The year of *60*. The Yankees ran away with the pennant, winning 110 games. Philadelphia was second, 19 games behind. Washington was third, 25 games behind. Detroit was the other team over .500. Boston languished in the basement with 103 losses, while Chicago, Cleveland and St. Louis were in between. New York was far and away the best team in the league in offense and in pitching/defense, so it was not a suspenseful race.
Harry Heilmann batted .398 with Al Simmons at .392, but this was the year of 60, the magical 60 home runs of Babe Ruth. Ruth led in the percentage categories, on-base, slugging, and OPS, as well as homers and walks. Lou Gehrig, hitting behind him, actually led in RBI with 175 to Ruth's 164. Gehrig also led the league with 52 doubles and 447 total bases, while Ruth led with 158 runs to Gehrig's 149. Their teammate Earle Combs led with 231 hits and 23 triples. George Sisler led with 27 steals.
Waite Hoyt and Ted Lyons tied for the league lead with 22 wins, and Wilcy Moore, working mostly out of the bullpen, led the league in ERA at 2.28, with Hoyt second at 2.64. Moore also tied Garland Braxton for the saves lead with 13. Lefty Grove topped the league with 174 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Lou Gehrig (New York) 44, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 32, Earle Combs (New York) 31, Goose Goslin (Washington) 28, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 26, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 24, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 23, Bob Fothergill (Detroit) and Ty Cobb (Philadelphia) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Ted Lyons (Chicago) 30, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) 27, Wilcy Moore (New York) and Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 24, Waite Hoyt (New York) 23, Willis Hudlin (Cleveland), Earl Whitehill (Detroit) and Bump Hadley (Washington) 19.
WARP3: Ruth 12.1, Gehrig 11.1, Lazzeri 7.0, Combs 6.8 (best year), Heilmann 5.4, Simmons 5.3, Goslin 5.0, Cochrane 4.8, Sammy Hale (Philadelphia) and Bibb Falk (Chicago) 4.2, Fothergill (best year) and Joe Sewell (Cleveland) 4.1, Muddy Ruel (Washington) 4.0, Cobb (last good year) and Ossie Bluege (Washington) 3.8.
Pitchers, Thomas 6.6 (best year), Lyons 6.4, Moore 5.3 (30-year old rookie, career year), Hudlin 5.1 (rookie), Hoyt 4.6 (best year), Grove 4.4, Hadley 4.3 (rookie), Whitehill 4.2 (best year), Jack Quinn (Philadelphia) 3.8, Jake Miller (Cleveland) and Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 3.6.
WAR, Position players: Ruth 13.8, Gehrig 13.2, Combs 7.6, Heilmann 7.5, Lazzeri 7.0, Goslin 5.7, Falk 5.1, Cobb, Meusel, and Cochrane 4.8, Metzler and Fothergill 4.7. Pitchers, Thomas 7.4, Lyons 7.0, Hoyt 5.6, Moore 5.4, Grove 5.0, Hadley 4.7, Quinn 4.5, Whitehill 3.9, Hudlin and Miller 3.8.
Actual MVP voting, remembering previous winner Ruth was ineligible under the arcane rules of the time (top 14):
Name Team 1st place Points
1 Lou Gehrig NYY 7 56
2 Harry Heilmann DET 0 35
3 Ted Lyons CHW 0 34
4 Mickey Cochrane PHA 0 18
4 Al Simmons PHA 0 18
6 Goose Goslin WSH 0 15
6 Muddy Ruel WSH 0 15
8 Jimmie Dykes PHA 0 14
9 Luke Sewell CLE 0 13
10 Joe Sewell CLE 0 9
11 Tony Lazzeri NYY 1 8
12 Bobby Reeves WSH 0 7
13 Frank O'Rourke SLB 0 6
13 Jackie Tavener DET 0 6
I don't know what the guy who put Lazzeri first was thinking.
Best player: Babe Ruth. Gehrig was close, but the Babe was the best, 60 homers and all. Babe #1, Gehrig #2, Heilmann #3, Combs #4, Lazzeri #5.
Best pitcher: Ted Lyons. Teammate Tommy Thomas was close, and Lefty Grove is making noise here, but Lyons was the AL's best pitcher in 1927. Lyons #1, Thomas #2, Moore #3, Grove #4, Hoyt #5.
Best rookie: Wilcy Moore gave the Yankees' staff a big boost, mostly coming out of the bullpen.
Best manager: Miller Huggins. Who else could you give it to in this year?
25 January 2008
15 January 2008
1926 National League
The Cardinals won the pennant and then the World Series, thanks to some heroics from veteran Grover Cleveland Alexander. The NL was tightly bunched, as second-place Cincinnati was 2 games back, Pittsburgh was 4.5 back, and Chicago was 7 back. New York was 5th, followed by Brooklyn, Boston, and Philadelphia. Brooklyn led the early going, then Cincinnati, then Pittsburgh, before the Cardinals surged to the front at the end.
The top two in the batting race were Reds Bubbles Hargrave and Cuckoo Christensen, neither of whom would be eligible for the title under today's rules. Neither reached today's mark of at-bats, though both had 100 games, which was the requirement at the time. The veteran catcher and 26-year old rookie outfielder made their biggest splashes in this season. The #3 and #4 men, Earl Smith of Pittsburgh and Cy Williams of Philadelphia, wouldn't have enough at bats under today's rules either. Under current rules, the batting titlist would be rookie Paul Waner of Pittsburgh, at .336. Waner also led in triples with 22 and runs created with 116. Christensen also led in on-base, and Williams in slugging. Under modern rules, Waner would lead those categories as well.
Kiki Cuyler led the league in runs with 113, Eddie Brown in hits with 201, Jim Bottomley in total bases, doubles with 40, and with 120 RBI. Hack Wilson led with 21 homers, Cuyler with 35 steals. Waner scored 101, Wilson drove in 109, Les Bell had 100 RBI.
For the pitchers, Ray Kremer led in ERA with 2.61, and also led in winning percentage and tied for the lead in wins with 20. Other 20-game winners were Pete Donohue, Lee Meadows, and Flint Rhem. Carl Mays won 19. Dazzy Vance led in strikeouts with 140. Charlie Root was second in ERA at 2.82, Jesse Petty was third at 2.84. Root was second in strikeouts with 127.
Win Shares leaders, players: Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 28, Hack Wilson (Chicago) and Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 26, Les Bell (St. Louis) 25, Jim Bottomley and Bob O'Farrell (St. Louis) 23, Curt Walker (Cincinnati) and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 22, Sparky Adams (Chicago), Edd Roush (Cincinnati) and Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 21 each. Hughie Critz, 2nd in the MVP vote, had 19 Win Shares for Cincinnati.
WS leaders, pitchers: Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 25, Jesse Petty (Brooklyn) 24, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 23, Charlie Root (Chicago) 22, Pete Donohue (Cincinnati) 21, Carl Mays (Cincinnati) 20, Flint Rhem (St. Louis) 18, Doug McWeeny (Brooklyn), Freddie Fitzsimmons (New York) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 17.
WARP3: O'Farrell 5.5 (last big year), Waner 5.2 (rookie), Frankie Frisch (New York) 5.1, Traynor 4.9, Freddie Lindstrom (New York) 4.5, Bell and Hornsby 4.4, Walker 4.3 (best year), Travis Jackson (New York) 4.0, Wilson 3.9 (breakthrough year), Cuyler 3.8, Rube Bressler (Cincinnati) 3.7, Hughie Critz (Cincinnati) 3.6.
