CY Young's Opening Day No Hitter

Cy Young(1-0) thrilled the fans at Huntington Ave Grnds as he crafted a no-hit
masterpiece against the Washington Senators.  The Boston Red Sox won by a
final score of 1 to 0.
 
Young gave the home town fans an afternoon that they'll never forget.  He
walked 2 Washington batters.  What a day for the fans.  They were on the edge
of their seats from the 7th inning on.  With every out, the electricity in
the air mounted.  Boston managed 7 hits in their victory.  
 
Charlie Smith(0-1) was hit with the loss.  He pitched 8 innings giving up 7
hits and 3 walks. 'I gave it everything I had. It's probably the greatest day
of my life,' Young said. 'I was out there focusing on my catcher's glove,
that's all. I just concentrated on pitching my game.'

BOXSCORE: 1908 Washington Senators At 1908 Boston Red Sox            4/14/1908
 
  Senators           AB  R  H RBI AVG     Red Sox            AB  R  H RBI AVG
  O.Pickering CF      4  0  0  0 .000     J.Thoney LF         4  0  0  0 .000  
  B.Ganley LF         3  0  0  0 .000     H.Lord 3B           4  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Delahanty 2B      3  0  0  0 .000     J.McHale CF         4  0  1  1 .250  
  O.Clymer RF         3  0  0  0 .000     D.Gessler RF        3  0  1  0 .333  
  J.Freeman 1B        3  0  0  0 .000     F.Laporte 2B        4  0  2  0 .500  
  G.Street C          2  0  0  0 .000     B.Unglaub 1B        3  0  0  0 .000  
  G.McBride SS        3  0  0  0 .000     H.Wagner SS         4  0  1  0 .250  
  B.Shipke 3B         2  0  0  0 .000     L.Criger C          2  1  1  0 .500  
  C.Smith P           3  0  0  0 .000     C.Young P           3  0  1  0 .333  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      26  0  0  0                 Totals      31  1  7  1
 
 
Senators........ 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  0  0
Red Sox......... 0 0 1  0 0 0  0 0    -  1  7  0
 
Senators (0-1)           IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
C.Smith LOSS(0-1)         8       7   1   1   3   2   0 128   1.13  A1
Totals                    8       7   1   1   3   2   0
 
Red Sox (1-0)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
C.Young WIN(1-0)          9       0   0   0   2   4   0 112   0.00  A1
Totals                    9       0   0   0   2   4   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 32,324 DATE- Monday, April 14th 1908 TIME- Day WEATHER- Bad
T- 1:39
LEFT ON BASE- Senators: 1  Red Sox: 9
DOUBLE PLAYS- Senators: 0  Red Sox: 1
DOUBLES- H.Wagner(1st)
RBIs- J.McHale(1st)
WALKS- G.Street, B.Shipke, D.Gessler, B.Unglaub, L.Criger
STRIKE OUTS- O.Pickering, O.Clymer, J.Freeman, B.Shipke, J.Thoney, C.Young
GIDP- G.McBride
2-out RBI- J.McHale
RLISP 2-out- O.Pickering, D.Gessler, C.Young-2, H.Lord, H.Wagner
 

AL Standings April 14, 1908

LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 1908 National League
 
                                                      ACTUAL-TODATE  ACTUAL-TOTAL
                            WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC# WON LOS  PCT  WON LOS  PCT
1908 St. Louis SLN            1   0 1.000 ----   154     0   1 .000   49 105 .318
1908 New York NYN             1   0 1.000 ----           1   01.000   98  56 .636
1908 Chicago CHN              1   0 1.000 ----           1   01.000   99  55 .643
1908 Boston BON               1   0 1.000 ----           1   01.000   63  91 .409
1908 Pittsburgh PIN           0   1  .000  1.0           1   01.000   98  56 .636
1908 Philadelphia PHN         0   1  .000  1.0           0   1 .000   83  71 .539
1908 Cincinnati CIN           0   1  .000  1.0           0   1 .000   73  81 .474
1908 Brooklyn BRN             0   1  .000  1.0           0   1 .000   53 101 .344

Where is Honus??

The Story of Honus Wagner during the beginning of the 1908 season is one of great interest.

