1.
American League
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The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League, is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a league based in the Great Lakes states. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season,25 years after the formation of the National League. At the end of season, the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion. Through 2016, American League teams have won 64 of the 112 World Series played since 1903, the 2016 American League champions are the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles, the most in the history, followed by the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. Originally a minor league known as the Western League, the American League later developed into a major league after the American Association disbanded, in its early history, the Western League struggled until 1894, when Ban Johnson became the president of the league. Johnson led the Western League into major league status and soon became the president of the newly renamed American League, babe Ruth, noted as one of the most prolific hitters in Major League Baseball history, spent the majority of his career in the American League. The American League has one notable difference versus the National League, in 1902, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and were renamed the St. Louis Browns. In 1902, The Cleveland Bluebirds were also renamed the Cleveland Broncos, in 1903, the Broncos were renamed the Cleveland Naps. In 1915, the Naps were renamed the Cleveland Indians, in 1903, the Baltimore Orioles moved to New York and were renamed the New York Highlanders. In 1913, the Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees, in 1904, the Chicago White Stockings were renamed the Chicago White Sox. In 1908, the Boston Americans were renamed the Boston Red Sox, in 1954, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and were renamed as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City and were renamed as the Kansas City Athletics, in 1961, the league expanded and added two teams as the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators, expanding the league to 10 teams. The original Senators team moved to Minneapolis/St, Paul in 1961 and were renamed as the Minnesota Twins. The Angels team name changed to the California Angels in 1966, then to the Anaheim Angels in 1997, the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots were added to the American League, expanding the league to 12 teams. In 1970, the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee and were renamed the Milwaukee Brewers, in 1972, the Washington Senators relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and were renamed the Texas Rangers. In 1977, the league expanded to fourteen teams, when the Seattle Mariners, in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays was added to the American League and at the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers were switched to the National League, leaving the American League with 14 teams
2.
Shibe Park
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Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a baseball park located in Philadelphia. It was the home of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League, when it opened April 12,1909, it became baseballs first steel-and-concrete stadium. In different eras it was home to The $100,000 Infield, The Whiz Kids, Shibe Park stood on the block bounded by Lehigh Avenue, 20th Street, Somerset Street and 21st Street. It was five blocks west, corner-to-corner, from the Baker Bowl, the stadium hosted eight World Series and two MLB All-Star Games, in 1943 and 1952, with the latter game holding the distinction of being the only All-Star contest shortened by rain. In May 1939, it was the site of the first night game played in the American League, Phillies Hall-of-Fame centerfielder and longtime broadcaster Richie Ashburn remembered Shibe Park, It looked like a ballpark. It had a feeling and a heartbeat, a personality that was all baseball, when as many as 28,000 showed up to fill the 9,500 wooden bleacher seats, Shibe and partner Connie Mack decided the As needed a new place to play. He searched for a site for his new park and found one on Lehigh Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, five blocks west of Baker Bowl, straddling the neighborhoods known as Swampoodle and Goosetown. It was still primitive at the time, an area of high bluffs, rain-washed gullies, quagmires, open fields, even ponds where chickens pecked. Although a grid of streets was planned for the area, few actually existed, without the hospital, the areas stigma would eventually dissipate, but at the time, the land was still a bargain. He spent a total of $67,500 on seven land packages totaling 5.75 acres, for the design and its execution, Shibe hired William Steele and Sons. Their engineering staff had worked with the new technology of steel-reinforced concrete, and designed and built the citys first skyscraper, the Steele design for the Shibe façade was in the ornate French Renaissance style, including arches, vaultings, and Ionic pilasters. The souvenir program on Opening Day called it a combination of color. Gabled dormer windows on the upper decks copper-trimmed green-slate mansard roof looked out over the streets below, presiding over all were terra cotta busts of Shibe and Mack above the main entrances on Lehigh and 21st. The signature feature of the design was the octangular tower on the southwest corner. On the ground floor was an entrance lobby. Bobby Shantz, pitcher for the As in their last years at Shibe, Shibe was proud of the egalitarianism of the design, he said it was for the masses as well as the classes. In April 1908, design in hand, the Shibes and the Steeles broke ground, with the resources of the Steele firm, construction was speedy, efficient and completed in time to open the 1909 season. The city was excited about its new ballpark – the Philadelphia Public Ledger called it a palace for fans, American League president Ban Johnson pronounced that Shibe Park is the greatest place of its character in the world
3.
Philadelphia
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In 1682, William Penn, an English Quaker, founded the city to serve as capital of the Pennsylvania Colony. Philadelphia was one of the capitals in the Revolutionary War. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became an industrial center. It became a destination for African-Americans in the Great Migration. The areas many universities and colleges make Philadelphia a top international study destination, as the city has evolved into an educational, with a gross domestic product of $388 billion, Philadelphia ranks ninth among world cities and fourth in the nation. Philadelphia is the center of activity in Pennsylvania and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The Philadelphia skyline is growing, with a market of almost 81,900 commercial properties in 2016 including several prominent skyscrapers. The city is known for its arts, culture, and rich history, Philadelphia has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city. Fairmount Park, when combined with the adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the watershed, is one of the largest contiguous urban park areas in the United States. The 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city helped account for the $10 billion generated by tourism, Philadelphia is the only World Heritage City in the United States. Before Europeans arrived, the Philadelphia area was home to the Lenape Indians in the village of Shackamaxon, the Lenape are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government. They are also called Delaware Indians and their territory was along the Delaware River watershed, western Long Island. Most Lenape were pushed out of their Delaware homeland during the 18th century by expanding European colonies, Lenape communities were weakened by newly introduced diseases, mainly smallpox, and violent conflict with Europeans. Iroquois people occasionally fought the Lenape, surviving Lenape moved west into the upper Ohio River basin. The American Revolutionary War and United States independence pushed them further west, in the 1860s, the United States government sent most Lenape remaining in the eastern United States to the Indian Territory under the Indian removal policy. In the 21st century, most Lenape now reside in the US state of Oklahoma, with communities living also in Wisconsin, Ontario. The Dutch considered the entire Delaware River valley to be part of their New Netherland colony, in 1638, Swedish settlers led by renegade Dutch established the colony of New Sweden at Fort Christina and quickly spread out in the valley. In 1644, New Sweden supported the Susquehannocks in their defeat of the English colony of Maryland
4.