Pitchers, Carlson 8.6 (peak year), Petty 5.4 (best year), Kremer 5.3 (best year), Root 4.9 (best year), Mays 4.7 (last good year), Bob Smith (Boston) 4.4, Johnny Werts (Boston) 3.9, McWeeny 3.6, Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn) 3.5.
WAR leaders, position players: Wilson 6.1, Waner 5.8, Cuyler 5.5, Adams and Frisch 5.3, Bell 5.2, Hornsby 4.9, Southworth and Walker 4.3, Blades 4.2, Bancroft 4.1, Critz 4.0. Pitchers: Carlson 6.0, Kremer 5.5, Root 4.9, Petty 4.7, Mays 4.0, McWeeny 3.3, Bush and Fitzsimmons 3.1, Alexander and Sherdel 3.0.
Actual MVP vote:
1 Bob O'Farrell STL 79
2 Hughie Critz CIN 60
3 Ray Kremer PIT 32
4 Tommy Thevenow STL 30
5 Hack Wilson CHC 25
6 Les Bell STL 24
6 Bubbles Hargrave CIN 24
8 Flint Rhem STL 20
9 Dave Bancroft BSN 17
9 Freddie Lindstrom NYG 17
11 Hal Carlson PHI 16
12 Paul Waner PIT 15
13 Pie Traynor PIT 14
14 Wally Pipp CIN 12
15 Eddie Brown BSN 10
Best player: Bob O'Farrell. It seems an odd choice, but there were no true standouts in this year with Hornsby hurt and below par. Hack Wilson was probably the best hitter, and Cy Williams succeeded in a reduced role at age 38, but O'Farrell was the driving force on the pennant winners. He only dented the leaderboard by tying Hornsby for 6th in walks, but he had a 112 OPS+ and excellent defense. He batted .293 and drove in 68 runs. I'll put Hack Wilson #2, he hit .321 with 21 HR and 109 RBI. Rookie Waner led the league in triples and hit .336 with 101 runs. Kiki Cuyler shifted to CF for Waner, he's #4, and Les Bell at #5.
Top pitcher: Ray Kremer, ERA leader and tied for the lead in victories. Again, no clear winner. Kremer was 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA. Hal Carlson #2, he was 17-12 with a 3.23 ERA for a last-place team. Veteran Carl Mays #3, he was 19-12 with a 3.14 ERA. Jesse Petty #4 and Charlie Root #5.
Top rookie: Paul Waner. Led league in Win Shares in his first try.
Top manager: Rogers Hornsby, an odd choice, but his team won a close pennant race even though their best player, himself, was hurt much of the time.
The top two in the batting race were Reds Bubbles Hargrave and Cuckoo Christensen, neither of whom would be eligible for the title under today's rules. Neither reached today's mark of at-bats, though both had 100 games, which was the requirement at the time. The veteran catcher and 26-year old rookie outfielder made their biggest splashes in this season. The #3 and #4 men, Earl Smith of Pittsburgh and Cy Williams of Philadelphia, wouldn't have enough at bats under today's rules either. Under current rules, the batting titlist would be rookie Paul Waner of Pittsburgh, at .336. Waner also led in triples with 22 and runs created with 116. Christensen also led in on-base, and Williams in slugging. Under modern rules, Waner would lead those categories as well.
Kiki Cuyler led the league in runs with 113, Eddie Brown in hits with 201, Jim Bottomley in total bases, doubles with 40, and with 120 RBI. Hack Wilson led with 21 homers, Cuyler with 35 steals. Waner scored 101, Wilson drove in 109, Les Bell had 100 RBI.
For the pitchers, Ray Kremer led in ERA with 2.61, and also led in winning percentage and tied for the lead in wins with 20. Other 20-game winners were Pete Donohue, Lee Meadows, and Flint Rhem. Carl Mays won 19. Dazzy Vance led in strikeouts with 140. Charlie Root was second in ERA at 2.82, Jesse Petty was third at 2.84. Root was second in strikeouts with 127.
Win Shares leaders, players: Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 28, Hack Wilson (Chicago) and Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 26, Les Bell (St. Louis) 25, Jim Bottomley and Bob O'Farrell (St. Louis) 23, Curt Walker (Cincinnati) and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 22, Sparky Adams (Chicago), Edd Roush (Cincinnati) and Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 21 each. Hughie Critz, 2nd in the MVP vote, had 19 Win Shares for Cincinnati.
WS leaders, pitchers: Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 25, Jesse Petty (Brooklyn) 24, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 23, Charlie Root (Chicago) 22, Pete Donohue (Cincinnati) 21, Carl Mays (Cincinnati) 20, Flint Rhem (St. Louis) 18, Doug McWeeny (Brooklyn), Freddie Fitzsimmons (New York) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 17.
WARP3: O'Farrell 5.5 (last big year), Waner 5.2 (rookie), Frankie Frisch (New York) 5.1, Traynor 4.9, Freddie Lindstrom (New York) 4.5, Bell and Hornsby 4.4, Walker 4.3 (best year), Travis Jackson (New York) 4.0, Wilson 3.9 (breakthrough year), Cuyler 3.8, Rube Bressler (Cincinnati) 3.7, Hughie Critz (Cincinnati) 3.6.
Pitchers, Carlson 8.6 (peak year), Petty 5.4 (best year), Kremer 5.3 (best year), Root 4.9 (best year), Mays 4.7 (last good year), Bob Smith (Boston) 4.4, Johnny Werts (Boston) 3.9, McWeeny 3.6, Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn) 3.5.
WAR leaders, position players: Wilson 6.1, Waner 5.8, Cuyler 5.5, Adams and Frisch 5.3, Bell 5.2, Hornsby 4.9, Southworth and Walker 4.3, Blades 4.2, Bancroft 4.1, Critz 4.0. Pitchers: Carlson 6.0, Kremer 5.5, Root 4.9, Petty 4.7, Mays 4.0, McWeeny 3.3, Bush and Fitzsimmons 3.1, Alexander and Sherdel 3.0.
Actual MVP vote:
1 Bob O'Farrell STL 79
2 Hughie Critz CIN 60
3 Ray Kremer PIT 32
4 Tommy Thevenow STL 30
5 Hack Wilson CHC 25
6 Les Bell STL 24
6 Bubbles Hargrave CIN 24
8 Flint Rhem STL 20
9 Dave Bancroft BSN 17
9 Freddie Lindstrom NYG 17
11 Hal Carlson PHI 16
12 Paul Waner PIT 15
13 Pie Traynor PIT 14
14 Wally Pipp CIN 12
15 Eddie Brown BSN 10
Best player: Bob O'Farrell. It seems an odd choice, but there were no true standouts in this year with Hornsby hurt and below par. Hack Wilson was probably the best hitter, and Cy Williams succeeded in a reduced role at age 38, but O'Farrell was the driving force on the pennant winners. He only dented the leaderboard by tying Hornsby for 6th in walks, but he had a 112 OPS+ and excellent defense. He batted .293 and drove in 68 runs. I'll put Hack Wilson #2, he hit .321 with 21 HR and 109 RBI. Rookie Waner led the league in triples and hit .336 with 101 runs. Kiki Cuyler shifted to CF for Waner, he's #4, and Les Bell at #5.
Top pitcher: Ray Kremer, ERA leader and tied for the lead in victories. Again, no clear winner. Kremer was 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA. Hal Carlson #2, he was 17-12 with a 3.23 ERA for a last-place team. Veteran Carl Mays #3, he was 19-12 with a 3.14 ERA. Jesse Petty #4 and Charlie Root #5.
