Bill James AL 1901-1909 All Decade Team

[Old Sweater]

Third Team, Right Fielder, Socks Seybold




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socks_Seybold

Ralph Orlando "Socks" Seybold (November 23, 1870 - December 22, 1921) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played over parts of nine seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Athletics.[1] Known as a power hitter, Seybold set the American League record for home runs in 1902, which would not be broken until 1919. He stood at 5' 11" and weighed 200 lbs.

Biography

Seybold was born in Washingtonville, Ohio.[1] He started his professional baseball career in 1892, and over the next few years he played in the Pennsylvania State League and Atlantic League.[3] In 1896, he had a breakout season, hitting .352 at Lancaster, and in 1897, he led the team to the pennant[2] by slugging a league-leading 14 home runs.[4] Seybold led the Atlantic League in homers again in 1898 and was leading in 1899 when he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds.[2]

Seybold made his major league debut on August 20.[1] He did not hit well in Cincinnati, and returned to the minors in 1900. He led the American League in home runs, with 9.[5] Seybold then got his second shot in the majors in 1901, with the Philadelphia Athletics, and this time, he stuck. That season, he hit .334 and had a 27-game hitting streak in July and August.[2]

In 1902, Seybold batted .316 and set career-highs in home runs, with 16, and runs batted in, with 97.[1] The home run total led the league and stood as the AL record until Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox broke it in 1919.[6][7] The Athletics also won the pennant. In 1903, Seybold's batting average dipped below .300; however, his OPS+ stayed at exactly 138, and he ripped a league-leading 45 doubles.[1] Seybold continued his solid hitting from 1904 to 1907. In 1905, he played in his only World Series, which the Athletics lost to the New York Giants. Seybold went just 2 for 16 at the plate.[1]

In 1908, Seybold tore some ligaments in his leg sliding into home in a pre-season game at New Orleans.[8][9] He left the team in June 1908 saying, "I feel that I cannot do myself justice. I have decided to quit for the season."[9] He returned to the team, but struggled the rest of the year, batting just .215. He played his last major league game on October 7, 1908.[1] He then played and coached in several minor league and industrial teams for a few years.[2] In December 1908, Philadelphia manager Connie Mack announced that he was releasing Seybold.[10]

In January 1909, Seybold signed a contract to play minor league baseball for the Toledo Mud Hens.[11] Injuries continued to slow Seybold during the 1909 season.[12] From 1910 to 1911 he coached industrial teams (named Seybolds) in Jeanette. In 1912, he played minor league baseball in Richmond, Virginia (Richmond Rebels of the United States Baseball League).[13] His baseball career ended with the demise of the league in June 1912.

At the end of July 1919, Babe Ruth equaled Seybold's American League record of 16 home runs in a season;[14] Ruth went on to hit 29 homers in 1919.[15]

Seybold was married but had no children. His wife, Wilhelmina "Minnie" Heitz, died in 1917.[2] In his later years, Seybold was employed as a steward of a social club (Fraternal Order of Eagles) in Jeannette, Pennsylvania.[16] In 1921, Seybold was driving a car when it overturned at a sharp curve on the Lincoln Highway east of Jeanette;[16] he was killed instantly.[2] He left an estate valued at $20,000.[17] Seybold was buried next to his wife at Brush Creek Cemetery in Irwin.

Teams

Cincinnati Reds (1899)
Philadelphia Athletics (1901-1908)

Career highlights and awards

American League pennant: 1902, 1905
American League home run champion: 1902

[Old Sweater]

Third Team, Pitcher, Addie Joss



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addie_Joss

Adrian Joss (April 12, 1880 – April 14, 1911) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched his entire nine-year baseball career for the Cleveland Bronchos/Naps (1902–1910).

