Bill James NL 1920-1929 All Decade Team

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Pitcher, Burleigh Grimes





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

Burleigh Arland Grimes (August 18, 1893 – December 6, 1985) was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.

Career

Nicknamed "Ol' Stubblebeard", Grimes was born in Emerald, Wisconsin. Burleigh made his professional debut in 1913, in Ottumwa, Iowa, for the Ottumwa Packers in the Central Association. He made his major league debut on September 10, 1916, for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and in 1920, when the spitball was banned, he was named as one of the 17 established pitchers who would be allowed to continue to throw the pitch. The 26-year-old Grimes made the most of this advantage, and over the course of his 19-year career, won 270 games and pitched in four World Series. At the time of his retirement, he was the last of the 17 spitballers left in the league.

Grimes played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1916 - 1917), the Brooklyn Dodgers (1918-1926), the New York Giants (1927), the Pirates again (1928-1929), the Boston Braves (1930), the St. Louis Cardinals (the rest of 1930 and 1931), the Chicago Cubs (1932 and part of 1933), the Cardinals again (the rest of 1933 and part of 1934), the Pirates again (1934), and the New York Yankees (the last part of 1934).

According to Baseball Digest, the Phillies were able to hit him because they knew when he was throwing the spitter. The Dodgers were mystified about this; first they thought the relative newcomer of a catcher, Hank DeBerry, was unwittingly giving away his signals to the pitcher, so they substituted veteran Zack Taylor, to no avail. They suggested that a spy with binoculars was concealed in the scoreboard in old Baker Bowl in Philadelphia, reading the signals from a distance, but the Phils hit Grimes just as well in Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. A batboy solved the mystery by pointing out that Burleigh's cap was too tight. It sounded silly, but he was right. The tighter cap would wiggle when Grimes flexed his facial muscles to prepare the spitter. He got a cap a half-size larger and the Phillies were on their own after that.[citation needed]

Grimes was the manager of the Dodgers in 1937-38, compiling a two-year record of 131-171 (.434), with his teams finishing sixth and seventh respectively in the National League. He then remained in baseball for many years as a minor league manager and a scout. He managed the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League from 1942 to 1944, and again in 1952 and 1953, winning the pennant in 1943.

Personality

Grimes acquired a lasting field reputation for his temperament. He is listed in the Baseball Hall of Shame series for having thrown a ball at the batter in the on-deck circle.[1] His friends and supporters note that he was consistently a kind man when off the diamond. Others claim he showed a greedy attitude to many people who 'got on his bad side.' He would speak mainly only to his best friend Ivy Olson in the dugout, and would pitch only to a man named Mathias Schroeder before games. Schroeder's identity was not well known among many Dodger players, as many say he was just 'a nice guy from the neighborhood.'
[edit] Later life

Besides his election to the Hall of Fame in 1964, in 1981 Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included Grimes in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.

Grimes died in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, at age of 92.

Career statistics
Win-Loss record 270-212
Earned run average 3.53
Strikeouts 1512
Teams

As Player

Pittsburgh Pirates (1916-1917)
Brooklyn Robins (1918-1926)
New York Giants (1927)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1928-1929)
Boston Braves (1930)
St. Louis Cardinals (1930-1931)
Chicago Cubs (1932-1933)
St. Louis Cardinals (1933-1934)
New York Yankees (1934)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1934)

As Manager

Brooklyn Dodgers (1937-1938)

Career highlights and awards

World Series champion: 1931
National League pennant: 1920, 1930, 1932
National League wins champion: 1921, 1928
National League strikeout champion: 1921
3-time National League innings pitched leader
4-time National League complete game leader
5 20-win seasons

HOF,1964, Veterans Committee

[Old Sweater]

First Team, Pitcher, Eppa Rixey





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

Eppa Rixey (May 3, 1891 - February 28, 1963), nicknamed "Jephtha", was an American left-handed pitcher who played 21 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1933. Rixey was best known as the National League's leader in career victories for a left-hander with 266 wins until Warren Spahn surpassed his total in 1959.

Rixey attended the University of Virginia where he was a star pitcher. He was discovered by umpire Cy Rigler, who convinced him to sign directly with the Phillies, bypassing minor league baseball entirely. His time with the Phillies was marked by inconsistency. He won 22 games in 1916, but also led the league in losses twice. In 1915, the Phillies played in the World Series, and Rixey lost in only appearance. After being traded to the Reds prior to the 1921 season, he won 20 or more games in a season three times, including a league-leading 25 in 1922, and posted eight consecutive winning seasons. His skills were declining by the 1929 season, when his record was 10-13 with a 4.16 earned run average. He pitched another four seasons before retiring after the 1933 season.

