100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 9/5/1921: Red Shea Salvages Twin Bill Split for Giants; Ruth Hits Number 51, Yanks Split at Fenway Park

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.  

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 #132

BOXSCORE GAME ONE: Monday, September 5, 1921 - BR

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Braves Overtake Giants in Opener

Fred Toney and Boston's Mule Watson duel through four scoreless innings.  Afterwhich, Toney takes matters into his own hands with a home run leading off the fifth.  In the sixth, Frank Snyder singles home Bob Meusel, followed by George Burns' two-run triple, giving the Giants 4-0 lead.  But Boston fortunes change for the better.  Lloyd Christenbury leads off the home seventh with a home run, and a sacrifice fly by Tony Boeckel pulls the Braves within two.  After surrendering two hits and a walk in the seventh, Fred Toney is removed in favor of Slim Salle.  Right fielder Billy Southworth greets the Giant reliever with a double to right field, scoring two; Walter Barbare and Tony Boeckel drive in runs giving the Braves a 6-4 lead.  High Pockets Kelly knocks in a run in the home ninth, but the Giants fall short.  Fred Toney is denied his 16th victory, while Garland Braxton earns the win in relief.

• FINAL: BOS 6; NYG 4

⚾

GAME #133

BOXSCORE GAME TWO: Monday, September 5, 1921

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

McGraw's Reinforcements Lead Giants in Second Tilt for a Split

Red Shea once again demonstrates the worth of his purchase price with a much-needed victory over the Braves.  Making only his fifth appearance this season, and for the last three seasons, Shea outduels Jack Scott as the Giants achieve a twin bill split and keep pace with Pittsburgh, who likewise split games of a doubleheader with Cincinnati.  Despite yielding 13 hits, Shea holds the Braves to three runs and one walk to earn his third victory.  Boston jumps ahead in the first, but Dave Bancroft ties the game in the third.  Key acquisition Irish Meusel knocks home two in the third, and Red Shea, in turn, drives home Meusel for a 4-1 lead.  Boston recovers two runs in the fifth.  Otherwise, Red Shea holds the Braves scoreless over the final four frames.  With the victory, the Giants join Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and the Yankees in the 80-win club.

• FINAL: BOS 3; NYG 4
• RECORD: 80-53 (.602); second place, 1.0 GB of Pittsburgh

⚾

GAME #126

BOXSCORE GAME ONE: Monday, September 5, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ BOSTON RED SOX

Fenway Park

Bob Shawkey Hurls Gem at Fenway Park

Bob Shawkey hurls his most important game this season to date, limiting the Red Sox to eight hits and one walk in a complete-game shutout effort.  The Yankees score both early and late.  Facing Boston's Sad Sam Jones, Bob Meusel and Wally Pipp stake Shawkey to a 3-0 lead in the first.  The score remains unchanged through the sixth.  Shawkey singles and scored on Babe Ruth's triple to the right/center field gap in the home seventh.  Bob Meusel and Wally Pipp again drive in runs, giving the Yankees a 6-0 lead.  Bob Meisel drives home his third run of the game in the eighth, giving him 113 runs batted in for the season, and when Wally Pipp gets caught in a rundown off first base, Meusel scores from third.  With two runners in scoring position in the ninth, Bob Shawkey protects his shutout with a fine play on comebacker hit by Everett Scott.  After a walk to Muddy Ruel, Shawkey induces Sammy Vick into a game-ending 6-4-3 double-play.  For Bob Shawkey, his second shutout this season.  He improves to 15-10 with a 3.85 ERA.  For the Yankees, their seventh consecutive win.

• FINAL: NYY 8; BOS 0

⚾

GAME #127

BOXSCORE GAME TWO: Monday, September 5, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ BOSTON RED SOX

Fenway Park

Ruth Hits Number 51, But Red Sox Salvage Twin Bill Split

The Yankees muster little against sophomore right-hander Benn Karr who limits the Yankees to one run on just four hits and two walks for his sixth victory this season.  Babe Ruth hits his 51st home run, but it goes for naught.  Roger Peckinpaugh, Bob Meusel, and starter Rip Collins account for the Yankees' only other hits, all singles.  Boston takes both Rip Collins and Jack Quinn to the task.  Collins allows six runs on eight hits and two walks in 5.1 innings pitched for the loss, while Jack Quinn yields another two runs in relief on five hits and one base on balls in 1.2 innings.  Second baseman Del Pratt leads the Red Sox going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored.  

