100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 6/18/1921: Yankees Bow To White Sox; Giants Outburst Too Much For Cubs

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 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 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 #57

BOXSCORE: Saturday, June 18, 1921 - BR

Chicago White Sox @ NEW YORK YANKEES

POLO GROUNDS

Red Faber Wins 14th Game; White Sox Take Series Lead

A crowd of 22,000 watches in dismay as Miller Huggins removes Waite Hoyt early in the game.  Wally Schang's triple drives home the first run of the game in the second.  But Hoyt surrenders three runs on three hits and two walks while recording just one out in the fourth.  Alex Ferguson comes in from the bullpen to put out the fire, but not before Ray Schalk, and Ernie Johnson gives Chicago a 3-1 lead.  Third baseman Eddie Mulligan supplies Chicago the insurance they need with a run-scoring double to left field.  In the sixth facing White Sox starter Red Faber, Roger Peckinpaugh hits a leadoff home run to deep left field.  Then leading off the eighth, Peckinpaugh triples and scores on the throw when Babe Ruth grounds out third to first.  But the Yankees score no more.  Faber strikes out Wally Schang and Carl Mays to end the game.  Two-time 20 game-winner Red Faber appears on his way towards another milestone season; he improves to 14-3 with a 2.52 earned run average.  

• FINAL: CHI 4; NYY 3
• RECORD: 34-23 (.596); second place, 1.5 GB of Cleveland

⚾          ⚾          ⚾

GAME #57

BOXSCORE: Saturday, June 18, 1921 - BR

New York Giants @ CHICAGO CUBS

Cubs Park

Giants Tie Series With 11th Inning Outburst

The Giants and Cubs play into extra innings for the third time in four games.  A double from Dave Bancroft, a walk to Frankie Frisch, and another double off the bat of Ross Youngs give the Giants a prompt 2-0 lead.  Chicago gets one back in the bottom of the first, then takes a 3-2 lead in the second on a home run by catcher Bob O'Farrell and a run batted in from second baseman Zeb Terry.  Starter Fred Toney does not complete the second.  With Phil Douglas in relief, the score remains unchanged through the sixth.  Chicago starter Lefty York continues on.  With two out and two on in the top of the seventh, High Pockets Kelly drives home Bancroft with the tying run, and into extra innings, they go.  Manager Johnny Evers sends York out for the eleventh.  Perhaps, a mistake.  He allows York to yield seven runs on six hits, two for extra bases, and two walks, without making a move.  Art Nehf retires the Cubs in the bottom of the eleventh to close out the Giants victory.  Phil Douglas earns the win, and the Giants even up the series at two.

• FINAL: NYG 10; CHI 3
• RECORD: 35-22 (.614); second place, 4.0 GB of Pittsburgh

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 5/19/1921: Cubs Snap Giants Streak; Yankees Trounce White Sox

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 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 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 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.  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!

⚾

GAME #29

BOXSCORE: Thursday, May 19, 1921 - BR

Chicago Cubs @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Cubs Stay Step Ahead of Giants

After two exhilarating victories, the Giants seemingly lack requisite vigor and thus lag behind Chicago, who even the series at one.   Making only his third appearance of the season, Virgil Cheeves surrenders two runs on two hits and four walks in 2.1 innings work.  With one out in the third, Cheeves loads the bases.  Manager Johnny Evers brings in Lefty York, who unleashes a wild pitch permitting George Burns to score from third.  However, York would continue on through the ninth, striking out four in a row at one point.  High Pockets Kelly drives home a run in the eighth, but the Giants score no more.  Lefty York is charged with one run on three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts over the final 6.2 innings for the victory.  The Giants managed just five hits, two each by George Kelly and George Burns, and one by Dave Bancroft.  Art Nehf takes the loss.  He allows five runs, but only two are earned, with three walks and three strikeouts through seven innings.  Nehf also commits one of three Giants errors.  As a consequence of Thursday's effort, New York's consecutive game-winning streak ends at eight.