An intellectual who taught high school Latin during the off-season, earning the nickname "Jephtha" for his southern drawl. Rixey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963 but died a month after his election.

Early life

Rixey was born on May 3, 1891 in Culpeper, Virginia, and at the age of ten, his father, a banker, moved his family to Charlottesville, Virginia.[1] His uncles were John Franklin Rixey a former congressman and Presley Marion Rixey the former Surgeon General of the United States Navy.[2] He attended the University of Virginia, where he played basketball and baseball; his brother Bill also played baseball for the University.[1][3] During the off-season, umpire Cy Rigler worked as an assistant coach for the University. He recognized Rixey's talent and tried to sign him to the Philadelphia Phillies.[1] Rixey originally declined, saying he wanted to be a chemist, but Rigler insisted, even offering a substantial portion of the bonus he receives for signing a player.[1] With his family in financial trouble, Rixey accepted the deal. The National League, upon hearing of the deal, created a rule that prohibits umpires from signing players.[1] Neither Rixey nor Rigler received any signing bonus.[1] His brother Bill Rixey also played baseball for the University of Virginia.

Baseball career

Philadelphia Phillies

Rixey joined the Phillies for the 1912 season without playing a single game of minor league baseball.[4] His time with the Phillies was marked by inconsistency. He went 10-10 in his first year, with a 2.50 earned run average (ERA) and 10 complete games in 23 games pitched.[5] He had a three hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs on July 18.[6] Rixey was on the losing end of a no-hitter by Jeff Tesreau on September 6.[3] After the season, the Chicago Cubs under new manager Johnny Evers offered an "huge sum" to the Phillies for Rixey, but manager Red Dooin declined the offer.[7] Prior to the 1913 season, Rixey notified the Phillies of his desire to finish his studies at the University of Virginia and graduate in June, however, after some negotiation, he decided to sign a contract re-joined the team shortly after the season began.[8][8] That season, he appeared in 35 games, started 23 of them, winning nine games, and had a 3.12 earned run average. In 1914, his record worsened to 2-11, and his earned run average increased to 4.37.[5] Rixey's record improved to 11–12 in 1915, and lowered his earned run average to 2.39 as the Phillies won the National League pennant and played the Boston Red Sox in the 1915 World Series. During Game 5 of the series, Rixey replaced starter Erskine Mayer for the final six innings of the game. He allowed three runs in the final two innings and lost 5-4.[5]

Rixey went 22-10 in 1916 with a 1.85 ERA and a career high of 134 strikeouts.[5] On June 29, Rixey pitched a four hit shutout against the New York Giants, facing the minimum 27 batters, because of three double plays, and a player caught stealing.[9] In 1917, depsite having a low 2.27 earned run average, Rixey led the league in pitching losses with 22.[5] He also handled 108 chances without a single error.[5] Rixey hated losing and was known for destroying the team locker room, or disappear for days at a time after a loss.[1] He missed the 1918 season to serve in the Chemical Warfare Division of the United States army during the war effort.[1] He struggled upon returning to baseball, going 6-12 with a 3.97 earned run average in 1919, and again leading the league in losses with 22 in 1920.[5] Prior to the 1920 season, rumours circulated that his former manager, Pat Moran, now with the Cincinnati Reds, was interested in traded for Rixey. The relationship between Rixey and manager Gavvy Cravath was never good, and Cravath had let known his desire to trade him, however he stayed with the Phillies that season, working on his delivery with former pitcher Jesse Tannehill who Rixey admitted helped with his pitching delivery.[10][11] On November 22, 1920, Rixey was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Jimmy Ring and Greasy Neale. His record during his eight seasons with the Phillies was 87 wins and 103 losses.



^^^ Rixey on the left with Erskine Mayer in the background.