Connie Mack
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Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he records for wins, losses. Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics for the clubs first 50 seasons of play, starting in 1901, before retiring at age 87 following the 1950 season, however, constant financial struggles forced repeated rebuilding of the roster, and Macks teams also finished in last place 17 times. Mack was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, Mack was born Cornelius McGillicuddy in East Brookfield, Massachusetts on December 22,1862. As with many Irish immigrants whose names began with Mc, the McGullicuddys were often referred to as Mack and his parents, Michael McGillicuddy and Mary McKillop, were both immigrants from Ireland. Michael McGillicuddys father was named Cornelius McGillicuddy, and by tradition, Connie is a common nickname for Cornelius, so Cornelius McGillicuddy was called Connie Mack from an early age. Connie Mack never legally changed his name, on the occasion of his marriage at age 48. His nickname on the field was Slats, for his height of 6 feet 2 inches. During the American Civil War, he served with the 51st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Michael McGillicuddy suffered from several ailments as the result of his military service, he was able to work only infrequently, and drew a disability pension. Mack was educated in East Brookfield, and began working summers in local cotton mills at age 9 to help support his family. He quit school after completing the eighth grade at age 14, intending to work full-time to contribute to the familys support and he clerked at a store, worked on local farms, and worked on the production lines of the shoe factories in nearby towns. Mack was also an athlete, and frequently played baseball. In 1879 his skills landed him a place on East Brookfields town team, though younger than his teammates by several years, Mack was the teams catcher and de facto captain. Beginning in 1886, Mack played 10 seasons in the National League and one in the Players League, for a total of 11 seasons in the major leagues, almost entirely as a catcher. Beginning in 1884, he played on minor league teams in the Connecticut cities of Meriden, in the winter of 1889, he jumped to the Buffalo team of the new Players League, the Bisons, investing his entire life savings of $500 in shares in that club. But the Players League went out of business only a year. In December 1890 Mack signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League, as a player, Mack was a light-hitting catcher with a reputation as a smart player, but didnt do anything particularly well as a player. Mack was one of the first catchers to position himself directly behind home plate instead of in front of the backstop, according to Wilbert Robinson, Mack never was mean
5.
Ben Shibe
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Benjamin Franklin Shibe was an American sporting goods and baseball executive who was owner and president of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League from 1901 until his death. He is credited with the invention of the automated stitching machinery to make standardized baseballs, Shibe Park was named in his honor from 1909 to 1954. Shibe died in 1922, and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Shibe was a leader of the local baseball fraternity no later than the 1870s. Prior to purchasing the Athletics, Shibe and his sons worked for A. J. Reach & co, Shibe and his sons bought 50 percent of the Athletics from Charles Somers in 1901. At that time, he was named president, a title he would retain until his death. He took on manager Connie Mack and two sportswriters as part-owners, in 1913, Shibe made Mack a full partner, ceding him complete authority over the baseball side of the operation. When Shibe died in 1922, his sons Tom and John became president and vice-president of the As, however, Mack was now the operating head of the franchise. Tom died in 1936, with John following in 1937 and their heirs would retain a minority stake in the team until 1950. Photograph of Benjamin Shibe, Connie Mack and others at the groundbreaking of Shibe Park in 1908 courtesy Temple University Libraries SABR Biography Ben Shibe at Find a Grave
6.
History of the Philadelphia Athletics
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The Oakland Athletics, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Philadelphia. This article details the history of the Philadelphia Athletics, from 1901 to 1954, see also, Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame The Western League had been renamed the American League in 1900 by league president Bancroft Johnson, and declared itself the second major league in 1901. Johnson created new franchises in the east and eliminated some franchises in the West, Philadelphia had a new franchise created to compete with the National Leagues Philadelphia Phillies. Former catcher Connie Mack was recruited to manage the club, Mack in turn persuaded Phillies minority owner Ben Shibe as well as others to invest in the team, which would be called the Philadelphia Athletics. Mack himself bought a 25% interest, while the remaining 25% was sold to Philadelphia sportswriters Sam Jones, the new league recruited many of its players from the existing National League, persuading them to jump to the American League in defiance of their National League contracts. One of the players who jumped to the new league was second baseman Nap Lajoie and he won the A. L. s first batting title with a.426 batting average, still a league record. The Athletics and the American League received a setback when, on April 21,1902, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court invalidated Lajoies contract with the Athletics and this order, though, was only enforceable in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lajoie was sold to Cleveland, but was out of road games in Philadelphia until the National Agreement was signed between the two leagues in 1903. In the early years, the As established themselves as one of the dominant teams in the new league, winning the A. L. pennant six times and they won over 100 games in 1910 and 1911, and 99 games in 1914. The team was known for its $100,000 Infield, consisting of Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry, Rube Waddell was also a major pitching star for the As in the early 1900s. According to Lamont Buchanan in The World Series and Highlights of Baseball, Plank holds the franchise record for career victories, with 284. In 1909, the As moved into the leagues first concrete-and-steel ballpark. This remains the second and last time in history where a new ballpark was built specifically for the As. Later in the decade, Mack bought the 25% of the stock owned by Jones. Shibe ceded Mack full control over the side while retaining control over the business side. In 1914, the Athletics lost the 1914 World Series to the Miracle Braves in a four-game sweep, Mack traded, sold or released most of the teams star players soon after. In his book To Every Thing a Season, Bruce Kuklick points out there were suspicions that the As had thrown the Series, or at least laid down. Mack himself alluded to that years later, but debunked it
7.
