Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe: 1918

Here's the National League Report for Saturday, September 14:

Reds 5, Braves 2

The Reds made their return to Boston a victorious one, scoring three times in the top of the eighth to beat the Braves. Greasy Neale's single drove in Sherry Magee with the winning run, and they added two more on a dropped fly ball from Boston left fielder Joe Kelly and a base hit by pinch hitter Hal Chase. Neale went three for four on the day with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Cincinnati offense, and Sherry added a pair of hits. The Braves got their runs on an Al Wickland third-inning single and a bases-loaded walk that brought home Ray Powell in the sixth. Dolf Luque shut out the Braves over the final three innings to get the win, while starter Art Nehf took the loss for Boston.

W- Luque (9-5)
L- Nehf (16-17)

Pirates 5, Robins 4 (13 innings)

The Bucs outlast the Robins in a nailbiter at Ebbets Field. Hy Myers' homer tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, and the game stayed tied until little-used reserve outfielder Bill Hinchman tripled in a pair in the top of the thirteenth. The two runners that scored had reached on a Lee King walk and a throwing error by the Robins' Ray Schmandt that had allowed Bill McKechnie to be safe.

The Robins had a golden opportunity to either tie or win the game twice in extra frames, getting runners to the corners in both the eleventh and thirteenth. But they were turned away in the eleventh when Pittsburgh pitcher Cy Slapnicka got Brooklyn catcher Ernie Krueger to foul out and in the thirteenth after having scored once to trim the Pirate lead to 5-4. Again it was Krueger who made the third out, this time on a grounder to McKechnie. Slapnicka got the win and Dick Robertson took the loss for Brooklyn.

W- Slapnicka (2-4)
L- Robertson (3-9)

HR- BRO: Myers (5)

Cardinals 4, Giants 1 (11 innings)

Meanwhile, across the East River, the Giants were finally stalled by the slowly improving Redbirds. The G-Men took a fourth-inning lead on Larry Doyle's double, and starter Jesse Barnes left the game in the hands of Fred Anderson having blanked the Redbirds on eight hits through eight. But Austin McHenry lashed a leadoff double in the St. Louis ninth, and one out later Gene Paulette's triple tied the game.

The Giants got runners to first and third with one out in the bottom of the tenth, but Heinie Zimmerman grounded out and Benny Kauff took a called third strike to end the inning. Long reliever Ferdie Schupp comes on to pitch the St. Louis eleventh, and he's in trouble from the start, as Rogers Hornsby singled on the first pitch and McHenry followed up with a walk. Manager John McGraw left him in the game to face Cliff Heathcote, who lasered one down the left field line to score both Hornsby and McHenry and give the Cards the lead. Heathcote later came home on a Mike Gonzalez sacrifice fly, The Giants went quietly in the eleventh, and the Cubs' magic number is finally down to nine. Bill Sherdel got the win for St. Louis, who will try to make it two in a row on Monday at the Polo Grounds.

W- Sherdel (9-13)
L- Schupp (0-2)

Cubs 4, Phillies 3

The Cubs' magic number to clinch the National League pennant is now eight following their win over the Phils. Leading the way with three hits and a pair of RBIs was Charlie Deal, and former Phil Dode Paskert added two hits and an RBI, with Les Mann driving in the other Chicago run. The Fightins' offense came from a two-run single by Fred Luderus in the sixth and a leadoff home run by Ed Burns in the ninth. But Cubs starter Hippo Vaughn shrugged off both the homer and a later throwing error to finish off the Phils. Philly starter Mike Prendergast took the loss.

The Chicago lead in the National League is now back up to six games, and they'll try to lower their magic number even further when this series continues on Monday here at Baker Bowl.

W- Vaughn (24-12)
L- Prendergast (14-17)

HR- PHI: Burns (1)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 89-55 (Magic Number: 8)
Giants: 80-58- 6 GB
Pirates: 81-61- 7 GB
Reds: 77-66- 11.5 GB
Braves: 62-73- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 65-80- 24.5 GB
Phillies: 57-81- 29 GB
Robins: 49-89- 37 GB

Next: After a day off for both leagues on Sunday, September 15, we resume with the American League on September 16.

Thoughts?
 
We're going to do the next two days in the American League a bit differently.

When we originally did this project, the Red Sox clinched on October 4. That left three days that didn't need to be simmed. Since those three days take place primarily in Eastern parks, and since the Red Sox haven't clinched yet, they need to be simmed for this project, so I'm going to do it while I'm thinking about it and have the time. September 16 will cover the games originally scheduled for October 5, while September 17 will cover the games originally scheduled for October 6-7.

Let's get started with our revised slate for Monday, September 16:

Senators 3, Red Sox 1 (Game 1)

The Sens managed to stop the Bosox' march to the pennant temporarily in Game 1 before a sellout crowd at Fenway Park. Shortstop Doc Lavan provided the margin of victory with a two-run double in the fourth. Center fielder Clyde Milan singled in the other Washington run in the first, and starter Doc Ayers went all the way, pitching a five-hitter. Three of the Boston hits came from right fielder Harry Hooper, who also scored the team's lone run on center fielder Amos Strunk's third-inning single. First baseman Stuffy McInnis provided the Red Sox' other hit. Starter Carl Mays pitched a complete game in a losing cause, giving up three runs on seven hits, no more than one to a hitter. He also struck out six.

W- Ayers (12-14)
L- Mays (24-14)

Red Sox 6, Senators 0 (Game 2)

The Sox' magic number is now down to six, as Bullet Joe Bush tossed a seven-hit shutout at the Sens in Game 2. His gem took a mere ninety-six pitches, and he didn't give up any walks. Offensively, McInnis drove in three of the Bosox' six runs with a bases-clearing double in the seventh that put the game out of reach for the visitors. Bush himself went two for four at the plate, driving in a run and scoring another, and catcher Sam Agnew also had two hits and an RBI. To top off the scoring, left fielder Hack Miller hit his first major league home run leading off the Boston sixth.