Cincinnati Reds

Rixey was traded prior to the 1921 season to the Reds for Jimmy Ring and Greasy Neale.[5] In his first season with the Reds, he won 19 games, and set a Major League record by allowing just one home run in 301 innings pitched.[1] In three of the next four seasons, he had 20 or more victories each season, with a league-leading total of 25 in 1922.[5] He also lead the league in innings pitched and hits allowed in 1922 and shutouts with four in 1924.[5] In 1926 he had 14 wins, followed by seasons of 12, 19 and 10 wins.[5] Rixey's production began to decline in 1930, when he went 9-13 with a 5.10 ERA, and pitched fewer than 200 innings for the first time since 1919. Beginning in 1931 season through the 1933 season, Rixey played very little, and was used almost exclusively against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[13] For the 1933 season, he was the only Reds pitcher with a winning record with a 6-3 win-loss record as the Reds finished last in the division with a 58-94 record.[14] He retired prior to the 1934 season stating "the manager wasn't giving me enough work".[13] Rixey completed his major league career with 266 wins, 251 losses, and a 3.15 ERA. He appeared in 692 games and completed 290, and had 20 wins and 14 saves as a relief pitcher.



^^^ Eppa Rixey 1933 Goudey card.

Legacy

Originally Rixey had trouble controlling his speed, but eventually became one of the most feared pitchers in baseball according to reporters.[14] Rixey was considered a pitcher with an "peculiar motion", who rarely walked a batter.[13] Throughout his long career, the 210-pound Rixey charmed teammates and fans with his dry wit and big Southern drawl. His nonsensical nickname "Jephtha" seemed to capture his roots and amiable personality.[12] Some writers thought "Jephtha" was a part of Rixey's real name, but it was likely invented by a Philadelphia sportswriter.[12] Rob Neyer called Rixey the fourth best pitcher in Reds history behind Bucky Walters, Paul Derringer and teammate Dolf Luque.

His 266 career victories was the record for most wins by a left-handed pitcher in the National League until Warren Spahn broke it in 1959, however his 251 losses are an all-time record for left-handed pitchers.[1] He also held the longevity record for most seasons pitched by a National League left-hander until Steve Carlton broke it in 1986.[12] As time passed, support for Rixey to be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame grew. He was also inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958.[4] In 1960, Rixey finished third in the balloting behind former teammate Edd Roush and Sam Rice (who was later inducted the same year as Rixey).[16] Upon his election to the Hall of Fame on January 27, 1963, he was quoted as saying "They're really scraping the bottom of the barrel, aren't they?"

Personal life

He was married to Dorothy Meyers of Cincinnati, Ohio and had two children, Eppa Rixey III and Ann Rixey Sikes.[12] After his retirement from baseball, worked for his father-in-law's successful insurance company in Cincinnati, eventually becoming president of the company.[12][17] He died of a heart attack on February 28, 1963, one month after his election to the Hall of Fame, becoming the first player to die between election and induction to the Hall of Fame.[1] He is interred at Greenlawn Cemetery in Milford, Ohio.[5]

When Rixey started playing, he was considered an "anomaly". He came from a well-off family and was college-educated, something that was rare during his era. He wrote poetry, and took graduate school classes in chemistry, mathematics and Latin.[1] During the off-season, he was a Latin teacher at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia.[1] He was also considered among the best golfers among athletes during the time period.[4] He was the subject of hazing in his first few years in the Majors. Eventually he teamed up with other college graduates, Joe Oeschger and Stan Baumgartner and the hazing lessed to a degree.

Career statistics
Win–loss record 266–251
Earned run average 3.15
Strikeouts 1,350
Shutouts 37
Teams

Philadelphia Phillies (1912–1920)
Cincinnati Reds (1921–1933)

Career highlights and awards

Led NL in wins in 1922 with 25
Led NL in innings pitched in 1922 with 313.3
Led NL in shutouts in 1924 with 4
Held NL record for a victories by a left-handed pitcher at the time of his retirement (266).
Was on NL-pennant winning team in 1915, with the Phillies

HOF, 1963, Veterans Committee

[Old Sweater]

Second Team, Catcher, Gabby Hartnett





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

Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett (December 20, 1900 - December 20, 1972) was an American professional baseball player and manager.[1] He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League.[2][3] A six-time All-Star known for his powerful hitting, superb defensive abilities and strong throwing arm, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.

Baseball career

Hartnett was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island as the oldest of 14 children.[2] He grew up in the nearby small town of Millville, Massachusetts, where he played baseball in the Blackstone Valley League.[5] He began his professional baseball career at the age of 20 with the Worcester Boosters of the Eastern League in 1921.[6] New York Giants manager, John McGraw, sent scout Jesse Burkett to appraise Hartnett's talent as a player.[7] Burkett reported back to McGraw that Hartnett's hands were too small for a major league catcher.[7] The Giants' loss would prove to be the Chicago Cubs' gain.