From New York American November 19, 1907

Big, awkward, conscientious, good natured Honus Wagner, steady and strong in his years of baseball lore, this year established a new record for long batting success on the diamond, this being the fifth year that he has held the National League batting title. He won the batting championship with a mark of .350 and the base-running honors with 61 stolen bases.

There is no question that Wagner is the greatest all-round ball player of this or probably any other season.

From New York American December 10, 1907

Hans Wagner, the Pirates' veteran shortstop, will not be in the game next year if he takes his doctor's advice.

'Big Honus' went to see his doctor yesterday. They had a powwow over the big fellows rheumatic shoulder, the man of medicine gave his verdict--quit baseball.

'I'm comfortably fixed financially' he said, 'and I'm ready to quit . . . I am out of professional baseball for good.'

From New York American  December 25, 1907

Since the public came to know that Wagner has rheumatism, every mail and every express wagon brought him hundreds of remedies, and this evening all the medicines were sent to West Penn Hospital, whose superintendent was told to do what pleased with them.

From New York Evening Mail April 1, 1908

Many contradictory stories have been published on why Honus Wagner has been holding out, but Frank Chance says the correct story has never been given the light of day.

According to the 'peerless leader' of Chicago, Wagner's refusal to play was due to trouble with Fred Clarke, the Pirates' manager.

'All this talk about Wagner quitting on account of rheumatism, chicken farm and other things is incorrect.'

'according to my information the whole trouble started over a play at the Polo Grounds last summer. Wagner has always been known as a player who worked for his individual record more than for the welfare of his team. In that game Clarke is said to have told Wagner t make a play in a certain way to help in getting him a much needed run. Honus at first refused, but when ordered to do so went to bat, made one effort as directed and then did exactly opposite from what Clarke told him. His effort failed, and Clarke called him good and hard.'

'From that day forward they have been enemies. I understand Wagner at first refused to joined the Pirates unless Clarke was released, and held out until a few day ago. That Clarke wasn't going was a cinch; it was only a question of what could be done to placate the ire of the big German. That something will be done is evident, and I expect that President Pulliam is taking a hand in getting Wagner in line.'

From New York Evening Mail April 10, 1908

Hans Wagner would take first, second and all the rest of the prizes offered in an off again up against contest. According to the very latest, as observed by the great Honus himself while passing through here last night, he will play for Pittsburgh this season. He was cornered, and after being well pumped admitted he will 'probably consent to help the team out.'

From New York Sun April 12, 1908

Fred Clarke; Without Hans Wagner I must admit I am worried. The Dutchman's decisions to leave have a very bad effect on the team, and may bring out other disappointing consequences. Pittsburgh's team, on pure dope, seems good enough to finish in the first division. As for reaching the top, I would have hopes if Wagner was with us.

NL April 14, 1908

LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 1908 National League
 
                                                      ACTUAL-TODATE  ACTUAL-TOTAL
                            WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC# WON LOS  PCT  WON LOS  PCT
1908 St. Louis SLN            1   0 1.000 ----   154     0   1 .000   49 105 .318
1908 New York NYN             1   0 1.000 ----           1   01.000   98  56 .636
1908 Chicago CHN              1   0 1.000 ----           1   01.000   99  55 .643
1908 Boston BON               1   0 1.000 ----           1   01.000   63  91 .409
1908 Pittsburgh PIN           0   1  .000  1.0           1   01.000   98  56 .636
1908 Philadelphia PHN         0   1  .000  1.0           0   1 .000   83  71 .539
1908 Cincinnati CIN           0   1  .000  1.0           0   1 .000   73  81 .474
1908 Brooklyn BRN             0   1  .000  1.0           0   1 .000   53 101 .344

Check out Detailed box scores at http://forums.delphiforums.com/apbabtl/messages/?msg=45121.32

Replay Digest No.2

What can go wrong, will go wrong, right? Sure enough. It has been quite an adventure getting off the ground with this replay. I have had trouble finding a groove. I need to find a consistent play space. But find my myself moving around too much. I recently purchased Strat-O-Matic and the 1908 season for my stat tracking. I was going to re-enter the data for the 20 or so games I have already rolled, but as I was entering I was bored out of my mind, and couldn't jump forward in the schedule to get rolling. So I'm restarting, whose to complain since rolling is what I love, and this is a long project. I was looking forward to the long weekend and the many games to roll, get some games accumulated, some stats, and sit back in revel in the beauty of my project. 