Early life

He was born in the unincorporated community of Woodland in Dodge County, Wisconsin,[2] where his father was a cheese maker.[3] Several of his nicknames in baseball reflected this. As a youth, Joss was a star athlete at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. As a town ball player, Joss pitched in, and won, the Wisconsin town championship game against Rube Waddell who was playing as a 'ringer' while 'moonlighting' away from his job in the Major Leagues—fishing.
[edit] Pitching style

Joss' pitching repertoire included a fastball, a "slow ball," or changeup, and a single hard curve. George Moriarty explained that he had only one curveball because "he believed that with a few well mastered deliveries he could acquire great control and success with less strain on his arm." [4] In an era filled with spitball pitchers, Joss achieved his success without ever experimenting with altering the baseball. Joss threw with a "corkscrew" windup motion. Roger Peckinpaugh described his windup:

He would turn his back toward the batter as he wound up, hiding the ball all the while, and then whip around and fire it in.

Professional career

Joss joined the Cleveland Bronchos in 1902 and was an immediate success, earning a 17-13 record and 2.77 ERA in his first year. He continued to improve over the following decade, posting four 20 win seasons and six sub-2.00 ERAs by 1910. His best season came in 1908 when he was 24-11 with a 1.16 ERA and 9 shutouts. In planning for life after baseball, Joss took up sports writing and worked for a local paper for several years.

Joss pitched the fourth perfect game in baseball history on October 2, 1908 opposite Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Ed Walsh, accomplishing the feat with just 74 pitches. He pitched a second no-hitter in 1910. Both no-hitters were against the Chicago White Sox; to date, Joss is the only pitcher in Major League history to no-hit the same team twice. His 1.89 career ERA is ranked second all-time.

Joss was additionally a popular columnist for the Toledo News-Bee during the off seasons and served as their Sunday sports editor. His writings proved so popular that sales of the paper increased and a special phone line was installed in his office to field the large volume of calls he received from fans. (Addie Joss - King of Pitchers by Scott Longert SABR 1998)

Death

Joss' playing career was cut short when he was died suddenly from tubercular meningitis. He died on April 14, 1911[3] at the age of 31. As late as April 7, press reports took note of Joss' ill health, but speculated about "ptomaine poisoning" or "nervous indigestion." His personal doctor had diagnosed an attack of pleurisy.

Teams

Cleveland Bronchos/Naps (1902-1910)

Career highlights and awards

Second-best career ERA (1.89) in Major League history
Best career WHIP (.968) in Major League history
American League ERA champion (1904, 1908)
American League wins champion (1907)
4 20-win seasons
5 sub-2.00 ERA seasons
Pitched a perfect game on October 2, 1908

HOF 1978, Veterans Committee

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Third Team, Pitcher, George Mullin



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...%28baseball%29

George Joseph Mullin (July 4, 1880 – January 7, 1944) was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1902–13) and Washington Senators (1913) of the American League and the Indianapolis Hoosiers/Newark Pepper (1914–15) of the Federal League.

Career Overview

Mullin holds the Detroit Tigers franchise record for innings pitched (in a career and in a season) and has the second most wins in the team's history. He also pitched the team's first no-hitter; had five 20-win seasons (including a league-leading 29 wins in 1909); helped the Tigers to three straight American League pennants (1907–1909); twice hit over .310 as a batter; and ranks 7th in major league history for fielding assists by a pitcher. Yet, as one author noted: "The pitching prowess and significant achievements of George Mullin seem to have faded away on the brittle pages of baseball history. Not even in the Motor City ... is the name of George Mullin, the burly right-hander from Wabash, Indiana, mentioned." (Warren Wilbert, "What Makes an Elite Pitcher?" (McFarland 2003), p. 25)[1]

Mullin was a powerfully built right-hander with an intimidating fastball, but imperfect control. He was known to try to keep opposing batters off balance by talking to them when they came to bat, or even talking to himself. (George Van Dusen, Dan Ewald, Jim Hawkins, "The Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia" (2003), p. 169)[2] And with a runner on third base at Bennett Park, Mullin was known to fake a throw over the head of catcher Boss Schmidt. Schmidt would then fake an attempt to run after the "errant" pitch, luring the runner toward the plate. Mullin would then toss the ball to Schmidt for an easy out.