Top rookie: Paul Waner. Led league in Win Shares in his first try.
Top manager: Rogers Hornsby, an odd choice, but his team won a close pennant race even though their best player, himself, was hurt much of the time.
08 January 2008
1926 American League
The Yankees returned to first place after a two-year absence, thanks to the return of Babe Ruth and the emergence of Lou Gehrig. 1926 was an odd race in the AL, as the Yankees got off to a terrific start, and were playing .700 ball into June, but faded as the year went along and allowed other teams to make a run, with Cleveland second and 3 games back, Philadelphia third and six back, Washington fourth and eight back, and Chicago fifth and 9.5 back. Sixth-place Detroit was just 12 back. St. Louis was lousy and Boston was horrible, losing 107 games.
Heinie Manush hit .378 to edge Ruth's .372 for the batting race, while Ruth led by miles in on-base, slugging, and OPS. Ruth also led with 139 runs, 365 total bases, 47 homers and 150 RBI. George Burns and Sam Rice tied with 216 hits, while Burns led with 64 doubles. Lou Gehrig had 20 triples. Johnny Mostil led the way with 35 steals. It was the era of the mega-offense.
From the mound, slider specialist George Uhle won 27 games and Herb Pennock 23, while Lefty Grove had 194 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA. Uhle was second with a 2.83 ERA and Ted Lyons third at 3.01. Uhle was also second with 159 strikeouts. Firpo Marberry had 22 saves.
Win Shares leaders, players: Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Goose Goslin (Washington) 33, Lou Gehrig (New York) 30, Joe Sewell and Tris Speaker (Cleveland) 29, Johnny Mostil (Chicago) 28, Harry Heilman (Detroit) and Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 27, Heinie Manush (Detroit) 26, Bibb Falk (Chicago) and George Burns (Cleveland) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers: George Uhle (Cleveland) 32, Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 25, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 24, Urban Shocker (New York) and Tom Zachary (St. Louis) 19, Herb Pennock (New York) and Eddie Rommel (Philadelphia) 18, Dutch Levsen (Cleveland) 17.
WARP3: Ruth 11.6, Gehrig 6.8, Sewell 6.7, Goslin, Mostil, and Willie Kamm (Chicago) 6.2, Falk 5.4 (best year), Topper Rigney (Boston) 5.1, Heilmann 4.9, Pat Collins (New York) 4.2, Eddie Collins (Chicago) 4.0, Speaker (last All-Star level year) and Manush 3.6.
Pitchers, Uhle 6.4, Lyons 5.7, Grove 5.5, Zachary 4.7, Shocker 4.4, Rommel 4.3, Stan Coveleski (Washington) 3.9, Fred "Firpo" Marberry (Washington) and Sam Gibson (Detroit) 3.6, Walter Johnson (Washington) 3.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 12.6, Gehrig 7.7, Goslin 7.3, Mostil 6.9, Sewell 6.0, Falk and Simmons 5.9, Speaker 5.7, Heilmann 5.5, Manush 5.4, Burns and Kamm 5.3. Pitchers: Uhle 7.2, Grove 6.1, Lyons 5.5, Rommel 4.3, Shocker 4.0, Johnson 3.5, Zachary 3.2, Pate 3.1, Smith and Thomas 3.0.
Actual MVP voting, top 15: (previous winners, like the Babe, were ineligible)
1 George Burns CLE 63
2 Johnny Mostil CHW 33
3 Herb Pennock NYY 32
4 Sam Rice WSH 18
5 Harry Heilmann DET 16
5 Heinie Manush DET 16
5 Al Simmons PHA 16
8 Lefty Grove PHA 12
9 Goose Goslin WSH 9
10 Lou Gehrig NYY 7
10 Tony Lazzeri NYY 7
12 Bibb Falk CHW 6
12 Bob Fothergill DET 6
12 Ski Melillo SLB 6
12 Harry Rice SLB 6
Best player: Babe Ruth. A return to the everyday lineup makes this basically a foregone conclusion. George Burns is an odd selection, and hard to defend. Guess all those doubles made an impression. Gehrig would have been a much better choice, or even repealing the rule to make Ruth eligible. Ruth hit .372, 2nd in the league, and led the league with 47 HR and 150 RBI. My #2 would be Gehrig, the league leader in triples with 20, he hit .313 with 16 HR and 112 RBI. I'd rank Goose Goslin #3, he hit .354 with 17 HR and 108 RBI. Joe Sewell at #4 with a .324 average and 65 walks to go with strong shortstop play. Johnny Mostil would be #5, he batted .328 with 79 walks and scored 120 runs.
Best pitcher: George Uhle. Leader in wins, 2nd to Grove in ERA and strikeouts. Uhle was 27-11 with a 2.83 ERA. Grove, at #2, was 13-13 with a 2.51 ERA. Ted Lyons ranks #3, he was 18-16 with a 3.01 ERA. Urban Shocker #4, Herb Pennock #5.
Best rookie: Tony Lazzeri hit .275 with 114 RBI for the Yankees.
Best manager: Miller Huggins pushed the right buttons for the Yankees to win the pennant.
Heinie Manush hit .378 to edge Ruth's .372 for the batting race, while Ruth led by miles in on-base, slugging, and OPS. Ruth also led with 139 runs, 365 total bases, 47 homers and 150 RBI. George Burns and Sam Rice tied with 216 hits, while Burns led with 64 doubles. Lou Gehrig had 20 triples. Johnny Mostil led the way with 35 steals. It was the era of the mega-offense.
From the mound, slider specialist George Uhle won 27 games and Herb Pennock 23, while Lefty Grove had 194 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA. Uhle was second with a 2.83 ERA and Ted Lyons third at 3.01. Uhle was also second with 159 strikeouts. Firpo Marberry had 22 saves.
Win Shares leaders, players: Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Goose Goslin (Washington) 33, Lou Gehrig (New York) 30, Joe Sewell and Tris Speaker (Cleveland) 29, Johnny Mostil (Chicago) 28, Harry Heilman (Detroit) and Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 27, Heinie Manush (Detroit) 26, Bibb Falk (Chicago) and George Burns (Cleveland) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers: George Uhle (Cleveland) 32, Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 25, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 24, Urban Shocker (New York) and Tom Zachary (St. Louis) 19, Herb Pennock (New York) and Eddie Rommel (Philadelphia) 18, Dutch Levsen (Cleveland) 17.
WARP3: Ruth 11.6, Gehrig 6.8, Sewell 6.7, Goslin, Mostil, and Willie Kamm (Chicago) 6.2, Falk 5.4 (best year), Topper Rigney (Boston) 5.1, Heilmann 4.9, Pat Collins (New York) 4.2, Eddie Collins (Chicago) 4.0, Speaker (last All-Star level year) and Manush 3.6.
Pitchers, Uhle 6.4, Lyons 5.7, Grove 5.5, Zachary 4.7, Shocker 4.4, Rommel 4.3, Stan Coveleski (Washington) 3.9, Fred "Firpo" Marberry (Washington) and Sam Gibson (Detroit) 3.6, Walter Johnson (Washington) 3.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 12.6, Gehrig 7.7, Goslin 7.3, Mostil 6.9, Sewell 6.0, Falk and Simmons 5.9, Speaker 5.7, Heilmann 5.5, Manush 5.4, Burns and Kamm 5.3. Pitchers: Uhle 7.2, Grove 6.1, Lyons 5.5, Rommel 4.3, Shocker 4.0, Johnson 3.5, Zachary 3.2, Pate 3.1, Smith and Thomas 3.0.