On Monday my son was sick, and we found out we had some serious plumbing issues that were causing hazardous gas to enter the house. WithStrat as my stat tracker, I'm restricted to my desktop. Normally this would be nice, but with theplumbing issues which has kept me away from home over the holidays my hands are tied. So I had to take my Apba on the road. Guess what? That means I can't roll games that are related to my season since I can't track stats without the dilmea of re-entry. So I'm at a cross roads. I spent the money on Strat, but hate the restriction. I would roll games related to my season, but would have to endure the entry that I dread. So once the I get the plumbing fixed I can return home, but that comes with a prices of chores left undone. So my Thanksgivng roll-a-thon is practically shot. However, the best thing about being a teacher is the 2 week Christmas break.

This brings me to a major question. Which is better? Paper or electronic entry? I spend a lot of time reading The Sporting Life rebuilding lineups I want to do manual entry but don't have the time nor the patience to tally up stats. Iscore is nice but not for keeping detailed stats. This is certainly a case of "you can't have your cake and eat it too."  

Game 2: April 14, 1908 CHC @ CIN

BOXSCORE: 1908 Chicago Cubs At 1908 Cincinnati Reds                 4/14/1908
 
  Cubs               AB  R  H RBI AVG     Reds               AB  R  H RBI AVG
  J.Slagle CF         4  0  0  0 .000     M.Huggins 2B        3  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Sheckard LF       4  0  0  0 .000     H.Lobert LF         4  0  0  0 .000  
  W.Schulte RF        3  0  1  0 .333     M.Mitchell RF       1  0  0  0 .000  
  F.Chance 1B         4  0  0  0 .000     J.Ganzel 1B         4  0  0  0 .000  
  H.Steinfeldt 3B     3  1  1  0 .333     A.Schlei C          4  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Evers 2B          3  0  0  0 .000     M.Mowrey 3B         3  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Tinker SS         3  0  1  1 .333     D.Paskert CF        3  0  1  0 .333  
  J.Kling C           2  0  0  0 .000     R.Hulswitt SS       2  0  1  0 .500  
  O.Overall P         3  0  0  0 .000     B.Ewing P           2  0  0  0 .000  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      29  1  3  1                 Totals      26  0  2  0
 
 
Cubs............ 0 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 0  -  1  3  0
Reds............ 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  2  0
 
Cubs (1-0)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
O.Overall WIN(1-0)        9       2   0   0   4   4   0 140   0.00
Totals                    9       2   0   0   4   4   0
 
Reds (0-1)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
B.Ewing LOSS(0-1)         9       3   1   1   2   1   0 130   1.00
Totals                    9       3   1   1   2   1   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 26,291 DATE- Tuesday, April 14th 1908 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 1:35
LEFT ON BASE- Cubs: 3  Reds: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Cubs: 1  Reds: 0
RBIs- J.Tinker(1st)
STOLEN BASES- J.Tinker(1st), D.Paskert(1st)
SACRIFICE HITS- M.Huggins, B.Ewing
WALKS- W.Schulte, J.Kling, M.Mitchell-3, R.Hulswitt
STRIKE OUTS- J.Slagle, M.Huggins, A.Schlei-2, B.Ewing
GIDP- J.Ganzel
2-out RBI- J.Tinker
RLISP 2-out- O.Overall, H.Lobert-3, M.Mowrey
 
Orval Overall didn't allow a hit until the 6th inning as the Chicago Cubs
bested the Cincinnati Reds 1 to 0 at Palace of the Fans.
 
Overall(1-0) was simply too much for the Cincinnati batters.  He gave up just
2 hits and 4 walks in 9 innings.  The right-handed Overall lost a no-hitter
when Rudy Hulswitt singled with nobody out in the 6th inning.  Chicago had
only 3 hits for the afternoon.  
 
Bob Ewing(0-1) was given the loss.  He gave up only 3 hits and 2 walks in 9
innings.

