100 Years Ago Today 7/7/1920: Second Place Brooklyn Robins Seizing League Wide Attention

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Uncle Robbie and Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Proving Naysayers Wrong With Best Start Since 1916 Season; Forecast as Second Division Dwellers Back in Spring, Robins Just One-Half Game Out of First Place.

It was right around this time last season when the Brooklyn Robins were teetering just above .500 with a 34-32 record, and mired in fourth place although a still manageable 9.5 games out of first place.  Improved to a point but hardly viewed as a threat by first division rivals, lest we forget at this point the regular seasons of 1917 and 1918 were effectively lost.  Cruel and unusual ways to follow up a pennant, to be sure.  But any optimism harbored by Uncle Robbie and the 1919 Robins unbeknownst to them was officially laid to rest on July 9 when they fall ten games behind league leading Cincinnati and henceforth remained out of first by no less than double-digits through season's end.  And as if anyone needs reminding last year's Robins ultimately ended the season in fourth place with a 69-71 (.492) record, a distant 27-games out of first place.

If nothing else finishing the 1919 season out of the second division for the first time in three years was somewhat significant for Mr. Ebbets who's seats were being filled once again by America's returning war veterans.  Whether attendance this season reaches 1916 levels again remains to be seen, but last season's turnout was certainly encouraging.  But even more encouraging is what continues unfolding on the field this season.  Charlie Ebbets and the McKeever Brothers could not be happier as the 1920 Robins continue muting pundits and naysayers with a 40-31 record, placing them just one half-game behind the first place Reds.  In turn jubilant Brooklyn fans are flocking to the ballpark in record numbers.

This season's ever growing scandal involving last year's World's Series between the Reds and Chicago White Sox reported as being fixed is fast escalating from a mere brushfire into a blazing inferno.  However if in fact the White Sox indeed conspired to throw the series, that should in no way detract from Cincinnati's National League accomplishment.  Make no mistake, the Reds are the legitimate defending senior circuit champions, just as the Brooklyn Robins were four short years ago, and as they aspire to be again this season.  At this point in 1916 the Robins were 40-25, and four full games ahead of the second place Philadelphia Phillies.

They have their work cut out for them but good things are happening at Ebbets Field.  Uncle Robbie is being rewarded for handing second base to Pete Kilduff, and likewise the third base assignment over to Jimmy Johnston.  Mr. Robinson's latest decision gone right was to hand right field over to Tommy Griffith.  The aforementioned three are by no means a trio of stand out players, but a solid  group of players making positive contributions.  We'd be remiss if Otto Miller were not included among the quiet contributors.  His confident handling of pitchers is exactly what Uncle Robbie wants.

The veteran first baseman 34-year old Big Ed Konetchy is once again yielding a lethal bat.  Out of action from May 28 through June 10, he has since elevated his average by thirty-five points to a season high .333 mark.  Like Konetchy, Zack Wheat missed the first week of June due to injury.  He returned to action on June 9 but struggled.  His .303 average upon injury plummets to .271 by month's end.  However in truth the Robins demonstrate many offensive shortcomings, which play a huge roll in Brooklyn posting a 12-16 record in June - for instance, making the league's more pedestrian pitchers appear like Cy Young for a day.

Brooklyn is presently in the early stages of their longest road trip of the season.  Having swept the Braves at Boston, the Robins enter tomorrow's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Sportsman's Park on a five game win streak, and winners of nine of their last ten games.  Stops at Chicago, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh still loom ahead.


1920 Brooklyn Robins - Baseball Reference

• Next up: a five game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Sportsman's Park; one game is a make-up from a May 16 rainout.