1902 DMB World Series-Game #5

Rube Waddell vs Jesse Tannehill 10/15/1902, @, Columbia Park

 

WADDELL HITS AND PITCHES A’S TO VICTORY

I wish I had money so I could buy stuff like this.

Rube Waddell struck out 6, and hit a double and a triple to lead the A’s to a game 5 victory and a 3-2 lead in this best of 7 series.

The A’s scored 2 runs in the 1st and 2 in the 2nd to take an early 4-1 lead. Waddell’s triple in the 2nd was the big blow.

The Pirates battled back to within one run in the 8th. A laboring Waddell gave up a 2 run single to Kitty Bransfield, but a double play grounder off the bat of Claude Ritchey snuffed the rally. Despite giving up just 1 walk, Waddell went to a 3-2 count with batter after batter, but was able to get the key pitch when needed. Waddell went to a 3-2 count  with all 3 Pirate batters in the 9th, but retired them on a deep fly ball, a strike out, and a hard line out.

10/15/1902, PIT02-PHA02, Columbia Park
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1902 Pirates           1  0  0  0  0  1  0  2  0     4  9  2     5  0
1902 Athletics         2  2  0  0  0  0  1  0  x     5  8  3     6  2

Pirates              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Athletics            AB  R  H BI   AVG
Beaumont,G        cf  4  1  2  0  .478    Hartsel,T         lf  4  0  0  0  .240
Wagner,H          ss  4  1  1  0  .235    Fultz,D           cf  4  1  3  2  .450
Clarke,F          lf  4  1  1  1  .158    Cross,L           3b  3  1  1  1  .389
Leach,T           3b  4  1  1  0  .238    Seybold,S         rf  4  0  1  0  .304
Bransfield,K      1b  3  0  2  3  .211    Murphy,D          2b  3  0  0  1  .238
Ritchey,C         2b  4  0  0  0  .200    Davis,H           1b  4  0  0  0  .278
Davis,L           rf  4  0  0  0  .263    Schreckengost,O   c   4  1  1  0  .333
Zimmer,C          c   4  0  0  0  .188    Cross,M           ss  4  0  0  0  .200
Tannehill,J       p   3  0  2  0  .714    Waddell,R         p   3  2  2  1  .444
Burke,J          ph  1  0  0  0  .400                         33  5  8  5
                     35  4  9  4
Pirates                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Tannehill,J      L 1-1           8.0  8  5  5  1  0 100  72  4.76
                                 8.0  8  5  5  1  0 100  72
Athletics                        INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Waddell,R        W 2-1           9.0  9  4  2  1  6 151  91  3.76
                                 9.0  9  4  2  1  6 151  91
PIT: Burke,J batted for Tannehill,J in the 9th

E-Wagner,H 2, Seybold,S, Schreckengost,O, Waddell,R. 2B-Beaumont,G, Clarke,F,
Fultz,D 2, Seybold,S, Waddell,R. 3B-Bransfield,K, Waddell,R.
SB-Beaumont,G(1), Fultz,D(4). CS-Davis,L. K-Beaumont,G, Leach,T, Davis,L,
Zimmer,C 3. BB-Bransfield,K, Cross,L. SH-Murphy,D.
GWRBI: Murphy,D
Temperature: 49, Sky: clear, Wind: out to left at 9 MPH.

1902 DMB World Series-Game #4

Jack Chesbro vs Eddie Plank 10/13/1902, @, Columbia Park

NOTE: The Pirates and A’s did not play a postseason series in 1902.

 

PIRATES RALLY LATE THEN HOLD OFF THE A’S FOR THE TOUGH WIN

Fred Clarke managed the Pirates to 4 of the franchise’s 9 NL pennants.

Trailing 5-3 with 2 outs in the 8th, player/manager Fred Clarke smashed a 2 run triple to tie the score. Tommy Leach, Kitty Bransfield and Claude Ritchey followed with 3 straight singles to put the Pirates up by 2, 7-5.

Ed Doheny came on to pitch the 8th for an ineffective Jack Chesbro, but he allowed a lead off double to Harry Davis and an rbi single to Monte Cross to allow the A’s to pull within 1 run 7-6. Cross was thrown out stealing to end the A’s mini rally.

