* Jim Bagby, Cleveland Indians Pitcher – using one of the best curve balls in baseball history he fashioned a stunning 31-12 record in 1920 to help Cleveland win their first ever World Baseball Championship. Born in Barnett/Mariette Georgia. Babgy went 16-16, with a solid 2.61 earned run average in his first full major league season – 1916. Then in 1917, tossed 8 complete game shutouts with his first 20-game win season - 23-17, 1.96 ERA, completed 26-of-37 starts, 320 2/3 innings.

Bagby followed with win/loss records of 17-16 and 17-11 the next two years, and worked his magical curve in 1920 to become one of a few pitchers in MLB history to win 30 games in a single season. His 31-12 mark, with a 2.89 ERA in a whooping 339 2/3 innings rates as one of the best years for a pitcher in the 1900s. Bagby’s 1920 mound performance helped the Cleveland Indians win the pennant by edging out the rapidly collapsing Chicago Black Sox, who threw the 1919 World Series. In the 1920 World Series against the Brooklyn Robbins which Cleveland won 5 games to 2, Babgy was 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA and his complete game 8-1 victory in Game 5 was aided by the only unassisted triple play in World Series history by teammate infielder Bill Wambsganss.

Jim Babgy career stats: 127-88 record, 3.11 ERA, 316 Games, 208 GS, 133 GC, 16 Shutouts, 1821 2/3 innings, 450 Ks, 458 Walks, allowed 47 homers – Cincinnati 1912; Cleveland 1916-1922; Pittsburgh 1923 – His son, Jim Babgy Jr also pitched 10 years in the majors.

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* Dutch Ruether, Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Robbins Pitcher – the crafty left-hander yielded just six hits and was the batting star with 3-hits as the Reds won the opening game of the 1919 World Series beating the Chicago Black Sox 9-1 when Sox starter Eddied Cicotte threw the ballgame to collect money from known gamblers. Ruether lined a two-run triple in the 4th-inning, scoring Greasy Neale and Ivey Wingo… singled in the 6th, and then hit his second triple of the game in the eight, scoring Neale once again.

A good-hitting pitcher, he was often used as a pinch hitter. In 11 MLB seasons, Walter Ruether batted .258, with 30 doubles, 12 triples, 3 homers, scored 83 runs and had 111 RBIs in just 969 at-bats.

For the 1919 World Champion Cincinnati Reds he led the National League in winning percentage with a 19-6 record, a .760 pct., and his 1.82 ERA was 3rd best in the league. Still one of the top mound stars during the 1920s, Ruether posted a 16-12 record with a career-best 5 shutouts in 1920 and then was traded to Brooklyn prior to the ’21 season. After falling to 10-13, with a 4.26 ERA his first year there, he rebounded in 1922 to collect his only 20-game win season – a 21-12 mark, with a 3.53 ERA in 267 1/3 innings.

Traded to the Washington Senators in 1925. Ruether completed 16-of-29 starts, had a 18-7 record which helped the Senators win the AL pennant. Although he didn’t pitch in the Series he was 0-1 as a pinch-hitter. Later traded to the New York Yankees in late-1926, he made it to another World Series – pitching and losing Game 3.

Dutch Ruether carrer stats: 137-95 record, 3.50 ERA, 309 Games, 272 GS, 155 SC, 18 Shutouts, 708 Ks, 739 Walks, 2124 2/3 innings.

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* Johnny Morrison, Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher – won 17 regular season games in 1925 to propel the Pirates towards a World Title. Born in Pelleville Kentucky. He debuted into the majors at age 25 with the Pirates in 1920, and had a 17-11 record with 5 shutouts in his third big-league season, ’22.

John Morrison had a career year that every major league pitcher dreams of in 1923. He won 25 games that year, losing only 13, completed 27-of-37 starts, while working a grand total of 301 2/3 innings.

In 1925, his 17 wins, 14 loses, 3.88 helped Pittsburgh capture the National League pennant. His three relief appearances played a big role in the Pirates success in that year’s World Series win over Washington – 4-games to 3.

Johnny Morrison career record: 103-80 record, 3.65 ERA, 297 Games, 165 GS, 90 GC, 1535 Innings, 546 Ks, 506 Walks – Pittsburgh 1920-1927; Brooklyn 1929-30.

Dolf Luque of the Cincinnati Reds led MLB with a 2.63 earned run average in 1925. Stan Coveleski of the Washington Senators led the American League with a solid 2.84 ERA. Coveleski’s 20-5 win/loss record helped the Senators win the pennant

1925 National League ERA Leaders:

Dolf Luque, Cincinnati 2.63 ERA… Eppa Rixey, Cincinnati 2.88 ERA… Pete Donohue, Cincinnati 3.08 ERA… Larry Benton, Boston Braves 3.09 ERA…

Bill Sherdel, Cardinals 3.11 ERA… Jack Scott, NY Giants 3.15 ERA… Grover Cleveland Alexander, Cubs 3.39 ERA… Johnny Cooney, Braves 3.48 ERA… Virgil Barnes, NY Giants 3.53 ERA… Dazzy Vance, Brooklyn Dodgers 3.53 ERA

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1925 American League ERA Leaders:

Stan Coveleski, Senators 2.84 ERA… Herb Pennock, NY Yankees 2.96 ERA… Ted Blankship, White Sox 3.03 ERA… Walter Johnson, Senators 3.07 ERA…

Hooks Dauss, Detroit Tigers 3.16 ERA… Ted Lyons, White Sox 3.26 ERA… Sam Gray, Philadelphia Athletics 3.27 ERA… Jake Miller, Cleveland 3.31 ERA… Slim Harriss, Athletics 3.49 ERA… Urban Shocker, NY Yankees 3.65 ERA