1913 New York Giants season
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The 1913 New York Giants season was the franchises 31st season. It involved the Giants winning the National League pennant for the third consecutive year, led by manager John McGraw, the Giants dominated the NL and finished 12½ games in front of the second place Philadelphia Phillies. They were beaten by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1913 World Series, ace pitcher Christy Mathewson went 25–11 and led the NL with a 2.06 ERA. Rube Marquard and Jeff Tesreau also won over 20 games, taken together with the 1911 and 1912 pennant winners, this team is considered one of the greatest of all-time. The roster was basically unchanged from 1912, september 15,1913, Rule 5 draft Ben Dyer was drafted by the Giants from the Decatur Commodores. Hank Ritter was drafted by the Giants from the Wilmington Chicks, Note, Pos = Position, G = Games played, AB = At bats, H = Hits, Avg. = Batting average, HR = Home runs, RBI = Runs batted in Note, G = Games played, AB = At bats, H = Hits, Avg
8.
1913 World Series
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In the 1913 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the New York Giants four games to one. The As pitching gave the edge to a closer-than-it-looked Series in 1913, the great Christy Mathewson lost his Series swan song in the final game to an old college rival and eventual fellow Baseball Hall of Fame member, Eddie Plank. The Giants thus became the first National League team since the Chicago Cubs to win three consecutive pennants and they were also the second club to lose three consecutive World Series, and, as of 2017, the last to do so. The Series itself was an ironic face-off, as the Giants, the As would win again in a four-game sweep in the 1989 World Series, famous for the earthquake that struck before Game 3, which would be the last World Series victory for the As. AL Philadelphia Athletics vs. NL New York Giants In the opener, frank apparently liked his nickname and wanted to hang on to it. Mathewson and Plank matched craft and guile, and after nine innings it was as it had been at the beginning, in the bottom of the ninth, the Giants had put on a stirring baseball version of the goal-line stand. With none out, the As had Amos Strunk on third, the next batter, Jack Lapp, grounded to first, where Hooks Wiltse, a pitcher, was filling in. Wiltse made a stop and threw home to nab Strunk. With Barry on third now and Lapp on first, Plank grounded to Wiltse and Hooks fired home again, Mathewson retired the next hitter, and the game went into extra innings. The home team won a game, although the visiting Giants made it close in the late innings. So all but one of the five games of the 1913 World Series were won by the visiting team, planks own error in the fifth inning cost him a shutout in the finale. 1913 World Series, Philadelphia Athletics over New York Giants Cohen, Richard M. Neft, the World Series, Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903–1989. Archived from the original on 2008
9.
Bill James
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George William Bill James is an American baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two books devoted to baseball history and statistics. His Baseball Abstract books in the 1980s are the predecessor to websites using sabermetrics such as Baseball Prospectus. In 2006, Time named him in the Time 100 as one of the most influential people in the world and he is a Senior Advisor on Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox. James was born in Holton, Kansas, he never knew his mother and his father was a janitor at a high school. After four years at the University of Kansas residing at Stephenson Scholarship hall and he was the last person in Kansas to be sent to fight in the Vietnam War, although he never saw action there. Instead, he spent two years stationed in South Korea, during which time he wrote to KU about taking his final class and he was told he actually had met all his graduation requirements, so he returned to Lawrence in 1973 with degrees in English and economics. He also finished an Education degree in 1975, likewise from the University of Kansas, an aspiring writer and obsessive fan, James began writing baseball articles after leaving the United States Army in his mid-twenties. Many of his first baseball writings came while he was doing night shifts as a security guard at the Stokely-Van Camps pork, unlike most writers, his pieces did not recount games in epic terms or offer insights gleaned from interviews with players. A typical James piece posed a question, and then presented data and analysis written in a lively, insightful, editors considered Jamess pieces so unusual that few believed them suitable for their readers. In an effort to reach an audience, James began self-publishing an annual book titled The Bill James Baseball Abstract beginning in 1977. The 1978 edition, subtitled The 2nd annual edition of baseballs most informative and imaginative review, the first three editions garnered respect for Jamess work, including a very favorable review by Daniel Okrent in Sports Illustrated. New annual editions added essays on teams and players, by 1982 sales had increased tenfold, and a media conglomerate agreed to publish and distribute future editions. While writers had published books about baseball statistics before, few had reached a mass audience. Attempts to imitate Jamess work spawned a flood of books and articles that continues to this day, in 1988, James ceased writing the Abstract, citing workload-related burnout and concern about the volume of statistics on the market. He has continued to publish books about baseball history, which have sold well. James assistant Rob Neyer was responsible for much of the research, Neyer went on to become a featured baseball columnist at ESPN and SB Nation. The Player Ratings Book offered statistics and 50-word profiles aimed at the fantasy baseball enthusiast, the Bill James Handbook provides past-season statistics and next-season projections for Major League players and teams, and career data for all current Major League players
10.