In the 9th, a walk, an infield single, and a hit batter loaded the bases for Fred Clarke. His slow groundball allowed a run to score, his 4th rbi of the game,  giving the Pirates another 2 run lead, 8-6.

In the last of the 9th Sam Leever allowed singles to Topsey Hartsell and Lave Cross, putting runners on the corners with 1 out. A wild pitch allowed Hartsell to score and sent the tying run to 2nd. Leever proceeded to strike out Socks Seybold and Danny Murphy to preserve the win for Chesbro and the Pirates.

This series is now tied at 2 games apiece.

10/13/1902, PIT02-PHA02, Columbia Park
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1902 Pirates           0  1  2  0  0  0  0  4  1     8 12  2     5  1
1902 Athletics         0  0  3  0  0  1  1  1  1     7 13  1     7  1

Pirates              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Athletics            AB  R  H BI   AVG
Beaumont,G        cf  5  1  3  0  .474    Hartsel,T         lf  5  2  2  0  .286
Wagner,H          ss  2  1  0  1  .231    Fultz,D           cf  4  2  2  1  .375
Clarke,F          lf  3  1  1  4  .133    Cross,L           3b  3  0  1  0  .400
Leach,T           3b  5  1  2  1  .235    Seybold,S         rf  5  1  1  2  .316
Bransfield,K      1b  4  1  2  0  .125    Murphy,D          2b  5  1  1  0  .278
Ritchey,C         2b  4  0  1  1  .273    Davis,H           1b  3  1  2  2  .357
Davis,L           rf  4  0  1  0  .333    Schreckengost,O   c   4  0  2  0  .353
Zimmer,C          c   4  0  1  0  .250    Cross,M           ss  4  0  1  1  .250
Chesbro,J         p   1  1  0  0  .000    Plank,E           p   3  0  1  0  .429
Burke,J          ph  1  1  1  0  .500     Husting,B        p   0  0  0  0  .000
Doheny,E         p   0  0  0  0  .000     Castro,L         ph  1  0  0  0  .000
O’Connor,J       ph  0  1  0  0  .667     Wilson,H         p   0  0  0  0  .000
Leever,S         p   0  0  0  0  .000                         37  7 13  6
                     33  8 12  7
Pirates                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Chesbro,J        W 1-1           7.0  9  5  3  3  5 105  68  5.40
Doheny,E         H 1             1.0  2  1  1  0  0   9   6  3.86
Leever,S         S 1             1.0  2  1  1  0  2  20  16  1.80
                                 9.0 13  7  5  3  7 134  90
Athletics                        INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Plank,E          L 1-1           7.2 10  7  6  3  3 123  72  4.86
Husting,B                        0.1  1  0  0  0  0  10   7  0.00
Wilson,H                         1.0  1  1  1  1  1  23  13  5.40
                                 9.0 12  8  7  4  4 156  92
PIT: Burke,J batted for Chesbro,J in the 8th
     O’Connor,J batted for Doheny,E in the 9th
PHA: Castro,L batted for Husting,B in the 8th

E-Wagner,H, Leach,T, Fultz,D. 2B-Beaumont,G, Zimmer,C, Burke,J, Davis,H,
Plank,E. 3B-Clarke,F, Murphy,D. SB-Hartsel,T 2(2), Fultz,D 2(3).
CS-Beaumont,G, Leach,T, Davis,L, Cross,M. K-Leach,T, Ritchey,C, Zimmer,C,
Chesbro,J, Hartsel,T, Fultz,D, Seybold,S 2, Murphy,D 2, Schreckengost,O.
BB-Wagner,H, Clarke,F, Chesbro,J, O’Connor,J, Fultz,D, Cross,L 2.
SF-Wagner,H, Clarke,F, Davis,H. HBP-Wagner,H. HB-Wilson,H. WP-Leever,S.