Game 1: April 14, 1908 Opening Day

Game 1: April 14, 1908

0
(0-1)

4
(1-0)

  

BOXSCORE: 1908 Boston Doves At 1908 Brooklyn Superbas               4/14/1908
 
  Doves              AB  R  H RBI AVG     Superbas           AB  R  H RBI AVG
  J.Bates LF          4  0  0  1 .000     H.Pattee 2B         4  0  0  0 .000  
  G.Browne RF         5  0  2  0 .400     B.Maloney CF        3  0  0  0 .000  
  G.Beaumont CF       4  1  1  0 .250     H.Lumley RF         4  0  0  0 .000  
  D.McGann 1B         4  1  1  1 .250     T.Jordan 1B         3  0  1  0 .333  
  C.Ritchey 2B        4  0  1  0 .250     W.Alperman 3B       3  0  0  0 .000  
  B.Dahlen SS         4  0  1  1 .250     J.Hummel LF         3  0  0  0 .000  
  B.Sweeney 3B        4  0  0  0 .000     P.Lewis SS          2  0  0  0 .000  
  F.Bowerman C        4  0  0  0 .000     L.Ritter C          3  0  1  0 .333  
  I.Young P           4  2  2  0 .500     N.Rucker P          2  0  0  0 .000  
                                        A-T.Sheehan PH        1  0  0  0 .000  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      37  4  8  3                 Totals      28  0  2  0
 
A-Pinch Hit For Rucker In 9th Inning
 
Doves........... 0 0 1  0 1 0  0 2 0  -  4  8  1
Superbas........ 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  2  2
 
Doves (1-0)              IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
I.Young WIN(1-0)          9       2   0   0   2   3   0  97   0.00
Totals                    9       2   0   0   2   3   0
 
Superbas (0-1)           IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
N.Rucker LOSS(0-1)        9       8   4   3   3   7   0 161   3.00
Totals                    9       8   4   3   3   7   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 19,738 DATE- Tuesday, April 14th 1908 TIME- Day WEATHER- Average
T- 1:45
LEFT ON BASE- Doves: 9  Superbas: 3
DOUBLE PLAYS- Doves: 2  Superbas: 0
ERRORS- J.Bates, T.Jordan, J.Hummel
DOUBLES- G.Beaumont(1st)
TRIPLES- I.Young-2
RBIs- J.Bates(1st), D.McGann(1st), B.Dahlen(1st)
WALKS- J.Bates, G.Beaumont, D.McGann, B.Maloney, P.Lewis
STRIKE OUTS- G.Browne, G.Beaumont, D.McGann, C.Ritchey, F.Bowerman-2, I.Young,
             B.Maloney, J.Hummel, P.Lewis
GIDP- W.Alperman
RLISP 2-out- G.Beaumont, F.Bowerman-2, D.McGann-3
 
Irv Young allowed only 2 hits resulting in a big goose egg on the scoreboard
for Brooklyn as the Boston Doves topped the Brooklyn Superbas by a score of 4
to 0 at Washington Park.
 
Young(1-0) was on top of his game.  He was stingy on the mound, allowing just
2 hits and 2 walks in 9 innings.  Boston had a total of 8 hits for the game.
 
Nap Rucker(0-1) ended up with the loss.  'He was moving it around and spotting
it very well.' Brooklyn's manager said.  Young pitched a great game. He
deserves all the credit.'

Replay Digest 1908 APBA No.1

 Well, it has been a slow start, but that is fine. I'm in no real hurry. I plan on playing the entire season, every game, every team. That is 1120 games, not including the World Series. The first thing was to align rosters for opening day. When the set came in I had to go to Restrosheet and search out ML transactions.  I was amazed at the amount of transactions. The best thing is that teams didn't trade across leagues. Most players were either sold or traded within their own league.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to incorporate my game recaps. I may just pick a game of the day and include the rest of the box scores. It is a bit daunting, but that’s the fun, right? I'm using this replay to practice writing. Ever since I left school last winter I haven’t done much writing. My skills have slacked. I need a reason to write. I've always had a love hate relationship with writing. It has been the hardest thing for me to continue since I left school.