The Sens got two hits apiece from third baseman Eddie Foster and first baseman Joe Judge. Starter Harry Harper took the loss, giving up six runs on nine hits and three walks.

After a day off tomorrow, the series concludes on Wednesday here at Fenway.

W- Bush (18-13)
L- Harper (13-12)

HR- BOS: Miller (1)

Tigers 7, Indians 6

Catcher Tubby Spencer's double in the bottom of the eighth drove in what turned out to be the winning run as the Tigers nipped the Indians at Navin Field and reduced the Red Sox magic number to five. Tribe shortstop Ray Chapman opened the door for Spencer's heroics by misplaying Tiger second baseman Ossie Vitt's leadoff grounder. After Spencer's double, reliever Deacon Jones bunted him over to third, from whence he scored a big insurance run on a passed ball by Indians catcher Steve O'Neill. The visitors got a run back in the top of the ninth on singles by pinch hitter Braggo Roth and right fielder Bob Bescher, and a sacrifice fly by center fielder Tris Speaker, but left fielder Smokey Joe Wood hit a comebacker to Jones, thus ending the game.

Left fielder Bobby Veach led the Detroit offense, going three for four and scoring twice. Spencer also had three hits, and his game-winner gave him a pair of RBIs on the day. First baseman Art Griggs also had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Bescher went three for four with two RBIs and two runs scored for the Tribe, with Speaker also driving in a pair and O'Neill and Wood driving in a run apiece. Starter Stan Coveleski went all the way in a losing cause for the Tribe, giving up seven runs (five earned) on thirteen hits over eight innings.

The series continues here at Navin Field tomorrow.

W- Jones (4-2)
L- Coveleski (22-16)

Yankees 7, Athletics 2

The Yanks trounced the last-place A's before a surprisingly large crowd at the Polo Grounds. Their sixteen-hit offensive attack was led by four hits from second baseman Del Pratt, who also drove in a pair of runs. Several other Yanks contributed two hits apiece, and third baseman Frank "Home Run" Baker scored twice in addition to his two hits. Another man who had two hits was starting pitcher Ray Caldwell, who took exactly one hundred pitches to shut down the A's, giving up two runs and scattering nine hits while striking out five and not giving up a walk. The big inning for the Yanks was the sixth when they scored three runs to break open a 2-1 game. Caldwell and Pratt each had run-scoring hits, as did first baseman Jack Fournier.

Right fielder Charlie Jameson had three hits and scored twice for the A's, and left fielder Merlin Kopp added two hits and an RBI. First baseman George Burns drove in the other Philly run. Starting pitcher Mule Watson had a rough day on the hill, giving up five runs on eleven hits in five and two-thirds innings.

The series continues with a doubleheader here at the Polo Grounds tomorrow.

W- Caldwell (11-12)
L- Watson (8-14)

Browns 5, White Sox 4

All nine runs in this one were scored in the first three innings, and Browns shortstop Jimmy Austin knocked in the game-winner with his single to right in the third. Austin was one of two Browns with more than one hit on the day, the other being center fielder Pete Johns. Starting pitcher Dave Davenport had the other RBI. All three first inning runs for St. Louis came without the benefit of a hit, as White Sox second baseman Eddie Murphy made back-to-back errors that allow two runs to score, and Johns' double-play grounder brought home the third. Davenport survived the first inning and went on to pitch a complete game, limiting the Sox to just five hits over the final eight innings.

The Pale Hose scored all four of their runs in the first; Murphy, shortstop Buck Weaver, and right fielder Reb Russell all stroked run-scoring triples, and the fourth run came home on an error by Browns second baseman Joe Gedeon. Russell and first baseman Shano Collins each had two hits to pace the Chicago offense. Starter Joe Benz took the loss for the Chisox, giving up five runs (just two of them earned) and three walks over six innings.

The series will continue tomorrow here at Sportsman's Park.

W- Davenport (12-13)
L- Benz (9-10)

Here are the American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 87-54 (Magic Number: 5)
Indians: 79-63- 8.5 GB
Senators: 78-63- 9 GB
White Sox: 70-70- 16.5 GB
Yankees: 69-72- 18 GB
Browns: 65-74- 21 GB
Tigers: 63-77- 23.5 GB
Athletics: 56-88- 32.5 GB

Next: The National League for September 16.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the National League Report for Monday, September 16:

Cardinals 10, Giants 1

The Giants failed to show up, and the Cards took advantage, pounding the New York pitching staff for ten runs on thirteen hits. Rogers Hornsby put the Redbirds ahead to stay with his three-run fourth-inning homer, and Bob Fisher provided most of the rest of the offense, going four for five, driving in a pair of runs, and scoring three more. Walton Cruise scored three runs despite being hitless, and Gene Pauiette had three hits and three RBIs. Bill Doak went all the way on the mound, surrendering eight hits, four of which belong to Ross Youngs, who drove in the Giants' only run with a third-inning triple. Benny Kauff also had two hits for New York, and Pol Perritt took the loss.

The Giants couldn't have picked a worse time to go cold, as the loss knocked the Cubs' magic number to clinch the National League pennant down to seven, a number that could go lower if the Cubs beat the Phillies at Baker Bowl. Meanwhile, this series concludes tomorrow here at the Polo Grounds, with a special 10AM start time to accommodate the Athletics-Yankees doubleheader.