DMB World Series Replay-Baseball Card Reminiscing

 

This is an 1888 Goodwin Old Judge baseball card featuring NY Giant 3rd baseman Art Whitney and an unnamed, yet adorable shaggy haired dog. The dog stares expectantly into Whitney’s eyes, just begging to fetch.  I like to think that just after this picture was taken Art Whitney and the dog(I’ll call him Rascal, because he looks like a rascal) had a nice little game of fetch.

The story behind this card is centered around Art Whitney’s propensity to jump from team to team during his 11 year career. Even during a time when players frequently moved from team to team, Whitney was an extremist. He played in 3 major leagues; the National League, Players League, and the American Association. He debuted with the Worcester Ruby Legs in 1880, then moved to the Detroit Wolverines in 1881, to the Providence Grays and back to the Wolverines in 1882. He stayed 3 seasons with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association, moved to Pittsburgh in the National League, then to the Giants, then back to the American Association Giants, then finishing up with Cincinnati and St. Louis of the American Association in 1891. That’s 10 team changes in 11 years. His .223 lifetime average makes me think he didn’t want to stick around long enough for the teams to realize he wasn’t such a great player.

The inside joke with the card is the fact that he’s posing with a dog(Rascal ?) the most loyal of creatures, as opposed to Art Whitney, the not so loyal.

Art Whitney did play fairly well in the 1888 World Series while playing for the Giants. He hit .324 with 12 rbis to help the Giants beat the St. Louis Browns.

This card recently sold at auction for over $12,000.  Not bad for a shaggy haired dog named Rascal.

1902 DMB World Series-Game #3

Jesse Tannehill vs Rube Waddell 10/11/1902, @ Columbia Park

NOTE: The Pirates and A’s did not meet in the post season in 1902.

 

TANNEHILL CARRIES PIRATES TO VICTORY

Jesse Tannehill is a 6x 20 game winner

Jesse Tannehill pitched effectively but hit even better as the Pirates finally figured out a way to beat the pesky Philadelphia A’s.

Tannehill staked the Pirates to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd when he plunked a Rube Waddell fastball off the left field foul pole for a 3 run home run. Tannehill’s blast was aided by a 17mph wind. The A’s answered back in the 4th when they scored 3, powered by Danny Murphy’s 2 run triple off Tannehill.

Waddell settled down to throw 6 scoreless innings while the A’s took a 4-3 lead in the 7th when Topsy Hartsell doubled in Monte Cross.

Trailing 4-3 entering the 9th the Pirates rallied against a laboring Waddell. Claude Ritchey walked to start the inning and moved to 3rd on a Lefty Davis single. One out later Jesse Tannehill coaxed a slow ground ball into left field to drive in the tying run, his 4th rbi of the game. Ginger Beaumont singled in the winning run, and Honus Wagner doubled in 2 more to ice the game.

Tannehill put the A’s down easily in the 9th, striking out Topsy Hartsell to end the game.

The A’s still lead the series 2-1.

 

10/11/1902, PIT02-PHA02, Columbia Park
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1902 Pirates           0  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  4     7  9  1     6  1
1902 Athletics         0  0  0  3  0  0  1  0  0     4 10  1     6  0

Pirates              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Athletics            AB  R  H BI   AVG
Beaumont,G        cf  5  1  3  1  .429    Hartsel,T         lf  5  0  1  1  .250
Wagner,H          ss  3  0  1  2  .273    Fultz,D           cf  4  0  1  0  .333
Clarke,F          lf  5  0  0  0  .083    Cross,L           3b  4  1  1  0  .417
Leach,T           3b  5  0  0  0  .167    Seybold,S         rf  4  1  2  0  .357
Bransfield,K      1b  4  0  0  0  .000    Murphy,D          2b  4  1  2  2  .308
Ritchey,C         2b  3  2  1  0  .286    Davis,H           1b  4  0  0  0  .273
Davis,L           rf  3  2  1  0  .364    Schreckengost,O   c   4  0  1  1  .308
Zimmer,C          c   3  0  0  0  .250    Cross,M           ss  4  1  1  0  .250
Burke,J          ph  1  0  0  0  .333    Waddell,R         p   2  0  1  0  .333
O’Connor,J       c   0  0  0  0  .667     Wilson,H         p   0  0  0  0  .000
Tannehill,J       p   4  2  3  4  .750     Powers,D         ph  1  0  0  0  .000
                     36  7  9  7                               36  4 10  4
Pirates                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Tannehill,J      W 1-0           9.0 10  4  4  0  2 127  85  4.00
                                 9.0 10  4  4  0  2 127  85
Athletics                        INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Waddell,R        L 1-1           8.1  9  7  7  3  4 132  80  4.67
Wilson,H                         0.2  0  0  0  0  0   4   4  0.00
                                 9.0  9  7  7  3  4 136  84
PIT: Burke,J batted for Zimmer,C in the 9th
     O’Connor,J inserted at c in the 9th
PHA: Powers,D batted for Wilson,H in the 9th