My biggest chore during the early stages are the line-ups. I wanted to stay true to the managers by using their line-ups. I know APBA supplies ideal line-ups but when you are trying to play a detailed replay you have to rely on Retrosheet. Well, guess what Retrosheet does not have the line-ups for the 1908 season. I have a Deadball era book that has ideal line-ups similar to what APBA supplies, but that is not what I'm looking for. SABR has several resources including The New York Evening Telegram for the entire 1908 season. However, that only supplied me with the New York teams and their opponents on that day. G.H. Fleming's book The Unforgettable Season doesn't include line-ups, but it offers something of a tenor of the time. The American league was not a focus to the mainstream fans. You can find information on the Cubs, Giants, Superbas. The Highlanders were starting to catch on, but what about the majority of the American League? Truly a junior circuit in the eyes of most Americans. So I thought I will never find a valid resource for line-ups in the American League.

The other day, I stumbled on golden nugget through the SABR research website through a link for Baseball Magazine. After searching many pages of Baseball Magazine, it was apparent that Baseball Magazine was more interested in Football in 1908. However, I saw a listing for Sporting Life. I found every issue 1883 to 1917, and round about page 8 in each issue is box scores for the week. The Sporting Life includes daily line-ups and game recaps for every game both American and National Leagues. So now we can load up the coal and get the trains rolling. I hope to have an Opening Day recap in the next digest.


Onward!!!

Let the Craziness Begin!!!!

1908 Opening Day Schedule

April 14, 1908

National League

Boston Doves @ Brooklyn Superbas

Washington Park

New York Giants @ Philadphia Phillies

Chicago Cubs @ Cincinatti Reds

Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals

American League

Washington Senators @ Boston Redsox

Philadephia Athletics @ New York Highlanders

St. Louis Browns @ Cleveland Naps

Detroit Tigers @ Chicago Whitesox

The American League 1908

http://billsportsmaps.com

The National League 1908

http://billsportsmaps.com

Preseason notes

When the Giants open the season New York baseball enthusiasts will watch with much interest the working of the infield. John McGraw has made many changes, and the biggest have been in the infield.

At first base, where Dan McGann reached for wide ones and scooped up  low ones for years, Fred Tenney will be in command. The veteran Boston player is a left-hander and one of the best first baseman in the game. Though a fast man in the infield, he is at his best at-bat on the bases. All the fine points of the game are at his command, and he is a past master at advancing a runner. 

At present it is undecided who will cover second base. It lies between two youngsters, Larry Doyle and Fred Merkle. In build they are entirely different. Doyle is short and stocky, Merkel tall and lanky. Doyle played second with the Giants in sixty-odd games last year. He was green, but his work was satisfactory. Since he has been in the south he has shown much improvement. Merkle plays best at first base, but that position is well covered. McGraw likes Merkle. He will find something for him to do, and second base is the weakest point on the team. Therefore Merkle is getting his chief practice there. Doyle will probably be the regular and Merkel general utility man.

Al Brideell will play shortstop. In the territory where Bill Dahlen held forth so many years the young Boston player is expected to do some fast work this year. He outclasses Dahlen in every department of the game. Bridewell is coming, but Dahlen has almost reached his limit of usefulness. 

The only veteran Giant in the infield will be Arthur Delvin, at third base. For steady, reliable playong he has few superiors. This is the sixth year in the New York uniform, and he is faster than ever. Devlyn is a hard worker, and his playing is filled with ginger.

                             —New York Tribune

Note on Mordecai Brown's arm as we approach opening Day

From I.E. Sanborn's dispatch in the April 12, 1908 Chicago Tribune:

The indications are the Cubs must start their battle at Cincinnati the day after tomorrow with a patched lineup and without the services of Steinfeldt and Sheckard, although the injury of neither player is expected to keep him out of the game long enough to prove a serious handicap. More serious is the worry caused by Mordecai Brown’s arm, which has refused to allow a kink to be worked out during the training trip. The sickness of Pfiester’s wife, which has kept the sou’paw from getting much practice this spring, will cut the pitching staff down to Overall, Reulbach, Lundgren, Fraser, and Durbin for the opening weeks of the season, but this quintet out to be able to bear the brunt of the work successfully until Brown and Pfiester are ready to share it.
 

