a ball field. Dalrymple handsomely performed
pitcher.
all the work required of him in left field while pulverizing Galvin's
Neither side scored in the fifth inning and the Chicagos began the wickedest deliveries ... It is interesting, to say the least, that the club
sixth as if it, too, was to be a whitewash. Bielaski and Glenn were which yesterday defeated the Buffalo Club were defeated by the same
fielded out by Wright [shortstop] to Murnan [first base], and Barnes Bisons in Buffalo as though they had been nine female graduates of
stood at the plate long enough to get about all the calls that the rules Vassar College instead of the champions of the league.
provide for.. After the umpire had called "Two Strikes," "Good Ball,"
and "Two Balls," McBride sent one where the batsman approved, and
The writer passed negative judgment on the Buffalo
he "fell on it just worst" so heartily that it went down to the left field club, calling the team "rather ordinary" despite the pre..
fence, while Barnes tripped away to second. And then began the best sence of such stars as Hardy Richardson, Dan Brouthers,
exhibition of batting given by the White Stockings this year. With two Doc White, and Jim O'Rourke. Shaffer "is over.. rated,"
men out and unaided by a single error by their opponents, they scored
and earned five runs by clean hits. he wrote, "Little is comparatively worthless at bat, and
During the rally Deacon White was said to have "got in Derby is so much dead wood."
one of his peculiar drives to left centre (sic) for two bases Later in 1883 a crowd of 6,000 watched the morning
. . . The inning took hardly five minutes to play, so rapid game of a July 4 bill between Chicago and Cleveland,
was the hitting." In the eighth inning Johnny Peters hit which Chicago lost, 10.. 6. The home team was hampered
the first horne run by a member ofthe home team that by injuries:
year. It was already July 18. Thus the reporter was happy Eleven men were put in uniform by the home team, Goldsmith having
a fingernail knocked off in the last of the fifth inning by a ball from
to report that "the paralysis which struck the batting Dunlap's bat. Corcoran was called in and soon after [Billy the Evan,
powers of the Chicagos Tuesday and Thursday of last gelist] Sunday could put on a uniform he relieved Flint at right field. Of
week was only a temporary attack and not a permanent course, Sunday did nothing. It was a badly crippled team about this
time, and the Cleveland club had little difficulty in winning.
affliction." So much for disease imagery. The play of the
team "has been worthy of the commendation of their The Cleveland club wore drab gray uniforms, but
friends," the genteel reporter stated. His accounts of game Chicago wore "Spalding Zebra..striped suits." In the
action often attempted to confer an air of dignity upon the afternoon game of this national holiday, which Chicago
proceedings. won, 5.. 1, "Dunlap went to bat for the visitors . . .
making a hit which would have yielded two bases had not some
Yesterday's game was a very excellent one to look at, and gave frequenl
Chicago enthusiast on the right field fence raised his umbrella and
('hrln('~s for rlpplrllls\ heing studded ,vith brilliant bits of fielding, [16
heaueu it off.
well as abounding in hard hits. The finest in fielding for the visitors was
dOfl0 by \X/dghr ;)fld Schafer, the former making an excellent stop Hnd III tIle HO a y NlIleties, base ball had heen arou11d for
II
throw off Bielaski in the sixth inning, while the latter threw our quite a while, and the games were reported in a style quite
Spalding from the back of third in admirable style. Murnan was also in different from the gentler manner of 1876.
fine form. . . -
The 1897 Chicago team, called the Colts, no longer
At the same time he appreciated the prowess of the resembled the champions of 1876 and 1883, but was
horne team's pitcher, A.G. Spalding: floundering in spite of the presence of players like Jimmy
It is one of the most curious things in the whole history of the game
Ryan and Bill Dahlen and pitcher Clark Griffith. Anson
that so many clubs come to Chicago and spit on their hands with
ferocity, and explain that they are going to "knock the stuffing out of was forty.. five years old and nearing the end of his career as
Spalding" because "anybody can hit him; he is the easiest in the player.. manager. On June 15, 1897 the headline read:
business." And they don't do it all the same. "PLAY LIKE SCHOOLBOYS" with a sub . . head:
A sample from a story in the Tribune of July 1,1883, of "COLTS PUT UP A WRETCHED GAME AGAINST
a game in which Chicago beat Buffalo, 8.. 7, indicates that BROOKLYN." Before describing the game in extremely
the style of sports reporting had changed somewhat from sarcastic terms, the reporter offered the excuse that
1876 in that a more ostentatious tone is evident. It is clear neither shortstop Bill Dahlen nor outfielder Bill Lange
from this report that memory of the Hayes.. Tilden elec.. could play because of injuries. Furthermore, pitcher But..
tion of 1876 was still green in 1883: tons Briggs had rheumatism. The game, played in New
By the Electoral Commission count of eight to seven the Chicagos York, was attended by the Australian baseball team,
defeated the Buffalo Club yesterday. The visitors were so anxious to
guests of Anson and Spalding, "and the Antipodeans
win that they required [Pud] Galvin to pitch two games in succession.
This proved to be bad policy. Every man in the home team punished received a first class object lessull ill wllat Ilot to do in the
"the gentle James" yesterday. Captain Anson reached up gracefully game of baseball." The reporter continued:
The Colts played like a lot of schoolboys, and disappointment gave It was Bunker Hill day, and a great crowd came out to see the awful
way to disgust as the crowd watched their antics. . . Brooklyn won in a slaughter and cheer the Bostons in their repeated charges on Briggs,
walk, and Daub, with only ordinary pitching, hadn't the least diffi.. but their enthusiasm died as the game waned and grew worse. The
culty in holding the visitors down to four runs . . . Errors of com.. saddest commentary on the struggle lies in the fact that people wisely
mission and ommission and disjointed all.. around work by the Colts . demanded the return of their money after watching the opening
gave Brooklyn fifteen runs this afternoon. rounds. A detailed account of the misery of superfluous.
The reporter belabored the Colts in language he must The remainder of the story emphasized the breaches of
have remembered from grammar lessons on the com.. etiquette by the Boston players:
parison of adjectives: 1. Tenney stepped in front of a pitched ball and was permitted to
The Colts started in bad form, grew worse, and in the end went to the walk.
superlative. They were so bad that the chief enjoyment of the crowd 2. Then he was caught off first and ran around Anson and was
was in howling at the ludicrous mistakes. McCormick was bad, allowed to hold his base.
Thornton was worse, and a new word is necessary for Pfeffer's case. 3. Long drew a base, and when Donahue [catcher] threw to second,
Duffy [the batter] blocked him and made the throw go wide ...
No mercy was shown for star second baseman Fred 4. In the second, Hamilton singled, and Tenney blocked Donahue,
Pfeffer, who by now was in the last year of his long career. giving a steal.
... the [Brooklyn] Bridegrooms, helped on by yellow playing and an 5. Tenney bunted safe. Duffy singled. Stivetts drew a base. Lower
equally bad decision by [umpire] O'Day, took the lead. Again in the flew out. Collins doubled and held Connor [second base] in his
fourth, Brooklyn counted. Pfeffer allowed Jones' pop fly to fall safe. To arms while Stivetts perambulated home.
add to that disgrace, he fumbled Anderson's grounder allowing an.. The story concluded with mention of a few fine plays:
other run to count. Dunn singled over second, adding two more, then Long made a remarkable catch of Connor's vicious liner in the third,
stole, then scored when Denzer [pitcher] butted into Anson [first base] Ryan a brilliant running capture of Collins' fly in the seventh, and
and transformed LaChance's pop fly into a hit. The coterie of misplays Collins two beautiful stops, but beyond that the game was featureless.
presented the home team with five runs.
It should be noted that a number of stars played in this
The game account followed its miserable course: game: Jimmy Collins, Billy Hamilton, Hugh Duffy,
The sixth brought an added weight of woe to Anson, as the Colts
Bobby Lowe, Herman Long, and Fred Tenney for Boston;
strove to outdo each other in miserable playing. Donohue [catcher]
whipped the ball to Pfeffer to draw Griffin, who was on third, home, Cap Anson, Bill Dahlen, and Jimmy Ryan for Chicago. ,
and Fritz dropped the ball. Dunn hit to McCormick [shortstop], who The last game discussed here is appropriately one in
stood in a trance after fielding the ball, and allowed Jones to score all which Chicago was the victor. On Friday, July 23, 1897,
the way from second, without even throwing the ball.
LaChance was saved by Pfeffer's fumble, but the next two men died our doughty reporter celebrated Clark Griffith's 4..2 vic..
easily, and only three runs came from the frightful playing. tory over the N ew York Giants and their great fireballer
Three days later, June 18, 1897, the headline read: Amos Rusie. The Giants were referred to as "Joyce's
"BOSTON'S FIERCE CHARGE" sub.. titled "CHI.. Joynts" after their playing manager, Bill Joyce:
CAGOS PATRIOTICALLY SLAUGHTERED ON Those who have stood before the strong fell yesterday before the weak.
Again Anson's in.. and.. out aggregation reversed form in a fighting,
BUNKER HILL DAY." The score that day was 19.. 7 in bitter game, and defeated Joyce's Joynts by a score of 4.. 2. It was a battle
favor of Boston. of Griffith's brains and cunning against the mighty Rusie's arm and
The Colts went down again this afternoon before the victorious tangled twists, and the skill of the little Chicago general prevailed in
Beaneaters in a maze of hits and errors - Boston furnishing the former the end. Even so, the Joynts would have won had not Joyce [third
and Chicago the latter. The score was awful, and had not Boston base], by miserable misplays, broken the team, had not Holmes [left
played horse in the closing rounds, after putting in a new pitcher field] twice thrown away gorgeous chances of victory, and had not
An~on's aggregation would have probably been blanked. Clark coached Tieman to certain death while the result trembled in
the balance.
The flamboyant writer then provided a Homeri~ sin1ile ~ As it was, "Gussy" Everett and his big bat divided the honors with
in which the errant ball players were compared to the Griffith. In the seventh, with each side ~redited with one little run,
errant hookers of the street (the Everleigh sisters of the Wild Bill came up, shut his eyes, sighed, leaned against one of Rusie's
shoots and drove it against the fence for a homer, sending two men
First Ward?). across ahead of him, and giving the Colts the winning majority. They
Briggs was simply slaughtered, and the support accorded him was as were two crazy quilt teams that faced each other, but, be it remarked,
loose as the morals of South Clark Street, while the Beaneaters every sub played clever ball.
individually and as a club played fine ball.
If someone today wrote the way these reporters wrote
John McGraw and his Baltimore )Orioles apparently he would be laughed out of the ballpark. But in spite of the
were not the only ones who would do anything to win. egregious abuse of the English language, especially evi..
With only one umpire, the Boston players violated rules dent in the reporting of the 1897 games, it seems that
behind his back: modem baseball writing is much more bland. The ac..