W- Doak (11-16)
L- Perritt (20-15)

HR- STL: Hornsby (7)

Cubs 6, Phillies 0

The magic number for the Cubs is indeed down to six, as Lefty Tyler tossed a three-hitter at the Phils, using only ninety-one pitches and taking an hour and forty minutes. Three hits brought home all of the Chicago offense: Les Mann's two-run double in the sixth, Charlie Deal's two-run triple in the same inning, and Fred Merkle's two-run single in the ninth. Charlie Hollocher added three hits to the Chicago cause. Brad Hogg took the loss for the Fightins, and the lucky men with hits for the home team were Dave Bancroft, Ed Burns, and Fred Luderus.

The Cubs have a chance to sweep the series and reduce their magic number even further tomorrow here at Baker Bowl.

W- Tyler (21-9)
L- Hogg (14-16)

Reds 2, Braves 0

Another three-hit shutout in under two hours, thanks to Cincy starter Hod Eller, who took just an hour and forty-six minutes to blank the Braves in Boston. Sherry Magee's fielder's choice in the top of the first scored Heinie Groh with all the offense Eller needed, and Groh drove in the Reds' second run with a seventh-inning single. The three Braves who managed hits were Buck Herzog, Joe Kelly, and Al Wickland. Groh totaled three hits on the afternoon, while Tommy Griffith added a pair. Pat Ragan lost his nineteenth game of the year for the Braves.

W- Eller (19-13)
L- Ragan (9-19)

Pirates 2, Robins 0

A third straight shutout to wind up the day, as Frank Miller and Roy Sanders combined to blank the Robins on seven hits. Both runs came in the sixth, as Max Carey singled, stole second, moved to third on a Casey Stengel groundout, and scored on a base hit by former Robin George Cutshaw. Stengel then scored when Lee King hit into a double play. Zack Wheat and Jim Hickman had two hits apiece for Brooklyn in a losing effort. This win moved the Pirates into a virtual tie for second place with the Giants; their elimination number is four.

The series concludes tomorrow here at Ebbets Field.

W- Miller (13-9)
L- Cheney (11-16)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 90-55 (Magic Number: 6)
(tie) Giants: 80-59- 7 GB
(tie) Pirates: 82-61- 7 GB
Reds: 78-66- 11.5 GB
Braves: 62-74- 23.5 GB
Cardinals: 66-80- 24.5 GB
Phillies: 57-82- 30 GB
Robins: 49-90- 38 GB

Next: The American League for September 17.

Thoughts?
 
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Since these sims take a while to write and the Penguins are in Game 7 of their Stanley Cup playoff series later tonight, here's the American League Report for September 17 a bit early:

Athletics 7, Yankees 3 (Game 1)

The A's pounded out twelve hits in their Game 1 domination of the homestanding Yankees. Catcher Cy Perkins led the way, going three for four, including a leadoff home run in the second. He also provided a much-needed insurance run with his sacrifice fly in the ninth. First baseman George Burns and left fielder Merlin Kopp each provided two hits and two RBIs, and second baseman Jimmy Dykes drove in the other run. Burns had the biggest blow of the day: a two-run single as part of a three-run seventh that gave the A's a 5-1 lead. Starter Elmer Myers got the win, pitching seven strong innings and giving up three runs on eight hits.

Catcher Truck Hannah was the offensive star for the Yankees, going two for three, including a home run in the fifth. Right fielder Roxy Walters and pinch hitter Wally Pipp drove in the other two New York runs. Alan Russell took the loss on the mound, giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks in six and a third innings.

This is the first of a rare baseball tripleheader: Game 2 between the A's and Yankees will follow, then come the Cardinals and the Giants, all at the Polo Grounds. (Contrary to what I said in my last post, the Yankees and Giants flipped a coin to see which team would go first, and the Yankees won.)

W- Myers (5-8)
L- A. Russell (7-13)

HR- PHA: Perkins (3)
NYY: Hannah (4)

Yankees 2, Athletics 1 (12 innings)

The Yanks earned a split, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the twelfth on a single by third baseman Frank "Home Run" Baker and a triple by second baseman Del Pratt. This capped off big days at the plate for both men: Pratt went three for five plus a walk and drove in both runs, while Baker went two for four, walked twice, and scored a run. Pratt's other RBI came on a fifth-inning single which scored starting pitcher Happy Finneran and gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead. It was their other starting pitcher on this day that got the win, though, as Alan Russell pitched the twelfth and held the A's off the board despite giving up a hit and a walk.

Center fielder Merito Acosta drove home the only Philly run with a seventh-inning single. Kopp led the visitors with four hits, which gave him six for the twin bill. Acosta, shortstop Joe Dugan, and third baseman Larry Gardner had two hits apiece, and Dugan scored on Acosta's single in the seventh. The visitors rapped out a total of thirteen hits in a losing cause. Bob Geary was the losing pitcher.

This game ended shortly after three o'clock, so there should be plenty of time for the Cardinals and Giants to get their game in.

W- A. Russell (8-13)
L- Geary (2-6)

White Sox 1, Browns 0

Reb Russell, who played right field yesterday, returned to the mound and pitched a seven-hit shutout as the Chisox nipped the Brownies. His lone piece of run support came in the sixth, when first baseman Shano Collins drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by catcher Ray Schalk. Shortstop Buck Weaver was the only member of the Pale Hose with more than one hit, and right fielder Ray Demmitt held the same honor for the Browns. St. Louis starter Bert Gallia pitched a fine game in a losing cause, giving up just one run while scattering nine hits over seven innings.

W- R. Russell (9-6)
L- Gallia (8-8)

Indians 8, Tigers 6

In the only game of the day with pennant implications, the Tribe topped the Tigers to keep the Red Sox' magic number at five. First baseman Doc Johnston led the offense, going three for five and scoring a run. Center fielder Tris Speaker and left fielder Smokey Joe Wood each drove in a pair of runs, and Speaker and right fielder Bob Bescher each had two hits. Bescher also scored a pair of runs and drove in one, with shortstop Ray Chapman providing the other Cleveland RBI. The Tribe broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fifth, two of them coming home on Wood's single, and scored four more in the sixth. The key blow for that inning was Speaker's two-run single. Starting pitcher Jim Bagby got the win despite giving up five runs on five hits and walking six in six and a third innings.

