The Orange and Black(Sox)

[birdsin89]

June, 1934

Four against the team with the most success against us this year, the mighty Tigers.

June 2 - 5, 1934
Detroit Tigers (22 - 23) at Baltimore Orioles (30 - 15)

June 2: This is where I needed Tex to come through. He didn't. Tigers 6, Orioles 2 And he and Tommy Annenberg are both hurt and will miss a couple of days. Wonderful.

June 3: Umholtz, on the other hand, did what he was supposed to do, though it was Jimmy Pattison who held them scoreless for two innings for the win. Orioles 5, Tigers 4 (10)

June 4: Oh, Steamboat, where have you been all my life? Orioles 2, Tigers 0 And I notice that this brings Steamboat's record to 10 - 0. Now, who else started 10 - 0 at some point recently for the Orioles? Hmmm...

June 5: Lefty Gomez versus Izzy Goldstein. That would have been a good matchup. Unfortunately, Lefty is still out, and we have Dutch Leonard instead. Tigers 8, Orioles 1

* * *

It's amateur draft day. Last to choose again. So the one kid I want isn't going to be there. A shortstop, name of Rizzuto. Sure, Jeff tells me that there are better, particularly pitchers. And looking at his reports, I have to agree - on paper, they're better. But I have the best feeling about somebody named "Scooter". Just hope the Browns don't draft him and see him get in the way of my nephew.

1: Black Hawks, SP Rube Rischer (67/93) Okay, I did suspect he was going to go first. And really, why not?
2: Yankees, 1B Phil Cavarretta (68/92) Not the power you would expect in a first baseman, but the kid already has an excellent eye. Could be fantastic one day, when Sunny Jim Bottomley is ready to move on.
3. Phillies, Murry Dickson (68/89)
4: Reds, SP Joe Hatten (65/90)
5. Browns, SP Tex Hughson (71/84) Ready to start higher than the others, the Browns have already assigned him to A level Palm Beach. Hope he gets along with my nephew.
6. Senators, 3B Bob Elliott (62/94) Probably the greatest potential on the board, according to our scouts.
7. Red Sox, RP Rene Monteagudo (63/90) Great potential, but still a relief pitcher.
8. Indians, RP Emil Kush (68/85) Not as great potential, and still a relief pitcher.
9. Athletics, RP Bill Kalfass (65/88)
10. Pirates, SP Ernie White (71/85)
11. Dodgers, SP Hank Borowy (70/81)
12. Giants, SP Jim Bagby (66/82) With their vast debt, the Giants need to start drafting really, really well, because these are the only players they can afford.
13. Cubs, RP Jack Creel (62/86)
14. Tigers, SP Bob Muncrief (64/84)
15. Braves, RP Charley Stanceu (63/85)
16. Orioles, SS Phil Rizzuto (52/93)! Batted over .340 in each year of high school. Needs to work on his fielding a bit, and is still very raw, but we don't need him now, and he could anchor the middle infield for us for the entire decade of the 40s. I'm not quite as flabbergasted as the day Red Ruffing dropped to us, but I'm almost there!

And the Orioles' other selections?

Round 1: Phil Rizzuto, as described above.
Round 2: SP Glenn Gardner (52/91) Tends to walk a bit more than he should, but he's got the power to get the pill past anyone.
Round 3: LF Nick Goulish (51/85) Dropped off in his senior year, batting a full hundred points lower than the year before. We'll have to watch that, and Henry Jackson will have to work on improving the young man's eye for the zone, but the potential is there.
Round 4: RP Lou Thuman (49/80) Very raw, and I'd have rather not drafted any relievers, but he was the best left at the time. Won't expect to see him for a while.
Round 5: RP Max Wilson (50/76) See above, only more so.
Round 6: RP Lefty Sullivan (49/75) And now we hit the point at which I'd almost have rather not drafted anyone. Still, stranger things have happened.

* * *

And then I make a move to clear out my minor league log jam. Over the years, I've kept several players in the system who really aren't moving along for one reason or another. It's time to give them a chance somewhere else, and get them off my payroll as well. And so...

Orioles get: 3B Heinie Heitzel (60/85), $1,000
Athletics get: SS Jonah Goldman (70/71), 2B Leo Norris (68/74), LF Alta Cohen (71/73), C Ray Thomas (63/69), SS Gil Torres (49/71), SP Schoolboy Rowe (77/79), SP Red Bullock (69/79), RP Archie McKain (69/77), RP Earl Reid (65/77)

I know, it's a lot. It started with me calling Connie about taking Gil Torres off my hands, so he doesn't block Rizzuto. As I went through my book, I found more and more who just weren't doing what we expected them to do. I also point, as evidence that we weren't the ones stunting their growth, to the fact that each of them is assigned to the same level or lower than the level at which we had them. Entre nous, I expect that Rowe and Bullock might make trouble for us some day, but the rest? I'll still sleep easy tonight.

* * *

I'm supposed to sleep easier, too, because my government is protecting me. The President signed into existence today something called a Securities and Exchange Commission. This is supposed to regulate the stock markets, as I understand it, and prevent stock fraud. I understand the idea of protecting the consumer, but once again, I think we're giving power to the government when it's not needed. Do we need a new and expensive Commission to prosecute fraud? Isn't fraud already a crime, and we already have a criminal justice system for it? I just don't understand sometimes.

* * *

Oh, one more note. Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Charlie Grimm retired a couple of days ago. He was still on the team, hadn't been released or anything, but also hadn't played at all this year. In a seventeen year career, "Jolly Cholly" batted .316 with over 2100 base hits to his credit. Most of his career was spent with the Pirates, so he has no post-season to report. I hope he stays around baseball for a while - there are so many men who take the game so seriously, that we need to keep every clown we can find.


Charlie Grimm, back with the Pirates in '21

[birdsin89]

June, 1934

Once more with our favorite early season opponent. Of course, I hope we manage to beat them this time...

June 7 - 9, 1934
Chicago Black Hawks (18 - 31) at Baltimore Orioles (32 - 17)

June 7: They get much closer than I'd like, but Steamboat finally shuts them down for his eleventh win. Orioles 5, Black Hawks 4

June 8: They get more hits than we do, but Keith Agan, catching in place of Rick Ferrell, gets his first major league home run. And Lou Gehrig gets his 438th, as we get the same results as yesterday. Orioles 5, Black Hawks 4

June 9: Tex actually deserves the win, but Jimmy Pattison blows the lead for him. Which means Walter Signer is the one who gets it. Orioles 6, Black Hawks 5 But Ival Goodman dives for a ball hit to him in right. He even catches it. And immediately leaves the game, with what Doc Henson's x-rays say is a broken elbow. Maybe keeping Alta Cohen wouldn't have been such a bad idea. Well, actually, no, it just means that Dusty Cooke will come up from Norfolk for the next three months.

* * *

It's the middle of another month. You know what that means? It's time for some combination of the following to occur. Halloran Hart sends another silly demand to us, for information, documentation, or some such. Dottie is getting better, but since he asks for different things each month, she still has to call Susanna to find out where it is. Susanna, who was only here for a couple of months, doesn't know, so she calls her friend Sharon in New York. I get to put the information in another report, which we send in the same envelope along with Andy Snyder's report to Philip. The paperwork is taking over the baseball. I know, it's a business, and I shouldn't be surprised by this, but we've managed to hold that off for so long, and I guess I just thought we could keep holding it off for even longer. No such luck, apparently.