Actual MVP voting, top 15: (previous winners, like the Babe, were ineligible)
1 George Burns CLE 63
2 Johnny Mostil CHW 33
3 Herb Pennock NYY 32
4 Sam Rice WSH 18
5 Harry Heilmann DET 16
5 Heinie Manush DET 16
5 Al Simmons PHA 16
8 Lefty Grove PHA 12
9 Goose Goslin WSH 9
10 Lou Gehrig NYY 7
10 Tony Lazzeri NYY 7
12 Bibb Falk CHW 6
12 Bob Fothergill DET 6
12 Ski Melillo SLB 6
12 Harry Rice SLB 6
Best player: Babe Ruth. A return to the everyday lineup makes this basically a foregone conclusion. George Burns is an odd selection, and hard to defend. Guess all those doubles made an impression. Gehrig would have been a much better choice, or even repealing the rule to make Ruth eligible. Ruth hit .372, 2nd in the league, and led the league with 47 HR and 150 RBI. My #2 would be Gehrig, the league leader in triples with 20, he hit .313 with 16 HR and 112 RBI. I'd rank Goose Goslin #3, he hit .354 with 17 HR and 108 RBI. Joe Sewell at #4 with a .324 average and 65 walks to go with strong shortstop play. Johnny Mostil would be #5, he batted .328 with 79 walks and scored 120 runs.
Best pitcher: George Uhle. Leader in wins, 2nd to Grove in ERA and strikeouts. Uhle was 27-11 with a 2.83 ERA. Grove, at #2, was 13-13 with a 2.51 ERA. Ted Lyons ranks #3, he was 18-16 with a 3.01 ERA. Urban Shocker #4, Herb Pennock #5.
Best rookie: Tony Lazzeri hit .275 with 114 RBI for the Yankees.
Best manager: Miller Huggins pushed the right buttons for the Yankees to win the pennant.
05 January 2008
1925 National League
Pittsburgh charged to a pennant, their first since 1909, and then a World Series title. New York fell from its four-year reign to second place. The Giants led in the early going, but the Pirates surged ahead in mid-summer and steadily built their lead. Cincinnati was third and St. Louis fourth. Boston was fifth, Brooklyn and Philadelphia tied for sixth, while Chicago was last. The Cubs would contend soon.
Rogers Hornsby followed up his .424 average year with a Triple Crown, batting .403 with 39 HR and 143 RBI. He also took over as Cardinals manager during the season. Hornsby also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Kiki Cuyler led in runs with 144 and triples with 26, Jim Bottomley had 227 hits and 44 doubles, and Max Carey had 46 steals. Bottomley was second in batting average with a .367 mark, Zack Wheat was third at .359, Cuyler fourth at .357.
For pitchers, Dazzy Vance's 22 wins edged Reds Pete Donohue and Eppa Rixey at 21, while Red Dolf Luque led in ERA at 2.63. Rixey was 2nd (2.88) and Donohue 3rd (3.08). Vance led with 221 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 36, Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 34, Jack Fournier (Brooklyn) 29, Zack Wheat (Brooklyn) and Jim Bottomley (St. Louis) 27, Max Carey and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 26, Glenn Wright (Pittsburgh) 24, Edd Roush (Cincinnati) 23, Dave Bancroft (Boston) and George Kelly (New York) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Pete Donohue (Cincinnati) 28, Dolf Luque (Cincinnati) 27, Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati) 26, Jack Scott (New York) 25, Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) and Pete Alexander (Chicago) 20, Johnny Cooney (Boston) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 19, Lee Meadows (Pittsburgh) 18.
WARP3: Hornsby 8.7 (Triple Crown and his third .400 average in four years), Bancroft 7.0, Cuyler 6.8, Traynor 6.1, Fournier 5.0 (last good year), Wright 4.9, Ray Blades (St. Louis) 4.5, Bottomley and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.2, Carey 3.6 (last good year), Wheat 3.2 (last good year).
Pitchers, Vance 6.4, Luque 6.3, Scott 6.2, Donohue 5.5 (best year), Rixey 5.2, Alexander 4.2, Sherdel and Larry Benton (Boston) 4.1, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 4.0, Jimmy Ring (Philadelphia) 3.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Hornsby 11.0, Cuyler 7.7, Bottomley 6.1, Fournier 6.0, Wheat 5.4, Bancroft 5.2, Blades 5.1, Carey 5.0, Wright 4.8, Walker and Frisch 4.3. Pitchers: Luque 6.2, Rixey 5.9, Vance 5.7, Donohue 5.5, Scott 5.0, Sherdel 4.8, Alexander 4.2, Carlson 4.0, Aldridge and Benton 4.0.
Actual award voting, MVP (top 11):
Place Name Team Points
1 Rogers Hornsby STL 73
2 Kiki Cuyler PIT 61
3 George Kelly NYG 52
4 Glenn Wright PIT 43
5 Dazzy Vance BRO 42
6 Dave Bancroft BSN 41
7 Jim Bottomley STL 28
8 Pie Traynor PIT 27
9 Frankie Frisch NYG 13
10 Edd Roush CIN 12
11 Max Carey PIT 11
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. The voters went for the spectacular performance of the triple crown winner for a .500 team over a strong performance for a player on the pennant winner, and I will too. .403, 39 HR, 143 RBI. #2 is Kiki Cuyler of the pennant winners, he hit .357 with 18 HR and 102 RBI. Hits and doubles leader Jim Bottomley is #3. Jack Fournier ranks #4. #5 Zack Wheat in a last great effort.
Best pitcher: Eppa Rixey, 21-11 with a 2.88 ERA for punchless Cincinnati. Pete Donohue was #2, he was 21-14 with a 3.08 ERA for the same team. #3 is the third Reds pitcher, Dolf Luque, 16-18 but the ERA leader at 2.63. Dazzy Vance was the wins and strikeouts leader at 22-9 and 3.53. Jack Scott #5.
Best rookie: Jimmy Welsh hit .312 in 122 games as Brooklyn's RF.
Best manager: Bill McKechnie led Pittsburgh to the title.
Rogers Hornsby followed up his .424 average year with a Triple Crown, batting .403 with 39 HR and 143 RBI. He also took over as Cardinals manager during the season. Hornsby also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Kiki Cuyler led in runs with 144 and triples with 26, Jim Bottomley had 227 hits and 44 doubles, and Max Carey had 46 steals. Bottomley was second in batting average with a .367 mark, Zack Wheat was third at .359, Cuyler fourth at .357.
For pitchers, Dazzy Vance's 22 wins edged Reds Pete Donohue and Eppa Rixey at 21, while Red Dolf Luque led in ERA at 2.63. Rixey was 2nd (2.88) and Donohue 3rd (3.08). Vance led with 221 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 36, Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 34, Jack Fournier (Brooklyn) 29, Zack Wheat (Brooklyn) and Jim Bottomley (St. Louis) 27, Max Carey and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 26, Glenn Wright (Pittsburgh) 24, Edd Roush (Cincinnati) 23, Dave Bancroft (Boston) and George Kelly (New York) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Pete Donohue (Cincinnati) 28, Dolf Luque (Cincinnati) 27, Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati) 26, Jack Scott (New York) 25, Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) and Pete Alexander (Chicago) 20, Johnny Cooney (Boston) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 19, Lee Meadows (Pittsburgh) 18.