He compiled a career record of 228-196, ranking 65th in wins in major league history.

Early years

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Mullin played semi-pro baseball in Wabash, Indiana, earning the nickname "Wabash George." In 1901, at age 20, Mullin signed with both the Brooklyn Superbas and Detroit Tigers. Mullin chose the Tigers, wishing to stay closer to his home in Indiana. Mullin played his first twelve seasons with the Tigers.

In his rookie season, 1902, Mullin won 13 games (and lost 16) for the 7th place Tigers. The following season, Mullin won 19 and reduced his ERA to 2.25 (an Adjusted ERA+ of 129). In 1903, Mullin was among the American League leaders with 6 shutouts (2nd in AL), 170 strikeouts (5th in AL), and 41 games (2nd in AL).

In 1904, Mullin had another strong year, pitching a club record 42 complete games (and 7 shutouts) with a 2.40 ERA and 161 strikeouts. However, the Tigers in the pre-Cobb era were a weak-hitting team that remained mired in 7th place, and Mullin lost 23 games despite a strong individual performance.

In 1905, Mullin won 21 games for his first 20-win season but also lost 21 games. He started in a career-high 44 games and pitched in a club record 382-1/3 innings. He continued to remain below the league average with an ERA of 2.51.

The Tigers finished in 6th place in 1906, but Mullin had another strong year with a record of 21-18 and 35 complete games.

Mullin's Workhorse Abilities

Mullin had remarkable stamina as a pitcher. He started 428 games and had 353 complete game—25th highest total in major league history. He was among the American League leaders in complete games nine straight years (1903–1911) and innings pitched for eight straight years (1903–1910). His career highs were 42 complete games (1904) and 382⅓ innings (1905), both Tigers team records.

To this day, Mullin is the Tigers' all-time innings pitched leader, both in a career (3394) and in a season (382⅓).

An Intimidating Fastball with Control Problems

Mullin was a powerfully built pitcher with an intimidating fastball, perhaps even more so due to his imperfect control. He hit batsmen 131 times in his career—the 19th highest total in major league history. He also threw 85 wild pitches and gave up 1238 bases on balls—45th most in major league history. He led the league in walks allowed four times (1903–1906), including a career high 138 in 1905, and was among the league leaders in walks allowed 11 times.
[edit] The American League Pennants: 1907-1909

In 1907, the Tigers added Hughie Jennings as manager, and with the bats of Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford, the team finally had the winning combination, as they won three straight American League pennants from 1907-1909. During the Tigers' pennant years, Mullin won 66 games and pitched 105 complete games and more than 950 innings.

Mullin's best season was 1909, when he started the season with a one-hitter on Opening Day and then recorded eleven consecutive wins. He did not lose a game until June 15, 1909, and went on to lead the American League in both wins (29) and win percentage (.784).
[edit] Six Complete Games in the World Series

Mullin started 6 World Series games for the 1907-09 Tigers. He went the distance, pitching complete games, in all 6 World Series Games he started. He gave up only 12 earned runs in 58 innings, for a lifetime ERA of 1.86 in World Series play.

Despite strong pitching from Mullin, the Tigers lost each of the World Series they played in from 1907-1909. He had a 2.12 ERA in the 1907 World Series, but the Detroit bats went cold, and Mullin lost both games he started. Mullin holds the distinction of being the only pitcher in World Series history to lose 20 games during the regular season, and still appear in the World Series. Mullin posted a 20-20 record in the '07 season. In the 1908 Series, Mullin pitched a complete game shutout for a win. And in the 1909 World Series, Mullin won two games, including a 5-hit, 10-strikeout complete game shutout in Game 4 against Honus Wagner's Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cuban Tour of 1909

In November 1909, a group of Detroit Tigers players toured Cuba and played 12 exhibition games against two integrated Cuban teams, Habana and Almendares. Mullin was among the Tigers players who toured Cuba. The tour drew wide attention in Cuba, where baseball was already very popular. Demonstrating the high level of play in Cuba, the Tigers lost 8 of the 12 games to the integrated Cuban baseball teams.[3] On November 27, 1909, Mullin shut out the Cuban Almendares team in a 4-0 victory for the touring Tigers.