* * *

There's another effect Goodman's broken elbow will have on us. It'll put Wally Moses back in the lineup, which I don't think he ever fully left. And it'll put Charlie Gehringer back in the leadoff spot where he began his career - thirteen years ago. I don't know. But Johnny has pushed all the right buttons since we hired him last year, so maybe this will work out too.

Oh, and the other day in Boston, outfielder Riggs Stephenson got the 2000th base hit of his career.


Riggs Stephenson

Stephenson has been one of the better players in the game over the past fourteen years, all but the last three with the Indians. Sadly for him, he came up the year after Cleveland went to the World Series, and actually has spent a surprisingly large amount of time in the minors in this decade for a man with a .343 lifetime batting average! His best season was 1924 in which he batted .398, but in every year of his career, he has only once batted below .300, and that was a year in which he was hurt and spent a lot of time in the minors. One of the better hitters around.

And we get to face his Red Sox, and the Yankees, on the road for the next week.

June 10 - 12, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (35 - 17) at Boston Red Sox (25 - 27)

June 10: Umholtz is just fine, with a 5 - 2 lead until two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Then a single, an error, and I don't want to talk about it. Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 And Dutch Leonard, who is scheduled to go against Red Ruffing on Tuesday, is having some pain in his wrist and won't go. I hope it's real pain, and not just fear of facing Ruffing.

June 11: Struss and Pattison team up to pitch a beauty. Orioles 2, Red Sox 1

June 12: You know, Dietrich isn't terrible, in place of Leonard. But Red is the Red he was, not the Red of the 7 - 6 record so far this year. Red Sox 6, Orioles 3

Bad news for Brooklyn, as Original Oriole Luke Symuleski has torn muscles in his throwing shoulder. His doctor says he might be back in a year. Not "next season", but "in a calendar year" - next June! Fortunately for the Dodgers, they have John Milligan ready to move into the rotation, thus reducing their former Oriole starting pitchers to only 3/4 of the rotation. Yes, they have Hugo Klaerner, Tommy Thomas and Johnny Allen as their other three. Which puts them right up there with the Giants, who feature George Blaeholder, Jake Farenchick, O. J. Harty, and Keith Steger! It's nice to know we've been so generous to all baseball.

Now we get to go and face the red-hot Yankees, who've won their last seven games to move into second place.

* * *

June 13 - 15, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (36 - 19) at New York Yankees (30 - 26)

June 13: We lead going into the bottom of the ninth, 4 - 3. They get one. In the tenth, we get one...and so do they. In the eleventh, we get two more...and they get three. Yankees 8, Orioles 7 (11) And Johnny Vergez is hurting a bit, which will put Noah Rieger back in for one more game, at least.

June 14: Well, except for that seven run fifth inning, Umholtz does pretty well. Yankees 8, Orioles 4

Just to get away from baseball for the moment, which I'd love to do right now, today Max Baer defeated champion Primo Carnera for the world heavyweight boxing title.


Carnera a couple of years ago on Time

Max Baer, known to some as a film star pugilist, made good his boasts when he defeated Carnera on Long Island. After quite a bout, in which Carnera was knocked down ten times, Baer gained the decision in the eleventh round on a technical knockout, the referee intervening after Carnera had been knocked down again. Throughout the contest Baer laughed and taunted his rival.



June 15: Rick Ferrell is ready to play. But Johnny Bassler stays with the hot hand, and leaves the rookie Keith Agan in. Agan goes 2 for 4, but Gehrig's one error is enough to let in four unearned runs, and Steamboat loses for the first time this year. Yankees 5, Orioles 2 A three game sweep, the Yankees have won ten in a row, and our lead is down to 3 1/2.

* * *

The team is back, and not very happy. Well, Dixie Walker isn't unhappy. Sure, he's riding the pine behind Tommy Annenberg. On the other hand, I just signed him for four years at $4700, which is a bit of a raise over what he's currently making. And if he continues to sit on the bench, I'll trade him away, and he knows that too. On the other hand, Annenberg is also up for arbitration, and he doesn't want to talk to me. Johnny Vergez does, and he wants six years! Sure, why not, I won't give him the no-trade clause. Six years, $4600, and we're done. Now he just has to get back into the games.

[hotchickenstew]

That Time magazine cover could be used to scare children into doing their chores. One seriously scary dude there.

[birdsin89]

hotchickenstew:

* * *

June, 1934

It is getting really, really hot in here. And by "here", I mean the entire country. There's a major heat wave going on around the whole country, and it's putting temperatures firmly into the 90s here in Baltimore. But with us being right on the water, it's a nasty, humid 90s. Not sure how the boys on the field can stand it.

Susanna and I stand it in what's becoming a new traditional way. We go to the movies. She goes because she wants to see Little Miss Marker, with Shirley Temple.



Me, I figure that's just because the boys are all out of the house and there are no grandchildren yet, so she's turning attention to Shirley Temple. Personally, I go to be with her, and to be in the wondrous new invention called air conditioning!

* * *

June 17 - 19, 1934
Washington Senators (28 - 29) at Baltimore Orioles (36 - 22)

June 17: Bill Dietrich isn't...well, no, actually he is pretty bad. And I think it's the crowd, which is continuing to ride him from the minute he walks onto the field to the minute he hits the showers, that is doing it. I know the kid can do better, but they're not giving him a chance. Keith Agan gets another home run, but it's not enough. Senators 6, Orioles 3 and we've lost five in a row. At least Vergez and Annenberg will be back tomorrow, and I think Lefty Gomez will return to pitch too.

June 18: Will leaves his very pregnant wife home as he comes to the game as my guest for his birthday. We were happy to have her and Susanna, but both said something about "boy's day out". And we didn't fight it.

How did we get ten runs, on only nine hits? And worse, how did we give up even more? Well, Lefty is pretty rusty and gives up six, but Jimmy Pattison gets a lead and blows it, allowing five more. Senators 11, Orioles 10 Six straight losses. Good thing for us that the Yankees have also lost two in a row.

June 19: A reversal of yesterday. It's the Senators who get ten runs on nine hits. It's the Orioles who do better. Orioles 11, Senators 10, and the streak is over. Lou gets his second home run in as many days, and Charlie Gehringer, who's slumping a lot this season, gets his third of the year.

The Tigers, led by the same Andy Cohen who hit for the cycle today, are coming to town, and Lyn Lary will be returning to our lineup, so Noah Reiger is back in Norfolk. Sooner or later he's going to get tired of that. On the other hand, he's not going to quit in this economy, I'd imagine.

* * *

June 20 - 22, 1934
Detroit Tigers (33 - 28) at Baltimore Orioles (37 - 24)

June 20: Okay, I was not expecting this. Eric Umholtz pitches against Red Lucas. And when we're done, we're on the good side of our third shutout this year, and the first that wasn't pitched by Steamboat. Orioles 4, Tigers 0

June 21: And Steamboat makes it three for himself, and four for the team. Orioles 9, Tigers 0. Lou hits a home run, and Wally Moses goes 4 for 5. It's so nice having the full offense back again. And the pitchers certainly seem to like it.

June 22: Lou homers again, and Lefty fails to shut them out, but not by much. Orioles 4, Tigers 1 A sweep, and the slumping Yanks are now tied with the streaking Red Sox, six games behind us.