At stages, too, they [Boston] played dirty ball, and in the first two counts of the games quoted here are colorful- one might
innings [umpire] Lynch permitted no less than four flagrant inter..
ferences to be perpetrated. Indeed Lynch's errors were almost as even say quaint - and they arrest the reader's attention
numerous as those of the Colts, whose misplay columns suffered from and bring the dead back to life. An eager empathy
embonpoint. breathes through the spontaneous paragraphs of these
Indeed, Chicago committed ten errors that day. ludicrous accounts of the game as it then was.
More Than A Kid:
The Story of Kid Gleason
GARRETT}. KELLEHER
Best known as the hapless Black Sox skipper, William
(Kid) Gleason was a colorful pitcher, second baseman,
leader, and innovator who invented the intentional walk.
"He was, without doubt, the gamest and most spirited ball break in 1890. The players' revolt of that season and
player I ever saw and that doesn't except Ty Cobb. He was a subsequent formation of the Players' League depleted the
great influence for good on any ball club, making up for his lack , ranks of the National League. Philadelphia was hit espe..
of stature by his spirit and fight. " cially hard, losing its two star pitchers, Charlie Buffinton
-John McGraw (who had averaged 25 wins the previous seven years), and
, Ben Sanders (a 19..game winner in both '88 and '89).
T
HE YEAR 1988 marks the centennial of William Gleason became the only veteran on manager Harry
(Kid) Gleason'smajor..league debut. It is a shame Wright's pitching staff. He got plenty of work in 1890,
that he's remembered, if at all, as the manager of and had his best season. He started 55 games, completed
the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, because his career, which all but one, pitched 506 innings and ended the season
spanned more than forty years, was remarkable. with 38 wins, 17 losses and an ERA of 2.63. Gleason
The "Kid" played in the major leagues for twenty years. never approached this level again. For the next four
He spent the first seven as a pitcher compiling a 134.. 134 seasons he averaged 20 wins but also 20 losses. In 1892
record that was capped by a 38..win season in 1890. After Kid was traded to St. Louis, where he had two losing
he was through as a pitcher, he went on to play thirteen ,seasons (16..24, and 21 ..25) for two losing teams. Glea..
more major league seasons, primarily at second base, son's greatest accomplishment in St. Louis was in dealing
;where he played 1,584 games. His reputation as a hard.. ,with owner Chris Von der Ahe. The following incident,
nosed and intelligent player led to a long career as a coach probably apocryphal but accurate in capturing the per..
and manager when his playing days were through. sonalities of the combatants, was included in an article in
Bill was born in Camden, New Jersey, on October 26, the April 1916 issue of Baseball Magazine: "One day Bill
1866. He broke into organized ball in 1887 as a pitcher ,incurred Von der Ahe's displeasure by breaking some rule
'with Williamsport of the Pennsylvania State League and or other, and Chris fined him $100. When Gleason
:moved up to Scranton of the International League by opened his pay envelope on the fifteenth of the month
'mid..season. Although he showed early talent with the and found himself a century shy, his Irish blood began to
bat, averaging .355 at Williamsport and .372 at Scran.. boil. In those days Gleason was not only a wonderful ball
ton, Bill had a tough time proving his talent as a pitcher. player, but one of the greatest fighters in the game. With
During his worst stretch he lost 10 straight at Scranton, his cheeks flushed and his eyes blazing he rushed down to
and won only one of 13 decisions. Based on this record, Von der Ahe's office,a truly terrifying spectacle. Chris
'how Gleason ever got a shot at the big time remains a was sitting at ease, his heels under his desk, ,a cigar in the
mystery. However, Philadelphia of the National League corner of his mouth. The world was bright and rosy to him
saw something promising and signed him for the 1888 just then. He had no quarrel with anyone. So he smiled
season. 'Hello, Kid, how you vas?' 'Look here, you big, fat Dutch
Kid, who got his nickname from his size-he was only 5 slob,' roared Gleason, his fists doubled. 'If you don't open
feet 7-didn't perform much better in the majors for his that safe and get me the $100 you fined me I'm going to
first two years. A record of 7.. 16 in 1888 was followed in
1889 by a 9.. 15 mark coupled with a less than impressive Garrett J. Kelleher, a CPA for Irving Trust Co. in New York,
5.58 ERA. In spite of this poor performance, Bill got a big was a guest of Bobby Doerr's at his Hall..of..Fame induction.
------------~ !79
knock your block off.' Von der Ahe had the safe open in
just about thirty seconds."
Early in the 1894 season good fortune smiled on Kid,
when Von der Ahe sold his contract to Harry B. Von der
Horst, the owner of the blossoming Baltimore Orioles.
Bill made a major contribution to the first of Orioles
manager Ned Hanlon's championship teams, winning 15
.and losing only 5. But in 1895, Kid's pitching skills began
to dwindle and he went 2..4.
His major league pitching career was over at age
twenty..eight. After seven years the Kid had 134 wins and
134 losses and an ERA of 3. 79. In an interview in 1931
with a Philadelphia sports writer, he talked of what ended
his career: "In the early '90s as a pitcher with the Phillies,
I won 38 games. A year or so later they moved the box
back farther from the plate and that put a lot of pitchers Kid Gleason
out of business. They either lost their control or couldn't
last out a game. At the old distance, a fellow could pitch ran over to Jouett Meekin, who was on the slab, and
every other day, ifhe was tough. When I won 38 games for whispered something in his ear. Meekin seemed amazed,
the Phillies I pitched every other day-had to, we had but called catcher Wilson, and the three had a con..
only 15 men. The reason the hurlers can't work so often ference, with Gleason doing most of the talking. Then, to
now is because of the increased pitching distance." the astonishment of everyone, Meekin deliberately
When one career was over, Bill had to find another. He pitched four balls so wide of the plate that Ryan had not a
did not become an insurance salesman or a farmer. Glea.. chance to touch any of them. A moment later he fanned
son's new career-for the next thirteen years-was that of Decker, winning the game. It was the first time on record
a major..league second baseman. that a twirler deliberately passed a man (forcing in a run)
His batting talent had been noted in 1894 when, as a to take a chance on a weaker hitter. That scheme orig..
pitcher, he batted .325. So in 1895, the Orioles inserted inated in the quick brain of Bill Gleason."
Kid as their regular second baseman. In his first year, in an In 1901 Gleason jumped to Detroit in the new Amer..
infield that included John McGraw at third base and ican League, where he played alongside another Kid
Hugh Jennings at shortstop, he batted .309 and was a (Elberfeld) for two years. He ended his major..league
major contributor to the Orioles' second pennant. A good career back with the Phillies as tlleir regular second
nleasute of tIle h-igh. esteenl ill wllicll Gleasorl's ability was baseman for four years (1903 .. 1906). He spent another
held was his salary at the time: $2,000 a year. This was the year as a reserve before being released in 1908. This ended
salary of the biggest stars in the game then. a playing career that included 1,966 games played, 1,944
In 1896, the New York Giants management wanted to hits, 1,020 runs scored, 328 stolen bases, 2,389 innings
inject some of the Baltimore aggressiveness into their pitched, 240 complete games, and 268 decisions.
team, and the Giants purchased Gleason to play second The Kid was not ready to take the uniform off. He
base and serve as captain. He played five years in New drifted to the minors and played through the 1911 season
York, where in 1897 he had his greatest offensive year, with teams in Jersey City (International League), Har..
averaging .319 with 106 RBIs, 85 runs scored, and 43 risburg (Tri..State) and Utica..Binghamton (New York
stolen bases. His ability to lead and innovate was de.. State). When he finally hung up his spikes, he was
scribed by Baseball Magazine in 1916: "Twenty years ago approaching his forty..fifth birthday.
Gleason (then captain of the New York Giants) pulled In the 1931 interview, The Kid had this to say about his
the first instance of 'inside' pitching known to history. style of playing and the era in which he played, "They
The [Giants] and Anson's Chicago Colts were fighting can't bring back the old kind of game, not the way we
out a desperate game. In the eighth inning, with the score played it. . . . No siree. Know how I used to play second
9 to 6 in favor of the Giants, the Colts filled the bases with base? I'd let'em slide onto the bag, then kick them off the
two out, and Jimmy Ryan at bat. In those days Ryan was bag. That's the way we put 'em out. Take the pitchers.
one of the greatest of sluggers, and a long hit then was You never see a pitcher nowadays running in front of a
bound to tie the score. Gleason, ever alert, saw that the man when he's going to second or third, do you? Well, we
comparatively weak hitting Decker was next at bat. He did it when I was pitching. Any time a man tried to steal
I'd run over in front of him and slow him up. If a pitcher White Sox for the fateful season of 1919. Up to now, most
did that today folks would think he was crazy. Another of what has been written about Gleason pertains to this
thing I used to do, I'd tell the catcher not to throw the ball season, which is best dealt with in Eliot Asinofs Eight
to anybody but me when a runner was going down. I'd Men Out (and the movie based on it). Gleason continued
back off the rubber after a pitch and yell for the ball. Many managing the White Sox through the 1923 campaign. He,
a man I tagged out at second when I was pitching. But the then was out of baseball for a few years until Connie Mack
way I liked best to put 'em out was after I became a second brought him back as a coach with the great Athletics of
baseman-just booted 'em in the pants and we set 'em off the late 1920s and early '30s.
the base." The name William (Kid) G.leason is not well re..
Bill was hired for his first coaching job in 1912 by the membered today. However, he was a major league base..
Chicago White Sox to assist Manager Jimmy Callahan. ball man of stature for over forty years. After his death, on
He remained in this position, under Callahan and his January 2, 1933, his obituaries filled many columns,
successor, Pants Rowland, for most of the next six years. especially in the newspapers of Philadelphia, a city that
When Rowland was fired, Kid was signed to manage the, loved the Kid.
Power/Average Leaders
PLAYER
T
HERE HAVE BEEN many prolific hitters-lIS HR 0/0 BA
with career .300 averages-but relatively few Mickey Mantle 6.6 .298
who also hit for power. There have been many Frank Robinson 5.9 .294
Duke Snider 5.7 .295
power hitters-some thirty who homered at least 5 per.. Dick Allen 5.5 .292
cent of the time-but few who also hit for average. Who Hack Wilson 5.1 .307
did both? Wally Berger 4.7 .300
Chuck Klein 4.6 .320
To qualify by our definitions, a player needs a .300 Hal Trosky 4.4 .302
. career average and a 5 percent home..run percentage over Stan Musial 4.3 .331
at least 5,000 at..bats covering a minimum of ten seasons. Ken Williams 4.0 .319
. Pedro Guerrero * 4.9 .310
The use of averages/percentages rather than simple career . Jim Rice* 4.8 .302
totals yields a more accurate insight into player product.. Don Mattingly* 4.4 .331
ivity. Career totals are heavily influenced by a player's * Active Players
longevity. Averages and percentages measure production