Almost the entirety of the Detroit offense came from two players: left fielder Bobby Veach, who went four for five with five TBIs, and center fielder Ty Cobb, who went three for three plus two walks, drove in a run and scored two more. Shortstop Donie Bush also scored a pair of runs. Veach's biggest hit of the day was a two-run single in the fifth that cut the Indians' lead to 4-3, while Cobb tripled in a run in the seventh. Starter George Cunningham took the loss, giving up eight runs (just four earned) on ten hits in six innings.

W- Bagby (19-17)
L- Cunningham (7-8)

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 87-54 (Magic Number: 5)
Indians: 80-63- 8 GB
Senators: 78-63- 9 GB
White Sox: 71-70- 16 GB
Yankees: 70-73- 18 GB
Browns: 65-75- 21.5 GB
Tigers: 63-78- 24 GB
Athletics: 57-89- 32.5 GB

Next: September 17 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Tuesday, September 17:

Giants 5, Cardinals 1

The G-Men salvaged the final game of their series with the Redbirds and keep the Cubs' magic number at six for the moment. Benny Kauff led the way offensively for New York, going four for four and driving in a pair of runs, while Ross Youngs drove in another pair and Art Fletcher the other run. Meanwhile, Red Causey and Fred Anderson combined to hold the Cards to five hits, with the only St. Louis run coming on Walton Cruise's eighth home run of the year. Lee Meadows took the loss.

The Giants now welcome the Pirates, while the Redbirds go across the East River to Brooklyn for "The Aviary Series" with the Robins.

W- Causey (14-7)
L- Meadows (9-15)

HR- STL: Cruise (7)

Cubs 7, Phillies 4

The Cubs knocked their magic number down to five by overcoming both the Phils and their own porous defense. They committed five errors on the day, two of which led directly to Philadelphia runs. Gavvy Cravath and Fred Luderus drove in the other two. But the Cubs hung tough, and Fred Merkle provided the game-winning blow with a seventh-inning grand slam. Les Mann also drove in a pair, and Max Flack had the other Chicago RBI. Claude Hendrix went all the way despite giving up nine hits and three walks, while Joe Oeschger lost his twentieth of the year for the Fightins.

The Cubs now head to Boston to battle the Braves, while the Phils welcome the Reds to Baker Bowl.

W- Hendrix (23-7)
L- Oeschger (8-20)

HR- CHC: Merkle (4)

Reds 4, Braves 1

The Reds easily finished their sweep of the Braves before less than five thousand fans (servicemen included) at Braves Field. Greasy Neale drove in a pair of runs, while skipper Heinie Groh went four for five and drove in another. Ivey Wingo had the other Cincy RBI. On the mound, Dolf Luque, back in the starting rotation, and Mike Regan held the Braves to six hits. Joe Kelly drove in the only Boston run as part of a three-for-three day at the plate. Dick Rudolph took the loss.

W- Luque (10-5)
L- Rudolph (11-12)

Robins 3, Pirates 2

All the runs in this one were scored in the first inning, as the Bucs got their runs on bases-loaded walks to Lee King and Bill McKechnie, and the Robins answered with a run-scoring single by Jake Daubert, a run-scoring double by Hy Myers, and a run-scoring base hit by Ray Schmandt. Brooklyn starter Jack Coombs held the Buccos to four hits in a complete game, while Erskine Mayer took the loss for Pittsburgh. This loss combined with the Giants' win drops the Pirates back into third place, and their elimination number is down to two.

W- Coombs (9-16)
L- Mayer (18-9)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 91-55 (Magic Number: 5)
Giants: 81-59- 7 GB
Pirates: 82-62- 8 GB
Reds: 79-66- 11.5 GB
Braves: 62-75- 24.5 GB
Cardinals: 65-81- 26 GB
Phillies: 57-83- 31 GB
Robins: 50-90- 38 GB

Next: The American League on September 18.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Wednesday, September 18:

Detroit 4, Cleveland 1
W - Hooks Dauss (15-17)
L - Stan Coveleski (22-17)
The Tigers continued their hot streak and pushed the Indians closer to the door of elimination. Dauss allowed just three hits and one run in the complete-game win.

Washington 5, Philadelphia 2
W - Walter Johnson (27-14)
L - Scott Perry (21-21)
In what could be his last start of the season, Johnson pitched another complete game with nine strikeouts. The win elevates the Sens into a virtual tie for second place with the Indians. Their elimination number remains at five; the Tribe's is down to four.

Chicago 2, St. Louis 0
W - Eddie Cicotte (14-23)
L - Bernie Gallia (8-9)
Buck Weaver's two-run triple in the fourth was the only scoring of the game.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 87-54 (Magic Number: 4)
(tie) Indians: 80-64- 8.5 GB
(tie) Senators: 79-63- 8.5 GB
White Sox: 72-70- 15.5 GB
Yankees: 70-73- 18 GB
Browns: 65-76- 22 GB
Tigers: 64-78- 23.5 GB
Athletics: 57-90- 33 GB

Next: September 18 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Wednesday, September 18:

Cubs 2, Braves 1

The Braves put forth a better effort than they have in a while, but they still lost, as the Cubs' magic number for clinching the National League pennant dropped to four. The Cubs got their runs in the fourth when Dode Paskert led off with a single, stole second, and scored when Fred Merkle blooped one down the left field line for a double. One out later, Pete Kilduff's single scored Merkle. Kilduff was directly responsible for the Boston run as well, as it was his fielding error that allowed Al Wickland to score in the bottom of the sixth. But the home squad left the bases loaded in the seventh and the tying run at third in the ninth, to the frustration of the tiny crowd at Braves Field.