A Batter Who Once Pinch Hit for Ty Cobb

Mullin also excelled as a batter. He had a career .262 batting average with a .319 on base percentage. He had 96 extra base hits, 122 bases on balls, and 18 stolen bases. Hit hit three doubles in his first major league start and batted .325 in his rookie season. He was such a reliable hitter that he was used 101 times (with 21 hits) as a pinch hitter. (Paul Votano, "Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting" (McFarland 2003), p. 33)[5] On September 18, 1906, Mullin even pinch hit for Ty Cobb. Cobb was slumping and manager Bill Armour summoned Mullin to bat for Cobb in the bottom of the 9th inning. According to the next day's account in the Detroit Free Press, Mullin "hit center field with a triple." (Paul Votano, "Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting" (McFarland 2003)

Later years

Mullin continued as a winner and a workhorse in 1910 and 1911, with records of 21-12 and 18-10.

On April 20, 1912, Mullin was given the honor of pitching the first game at the new Navin Field, beating the Indians 6-5 in 11 innings. Mullin won his own game with an RBI single.

On May 21, 1912, Mullin shut out the Washington Senators, earning his 200th career win—a 2-0 pitching duel with Walter Johnson.

And on July 4, 1912 (Mullin's 32nd birthday), he pitched the first no-hitter in Detroit Tigers history, as Mullin helped himself with 3 hits and 2 RBIs in the game.

In 1913, Mullin got off to a shaky 1-6 start, and he was sold to the Washington Senators on May 17, 1913. That season he also pitched four games for the Montreal Royals in the International League (records).

In 1914, Mullin jumped to the newly formed Federal League and played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers. He enjoyed a one-year revival pitching for the Hoosiers in his home state of Indiana. His 2.70 ERA was among the Federal League leaders, and he also hit .312 with a .404 on base percentage and 21 RBIs in 77 at bats.

In 1915, the Hoosiers moved east and became the Newark Pepper, and Mullin played in only five games. His last major league game was with the Pepper on May 23, 1915. At least for that season he continued to work in the industry, pitching for Chester, Pennsylvania in the semiprofessional Delaware County League.[7]

Mullin died in 1944 at age 63 in Wabash, Indiana. He was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1962.

Teams

Detroit Tigers (1902-1913)
Washington Senators (1913)
Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914)
Newark Pepper (1915)

Career highlights and awards

In 1909, he led the American League in both wins (29) and won-loss percentage (.784).
His 1,244 assists ranks 7th all time among major league pitchers.
His 353 complete games ranks 25th on the all time major league list.
His 228 career wins ranks 65th on the all time major league list.
The all time leader in innings pitched for the Detroit Tigers
Pitched the Tigers first no-hitter in 1912.
Pitched 6 complete games in the World Series, 1907-1909, with a 3-3 record and 1.86 ERA.
Won 20 games or more in five seasons.

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Third Team, Pitcher, Bill Dineen



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Dineen

William Henry Dinneen, alternately spelled Dineen (April 5, 1876 - January 13, 1955), was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who followed his 12-year career from 1898 to 1909 with a highly regarded tenure as an American League umpire from 1909 to 1937. Born in Syracuse, New York, he played for the Washington Senators and Boston Braves (both of the National League), and the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns of the American League. Dinneen was most instrumental in helping the Red Sox win the first World Series in 1903, by winning three of Boston's five victories against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dinneen also broke the record for most strikeouts in a World Series with 11; the previous mark of 10 had been set one day earlier by Pittsburgh's Deacon Phillippe.