WARP3: Hornsby 8.7 (Triple Crown and his third .400 average in four years), Bancroft 7.0, Cuyler 6.8, Traynor 6.1, Fournier 5.0 (last good year), Wright 4.9, Ray Blades (St. Louis) 4.5, Bottomley and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.2, Carey 3.6 (last good year), Wheat 3.2 (last good year).
Pitchers, Vance 6.4, Luque 6.3, Scott 6.2, Donohue 5.5 (best year), Rixey 5.2, Alexander 4.2, Sherdel and Larry Benton (Boston) 4.1, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 4.0, Jimmy Ring (Philadelphia) 3.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Hornsby 11.0, Cuyler 7.7, Bottomley 6.1, Fournier 6.0, Wheat 5.4, Bancroft 5.2, Blades 5.1, Carey 5.0, Wright 4.8, Walker and Frisch 4.3. Pitchers: Luque 6.2, Rixey 5.9, Vance 5.7, Donohue 5.5, Scott 5.0, Sherdel 4.8, Alexander 4.2, Carlson 4.0, Aldridge and Benton 4.0.
Actual award voting, MVP (top 11):
Place Name Team Points
1 Rogers Hornsby STL 73
2 Kiki Cuyler PIT 61
3 George Kelly NYG 52
4 Glenn Wright PIT 43
5 Dazzy Vance BRO 42
6 Dave Bancroft BSN 41
7 Jim Bottomley STL 28
8 Pie Traynor PIT 27
9 Frankie Frisch NYG 13
10 Edd Roush CIN 12
11 Max Carey PIT 11
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. The voters went for the spectacular performance of the triple crown winner for a .500 team over a strong performance for a player on the pennant winner, and I will too. .403, 39 HR, 143 RBI. #2 is Kiki Cuyler of the pennant winners, he hit .357 with 18 HR and 102 RBI. Hits and doubles leader Jim Bottomley is #3. Jack Fournier ranks #4. #5 Zack Wheat in a last great effort.
Best pitcher: Eppa Rixey, 21-11 with a 2.88 ERA for punchless Cincinnati. Pete Donohue was #2, he was 21-14 with a 3.08 ERA for the same team. #3 is the third Reds pitcher, Dolf Luque, 16-18 but the ERA leader at 2.63. Dazzy Vance was the wins and strikeouts leader at 22-9 and 3.53. Jack Scott #5.
Best rookie: Jimmy Welsh hit .312 in 122 games as Brooklyn's RF.
Best manager: Bill McKechnie led Pittsburgh to the title.
04 January 2008
1925 American League
Washington won their second straight pennant, while Philadelphia climbed back into the fray and finished second. The Yankees slipped all the way to seventh with Babe Ruth injured and ineffective, and Boston was horrible. The loss of Ruth makes the "MVP" contest wide open. St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago were also over .500, Cleveland was 6th, while the Red Sox lost 105 games for last.
Harry Heilmann won the batting title at .393 in a year of high averages, followed by Tris Speaker at .389, Al Simmons at .387, and and Ty Cobb at .378. Speaker led in on-base, Ken Williams in slugging in St. Louis' bandbox, and Cobb in OPS. Johnny Mostil led with 135 runs and 43 steals, Simmons with 253 hits and 392 total bases, Marty McManus with 44 doubles, Goose Goslin with 20 triples, and Bob Meusel with 33 homers and 138 RBI. Ruth tied Williams for second in homers at 25, and Heilmann was second in RBI at 134.
Ted Lyons and Eddie Rommel tied for the pitching lead with 21 wins, and Senators Walter Johnson and Stan Coveleski each won 20. Coveleski topped the loop with a 2.84 ERA with Herb Pennock second at 2.96 and Ted Blankenship at 3.03. Lefty Grove led with 116 strikeouts followed by Johnson with 108, and Fred "Firpo" Marberry amassed 15 saves. Herb Pennock hurled the most innings at 277.
Win Shares leaders, players; Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 34, Goose Goslin (Washington) 31, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 30, Tris Speaker (Cleveland) and Ty Cobb (Detroit) 25, Joe Sewell (Cleveland) and Sam Rice (Washington) 24, Johnny Mostil (Chicago) and Baby Doll Jacobson (St. Louis) 23, Eddie Collins (Chicago) and Al Wingo (Detroit) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Walter Johnson (Washington) 26, Ted Lyons (Chicago), Herb Pennock (New York), and Stan Coveleski (Washington) 23, Ted Blankenship (Chicago) 22, Slim Harriss and Eddie Rommel (Philadelphia) 21, Dutch Ruether (Washington) 20.
WARP3: Sewell 7.7, Simmons 6.5, Heilmann 5.6, Goslin 5.5, Wingo 4.9 (career year), Speaker 4.8, Muddy Ruel (Washington) 4.0, Willie Kamm (Chicago) 3.8, Cobb 3.7, Rice 3.5.
Pitchers, Pennock 5.8, Urban Shocker (New York) 5.3, Lyons (first big year) and Ted Wingfield (Boston) 5.1, Howard Ehmke (Boston) 5.0, Blankenship 4.9 (career year), Johnson 4.7 (last great year), Waite Hoyt (New York) 4.2, Coveleski 3.8, Harriss 3.6 (career year), Rommel and Jake Miller (Chicago) 3.5.
WAR leaders, position players: Simmons 7.4, Goslin 7.0, Heilmann 6.9, Speaker 6.7, Cobb 5.7, Wingo 5.4, Sewell 5.3, Collins 5.1, Rice 4.9, Mostil 4.8, Combs 4.2. Pitchers: Coveleski 6.0, Pennock 5.8, Blankenship 5.3, Lyons 5.1, Harriss 5.0, Rommel 4.7, Shocker 4.6, Gray 4.5, Johnson 4.4, Ehmke and Miller 3.9.
Actual MVP voting (top 20):
Name Team Points
1 Roger Peckinpaugh WSH 45
2 Al Simmons 41
3 Joe Sewell 21
4 Harry Heilmann 20
5 Harry Rice 18
6 Earl Sheely 17
7 Ira Flagstead 10
7 Baby Doll Jacobson 10
7 Johnny Mostil 10
10 Ossie Bluege 8
10 Mickey Cochrane 8
12 Lu Blue 7
12 Stan Coveleski 7
12 Willie Kamm CHW 7
12 Eddie Rommel PHA 7
12 Ray Schalk CHW 7
12 Al Wingo DET 7
18 Earle Combs NYY 6
18 Bob Meusel NYY 6
20 Ted Lyons CHW 5
This was one of the strangest MVP votes ever, Peckinpaugh winning despite not even being one of the best players on his team, with 15 Win Shares at age 34. Apparently it was a "leadership" thing which evaporated based on his 8 World Series errors.
Best player: Al Simmons. The choice is between Simmons and Goslin of the pennant winners, and I think it's Bucketfoot Al to win. Simmons batted .387 with 24 HR and 129 RBI, and led the league in hits and total bases. Goslin, in a tough hitters' park, hit .344 with 12 HR and 129 RBI, and led the league in triples. Batting average leader Harry Heilmann #3, #4 to Joe Sewell, a fine shortstop with a .316 average and 102 RBI. Tris Speaker #5.
Best pitcher: Walter Johnson. Another wide-open category, and I'll go with the sentimental choice. Johnson was 20-7 with a 3.07 ERA. #2 to Herb Pennock, 16-17 with a 2.96 ERA in his first year in New York. 3rd to Ted Lyons, 21-11 with a 3.26 ERA establishing himself as a star. #4 Stan Coveleski, #5 Ted Blankenship in his biggest year.
