From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD
100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:
New York Giants & New York Yankees
1921 Seasons Revisited
In their last season at Hilltop Park, the now formerly known New York Highlanders lost 102 games. Rebranded as the Yankees, in 1913, they moved just a few blocks away into the Polo Grounds as tenants of the Senior Circuit's New York Giants. To the chagrin of Giants manager John McGraw, the Americans proceeded to lose another 94 games.
Known to hold a grudge, McGraw, two full decades later, still harbored much animosity not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees themselves who were founded at the expense of his rendered defunct Baltimore Orioles.
For as long as the Yankees paid their rent, the tenant/landlord relationship with the Giants remained amicably strained. Mainly because the middling Americans, except for one season in 1916, never elevated themselves above the ranks of Junior Circuit also-rans. But that changed in 1919 when they briefly vied for the pennant but tuckered out down the stretch to finish third. A franchise-record 619,164 fans showed up to root for the American League contenders. However, the Yankees' burgeoning success was not yet a pressing issue, per see, for the Giants, who were coming off a second-place finish and their best season in a decade at the turnstile.
Then, in 1920, baseball's tectonic plates along the New York/New England fault shifted. The Yankees' purchase of George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox sent seismic waves reverberating throughout the baseball world but none more intense than in Washington Heights. Ruth's earth-shattering record of 54 home runs was something never experienced before in the history of baseball but an accomplishment for which John McGraw had little appreciation as one who believed players worked too hard and earnestly only to have their skills disrespected by some miscreant's lone swing of the bat.
Gotham's citizenry never before descended from Coogan's Bluff in such quantity and spectacle than in 1920 as the Giants would set a franchise record with 929,609 reported attendance. However, the New York Nationals faced an economic dilemma of Ruthian proportions. McGraw's disdain for his tenants was further heightened when the Yankees outdrew the host Giants in their own home for the first time in each franchise's history. Headlined by Babe Ruth, the Yankees seized the city's attention, evidenced by an all-time major league record of 1,289,422 in attendance.
In 1921, over two million fans would again pack the Polo Grounds. Babe Ruth would continue forward accomplishing the unimaginable, and if that wasn't surreal enough, he proceeds to top it - all the while with each passing day, John McGraw grows more incensed. Lest we forget, New York City is still Little Napoleon's empire.
Sharing a ballpark for both teams is becoming an insufferable condition. A resolution lies not too far away ...
In the meantime, two major league titans charge headlong into a season-ending October clash at the Polo Grounds. It is New York City's first-ever World's Championship Subway Series. All games are played at the Polo Grounds, making Coogan's Bluff the center of the baseball universe.
This is my replay of that season. I'll be exercising my creative license whenever and wherever ever possible. More than anything, this is about having fun and celebrating New York City's baseball history.
- Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE
Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!
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GAME #3
Philadelphia Athletics @ NEW YORK YANKEES
POLO GROUNDS
Babe Ruth Hits First Home Run; Starter Bill Piercy Hurls a Dandy
The Yankees rebound from Thursday's loss to claim their rubber game against Philadelphia. Athletics starter Slim Harriss does himself no favors. In fielding a game-opening bunt attempt by Chick Fewster, Harriss throws errantly to first base; Fewster advances all the way to third and scored on shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh's grounder to second. An inning later, Harriss serves up a leadoff home run to Bob Meusel for a 2-0 Yankees lead. Philadelphia reduces their deficit by one with a hit and a run scored by right fielder Whitey Whitt. However, Babe Ruth in the bottom of the sixth homers to deep right field, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead and their final margin of victory. Winning pitcher Bill Piercy yields one lone run on just four hits and no walks with six strikeouts through nine innings complete. Although Philadelphia sophomore Slim Harriss likewise surrenders just four hits and fans six batters, he suffers his first defeat.
The Yankees will next host the Boston Red Sox.
- FINAL: PHI 1; NYY 3
- RECORD: 2-1
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GAME #3
New York Giants @ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl
Giants Depart Philadelphia on a Losing Note
Philadelphia salvages their series finale against the Giants. The Phillies lineup offers New York pitchers no quarter, striking eleven runs (ten earned) on 15 hits. Starter Rosy Ryan fails to make it out of the second inning, having surrendered four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks. Pitching in relief of Ryan, Fred Toney yields solo home runs in the sixth by Phillies' third baseman Russ Wrightstone and catcher Frank Bruggy. Facing Slim Sallee pitching in relief of Toney, Philadelphia erupts for five more runs in the eighth, highlighted by home runs from left fielder Irish Meusel and starting pitcher Lee Meadows. Making his second appearance against the Giants, Meadows goes the distance but not before the Giants rally for three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth. But it was too little too late. First baseman High Pockets Kelly finishes 2 for 5 with his second home run of the season and three runs batted in. Right fielder Curt Walker goes 3 for 5, including his third double of the season and a run scored, and Frankie Frisch drives in his fifth run through three games. The Giants next travel to Boston for two games against the Braves.
- FINAL: NYG 5; PHI 11
- RECORD: 2-1
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