$100,000 infield
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The $100,000 infield was the infield of the Philadelphia Athletics in the early 1910s. The $100,000 infield consisted of first baseman Stuffy McInnis, second baseman Eddie Collins, shortstop Jack Barry, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, the nickname reflects the purported combined market value of the foursome. Baseball historian Bill James rated the 1914 edition of the $100,000 infield the greatest infield of all time, and also ranked the 1912 and 1913 editions in the top five all time. The $100,000 infield helped the Athletics win four American League championships in five years—1910,1911,1913, the group was broken up after losing the 1914 World Series as a result of the financial pressures resulting from the emergence of the Federal League. Two members—Collins and Baker—have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Collins was the first member of the $100,000 infield to join the Athletics. He debuted on September 17,1906, after playing college ball at Columbia University, in 1906 and 1907, he played 20 games for the Athletics, mostly at shortstop. In 1908, he took over as the Athletics regular second baseman, replacing Danny Murphy, during the $100,000 infield years from 1910 to 1914, he played 738 games, getting 922 hits in 2,677 at bats for a batting average of.344. He led the American League in runs in 1912,1913 and 1914, stolen bases in 1910, singles in 1913 and times on base in 1914. He also finished in the top ten in the American League in batting average, on-base percentage, hits, in addition, he finished in the top ten in American Most Valuable Player voting every year from 1911 through 1914, winning the Most Valuable Player award in 1914. He returned to Mack and the Athletics in 1927, finishing his career playing 12 games for the Athletics in their 1929 and 1930 World Championship seasons and he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939. Barry was the next to join the Athletics, debuting on July 13,1908, between 1910 and 1914, Barry played 686 games for the Athletics, getting 607 hits in 2,334 at bats for a batting average of.260. He finished in the American League top ten in sacrifice hits every year from 1911 through 1914 and he finished in the top 20 in Most Valuable Player voting every year from 1911 through 1914, with his best showing a ninth-place finish in 1913. He was sold to the Boston Red Sox in the middle of the 1915 season and he missed the Red Sox 1918 Championship season due to service in the U. S. Navy. Baker also joined the Athletics in 1908, debuting on September 21 and he became the Athletics regular third baseman in 1909, and led the American League in triples that season. Between 1910 and 1914, Baker played 742 games for the Athletics and he led the American League in home runs every year from 1911 through 1914, and led the league in runs batted in during 1912 and 1913. He finished in the top ten in the American League Most Valuable Player voting every year from 1911 through 1914, finishing third in 1914, his highest showing. Baker was the hero of the 1911 World Series, hitting two home runs to help the Athletics win the series, which earned him the nickname Home Run Baker. Baker held out the 1915 season when manager and owner Connie Mack refused to increase his salary and he finished his career as the third baseman for the Yankees pennant-winning teams in 1921 and 1922
11.
Stuffy McInnis
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John Phalen Stuffy McInnis was a first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. McInnis gained his nickname as a youngster in the Boston suburban leagues, from 1909-27, McInnis played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies. In a 19-season career, McInnis posted a.307 batting average with 20 home runs and 1,062 RBI in 2,128 games, a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, McInnis broke into baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics as a shortstop in 1909. Two seasons later, he replaced Harry Davis at first base as a member of the famous $100,000 infield, teaming up with second baseman Eddie Collins, third baseman Frank Baker and shortstop Jack Barry. As prices and costs rose in later years the tag seemed low, the Athletics were in their prime, winning the American League pennant in 1910,1911,1913 and 1914, and back-to-back World Championships in 1910 and 1911. The $100,000 infield broken up after Collins was sold to the White Sox, Baker went to the Yankees, only McInnis stayed, and he was traded to the Red Sox at the end of the 1917 season. McInnis was part of the Red Sox in the 1918 World Series and he drove in the only run of Babe Ruths 1-0 pitching victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the Series. He joined Cleveland for one season in 1922 before going to the National League in 1923 and he played with the Braves and Pirates, and also managed the Phillies in 1927, his last year in the majors. A good contact line drive hitter, McInnis batted over.300 during 12 of his 19 seasons and his most productive season came in 1912, when he hit.327, though he batted.368 in 59 games for the Pirates champion team in 1925. Extremely hard to strike out, he fanned only 189 times in 7,822 at-bats, in 1921, he struck out only 9 times in 584 at bats. McInnis also excelled in moving ahead with sacrifice hits. His career total of 384 sacrifice hits is third best in MLB history, McInnis also was an especially solid defensive player. He for decades held major league fielding records for first basemen over one season. In 1921, he played in 152 games with the Red Sox and committed one error in 1,651 chances for a.9993 mark. Between May 31,1921, and June 2,1922, on June 25,2007, Kevin Youkilis played in his 120th consecutive game at first base without an error, breaking the prior Red Sox record set in 1921 by McInnis. His streak was snapped at 238 games on June 7,2008, following his retirement as a player, McInnis coached the Norwich University baseball team from 1931 until 1944 and the Harvard baseball team from 1949-54. He died in Ipswich, Massachusetts, at age 69. norwich. edu/89-0/ Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference Baseball Almanac Stuffy McInnis at Find a Grave
12.
Eddie Collins
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Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. nicknamed Cocky, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive. He played from 1906 to 1930 for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox, a graduate of Columbia University, Collins holds major league career records in several categories and is among the top few players in several other categories. Collins coached and managed in the major leagues after retiring as a player and he also served as general manager of the Boston Red Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 and he died several years later after having suffered from heart problems for a number of years. As a native of Millerton, a 384-acre village in Dutchess County, New York and he graduated from Columbia University, at a time when few major league players had attended college. He started his American professional baseball career on September 17,1906 when he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 19, when he signed with the Philadelphia organization, Collins was still a student at Columbia. He played some of his minor league games under the last name of Sullivan so that he could protect his collegiate status. After spending all but 14 games of the 1907 season in the leagues, he played in 102 games in 1908. That season, he registered a.347 batting average and 67 steals, in 1910, Collins stole a career-high 81 bases and played on the first of his six World Series championship teams. He was part of the Athletics so-called $100,000 infield which propelled the team to four American League pennants and he earned the leagues Chalmers Award in 1914. In 1914, the newly formed Federal League disrupted major league contract stability by luring away established stars from the AL, to retain Collins, Athletics manager Connie Mack offered his second baseman the longest guaranteed contract that had ever been offered to a player. Collins declined, and after the 1914 season Mack sold Collins to the White Sox for $50,000, the Sox paid Collins $15,000 for 1915, making him the third highest paid player in the league, behind Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker. In Chicago, Collins continued to post top-ten batting and stolen base numbers and he was part of the notorious Black Sox team that threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. However Collins was not accused of being part of the conspiracy and was considered to have played honestly, in August 1924, he was named player-manager of the White Sox and held the position through the 1926 season, posting a record of 174-160. Collins returned to Philadelphia to rejoin the Athletics in 1927 as a player-coach and he recorded only 143 plate appearances in his last four years, mostly as a pinch hitter. He did not play in any World Series games for the 1929 or 1930 World Series champion As, Collins finished his career with 1,300 runs batted in. To date, Collins is the only MLB player to play for two teams for at least 12 seasons each and he still holds the major league record of 512 career sacrifice bunts, over 100 more than any other player. He was the first major leaguer in history to steal 80 bases in a season, and still shares the major league record of six steals in a game
13.