Mickey Mantle comes closest. He hit over .300 for his
per at bat.
first seventeen years but only. 237 in his eighteenth and
Listed below are the top ten power/average hitters,
final campaign to drop his career average four points (.302
ranked according to home..run percentage.
to .298). Frank Robinson and Duke Snider both dropped
under .300 during their seventeenth seasons, while Dick
PLAYER HR 0/0 BA
Allen's dipped below .300 after twelve.
Babe Ruth 8.5 .342
Ted Williams 6.8 .344 Hack Wilson missed because his 4,760 at bats left him
Jimmie Foxx 6.6 .325 240 short of 5,000. Wally Bergerand Hal Trosky both had
Hank Greenberg 6.4 .313 5.0 home..run percentages until their final three seasons.
Lou Gehrig 6.2 .340
Hank Aaron 6.1 .305 Chuck Klein and Stan Musial both fell under 5.0. Ken
Willie Mays 6.1 .302 Williams fell 140 at bats shy of 5,000 and a full point
Johnny Mize 5.6 .312 under 5.0.
Mel Ott 5.4 .304
Joe DiMaggio . 5.3
Of the three active players included, Pedro Guerrero
.325
comes closest with his 4.9 percentage, but he only had
Who just missed? Players who qualified in one of the 3,387 AB through.1987. Jim Rice has high enough at..bats
two categories. and then came close in a second are listed and average totals but his homer percentage is .2 shy. Don
next. Playes who hit .300 but whose homer percentage is Mattingly's average is well over .300 but his percentage is
at least 4.0, and those with 5.0..plus homer percentages .6 low and he has only 2,788 at bats.
who hit. 290 or better are included. Listed below are the All top ten power/average hitters are in the Hall of
ten retired players and three active players who almost Fame. Six of the ten who just missed made it.
make the top ten. Mark E. Van Overloop
Schuey's Big Day
Ren Speer
From left: Pitcher Hal Schumacher, sportscaster Gra.. year, and been scouted by the Giants while pitching for
ham MacNamee and Giant Manager Bill Terry. But the Spofford Hose Company of the Dolgeville Volunteer
Schumacher was front and center on June 12, 1933. The Fire Department in surhmer ball. As the Giants beat St.
N ew York Giants had taken an all.. night, 400.. mile train Lawrence 12.. 4 in the post.. graduation game, Schuey
ride to Canton, New York, in his honor. Why? Because pitched the first 2 innings and allowed 1 hit.
their 22 . . year old pitcher was graduating from St. Law.. Below: Schumacher, in his gown, is congratulated by
renee University that very day. Never in baseball history .his teamrriates after leaving Gunnison Memorial Chapel
had a player been known to graduate from college during a with his diploma in hand. From left: Jack Salverson,
season. And it's doubtful that a major.. league team, a Homer Peel, Sam Leslie, Ray Starr, Travis Jackson,
town of 2,500 people and a school of 719 students had Schumacher, Al Smith, Blondie Ryan, Hughie Critz, Bill
ever gone to such trouble for a student.. athlete not yet a Terry (shaking Hal's hand), Glen Spencer, George Da..
major star. Bob Considine called the event "one of the vis. Returning to the majors, Hal went 19.. 12 with a 2.16
rare pieces of sentiment our national pastime has pro.. ERA, made the All.. Star team, and established himself as
duced." a star. Over his 13 . . season Giant career, Schumacher was
Before the exhibition game that day, Schumacher 159.. 120 and 2.. 2 in three World Series. But Hal Schuma..
shows his famous sinker to former college mates. Schuey cher Day in Canton, N. Y., was his most special memory.
had thrown a no..hitter against a high school team in his
freshman debut, made three varsity teams his sophomore Ren Speer is a retired Army officer and city manager.
An Interview
With Frenchy Bordagaray
JACK ETKIN
O. K., so he slid into every base on one memorable home

