Greenberg and Interleague Play Tigers in Danger from Train Fire
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Official Publication of Retrosheet, Inc. Volume 5, Number 4 December 1, 1998 Greenberg and Interleague Play As we come to the close of another year, it is conventional to summarize the big events of the last 12 months. We have done a lot this The last issue of TRS carried an article concerning interleague play year, for example, as discussed in the late 1950s. Hank Greenberg was the originator passing the 50,000 of the idea and our crack staff has tracked down the information. In View from mark in total May 1954, Greenberg, then GM of the Indians, offered a plan for games entered, games that count in the standings to be played between all NL and the Vault AL clubs. gathering David Smith, thousands more President Greenberg’s plan included four games between each AL and NL game accounts club, with two at home and two away. The intraleague contests from many sources would be cut from eleven to nine (home and away) to and increasing our visibility with the general accommodate these new games. However, that arrangement public as well as many Major League teams. would have to be modified each year since the eight game inter- league sets would add 32 games while the intraleague reductions However, this is also a good opportunity to would only account for 28 games. Greenberg said that the details think of ways to improve the organization in could be worked out later but the idea was to have a home and the coming year. To me there is one area away engagement with each club. He said that the 154 total should where we must do better, and that is the be kept as season statistics were based on that season total. distribution of our data. I have written many times about the need for careful proofing before Greenberg offered some arguments in favor of the concept: “It we release data files and I still believe that is would add spice to the schedule in a year where one team makes a essential. However, what has been lacking is runaway of the race, more or less killing off fan interest, an the follow through to get the proofed and interleague schedule would help keep baseball interest alive. It posted on our web site. The bottleneck is that should prove especially beneficial to second-division clubs. everything has to go through the central clearing house, which means me. I hereby “Fans in Cleveland read about the Musials, the Kiners, the Jackie pledge that for 1999 I will make the Robinsons, Robin Robertses and the many other stars in the NL, completion of proofing and the posting of data but never get to see them. An interleague schedule would bring files my highest priority. Lots of people have them all into Cleveland. I see nothing whatsoever detrimental given many hours of help in this proofing work about an interleague schedule.” and I have been pleased to accept it. More will be needed and I will not be bashful about Tigers in Danger from Train Fire asking; this is just too important to be left to “Hot Box” Threatens Detroit Players languish. Major League Baseball completed a marvelous season in 1998. This is a great time for us to remind fans that the history of the game is important too. St. Louis, Aug. 11, 1926 – Last minute discovery of a “hot box,” which threatened to throw a wheel, narrowly averted disaster early Happy holidays to the Retrocommunity. today on a Wabash train carrying the Detroit Tigers here for their two-game series with the Browns. Attention RetroVolunteers: The “hot box” was on the car carrying Ty Cobb and all his first string We passed another milestone this fall. players and soon had the regulars hopping out of their berths onto We now have over 50,000 game the hot floor in their pajamas, their eyes smarting from the smoke accounts computerized. Details can be which filled the car. The Pullman was removed at Decatur, Ill., and the players taken care of in other cars. found in The Scoreboard on the last page. 1 The Retro Sheet Pirates Suspend Capt. Carey; Fire 2 More Veterans Pittsburgh, Aug. 14, 1926 – Three faces long familiar to training season, has played far below his usual form in the Pirate fans will be missing when the Pittsburgh National field this year. League club takes the field today. Capt. Max Carey, Babe Adams and Carson Bigbee, the three oldest members of the Adams has been used almost exclusively as a relief pitcher for club in point of service, yesterday passed out of the Pirate several years while Bigbee, after a short stay in left field at the picture as a result of dissension among the players and the start of the season, was benched and has been used only as a managers over the question of pinch hitter and utility outfielder since. whether Fred Clarke, former Carey was manager and now Vice Observers pointed out also that the departure of the three will President of the club, should bring the Pirate squad below the major league limit, providing suspended continue to occupy his place on opportunity, should the management decide to do so, to without pay the players’ bench as assistant acquire additional strength from the minor leagues. to Manager Bill McKechnie. pending action on Pittsburgh, Aug. 17 – Marked only by a heated clash between waivers which The three veterans, two of Max Carey, deposed captain, and Manager Bill McKechnie, whom – Carey and Adams – the investigation of President John A. Heydler into the local have been asked Clarke developed, were said to team’s row ended here this afternoon. No statement was upon him. have led a movement to oust made by President Heydler, but his secretary, Cullen Cain, Clarke from the bench. Carey, informed newspaper men, who were barred from the meeting, acting as spokesman, declared that the league would make a statement tonight. some of the players felt that “two bosses do not get the results that one can.” The management’s reply to this was quickly The only clash of the meeting occurred between Carey and forthcoming. Adams, hero of Pittsburgh’s successful fight for McKechnie, whose raised voices could be heard through the the World Championship in 1909, and Bigbee, who from 1917 wall into the next room, set aside for newspaper men. until an attack of sinus trouble handicapped him in 1923, played sensationally in the outfield, were unconditionally Pittsburgh, Aug. 18 – Max Carey, fleet outfielder, has been released. claimed on waivers by Brooklyn, Pittsburgh National officials announced today. With the expiration of the waiver time limit Carey, with the Pirates for sixteen years and long known as today, Sam Dreyfuss, treasurer of the Pirates, announced one of the league’s most adept base stealers, was suspended Carey would go to Brooklyn for the waiver price of $4,000. without pay pending action on waivers which have been asked Brooklyn and the New York Giants were the only teams putting upon him. in a claim for Carey, Dreyfuss said. Opinion among baseball followers here seems fairly [Max Carey’s first game as a Brooklyn Robin was on 8-23- unanimous in agreeing that the management’s drastic action 1926. He played cf against his former team in Pittsburgh and will little affect the chances of the Pirates in their quest for their went two for three with two walks and two runs scored. “He second consecutive National League pennant. They pointed who laughs lasts, laughs best.”] out that Carey, stricken with influenza prior to the spring John McGraw’s $100 Raise NY Evening World, July 30, 1926 – Hughey “holdout” was not known. They signed because they wanted to play Jennings and John McGraw often get a laugh baseball. by recounting their famous holdout when they They communicated to Manager [Ned] Hanlon were going to school at St. Bonaventure while their decision, explaining that if they did not get Today ballplayers do not stick to the game playing with the Orioles in the summer. Both an increase they would stay on at St. simply because the lure is so great they were recognized stars. Each received a salary Bonaventure and earn their keep by coaching cannot stay away. For a college boy it is a of $2,500. To earn that salary they often the college baseball team. nice, pleasant way of earning a good income slipped out of their rooms in the mornings and for a few years. To others it is a liberal worked for hours experimenting with new plays “Come to Baltimore,” Hanlon wired them finally, education in travel and observation. It is a and certain batting weaknesses… “and I think I can get you a little raise. Take no recognized profession. They can take it or definite action until I see you.” leave it. Young Jennings and young McGraw decided they were underpaid. They fumed and fretted “And what do you suppose we got?” laughingly It is very difficult to produce great artists until their minds were made up to “strike for asked McGraw. “Twenty-six hundred dollars. under these conditions… The game is a higher wages” as it was called then. The word He raised us each one hundred for the year!” jealous mistress. It will not smile on those http://www.retrosheet.org 2 The Retro Sheet Orioles Request Assistance from Retrosheet Orioles PR Director John Maroon We have all modern Orioles’ games the daily Retro record (also spoke at the recent meeting of the except one day computerized provided) to find the day where the Bob Davids Chapter (Baltimore- awaiting verification.