• FINAL: NYY 2; BOS 8
• RECORD: 80-47 (.630); First Place, 1.5 GA of Cleveland 

100 YEARS AT THE POLO GROUNDS 9/4/1921: Braves Defeat Giants In Series Opener; Yankees En Route to Fenway Park

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.  

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!

Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona), 

Monday, September 5, 1918

GAME #131

BOXSCORE: Sunday, September 4, 1921 - BR

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Joe Oeschger Greets Old Friends; Billy Southworth Strikes Decisive Blow Against Art Hehf

In the midst of his best season, National League veteran and one-time New York Giant until John McGraw included him in the trade to acquire Art Hehf, right-hander Joe Oeschger holds his former team to three runs on eight hits and two walks en route to his twentieth win this season against seven losses with a 3.25 ERA.  Earl Smith drives home High Pockets Kelly in the second, and Frankie Frisch triples home Dave Bancroft in the third.  But Boston jumps ahead with three runs in the visitor's fourth.  Earl Smith then ties the game in the bottom half of the frame with his ninth home run this season.  Handed a clean slate entering the fourth, Art Nehf yields a three-run home run to right fielder Billy Southworth, 

giving Oeschger and the Boston Braves a 6-3 lead and the final margin of victory.  With 28,000 bewildered fans looking on, Art Nehf surrenders six earned runs on eight hits in only 4.1 innings pitched for the loss.  Slim Salle and Red Causey joined together on 4.2 scoreless innings in relief of Nehf.  Tied no more - with Pittsburgh's extra-inning victory over the Reds, the Giants again fall back into second place.

• FINAL: BOS 6; NYG 3
• RECORD: 79-52 (.603); second place, 1.0 GB of Pittsburgh

Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona), 

Monday, September 5, 1918

Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), 

Monday, September 5, 1921

TRAVEL DAY

Next Game: Monday, September 5, 1921

New York Yankees @ BOSTON RED SOX

Fenway Park

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 7/3/1921: Giants Sweep Twin Bill From Braves; John McGraw's New Acquisitions Pay Early Dividends

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 still harbored much animosity two full decades later, 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 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 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 in a decade at the turnstile.

Then, in 1920, baseball's tectonic plates along the New York/New England fault shift.  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 more so 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, 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—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the start of 1921 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 #67

BOXSCORE: Sunday, July 3, 1921 - BR

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

John McGraw's New Acquisitions Shine In Giants Win

After three straight days of being idle at Boston, a change of site was in order, and today finally, the Giants hosted the Braves at the Polo Grounds.  On the one hand, Boston starter Hugh McQuillan can only scratch his head and ponder the what-if.  He allows two unearned runs on just six hits and no walks with two strikeouts in a losing effort.  Hod Ford triples, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead in the second.  Errors by shortstop Walter Barbare in the third and Billy Southworth in the seventh lead to the tying and decisive runs.  On the other hand, John McGraw walks away from game one's victory with a sense of vindication, having recently traded Goldie Rapp to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for infielder Johnny Rawlings and outfielder Casey Stengel.  It is speedy Johnny Rawlings who crosses the plate in the third and singles in the seventh, scoring Casey Stengel with help from a misplay in right.  Art Nehf allows one run on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts for his ninth victory this season.

• FINAL: PHI 1; NYG 2

⚾

GAME #68

BOXSCORE: SUNDAY, JULY 3, 1921 - BR

Boston Braves @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Make-Up: June 30, 1921

George Burns and Dave Bancroft Take Jesse Barnes Off The Hook; Giants Sweep Twin Bill

The Giants scored early, often, and late en route to a commanding 10-5 victory and sweep of Sunday's twin bill.  In the first, Ross Youngs drives home Frankie Frisch, and George Burns follows with a triple in the second, scoring two.  Left fielder Walton Cruise homers off Giants starter Jesse Barnes in the fourth, making it a 3-1 game.  Boston then jumps ahead in the sixth with four runs on five hits highlighted by Hod Ford's home run giving the Braves a 5-3 lead.  Curt Walker singles home Johnny Rawlings, and Dave Bancroft drives home two runs giving the Giants a 6-5 lead.  Not yet done, the Giants post four more runs in the seventh; Curt Walker plates one, George Burns drives home two, and Dave Bancroft triples, scoring Burns for the Giants' final margin of victory.  All told, Burns leads the Giants with four runs batted in, and Bancroft drives home three.  Jesse Barnes allows five earned runs on ten hits and four walks through six innings pitched.  Rube Benton and Slim Salle join for three scoreless innings in relief of Barnes.