run. But Frenchy was more than a showman: He was an
all.. around athlete, a musician, a storyteller par excellence.
I
Frenchy Bordagaray is standing next to Red Skelton. They are ALWAYS THINK I was a failure, because I didn't
both wearing beards, looking like House of David ballplayers become a star. I really do. I think I was a failure,
but in uniforms that say Battling Beavers. It is 1943, and ' because I should've become a star. I had the talent. I
Skelton and Bordagaray are filming Whistling in Brooklyn. had the ability to be a great star. But I never was.
"See what a joker he was," Vickie Bordagaray says, I didn't know if it was the managers I played with or
pointing toward the photograph of her husband and Skelton, what it was. They didn't know that I was an athlete. I was
and another in which Bordagaray is playing in a jug band with a much better athlete than Pepper Martin, and he became
some St. Louis Cardinals teammates. "He's that way today. a big star. I was a much better athlete than all those guys.
We've been married 44 years. We hardly ever have any Medwick was no athlete at all. He was strong.
arguments. We make a joke out of everything. That's the best It might have been my own doing. It might have been
way. " ,my way of presenting myself. They probably thought I was
Comical doings, not a lifetime average of .283, are Bor.. too brash.
dagaray's legacy of 11 years in the major leagues. A one.. Billy Meyer of the Kansas City Blues-he was the best
season demotion to Kansas City punctuated those 11 seasons; manager I ever played for, because he let me play the way I
he hit. 358 for the 1940 pennant.. winning Blues and returned wanted to play. I played in Kansas City one year-in
to the majors for five more years. 1940. I came from Cincinnati. That year in Kansas City
Stanley ("Frenchy") Bordagaray was born Jan. 3, 1910, was the best year I ever had. I was second in the league in
and lives in Ventura, Calif. He was' 'The Fresno Flash" when hitting-.358. I bet everybody when I joined the ballclub
he played football at Fresno State; that's how the caption that I'd never hit under .350 in the minor leagues in my
identifies him in a picture on a wall of the family room. life. (Jackie) Saltzgaver said, "Well, you'll never hit .350
Bordagaray's trophies fill the bookshelves, tarnished reminders in this league. Why, this is a rough league."
of achievements that go back half a century. I says, "If I don't hit .350, I'll buy a chicken for the
The living room has an entirely different, timeless feel. whole club, and if I do, you'll have to buy them."
, Imitation bonsai trees that the Bordagarays made are on He said, "That's a good bet for me. Anybody else want
display. So is a Chinese lute Frenchy mounted and some in on this?"
Oriental scenes he painted-by the numbers, by his own Everybody wanted to get in on it. I almost led the
admission. The furniture is Oriental in style. league. The last game we played was against Minneapolis,
"It's a feeling of peace," Vickie says. "When you sit in a and Ab Wright was on that club. He led the league-
room where there's Chinese furniture, there's no disturbance .361. And we were right close. I got six hits in a double..
about it. " header that day, and he had about six hits. So ifhe hadn't
Memories of his baseball past came to Bordagaray as he sat got any hits that day, I would have led the league.
in this room. He has stayed around the game, taking care of the I wound up hitting .358 and led the league in most hits;
baseball diamonds in Ventura County. I had 215. I don't remember if I tied for stolen bases or
"I'm still happy," he says. "I'm still young, that's why.
You're only as young as youfeel. We're both young. We're still This is excerpted from INNINGS AGO: Recollections by Kansas
on our honeymoon, too, after all these years. Very few people City Ballplayers of Their Days in the Game by Jack Etkin (Nor..
can say that at 75. " mandy Square Publications).
not. I got 13 straight hits. The record was 12, and Billy Then I'd put up the money, buy the lot and ground and
Meyer brought a case of beer for the whole club. And then everything. Then I'd sell it. We started one in Denver,
I struck out my 14th time at bat. Took a third strike. Then one in Kansas City, Kan., one in Colorado Springs, one
I got eight more hits after that. in Saginaw, Mich., and one in Arlington, Texas. That
That 1940 club was a great club. We won the pennant. was one I really made the money on; I sold it twice. I sold
We didn't win the playoffs. I pulled this hip out, and I had it for $200,000, took it back and sold it for $300,000. I
to take X.. ray treatments on it for two years. And that's made a million dollars out of it, so it must have been a
the worst thing you can do; X.. ray can give you cancer they good business.
say. It takes 20 years. But it's been longer than 20 years. I I didn't want to go to Kansas City. Roy Harney was with
didn't get it. the Kansas City club at that time. He finally talked me
The three favorites with the fans were Sturm and into it. I had such a good year they brought me up to the
myself and Phil Rizzuto. I was 28 years old. All the guys Yankees right away. I played with the Yankees, and we
took Phil out snipe hunting in spring training. Ever play won the pennant then. I only played about 17 or 18 games
that game where you take a guy out snipe hunting? You [he played 19 in the outfield and appeared in 36 games].
know what they do? You make the guy carry a sack. And
then he holds the sack, and the other guys all get in the
distance, and they run all the snipes toward him, and he
catches them in the sack, see?
T HAT WAS THE YEAR DiMaggio had his 56.. game
hitting streak. All during that streak we were toge..
ther every night. We went down to the nightclub, and we
Old Phil, he fell for it. He was gullible as heck anyhow. drank two beers. Every night. We'd go to the next
They played all the tricks on that poor kid. So they pulled town-the same thing. If anybody in one of these night..
that on him. They took him about 20 miles away from clubs, if they'd start introducing him, he'd get down on
where we were training at that time; I forgot the name of the floor and just scoot right on out. He didn't like that.
the town. I followed them out in my car, and I run into That's what I went with him for, to get the pressure off
Phil on the road. at him. That was my job. I gave it to myself because I
And he had two great big rocks, one in each hand. I knew that he couldn't do it. I just kept talking to him all
said, "Where are the guys?" He said, "They took off." I the time and calm him down. I didn't even mention that
said, "Phil, these guys are playing a joke on you. Get in streak. If I start mentioning that, then he'd start thinking
the car." about it. He wanted to stay away from that.
And I took him to the next town, and I took him to a After that one year we never got together much. The
show. And we stayed in there until about midnight. Then only time I called him is when he was going with Marilyn
we came back to the town we were training in-you have Monroe. And I said, "For Christ's sake, Joe, don't marry
to look it up, I don't remember the town-anyhow, we that gal. Get yourself a nice little Italian girl that knows
went in the back way. These guys were waiting. They how to cook good and make a good home for you, and go
were worried. They were scared to death. They thought back to San Francisco. Don't marry that gal."
he was hurt or something like that. But he never let on. He said, "Oh don't worry, Frenchy, I'm not going to
And I never did. To this day, they don't know that I marry her." The next week he married her. Isn't that
pulled that on them. See, the joke was on them instead of something?
Phil. I'm a happy.. go.. lucky Frenchman, although I'm half
I didn't sign a contract until almost the day before the Basque. My father was a Basque. My mother was French. I
season opened. I wasn't going to play anymore. I had a got the nickname from my mother. They started calling
nightclub in Cincinnati and was running it. Frenchy's me that in about the fifth grade.
Barn. It had seven floors on it, and there was a bar on My father was a bootlegger during Prohibition. That's
every floor. Then we changed bands every week. We'd where he made all his money. He was the Al Capone of
have a colored band one week. Then we'd have a hillbilly Fresno County. He was. Well, he wasn't a killer or
band the next week. And all the big bands from all over anything like Capone, but he sold the liquor. He had a big
the country-at that time there was a lot of them-they'd building downtown in Coalinga. That building's down
all come in and have their jam sessions at my place. now. It's gone. Long broke down.
We lived in Kansas City for 13 years. We liked it. I His name was Domingo. Dominick. He was an athlete
belonged to the Milburn Country Club. I got in the though; he could run. My dad was a jai alai player and a
