American Heroes
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(Index)
Death of the Dead Ball
Fans embrace livelier ball - Early Baseball History
When the gambling scandal hit the major leagues in 1919 and the unthinkable news that eight White Sox players threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, baseball's owners had to resort to some means to get loyal fans back to the ballparks.
Attendance dropped off dramatically!
Followers of major league baseball were reminiscing, perhaps for the very last time, about how their heroes weren't playing to win. Club owners were debating a variety of ways to liven up the game to bring back fan interest.
More than just nostalgia was needed.
In the winter of 1920-1921, downtrodden owners chose Federal Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis baseball's high commissioner gave him the sole-power to clean up the gambling tainted game. And, indeed he did.
Landis threw out eight White Sox players and others during 1920-1922.
Few observers could have dreamed that 'the old ball game' was moving into a new 'golden age of cash and glory.' The ball was made livelier and the news-making exploits of Babe Ruth was enthralling fans to return to the stadiums and see the 'new big-bang offense.'
The rest is baseball history!
The fun loving Bambino (Ruth) diverted attention away from the Black Sox scandal.
The Boston Red Sox sold Ruth to the New York Yankees for an astonishing sum of money for this time period - $125,000, and Ruth, now a full time outfielder, broke all records by hitting 54 homers.
The lofty hitting of first baseman George Sisler of the old St Louis Browns also played a big part in fans' interest. The Hall of Famer hit a robust .407 in 1920 and a remarkable .420 in 1922.
Rogers Hornsby, with four full seasons under his belt - 1914-1919 - collected 155 hits, 171 hits, 117 hits and 163 hits in those four years - now went on a batting binge. Starting in 1920, he lined 218 hits, 235 hits, and 250 hits, thanks mainly to the 'new ball.' His batting average soared from a four-year average of .312 upwards to a unheard of .370, .397, .401 .384, .424, .403 from 1920-1925.
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Last of the Dead Ball Players -
* Charlie Hollocher, Chicago Cubs Shortstop - a high-range shortstop, he led the league twice in fielding percentage - .963 in 1921... and .965 in '22. Broke into the majors with Cubs in 1918 and historians rate his rookie season as high-end when Hollocher led the NL in hits with 161... with the lively ball in use during the early 1920s, he lined 201 hits in '22 but was 49 hits shy of Rogers Hornsby's league leading total of 250... Charles Hollocher 7-year career totals: .304 Batting Average, 145 Doubles, 35 Triples, 14 Hr, 241 RBIs, 94K, 277W.
* Zack Davis Wheat, Brooklyn Dodgers Left Fielder, 1909-1926 - born in Hamilton, Missouri in 1888 not long after the Civil War had ended, and was named after Union General Zachary Taylor and Confederate President Jefferson Davis... a line drive hitter, Wheat could hit the curveball as well as any hitter in this era. Giants' manager John McGraw always ordered his pitchers: 'never to threw a curve to Zach.' Wheat carried an 11-year batting average of slightly over .300 into the 1920s, including a league leading .335 in 1918... then, Zack Wheat went on a tare: hitting from 1920 on - .328, .320, .335, .375, .375, .359, .290, .324, .317...
* Milt Stock, St Louis Cardinals Third Baseman - one of the best fielders during the 1910s, the Chicago born infielder collected 151 hits in 1919, setting a yearly high after six major league seasons... then, in 1920, Milton Stock lined 204 hits, a .319 batting average... although he hit only .300 once in his first 6-seasons, he batted - .319, .307, .305 from 1920-22 and hit a career high of .328 in 1925 while with the Brooklyn Dodgers... Milt Stock career stats: .289 BA, 270 Ds, 58 Ts, 22 Hr, 455 RBIs in 6,249 games.
* Ivy Olson, Cleveland Indians 1911-14; Brooklyn Dodgers 1915-1924 - Shortstop - a contact hitter, the 5-ft, 10-inch, 175-pounder was one of the National League's best defensive infielders... he played 1,054 games at the shortstop position, 288 at second base, and 155 at third... Olson averaged around 100 hits per/year in the 1910s, thereafter, he had 162 hits in 1920, 174 in 1921, 150 in 1922. Ivy Olson 14-year numbers: .258 BA, 191Ds, 69Ts, 13Hr, 1,575 hits in 1,574 games, 730 Runs, 446 RBIs and struck out just 222 times in 6,111 at-bats.
Baseball Historian
Lofty Batting Averages
Read all-about Major League Baseball History -
The result was predictable and satisfying for team owners
There is something of a tradition in American baseball whereby on-field success of scoring runs brings fans to the ballpark...