• FINAL: CHI 5; NYG 3
• RECORD: 20-9 (.690); second place, 2.5 GB of Pittsburgh

 l; Woods County Enterprise (Oklahoma)

r; New York Herald (New York, New York)

National League Considering Rosin Bag For Pitchers

GAME #27

BOXSCORE: Thursday, May 19, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Comisky Park

Fifth Inning Outbreak Dooms White Sox

Chicago surely possesses the wherewithal to overcome a four-run deficit.  They demonstrate that in the bottom half of the fifth inning.  What happens in the top half of the frame is another matter entirely.  Already nursing a four-run lead, the Yankees erupt for seven runs en route to an 11-4 trouncing of the White Sox.  Wally Pipp's two-run triple and Bob Meusel's double in the first inning gave the New Yorkers a prompt 3-0 lead.  Aaron Ward's sacrifice fly scores Meusel in the fourth.  After Braggo Roth homers leading off the fifth, the roof caves in on Chicago.  The Yankees batter three White Sox pitchers for another five hits and six runs.  Wally Pipp, Home Run Baker, and Wally Schang all drive in runs.  Starter Waite Hoyt also helps his cause with a run batted in.  On the mound, the Brooklynite limits Chicago to three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts for his third victory of the season with a 2.90 ERA.  White Sox catcher Ray Schalk drives home two runs.  Babe Ruth finishes the game 1 for 3 and is now 1 for 8 for the series.  Drawing the ire of Miller Huggins since the series finale at Cleveland, one must only look at the standings for the reason why.

• FINAL: NYY 11; CHI 4
• RECORD: 16-11 (.593); second place, 1.0 GB of Cleveland

100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 5/18/1921: Earl Smith Ninth Inning Homer Thwarts Cubs; White Sox Rout Yankees at Comisky

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 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 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 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.  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!

⚾

GAME #28

BOXSCORE: Wednesday, May 18, 1921 - BR

Chicago Cubs @ NEW YORK GIANTS

POLO GROUNDS

Earl Smith Hits Ninth Inning Game-Winning Home Run; Giants Extend Win Streak to Eight

With the Cubs clinging to a one-run lead through seven, starter Buck Freeman authors his own demise by plunking pinch-hitter Eddie Brown leading off the eighth, then issuing two walks loading the bases.  Manager Johnny Evers summons Lefty York from the bullpen, who proceeds to walk High Pockets Kelly and Frank Snyder, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead.  For the top half of the ninth, Mister McGraw replaces starter Rube Benton with righty Phil Douglas who walks the first batter he faces, then with one out walks another.  Mister McGraw would have none of it; out goes Douglas, and into the game comes Slim Salle.  With two outs, shortstop Charlie Hollocher's infield hit to first scores the tying run.  Leading off the bottom of the ninth, catcher Earl Smith homers to deep right field off reliever Speed Martin ends the game - just as Curt Walker had done one day ago.  The Giants take the series opener and extend their winning streak to eight games.  They also become the only second team in either league to achieve 20 victories to date.

• FINAL: CHI 2; NYG 3
• RECORD: 20-8 (.714); second place, 1.5 GB of Pittsburgh

⚾

GAME #26

BOXSCORE: Wednesday, May 18, 1921 - BR

New York Yankees @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Comisky Park

White Sox Mount Twelve Hit Attack; Veteran Red Faber Handles the Rest

Outside of a mild retort in the seventh, the Yankees have no answer for two-time 20-game winner Red Faber and the host White Sox.  Making his tenth appearance, the veteran Faber limits New York to a pair of runs on just five hits and four walks with three strikeouts over nine innings complete.  He improves to 7-2 with a 1.22 earned run average.  Aaron Ward is hit with a pitch leading off the seventh, then scored on the double by Chicken Hawks, who would also score when Roger Peckinpaugh bounces into a double-play.  All three Yankees hurlers took their lumps, yielding a total of 12 runs (only one unearned) on twelve hits and seven walks.  Starter Jack Quinn takes the loss.  Chicago's second baseman Eddie Collins leads the assault, going 4 for 5 with two runs batted in; right fielder Harry Hooper was 2 for 5 with two runs scored.  Left fielder Babe Ruth follows yesterday's focus-lacking performance with a muted 0 for 5 effort at the plate and therein lies Muller Huggins' consternation: with today's loss, the Yankees relinquish their half share of first place to fall one full game behind the Indians.  In fairness, Bob Meusel and Home Run Baker were likewise held hitless.  Said another way, today's series opener is an instance where it's perhaps best to just render Red Faber due credit.

• FINAL: NYY 2; CHI 12
• RECORD: 15-11 (.577); second place, 1.0 GB of Cleveland