Best rookie: Mickey Cochrane hit .331 in 134 games for the A's, a major reason for their resurgance. Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx also debuted this year as Connie Mack prepared a powerhouse.
Best manager: Mack, pushing to another dynasty.
Harry Heilmann won the batting title at .393 in a year of high averages, followed by Tris Speaker at .389, Al Simmons at .387, and and Ty Cobb at .378. Speaker led in on-base, Ken Williams in slugging in St. Louis' bandbox, and Cobb in OPS. Johnny Mostil led with 135 runs and 43 steals, Simmons with 253 hits and 392 total bases, Marty McManus with 44 doubles, Goose Goslin with 20 triples, and Bob Meusel with 33 homers and 138 RBI. Ruth tied Williams for second in homers at 25, and Heilmann was second in RBI at 134.
Ted Lyons and Eddie Rommel tied for the pitching lead with 21 wins, and Senators Walter Johnson and Stan Coveleski each won 20. Coveleski topped the loop with a 2.84 ERA with Herb Pennock second at 2.96 and Ted Blankenship at 3.03. Lefty Grove led with 116 strikeouts followed by Johnson with 108, and Fred "Firpo" Marberry amassed 15 saves. Herb Pennock hurled the most innings at 277.
Win Shares leaders, players; Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 34, Goose Goslin (Washington) 31, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 30, Tris Speaker (Cleveland) and Ty Cobb (Detroit) 25, Joe Sewell (Cleveland) and Sam Rice (Washington) 24, Johnny Mostil (Chicago) and Baby Doll Jacobson (St. Louis) 23, Eddie Collins (Chicago) and Al Wingo (Detroit) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Walter Johnson (Washington) 26, Ted Lyons (Chicago), Herb Pennock (New York), and Stan Coveleski (Washington) 23, Ted Blankenship (Chicago) 22, Slim Harriss and Eddie Rommel (Philadelphia) 21, Dutch Ruether (Washington) 20.
WARP3: Sewell 7.7, Simmons 6.5, Heilmann 5.6, Goslin 5.5, Wingo 4.9 (career year), Speaker 4.8, Muddy Ruel (Washington) 4.0, Willie Kamm (Chicago) 3.8, Cobb 3.7, Rice 3.5.
Pitchers, Pennock 5.8, Urban Shocker (New York) 5.3, Lyons (first big year) and Ted Wingfield (Boston) 5.1, Howard Ehmke (Boston) 5.0, Blankenship 4.9 (career year), Johnson 4.7 (last great year), Waite Hoyt (New York) 4.2, Coveleski 3.8, Harriss 3.6 (career year), Rommel and Jake Miller (Chicago) 3.5.
WAR leaders, position players: Simmons 7.4, Goslin 7.0, Heilmann 6.9, Speaker 6.7, Cobb 5.7, Wingo 5.4, Sewell 5.3, Collins 5.1, Rice 4.9, Mostil 4.8, Combs 4.2. Pitchers: Coveleski 6.0, Pennock 5.8, Blankenship 5.3, Lyons 5.1, Harriss 5.0, Rommel 4.7, Shocker 4.6, Gray 4.5, Johnson 4.4, Ehmke and Miller 3.9.
Actual MVP voting (top 20):
Name Team Points
1 Roger Peckinpaugh WSH 45
2 Al Simmons 41
3 Joe Sewell 21
4 Harry Heilmann 20
5 Harry Rice 18
6 Earl Sheely 17
7 Ira Flagstead 10
7 Baby Doll Jacobson 10
7 Johnny Mostil 10
10 Ossie Bluege 8
10 Mickey Cochrane 8
12 Lu Blue 7
12 Stan Coveleski 7
12 Willie Kamm CHW 7
12 Eddie Rommel PHA 7
12 Ray Schalk CHW 7
12 Al Wingo DET 7
18 Earle Combs NYY 6
18 Bob Meusel NYY 6
20 Ted Lyons CHW 5
This was one of the strangest MVP votes ever, Peckinpaugh winning despite not even being one of the best players on his team, with 15 Win Shares at age 34. Apparently it was a "leadership" thing which evaporated based on his 8 World Series errors.
Best player: Al Simmons. The choice is between Simmons and Goslin of the pennant winners, and I think it's Bucketfoot Al to win. Simmons batted .387 with 24 HR and 129 RBI, and led the league in hits and total bases. Goslin, in a tough hitters' park, hit .344 with 12 HR and 129 RBI, and led the league in triples. Batting average leader Harry Heilmann #3, #4 to Joe Sewell, a fine shortstop with a .316 average and 102 RBI. Tris Speaker #5.
Best pitcher: Walter Johnson. Another wide-open category, and I'll go with the sentimental choice. Johnson was 20-7 with a 3.07 ERA. #2 to Herb Pennock, 16-17 with a 2.96 ERA in his first year in New York. 3rd to Ted Lyons, 21-11 with a 3.26 ERA establishing himself as a star. #4 Stan Coveleski, #5 Ted Blankenship in his biggest year.
Best rookie: Mickey Cochrane hit .331 in 134 games for the A's, a major reason for their resurgance. Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx also debuted this year as Connie Mack prepared a powerhouse.
Best manager: Mack, pushing to another dynasty.
02 January 2008
1924 National League
The Giants won their fourth straight pennant, fighting off Brooklyn and Pittsburgh to do so. Cincinnati and Chicago were also over .500. New York took the approach of outscoring everyone again, and it worked. The Dodgers were just 1.5 games behind, and Pittsburgh finished three games back. St. Louis trailed, Philadelphia was 7th with 96 losses, and Boston lost 100 games.
The Cardinals were just 6th, but had one of the great one-season performances from second baseman Rogers Hornsby. Hornsby set the 20th century record with a .424 batting average for the season, a mark hard to fathom today. It was 227 hits in 536 at bats, and his 222 OPS+ was the highest of his career. Hornsby also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, hits, total bases, walks, and tied Frankie Frisch for the lead in runs with 121. The few categories not led by Hornsby include triples, where Edd Roush had 21, home runs, where Jacques Fournier had 27, and RBI, led by George Kelly with 136. Max Carey had 49 steals.
Pitching was also dominated by one individual, as Dazzy Vance won the pitching Triple Crown with 28 wins, a 2.16 ERA, and 262 strikeouts. He won by wide margins, as second place in those categories went to Burleigh Grimes' 22 wins, Hugh McQuillan's 2.69 ERA, and Grimes' 135 Ks. Grimes did edge Vance in shutouts, and tied him in complete games.
Win Shares leaders, players: Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 38, Zack Wheat (Brooklyn) 35, Jack Fournier (Brooklyn) 34, Frankie Frisch (New York) 30, Ross Youngs (New York) 29, Andy High (Brooklyn) 28, George Kelly (New York) 26, Max Carey (Pittsburgh) 25, Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 24, Glenn Wright (Pittsburgh) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers: Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 36, Wilbur Cooper (Pittsburgh) 24, Jesse Barnes (Boston), Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn), Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati), and Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 21 each, Carl Mays (Cincinnati) 20, Emil Yde (Pittsburgh) 19.
WARP3: Hornsby 12.2 (the .424 average year, and his best), Frisch 7.1, Youngs 6.8 (last big year before Bright's disease struck), Wheat 6.2, Fournier 6.1, Kelly 5.0, Heinie Groh (New York) and Babe Pinelli (Cincinnati) 4.7, Wright 4.6 (rookie), Cuyler 4.2 (rookie), Carey and Pie Traynor (also Pittsburgh) 3.8.