He led the AL in losses in 1902 with 21, and led the league in saves in 1903 (2) and 1907 (4). In his remarkable 1904 season for the Red Sox, as they repeated as AL champions, he started 37 games, completing every one of them for a total of 335 2/3 innings pitched, posting a record of 23-14. On June 12 he won a 16-inning contest by a score of 2-1 over the Browns, and four of his next five starts also went at least 10 innings though he only won the first. On the season's final day, October 10, he faced the New York Highlanders in the first game of a doubleheader, with New York needing a sweep to take the pennant from Boston; the opposing pitcher, Jack Chesbro, had already established a modern record with 41 victories. The game went into the final inning tied 2-2 before a wild pitch by Chesbro gave a 3-2 victory, and the flag, to Boston.[1] On September 27, 1905, Dinneen pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox.

Dinneen joined the AL umpiring staff on September 12, 1909, just 17 days after his final pitching appearance with the Browns. He umpired in 8 World Series (1911, 1914, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1932), tying the AL record set by Tommy Connolly. He served as crew chief for the 1914, 1926 and 1932 Series. He was also selected as one of the umpires for the first All-Star game in 1933, calling balls and stikes for the first half of the game before giving way to the NL's Bill Klem. He was the third base umpire for the game on June 23, 1917 in which Ernie Shore replaced Babe Ruth with no one out and a runner on first base in the first inning, after Ruth was ejected for arguing the calls of plate umpire Brick Owens and then striking Owens. Shore proceeded to retire not only the runner but all 26 batters he faced.

Dinneen was the home plate umpire on May 18, 1912, when the Detroit Tigers staged a one-game walkout in protest of Ty Cobb's suspension; using replacement players including team coaches as well as college players in attendance, the Tigers lost 24-2 to the Philadelphia Athletics.[2] Dinneen had his own confrontation with Ruth in the 1922 season. On June 19, the outfielder got into an argument with the umpire, and during the next day's game he again insulted the official. In response, AL president Ban Johnson on June 21 sent a letter to Ruth, reading in part:[1]

I was keenly disappointed and amazed when I received Umpire Dinneen's report, recounting your shameful and abusive language to that official in the game at Cleveland last Monday. Bill Dinneen was one of the greatest pitchers the game ever produced, and with common consent we hand to him today the just tribute. He is one of the cleanest and most honorable men baseball ever fostered. ... Your conduct at Cleveland on Monday was reprehensible to a great degree - shocking to every American mother who permits her boy to go to a professional game. The American League cares nothing for Ruth. The individual player means nothing to the organization. When he steps on the ball field he is subject to our control and discipline. ... Again you offended on Tuesday. You branded Umpire Dinneen as 'yellow.' This is the most remarkable declaration a modern ball player has made. Dinneen stands out in the history of the game as one of the most courageous players we have ever had. If you could match up to his standard you would not be in the trough you occupy today. ... Coupled with your misconduct on Monday, you doubled the penalty on Tuesday. You are hereby notified of your suspension for five days without salary. It seems the period has arrived when you should allow some intelligence to creep into a mind that has plainly been warped.

In addition to the no-hitter he pitched, Dinneen also called balls and strikes for five other no-hitters (a sixth was broken up in extra innings). He remains the only individual in major league history to both pitch a no-hitter and call one as plate umpire.

In 1946, Dinneen was one of 11 umpires placed on a Roll of Honor by the Baseball Hall of Fame. He threw out the first pitch before Game 2 of the 1953 World Series, the 50th anniversary of his standout World Series performance. A lifelong Syracuse resident, he was an investor in a local brewery until 1950. He died at Syracuse Memorial Hospital at the age of 78; his death was attributed to heart disease. He was buried in St. Agnes Cemetery in Utica, New York. His wife, the former Margaret Quinn, died six years.

Teams

Washington Senators (1898-1899)
Boston Beaneaters (1900-1901)
Boston Americans (1902-1907)
St. Louis Browns (1907-1909)

Career highlights and awards

World Series champion: 1903
American League pennant: 1904
Four 20-win seasons