E-Bransfield,K, Davis,H. 2B-Wagner,H, Hartsel,T, Murphy,D, Cross,M.
3B-Beaumont,G, Murphy,D. HR-Tannehill,J(1). SB-Fultz,D(1). CS-Beaumont,G.
K-Clarke,F, Leach,T, Zimmer,C, Burke,J, Hartsel,T 2. BB-Wagner,H, Ritchey,C,
Davis,L. SH-Waddell,R. HBP-Wagner,H. HB-Waddell,R.
GWRBI: Beaumont,G
Temperature: 60, Sky: clear, Wind: right to left at 17 MPH.

DMB Hall Of Famer-Jack Chesbro

 

JOHN DWIGHT CHESBRO 
"HAPPY JACK" 

FAMED PITCHER WHO LED BOTH LEAGUES 
IN PERCENTAGE-NATIONAL LEAGUE IN 
1902; AMERICAN LEAGUE IN 1904. SERVED 
WITH PITTSBURGH N.L. AND THE NEW YORK 
AND BOSTON A.L. WON 41 GAMES, TOPS 
IN MAJORS, IN 1904 AND DURING BIG 
LEAGUE CAREER COMPILED 192 VICTORIES 
WHILE LOSING ONLY 128.

Elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946                                   Image provided by Dick Perez

Jack Chesbro actually compiled a lifetime record of 198-132 with a 2.68 ERA. His 41 wins in 1904 with the NY Highlanders is a 20th Century record that will never be matched.

So how do you pronounce Jack Chesbro’s name? I’ve heard it pronounced Chez-Bro, and Cheez-Bro. When in doubt always consult the fine folks of SABR.  His family name is actually spelled Cheesbro and was pronounced Cheez-boro. Jack changed his name to Chesbro, and was referred to as Chez-bro throughout his major league career. So now you know.

 

1902 DMB World Series-Game #2

Eddie Plank vs. Deacon Phillippe 10/9/1902, @, Exposition Park

NOTE: The Pirates and A’s did not meet in the post season in 1902.

Socks Seybold had a 27 game hitting streak in 1901.

A’S EXPLODE IN THE 5TH TO SINK THE PIRATES

The Athletics  sent 13 batters to the plate and scored 8 runs in the 5th inning to chase Pirate starter Deacon Phillippe. Socks Seybold had 2 hits in the inning for the A’s as they strung together 7 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter to put this game out of reach.

The Pirates trailed 2-0 heading into the last of the 4th, but Lefty Davis put a charge into an Eddie Plank fastball and deposited it into the right field stands to tie the game at 2. Before the hometown crowd settled back into their seats, the A’s unleashed their offensive explosion in the top of the 5th. Eddie Plank pitched the complete game victory despite giving up 10 hits.

The series heads to Philadelphia and Columbia Park with the A’s looking for the sweep of the powerful Pirates.