Pitchers, Vance 9.9, J. Barnes 6.2 (last good year), Rixey 4.7, Bill Doak (St. Louis/Brooklyn) 4.1, Mays and Jimmy Ring (Philadelphia) 3.9, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 3.5, Bill Hubbell (Philadelphia) 3.3, Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn) 3.2, Virgil Barnes (New York) 2.8.
WAR leaders, position players: Hornsby 12.4, Frisch 7.6, Wheat 6.9, Fournier 6.6, Youngs 6.2, Wright 5.6, Kelly 5.1, High 5.0, Cuyler 4.9, Grantham 4.4, Carey, Williams, and Jackson 4.1. Pitchers: Vance 9.1, Rixey 4.5, J. Barnes 4.2, V. Barnes and Kremer 3.6, Doak and Yde 3.3, McQuillan 3.1, Aldridge 2.9, Cooney and Mays 2.7.
Actual award voting (MVP)- top 9
Name Team Points
1 Dazzy Vance 74
2 Rogers Hornsby 62
3 Frankie Frisch 40
3 Zack Wheat 40
5 Ross Youngs 35
6 George Kelly 34
7 Rabbit Maranville 33
8 Kiki Cuyler 25
9 Jack Fournier 21
Not very close this year.
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. Was top player in MVP voting (2nd to Vance) in spite of playing for 6th place team. Hornsby batted .424 for a record that still stands. Frankie Frisch #2, he tied Hornsby for the lead in runs. Zack Wheat #3, he was 2nd with a .375 average. Ross Youngs #4 and Jack Fournier #5.
Best pitcher: Dazzy Vance. A spectacular 28-6 year with a 2.16 ERA in a hitter's era lifted Brooklyn to within 1.5 games of the pennant. Jesse Barnes was 2nd best, which sounds odd since he was 15-20 with his 3.23 ERA...but that was for the sad-sack Braves. His team dragged him down. Eppa Rixey #3, Wilbur Cooper #4, Burleigh Grimes #5.
Best rookie: Kiki Cuyler. Had 43 previous MLB at bats, presumably would have had rookie status. Hit .354 in 117 games for Pirates.
Best manager: Wilbert Robinson nearly rode Dazzy Vance to a pennant.
The Cardinals were just 6th, but had one of the great one-season performances from second baseman Rogers Hornsby. Hornsby set the 20th century record with a .424 batting average for the season, a mark hard to fathom today. It was 227 hits in 536 at bats, and his 222 OPS+ was the highest of his career. Hornsby also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, hits, total bases, walks, and tied Frankie Frisch for the lead in runs with 121. The few categories not led by Hornsby include triples, where Edd Roush had 21, home runs, where Jacques Fournier had 27, and RBI, led by George Kelly with 136. Max Carey had 49 steals.
Pitching was also dominated by one individual, as Dazzy Vance won the pitching Triple Crown with 28 wins, a 2.16 ERA, and 262 strikeouts. He won by wide margins, as second place in those categories went to Burleigh Grimes' 22 wins, Hugh McQuillan's 2.69 ERA, and Grimes' 135 Ks. Grimes did edge Vance in shutouts, and tied him in complete games.
Win Shares leaders, players: Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 38, Zack Wheat (Brooklyn) 35, Jack Fournier (Brooklyn) 34, Frankie Frisch (New York) 30, Ross Youngs (New York) 29, Andy High (Brooklyn) 28, George Kelly (New York) 26, Max Carey (Pittsburgh) 25, Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 24, Glenn Wright (Pittsburgh) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers: Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 36, Wilbur Cooper (Pittsburgh) 24, Jesse Barnes (Boston), Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn), Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati), and Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 21 each, Carl Mays (Cincinnati) 20, Emil Yde (Pittsburgh) 19.
WARP3: Hornsby 12.2 (the .424 average year, and his best), Frisch 7.1, Youngs 6.8 (last big year before Bright's disease struck), Wheat 6.2, Fournier 6.1, Kelly 5.0, Heinie Groh (New York) and Babe Pinelli (Cincinnati) 4.7, Wright 4.6 (rookie), Cuyler 4.2 (rookie), Carey and Pie Traynor (also Pittsburgh) 3.8.
Pitchers, Vance 9.9, J. Barnes 6.2 (last good year), Rixey 4.7, Bill Doak (St. Louis/Brooklyn) 4.1, Mays and Jimmy Ring (Philadelphia) 3.9, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 3.5, Bill Hubbell (Philadelphia) 3.3, Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn) 3.2, Virgil Barnes (New York) 2.8.
WAR leaders, position players: Hornsby 12.4, Frisch 7.6, Wheat 6.9, Fournier 6.6, Youngs 6.2, Wright 5.6, Kelly 5.1, High 5.0, Cuyler 4.9, Grantham 4.4, Carey, Williams, and Jackson 4.1. Pitchers: Vance 9.1, Rixey 4.5, J. Barnes 4.2, V. Barnes and Kremer 3.6, Doak and Yde 3.3, McQuillan 3.1, Aldridge 2.9, Cooney and Mays 2.7.
Actual award voting (MVP)- top 9
Name Team Points
1 Dazzy Vance 74
2 Rogers Hornsby 62
3 Frankie Frisch 40
3 Zack Wheat 40
5 Ross Youngs 35
6 George Kelly 34
7 Rabbit Maranville 33
8 Kiki Cuyler 25
9 Jack Fournier 21
Not very close this year.
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. Was top player in MVP voting (2nd to Vance) in spite of playing for 6th place team. Hornsby batted .424 for a record that still stands. Frankie Frisch #2, he tied Hornsby for the lead in runs. Zack Wheat #3, he was 2nd with a .375 average. Ross Youngs #4 and Jack Fournier #5.
Best pitcher: Dazzy Vance. A spectacular 28-6 year with a 2.16 ERA in a hitter's era lifted Brooklyn to within 1.5 games of the pennant. Jesse Barnes was 2nd best, which sounds odd since he was 15-20 with his 3.23 ERA...but that was for the sad-sack Braves. His team dragged him down. Eppa Rixey #3, Wilbur Cooper #4, Burleigh Grimes #5.
Best rookie: Kiki Cuyler. Had 43 previous MLB at bats, presumably would have had rookie status. Hit .354 in 117 games for Pirates.
Best manager: Wilbert Robinson nearly rode Dazzy Vance to a pennant.
01 January 2008
1924 American League
The first pennant ever for the Washington Senators highlighted the 1924 AL season, and a World Series win topped it off! The Senators held a two-game margin over the Yankees, with Detroit a strong third. Detroit had the offense and the Senators the pitching, and pitching won in this year. The rest of the league was under .500, though no one lost more than 87 games, as St. Louis, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Boston, and Chicago followed in order.
Babe Ruth led in nearly every offensive category, starting with batting average (.378), on-base, slugging, OPS (1252), runs (143), homers (46), and OPS+ (220) which was way ahead of second-place Harry Heilmann at 148. Nobody else was close to Ruth, making Washington's pennant all the more amazing. Sam Rice led with 216 hits, Heilmann and Joe Sewell tied with 45 doubles, Wally Pipp with 19 triples, and Goose Goslin with 129 RBI. Charlie Jamieson was second in average at .359, Joe Hauser second in homers with 27, Ruth was second in RBI with 121 and Bob Meusel third with 120.