Hartnett joined the Cubs in 1922, serving as a backup catcher to Bob O'Farrell.[1] He was given his ironic nickname of "Gabby" as a rookie due to his shy, reticient nature.[8] When O'Farrell was injured during the 1924 season, Hartnett took over, posting a .299 batting average along with 16 home runs and 67 runs batted in.[1] After the retirement of catcher Bill Killefer, Hartnett became the favorite catcher of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Grover Cleveland Alexander and, caught Alexander's 300th career win on September 20, 1924.[9] Hartnett played well enough during O'Farrell's absence that, the Cubs decided to keep him as their starting catcher, trading O'Farrell to the St. Louis Cardinals in May 1925.[10][11]

Hartnett hit 24 home runs in 1925, setting a single-season home run record for catchers and, finished second overall in the National League behind the 39 home runs hit by Rogers Hornsby.[12][13] Although he led National League catchers in errors, he also led in range factor and in putouts, while his strong throwing arm helped him lead the league in assists, and in caught stealing percentage.[14] Leo Durocher, who played against Hartnett and was a National League manager during Johnny Bench's career, stated that the two catchers had similarly strong throwing arms.[15] During the major league baseball winter meetings in December 1925, it was rumored that Hartnett might be traded to the New York Giants for catcher Frank Snyder and Irish Meusel however, Cubs president Bill Veeck, Sr., squelched the rumors saying that Hartnett would not be traded for anybody.[16]

Hartnett proved himself an excellent backstop through the 1920s; although he was often injured.[5] In 1929, a mysterious arm ailment limited him to one game behind the plate and 24 games as a pinch hitter as the Cubs won the National League pennant.[5] Hartnett struck out in all three of his at bats in the 1929 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics.[8][17] He rebounded with his best season in 1930, hitting for a .339 batting average with career highs of 122 runs batted in, a .630 slugging percentage and 37 home runs, breaking his own single-season home run record for catchers.[1][12] He led all National League catchers in putouts, assists, fielding percentage and in baserunners caught stealing.[18]

During an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on September 9, 1931, Hartnett was photographed while signing an autograph for gangster, Al Capone.[19] After the photograph was published in newspapers across the United States, Hartnett received a telegram from Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis instructing him not to have his photograph taken with Capone in the future.[19] Hartnett replied with a telegram to the Commissioner whimsically stating, "OK, but if you don't want me to have my picture taken with Al Capone, you tell him."

In 1932, Hartnett guided the Cubs' pitching staff to the lowest team earned run average in the league, as the Cubs clinched the National League pennant by 4 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[20] Hartnett was the Cubs' catcher on October 1, in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the New York Yankees when, Babe Ruth hit his infamous Called Shot.[15] Although he hit for a .313 batting average with 1 home run, the Yankees went on to win the series in a four-game sweep.[21]

In 1933, Hartnett was selected to be a reserve catcher for the National League team in the inaugural Major League Baseball All-Star Game held on July 6, 1933.[22] It would mark the first of six consecutive All-Star game selections for Hartnett.[1] At the mid-season point of the 1934 season, Hartnett was hitting for a .336 batting average with 13 home runs to earn the starting catcher's role for the National League team in the 1934 All-Star Game.[23][24] Hartnett was calling the pitches for Carl Hubbell in the 1934 All-Star Game when he set a record by striking out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin in succession.[15]

Hartnett had another impressive season in 1935 when he produced a .344 batting average, third highest in the league and, led the league's catchers in assists, double plays, and fielding percentage.[1][25] He also led the Cubs pitching staff to the lowest earned run average in the league as they won the National League pennant by 4 games over the St. Louis Cardinals.[26] For his performance, Hartnett was named the recipient of the 1935 National League Most Valuable Player Award.[27] The Cubs would eventually lose to the Detroit Tigers led by Mickey Cochrane in the 1935 World Series.[28]

In the 1937 All-Star Game, pitcher Dizzy Dean kept shaking off Hartnett's signs for a curve ball resulting in a hit by Joe DiMaggio, a home run by Lou Gehrig and finally, a line drive off the bat of Earl Averill that struck Dean on his toe.[29] Dean had been one of the preeminent pitchers in the National League until the injury to his toe eventually led to the end of his baseball playing career.[15] Hartnett ended the 1937 season with a career-high .354 batting average and, finished second to Joe Medwick in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.[1][30] His .354 batting average in 1937 was the highest batting average by a major league catcher for 60 years until 1997 when, Mike Piazza posted a .362 average.