The advent of the lively ball that propelled the home run totals of Babe Ruth and the lofty .400 batting averages by George Sisler, Rogers Hornsby, Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb in the early 1920s made the country's fans return to the Stadiums after the 'Black Sox' threw the 1919 World Series. (In fact: in 1922, three players hit over .400)
Batting Leaders: 1920-1925
1920 - George Sisler, St Louis Browns .407... Tris Speaker, Cleveland Indians .388... Shoeless Joe Jackson, Chicago White Sox .382... Babe Ruth, New York Yankees .376...
1921 - Rogers Hornsby, St Louis Cardinals .398... Harry Heilmann, Detroit Tigers .394... Ty Cob, Detroit Tigers .389... Babe Ruth, NY Yankees .378...
1922 - George Sisler, St Louis Browns .420... Ty Cobb, Tigers .401... Rogers Hornsby, Cardinals .401...
1923 - Harry Heilmann, Tigers .403... Babe Ruth, Yankees .393... Rogers Hornsby, Cardinals .384... Tris Speaker, Indians .380...
1924 - Rogers Hornsby, Cardinals .424... Babe Ruth, Yankees .378... Zach Wheat, Brooklyn Dodgers .375...
1925 - Rogers Hornsby, Cardinals .403... Harry Heilmann, Tigers .393... Tris Speaker, Indians .389... Al Simmons, Philadelphia Athletics .387...
baseballhistorian.com - Archives - Baseball History
THE BASEBALL WORLD OF 1925
12 Players hit .350 or higher and 45 players hit over .300
Top hitting baseball teams
Few trends in sports' history, as expressed by any measurable data, can spark a debate like the past and present of baseball purists. The major leagues' baseball players during the 'lively ball era' of the 1920s and 1930s and the 'rapid ball' of the late 1990s running thru the present time have a much higher batting average than any other time period in baseball history.
So many players (45) hit over .300 in 1925 that the names of those hitters seemed to be lost among statistical accounts of that period. See how many of the .350 hitters' names can be recalled today... Maybe half???
1925 Batting Average Leaders:
Rogers Hornsby, St Louis Cardinals .403... Harry Heilmann, Detroit Tigers .393... Tris Speaker, Cleveland Indians .389... Al Simmons, Philadelphia A's .387... Ty Cobb, Tigers .378...
Al Wingo, Tigers .370... Jim Bottomley, Cardinals .367... Zack Wheat, Brooklyn Dodgers .359... Kiki Cuyler, Pittsburgh Pirates .357... Bill Lamar, Athletics .356... Jack Fournier, Brooklyn .350... Sam Rice, Washington Senators .350...
George Harper, Philadelphia Phillies .349... Eddie Collins, Chicago White Sox .346... George Sisler, St Louis Browns .345... Max Carey, Pirates .343... Ray Blades, Cardinals .342... Earle Combs, New York Yankees .342... Baby Doll Jacobson, Browns .341... Dick Burrus, Boston Braves .340...
Edd Roush, Cincinnati Red Stockings .339... George Burns, Indians .336... Joe Sewell, Indians .336... Goose Goslin, Senators .334... Frankie Frisch, New York Giants .331... Ike Boone, Boston Red Sox .330...
Dick Cox, Brooklyn .329... Irish Meusel, NY Giants .328... Milt Stock, Brooklyn .328... Clyde Barnhart, Pirates .325... Jimmy Dykes, Phil A's .323... Pie Traynor, Pirates .320... Dave Bancroft, Boston Braves .319... Lew Fonseca, Phillies .319... Bing Miller, Phil A's .319... Bill Terry, NY Giants .319...
Curt Walker, Cinc Reds .318... Earl Sheely, White Sox .315... Jimmy Welsh, Boston Braves .312... George Kelly, NY Giants .309... Glenn Wright, Pirates .308... Gus Felix, Braves .307... Lu Blue, Tigers .306... Eddie Brown, Brooklyn .306... Charlie Grimm, Chicago Cubs .306... Bill Falk, White Sox .301...
Howard Freigau, Cubs .299... Johnny Mostil, White Sox .299... Eddie Moore, Pirates .298... Jim Poole, Philadelphia Athletics .298...
1930 Batting Leaders
Bill Terry hits a torrid .401 - 1930s MLB History
Baseball's lively ball enables 17 players to hit .350 and 60 players to hit .300 or higher. Bill Terry hits a torrid .401
In 1930 New York Giants first baseman Bill Terry, a life-time .341 hitter, led the major leagues in hits with 254 hits, and in batting with .401. Career-wise, Terry ranks 9th highest in batting average among all players in all eras.
