Depressing Stat O' The Day
I'm listening to the Indians/Angels game, and they're mocking the Nats. (That we're becoming the laughing stock of AL radio broadcasters is a separate matter, and one that should make Uncle Teddy's heart swell with pride)
Apparently, the only other team to not come to (I know I'm butchering what they said) to go 9 games without ever playing with a lead (a matter of semantics given the walkoff), is the 1884 Detroit Wolverines.
I'll just point out (and keep in mind the Smoltz/Bergmann matchup tonight) that the Wolverines lost their 10th game by a 25-3 score. (They started out 1-16, and finished 28-84 -- a 41-121 pace)
That team actually had a bit of talent. Charlie Bennett was an excellent catcher who played a lot at a time that catchers didn't wear any protective equipment. Ned Hanlon was a pretty nifty centerfielder, but he made the Hall of Fame as one of the great managers of all time. He managed the great Baltimore Orioles teams of the 1890s, and was responsible for foisting John McGraw on an unsuspecting populace.
His 1894 team has to go down as one of the all-time greats. not so much for their dominant record, but for the sheer amount of talent and Hall-of-Famers on the roster. Six of the eight starting position players made the HOF (two of them as managers).
Where was I? Oh, yeah. The NAAAts stink.
The other stat they gave was that the only other team to never score in the first three innings of their first nine games was the 1931 Cincinnati Reds. They finished 58-96. But determining who the HOFers on their roster is an exercise left to the reader. (Hint: 3)
Apparently, the only other team to not come to (I know I'm butchering what they said) to go 9 games without ever playing with a lead (a matter of semantics given the walkoff), is the 1884 Detroit Wolverines.
I'll just point out (and keep in mind the Smoltz/Bergmann matchup tonight) that the Wolverines lost their 10th game by a 25-3 score. (They started out 1-16, and finished 28-84 -- a 41-121 pace)
That team actually had a bit of talent. Charlie Bennett was an excellent catcher who played a lot at a time that catchers didn't wear any protective equipment. Ned Hanlon was a pretty nifty centerfielder, but he made the Hall of Fame as one of the great managers of all time. He managed the great Baltimore Orioles teams of the 1890s, and was responsible for foisting John McGraw on an unsuspecting populace.
His 1894 team has to go down as one of the all-time greats. not so much for their dominant record, but for the sheer amount of talent and Hall-of-Famers on the roster. Six of the eight starting position players made the HOF (two of them as managers).
Where was I? Oh, yeah. The NAAAts stink.
The other stat they gave was that the only other team to never score in the first three innings of their first nine games was the 1931 Cincinnati Reds. They finished 58-96. But determining who the HOFers on their roster is an exercise left to the reader. (Hint: 3)
posted by Chris Needham at
2:32 PM
6 Comments:
So you're saying we're in for a lot of 19th C. baseball history lessons this year?
On the Reds, Durocher, Roush and Dressen.
By
DM, at 4/12/2007 2:57 PM
If Barry can center a whole game story around Manny Acta's beard, I reserve the right to write about Joe Kelley and Willie Keeler! ;)
Dressen? I don't think so. If so, then make that 4.
By
Chris Needham, at 4/12/2007 3:00 PM
Dressen's a stretch, I'll admit. I just didn't see anyone else on the roster who looked like a HOFer. Maybe Eppa Rixey.
By
Anonymous, at 4/12/2007 3:19 PM
Would you believe it?
By
Chris Needham, at 4/12/2007 3:27 PM
But then even the Wolverines turned around and won the pennant three years later. Then went on to prevent the soviets from invading the US.
By
thurdl, at 4/13/2007 1:23 PM
WOLVERINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By
Anonymous, at 4/14/2007 9:30 AM
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