Homer in the Gloamin'

On July 20, 1938, Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley named the 37 year old Hartnett as the team's player-manager, replacing Charlie Grimm.[33] When Hartnett took over as manager, the Cubs had been in third place, six games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates led by Pie Traynor.[34] By September 27, with one week left in the season, the Cubs had battled back to within a game and a half game of the Pirates in the National League standings as the two teams met for a crucial three-game series.[34] The Cubs won the first game of the series with a 2 to 1 victory by Cubs pitcher Dizzy Dean, cutting the Pirates' lead to a half game and, setting the stage for one of baseball's most memorable moments.[35]

On September 28, 1938, the two teams met for the second game of the series where, Hartnett experienced the highlight of his career. With darkness descending on the lightless Wrigley Field and the score tied at 5 runs apiece, the umpires ruled that the ninth inning would be the last to be played. The entire game would have to be replayed the following day if the score remained tied. Hartnett came to bat with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning. With a count of 0 balls and 2 strikes, Hartnett connected on a Mace Brown pitch, launching the ball into the darkness, before it eventually landed in the left-center field bleachers. The stadium erupted into pandemonium as players and fans stormed the field to escort Hartnett around the bases.[36] Hartnett's walk-off home run became immortalized as the Homer in the Gloamin'.[35]

The Cubs were now in first place, culminating an impressive 19-3-1 record in September, and the pennant would be clinched three days later.[34] Hartnett once again led the Cubs pitching staff to the lowest earned run average in the league and, led National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage.[37][38] Unfortunately, the Cubs were swept in the 1938 World Series by the New York Yankees, their fourth Series loss in ten years.[39]

Hartnett felt the strain of managing a team during the 1939 season as, he faced player discontent over the pampering of Dizzy Dean while, pitcher Larry French went over his head to complain to owner Philip Wrigley about his lack of pitching assignments.[40] French felt he was being punished for requesting to have Gus Mancuso as his catcher.[40] In addition, Hartnett was forced to catch more games due to the lack of hitting from the other Cubs catchers.[40] On August 28, 1939, he broke Ray Schalk's Major League record of 1,727 career games as a catcher.[41]

After two disappointing seasons, Hartnett was dismissed by the Cubs on November 13, 1940, after 19 years with the club.[42] On December 3, he signed a contract with the New York Giants to be a player-coach.[43] Hartnett hit for a .300 average in 64 games as a backup catcher to Harry Danning in the 1941 season.[1] He played his final game on September 24, 1941, retiring as a player at the age of 40.

Career statistics

In a 20 year major league career, Hartnett played in 1,990 games, accumulating 1,912 hits in 6,432 at bats for a .297 career batting average along with a .489 slugging percentage, 236 home runs, 1,179 runs batted in and an on base percentage of .370.[1] He retired with a .984 career fielding percentage.[1] Hartnett caught 100 or more games for a league record 12 times, including a record eight seasons in a row.[44] He led the National League in putouts four times and in assists and fielding percentage six times.[1] He led the league seven times in double plays and, set a National league record with 163 career double plays.[45] Hartnett set a since-broken major league record for catchers of 452 consecutive chances without committing an error.[46]

At the time of his retirement, his 236 home runs, 1179 runs batted in, 1912 hits, and 396 doubles were all records for catchers.[12] He also finished among the National League's top ten in slugging percentage seven times in his career.[1] A six-time All-Star, Hartnett was the recipient of one Most Valuable Player Award and played on four pennant-winning teams.[1] Hartnett's .370 career on base percentage was higher than the .342 posted by Johnny Bench or, the .348 posted by Yogi Berra.[47][48] His bat and catcher's mask were the first artifacts sent to the newly constructed Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.[5]
[edit] Post-playing career and retirement

Afterwards, he managed in the minor leagues for five seasons, retiring to Lincolnwood, Illinois in 1946.[49] On January 26, 1955, Hartnett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Joe DiMaggio, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance.[50] In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included Hartnett in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. In 1999, he was named as a finalist to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.[51]

In his last job in the majors Hartnett worked as a coach and scout for the Kansas City Athletics for two years in the mid-1960s. Gabby Hartnett died of cirrhosis in Park Ridge, Illinois on his 72nd birthday, and is interred in All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Career statistics
Batting average .297
Home runs 236
Runs batted in 1,179
Teams

As player

Chicago Cubs (1922–1940)
New York Giants (1941)

As manager

Chicago Cubs (1938–1940)

Career highlights and awards

6× All-Star selection (1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938)
1935 NL MVP

HOF, 1955, BBWAA 77.69% 11th ballot

[Old Sweater]

Second Team, First Baseman, Jim Bottomley> think Mickey said he had a bat(souvenir?) of this guy.