* * *

A quick trip to Cleveland, through the summer heat, and then we're back home for six. Six which won't, of course, include Independence Day.

June 24 - 26, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (40 - 24) at Cleveland Indians (28 - 36)

June 24: Tex Carleton allows five, so that we're tied going into the bottom of the ninth. But it's Jimmy Pattison who allows the winner. Indians 6, Orioles 5 Fortuanately, Mike Meola is ready to come back, and until he knocks the rust off, Red Phillips will be the man brought in for these circumstances.

June 25: They got seven off Umholtz, including four in the ninth. We got seven in just the third inning alone, and more in others. Orioles 11, Indians 7

June 26: Well, that didn't help. Red Phillips gives up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth. Mort Flohr yields the winner in the eleventh. But to be fair, it was Steamboat who gave up eight in his eight innings. [b]Indians 10, Orioles 9 (11)[/s]

* * *

The Browns had the day off on the 27th, just as we did. Good thing for them - the thermometer on the field at Sporstman's Park hit 115 degrees! And it's not expected to get any cooler any time soon. Such as, for example, the Browns' game today against the Braves.

The Yankees are in town to see us. The Giants, too, are on the road. This is good for them, as the Dodgers are at home when the temperature at the castle in Central Park hits 101 degrees.

Here in Baltimore? Probably 105, but who's counting? Mr. Hoffberger gave me a raise, and I'm looking into getting an air conditioner for my house, I don't care how much it costs.

June 28 - 30, 1934
New York Yankees (34 - 33) at Baltimore Orioles (41 - 26)

June 28: Nice job pitching through the heat, Lefty. Orioles 6, Yankees 3

June 29: The thunderstorm we've all been waiting for hit at about 1 PM, and the whole game was washed out. It'll go tomorrow, though without today's starter. Tex Carleton reported some elbow pain after his start today, even though it only went to about the second inning.

June 30, Game 1: Much nicer. Well, at least the temperature was. Calm, and 76 degrees. The game was terrible. Yankees 10, Orioles 2

June 30, Game 2: Lou hit two home runs, and Wally Moses did one for himself. But Umholtz was terrible, and Red Phillips was just as bad. Yankees 12, Orioles 8 Our lead over the Red Sox now stands at four. And boy am I glad that lousy month is over.

[birdsin89]

July, 1934

First, the statistics and such.

1934 Batting             Team    G   AVG    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB    K   SB  CS    R  RBI   SLG   OBP
Gehringer, Charlie        BAL   66  .281   270   76  14   4   3   25   18    2   2   42   37  .396  .346
Moses, Wally              BAL   66  .352   264   93  19   6   5   23   17    1   1   61   52  .527  .401
Gehrig, Lou               BAL   70  .344   253   87  18   2  19   53   24    0   1   57   67  .656  .452
Vergez, Johnny            BAL   66  .291   251   73  12   4   6   14   28    0   0   35   39  .442  .331
Tyler, Johnnie            BAL   69  .275   251   69  11   2   3   37   33    0   1   36   33  .371  .366
Annenberg, Tommy          BAL   59  .272   243   66  17   4   4   30   12    3   1   53   34  .424  .355
Lary, Lyn                 BAL   37  .264   163   43  11   1   1   18   17    4   1   33   14  .362  .335
Schuble, Heinie           BAL   39  .313   134   42   7   2   2    5   13    2   0   12   14  .440  .336
Ferrell, Rick             BAL   34  .336   116   39   5   0   0   14    9    0   1   17   16  .379  .403
Agan, Keith               BAL   26  .333   108   36   3   0   2    5   10    0   0   13   17  .417  .362
Goodman, Ival             BAL   34  .245    53   13   3   0   0    8    2    0   0    4    9  .302  .339
Struss, Steamboat         BAL   16  .135    52    7   2   0   0    2    8    0   0    3    5  .173  .161
Chiozza, Lou              BAL   38  .292    48   14   4   1   0    2    3    0   0    3    7  .417  .320
Walker, Dixie             BAL   27  .319    47   15   2   2   2    5    4    0   0    9   11  .574  .385
Galan, Augie              BAL   30  .279    43   12   2   0   2    5    4    0   0    7    8  .465  .354
Lopez, Al                 BAL   17  .275    40   11   0   1   0    3    4    1   0    2    5  .325  .326
Umholtz, Eric             BAL   15  .200    40    8   1   1   0    2    7    0   0    2    3  .275  .233
Carleton, Tex             BAL   15  .026    38    1   1   0   0    1   18    0   0    3    0  .053  .051
Gomez, Lefty              BAL   14  .162    37    6   1   0   0    4    9    0   0    4    4  .189  .238
Rieger, Noah              BAL   17  .292    24    7   0   0   0    2    1    0   0    0    4  .292  .346
Leonard, Dutch            BAL    8  .278    18    5   0   0   0    0    3    0   0    1    1  .278  .278
Cooke, Dusty              BAL    6  .429     7    3   0   0   0    2    0    0   0    1    1  .429  .556
Dietrich, Bill            BAL    3  .000     6    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Signer, Walter            BAL   14  .667     3    2   1   0   0    0    0    0   0    2    0 1.000  .667
Meola, Mike               BAL   17  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Lagger, Ed                BAL    5  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    0    0   0    0    0  .000  .000

1934 Pitching            Team     IP   ERA    G  GS   W   L  SV    K   BB   R/9
Struss, Steamboat         BAL  135.0  2.93   16  16  13   1   0   96   28 10.93
Gomez, Lefty              BAL  115.2  3.58   14  14   9   2   0   45   49 13.38
Umholtz, Eric             BAL  113.2  4.59   15  15   6   6   0   27   46 15.12
Carleton, Tex             BAL  110.0  5.48   15  15   3   5   0   50   46 15.22
Leonard, Dutch            BAL   57.2  4.68    8   7   1   4   1   17   12 13.11
Meola, Mike               BAL   25.0  0.72   17   0   4   0   4   18    3  7.56
Dietrich, Bill            BAL   23.0  5.48    3   3   0   3   0   10   11 15.26
Signer, Walter            BAL   16.1  1.10   14   0   4   1   2    8    4  9.92
Pattison, Jimmy           BAL   13.2 10.54   10   0   1   2   2    9   12 23.05
Flohr, Mort               BAL    6.2  8.10    6   0   1   2   1    2    4 24.30
Lagger, Ed                BAL    5.2  7.94    5   0   0   0   0    1    5 22.24
Phillips, Red             BAL    5.0 12.60    3   0   0   2   0    2    6 30.60

League Leaders

American League

Batting: Abie Hood (CHB), .378
Home Runs: Lou Gehrig (BAL), 19
RBIs: Lou Gehrig (BAL, 67

Okay, this is odd. Abie Hood was batting leader last month, too. For the Yankees. He's since been traded to the Black Hawks...by way of the Phillies! Either he's clubhouse poison, or something ugly is going on here.