Player Preview: Frank Leroy Chance - Chicago Cubs Manager & First Baseman

Born in Fresno, California, on September 9, 1876, Frank Leroy Chance did not play any true form of organized baseball until his college years at the University of California, where he was pursuing an education in dentistry. It was while playing in an independent league in summer 1897, after transferring to Washington College in Irvington, California, that the right-hander caught the attention of Cubs outfielder Bill Lange. Lange convinced the Cubs management to sign Chance, sight unseen, as a backup catcher and outfielder, and he joined the team in the early spring of 1898. He made an immediate impact his rookie season, batting .279 with 32 runs scored and 14 runs batted in while playing in just 53 games in the majors (he also hit his first of only 20 career home runs, off Washington Senators pitcher Cy Swaim).

Chance continued his stint as a reserve catcher through the 1902 season, always batting slightly below .300 and never playing in over 76 games. This was due primarily to his numerous broken fingers and frequent hand injuries suffered while attempting to corral foul tipped balls. In 1903, when Johnny Kling, one of the best catchers of the era, took over the full responsibilities behind the plate, and regular first baseman Bill Hanlon unexpectedly abandoned the team, manager Frank Selee moved Chance to first base as a temporary replacement until a more suitable fielder could be found. Chance, incensed by being assigned yet another position, threatened retirement but a pay raise helped to mollify any hard feelings. Regardless, the change suited Chance as he played in over 100 games (125) and batted over .300 (.327) for the first time in his career. In addition, it was in 1903 that Chance first made his presence known on the base paths while stealing a National League leading 67 bases. 

When Selee fell seriously ill in midseason 1905, Frank "Husk" Chance, so named because of his husky physical stature (6'0", 190 lbs.), was named manager and led a strong, yet unmotivated Cubs team from National League mediocrity to a third-place finish much to the surprise of the Cubs' faithful. Meanwhile, Chance hit .316 with 92 runs and 70 runs batted in.

The Cubs, now owned by Charles Webb Murphy, retained Chance as both manager and player for the 1906 season. It turned out to be an easy yet brilliant decision on Murphy's part, as Chance led the Cubs to 116 wins en route to an appearance in the World Series, setting a single season win record that was unmatched until the American League's Seattle Mariners tied it in 2001 (while playing ten additional games). Individually, Chance had a career season, batting .319 and leading the National League in both runs (103) and stolen bases (57). It is said that Frank Chance stole "baseball's most expensive base" that season when he stole home from second base--which he had also stolen on the previous pitch--against the Cincinnati Reds to break a late-inning tie, and owner Murphy granted him ten-percent ownership in the club to show his gratitude. Chance later sold his share of the franchise for approximately $150,000.

Using hardnosed tactics and downright stubbornness, Chance bowled over his opponents, and displayed an infamous lack of good sportsmanship that would make the notorious Ty Cobb blush. Chance once incited a riot at the Polo Grounds after physically assaulting opposing pitcher Joe McGinnity, and on more than one occasion tossed beer bottles at fans in Brooklyn when he felt they were being too unruly, or perhaps not unruly enough. For his fighting prowess (he spent several off-seasons working as a prizefighter), old-school boxing legends Jim Corbett and John L. Sullivan both called Chance "the greatest amateur brawler of all time." He made outfielder Solly Hofman postpone his own wedding until the off-season lest marital bliss affect Hofman's playing ability. It was reported that Chance would fine his own players for shaking hands with opposing players, win or lose, and had no qualms about releasing players for failing to meet his demands to the letter. Chance once remarked, "You do things my way or you meet me after the game." Generally, his players complied, and it is no small wonder that he earned yet another nickname, "The Peerless Leader," as he was simultaneously respected and disliked by those who played for him, with him, and against him.

Source:

http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/21604876

More notes:

“The campaign in the National League will be just as easy as it was last year” —Chance on the 1908 season. 

Preseason Preview: The 1907 World Champion Chicago Cubs

"There is only one thing for the world's champions to do this year, and that is to repeat. We have taken two pennants straight with this team, and there is nothing to indicate we will not make it three in a row. We are now on top, and the others are doing the uphill fighting, so it looks like all the more certain for another world's pennant in Chicago." --Frank Chance.

--Vicksburg Mississippi Spring Training Home of the Cubs.

If there ever was a carbon copy of previous season's team it is the 1908 Cubs. Not a single position looks to change from last years World Champions. The Cubs look to repeat their 107 win season. They put up a .704 winning percentage and so far this spring don't look to be any worse for the wear.