Washington's Walter Johnson won the pitching Triple Crown, with 23 wins, a 2.72 ERA, and 158 strikeouts. Teammate Fred "Firpo" Marberry, a pioneering relief pitcher, led with 15 saves. Howard Ehmke led in innings pitched. Herb Pennock was second in wins with 21, Sloppy Thurston and Joe Shaute won 20. Tom Zachary was second with a 2.75 ERA, Pennock third at 2.83. Ehmke was second in strikeouts with 119, Bob Shawkey third with 114.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 30, Goose Goslin (Washington) 29, Ty Cobb (Detroit) 27, Eddie Collins (Chicago) 25, Sam Rice (Washington) 24, Baby Doll Jacobson (St. Louis) 23, Joe Sewell (Cleveland), Topper Rigney (Detroit) and Roger Peckinpaugh (Washington) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Walter Johnson (Washington) 29, Herb Pennock (New York) 27, Howard Ehmke (Boston) 25, Joe Bush (New York) 23, Joe Shaute (Cleveland) 22, Eddie Rommel (Philadelphia) and Tom Zachary (Washington) 21.
WARP3: Ruth 11.7, Peckinpaugh 6.5 (last good year, although he would win the 1925 MVP), Sewell 6.0, Goslin 5.8, Heilmann and Rigney 5.7, Cobb and Jacobson (last good year) 4.7, Johnny Bassler (Detroit) 3.9, Rice 3.8.
Pitchers: Pennock and Ehmke (best year) 7.2, Shaute 6.5 (career year), Bush and Sloppy Thurston (Chicago) 5.8, Sherry Smith (Cleveland) 5.7, Johnson 4.8 (for his first pennant winner!), Rommel 4.6, Jack Quinn (Boston) 4.4, Alex Ferguson (Boston) 4.3.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 13.1, Goslin 7.1, Heilmann 6.9, Cobb 5.9, Collins 5.6, Rice and Hooper 5.2, Rigney 5.0, Peckinpaugh, Jamieson, and Speaker 4.9. Pitchers: Pennock 7.0, Ehmke 6.8, Johnson 6.2, Smith 4.9, Shaute 4.4, Ferguson and Quinn 4.3, Baumgartner and Zachary 4.2, Wingard 3.9.
Actual award voting, MVP (top 8)--previous winners (Ruth and Sisler) not eligible.
Place Name Team Points
1 Walter Johnson WSH 55
2 Eddie Collins CHW 49
3 Charlie Jamieson CLE 25
4 Herb Pennock NYY 24
5 Johnny Bassler DET 22
6 Hank Severeid SLB 17
7 Joe Hauser PHA 13
8 Baby Doll Jacobson SLB 11
Top player: Babe Ruth, by a mile. He wasn't eligible for the official award, but he deserved it as usual. Missed triple crown by 8 RBI to Goslin, led in BA and HR. Ruth led in average, runs, homers and OPS. I'll put RBI leader Goslin #2. Heilmann is #3, he led in doubles and was 2nd in OPS. Ty Cobb at #4, while Eddie Collins tied Heilmann for the doubles lead and is #5.
Top pitcher: Walter Johnson, at age 36, won the pitcher's triple crown. That's good enough for me. 23-7, 2.72. Howard Ehmke was 2nd in strikeouts, 19-17, 3.46 record for #2. Herb Pennock ranks #3 with a 21-9 record and 2.83 ERA for a better team. Joe Shaute #4 and Joe Bush #5.
Top manager: Bucky Harris, the 27-year-old skipper of the pennant winners.
Top rookie: Al Simmons, a .308 hitter with 102 RBI for the A's.
Babe Ruth led in nearly every offensive category, starting with batting average (.378), on-base, slugging, OPS (1252), runs (143), homers (46), and OPS+ (220) which was way ahead of second-place Harry Heilmann at 148. Nobody else was close to Ruth, making Washington's pennant all the more amazing. Sam Rice led with 216 hits, Heilmann and Joe Sewell tied with 45 doubles, Wally Pipp with 19 triples, and Goose Goslin with 129 RBI. Charlie Jamieson was second in average at .359, Joe Hauser second in homers with 27, Ruth was second in RBI with 121 and Bob Meusel third with 120.
Washington's Walter Johnson won the pitching Triple Crown, with 23 wins, a 2.72 ERA, and 158 strikeouts. Teammate Fred "Firpo" Marberry, a pioneering relief pitcher, led with 15 saves. Howard Ehmke led in innings pitched. Herb Pennock was second in wins with 21, Sloppy Thurston and Joe Shaute won 20. Tom Zachary was second with a 2.75 ERA, Pennock third at 2.83. Ehmke was second in strikeouts with 119, Bob Shawkey third with 114.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 30, Goose Goslin (Washington) 29, Ty Cobb (Detroit) 27, Eddie Collins (Chicago) 25, Sam Rice (Washington) 24, Baby Doll Jacobson (St. Louis) 23, Joe Sewell (Cleveland), Topper Rigney (Detroit) and Roger Peckinpaugh (Washington) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Walter Johnson (Washington) 29, Herb Pennock (New York) 27, Howard Ehmke (Boston) 25, Joe Bush (New York) 23, Joe Shaute (Cleveland) 22, Eddie Rommel (Philadelphia) and Tom Zachary (Washington) 21.
WARP3: Ruth 11.7, Peckinpaugh 6.5 (last good year, although he would win the 1925 MVP), Sewell 6.0, Goslin 5.8, Heilmann and Rigney 5.7, Cobb and Jacobson (last good year) 4.7, Johnny Bassler (Detroit) 3.9, Rice 3.8.
Pitchers: Pennock and Ehmke (best year) 7.2, Shaute 6.5 (career year), Bush and Sloppy Thurston (Chicago) 5.8, Sherry Smith (Cleveland) 5.7, Johnson 4.8 (for his first pennant winner!), Rommel 4.6, Jack Quinn (Boston) 4.4, Alex Ferguson (Boston) 4.3.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 13.1, Goslin 7.1, Heilmann 6.9, Cobb 5.9, Collins 5.6, Rice and Hooper 5.2, Rigney 5.0, Peckinpaugh, Jamieson, and Speaker 4.9. Pitchers: Pennock 7.0, Ehmke 6.8, Johnson 6.2, Smith 4.9, Shaute 4.4, Ferguson and Quinn 4.3, Baumgartner and Zachary 4.2, Wingard 3.9.
Actual award voting, MVP (top 8)--previous winners (Ruth and Sisler) not eligible.
Place Name Team Points
1 Walter Johnson WSH 55
2 Eddie Collins CHW 49
3 Charlie Jamieson CLE 25
4 Herb Pennock NYY 24
5 Johnny Bassler DET 22
6 Hank Severeid SLB 17
7 Joe Hauser PHA 13
8 Baby Doll Jacobson SLB 11
Top player: Babe Ruth, by a mile. He wasn't eligible for the official award, but he deserved it as usual. Missed triple crown by 8 RBI to Goslin, led in BA and HR. Ruth led in average, runs, homers and OPS. I'll put RBI leader Goslin #2. Heilmann is #3, he led in doubles and was 2nd in OPS. Ty Cobb at #4, while Eddie Collins tied Heilmann for the doubles lead and is #5.
Top pitcher: Walter Johnson, at age 36, won the pitcher's triple crown. That's good enough for me. 23-7, 2.72. Howard Ehmke was 2nd in strikeouts, 19-17, 3.46 record for #2. Herb Pennock ranks #3 with a 21-9 record and 2.83 ERA for a better team. Joe Shaute #4 and Joe Bush #5.
Top manager: Bucky Harris, the 27-year-old skipper of the pennant winners.
Top rookie: Al Simmons, a .308 hitter with 102 RBI for the A's.
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