Wins: Steamboat Struss (BAL), 13
ERA: Izzy Goldstein (DET), 2.81
Strikeouts: Steamboat Struss (BAL), 96

National League

Batting: Lloyd Waner (PIT), .353
Home Runs: Don Hurst (PHI), 14
RBIs: Don Hurst (PHI), 58

Wins: Willis Hudlin (PIT)/John Jackson (PHI)/Johnny Broaca (STL), 10
ERA: George Blaeholder (NYG), 2.03
Strikeouts: Spike Merena (CIN)/John Jackson (PHI), 72

Willie Weston Update: Okay, I've come to the conclusion that my nephew is never going to be a home run hitter. On the other hand, he's got a great eye for the strike zone, to judge from having walked 28 times and struck out 3 in A ball at Palm Beach. And oh, he's stolen 19 bases and been caught 3 times. I think his fielding is improving too. So it becomes a matter of knowing how to hit, and if he can keep an average anywhere near where he is in the minors, he'll have one of the great careers ever.



* * *

I think I mentioned the Federal Radio Commission in these accounts a couple of months ago. Back then they were putting pressure of some kind on WMAL, Jake's radio home. Not only is the pressure gone, so is the commission. Now, as of the end of June, it has become the Federal Communications Commission, to incorporate government control over telephone, telegraph, and nascent television. Do I even need to say anything?

I will, but it will be about baseball. July first, the Pirates are home against the Braves, and it's the 25th anniversary of Forbes Field. And on this day‚ a granite monument to late owner Barney Dreyfuss is unveiled to the left of the exit gate. It's a nice touch in memory of a nice, if often befuddled, man, helping to ensure that he will not be forgotten.

As I wish Purcell would forget to take my money. He doesn't. Ever. Maybe he should give us a price discount for this month. We're not home very much, after all. The team will be here for only four series. I hope to get to see the majority of them.

[birdsin89]

July, 1934

And now, our home stand continues. And my trips to Annapolis and Washington do as well.

July 1 - 3, 1934
Cleveland Indians (31 - 39) at Baltimore Orioles (42 - 28)

July 1: I must have missed the parts where Johnny Vergez and Lyn Lary are hurt again. Noah Rieger repeats his well-worn path to Baltimore from Norfolk, and brings Frankie Crosetti for his first stop in the majors.

Where would we be without Steamboat Struss this year? Well, he's 14 - 1, so take away those wins, and the answer becomes "seventh place". His fourth shutout of the year. Orioles 7, Indians 0

July 2: Lefty allows some runs. So what? Orioles 10, Indians 3

Susanna got a telegram at home this morning. Greg is married! That's right, my son Greg, all of 20 years old, with no real job outside of being a graduate student, has married a woman he's known for three weeks.

Not surprisingly, he didn't give a lot of details. Her name is Ruth Murphy, now Ruth Aaron. She's 21, and from Washington D. C. originally. She's about to finish her senior year of studies as a co-ed at Berkeley. He loves her. That's all he said. Heck, he's only known her for three weeks, it's probably all he knows.

Reminds me, I have to call Will and Jake and thank them. Don't have to tell them why.

July 3: Bill Dietrich, who I'm informed is known by teammates as Popeye due to the ridiculously outsized arm muscles he sports, does all right. This is despite the positively unmerciful riding he's taking from the crowd. By my estimate, at least half of the runs he gives up are because he's shaken. I can't figure out a way to fire the fans, though. Lou hits number 20, and the rest of the offense continues to clobber the Tribe. Orioles 10, Indians 6

A couple of retirements to mention. First, Russel Walsh says he means it this time, and is done. He didn't get up from A ball in his brief comeback.

The other one is a pitcher whose lifetime record is 101 - 112. Why even mention him? Because it's Firpo Marberry, and he's important for one thing. He is the first relief pitcher to have that name in baseball. The Senators assigned him as a full time reliever back in the early twenties, such that he'd come to the park knowing he'd never start a game. That lasted one year, at which point he was made into a starter by 1922, and ended up starting 290 of his total 311 games. But he was the first to get that title, another change to the game that may have been almost as big as the one Babe Ruth was working at the same time.

* * *

July 4 - 6, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (45 - 26) at Philadelphia Athletics (36 - 37)

July 4: Athletics fans get to see some Independence Day fireworks. I wish they only saw half as many. Athletics 11, Orioles 8 I'd say this is it, and Tex Carleton is done, but Lefty Gomez reported some pain and will probably miss a start. I think the only way I'm going to get rid of Carleton is to trade him, and what would I get for him? Who would go in his place?

Well, now. The Browns' Joe Sewell has dislocated his shoulder and will miss two or three weeks. I wonder if this means another callup for Willie Weston?

July 5: And about Carleton? Oh, wait. I know what I can do.

Senators get: SP Tex Carleton (85/85)
Orioles get: SP Mal Moss (83/83)

I can't believe Griffith was ready to do this deal, but apparently Moss is not the easiest to get along with. On the other hand, he's younger, cheaper, signed until the end of 1936, and currently 10 - 4, 3.43. Carleton has better potential, and should be better, and was better when he was in Washington. Maybe that's why Griffith wants him back. Don't know, don't care. Moss goes into the rotation at number 3.

And today? Eric Umholtz gives up one in the first. And second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. One run each. We manage to tie it at seven in the ninth. Where it stays for the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth. Finally, we get two in the top of the fifteenth, and they only respond with one more single run. A very long, not terribly exciting game, but at least with a good result. Orioles 9, Athletics 8 (15)

July 6: Struss is good, but long gone by the time the decision is reached, as the sun is setting. Twenty nine innings over two days. Athletics 2, Orioles 1 (14)

There was a message waiting for me on my return to the house today, telling me that Bucky Jacobs, a fairly promising AA pitcher for us has done something nasty with his back, and is done for the season. That's too bad, he wasn't doing badly this year at all. Not much he can do at this point, just do what the doctors say and pray for the best.

The other message when I got home wasn't a written one. There were bags and boxes all over the living room, from Hecht's, Hoschild Kohn's, and Howard's. Somebody bought herself a new wardrobe.

"Well, you did say you got a raise from Mr. Hoffberger. What kind of wife would I be if I didn't take advantage of that?"

"A frugal one?"

I earned the scowl. It was still worth it. "Besides, Sharon doesn't come down from New York much any more, and it was nice to go out shopping with the girls again."

"Wait - Sharon was with you? Here?"

"Yes she was."

"Did you tell her I was in a meeting in Washington?"

"Of course I did."

I stare. I'm speechless. Finally, the best I can come up with is, "Oh."

"Well, Charlie, I didn't think I was supposed to keep it a secret."

"No, no, that's...that's fine."

Or not. What with Sharon still being married to Philip, and all.

Well, nothing to be done for it now, I suppose.

* * *

So now the team is in Washington, and I'm staying closer to home. Seems fair.

July 7 - 10, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (46 - 30) at Washington Senators (40 - 36)

July 7: A committee pitched for the Orioles today. Reliever Ed Lagger started and went five innings, and then Mort Flohr, Mike Meola, and Walter Signer finished it up. And did it pretty well, I suppose. Well enough, anyway. Orioles 5, Senators 4

After a couple of days of the Browns trying out various out-of-position players to fill in for Sewell, Willie is back up with the big club. Today they had the day off, but he's expected to not only play, but to lead off for the next three weeks.

Yesterday was a bad day for former Oriole pitchers. Hugo Klaerner will miss the next couple of weeks for the Dodgers, and Blaeholder will miss about as long for the Giants.

July 8: Mal Moss makes his first start for us, and it's against his former team. Wally Moses' single, triple and home run help make it work. Orioles 7, Senators 1

The Browns lose to the Braves, but Willie goes one for two with two walks and one scored. On the other hand, he also makes his team's only error. I'll stop looking in for a while, but I hope he straightens out his fielding a bit.