Phil Douglas got the win with seven strong innings on the mound, and Dana Filingrim takes the loss for Boston. This series will continue tomorrow here at Braves Field. Now to the Polo Grounds to see if the Giants can keep pace against the Pirates.

W- Douglas (11-10)
L- Fillingrim (8-8)

Pirates 4, Giants 3 (10 innings)

The Cubs' magic number is down to three, as the G-Men fell to 1-3 in this visit by the Western clubs. The fateful tenth inning started when Heinie Zimmerman couldn't handle Max Carey's slow roller to third. Carey stole second alomost immediately, and came home on Casey Stengel's double down the left field line. Earl Hamilton came on to close the game out for the Bucs and pitched out of a first-and-second, nobody-out jam in the bottom of the tenth. Howdy Caton and George Cutshaw had the other RBIs for the Buccos, while the Giants were led offensively by Zimmerman's three hits and second baseman Jose Rodriguez's home run. Ross Youngs and Benny Kauff also drove in Giants runs. Cy Slapnicka got his second relief win of the road trip, while fomer Pirate Bob Steele took the loss. With the Cubs almost certain to have their way with the listless Braves, the Giants need wins and penty of them to stay in the pennant race, and they have to start here tomorrow against the Pirates, with whom they share second place as a result of today's loss.

W- Slapnicka (3-4)
L- Steele (3-7)

HR- NYG: Rodriguez (1)

Cardinals 4, Robins 3

The surging Redbirds scored three in the top of the ninth to overcome a 3-1 deficit and edge the freefalling Robins. The home team built a 3-1 lead after eight, mainly on the strength of Ivy Olson's two-run homer in the third. They added an insurance run in the eighth, and all Brooklyn reliever Dan Griner had to do was get three more outs to preserve the win. But he walked Mike Gonzalez and gave up a base hit to pinch-hitter Cliff Heathcote. He rebounded to get the next two outs, but Doug Baird hammered his 1-1 offering into the second deck in left center field for the game-winning home run. Cardinal starting pitcher Gene Packard got the Robins out on three groundouts in the bottom of the ninth. With the win and the Braves' earlier loss, the Redbirds are within a half-game of Boston for fifth place.

The so-called "Aviary Series" continues tomorrow here at Ebbets Field.

W- Packard (14-13)
L- Griner (1-6)

HR- STL: Baird (3)
BRO: Olson (2)

Reds 10, Phillies 4 (13 innings)

In the longest game by time of these sims so far (four hours and thirty-eight minutes), the Phils built a 4-1 lead after five, as Milt Stock's two-run triple and Fred Luderus's single broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth. But the Reds got one in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie, with the tying hit bring a Hal Chase single in the seventh. We go to extra frames, and the home squad loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth. With two out, second baseman Patsy McGaffigan lined one into the hole at short that's almost guaranteed to score the winning run.........except that Lena Blackburne was playing deep enough to spear it for out number three. The Phils also put runners at first and second in the eleventh to no avail.

Finally, in the thirteenth, the Redlegs broke through, scoring six times on six hits. Lee Magee's two-run double drove home pinch- hitter Nick Allen and skipper Heinie Groh, Edd Roush's single scored Magee, Tommy Griffith's fielder's choice brought home Roush, and Blackburne's two-run double chased home Griffith and Greasy Neale, who had singled one batter earlier. Roy Mitchell got the win for Cincy, while Brad Hogg came out of the bullpen for the Fightins, only to give up all six runs and six hits in the fateful thirteenth and get tagged with the loss. The Reds ended up with twenty hits, the most by far in the National League in one game since Labor Day.

The series continues tomorrow at Baker Bowl.

W- Mitchell (5-2)
L- Hogg (14-17)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 92-55 (Magic Number: 3)
(tie) Giants: 81-60- 8 GB
(tie) Pirates: 83-62- 8 GB
Reds: 80-66- 11.5 GB
Braves: 62-76- 25.5 GB
Cardinals: 66-81- 26 GB
Phillies: 57-84- 32 GB
Robins: 50-91- 39 GB

Next: September 19 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Thursday, September 19:

Boston 3, Washington 0
W - Dutch Leonard (11-6)
L - Harry Harper (13-13)

Thanks to a four-hit shutout from Dutch Leonard, the Sox' magic number dropped to three. Amos Strunk provided most of the offense with a two-RBI double in the fifth.

New York 7, Philadelphia 4
W - Slim Love (14-16)
L - Elmer Myers (5-9)
HR - NYY: Wally Pipp (4)
PHA: Joe Dugan (4)

The eleven combined runs were rare for the era, as were the homers for each team.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 88-54 (Magic Number: 3)
Indians: 80-64- 9 GB
Senators: 79-64- 9.5 GB
White Sox: 72-70- 16 GB
Yankees: 71-73- 18 GB
Browns: 65-76- 22.5 GB
Tigers: 64-78- 24 GB
Athletics: 57-91- 39 GB

Next: September 19 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Thursday, September 19:

Cubs 6, Braves 2 (10 innings)

The Braves started fast with two in the bottom of the first, as Al Wickland doubled in Joe Kelly and Ed Konetchy singled in Wickland. But the Cubs tied the game on a Dode Paskert RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double by Bill Killefer in the sixth. Each team got a runner to third in the remainder of regulation (Braves in the seventh, Cubs in the ninth) but neither could score. Then the Cubs exploded for four runs in the tenth off of Boston reliever Doc Crandall. None of the five hits went for more than a single, and Charlie Deal got the game winner when he drove in Fred Merkle, who had walked ahead of him. Pete Alexander shut down the Braves in the bottom of the tenth, and the Chicago magic number to win the pennant is now two. Harry Weaver was the winning pitcher for the Cubs.