Baseball Historian
The 6-ft, 1-inch, 200-pound Terry lined 2,193 career hits in 6,428 at-bats, including 373 doubles, 112 triples, 154 home runs from 1923-1936, all with the New York Giants. And, is the last National Leaguer to hit .400.
Al Simmons, an outfielder for the old Philadelphia Athletics, led the American League in batting with .381. A life-time .334 hitter, he lined 539 doubles, 149 triples, 307 homers and ranks 19th on the all-time list in career batting average.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, the 5-ft, 11-inch, 190-pound Simmons played for numerous teams during the Great Depression years - the Athletics 1924-1932; White Sox 1933-1935; Tigers 1936; Senators 1937-1938, Boston Braves 1939; Reds 1939; Athletics 1940-1941; and during World War II; he returned and played 40 games with the Red Sox in 1943 and 4 more games with the A' in 1944.
Major League Batting Leaders 1930:
Bill Terry, New York Giants .401... Babe Herman, Brooklyn Dodgers .393... Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies .386... Lefty O'Doul, Phillies .383... Al Simmons, Philadelphia Athletics . 381...
Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees .379... Freddy Lindstrom, NY Giants .379... Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates .368... Pie Traynor, Pirates .366... Carl Reynolds, Chicago White Sox .359...
George Herman (Babe) Ruth, NY Yankees .359... Mickey Cochrane, Phil Athletics .357... Hack Wilson, Chicago Cubs .356... Kiki Cuyler, Cubs .355... Johnny Hodapp, Cleveland Indians .354... Heinie Manush, Washington Senators .350... Dick Porter, Cleveland Indians .350...
Ed Morgan, Indians .349... Mel Ott, NY Giants .349... Sam Rice, Senators .349... Joe Cronin, Senators .346... Frankie Frisch, St Louis Cardinals .346... Earle Combs, NY Yankees .344...
Arthur (Pinky) Whitney, Phillies .342... Earl Averill, Indians .339... Gabby Hartnett, Cubs .339... Del Bissonette, Brooklyn Dodgers .336... Chick Hafey, Cardinals .336... Elwood (Woody) English, Cubs .335...
Jimmie (Jimmy) Foxx, Athletics .335... Johnny Frederick, Dodgers .334... Charlie Gehringer, Detroit Tigers .330... Freddy Leach, NY Giants .327... Dale Alexander, Tigers .326... Joe Judge, Senators .326... George Grantham, Pirates .324...
Earl Webb, Boston Red Sox .323... Glenn Wright, Dodgers .321... Dick Bartell, Pirates .320... Marty McManus, Tigers .320... Ben Chapman, Yankees .316... Earl (Sparky) Adams, Cardinals .314...
Adam Comorosky, Pirates .313... Smead Jolley, White Sox .313... Ralph (Red) Kress, St Louis Browns .313... Tony Cuccinello, Cincinnati Red Stockings .312... Wally Berger, Boston Braves .310... Goose Goslin, Browns .308... Curt Walker, Red Stockings .307... baseballhistorian.com - Archives
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1993 Preseason Review |
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Commissioner Fay Vincent and the teams' owner had been sparring with the Major League Baseball Association ever since the 1990 spring training lockout. Vincent ran afoul of the players' union with his frustration to eliminate many players' drug-abuse problems.
None-the-less, the 1993 season was off-and-running and the fans seemed to care less: - 'Just give us baseball!' echoed their feelings. So on with the show!
Veterans Bios and Stats:
Dave Hollins, Philadelphia Phillies, 3rd Baseman, Switch-hitter, T RH - joined Phillies in 1990... rated as one of the top third basemen in the NL... in 1992 smashed 28 doubles, 27 homers, scored 104 runs, 93 RBIs and, stole 9 bases while batting .270, walked 76 times, 110 Ks, with a fine .469 slugging percentage. Hollins hit two home runs in a Phillies win on May 19, 1992.
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John Burkett, San Francisco Giants, Pitcher RH - pitched briefly with the Giants in 1987, then worked the minors leagues for two years... Burkett rejoined San Francisco in 1990, going 14-7, 3.70 ERA.... 12-1, 4.18 ERA in 1991... and last year (1992) was 13-9, 3.84 ERA. Rates 4-Stars, has great control, throws a cut fastball and moving slider... struck out 131 while walking just 60 in 34 starts, 206 2/3 innings in 1991.