10/9/1902, PHA02-PIT02, Exposition Park
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1902 Athletics         0  2  0  0  8  1  0  0  0    11 16  1     9  1
1902 Pirates           0  0  0  2  0  1  0  0  1     4 10  2     6  2

Athletics            AB  R  H BI   AVG    Pirates              AB  R  H BI   AVG
Hartsel,T         lf  6  1  1  1  .273    Beaumont,G        cf  5  0  1  0  .333
Fultz,D           cf  4  2  1  0  .375    Wagner,H          ss  4  0  1  0  .250
Cross,L           3b  4  1  2  0  .500    Clarke,F          lf  4  1  1  0  .143
Seybold,S         rf  5  2  3  2  .300    Leach,T           3b  4  1  1  0  .286
Murphy,D          2b  4  1  2  0  .222    Bransfield,K      1b  4  0  0  0  .000
Davis,H           1b  4  2  2  2  .429    Ritchey,C         2b  2  1  1  1  .250
Schreckengost,O   c   4  0  2  1  .333    Davis,L           rf  4  1  1  2  .375
Cross,M           ss  4  1  1  1  .250    Zimmer,C          c   2  0  1  0  .400
Plank,E           p   4  1  2  2  .500     Chesbro,J        p   0  0  0  0  .000
                     39 11 16  9           Leever,S         p   1  0  0  0  .000
                                           Burke,J          ph  1  0  1  1  .500
                                          Phillippe,D       p   0  0  0  0  .000
                                           O’Connor,J       c   3  0  2  0  .667
                                                               34  4 10  4
Athletics                        INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Plank,E          W 1-0           9.0 10  4  3  1  3 114  76  3.00
                                 9.0 10  4  3  1  3 114  76
Pirates                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Phillippe,D      L 0-1           4.2 12  8  8  2  2  80  58 15.43
Chesbro,J                        0.1  2  3  2  4  0  21   5  6.75
Leever,S                         4.0  2  0  0  0  1  44  28  0.00
                                 9.0 16 11 10  6  3 145  91
PIT: O’Connor,J inserted at c in the 5th
     Burke,J batted for Leever,S in the 9th

E-Hartsel,T, Clarke,F, Davis,L. 2B-Davis,H, Cross,M, Ritchey,C, O’Connor,J,
Burke,J. HR-Davis,L(1). CS-Fultz,D. K-Hartsel,T, Fultz,D, Schreckengost,O,
Beaumont,G, Leach,T, Ritchey,C. BB-Fultz,D 2, Cross,L, Davis,H,
Schreckengost,O, Plank,E, Ritchey,C. SH-Cross,M, Phillippe,D. SF-Ritchey,C.
HBP-Murphy,D. PB-Zimmer,C. HB-Phillippe,D.
GWRBI: Seybold,S
Temperature: 58, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: left to right at 2 MPH.

1902 DMB World Series-Game #1

Rube Waddell vs Jack Chesbro 10/7/1902 @ Exposition Park

NOTE: The Pirates and A’s did not meet in the post season in 1902.

WADDELL LEADS A’S TO GAME 1 VICTORY

Rube Waddell lead the AL in strikeouts 6 straight seasons. (1902-1907)

If the A’s are to have a chance to beat the high flying Pirates in this series they are going to need the flaky Rube Waddell to pitch well. In game 1 he was up to the task tossing a complete game.

The score was tied at 2 in the 7th when Lave Cross smoked a 2 out triple to score  Dave Fultz after he had reached on a 2 out single. In the 8th the A’s put the game away scoring 3 runs. Osee Schreckengost singled in Harry Davis after he doubled off the wall in right.  The A’s proceeded to tear the cover off the ball. Monte Cross dribbled a slow roller up the 3rd base line for an infield single, Rube Waddell popped out, Topsey Hartsell tapped a slow groundball to 1st baseman Kitty Bransfield, who proceeded to pick the ball up, drop it, pick it up again, and then drop it a 2nd time, to allow the A’s to load the bases. Dave Fultz tapped another slow roller to 3rd that stayed fair for an infield rbi single, and then Jack Chesbro decided to get in on the hit parade by hitting Lave Cross with a pitch to put the A’s up 6-2.

Tommy Leach excited the hometown fans with a long home run in the 8th for the Pirates, but that was all the scoring as the A’s surprisingly win game one of the 1902 DMB World Series.