Boston's chances of overtaking us took a big hit today when Babe Herman, currently .316/8/52, tore an ankle ligament sliding into third. He's done most likely for the year.

July 9: Yes, Tex Carleton does better when he's a Senator. Senators 4, Orioles 0

July 10: They get two in the ninth, and it still isn't close. Orioles 9, Senators 4 Heinie Schuble will miss two or three days. Good timing, as it's time for the All-Star game. I'm so looking forward to seeing this one, and not spending my time walking around trying to make deals with recalcitrant owners.

[birdsin89]

July, 1934

On the ninth, George Uhle of the Athletics notched win number 200 for his career. Uhle has always been a second-tier pitcher, having never won more than 18 in any of his sixteen major league seasons. His career record is 200 - 188, so this is as much a testament to longevity as it is to pure talent. On the other hand, he convinced Connie Mack, a pretty good judge of talent, to pay him almost $20,000 per year a couple of years ago, so he must have had something going for him.

And now, All Star Game number two. It's at the Polo Grounds. I think we're all familiar enough with the Polo Grounds by now, we seem to come back here just about every October. Yes, I'm still a touch bitter that we didn't get the game this year. I understand the league-swap idea, I just think we could have done more with the game.

To be fair, New York does do a lot with making the place look good. And with it being New York, there's no shortage of important people there. Commissioner Kimball, of course. League Presidents Heydler and Durant, with one looking not particularly healthy and the other not particularly looking at me. Mayor LaGuardia is there, happily glad-handing anyone within range who might be able to vote for him, or might know someone who might be able to vote for him, or who might be able to spell the word "vote". Other celebrities, too. I see George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen, who only stay for a little while before heading to the studio to perform in The Guy Lombardo Show. Rumor is that they'll get their own show soon. A couple of other celebrities are there - some I even recognize by myself and don't have to have pointed out to me. That's one thing about radio - unless you also see publicity photos, you don't always know what they look like.

They see a pretty good game, too. Several Orioles there, not to mention the manager, Johnny Bassler. He's put Wally Moses and Lou Gehrig in their typical slots in the lineup. He's also starting Steamboat Struss, who holds the Senior Circuit to only one hit. Mal Moss follows, though to be fair, he should probably wear his Senators uniform and not ours. And then comes Lefty Grove, who puts them away in order in his inning. Meanwhile, Lou and Willie Kamm have driven in one apiece to put the AL up by two.

But then Red Ruffing comes in, and believe it or not, gives up three runs. John Pomorski follows him, and yields a pinch hit home run to Babe Phelps for two more. And while Kamm drove in one more in the seventh, it wasn't enough.

Final Score: National League 5, American League 3





Phelps was named most valuable player of the game. And so, we're tied at one game apiece now, with each team winning in their home park. I hope this means that the AL will win it next year, when it's in Baltimore.

* * *

I do get to see my friend Roger Bolton while at the game, and this is really the only time I don't spend watching the action. Roger assures me that all is going well. I draw a stunned reaction from him when I tell him that there's one particular document I'm going to need from him, and soon. Actually, I don't need it from him - I need it from Durant, but I don't think he's going to just hand it to me. So it will be up to Roger.

"How am I supposed to do that?" he stammers.

I put on my most serious look. "I don't know, nor care. Just needs to be done, Roger. I don’t know, get a cute secretary to distract his gatekeeper while you sneak in and get it. That's been known to work."

You can see him working on it in his head. That's the point at which I tell him I'm just kidding, and that all is fine on our end as well. "So," I say after he threatens me with violence, "has Philip told Durant what I've been up to lately?"

He looks blank. "Not that I know of."

My turn for surprise. "Not at all? No mentions of me away from the office, down in Washington?"

"No, I don't think so." And at that point, Gehrig drove in his run, and we turned back to the field.

What do you know? Susanna told Sharon, and my former secretary stayed loyal enough not to mention it. Huh.

Didn't see that coming.

* * *

July 14 - 16, 1934
Philadelphia Athletics (39 - 41) at Baltimore Orioles (49 - 31)

July 14: A good start, wasted by bad bats. Charlie's leadoff inside the park home run is all we do. Athletics 2, Orioles 1

July 15: You have to love a nice four run bottom of the ninth. When you're the home team, anyway. Orioles 5, Athletics 4

July 16: Gehrig dives for what ends up being a single on the game's fourth pitch. He gets up fine, but rubbing his back a bit. Then, three pitches later, when Johnny Vergez throws wildly to first, Lou's leap to try to get the ball brings a grimace. When he grounds out to short in the first, he doesn't quite make it to the base before falling to the ground, clutching the back. He's helped off the field. Rick Ferrell came in off the bench to play first, and went 2 for 3, as we almost made up for the four run first. Athletics 7, Orioles 5 Doc Henson says it's just lumbago, which Lou has apparently had for some time and nobody has felt the need to tell me about. We have a day off tomorrow as we wait for the Yankees to come to town. I hope he can go on Wednesday.

* * *

A funny thing happens in North Dakota. Not many stories start that way, I know. The North Dakota Supreme Court declared Lieutenant Governor Ole H. Olson the legitimate governor, and told governor William Langer to resign. Langer, it seems, had been forcing state employees to make donations to what he called the Non-Partisan League, which was the political organization of one William Langer. Apparently, this wasn't the problem, which is bad enough. But it seems that some of the employees are making their money through federal relief programs, and that is not allowed.

And that's not the best part. Langer's response was to declare North Dakota independent, declare martial law, and barricade himself in his office! Apparently all he's demanding is a meeting with the Supreme Court justices, and he says he'll then go peacefully if they're not convinced. Well, what with them having already ordered him out, based on his conviction, I wouldn't hold my breath were I him. And I thought Maryland politics was bad.

[birdsin89]

July, 1934

Lou says he's feeling better, and wants to play today. More importantly, Johnny says he can. This is one of the reasons I'm glad Johnny is our manager, and not Vinnie or Kelly. Neither of them would have dared tell Lou he couldn't play, whereas Johnny wouldn't hesitate if he thought it would hurt the team.

July 18 - 20, 1934
New York Yankees (43 - 41) at Baltimore Orioles (50 - 33)

July 18: Look at that. Steamboat Struss is eligible for arbitration after this year. And he's currently 15 - 1. I approach him before the game about it. His reply chills me. "I think $40,000 would be fair, don't you?"

The thing is, of course I do. I just can't pay it, not with The Loan still there.

So what does he do in the game? Now he's 16 - 1. He makes one bad pitch, to center fielder Justin Cawley, filling in for Maurice Archdeacon. The pitch ends up in the harbor. Lou shows how hurt he is by going 3 for 4. Orioles 2, Yankees 1 With Boston's loss, this brings us back to 4 1/2 up in front.

July 19: Lefty is merely okay, but okay is good enough. Orioles 7, Yankees 4

July 20: Milt Gaston just shuts us down, and Mal Moss fails to do the same to them. Yankees 5, Orioles 1

* * *

I took a look at the books after failing to sign Steamboat the other day. You know what? I'm not going to wait. We currently have about $100,000 in discretionary money, and that's the cost of a typical payment on The Loan. And so, I go ahead and write the check. Not unilaterally - I did check with Mr. Hoffberger. He knows we'll be temporarily in debt, but it should come out by the end of next month, if we keep drawing as well as we have been. And as long as we remain in front, currently by five games, there's no reason we shouldn't keep drawing.