cemetery business there. That's where I made all my handball player, and he used to play guys. He used to
money. I used to go into a town myself, check it out, see if handicap them by putting a 50.. pound sack on his back or
it was big enough and if they could stand a cemetery. a 100.. pound sack. That's how they handicapped him.
and they hit me ninth. And I hit three home runs and two
singles that day. From then on I was the cleanup hitter
and hit fourth. I was only 14 years old then. That's how I
got started in baseball.
Then I went to Fresno State College, and I became the
greatest football carrier they ever had. And we just had a
celebration, a 55..year reunion of the 1930 team [one of
the two undefeated and untied teams in Fresno State
history].
I played with the Fresno Tigers and San Joaquin Light
& Power Co., and the Coalinga Oilers. I played on about
four or five semi"pro ballclubs, making money out of it.
Not very much.
A friend of mine that I played semi..pro ball with on the
Elks club in Fresno in the Twilight League wanted me to
go to Sacramento. Buddy Ryan was the manager of the
club, and my friend said he wanted him to see me. He put
me in the outfield, and I could run.
I run the 100 in a football suit and football shoes in 10
seconds. Ryan couldn't get over how fast I could run, so
they let me play. I was about 17 or 18. They had the
season split in half then. July 4th it was.
Frenchy Bordagaray Sacramento was in the Coast League. They let me play
And he'd beat them. the last game of the first half. And Monte Pearson was
He wanted me to be a violin player. The whole family pitching for Oakland that day, and I got two doubles off of
played instruments. Seven kids and they all played. I had Monte Pearson. So right away I said, "Hell, this is easy. I
one older brother. He was a good athlete, and he was a think I'll go to playing baseball." Football was my game,
great trumpet player. He was a great musician, too. Too, I and track. I said, "I'm going to play this game. This is
say. I wasn't a great musician. better. " So I signed up for $400 a month. That was 1931,
My dad used to put me in the room and close the damn the Sacramento Solons, or Senators. They called them
door and say, "You stay here for two hours and practice both.
that violin." And pretty soon I'd see him go out the front
door, and I'd sneak out the window and go down the street
and play baseball. Then I'd come back in about an hour,
and I knew he'd be back. And I'd be in there, and I'd be
I JUMPED RIGHT IN, and, of course, I didn't get off to
a very good start. But I wound up hitting .378 [actually
.373] the last half of the season when I signed.
practicing away. I played in Sacramento in '32 and '33. Then they sold
I was the mascot of the Coalinga team. That's where I me to the White Sox, and I was with the White Sox for
was born and raised. And I was the mascot when I was just two months until cutoff time. The White Sox owed them
eight and nine years old. It was the Coalinga Oilers. It was $50,000, and they'd sent the Sacramento club five players
an oil town, too. They had one of the best semi..pro teams already for me. And they didn't want to pay the $50,000.
in the whole state of California. They played teams out of Fifty thousand dollars was a lot of money in those days;
San Francisco, from L.A., from all over. just like $300,000 or $400,000 today. And they didn't
You ever hear of Coalinga, the earthquake town? want to pay the money, so they shipped me back.
That's where the ear~hquakes were. It's 50 miles west of I remember my first hit in the big leagues. We was
Fresno. Every building in Coalinga went down on May 2, playing against Detroit when I was with the White Sox. I
1982. It put Coalinga on the map. Everybody in Cal.. was on the bench, and it was a blizzard on in Detroit. The
ifornia knows about Coalinga. snow was blowing in the dugout, and it was hitting you,
We went to Madera, and they only had eight men. The and, boy, it just put pock marks allover you beca~se it was
right fielder didn't show up. So they said, "Put Frenchy so hard. The wind was blowing like heck. It was rough.
out there. At least he can catch the ball." I used to go out I was frozen to death. I went up to hit, and I couldn't
and shag balls all the time. So they put me in right field, even swing it was so dam cold. Firpo Marberry was
pitching. Do you remember him? They won the pennant ball, and it went over my head. They had the winning run
that year, by the way, Detroit did. on third base. And a guy hit one twice as far to my left,
Anyway, I got up there, and I swung that bat, and I hit and I made a long diving catch for it, caught it, end we
a line drive right over the shortstop's head. Boy, I was so won the ballgame. We went into the clubhouse, and I
numb it almost knocked my hands off; my hands were so said, "Hey Casey, how about before the
cold. That was my first hit. game"-ballplayers are superstitious-"from now on let
The funny thing is, I was there just that short time, and me hit you in the ear."
I led the American League in pinch hitting that year. I He said, "You son of a bitch. Get out of here." And he
had 8,for, 11, I think [actually 8,for, 12]. chased me right out of the clubhouse. But he bought us
They sent me down to Sacramento, and that was where two cases of beer then because we won the ballgame.
I finished the rest of the season. I got shingles. I was so fed Ballplayers drink beer all the time. You know that.
up with coming back. I thought I was lousy, you know The last game of the year we were playing the Giants.
how you get. But I wound up hitting .324 anyway [actu, Some guy hit a fly ball, and I saw it up there. My hat came
ally .321]. I thought it was lousy, but today it'd be great. off. And I turned around, and my hat was back there. So I
You hit .250 today, you're great. run back, got my hat and put my hat on and then went
Jimmy Dykes was the manager of the White Sox then. and caught the ball.
Mule Haas was the center fielder, and Al Simmons was Casey went crazy. He always told Vickie, "That guy put
the left fielder. I went up to Alone day. I was a fresh, punk more gray hairs on my head."
kid, and I said, "Hey AI, I'm not used to playing this sun There was a time when we were playing the Chicago
field here. I'm going to give you the glasses. You play right Cubs. I hit a ball over the second baseman's head, one of
field. I'll play left field where there's no sun." And he those bloopers, and got all the way to second base and got
laughed and thought that was the biggest joke. It wasn't a a double out of it becuse I could run. Billy Jurges was the
joke to me. I really meant it. shortstop then, and he said, "Hey, Frenchy, "-they used
to kid me all the time because they knew I was crazy-"get
WAS KIND OF A CUT,UP anyway, I was really a
I fresh kid. Oh, what a fresh one. Everybody on the
football team hated my guts because I was so fresh.
your foot off the bag, so I can knock some of that dirt off.
You put dirt all over that damn base."
And he had Babe Pinelli right behind him. He was the
III '35 I went to Brooklyn. I had a lot of fun. Casey was umpire. They were all set. He had the umpire pegged
the manager. We had a good year, though, that year. We ahead of time and the ball hidden behind his glove. And I
weren't doing too bad. We weren't last [70,80, fifth put my foot off, and he tagged me, and Pinelli said,
place]. "You're out."
The only time I could play good was when they had big Casey came right out and said, "How can he be out?
crowds. Casey said, "I'm going to play you when they fill He's standing on the bag."
the park from now on. You seem to wake up." That's true. I said, "Hey Casey. He got me in between taps." That's
I could playa lot better. Because I had to show off. an old story they used to tell about getting the guy
You remember Joe Stripp? Played third base. Well, between taps, so I just come up with the same old story
everybody had a special guy you used to warm up with, they had.
and Joe Stripp and I used to always warm up. And Casey But the best story of all is the one where we were
Stengel was a clown, you know. We were playing in playing the Giants. Of course, Brooklyn didn't have to
Cincinnati and just warming up to take infield and out, win a ballgame all year as long as they could beat the
field practice. Giants. Anyhow, we were playing the Giants in the Polo
He was standing behind this side of home plate and Grounds. We had a little guy named Jimmy Jordon, who
going through a lot of antics. I was always a wild guy was the second baseman. When he hit a ball, it was just
anyhow. And I cut one loose, and Casey had ears about little short line drives over the infield. So they had a guy
that big. You couldn't miss him. I hit him right in the ear. in left field by the name ofJoe Moore. He had the best arm
He went down; knocked him cold. When I saw that, I in baseball that year.