Home Run Baker
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John Franklin Home Run Baker was an American professional baseball player. A third baseman, Baker played in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1922, for the Philadelphia Athletics, Baker has been called the original home run king of the majors. Baker was a member of the Athletics $100,000 infield and he helped the Athletics win the 1910,1911 and 1913 World Series. After a contract dispute, the Athletics sold Baker to the Yankees, Baker appeared with the Yankees in the 1921 and 1922 World Series, though the Yankees lost both series, before retiring. Baker led the American League in home runs for four consecutive years and he had a batting average over.300 in six seasons, had three seasons with more than 100 runs batted in, and two seasons with over 100 runs scored. Bakers legacy has grown over the years, and he is regarded by many as one of the best power hitters of the deadball era, during his 13 years as a major league player, Baker never played a single inning at any position other than third base. Baker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1955, Baker was born on March 13,1886, to Franklin Adams Baker and Mary Catherine on their farm in Trappe, Maryland. The Bakers, who were of English descent, had been farmers in Trappe for six generations and his mother, of Scottish descent, was reported to be a distant relative of Robert E. Lee. Baker enjoyed working on his fathers farm, but he aspired to become a baseball player from the age of ten. In Trappe, most of the attended the local baseball teams games on Saturdays. Franks older brother, Norman, was known in the town for his playing ability. Norman once tried out for the Philadelphia Athletics, but he did not like that city, Baker pitched for the local high school baseball team and worked as a clerk at a butcher shop and grocery store owned by relatives. He signed with a local baseball team based in Ridgely, Maryland, in 1905. The team, which was managed by Buck Herzog, paid him $5 per week, Herzog found that Baker could not pitch well, but that he could hit. Baker was unable to play the outfield well, but he was able to move into the infield as a third baseman for Ridgely, in 1906, Baker played for Sparrows Point Club in Baltimore, earning $15 per week. He received an offer to play for a team in the Class C Texas League in 1907 and he instead signed with an independent team based in Cambridge, Maryland. A scout for the New York Giants of the National League noticed Baker while he was playing for Sparrows Point and they arranged for Baker to receive a tryout with the Baltimore Orioles of the Class A Eastern League late in the 1907 season. Playing in five games, Baker recorded two hits, both singles, in 15 at-bats, Orioles manager Jack Dunn decided that Baker could not hit, and Baker was released
14.
Jack Barry (baseball)
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John Joseph Jack Barry was an American shortstop, second baseman, and manager in Major League Baseball, and later a college baseball coach. From 1908 through 1919, Barry played for the Philadelphia Athletics, born in Meriden, Connecticut, Barry spent his nearly entire tenure in the big leagues on winning teams, first the Philadelphia Athletics and later the Boston Red Sox. Athletics manager Connie Mack signed Barry off the campus of the College of the Holy Cross to play shortstop on what would become his famous $100,000 infield. The unit, one of the most famous groups of teammates in history, consisted of first baseman Stuffy McInnis, second baseman Eddie Collins. In 1915, the year after the Boston Braves swept the Athletics in the World Series, Red Sox owner Joe Lannin paid $8,000 for Barrys services, as Mack was dismantling the team. Upon joining the Red Sox, he hit just.262 but played reliable defense at shortstop and he played in the World Series in 1915 and 1916 for the Red Sox. Acknowledged as the teams leader, he became a player-manager in 1917, leading the team to a 90-win season. He served all of 1918 in the military, after poor play in 1919, he decided to retire rather than be sold away in another fire sale following Harry Frazees decision to sell his shortstop back to the Athletics. In an 11-season career, Barry posted a.243 batting average with 10 home runs and 429 RBI in 1223 games. Barry became the coach at Holy Cross in 1921, and continued in that position for 40 years until his death in Shrewsbury. During his tenure, he posted the highest career winning percentage in collegiate history and he was among the initial class of inductees to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1966. In 2007 he was an inaugural inductee of the College Baseball Hall of Fame along with Lou Gehrig, Christy Mathewson. List of Major League Baseball player–managers Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference Baseball Library
15.
Road (sports)
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A road game or away game is a sports game where the specified team is not the host and must travel to another venue. Most professional teams represent cities or towns and amateur sports teams often represent academic institutions, each team has a location where it practices during the season and where it hosts games. When a team is not the host, it must travel to games. Thus, when a team is not hosting a game, the team is described as the team, the visiting team, or the away team. The venue in which the game is played is described as the stadium or the road. The host team is said to be the home team, major sporting events, if not held at a neutral venue, are often over several legs at each teams home ground, so that neither team has an advantage over the other. Occasionally, the team may not have to travel very far at all to a road game. These matches often become local derbies, a few times a year, a road team may even be lucky enough to have the road game played at their own home stadium or arena. This is prevalent in college athletics where many schools will play in regional leagues or groundshare. The related term true road game has seen increasing use in U. S. college sports in the 21st century, while regular-season tournaments and other special events have been part of college sports from their creation, the 21st century has seen a proliferation of such events. These are typically held at sites, with some of them taking place outside the contiguous U. S. or even outside the country entirely. In turn, this has led to the use of true road game to refer to contests played at one home venue. In some association football leagues, particularly in Europe, the teams fans sit in their own section. Depending on the stadium, they will either sit in a designated section or be separated from the home fans by a cordon of police officers. However, in the leagues in England, supporters may be free to mix. When games are played at a site, for instance the FA Cup final in England which is always played at Wembley Stadium. This results in each team occupying one half of the stadium and this is different from other sports, particularly in North America, where very few fans travel to games played away from their home stadium. Home and away fans are not separated at these games
16.