Exposition Park circa 1902

10/7/1902, PHA02-PIT02, Exposition Park
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1902 Athletics         0  0  2  0  0  0  1  3  0     6 10  1    10  1
1902 Pirates           0  0  0  0  2  0  0  1  0     3  7  3     6  0

Athletics            AB  R  H BI   AVG    Pirates              AB  R  H BI   AVG
Hartsel,T         lf  5  1  2  0  .400    Beaumont,G        cf  4  0  2  0  .500
Fultz,D           cf  4  1  2  2  .500    Wagner,H          ss  4  0  1  0  .250
Cross,L           3b  4  0  2  3  .500    Clarke,F          lf  3  0  0  0  .000
Seybold,S         rf  5  0  0  0  .000    Leach,T           3b  3  1  1  1  .333
Murphy,D          2b  5  0  0  0  .000    Bransfield,K      1b  4  0  0  0  .000
Davis,H           1b  3  1  1  0  .333    Ritchey,C         2b  2  0  0  0  .000
Schreckengost,O   c   5  1  1  1  .200    Davis,L           rf  4  1  2  0  .500
Cross,M           ss  4  1  1  0  .250    Zimmer,C          c   3  1  1  0  .333
Waddell,R         p   4  1  1  0  .250     Sebring,J        ph  1  0  0  0  .000
                     39  6 10  6          Chesbro,J         p   2  0  0  1  .000
                                           Doheny,E         p   0  0  0  0  .000
                                           Burke,J          ph  1  0  0  0  .000
                                                               31  3  7  2
Athletics                        INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Waddell,R        W 1-0           9.0  7  3  2  4  5 128  78  2.00
                                 9.0  7  3  2  4  5 128  78
Pirates                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Chesbro,J        L 0-1           7.2 10  6  4  2  6 143  95  4.70
Doheny,E                         1.1  0  0  0  0  0  14   9  0.00
                                 9.0 10  6  4  2  6 157 104
PIT: Sebring,J batted for Zimmer,C in the 9th
     Burke,J batted for Doheny,E in the 9th

-Seybold,S, Leach,T, Bransfield,K, Ritchey,C. 2B-Hartsel,T, Davis,H.
3B-Cross,L. HR-Leach,T(1). SB-Cross,L(1), Schreckengost,O(1).
CS-Beaumont,G 2. K-Seybold,S, Murphy,D 3, Cross,M, Waddell,R, Wagner,H,
Clarke,F, Bransfield,K 2, Davis,L. BB-Davis,H 2, Clarke,F, Leach,T,
Ritchey,C 2. SF-Fultz,D, Chesbro,J. HBP-Cross,L. HB-Chesbro,J. WP-Waddell,R.
GWRBI: Cross,L
Temperature: 60, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: out to right at 7 MPH.

DMB World Series Biography-Socks Seybold

Ralph Orlando “Socks” Seybold

BORN: 11/23/1870 Washington, Ohio

DIED: 12/22/1921 Greensburg, Pa

Each World Series I do a small biography on a player from one of the participating teams. I don’t want to do the Hall of Famer, or near Hall of Famer because I find it more interesting, for me, to learn about a more obscure player. So when I saw Socks Seybold, I immediately picked him, because I just knew the origin of his nickname would be interesting. I was wrong. Ralph Seybold was commonly referred in contemporary accounts as Socks. The origins of which is completely unknown. I couldn’t find anything. I feel betrayed by my own blog.

So, I’m going to just have to make up a story regarding the origins of  the Socks in Seybold.

As an illiterate son of an illiterate son, Ralph Orlando Seybold grew up to become a pretty good ball player with no knowledge of fashion, politics, philosophy, or botany. Despite some minor annoyances from haberdashers, congressman, existentialists, and peanut farmers, Ralph was able to concentrate on what was important to him-the game of baseball. One day he was in hurry to get to the ballpark, and while running out the door he only had time to grab his glove and his spikes, while forgetting……you guessed it…..his bat. When it was his turn to take batting practice, none of the other players would let him use their bat, so he had to use a pointed stick. While waiting for the 1st pitch, one of his teammates yelled, “Aint no socks in that piece of ash!”    (That junior college artistic writing class I took is really paying off.)

Socks Seybold started his professional career playing with Altoona in the Pennsylvania State League in 1892. Over the next 6 seasons he moved around, playing for Franklin, Lancaster, and  Richmond before getting purchased by the Cincinnati in 1899. He played 22 games with the Reds, hitting  just  .224. He was sent to Indianapolis of the still minor American League in 1900.