Wait, did that sound like hope? Well...I guess it was.

* * *

Got something new under the office Christmas tree. Yes, I know it's July. It's a metaphor. Help me out here.

After...gulp...more than a decade, the league has decided that the old Teleprinter needs to be replaced. By, of course, a new teleprinter. Because the old one isn't working, right? No, it's working fine. Well, then, because the new one is more efficient, or will cost less to use? No, it's the same paper, the same ink, and the same telephone lines. Well, then, surely it's because the new model has exciting new capabilities that the old one couldn't dream of having?

No. Basically, both leagues just spent several thousand dollars to replace things which were working just fine before, and that we already had.

I'm sure it's helping somebody's economy.

* * *

Andrew Snyder is upset with me.

I came to work on Saturday, to see him there. He wasn't waiting for me, but then, he wasn't looking at me either. I've got a large enough family that I can figure out the mood of the room, and this room wasn't happy. Finally, I asked what was wrong.

"Not a thing," he said in the tone universally recognized as meaning "something."

However, that's a game I don't play, and never have. "All right then. See you," I say and head to my office.

"I just waited all day yesterday for you to get back from Washington. Or was it Annapolis? I'm losing track, since you're in one of the two more than you're at your own office any more."

"Here I am," I ignore his question. "What do you need?"

"Nothing, now. I did what any young executive would do when he needs information from his boss, and his boss' secretary won't give it without the boss' permission, and the paper is already late. I wrote an explanation for why it was late and faked your name."

Silence from me. Finally, "You what?"

"I faked your name."

"No, not that. The first part. You wrote an explanation of why it was late?"

"Of course I did."

"Did you say it was late because I was out of the office?"

"Sure did."

"Andy, please listen to me carefully. Did you say, in this explanation, where I was?"

He looks smug. "I sure did." Then, finally, his expression changes to be more of the boy from long ago. "Why? Is that wrong?"

I think of the bullet dodged by the fact that Sharon didn't tell Philip where I'm going and what I'm doing. "No. Not any more," I say, with resignation.

Lovely.

* * *

July 21 - 24, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (52 - 34) at Chicago Black Hawks (32 - 56)

July 21: That took three in the top of the ninth, and one more in the tenth, but we got it done. Orioles 8, Black Hawks 7 (10)

July 22: Five runs in the top of the ninth, but they weren't necessary at all. Orioles 17, Black Hawks 2 When Johnny Bassler calls at night, he reassures me that none of the boys were anywhere near "when it happened." When what happened, naturally I ask. "You haven't heard yet?" And so it is that I'm one of the first people in Baltimore to hear that John Dillinger is dead.



Right outside the Biograph Theater. Shot down by FBI agents. Just like that. One minute, taking his girl to the movies, the next...

Huh.

July 23: For the third straight day, we score a bunch in the top of the ninth. For the second time, it's enough to tie the game. However, they then score one in the bottom. Black Hawks 6, Orioles 5 And Tommy Annenberg has a small fracture on his wrist, and will not be in the lineup for another couple of weeks.

July 24: None in the top of the ninth, but we have three home runs before that, and Mal Moss does his job too. Orioles 11, Black Hawks 3 And yet, with Boston having swept the Yankees, we actually lost ground this series.

[birdsin89]

July, 1934

I didn't mention it, because the Dillinger news distracted me. But on the 22nd, Lou drove in run number 2000 of his stellar career! To give an idea how important that is - his next closest active challenger is Babe Ruth. Ruth has driven in 1796. And he's almost done. Lou is 31, and could presumably play for another ten years, lumbago permitting.

Have I mentioned recently how glad I am that he was available to draft in June 1921?

* * *

The Giants are going to be without shortstop Skeeter Newsome for a couple of months. Newsome tore a ligament in his elbow. He may be back by October. He's currently batting .333 and has scored 60 runs already this year, so this is going to hurt. Especially with the Giants only a game and a half behind the Dodgers for the National League pennant.

Trade:

Phillies get: RP Whitey Hilcher (82/82)
Indians get: 1B Monk Sherlock (79/79), 3B Marty McManus (75/75)

The Phillies have lost seven in a row to drop into third place. I think this is a great deal for them, as they get a decent reliever, and clear out Sherlock and McManus for Zeke Bonura and Stan Hack, respectively. At least, that's what I'd do. Let's see if old friend Jimmie Wilson, currently managing the Phils, agrees.

* * *

July 25 - 27, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (55 - 35) at Washington Senators (47 - 42)

July 25: The good news is that Eric Umholtz does fine, and Mike Meola does better. The better news is that Wally Moses hits one out, and Lou breaks his home run slump with two. Orioles 7, Senators 3 But then, the bad news is that Johnny Vergez has a small fracture in his right foot, and will probably miss a month. Heinie Schuble will take his place, and George DeTore will board the Baltimore Steam Packet from Norfolk.

Trade:

Reds get: SS Dino Chiozza (64/81)
Tigers get: C Spud Davis (83/83)

I guess I understand what the Reds are doing. Not sure why Frank Navin thinks a backup catcher is going to help. Then again, it's July, Navin always gets itchy to make trades in July.

July 26: Keith Agan continues to cement his position as our starting catcher, going 5 for 5. Still, it takes everything we've got, as Steamboat allows eleven hits. Orioles 6, Senators 5

July 27: Dutch Leonard pitches because Lefty Gomez has, wait for it, a hangnail. I'll bet before I made him one of the highest paid Orioles he would have pitched with a hangnail. I'm pretty sure before he made the cover of Time magazine, in an issue with a very nice story on baseball (except for the parts about how the Orioles are becoming just like the Giants), he would have pitched with a hangnail.


Our Mr. Gomez. Nice article in there about Will's employer, too

Anyway, Leonard is very good, and Wally Moses and Johnnie Tyler each hit home runs. Orioles 4, Senators 1 We've won four in a row. And pick up one measly game on the Red Sox.

Since the Phillies brought up Zeke Bonura, they're 3 - 0. Not necessarily because of him, but he hasn't hurt. They're tied with the Giants, three behind the Dodgers.

* * *

Susanna and I go to the movies the night before our series with the Indians starts. Don't think I don't look over my shoulder at least a little bit. You take your best girl to the movies, and you end up shot by the FBI, after all.

So what do we see? Death on the Diamond.



Robert Young as a baseball player who has to figure out who is trying to murder the members of his team, the St. Louis Browns. Well, it was my pick, as a counterweight to the Shirley Temple films. “It’s baseball and a murder mystery, I like them both.” Susanna reminds me that she likes murder mysteries too, so she's not exactly making a sacrifice here. Naturally, she solves the mystery long before I do.

* * *

July 28 - 31, 1934
Cleveland Indians (41 - 52) at Baltimore Orioles (58 - 35)

I tried to talk to Red Phillips before the game. He's willing to talk...after the trade deadline. Steamboat is willing to talk now, but he's talking a language with much larger numbers than I like. And Tommy Annenberg is still out, still hurt, and still doesn't have much to say.

I tried.

July 28: They use eight pitchers. We only use three. So why does it go into extra innings? And why is it that if Mike Meola and Red Phillips hadn't combined for four shutout innings of relief, we'd have lost? Orioles 12, Indians 9 (10) on Lou's three run home run in the tenth, his second of the day.