Chief Bender
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Charles Albert Chief Bender was a pitcher in Major League Baseball during the first two decades of the 20th century. In 1911, Bender tied a record by pitching three games in a single World Series. He finished his career with a record of 212-127, for a.625 winning percentage. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953, Bender was born in Crow Wing County, Minnesota as a member of the Ojibwe tribe. His father was German and his mother was part Chippewa, as a child, he received the Indian name Mandowescence, meaning Little Spirit Animal. His family had 160 acres on the White Earth Indian Reservation near Bemidji and his father taught him to farm on the reservation. He graduated from Carlisle Indian Industrial School and attended Dickinson College, Bender debuted in the major leagues in 1903. He is one of only a few pitchers in the 20th century to throw 200 or more innings at the age of 19. His walks per nine innings rate was 2.17, only a few pitchers since 1893 have had a rate below 2.2 at the age of 20 or younger and that year he also won a game against Cy Young and even met his future wife Marie. In 1905, Bender earned an 18-11 win-loss record with a 2.83 ERA, helping the As win the AL pennant, but they lost the World Series in five games to the New York Giants. After solid seasons in 1906,1907,1908 and 1909, Bender led the AL in winning % at.821, going 23-5 with a 1.58 ERA. He went 1-1 with 1.93 ERA in the World Series as the As beat, in five games, the Chicago Cubs, Bender pitched a complete-game three-hitter in the opener, striking out 8 and giving up only one unearned run. He lost game 4 of the series in another complete game effort, Bender pitched all 9 2/3 innings for the Athletics, striking out 6. In 1911 he led the AL in winning percentage again, going 17-5 with a 2.16 ERA as the As won their second consecutive AL pennant, going 101-50 and finishing 13 1/2 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. In a rematch of the 1905 World Series, the Athletics got their revenge, defeating the New York Giants, Bender again went the distance, a 4-hit performance which he gave up no earned runs. He went 2-1, with 1.04 ERA and 3 complete games in the series, in 1912 Bender was 13-8 with a 2.74 ERA. He did not start for nearly 40 games late in the year and was suspended by the As in September for alcohol abuse and his next contract had a clause saying he had to abstain from drinking to earn his full salary. In 1913 he went 21-10 with a 2.21 ERA and they would also make it three World Series titles in four years by defeating the Giants in five games
17.
Boardwalk Brown
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Carroll William Boardwalk Brown was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born on February 20,1889 in Woodbury, New Jersey and he batted and threw right-handed, and was 178 pounds. Boardwalk played three seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1911–1913, in 1914 he played for both the As and the New York Yankees and again in 1915 with the Yankees. In his career, Brown had a 38–40 record in 133 games with an ERA of 3.47, career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference
18.
Bullet Joe Bush
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He is credited with having developed the forkball pitch. He led the American League in losses in 1916, walks allowed in 1924, while with the Athletics in 1916, when he led the league in losses, he won 15 games, the entire team won only 36 during what was then a Major League-worst 36-117 season. This was 41. 7% of the teams total wins, on August 26 of that season, Bush no-hit the Cleveland Indians 5-0 at Shibe Park, a first inning, leadoff walk to Jack Graney was the only thing that kept him from a perfect game. Bush finished fourth in voting for the 1922 American League MVP and he also had a 26–7 win-loss record,255 ⅓ innings pitched,85 walks allowed,92 strikeouts, and a 3.31 earned run average.51 ERA. Bush died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 81
19.
Jack Coombs
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John Wesley Jack Coombs, nicknamed Colby Jack after his alma mater, was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Robins, and Detroit Tigers. Born in LeGrand, Iowa, Coombs moved to Kennebunk, Maine with his family at the age of 4 and he played baseball in high school in Freeport, Maine, and, in 1901–2, for Coburn Classical prep school in Waterville, Maine. He was a 1906 graduate of Colby College in Waterville, where he was a chemistry major and he also participated in football, track, and tennis. Colbys baseball field is named for him, three weeks after graduating, Coombs pitched in his first major league game for Philadelphia, which was a 7 hit shutout, defeating the Washington Senators 3-0. He finished 1906 with a 10-10 record and 2.50 ERA, in 1906, he pitched the longest complete game in the American League,24 innings against Boston, winning 4-1. The following year was not great as Coombs went 6-9 with a 3.12 ERA, in 1908 and 1909 his record was only 19-16 despite his ERA being 2.00 and 2.32 those years. His best season was 1910 which is one of the best single pitching seasons in MLB history. Besides his record of 31–9, he led the American League in wins, games played, and shutouts and he won 18 of 19 starts that July and racked up 53 consecutive scoreless innings which was the major league record until Walter Johnson broke it three years later. Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser have since broken the mark and he also won three games in the 1910 World Series, in which the Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs. He made appearances in the 1911 and 1916 World Series, in 1919, he was the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies for 62 games, going 18-44 before being replaced by Gavvy Cravath. He returned to one final year in 1920 before retiring. Coombs became a coach at Duke University who sent many players to the majors. Duke Universitys baseball field is named after him and he spent his retirement as a sports historian and writer. In 1945, he published, Baseball – Individual Play and Team Strategy
20.
Ensign Cottrell
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Ensign Stover Cottrell, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1911 to 1915 with five different teams. He was born in Hoosick Falls, New York and died in Syracuse, career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference
21.
Byron Houck
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Byron Houck was an American cinematographer and pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1910s. He attended the University of Oregon, Houck later pitched for the Vernon Tigers of the Pacific Coast League. Fatty Arbuckle owned the team and he worked with Buster Keaton and this connection led to Houck doing camera work on such Keaton silent films as Sherlock, Jr. Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference Byron Houck at the Internet Movie Database
22.