At 5’11″ and 200 lbs Socks was a big man who was an efficient if unspectacular outfielder, with surprising speed for a big man, and with some obvious punch in his bat. But his weight issues  were a concern, which may have contributed to his not winning a full time major league  gig until he was 30. When he reported to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901, the Philadelphia Record reported that…….” he made for the dining room as though it was the 1st base bag.”

Socks had an outstanding rookie season hitting .334 while being among the league leaders in home runs with 8 and rbi with 90. He also strung together a 27 game hitting streak.  SABR retroactively voted Socks as the AL Rookie of the Year.

In 1902 Socks helped Connie Mack win his 1st pennant, hitting .316 with a league leading 16 home runs. An AL record that would stand until 1919 when Babe Ruth hit 29.

Socks would play 6 more seasons never approaching 16 hrs again, but in the deadball era he would still be among the league leaders in 4 of the next 5 seasons. He would appear in the 1905 World Series, but run into Christy Mathewson at his most dominant and would hit just .125 with 2 singles.

Socks would break his leg prior to the 1908 season, and would hit just .215 with no hrs in 48 games. It would be his last season in the majors. He would finish with a .294 average with 51 home runs.

During the 1908 season Seybold was dispatched to Greenville South Carolina by Connie Mack to bring back a wayward outfielder by the name of Joe Jackson. Seybold got Jackson on the train, but in the middle of the night Jackson left the train. Seybold had to go back to South Carolina to again talk the Shoeless one into reporting to Philadelphia.

In 1909 Socks Seybold coached the Toledo Mud Hens. After just one season he returned to PA and coached local teams for several seasons.

He married Wilhelmina Heitz in 1908, thay had no children. She die of pneumonia in 1917. On Dec. 22 1921 Socks Seybold died from a broken neck as a result of a car accident. He was 51 years old.

Batting Record
Year Team           G    AB    R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI   BB HBP  SH   SB   AVG   OBP   SLG   BFW Year Team
1899 CIN N         22    85   13   19   5   1   0    8    6   1   0    2  .224  .283  .306  -0.5 1899 CIN N
1901 PHI A        114   449   74  150  24  14   8   90   40   7   8   15  .334  .397  .503   1.4 1901 PHI A
1902 PHI A        137   522   91  165  27  12  16   97   43   6   8    6  .316  .375  .506   1.6 1902 PHI A
1903 PHI A        137   522   76  156  45   8   8   84   38   6   3    5  .299  .353  .462   1.8 1903 PHI A
1904 PHI A        143   510   56  149  26   9   3   64   42   4  16   12  .292  .351  .396   1.6 1904 PHI A
1905 PHI A        133   492   64  135  37   4   6   59   42   8  17    5  .274  .341  .402   2.4 1905 PHI A
1906 PHI A        116   411   41  130  23   2   5   59   30   3  15    9  .316  .367  .418   1.3 1906 PHI A
1907 PHI A        147   564   58  153  29   4   5   92   40   4  26   10  .271  .324  .363   0.5 1907 PHI A
1908 PHI A         48   130    5   28   2   0   0    3   12   1   3    2  .215  .287  .231  -0.8 1908 PHI A
Total NL ( 1 Year  22    85   13   19   5   1   0    8    6   1   0    2  .224  .283  .306  -0.5 Total NL
Total AL( 8 Years 975  3600  465 1066 213  53  51  548  287  39  96   64  .296  .355  .427   9.8 Total AL
Total  ( 9 Years) 997  3685  478 1085 218  54  51  556  293  40  96   66  .294  .353  .424   9.3 Total
Year Team           G    AB    R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI   BB HBP  SH   SB   AVG   OBP   SLG   BFW Year Team

DMB World Series-Baseball Card Reminiscing

OK…..where do I begin. We have a card with Christy Mathewson, a local hometown hero, and one of my all-time favorite players, just chilling in the dugout before the big game, wearing………some really nice garters. He’s leaning on his suitcase with his hand placed demurely behind his head thinking about………..flowers??????  The halcyon days, you gotta love them.