took off and went in the outfield. He was playing right up behind shortstop. So I was on
They carried him into the dugout and started putting second base. Jordon hit a line drive over the shortstop's
ice on him. And he said, "Who threw that ball? Who head that Joe catches on the first hop before I even get to
threw that ball?" And Joe Stripp said, "Frenchy did," and third base.
Casey said, "That guy's going to Podunk tomorrow." Casey's coaching third base, and he says, "Go in. Go
Then that same day-i-n the outfield I misjudged a fly in." I thought to myself, "My God, I'm fast, but I'm not
THE BASEBALL RESEARCH JOURN AL
that fast. There's no way in the world." So I went about My first wife and I weren't getting along. I didn't play
halfway to home plate, and here comes Gus Mancuso much ball. I didn't care about playing ball.
with the ball. He walks up to me and tags me out. And I go So when they sent me to Kansas City, I had to make a
by Casey, and he says, "That's going to cost you $50 for comeback. So I really showed them I could play ball. I
not sliding." did. Hit good and everything else. That got me up with
I said, "And yeah, and fine yourself $50 for lousy the Yankees. Then I got in trouble with (Joe) McCarthy
coaching. " He said, "That's going to cost you a hundred. " when we had the celebration after we beat the Dodgers in
So I run to the outfield and play out there, and I get the World Series. We were all loaded. I was with Joe
back in the dugout, and he and I get to arguing again. All Gordon, and Tommy Dorsey's stooge came to the party. I
the guys are going "Shoosh. He'll fine you more." used to go to Tommy Dorsey's house and stay; he had
I don't know whether it was the same ballgame or a about ten bedrooms.
ballgame later, I come up in the ballgame, and I hit a I'd say, "Well, where do you want me to sleep tonight,
home run. I think it was the 12th or 13th inning. I think I Tommy?"
won the ballgame. So what I did, I slid into first. I slid into He'd say, "Take any room you want."
second. When I looked up, here's old Casey coming I'd say, "Well, I'll take the green room."
halfway out to meet me. I go to third, and I slide into third This guy was his stooge, and we all went together to the
base. Then I make a big swan dive right across home party. I was pretty well loaded. Casey was sitting with
plate. I look up, and there's old Casey. He says, "That's McCarthy. They were good friends. I went up there and
going to cost you another hundred for showing me up." looked at Joe, and I said: "Hey Joe, how the hell are you?
You see the guy next to you? If he had the ballclubs you
E FINED ME. And every time I used to see him, I'd had, he'd have won 15 pennants in a row."
H say, "Get me that $200 back, Casey." And I never
got it back. Hell, I was only making $4,000 a year then.
Casey always used to tell me about that. He'd say,
"Frenchy, I noticed you were gone when you made that
, That's all. That's not much money. crack." McCarthy traded me to Brooklyn in the next
They traded me and Dutch Leonard and Jordon to the year.
Cardinals. In 1937 I opened at third base for the Cardi.. That first year I was there in '42, we had a 12Yz game
nals. Dizzy Dean was pitching on opening day. We were lead going into the last month of the season. The Cardi..
playing against Cincinnati that day. The shortstop was nals beat us out. I went in one day. Reiser come up with a
Leo Durocher. At second base we had Martin-Stu headache. So Charlie Dressen said to Durocher, "Put
Martin, not Pepper Martin. Pepper started in right field. Frenchy in. We'll get him well in a hurry." So they put me
Medwick started in left field. We had Johnny Mize on first in, and I got five for five and never hit a ball out of the
base. Slaughter couldn't make the ballclub that year. We infield. Beat every ball out against Boston.
sent him to Columbus. They were going to start me again the next day, and
We had a hillbilly band, Pepper Martin's Mudcats. I Reiser says, "I'm well. I'm well, Leo. I want to play
played the washboard and the fiddle. Bill McGee played today." So they put him in. Of course, he was the big hero
the fiddle. Bill was a real hoedown player. He played of the ballclub.
"Possum Up a Gump Stump," and "Willie, My Toes Are I was pretty popular with the fans. I had a lot offun with
Sore," songs like that. Bob Weiland played a jug. We them. They had a band there in the stands. That was the
went on the Fox Theater circuit. We didn't let Max best baseball town I ever played in. It's too bad they had to
Lanier go on tour with us, because he was a baby Mudcat. break up Brooklyn. That was a great, great franchise.
Pepper Martin was my best friend in baseball. He got a Walter O'Malley wanted to get out here where the big
big bang -out of me, and he was funny. He was a pistol. money was.
Used to cut up all the time. We made more money in the I went back for '42, '43, '44 and '45 and could have
six, seven weeks we were on the circuit than we made out played three more years with them. But Rickey called me
of baseball the whole year. Hell, I was only getting three in the office one day and said, "All of these guys are
or four thousand dollars a year. Pepper wasn't making but coming back out of the war, Frenchy. You look to me like
about $10,000. That's all. you could be a good manager. How would you like to
I lasted two years in St. Louis. Then they traded me to manage a ballclub in the minor leagues to start out
Cincinnati. I didn't even get a chance to play. They were gradually and work up?"
going to play me at third base, and they brought in this I said, "I'll try it." So he sent me to Three Rivers in the
kid, (Bill) Werber. And he played third base. I never gota Canadian.. American League, which was Class C. And I
chance to play. Besides, I had a lot of family trouble then. led the league in hitting-.358 again. Most valuable
player in the league. Of course, a big,leaguer playing in went in, God almighty, I'd be making $2 million.
the C league. We won the pennant and the playoffs. My type of player's what they want today. When I was
Then in '47 I went to Greenville, S. C. The Greenville there, you had to be a home,run hitter. If you were a
Spinners in the Sally League. That's where I got in line,drive hitter or fast, they didn't go for that so much.
trouble. That's what run me out of baseball. Not as much as they do today. Look at the Cardinals.
I got in an argument with an umpire. We were playing They're all that way. All your best teams are. They finally
at Augusta. They brought in a substitute umpire. I run found out that was the best. Because you keep waiting,
across first base. I was three steps past first base, and this keep waiting for the guy to hit that home run. They just
umpire wasn't even looking at the play. He had his back keep striking out all the time. Our sluggers, when I was
turned and had to turn, and he called me out. And he playing, didn't strike out as much as they do today. They
winning run came in because I was safe at first. But he struck out a lot, but not like these guys. They look pitiful.
called me out for the last out. They couldn't even play when we were playing. They
I was so damn made I went after him, and I had a big couldn't.
plug of tobacco in my mouth. And I just let that damn You're an outfielder and you didn't hit over. 280 when I
thing go, and it just went all over him. I knocked him was playing ball, you went back to the minors. Now they
down then. I hit him good. Then I jabbed him in the hit .250, and they get a million dollars.
chest with my spikes. I'm in charge of all the diamonds in Ventura County.
So that was the end. They suspended me [60 days, In Ventura City itself I have 12 here to do myself. I make
which went through the end of the season]. And I said, them up, put the lines and everything on them. Clean
"Well, if I'm going to get that mad, I'm not going' to them. Water them. Everything.
manage anymore. The hell with this." I never did that I'm an expert at it. I'm the best diamond man in
when I was playing. Southern California outside of the big leagues. I could've
Rickey wanted me to go to spring training in '48. He gone to work for the Dodgers as a diamond man. When I
flew me in his own plane, all the way to Trujillo. And I first went to spring training, we didn't get any spending
worked out with them there. I had a bad knee, and it money. We had to pay our own meals. You know what we
didn't come around. They wanted me to go to Greenville did? Two or three of us would work on the diamonds.
and coach for Alston. I was making so much money out of With every club I was with I did the diamonds.
the cemetery business then-about $75,000 a year-I I do it myself. Well, when I have more than four
said, "No, I don't think I'll go." diamonds to do, then I have to get help. If they're not
done right, I make them do it over. If they don't put the
I HAD HYPOGLYCEMIA. I didn't find out until I was