Offensively the Cubs led the league in doubles hitting a 162 two baggers last year. The Pitching was dominate. Cubs hurlers led the league in ERA with a 1.73 and shutouts with 32. Frank Chance will trot out the same nine day in day out in 1908 like he has for the past two season.

1908 Likely Starting Lineup

1. J. Slagle, CF
2. J. Sheckard, LF
3. F. Shulte, RF
4. F. Chance, 1B
5. H. Steinfeldt, 3B
6. J. Evers, 2B

7. J. Tinker, SS
8. J. Kling, C
9. O. Overall, P

Home Ballpark:
West Side Park

• Left Field - 340 ft.
• Center Field - 560 ft.
• Right Field - 340 ft.

Interesting note:

Overall made a prediction in 1908, "I believe the new rule prohibiting a pitcher to soiling a glossy ball will greatly increase the hitting department of the game. You can't curve a glossy ball, and in my judgment there will be more pitchers knocked out of the box the coming season than ever before."

APBA 1908 Baseball: The Greatest Replay Ever Played

Welcome. I hope this blog finds you well. I hope you are ready to follow along as I attempt to replay the entire 1908 baseball season. This is an APBA replay. However, I'm taking this replay to the next level. My love for baseball coincides with my love for history. For me history and baseball are locked hand in hand. For me early twentieth-century America has always been a fascinating time. Coming out the nineteenth century and entering a time of complexity Americans were faced with many social and cultural challenge. However, we all can come back to baseball and look at the game and find so much similarity to world that moving on around it.

My love for "The Deadball Era" begins with the film Eight Men Out. It was my first introduction to baseball's past. I fell in love with the on field images of players, their uniforms, the gloves, the style of play, the shine ball, and the on field chatter. Before I discovered APBA, I used to spend countless days in the backyard pretending I was playing for the St. Louis Browns or the Chicago White Sox. I used to make old style gloves out of socks and string. I would bang up against the back of the house trying to run down fly-balls I would throw to myself. I loved the look of warn out grass between the mound and home plate. I always wanted to go back in time and relive the game at its primitive stages. I came across other films, like Cobb, A League of Their Own, The Babe, and Field of Dreams. However my search for the baseball's past has never stopped. I found many books along the way. For example The Glory of Their Times, Cobb, The Unforgettable Season, and Frank Deford's The Old Ballgame. 

After I left my Master's program earlier this year. I wanted to reconnect with my research abilities. Moreover, I wanted it to delve deeper into the game I love. I started playing APBA and found a group on Facebook that are passionate and not afraid to share their love for the game. Each of the memebers were either playing season replays or tournaments or members of leagues. They posted their recaps on the group page. I also found various blogs that are amazing and a joy to read. The APBA blog as well as Scott Fennessy's game recaps from his 1905 replay. I thought, man I want to do that, but also take it to the next level. I want to do a season replay, but also replay each game from that season. How could I do that, while at the same time include a level of historical research? My goal is to use the SABR's vast library of biographies along with many of the books written about "The Deadball Era." The 1908 season was staring me right in the face. There is just enough information out there that can keep the research interesting as well as supplement my replays. Recently a work by Cait N. Murphy, Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History caught my eye, as well as, G.H. Fleming's detailed book with near daily newspaper clippings would add another layer to the text.

I chose 1908 for obvious reasons. Their is so much air around the 1908, a lot written about it but the games are a bit of a mystery. So why not recreate the entire season? APBA allows one to dig deeper into each player and team. APBA allows you to really get know the players from that season. The best part is that these guys are not just the forgettable commoners. They are unique characters that I look forward to following. The pitching duels are going to be amazing. I'm so fortunate that there is a game like APBA that will let me relieve the myth and legends that surround this season. I will attempt to keep the games as realistic as possible. If the game goes 21 innings there is a chance that the starting pitcher will still be in at the end. I will include box scores and score lines for each game. A little bit of info on each game. Feature biographies and information on various players throughout the season and I hope to produce a podcast of games of the week. which will include my commentary of the game being rolled along with tidbits of information on the players as well as descriptions of the ballparks and possibly the cities the games were played in. I was always bummed that retrosheet didn't have the box scores for each game. So this is my chance to recreate those thrills. I'm not promising we will have another bone head play, but it will be exciting to see the season unfold game by game. Stay tuned as the journey is about to begin.



Play Ball!!!