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 Season Revisited
In their last season at Hilltop Park, the now formerly known New York Highlanders lose 102 games. Rebranded in 1913 as the Yankees, they move 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 proceed to lose another 94 games.
Known to hold a grudge, McGraw two full decades later still harbors much animosity not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees. As they 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 remains 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 of 619,164 fans showed up to root for the American League contenders. However, the Yankees' burgeoning success was not yet a pressing issue, per se, for the Giants, who were coming off a second-place finish and their best season at the turnstile in a decade.
Then, in 1920, baseball's tectonic plates shift along the New York/New England fault. The Yankees' purchase of George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox sends 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. However, it was an accomplishment for which John McGraw had little appreciation. He believes players work too hard and earnestly 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 as 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 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 accomplishing the unimaginable - if the preceding season 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 is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the 1921 season to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...
Until then, 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. Of course, I'll be exercising my creative license whenever and wherever ever possible. But, more than anything, this is about having fun and celebrating New York City's baseball history.
- Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE
Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!
GAME #92
POLO GROUNDS
Yankees Routed By Cleveland in Series Opener
It's rumored that Yankee ownership is willing to trade upwards of five players to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for second baseman Eddie Collins with designs to make him manager. However, discussions were seemingly put on hold as it appears Colonel Ruppert decided to extend Miller Huggins one more opportunity during this homestand to prove himself worthy of guiding the club. Should that, in fact, be the case, Huggins might as well start packing his bags. Even worse than the 17-8 loss they sustained just over a week ago at Cleveland, the first-place Indians, fresh off a two-hit shutout over Boston, this time clobber the Yankees by a sorrowful score of 16 to 1. New York manages just seven hits and committed four errors in the field, one by Babe Ruth. But there is no leering at him this time, for the Bambino accounts for the lone Yankee run, his 37th home run this season to spoil the shutout. Players are speaking up, as the Yankees played their best ball of late, with Miller Huggins feeling ill and absent from the team. Fans are likewise not allied with Huggins. The Yankees are being accused of not having the spirit of a winner. Players say it's because they don't believe in Huggins and his peculiar style of managing. Which is to say, the defending World Champion Indians are again leading the league because they believe in Tris Speaker. 1 In the meantime, starter Bob Shawley, Rip Collins, and Alex Ferguson all suffered the wrath of Cleveland's batsmen. Cleveland's first baseman Doc Johnston goes 3 for 5 with a triple, home run, and an impressive seven runs batted in. Shortstop Joe Sewell drives home three. Cleveland starter Stan Coveleski allows one run on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts for his 17th victory against seven losses and a 3.40 ERA.
- FINAL: CLE 16; NYY 1
- RECORD: 57-35 (.620); second place, 3.0 GB of Cleveland
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GAME #94
Redland Field
Make-Up: 6/8/1921
Rube Marquard Hurls A Gem Over Former Mates
Left-hander Rube Marquard shows his old mates he still has what it takes to win, or in this case, defeat the Giants, knowing they're pressing to keep pace with Pittsburgh. Many believe the Giants boast the top pitching staff in the circuit, even better than Pittsburgh. But Rube Marquard was having none of it. He limits the New Yorkers to just one run. Second base substitute Joe Berry triples home Irish Meusel in the ninth to spoil the shutout. Otherwise, the Giants wield only six hits and draw just two walks as Marquard wins his tenth game this season. Starter Fred Toney is knocked out of the box after four innings but not before yielding six runs on ten hits and three walks. The Giants' most recent win streak comes to an end at four.
- FINAL: NYG 1; CIN 8
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GAME #95
Redland Field
Jesse Barnes Lifts Giants Into First Place Tie With Pittsburgh
Jesse Barnes and the Giants turn the tables on Cincinnati. New York scores early, often, and late en route to twelve runs off 18 hits. Just as the Giants did in game one, Edd Roush and the Reds spoil the shutout with a run in the home ninth. Jesse Barnes nonetheless wins his ninth, allowing one run on just five hits and no walks through nine complete. High Pockets Kelly hits his eighth home run of the month, giving him 18 for the season. His three runs batted in gives him a National League most 96, only two behind Babe Ruth for the major league lead. Ross Youngs goes 2 for 3 with three runs batted in, giving him 70 for the season. Today's twin bill split, and Boston's victory over the Pirates leaves Pittsburgh and Gotham tied for first place. The Giants, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland are the three teams to achieve 60 wins to date.
- FINAL: NYG 12; CIN 1
- RECORD: 60-35 (.632); tied for first place with Pittsburgh
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