all through playing ball. So I'd play for about a week or
two, and then I'd get down. Sugar'd get low.
batter's box six inches from home plate, I make them
erase it and do it over. It's got to be perfect.
Four diamonds takes about two hours each; that's eight
I'd get down low, and I couldn't play. I was so tired. So hours a day. I enjoy it, sure. That's why I do it. It keeps me
they'd take me out of the lineup. And every time I'd get in around the diamonds all the time. I was born on a
and play, I'd go like mad for about two weeks. diamond, almost, when I was a mascot.
Clark Griffith said, "I can't figure this guy out. For two I go to bed about nine 0' clock every night. I get up a five
weeks he's the best ballplayer in the league. Then all of a every morning. And I'm out at the park even before
sudden he goes poof." daylight. The sun don't come out now until about 6: 15.
You dream back about what you should have done and I'm out at the park early.
what you shouldn't have done. I would have done it I'm there all the time. I like to be there. I don't know
different if I had to do it over. I'll tell you that. I'd act like I why. I just like it there. I'm all there by myself. Nobody
was more serious anyhow. Because if you cut up, even else around. I open the park.
though you are serious, they think you're not serious. But It's about a mile and a half from the house. Camino
I was serious when I was playing. Real Park. I'll read the paper. I don't drink coffee. About
I still can't figure out why I was a big star in every sport, 6:30 I go out and start working on the diamonds.
and baseball, which I was getting paid in, I never was an They say when I die, they're going to bury me under
outstanding star. Where with football, hell, I was on one of the mounds out there. In fact, they named the big
every all,star team. And track too. Broad,jump over 25 diamond, the regulation diamond, after me. It's Bor,
feet. That was a long way. dagaray Field now. Nice burial place. They'd bury me
I was 50 years ahead of my time. I really was. Look what under the home plate. I wouldn't mind being buried
they're getting today. If I was 50 years later than when I there. Be all right with me.