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

James Leroy Bottomley (April 23, 1900 – December 11, 1959) was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful disposition, he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.

As a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals (1922–1932), Cincinnati Reds (1933–1935) and St. Louis Browns (1936–1937), Bottomley was noted for his upbeat demeanor and ability to drive in runs. He had over 100 RBIs in each season from 1924 to 1929.

Bottomley's best season came in 1928, when he hit .325 with 31 home runs and 136 RBIs. He also became the second Major League player in history to join the 20–20–20 club. That year, he won the National League Most Valuable Player award and led the Cardinals to the World Series, where they lost to the New York Yankees. He was the first player to win an MVP award after beginning his career in his team's farm system.

He set the Major League record for RBIs in a single game, with 12, on September 16, 1924 (since tied by Mark Whiten). Bottomley also holds the single-season record for most unassisted double plays by a first baseman, with eight. "Sunny" is also known as the only man to be sued for hitting a home run when a fan was hit by the ball when he wasn't looking.

After his career ended, Bottomley moved to near Bourbon, Missouri, where he raised Hereford cattle. He spent the last years of his life in nearby Sullivan, Missouri, where he and his wife Betty were eventually laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. The city park in Sullivan is named for him.

A museum in Nokomis, Illinois, is dedicated to Bottomley and the Hall of Famers Ray Schalk and Red Ruffing.

Bottomly was the second player in baseball history to hit 20 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in one season (Frank Schulte being the first) and the first of two players (Lou Gehrig being the other) to collect 150 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in a career. He is the only player to achieve both.

"Sunny Jim" Bottomley was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 1974.

Career statistics
Batting average .310
Home runs 219
Runs batted in 1,422
Teams

As player

St. Louis Cardinals (1922–1932)
Cincinnati Reds (1933–1935)
St. Louis Browns (1936–1937)

As manager

St. Louis Browns (1937)

Career highlights and awards

2× World Series champion (1926, 1931)
1928 NL MVP

HOF, 1974, Veterans Committee

[Old Sweater]

second Team, Second Baseman, Frankie Frisch





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

Francis "Frankie" Frisch (September 9, 1898 [1] – March 12, 1973), nicknamed the Fordham Flash, or The Old Flash, was a German-American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century.[2]

Frisch was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. Born in the Bronx, New York City, he attended Fordham Preparatory School, graduating in 1916.[3] He went on to Fordham University where he continued to star in four sports: Baseball, Football, Basketball and Track. There, given his speed, he earned the nickname "The Fordham Flash."

New York Giants

In 1919, Frisch left Fordham [5] to signed with the New York Giants of the National League, moving directly to the majors without playing in the minor leagues. He made an immediate impact, finishing third in the NL in stolen bases and seventh in RBI in 1920, his first full season. Manager John McGraw was so impressed by Frisch that he soon named him team captain, giving him advice in baserunning and hitting. The Giants played Frisch at both third base and second base early in his career, but by 1923 he was installed as the team's full-time second baseman.

Frisch batted over .300 in his last six seasons with New York. He was also an expert fielder and a skilled baserunner. In 1921, he led the National League with 48 steals, in 1923 in hits, and in 1924 in runs. With Frisch adding his fiery competitiveness to the team, the Giants won the World Series in 1921 and 1922, winning the NL pennant the following two seasons as well.
[edit] St. Louis Cardinals

After the 1926 season, Frisch was traded - with pitcher Jimmy Ring - to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for star Rogers Hornsby. After an August 1926 loss in which Frisch had missed a sign, costing the Giants a run, McGraw had loudly berated Frisch in front of the team; Frisch responded by leaving the team, and his previously close relationship with McGraw virtually ended.

Playing second base for the Cardinals, Frisch appeared in four more World Series (1928, 1930–31, 1934), bringing his career total to eight. He was the driving force of the "Gashouse Gang", the nickname for the Cardinals clubs of the early 1930s, which were built around him to reflect his no-holds-barred approach. The Cardinals had won only one pennant before Frisch joined the team; the Giants would win the pennant only once in Frisch's nine seasons as the Cards' regular second baseman.

Frisch played eleven seasons with the Cardinals. In 1931, he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the National League after batting .311 with 10 home runs and 114 RBI. The 1931 Cardinals also triumphed in the World Series, defeating Connie Mack's defending two-time champion Philadelphia Athletics in seven games.