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Fred McGriff, San Diego Padres, 1st Baseman LH - led National League in home runs in 1992 with 35 and, in 152 games also lined 30 doubles, scored 79 runs, 104 RBIs, fanned 108 times, 96 walks... the 6'3", 210-pound slugger debited with Toronto in 1986 and led the American League with 36 Hr for the 1989 Blue Jays. McGriff has hit (as of 1992) four grand slam homers and carries a lifetime batting mark of .279... traded to the Padres in 1991, he proceeded to line 19 Ds, 31 Hr, 106 RBIs while batting .278 that season.
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1992 RBI Leaders:
American League: - Cecil Fielder, Detroit Tigers 124... Joe Carter, Toronto Blue Jays 119... Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox 115... Albert Belle, Cleveland Indians 112... George Bell, Chicago White Sox 112... Kirby Puckett, Minnesota Twins 110... Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers 109... Dave Winfield, Blue Jays 108... Mike Devereaux, Baltimore Orioles 107... Carlos Baerga, Indians 105... Mark McGwire, Oakland A's 104... Ken Griffey Jr, Seattle Mariners 103
National League: - Darren Daulton, Philadelphia Phillies 109... Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves 105... Fred McGriff, San Diego Padres 104... Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates 103... Gary Sheffield, Padres 100... Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros 96... Dave Hollins, Phillies 93... Eddie Murray, New York Mets 93... Larry Walker, Montreal Expos 93... Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs 90
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Norm Charlton, Cincinnati Reds, Pitcher T LH, Bats Both - graduated from Rice University in 1986... debuted with Reds... in 1990 went 12-9, 2.74 ERA with 117 Ks, 70 walks in 56 games, 154 innings... Charlton was mainly used in relief the past few seasons... in 1992 he collected 25 saves, went 4-2, 2.99 ERA in 64 appearances... rates as one of baseball's top closers.
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Joe Orsulak, Baltimore Orioles, Outfielder LH - hit .289 in '92, his fifth year with Baltimore... was drafted by Pittsburgh in June '80... hit an even .300 for the 1985 Pirates and has batted over .275 in 5-of-9 years in the majors... a fine hustling outfielder. Was traded to Baltimore in Nov '87... Orsulak's career batting average - .279, with 817 hits in 2,935 at bats.
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Mike Moore, Oakland Athletics, Pitcher RH - an 11-year major league starting pitcher, Mike Moore pitched with the Seattle Mariners from 1982 thru 1988... in 1988 led majors with 37 starts and on August 19 struck out 16 batters... was signed as a free agent by the A's in Nov '88 and from then on his record with Oakland was 19-11, 13-15, 17-8 and 17-12... his best season was 1991, when he rang up the 17-8 W/L mark and posted a nice 2.96 ERA in 210 innings, 33 games. Mike Moore lifetime stats including 1992... a 132-142 record, 4.12 ERA in 2,332 innings spanning 364 games.
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1992 Innings Pitched:
Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs 268... Kevin Brown, Texas Rangers 265.7... Bill Wegman, Milwaukee Brewers 261.7... Jack McDowell, Chicago White Sox 260.7... Doug Drabek, Pittsburgh Pirates 256.7... Charles Nagy, Cleveland Indians 252... Melido Perez, New York Yankees 247.7
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1992 Relief Pitchers ERA:
Jay Howell, Los Angeles Dodgers 1.54... Steve Farr, New York Yankees 1.56... Jeff Russell, Oakland A's 1.63... Roberto Hernandez, Chicago White Sox 1.65... Darek Lilliquist, Cleveland Indians 1.75... Rod Beck, San Francisco Giants 1.76... Doug Jones, Houston Astros 1.85... Dennis Eckersley, Oakland A's... Duane Ward, Toronto Blue Jays 1.95... Terry Lreach, White Sox 1.95... Gregg Olson, Baltimore Orioles 2.05
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Derel Lilliquist, Cleveland Indians, Pitcher LH - entered pro ball with Bradenton in 1987. Lilliquist joined the big-league with Atlanta Braves in 1989, going 8-10, 3.97 ERA in 165.7 innings... for Cleveland in 1992 was used mainly in relief, appearing in 71 games, a 5-3 W/L record with 6 saves and a nice 1.75 ERA with an outstanding 1.87 on-base-pct. - his fastball is rated 4+ Stars
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Dwayne Henry, Cincinnati Reds, Relief Pitcher RH - a nine year major league veteran, picked up Cincinnati via the wavier route in Nov 1991... Dwayne Henry appeared in 60 games in 1992, struck out 72 in 83.7 innings, posted a 3-3 record an a 3.33 ERA... the 31-year-old right hander broke into pro ball with Sarasota in 1980 and collected 5 wins in his first 11 appearances.
Baseballhistorian.com
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