Over on the pre-1900 board, I've started a thread about the history of baseball in what is called the Pythagorean universe; that is, a universe where wins and losses are determined solely by the amount of runs a team scores and the amount of runs it gives up, with no outside factors involved. The records in our universe and this one can be quite different, and it makes an interesting jumping-off point for the discussion of baseball history.
There were five years that were left incomplete because of strikes and/or governmental intervention, and it's these years that I'll examine in the series of threads to come. The original "Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe" thread is still open and ongoing, but I thought that separate threads for these five seasons might stimulate more focused discussion.
Let's start with 1918, where the season was ended by "agreement" with the War Department on September 1 so that eligible ballplayers could be drafted and sent overseas to fight in World War I. I use "agreement" in quotes because the government threatened to draft the players right out from under the owners' noses if the season wasn't shut down on that date. Even the playing of the World Series was agreed to with great reluctance on the government's part, since it considered baseball a decidedly nonessential industry.
But what if they'd agreed to let the season play out, at least until the pennant races were resolved? That's what this timeline will explore. Please note that not all the games will be played if they aren't necessary to determine the pennant winners, since the government still wants the season over as soon as possible.
We begin in the National League. Numbers in parentheses are the difference between a team's real-life record and their adjusted record in the Pythagorean universe:
1. Cubs: 83-46 (-1)
2. Giants: 70-54- 10.5 GB (-1)
3. Pirates: 70-55- 11 GB (+5)
4. Reds: 68-60- 14,5 GB (0)
5. Braves: 56-68- 24.5 GB (+3)
6. Cardinals: 56-73- 27 GB (+5)
7. Phillies: 52-71- 28 GB (-3)
8. Robins: 49-77- 32.5 GB (-8)
The Cubs' magic number to clinch the pennant is eighteen.
Now for the American League:
1. Red Sox: 76-50 (+1)
2. Senators: 71-57- 6 GB (-1)
3. Indians: 70-57- 6.5 GB (-3)
4. Yankees: 64-59- 10.5 GB (+4)
5. White Sox: 63-61- 12 GB (+6)
6. Browns: 58-64- 16 GB (0)
7. Tigers: 54-72- 22 GB (-1)
8. Athletics: 49-79- 28 GB (-3)
The Red Sox' magic number to clinch the pennant is twenty-two.
To start us off, here are the games of September 3 in the National League:
Giants 3, Braves 0
Slim Sallee went all the way for the Giants, pitching a three-hit shutout, On offense, the G-Men got all three runs in the fifth on a two-run double by third baseman Heinie Zimmerman and a base hit by first baseman Walter Holke. Sallee completed his outing in just ninety-two pitches. First baseman Ed Konetchy, right fielder Al Wickland, and starting pitcher Dana Fillingrim had the Boston hits. The teams will conclude their series tomorrow here at Braves Field.
W- Sallee (9-8)
L- Fillingrim (7-7)
Cubs 5, Pirates 3
The National League leaders overcame a 3-1 deficit with three in the eighth and one in the ninth to defeat the Bucs at Forbes Field. Center fielder Dode Paskert's two-run double tied the game at three in the eighth, and Paskert went on to score on a double by second baseman Pete Kilduff. The Cubbies added their ninth-inning insurance run on a sacrifice fly. The Bucs, meanwhile, got their RBIs from first baseman Fritz Mollwitz and second baseman George Cutshaw. Speed Martin got the win in relief for Chicago, while Roy Sanders was the loser for Pittsburgh. The Cubs maintained their ten and a half game lead over the Giants in the National League with the victory.
W- Martin (6-2)
L- Sanders (7-10)
Phillies 8, Robins 3
The Phils combined a rare offensive outburst and three Brooklyn errors to romp to an easy victory in front of a serviceman-heavy crowd at Baker Bowl. The home team overcame a 3-1 deficit after five and a half, scoring three in the sixth and four in the seventh. Pinch hitter Mike Fitzgerald drove in the eventual winning runs with a two-run double in the sixth, and the seventh featured both a double steal and Brooklyn center fielder Jim Hickman throwing a fly ball into the Philadelphia bullpen, allowing a run to score. Center fielder Irish Meusel had two hits and two RBIs for the Fightins in addition to scoring a pair, and first baseman Fred Luderus had three hits and scored twice. Starting pitcher Elmer Jacobs went seven strong innings for the win, while Dick Robertson took the loss for Brooklyn.
W- Jacobs (10-5)
L- Robertson (3-7)
The National League standings to the moment:
Cubs: 84-46
Giants: 71-54- 10.5 GB
Pirates: 70-56- 12 GB
Reds: 68-60- 15 GB
Braves: 56-69- 25.5 GB
Cardinals: 56-73- 27.5 GB
Phillies: 53-71- 28 GB
Robins: 49-78- 33.5 GB
Next: September 3 in the American League.
Thoughts?