This card was part of a 16 card set released by the Boston Garter Co in 1912. You would get one card for each packet of 12 garters that you bought. That’s a lot of garter wearing!  It consisted of one player from each team in both the American and National League. Some of the other players in the series were Tris Speaker, Hal Chase, Frank Chance, and Walter Johnson.  Surprisingly there are not a lot of these cards around. There are only 2 known Christy Mathewson cards known to exist and one of them sold at auction several years ago for over $31,000. Hey, who wouldn’t want this card in their collection. The back of the card contained a checklist and an advertisement for Boston Garters that proudly states, “Holds your sock smooth as your skin.”  And isn’t that what we’re all looking for in our garters?

It also says:  TO ATTRACT A LOT OF ATTENTION -Place four, six, eight, or all sixteen ball players in your window and more men will stop at your store than ever before.   I know I’d stop.

I guess the cards proved such a success that they issued another set in 1913

This time the garter gets equal billing with the ball player. We don’t see Tris Speaker wearing the garter, we see…..the garter….in all it’s glory. I think I saw this very same item in a Victoria’s Secret catalog, but it wasn’t called a garter.

Luckily, for the true hardcore garter wearers, the Boston Garter Co. released a 3rd set of cards in 1914.

Thankfully the garter didn’t  make the cut, and didn’t appear on the front of the card.  Although Hughie Jennings’ “garter” appears to be riding up on him.

1902 DMB World Series-Pittsburgh Pirates

Once again heartache and misery fills my life. I found a couple of team photos that are listed as the 1902 Pirates, one of which lists the players, but both photos are suspect, and the listed players are obviously incorrect. The above photo has Bert Husting listed as the 1st player on the right in the back row. Bert played just 2 games with the Pirates and that was in 1900. 3rd from the left is listed as Tom McCreery, another member of the 1900 Pirates. Bones Ely, Pop Schriver, Tom O’Brien, and Jiggs Donohue, all listed in the photo, all nice guys, but none of them were members of the 1902 Pirates.  So once again, I give you my best shot.

Top Row: Tommy Leach-3b, Ginger Beaumont-CF Fred Clarke-Mgr, Jack Chesbro-P, Ed Doheny-P(?)

Middle Row: Sam Leever-P, Deacon Phillippe-P, Lefty Davis-OF(?), Wid Conroy-SS(?), Harry Smith-C(?), Kitty Bransfield-1b(?)

Bottom Row: Jimmy Sebring-OF(?), Jesse Tannehill-P, Honus Wagner-SS/OF, Jack O’Connor-C, Jimmy Burke-INF(?), Claude Ritchey-2B

Fred Clarke’s Pirates won their 2nd straight National League pennant, this time by an amazing 27.5 games over the 2nd place Superbas. This was the 1st 100 win season for the Pirates and their .789 winning % is still the franchise record.

On the last day of the season the Pirates were to play the Reds, with a win giving them an NL record 103 victories. The Reds’ owner Gary Herrman wanted to cancel the game but Barney Dreyfuss, the Pirates owner would not allow it, not wanting to deny his team a record 103 wins. The Reds played the game but didn’t take it too seriously. Rube Vickers, a pitcher was sent in to catch, and Reds’ manager Joe Kelley let his players smoke on the field. Needless to say the Pirates won the game but baseball lost some credibility.

Offensively the Pirates were very strong, led by Honus Wagner(.330/91 rbi), Ginger Beaumont(.357), and player manager Fred Clarke(.316). Tommy Leach led the team with just 6 HRs, but their team total of 18 was good for 2nd in the league. They hit .286 and scored 774 runs, both tops in the league. Their OB% of .344 and slugging% of .374 were both tops in the league.

On the mound the Pirates were even better. Jack Chesbro(28-6), Deacon Phillippe(20-9), and Jesse Tannehill(20-6) all won 20 games, while Sam Leever and Ed Doheny tossed in 15 and 16 wins respectively. They were 2nd in the league with a 2.30 ERA, but paced the league with 21 shutouts, and HRs allowed with just 4.

Please take a second to participate in the 1902 DMB World Series Poll.

NOTE: There was no post season series played in 1902.