Frisch became player-manager of the Cardinals in 1933, and was named to the NL's first three All-Star teams from 1933-35. In 1934, he managed the Cardinals to another seven-game World Series victory - this time over the Detroit Tigers.

Frisch finished his playing career in 1937. His career statistics totaled a .316 batting average, still the highest ever for a switch hitter, with 2880 hits, 1532 runs, 105 home runs and 1244 RBI. He also stole 419 bases in his nineteen playing seasons. His hit total stood as the record for switch-hitters until Pete Rose surpassed it in 1977.

Frankie Frisch was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. After no players had been selected by the writers in the previous two years (the only elections since 1942), the rules were revised to limit eligibility to those players who had retired after 1921; Frisch was among the first four players to benefit from the more reasonable field of candidates.

Post-baseball career

After retirement, he continued to manage the Cardinals, but was never able to capture another pennant. Frisch also had managerial stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1940–46) and the Chicago Cubs (1949–51), but without the success he had in St. Louis. Frisch's career ledger as a manager shows a 1138-1078 mark including the pennant in 1934.

For several years in the 1950s, he worked as a radio play-by-play announcer and coach for the Giants. His broadcasting trademark was worrying about pitchers walking batters: "Oh, those bases on balls!" A heart attack in 1956 forced him to curtail his activities. After his heart attack in September 1956, Phil Rizzuto (recently released by Yankees as a player) filled in for him on N.Y. Giant post-game TV shows.

A number of years after Frisch left the playing field as a manager, he became a member of the Hall of Fame's Committee on Baseball Veterans, which is responsible for electing players to the Hall of Fame who had not been elected during their initial period of eligibility by the Baseball Writers; he later became chairman of the committee. In the years just prior to his death, a number of Frisch's Giants and Cardinals teammates were elected to the Hall; some notable writers, chiefly among them Bill James, have criticized these selections - including Jesse Haines, Dave Bancroft, Chick Hafey, Rube Marquard, Ross Youngs and George Kelly - which include some of the most widely questioned honorees in the Hall's history. Critics have complained that many of these selectees had accomplishments which were less outstanding than those of other players who were bypassed, and were only selected because of Frisch's influence.

Frisch died in Wilmington, Delaware from injuries suffered from a car accident near Elkton, Maryland one month earlier. He was 74 years old. Frisch had been returning to Rhode Island from the meeting of the Veterans' Committee in Florida when he lost control of his car. Frisch died in the same manner as other N.Y. Giant Hall of Famers Mel Ott (1958) and Carl Hubbell (1988). He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

During his lifetime, Frisch used 1898 as his year of birth. Recent information available, however, suggests that he was born in 1897. New York City birth records (NYC did not include the Bronx until 1898) indicate an 1897 birth; social security death records give an 1897 birth, as do most census records.

In 1999, he ranked number 88 on the The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Career statistics
Batting average .316
Hits 2,880
Home runs 105
Runs batted in 1,244
Teams

As player

New York Giants (1919–1926)
St. Louis Cardinals (1927–1937)

As manager

St. Louis Cardinals (1933–1938)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1940–1946)
Chicago Cubs (1949–1951)

Career highlights and awards

3× All-Star selection (1933, 1934, 1935)
4× World Series champion (1921, 1922, 1931, 1934)
1931 NL MVP

HOF,1947, BBWAA 84.47% Fifth Ballot

[Scoobean]

Jim Bottomley on that baseball card was sporting his cap gangster style to the side. He may have been the first ever old school playa.

[Old Sweater]

Second Team, Third Baseman, Andy High





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

Andrew Aird High (November 21, 1897 in Ava, Illinois - February 22, 1981 in Toledo, Ohio), is a former professional baseball player who played third base in the Major Leagues from 1922-1934. He would play for the Brooklyn Robins, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Career statistics
Batting average .284
Home runs 44
Runs batted in 482
Teams

Brooklyn Robins (1922-1925)
Boston Braves (1925-1927)
St. Louis Cardinals (1928-1931)
Cincinnati Reds (1932-1933)
Philadelphia Phillies (1934)

Career highlights and awards

1931 World Series Championship
Participated in the 1928 World Series and 1930 World Series


Hmmm, not much write at Wiki for this guy. Sorta disappointing.

[Old Sweater]

Second Team, Shortstop, Travis Jackson





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

Travis Calvin Jackson (November 2, 1903 in Waldo, Arkansas - July 27, 1987) was a Major League Baseball player during the 1920s and 1930s. His exceptional range at shortstop led to the nickname "Stonewall."