• FINAL: BOS 5; NYG 10
• RECORD: 42-26 (.618); second place, 4.5 GB of Pittsburgh 

 

New York Tribune

NEXT GAME:

Monday, July 4, 1921, *doubleheader

Philadelphia Athletics @ NEW YORK YANKEES

POLO GROUNDS 

It was not lost upon John McGraw that on Saturday the Yankees drew 36,000 fans to the Polo Grounds for their twin bill against the Red Sox, nor the fact that it is Babe Ruth they come to see in greater numbers rather than, say, Frankie Frisch, Dave Bancroft, or High Pockets Kelly.  For Sunday's doubleheader against the Braves, albeit relocated from Boston due to weather conditions, the Giants drew 28,000 fans.  Lest we forget, that on a Wednesday, April 13, the Yankees drew 37,000 fans to the Polo Grounds for their Opening Day contest against the A's.  Whereas the Giants, on Thursday, April 21, drew just 25,000 fans for their Opening Day contest against the Phillies.

--------

While it seems Miller Huggins is everlong chapped with Babe Ruth, the Yankees manager himself is coming under scrutiny.  Why the Yankees trail the Indians by two games is not in question.  Why the Yankees are not leading the circuit by two games is.  After Carl Mays and Waite Hoyt, pitching has become somewhat problematic for the Highlanders.  Scuttlebutt says Miller Huggins is exacerbating the situation.  Over the last ten games, not once has the Hugman utilized any pitcher out of the bullpen, including losses.

---------

With 30 home runs this season, Babe Ruth is just five away from tying Roger Connor's all-time mark of 138 home runs amassed over 18 seasons.  Babe Ruth this year turned 26-years old and has led all of baseball in home runs in each of his last three seasons.  Most noted for his years playing with the Troy Trojans and New York Giants - also not lost on John McGraw - Roger Connor hit his last home run during the 1897 season while with the St. Louis Browns.  Earlier this season, Babe Ruth shattered  Gavvy Cravath's 20th-century mark of 119 career home runs.  Six times as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Cravath led the National League in home runs, and three times led all of baseball.  After leading the senior circuit again in 1919, Cactus Cravath, in 1920, hit the final home run of his career.

100 Years Ago Today 5/25/1920: Pirates Hal Carlson Silences Brooklyn Robins at Forbes Field

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #28: Tuesday, May 25, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

Pittsburgh's Hal Carlson Tosses Three-Hitter; Robins Slip to Fourth Place

Following the leads of teammate Elmer Ponder on Sunday, and Brooklyn's Al Mamaux in yesterday's match, Pirates right-hander Hal Carlson takes his turn denying the opposition any meaningful production in a series so far marked by superb starting efforts on behalf of both clubs.  Carlson faces just 31 batters, allowing the Robins no runs on just three hits and one walk with four strikeouts for his third victory of the season.  Leon Cadore is Brooklyn's hard luck loser, yielding two runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts through eight innings pitched.  Cadore also accounts for one of Brooklyn's three scattered hits, Zack Wheat and Pete Kilduff the others.  Wheat triples to right leading off the top of the fifth, but when Ed Konetchy grounds into a fielder's choice Wheat is thrown out at home by third baseman Possum Whitted.  Pirates second baseman George Cutshaw reaches safely leading off the bottom of the fifth when Ivy Olson mishandles a ground ball to the right side.  Right fielder Billy Southworth's sacrifice bunt advances Cutshaw to second, who then races home on catcher Walter Schmidt's ground ball single to left.  The Pirates resort to thievery for an insurance run in the sixth.  Max Carey leads off with a double, and is then bunted over to third by Southworth.  With Possum Whitted at the plate, Carey puts his wheels in motion as Cadore delivers to the plate.  Whitted successfully completes the suicide squeeze with a bunt up the first base line.  With the loss Brooklyn slips down to fourth place one half game behind the Cubs, while the Pirates and Reds remain tied for first place.

• RECORD: 15-12
• 4th place; 1.5 GB