Tomorrow's game here at Braves Field has a chance of being the season finale if the Giants lose to the Pirates today.

W- Weaver (3-2)
L- Crandall (1-3)

Giants 3, Pirates 2

Al Demaree's five-hitter allowed the G-Men to keep pace with the Cubs. He took just ninety-eight pitches and an hour and forty-four minutes to complete it. As for offense, George Burns, who's been one of the Giants' most consistent hitters since these sims began, came through again with two hits and two RBIs, including the game winning hit with a fifth-inning double. Ross Youngs drove in the other run for New York. Lee King homered for the visitors, and first baseman Fritz Mollwitz singled in their other run as they built a 2-0 lead in the first three innings. King and Mollwitz each had two Pirate hits, with the other one belonging to pinch hitter Billy Southworth. Ralph Comstock took the loss for the Bucs. With the win, the Giants moved back into second place by themselves, a game ahead of the Bucs. The finale for this series is tomorrow here at the Polo Grounds.

W- Demaree (12-6)
L- Comstock (5-8)

HR- PIT: King (2)

Robins 8, Cardinals 1

The Robins finally woke up and realized that baseball season's still going on, shelling Cardinal starter Jakie May for six runs in the first on the way to an easy victory. The hero of the day was starting pitcher Burleigh Grimes, who not only pitched a dominating two-hitter, but also had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. The Cards didn't help themselves by committing three errors, two of them in the fateful first inning. The lone Cardinal bright spot was Rogers Hornsby's leadoff homer in the top of the fifth. Time of the game: one hour and fifty-two minutes. The attendance for this one was quite low, but suitable considering the nature of the teams and the approaching fall weather: 4508 (including servicemen), with less than four thousand actual paying customers.

The finale for this series is tomorrow here at Ebbets Field.

W- Grimes (20-10)
L- May (5-9)

HR- STL: Hornsby (7)

Phillies 17, Reds 1

One day after getting pounded for ten runs on twenty hits, the Fightins were the ones doing the pounding, scoring seventeen runs on nineteen hits of their own. The big inning was the first, where the Phils scored seven times on six hits and two walks and knocked Reds starter Rube Bressler out of the box after just two-thirds of an inning. irish Meusel and Gavvy Cravath led the Philly offense, each driving in three runs. All of Cravath's came on an eighth-inning homer to finish the scoring. Cravath also scored four runs to lead the Phils in that department. Starting pitcher Dixie Davis joined in the fun with two hits and three RBIs of his own; he also held the Reds to six hits in seven innings on the mound. The only Cincy run came on Lee Magee's fifth-inning solo homer.

The series concludes tomorrow here at Baker Bowl.

W- Davis (3-4)
L- Bressler (9-6)

HR- CIN: L. Magee (1)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 93-55
Giants: 82-60- 8 GB
Pirates: 83-63- 9 GB
Reds: 80-67- 12.5 GB
Braves: 62-77- 26.5 GB
Cardinals: 66-82- 27 GB
Phillies: 58-84- 32 GB
Robins: 51-91- 39 GB

Next: September 20 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Friday, September 20:

Washington 1, Cleveland 0
W - Walter Johnson (28-14)
L - Jim Bagby (19-18)

Johnson won a pitchers' duel to begin the series that will determine second place in the American League. Joe Judge scored the only run of the game on a sacrifice fly. For the moment, the Sens are a half-game ahead of the Indians.

Detroit 4, Boston 2
W - Hooks Dauss (16-17)
L - Dutch Leonard (11-7)
HR - Everett Scott (1)

Scott's home run gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead, but the Tigers clawed back with two in the fifth, one in the seventh, and one in the eighth. The Sox' magic number stays at three; meanwhile, the Tigers have climbed to within half a game of the Browns for sixth.

Chicago 5, New York 0
W - Eddie Cicotte (15-23)
L - Slim Love (14-17)

Cicotte tossed a three-hit shutout, backed up by five hits from "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

Philadelphia 3, St. Louis 2
W - Mule Watson (9-14)
L - Dave Davenport (12-14)
HR - Tilly Walker (12)

Walker's blast gave the Athletics a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning. Watson then pitched out of trouble in the remaining innings.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 88-55 (Magic Number: 3)
Senators: 80-64- 8.5 GB
Indians: 80-65- 9 GB
White Sox: 73-70- 15 GB
Yankees: 71-74- 18 GB
Browns: 65-77- 22.5 GB
Tigers: 65-78- 23 GB
Athletics: 58-91- 33 GB

Next: September 20 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the National League Report for Friday, September 20:

Braves 1, Cubs 0 (10 innings)

The Braves ended the Cubs' winning streak at five in front of a small but hardy band of followers at Braves Field. This one was a pitchers' duel between Hippo Vaughn and Art Nehf all the way; Vaughn held the Braves to three hits, while Nehf held the National League leaders to six. Vaughn and Fred Merkle each had two hits for the Cubs, while Joe Kelly was the only Brave with more than one hit. Each team had the bases loaded but couldn't score (Cubs in the eighth, Braves in the ninth).

Finally, the home squad broke through in the tenth. Art Wilson reached on a force play, moved to third on a single by pinch-hitter Jim Kelly, and held on an infeld flyout by Wally Rehg. Then, Buck Herzog rapped one down to Charlie Hollocher at short. It was an easy play, but Hollocher lost the handle, and Wilson scooted home with the winning run.

The Braves now welccome the Pirates, while the Cubs head to the Polo Grounds for the long-awaited direct showdown with the Giants.