Dave Morey
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David Beale Morey was an American football and baseball player, coach of a number of sports, and college athletics administrator. He was an All-American football player for Dartmouth College in 1912, Morey coached football and baseball at the Lowell Technological Institute, Middlebury College, Auburn University, Fordham University, and Bates College. After leading small colleges to ties against college football powers Harvard and Yale, Morey was given the nickname, Morey was a native of Malden, Massachusetts. He played baseball and football, and also competed on the track team, in June 1909, Morey struck out 25 batters in a baseball game against Everett High School. Morey attended Dartmouth College where he played for three years each with the schools Dartmouth Big Green football and Dartmouth Big Green baseball teams and he was captain of Dartmouths baseball team during his senior year in 1913. Morey played right halfback for Dartmouths football team from 1910 to 1912, after the 1912 season, he was selected as a first-team All-American by W. J. MacBeth and a second-team All-American by Walter Camp. Morey graduated from Dartmouth in 1913 and was signed by Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics and he was a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed batter. He played in two games for the Athletics on July 4,1913 and July 17,1913 and he did not have any decisions and compiled an earned run average of 4.50. Morey also played minor league baseball for Worcester in 1914 and Manchester in 1915, in the fall of 1914, Morey returned to Dartmouth as the schools freshman football coach, working as an assistant to Frank Major Cavanaugh. He also worked for the American Felt Company in Boston and he also served briefly as the baseball coach for Boston University. From 1916 to 1917, Morey was the coach at Lowell Textile Institute. Following the entry of the United States into World War I, in 1919, Morey returned to Malden High School as the schools baseball coach. In July 1920, Morey was hired by Middlebury College in Middlebury, Morey was given the responsibility for developing the schools football team. In 1921, Morey took over as the head football coach. Over the next four years, Morey helped turn the program around, the most notable win during Moreys tenure at Middlebury was a 6–6 tie with Harvard in 1923, then one of the top football programs in the country. Two drop kicks by Middleburys Al Klevenow provided the scoring in the tie with Harvard, Morey took particular pride in the tie against Harvard, noting that Middlebury had a total male enrollment of 140 at the time. In 1924, Moreys Middlebury eleven outscored its opponents 254–44, won high-scoring honors among all of the Eastern football teams, Morey was also the coach of Middleburys baseball and basketball teams from 1921 to 1925. In February 1925, Morey announced his resignation as coach at Middlebury and he stated that his one and only reason for leaving Middlebury was the ill health of his wife, which could only be remedied by residence in a warmer client
23.
Herb Pennock
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Herbert Jefferis Pennock was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1912 through 1933 and he is best known for his time spent with the star-studded New York Yankee teams of the mid to late 1920s and early 1930s. Connie Mack signed Pennock to his Philadelphia Athletics in 1912, after using Pennock sparingly, and questioning his competitive drive, Mack sold Pennock to the Boston Red Sox in 1915. After returning from service in 1919, Pennock became a regular contributor for the Red Sox. After retiring as a player, Pennock served as a coach and farm director for the Red Sox. Pennock was regarded as one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history, Mack later called his sale of Pennock to the Red Sox his greatest mistake. Pennock died of a hemorrhage in 1948, later that year. Pennock was born on February 10,1894 in Kennett Square and his father, Theodore Pennock, and mother Mary Louise Pennock were of Scotch-Irish and Quaker descent. His ancestors came to the United States with William Penn, Herb was the youngest of four children. Pennock attended Westtown School and Cedarcroft Boarding School, where he played for the baseball team, after struggling as a first baseman, with a weak offensive output and throwing arm that resulted in curved throws, his Cedarcroft coach converted Pennock into a pitcher. While pitching at Cedarcroft, Pennock threw a no-hitter to catcher Earle Mack, Pennock agreed to sign with the Athletics at a later date. Mack signed Pennock in 1912 to play for his team based in Atlantic City. Pennocks father insisted that he sign under an alias in order to protect his collegiate eligibility, Pennock threw a no-hitter against a traveling Negro league baseball team, and Mack promoted him to the Athletics. Mack intended for Pennock to be one of the prospects who would replace star pitchers Eddie Plank, Chief Bender, Pennock made his major league debut with the Athletics during the 1912 season on May 14, allowing one hit in four innings pitched. He was the youngest person to play in the American League that season, former major leaguer Mike Grady, a neighbor of Pennocks in Kennett Square, took Pennock under his wing, while Bender taught Pennock to throw a screwball. Pennock missed most of the 1913 season with an illness, but was able to rejoin the team late in the season, Mack let Bender go after the season, naming Pennock his Opening Day starting pitcher in 1915. On Opening Day, Pennock threw a complete game shutout against the Boston Red Sox. However, as the Athletics struggled, Pennocks nonchalant playing style drew Macks ire, concluding that Pennock lacked ambition, Mack sold Pennock to the Red Sox for the waiver price of $2,500
24.
Eddie Plank
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Edward Stewart Plank, nicknamed Gettysburg Eddie, was an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, Plank played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901 through 1914, the St. Louis Terriers in 1915, and the St. Louis Browns in 1916 and 1917. Philadelphia went to the World Series five times while Plank played there, Plank had only a 1.32 earned run average in his World Series career, but he was unlucky, with a 2–5 win–loss record in those games. Plank died of a stroke in 1926 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. Plank grew up on a farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and he was the fourth of seven children born to Martha McCreary and David Plank. His father was a director and tax collector in Gettysburg. Plank did not play baseball until Frank Foreman, the coach at Gettysburg College. History books often erroneously state that Plank graduated from Gettysburg College and he attended Gettysburg Academy, a prep school affiliated with the college. However, he played for the team without ever being enrolled there. Plank signed with the Richmond Colts of the Virginia League, a minor league, the league folded before Plank could pitch for the Colts. Foreman recommended Plank to Connie Mack, the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, Plank made his major league debut for the Athletics on May 13,1901. As a rookie, Plank pitched to a 17-13 win–loss record with a 3.31 earned run average and 28 complete games in 32 games started and he won 20 games for the first time in his career in 1902, as the Athletics won the American League pennant. He won 23 games in 1903 while leading the AL in games started, in 1905, Plank made his first trip to the World Series. He faced Christy Mathewson in the first game and Joe McGinnity in the fourth game. Though Plank gave up three runs in 17 innings during the series, the Athletics lost to the New York Giants in five games. The Athletics returned to the World Series in 1910, but Plank was forced to sit out with a sore arm, by 1911, Plank was the last member of the Athletics remaining from the 1901 team. The 1911 team made the World Series and faced the Giants again, after Plank won Game Two and lost in a relief appearance in Game Five, the Athletics won the series in six games. In 1913, the Athletics and Giants met again in the World Series, Mathewson hit a tenth-inning single off of Plank to set up a Giants victory in Game Two, but Plank and the Athletics bested Mathewson 3–1 in the fifth and deciding game of the series
25.