The Browns want to give me Phil Page, a reliever I've had before. They want Frankie Crosetti for him, a shortstop I don't want to give up. And even if I did, why would I want to give a shortstop to the Browns, to block my nephew? "Even you can see he's not ready, Charlie," Rickey tells me. And I do. And in a little bit, you'll know why. Let's just say he's not ready for major league pitching yet.

July 29: Ben Cantwell isn't really better than Mal Moss. He's better than Mal Moss, our defense, and Mike Meola. Indians 6, Orioles 5

Trade:

Reds get: LF Mel Mazzera (62/76), CF Roy Weatherly (58/75)
Red Sox get: RF Mike Fine (80/80)

So, the Red Sox get somebody who, while he can't replace Babe Herman, can certainly help. And he...wait a minute. That name sounds familiar. I dig through my vast collection of paper, and finally find it. Back in 1927, Fine is the one who was hospitalized because of a mental breakdown brought on by guilt over the affair he was having with teammate Red Faber's wife. I remember Kelly Burton telling me about it.

And again, I say, "Huh."

July 30: Eric Umholtz shuts them down on five hits. Dixie Walker and Dutch Leonard each report a spot of pain, but only enough for missing a day or two. Orioles 4, Indians 0

July 31: We liked yesterday's result so much, we decided to do it again. Orioles 4, Indians 0 And we go to August with a 5 1/2 game lead.

[birdsin89]

August, 1934

First, the statistics and such.

1934 Batting             Team    G   AVG    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB    K   SB  CS    R  RBI   SLG   OBP
Moses, Wally              BAL   93  .373   389  145  31  10   9   32   26    2   3   92   77  .573  .418
Gehringer, Charlie        BAL   93  .283   385  109  21   5   6   36   26    2   2   61   52  .410  .350
Gehrig, Lou               BAL   97  .332   358  119  24   3  28   71   37    0   3   75   97  .651  .437
Tyler, Johnnie            BAL   92  .269   335   90  16   2   6   51   41    1   1   52   46  .382  .364
Annenberg, Tommy          BAL   78  .276   326   90  23   4   5   36   16    8   1   65   47  .417  .352
Vergez, Johnny            BAL   79  .288   302   87  15   4   8   17   36    0   0   43   47  .444  .328
Lary, Lyn                 BAL   53  .271   229   62  16   2   3   30   21    5   2   48   27  .397  .352
Agan, Keith               BAL   53  .292   226   66   9   2   4   14   23    1   0   31   28  .403  .336
Schuble, Heinie           BAL   56  .328   204   67  12   3   2   12   18    2   1   19   26  .446  .364
Ferrell, Rick             BAL   35  .345   119   41   5   0   0   14    9    0   1   17   16  .387  .409
Chiozza, Lou              BAL   51  .281    89   25   6   1   0    2    6    0   0    9   12  .371  .297
Walker, Dixie             BAL   44  .263    80   21   4   2   2   10    8    0   0   14   14  .438  .341
Struss, Steamboat         BAL   23  .182    77   14   7   0   0    2   15    0   0    8   12  .273  .198
Galan, Augie              BAL   37  .276    58   16   4   0   2    6    6    0   0   10   10  .448  .344
Umholtz, Eric             BAL   21  .161    56    9   1   1   0    2   12    0   0    2    3  .214  .186
Goodman, Ival             BAL   34  .245    53   13   3   0   0    8    2    0   0    4    9  .302  .339
Gomez, Lefty              BAL   19  .115    52    6   1   0   0    4   12    0   0    4    4  .135  .175
Moss, Mal                 BAL   22  .240    50   12   1   1   0    1    8    0   0    5    5  .300  .255
Lopez, Al                 BAL   17  .275    40   11   0   1   0    3    4    1   0    2    5  .325  .326
Rieger, Noah              BAL   22  .310    29    9   0   0   0    2    1    0   0    0    5  .310  .355
Cooke, Dusty              BAL   19  .423    26   11   1   1   0    4    1    0   1    7    3  .538  .500
Leonard, Dutch            BAL   10  .238    21    5   0   0   0    0    3    0   0    1    1  .238  .238
Dietrich, Bill            BAL    4  .000     8    0   0   0   0    1    2    0   0    0    0  .000  .111
Signer, Walter            BAL   17  .667     3    2   1   0   0    0    0    0   0    2    0 1.000  .667
Lagger, Ed                BAL    6  .000     3    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
DeTore, George            BAL    1  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    0    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Crosetti, Frankie         BAL    1  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000
Meola, Mike               BAL   30  .000     1    0   0   0   0    0    1    0   0    0    0  .000  .000

1934 Pitching            Team     IP   ERA    G  GS   W   L  SV    K   BB   R/9
Struss, Steamboat         BAL  198.0  2.55   23  23  19   1   0  141   45 10.68
Umholtz, Eric             BAL  157.2  4.68   21  21   8   8   0   37   61 15.01
Gomez, Lefty              BAL  156.2  3.68   19  19  11   2   0   60   66 13.39
Moss, Mal                 BAL  154.1  3.38   22  22  12   5   0  107   38 11.84
Leonard, Dutch            BAL   67.2  4.12   10   8   3   4   1   19   15 12.90
Meola, Mike               BAL   44.2  2.01   30   0   5   3   7   25    8  9.27
Dietrich, Bill            BAL   32.0  5.34    4   4   1   3   0   11   14 15.19
Signer, Walter            BAL   20.1  1.33   17   0   4   1   3    9    4  8.85
Phillips, Red             BAL   15.0  4.20    8   0   1   2   1    5    7 12.60
Pattison, Jimmy           BAL   13.2 10.54   10   0   1   2   2    9   12 23.05
Lagger, Ed                BAL   10.2  5.91    6   1   1   0   0    3    7 18.56
Flohr, Mort               BAL   10.1  6.10    9   0   2   3   1    3    4 18.29

We're not really that far ahead, with so much season to go. And we're virtually a lock, compared to the National League. I hate to admit it, but I prefer it this way. Though if one league has to be locked up early, I'd like it to be us, in first place, please!

League Leaders

American League

Batting: Wally Moses (BAL), .373
Home Runs: Lou Gehrig (BAL), 28
RBIs: Lou Gehrig (BAL), 97

Wins: Steamboat Struss (BAL), 19
ERA: Steamboat Struss (BAL), 2.55
Strikeouts: Steamboat Struss (BAL), 141

I'm going to have to pay Struss a lot, aren't I? At least until I can find someone willing to give me what I'd want in a trade for him.

National League

Batting: Paul Waner (STL), .350
Home Runs: Mel Ott (CHC), 20
RBIs: Mel Ott (CHC), 75

Nice to see Paul doing so well. He's second in RBIs too.

Wins: Willis Hudlin (PIT)/John Jackson (PHI)/John Milligan (BRO), 12
ERA: George Blaeholder (NYG), 2.13
Strikeouts: John Jackson (PHI), 97

Willie Weston Update: Well, he did indeed get into a good number of games at the major league level this year. And remember how I said that you'd see why he wasn't ready yet? Here it is - a major league batting average of less than .100! He still needs to work on his fielding, and if he doesn't hit the curve ball soon, he'll finish his career in the low minors too. Ouch.



* * *

I already paid Millard Purcell last month, so I'm off the hook for this month. It's nice not to have to write that check.

