Grand tournament best of nine 7th series double elimination between the 1920 Cleveland Indians and the 1911 Philadelphia Athletics went the full 9 games that went back and forth throughout. On paper it looked like it would be a close series, especially for those who like the stat W.A.R. (wins above replacement). Personally I do not think W.A.R. is that good comparing between seasons and decades, but within a season it points out the top players. So I check W.A.R. whose rating says 5.0+ is an all-star and 8.0+ not only is an all-star but deserves consideration for the MVP. So that is how I use it when studying the strengths and weaknesses of the teams before and after a series. This series was the first time I have found 7 all-stars including 3 MVPs so i knew the series would be special. W.A.R. determined that three 1920 Indians deserved the MVP in 1920, Tris Speaker, James Bagby, Sr., and Spitting Stan Coveleski, while Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Eddie Plank, and Chief Bender were considered all-stars for the As. Jim Bagby, Sr. was rated a A&Cz when the cards were first made in 1970s due to his 31 wins, but APBA reduced his grade to an Az per his stats and I totally agree. The 1911 As main strength is their pitching and stolen bases like most good deadball teams.They had 6 starters with 20+ stolen bases, while the Indians had primarily C and D pitchers after their 2 MVPs. The 1920 Indians were a deadball team that could not steal bases with only Ray Chapman getting 13 and his stolen base rating of C23 assured little hope of being successful. In fact the Indians only made 3 out of 15 stolen base attempts while the Athletics stole at will being successful 18 of 20 attempts (.900 success rate). What the Indians could do is bunt. I check the successful bunts of all my players and the deadball era bunters over 30 are noted to remind me to bunt them more often. The Indians had 3 good bunters Ray Chapman with 41, Bill Wambsganss with 40, and Larry Gardner with 32 successful bunts, there was also 3 good hit and run batters; Larry Gardner again (also a very good fielder who led the Indians with 10 hits in the series and gets one of my stars), Tris Speaker (had 9 hits in 9 games), and Doc Johnston (also 9 hits). Indians certainly could not hit home runs, as only 1 lonely home run was hit all season by the 8 reserve players on the roster. Probably no team had such a futile home run record for 154 games for 8 reserve players accounting for approx. 850 plate appearances. Elmer Smith led the team with 12 and Tris Speaker added 8. As mentioned it was a very close series with Cleveland finally winning 4-2 in the 9th game. The final game was tied 2-2 in the top of the 8th Inning with a pitching duel between Sarge Bagby and Colby Jack Combs for all the marbles.The pitcher Bagby led off with a single, Cuckoo Jamieson struck out and the good bunter/terrible hitter Wamby Wambsganss attempted to bunt Bagby to second and scoring position but he was safe on a fielders choice 1B to the SS covering second. Looked like an easy inning for Jack Combs, BUT Tris Speaker walked (runners on first and second), then Elmer Smith walked and the bases were loaded, so lefty Dave Danforth Cyw came in to pitch to lefty hitter Larry Gardner and get a one grade increase to a Byw. Lack of control did Danforth in as Gardner walked forcing Wamby to score. 3 straight walks and the Indians led 3-2 thanks to game winning walk by the star Larry Gardner. Johnston flew to right and inning over. Bottom of 8th Rube Oldring led off with a triple and the A;s were suddenly threatening. Eddie Collins popped to 1B, but John Baker walked and went to second on a ground ball to shortstop Chapman. As had runners at second and third and 2 outs. Stuffy McGinnis hit a pop up to short left field that looked to fall in but Ray Chapman made the catch while running into left fielder Charles Jamieson (unusual play in basic game look it up). Chapman and Jamieson ran into each other and were both injured and had to leave the game. Indians got an insurance run in the 9th and won the game 4-2 and moved the 1911 As to the losers bracket. The injury to Ray Chapman was appropriate since in August 1920 he was killed by a pitched ball by Carl Mays and is my 3rd star. His New York Times newspaper write-up of the incident is attached for anyone who wants to read it. Strange that Chapman got injured saving the last game in my tournament and also strange APBA rated his injury factor as a J-2. So I guess if he gets beaned in 1920 then he will be back in a few games. 5 - 4 38 78 9 3 12 1920 Indians 4 - 5 38 72 7 18 2 1911 Athletics W L R H E SB CS The game summary shows an equal number of runs, Indians had a 78-72 advantage in hits but only had 3 stolen bases in 15 attempts while the As made 18 stolen bases. The pitchers battled back and forth with neither team having a great advantage. therefore for my last star I give it to clean up hitter John Home Run Baker of the A;s who had 11 hits in 9 games with one home run, and honorable mention to Eddie Collins who batted 3rd and also had 11 hits.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:48:25 +0000
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