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What was Frenchy Bordagaray's career like?

What was Frenchy Bordagaray's career like?

What did Frenchy Bordagaray do after his playing career?

What did Frenchy Bordagaray do after his playing career?

THE

In a special SABR project, a membership poll creates

CY YOUNG WINNERS 1900--1966

Some ballplayers can draw walks. Others avoid strikeouts.

YEAR BY YEAR B.E.I. LEADERS

The quintessential minor,league lifer, Sisler played for

HE rrRIP FROM ELMIRA to Auburn through

T New York State's Finger Lakes region takes less

THE TWINS OF THE MAJORS 'record

He could pitch, he could hit, and he could slug-in fact, he

RUSSELL LOUIS (BUZZ) ARLETT

1926 Oakland P.c. 5 14 2 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1927 Oakland P.c. 1 9 1 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1928 Oakland P.c. 7 27 1 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1929 Oakland P.c. 17 61 1 4 83 46 40 17 17 5.76

Ouming your oum Rotisserie League team is a thrill second only to

STOLEN BASES BATT. AVERAGE ERA RATIO

ROTISSERIE STANDINGS LINEAR WEIGHTS STANDINGS

Yankees' GWRBI 1920~42

Remembered for his Series~ending homer, Dazzlin' Maz

A special Hispanic All.,Star Game was held at the Polo

Q played in the Polo Grounds? Was it:

(a) September 29, 1957

Today player.. managers are the exceptions; yesterday they

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

1933 New York Bill Terry IB 1 R 1951 Chicago Phil Cavarretta IB 8

1936 New York Bill Terry IB 1 R 1984 Cincinnati Pete Rose IB 26

1939 Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS 3 R

1940 Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS 2 2

1941 Brooklyn Leo Durocher SS/2B 18

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

1905 Chicago Fielder Jones OF 2 R 1914 New York Frank Chance IB 1

1907 Chicago Fielder Jones OF 3 R 1917 Boston Jack Barry 2B 2 R

1908 Cleveland Nap Lajoie 2B 2 R 1921 Cleveland T ris Speaker OF 2 R

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

1927 Washington Bucky Harris 2B 3 R 1944 Boston Joe Cronin IB 4 R

1928 Washington Bucky Harris 2B 4 R 1945 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS R

1929 Detroit Bucky Harris 2B 6 4 1946 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 6 R

1933 Washington Joe Cronin SS 1 R 1950 Cleveland Lou Boudreau SS 4 R

1935 Detroit Mickey Cochrane C 1 R 1961 Kansas City Hank Bauer OF 43

1937 Chicago Jimmy Dykes 3B/IB 3 R * partial season

1884 Louisville Joe Gerhardt 2B R

St. Louis Charlie Comiskey IB R FEDERAL LEAGUE PLAYING MANAGERS

N ow that runs produced has become a familiar and

*Member, Hall of Fame (A) Active in 1988

LIFETIME RUNS PRODUCED (Continued)

LIFETIME RUNS PRODUCED (Continued)

Whatever else has happened in his weird and not always

Denny McLain - 1968

GS CG IP H BB SO SHO W..L PCT ERA

TEAM W..L PITCHERS

Babe And Big Train

Bos.. Wash Johnson ERA 1.54 Ruth ERA 1.44

Overlooked because Series rival Denny McLain won 31

baseball and basketball in high school and win a bas~

GREAT PITCHING PERFORMANCES 1892;1987 Pet. Pet. ERAv.