W- Nehf (17-17)
L- Vaughn (24-13)

Giants 4, Pirates 2

The G-Men picked up a game on the Cubs heading into their showdown series, which is now guaranteed to last at least two games. They scored three in the bottom of the third to wipe out a 2-0 Pittsburgh lead, with Lew McCarty's single providing the eventual game-winning hit. Walter Holke led the New York offense, going three for three and driving in a pair of runs, and Art Fletcher had two hits and the other Giant RBI. Benny Kauff also had two hits and scored two of the Giants' runs. Casey Stengel collected two hits and drove in both runs for the Buccos. Jesse Barnes went six innings to pick up the win, while Pirate ace Wilbur Cooper suffered the loss despite pitching a complete game.

Sellout crowds are expected at the Polo Grounds for the next two days, and some optimistic vendors are even selling tickets for Tuesday's projected third game.

W- Barnes (9-1)
L- Cooper (23-16)

Robins 4, Cardinals 1

The Robins could only score in one inning (the third), but the four runs that they got in that inning were more than enough to defeat the Redbirds. Ollie O'Mara, Jake Daubert, Zack Wheat, and Jimmy Johnston picked up the RBIs, while Ivy Olson went three for four from the leadoff spot and scored a run. In addition to his RBI, Wheat also had two hits. The Cards got a run back in the top of the fourth when Rogers Hornsby grounds into a double play, but that was all. Rube Marquard went the distance for the Robins, allowing just one run on five hits, while Red Ames took the loss for St. Louis.

The Robins welcome the Reds over the weekend, while the Cardinals head to Baker Bowl to oppose the Phillies.

W- Marquard (10-20)
L- Ames (11-15)

Phillies 5, Reds 4

Most of the action in this one was crammed into the seventh inning, as each team scored four runs, which meant that Gavvy Cravath's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first ended up being the difference in the game. The Reds got their runs in the top of the seventh on Lee Magee's bases-clearing double and an error by Milt Stock, and the Phils got theirs in the bottom of the inning on a base hit by Cravath, an Irish Meusel fielder's choice, and a two-run double by Patsy McGaffigan, whose three hits led the Philly offense. Alex Main got the win, while Pete Schneider took the loss.

W- Main (3-2)
L- Schneider (12-17)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 93-56 (Magic Number: 2)
Giants: 83-60- 7 GB
Pirates: 83-64- 10 GB
Reds: 80-68- 12.5 GB
Braves: 63-77- 25.5 GB
Cardinals: 66-83- 27 GB
Phillies: 59-84- 31 GB
Robins: 52-91- 38 GB

Next: September 21 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Saturday, September 21:

Cleveland 4, Washington 0
W - Stan Coveleski (23-17)
L - Harry Harper (13-14)

The Senators had seven hits, but grounded into four double plays. Coveleski struck out nine. The Indians retake second place by half a game over the Senators, and due to the Red Sox' win in Detroit (see below), the loser of tomorrow's game will be eliminated from pennant contention regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Boston 7, Detroit 1
W - Babe Ruth (14-8)
L - Rudy Kallio (9-15)

Ruth won his spot start, backed by Stuffy McInnis' five-for-five day at the plate with four RBIs. The win guarantees the Red Sox at least a tie for the American League pennant, as their magic number is down to one.

Chicago 3, New York 2 (10 innings)
W - Lefty Williams (8-4)
L - Happy Finneran (4-8)

Joe Jackson's tenth-inning triple scored Shano Collins with the game-winning run. Both Williams and Finneran threw complete games.

Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 3
W - Vean Gregg (11-17)
L - Rasty Wright (9-5)

"Jumpin' " Joe Dugan and Merlin Kopp had matching four-for-five batting numbers. Future star Urban Shocker pitched the last two innings in relief for the Browns.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 89-55 (Magic Number: 1)
Indians: 81-65- 9 GB
Senators: 80-65- 9.5 GB
White Sox: 74-70- 15 GB
Yankees: 71-75- 19 GB
Browns: 65-78- 23.5 GB
Tigers: 65-79- 24 GB
Athletics: 59-91- 33 GB

Next: September 21 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Saturday, September 21:

Cubs 4, Giants 1

We have a new National League champion, as the Cubs took care of business in the first game of their series at the Polo Grounds. Dode Paskert led the Chicago offense, going three for four and driving in a pair of runs, one with a home run leading off the top of the second and one with a double to cap a three-run third. Les Mann's sacrifice fly and Fred Merkle's double drove in the other third inning runs for the Cubs. Meanwhile, starter Phil Douglas gave up just one run on six hits to the G-Men in seven and two-thirds innings, the run scoring on a sixth-inning double by Benny Kauff. Slim Sallee took the loss for New York.

W- Douglas (12-10)
L- Sallee (9-9)

HR- CHC: Paskert (4)

Pirates 11, Braves 6 (15 innings)

This one benefitted by the mandatory 10AM start imposed by the owners' agreement with the government; it took five hours and thirty-one minutes to play, and even at that came down to the last possible inning before a tie would have been mandated by the Pirates' travel schedule. The Bucs built a 6-3 lead at the seventh-inning stretch behind Max Carey's pair of RBIs; he went on to finish the day four for seven. The Braves came back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on a three-run homer by center fielder Ray Powell, one of two Boston dingers on the day. (Ed Konetchy had the other.) In extra innings, the Braves blew a first-and-third, one-out situation in the bottom of the eleventh and also got runners into scoring position in both the thirteenth and fourteenth without scoring. The Pirates also blew an opportunity in the fourteenth.

Finally, in the top of the fifteenth, Braves manager George Stallings turned to staff ace Art Nehf to keep the Braves in the game, only for disaster to strike; Nehf gave up five runs on four hits, an error, and two walks before he was finally removed. George Cutshaw's two-run single was the game winning hit, Walter Schmidt added a two-run double, and Pirate ace Wilbur Cooper, also on in relief, contributed a sacrifice fly. Both teams finished with eighteen hits; Powell led the way for the Braves by going five for five.