Jackson broke into the major leagues in 1922 with the New York Giants, the team he would play for his entire career. After a mediocre 1923 campaign, he established himself in 1924 by playing in 151 games and hitting .302 with 11 home runs.

Playing until 1936, Jackson was regarded as one of the premier defensive shortstops in the league. He was on four National League pennant-winning teams and one World Series champion (1933). He batted .300 or higher six times and, although not known for his production, hit 21 home runs in 1929 and drove in 101 runs in 1934. He finished his career with 135 home runs and a .291 batting average.

Jackson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Career statistics
Batting average .291
Home runs 135
Runs batted in 929
Teams

New York Giants (1922–1936)

Career highlights and awards

All-Star selection (1934)
2× World Series champion (1922, 1933)

HOF, 1982, Veterans Committee

[Old Sweater]

Second Team, Left Fielder, Kiki Cuyler





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

Hazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler (pronounced /ˈkaɪlər/; August 30, 1898 – February 11, 1950) was a Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until 1938. He was born in Harrisville, Michigan.

Cuyler broke into the big leagues in 1921 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a fixture in the lineup in 1924. Playing for the Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers over the next decade and a half, Cuyler established a reputation as an outstanding hitter with great speed. He regularly batted .350 or higher and finished with a .321 lifetime batting average. In 1925 Cuyler combined this great hitting with 18 home runs and 102 RBI. Cuyler's Pirates won the World Series that year, the only time in his career he would be part of a championship team.

In 1927, Cuyler was benched for nearly half the season because of a dispute with first-year manager Donie Bush. The Pirates went again to the World Series, but Cuyler did not play. That November, Cuyler was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Sparky Adams and Pete Scott.

Cuyler led the league in stolen bases four times and finished his career with 328 steals.

After his illustrious career as a player, Cuyler managed in the minor leagues, winning the regular-season Southern Association pennant in 1939 under Joe Engel with the Chattanooga Lookouts, with one of the only fan-owned franchises in the nation. He was a coach for the Cubs and Boston Red Sox during the 1940s, and was still active in the role for Boston in February 1950 when he succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 51. He died and was buried in his hometown of Harrisville, Michigan.

Cuyler was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968. In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.

Career statistics
Batting average .321
Hits 2,299
Home runs 128
Runs batted in 1,065
Teams

Pittsburgh Pirates (1921–1927)
Chicago Cubs (1928–1935)
Cincinnati Reds (1935–1937)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1938)

Career highlights and awards

All-Star selection (1934)
World Series champion (1925)

HOF, 1968, Veterans Committee

Hazen Shirley! Man, I'd sure go by my nickname.

[Old Sweater]

Second Team, Center Fielder, Max Carey





Max George Carey (January 11, 1890 – May 30, 1976) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961. During his 20-year career, he led the league in stolen bases ten times and finished with 738 swipes, a National League record until 1974 and still the 9th-highest total in major league history.

Professional career

Max Carey was born as Maximillian George Carnarius in Terre Haute, Indiana.[1] He first adopted the name Max Carey when he played his first professional baseball game in order to retain his amateur status at Concordia College; the name would stick with him for his entire career.

Carey played for the Pirates from his arrival in the league in 1910 until 1926, winning a World Series championship in 1925. He was known as a skilled fielder and excellent base stealer. He regularly stole 40 or more bases and maintained a favorable steal percentage; in 1922 he stole 51 bases and was caught only twice. He also stole home 33 times in his career, second best only to Ty Cobb's 50 on the all-time list.

Carey played his final three and a half years with the Brooklyn Robins, but was aging and no longer the same player. He retired in 1929, but went on to manage the Dodgers from 1932 to 1933, as well as the Milwaukee Chicks and the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

He died at age 86 in Miami, Florida, and is buried in Woodlawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum (now Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North Park Cemetery and Mausoleum).



^^^ Carey (right), and Boston's Bill McKechnie watch as John H. McCooey throws out the first ball of Brooklyn's 1932 season.

Career statistics
Batting average .285
Hits 2665
Stolen Bases 738
Teams

As Player

Pittsburgh Pirates (1910-1926)
Brooklyn Robins (1926-1929)

As Manager

Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1933)

Career highlights and awards

World Series Champion: 1925
Managerial record: 146-161
9th-most stolen bases in Major League history (738)
10-time National League stolen base leader
2-time National League walk leader
6 seasons with a .300+ batting average
5 seasons with 100+ runs scored

HOF, 1961, Veterans Committee