We get a letter from Greg and his new wife, Ruth, out in California. His doctoral program has started, he's doing well, he's very happy with Ruth. He must be happy - he even thanks me for my help in getting him back into the program "even though I don't know what you did". Yes, it's the same thing he said when he moved out there. Yes, it probably means he wants to know. No, I'm not planning to tell him.

The team is on the road in Philadelphia for four games, and the trade deadline is past. This is, in some ways, my favorite time of the year. There's nothing more I can do, the team is pretty well set, and I become mostly a fan again. Well, except for the trips to Washington, one of the reasons for which I'm about ready to announce. And the trips to Annapolis, about which I will only say that they'd better hurry up and get this new Ritchie Highway built, because getting there on the Baltimore/Annapolis Road just takes forever! The rumor is that Governor Ritchie, after hearing lots of squabble from his underlings as to where the road should go, and how it should incorporate the winding paths of Anne Arundel County, just took a map, put his pencil at the Hanover Street Bridge leaving Baltimore, put one end of the ruler there and the other end at the Severn River Bridge, just outside the Naval Academy. He then drew a straight line between the two points, handed the map to his Highway Commissioner, and said "There, it's planned. Get to work." I don't know if that's true, but I certainly would understand it!

[birdsin89]

August, 1934

It's hot as...can be...in Philadelphia. Glad I'm not there.

August 1 - 4, 1934
Baltimore Orioles (61 - 36) at Philadelphia Athletics (47 - 49)

August 1: We start the month off wrong when Mike Meola allows two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth. Athletics 6, Orioles 5

August 2: Mal Moss allows three, including two in the bottom of the ninth, but Lou hits home run number 29 and we even the series. Orioles 4, Athletics 3 Lou had two hits today, and his second was his 2,500th base hit in his career. He's 31. Realistically, he can possibly play at this level for another four years, and can then contribute into the early 1940s. He needs roughly 1350 more hits to pass Ty Cobb as the most prolific hitter in the history of the game. As long as his health stays good, he still has an outside chance at doing that by 1941 or 1942.

Black Hawks pitcher Orie Arntzen has taken some serious damage to his right knee. He's done for the year, and will be late starting up again next year as well. Sure, they're 24 games out, but this practically guarantees they won't get that 15 game improvement The Sporting News predicted.

But one that will make a difference in the pennant race, Giants' catcher Babe Phelps has broken his wrist being hit by a pitch today, and may, may be back by next May. The Giants are currently only one game behind the Dodgers, so this is a huge loss for them.

August 3: Once again, two in the bottom of the ninth. But this time it does us in. Athletics 4, Orioles 3

On my return from Washington today, I have Dottie set up a press conference for our next day off, the eighth. The arrangements have been made.

August 4: And this time, it takes until the tenth. Steamboat goes for his twentieth win, but the bullpen falls apart and we lose three of four in Philadelphia. Athletics 6, Orioles 5 (10)

Our lead is down to 3 1/2 over Boston, who are really the only competition left at this point. However, just because our next opponent is eleven games back, doesn't mean they're any more welcome in Memorial Stadium. This would be our 1934 nemesis, the Tigers.

* * *

August 5 - 7, 1934
Detroit Tigers (51 - 50) at Baltimore Orioles (62 - 39)

August 5: So, all we need to do is make baseball an eight inning game. We have a 9 - 3 lead after eight innings. We somehow give up seven runs in the top of the ninth, and lose our fourth game of five this month. Tigers 10, Orioles 9 Every game we've played in August has been a one run game, and we've been on the wrong end of most of them. We need this to stop, particularly as Boston wins again, and we're now 2 1/2 up.

August 6: So, Mal Moss is the only winning pitcher we have this month. And he does it again. Orioles 6, Tigers 2

August 7: Eric Umholtz allows two runs, neither earned, on six hits, and Lou hits home run number 30. Orioles 4, Tigers 2 But the Red Sox have won six in a row, and are still only 2 1/2 behind us.

* * *

And so it is that, on the afternoon of the eighth, I take to a podium in the press room at Memorial Stadium (an innovation I really must remember to thank Dale Lockman for). I don't particularly love talking to groups, though I've made plenty of speeches as part of the job. But I prefer to keep it short, and so I do.

"Gentlemen, I'm happy to announce that, through vigorous work with the U. S. State Department, and generous sponsors such as the Ford Motor Company and Coca-Cola, the Orioles and a team of All-Stars from around the major leagues will leave this January for a tour of Hawaii, Japan, and the Soviet Union. This three week tour will include, aside from the World Champion Orioles, such names as Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, Carl Hubbell, Lefty Grove, Abie Hood, Jack Saltzgaver, Jim Bottomley, Andy COhen, Dick Bartell, and from the National League Bill Dickey, Frankie Frisch, Paul and Lloyd Waner, Johnny Frederick, Mel Ott, Ernie Lombardi, and Paul Derringer. And I'm especially happy to see, playing with the Orioles once again, even for those three weeks, Ted Lyons and Tex Jeanes."

And then I answer a thousand questions. And the one that finally comes up, from Adams Gordon, is, "Since you were able to get Jeanes and Lyons back, what about the other player in his category. In other words, where's Red Ruffing?"

"Mr. Yawkey was not willing to allow his players to participate on the trip." I say with some pleasure. "I tried very hard to get Ruffing, as well as Jimmie Foxx and Babe Herman, to come, but while all other owners in both leagues were willing to waive a minor clause found in all player contracts restricting such trips, Mr. Yawkey was not."

When the conference is done, Andrew is waiting for me. He doesn't look happy. "So, that's why you've been in Washington all the time for the last several months."

"That's part of it."

"How much effort did you expend on getting the league offices to approve this?"

"Almost none. First, the right person in the Commissioner's office knows, and has also kept his mouth shut for me. Second, that contract clause is for the owner's benefit, and gives the owners the ability to restrict tours like this. Not the league." I'm smiling again.

He's still not. "You know this is just going to make Durant and Patterson even angrier at you, going off and rigging something like this up without asking. I'll expect to be nickel and dimed by Patterson and Hart for my reports this month."

I start to explain matters to him, and he cuts me off. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. I always do. But it would have been nice to be let in on your plans some time before I have to hear about them at a press conference." And he leaves.

Not for the first time, it occurs to me that my policy of protecting Andy by not letting him into our little meetings is not the easiest approach. I still think it's the best one, though. And I can't even tell him that there's a reason we're protecting him, because then he'll naturally want to know what he's being protected from. And even if I stall him, he's a smart young man. He'll figure it out.

So, more silence, when I want as much as anything to tell him just what else I've been doing.

* * *

The team was on the train to Boston when I made my announcements. Johnny Bassler tells me after the game that Tom Yawkey came to him fit to be tied about what I'd said in my press conference. Maybe that was because it made him look bad. Maybe it was because I'd so downplayed the advantages and played up the disadvantages of allowing his players to go on the trip that he'd felt he had no choice but to restrict them, and he felt as though I'd set him up. Maybe it was even because I hadn't exactly emphasized the fact that everybody else in the leagues was giving it their blessing, and he didn't know he was the lone outcast until he read the papers.

Maybe I didn't care.

Sadly, the reason I didn't care wasn't entirely because I don't like Yawkey. It was also because, on Wednesday morning, the Baltimore papers carried the story of the death the night before of Wilbert Robinson in Atlanta. Another Old Oriole gone, the second star this year. It just doesn't seem right.