W- Cooper (24-16)
L- Nehf (17-18)

HR- BOS: Konetchy (4), Powell (1)

Robins 6, Reds 1

The Robins scored five times in the seventh to wipe out a 1-0 Cincinnati lead. Jimmy Johnston, today starting in right field, plated the winning runs with a two-run single, and Hy Myers added another two-run single later in the inning. A bases-loaded walk to Zack Wheat scored the other run. Johnston drove in a third run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly. Edd Roush singled home the only Cincinnati run in the top of the first. Brooklyn starter Dick Robertson gave up just one run on seven hits over eight innings to get the win, while Jimmy Ring took the loss.

W- Robertson (4-9)
L- Ring (11-6)

Cardinals 10, Phillies 2

The Redbirds blew out the Phils at Baker Bowl. They pounded out fourteen hits, including four by Gene Paulette. Walton Cruise added three more hits, including his eighth home run of the year. Several other Cards had two hits, including starting pitcher Gene Packard, who knocked in a run with a triple. Four different Cardinals drove in two runs apiece: Paulette, Cruise, Doug Baird, and catcher Frank Snyder. Packard also pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs on seven hits. Milt Stock had three of the hits and one RBI, while the other Philly ribbie went to Patsy McGettigan. Elmer Jacobs took the loss on the mound for the Fightins.

W- Packard (15-13)
L- Jacobs (10-7)

HR- STL: Cruise (8)

The final National League standings:

Cubs: 94-56
Giants: 83-61- 8 GB
Pirates: 84-64- 9 GB
Reds: 80-68- 13 GB
(tie) Braves: 63-78- 26.5 GB
(tie) Cardinals: 68-83- 26.5 GB
Phillies: 60-84- 31 GB
Robins: 53-90- 37.5 GB

The Cubs will go on to face either the Red Sox, Indians, or Senators in the World Series. Congratulations on winning the pennant!

Note: The reason that the Eastern teams have so many fewer games than the Western teams is because they were scheduled to play a week among themselves at the end of the season to partially make up for the Sunday games that they weren't allowed to play thanks to the blue laws. That week, as we can see, wasn't needed.

Note 2: I rechecked the final standings and found that the Reds had one loss too many and the Cardinals one win too few. Also, I gave the Phillies and Robins losses that should have been wins, plus gave the Robins an extra loss for good measure. What you see here are the official National League standings.

Next: September 22 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Sunday, September 22:

Washington 4, Cleveland 0
W - Walter Johnson (29-14)
L - Jim Bagby (19-19)

Johnson took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and struck out thirteen. The loss eliminates the Indians from pennant contention.

Detroit 2, Boston 1 (10 innings)
W - Hooks Dauss (17-17)
L - "Bullet" Joe Bush (17-14)

Ty Cobb scored the game-winning run when Ossie Vitt walked with the bases loaded. The Sox' magic number thus remains at one. Meanwhile, the Tigers move into sixth place, a half-game ahead of the Browns.

Chicago 12, New York 3
W - Eddie Cicotte (16-23)
L - Allen Russell (8-14)
HR - CWS: Buck Weaver (2), Nemo Leibold (1)

The Chisox pounded the Yankees with a seventeen-hit attack, featuring the then-rare feat of multiple homers.

Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 3
W - Willie Adams (8-13)
L - Tom Rogers (8-15)
HR - STL: George Sisler (3)

Sisler's homer was a solo shot inside the park.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 89-56
Senators: 81-65- 8.5 GB
Indians: 81-66- 9 GB
White Sox: 75-70- 14 GB
Yankees: 71-76- 19 GB
Tigers: 66-79- 23 GB
Browns: 65-79- 23.5 GB
Athletics: 60-91- 32 GB

Next: September 23 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Monday, September 23:

Boston 6, Detroit 1
W - Sad Sam Jones (20-7)
L - Bill James (6-14)
HR - BOS: George Whiteman (2)

The Red Sox scored all their runs in the third and sixth innings (three runs each) and wrapped up the American League pennant. The World Series will begin Thursday at Braves Field, which can better accommodate the expected overflow crowd than Fenway Park.

New York 4, Chicago 1
W - Happy Finneran (5-8)
L - Joe Benz (9-11)

A day after scoring twelve runs, the White Sox were shut out until the bottom of the ninth inning.

St. Louis 3, Philadelphia 0
W - Bert Gallia (9-9)
L - Elmer Myers (5-10)

Gallia allowed five hits, walked only one, and struck out eight. He threw just seventy-three pitches. The victory means that the Browns jump back ahead of the Tigers and finish the season in sixth place.

The final American League standings:

Red Sox: 90-56
(tie) Senators: 81-66- 9.5 GB
(tie)Indians: 81-66- 9.5 GB
White Sox: 75-71- 15 GB
Yankees: 72-76- 19 GB
Browns: 66-79- 23.5 GB
Tigers: 66-80- 24 GB
Athletics: 60-92- 33 GB

The Red Sox went on to defeat the Cubs in six games to claim the world championship.

Note: I rechecked the standing, and the Senators had one loss too few.

That's it for this thread, folks. I've cut back my plans a bit: 1972 doesn't have enough game action to justify its own thread, and 1995 was played to completion under a revised schedule. That leaves 1981 and 1994 to complete, so look for those threads later this summer. Thanks for reading!

Thoughts?
 
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As some of you know, I've been going through the strike-year threads and playing them to their intended conclusions. I won't be doing that here, though; that's because, unlike the other years I've examined, it wasn't the baseball industry's choice to shut down. The United States government needed the players to fight in a war, and even extending the season as long as I have already would have been impossible in real life. I don't feel comfortable putting baseball above war, even in a fictional context, so this thread will stay as is.

Thanks for reading!
 
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