Bob Shawkey
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James Robert Shawkey was an American baseball pitcher who played fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees from 1915 to 1927 and he batted and threw right-handed and served primarily as a starting pitcher. Shawkey born to John William Shawkey and Sarah Catherine Anthony, in Sigel and he moved from Slippery Rock State College to an independent league in 1911, then to the American League in 1912 as a pitcher for Connie Macks Philadelphia Athletics. In 1915, Mack sold him to the New York Yankees where he remained until 1931. While facing his former team in 1919, he struck out 15 As batters in a game, setting the Yankees team record for most strikeouts in a game, at the start of the 1923 season, Shawkey was chosen to be the Yankees Opening Day starting pitcher. Because the teams first game was at home, this meant that he was the first player to pitch at the newly built Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 4–1 behind Babe Ruths three-run home run, with Shawkey pitching a game to become the first winning pitcher at the stadium. Shawkey also served as the Yankees manager in the 1930 season—following the sudden death of Miller Huggins—and guided the Yankees to a third-place finish, Shawkey won 207 games in his career, and won 20 or more games in five different seasons. Bob credited his success to a fastball and an outstanding curve ball. He later served as the coach for Dartmouth College. In 1970, Shawkey was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in Brookville, during the 1976 opening day festivities for the renovated Yankee Stadium, Shawkey threw out the ceremonial first pitch. He died at age 90 in Syracuse, New York on New Years Eve 1980, List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference The Deadball Era
26.
Weldon Wyckoff
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John Weldon Wyckoff was a professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics, in some baseball resources, he is referred as John Wyckoff. Wyckoff attended Bucknell University and began his baseball career Wilmington in the Tri-State League in 1911 and he joined the Philadelphia Athletics in 1913. In 1916, he led the league with 22 losses,165 walks and 14 wild pitches and he was sent to the Boston Red Sox in the 1916 midseason. Over parts of two seasons he appeared in nine games and was released in 1917. He ended the year with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League and rejoined Boston in 1918, his last major league season, in his major league career, Wyckoff posted a 23–34 record with 299 strikeouts and a 3.55 ERA in 573.2 innings pitched. Wyckoff died in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, at the age of 69, career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference Baseball Almanac 1918 Boston Red Sox
27.
Jack Lapp
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John Walker Lapp was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the major leagues from 1908 to 1916. He played for the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics, jack Lapp was a second or third-string catcher for eight of his nine years in the big leagues. He did catch 503 games in his career, so he wasnt exactly riding the pines for all those years, in 1911, the Athletics first-string catcher was Ira Thomas, with Paddy Livingston and Lapp backing him up. Philadelphia played the New York Giants in the 1911 World Series, Thomas caught the first two games and was slightly injured in the 7th inning of Game 2. Livingston, who had been a key figure during the season, was suffering from injuries to his legs, arms. He did not play in the Series, Lapp was called on to catch Game 3 on October 17,1911, which lasted 11 innings. He set a record for catcher in a game, catching base stealers with five. Thomas came back to catch Game 4, an affair that had Thomas limping by the end. Lapp was assigned to catch Game 5, which lasted 10 innings and he only caught one base stealer and had four putouts in that game. Thomas caught Game 6 for a Philadelphia series victory, the next year, Lapp split catching duties with Thomas and Ben Egan, but Lapp caught the majority of the games. Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference
28.
Wally Schang
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Walter Henry Schang was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1913 through 1931, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Browns, Schang was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in South Wales, New York, most baseball historians agree that Wally Schang was the greatest offensive catcher of the deadball era. When Schang wasnt catching, his managers usually played him in field, right, or at third base. His defensive work was regarded as outstanding, although he holds the American League career record for most errors by a catcher. Schang was discovered by George Stallings in 1912, when he played in the sandlots of upstate New York for the Buffalo Pullmans. After Connie Mack sold many of his players following the 1914 Series, Schang was the regular catcher for that club, the last Red Sox team to win the title until 2004. Soon afterwards, Boston owner Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, Schang followed Ruth in 1921, becoming the first in the great string of Yankee catchers, including Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and Thurman Munson. Schang served as the Yankees regular catcher for three straight American League pennants and was a member of the 1923 World Champion team, the following year, Schang returned to Philadelphia as a backup for Mickey Cochrane. The Athletics of 1930 were coming off a World Championship and repeated that year and it was the fourth title for Schang in his career, which ended the next season with the Detroit Tigers. In a 19-season career, Schang hit a.284 batting average with 59 home runs and 710 RBI in 1842 games played, in 32 World Series games, he hit.287 with one home run and eight RBI. Following his major league career, Schang played for several seasons with Western Association and Canadian clubs, in 1945, he retired to a farm he operated at Dixon, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. Schang died in St Louis at age 75,1913 World Series 1914 World Series 1918 World Series 1921 World Series 1922 World Series 1923 World Series 1930 World Series 6-time hit. In the early 20th century, when players with facial hair became a rarity in baseball, Wally Schang became the last major leaguer to sport a moustache, in 1914. After that, is reported that the first players to sport moustaches during the season were Dick Allen and Felipe Alou
