1909 FOOL-H Season Thread
 

Well, it's that time again. Midnight baseball, but not in Alaska..it's on the interwebs.

But first, a musicial interlude. This week's song "Nothing To Worry About" is brought to you by the band Peter, Bjorn and John. And yes, this is the real video.

Now that you've got that out of your system, it's time to hand out trophies. But this ain't Little League, so not everyone will be a winner!

NL Selects Rookie Star of the Month
Saturday, May 1st, 1909: Beals Becker was toddling around on his tricycle when some of the guys he's playing against were in their prime, but the 22-year-old right fielder definitely knows how to get to first, second or beyond. Today he was chosen April's National League Rookie of the Month for his remarkable month of hitting.

In 25 games Becker batted .410 for St. Louis, slapping 43 hits in 105 at-bats with 2 home runs, drove in 22 runs and scored 14 times.

American League Names Rookie of Month
Saturday, May 1st, 1909: Youngster Rube Ellis emerged as the latest American League Rookie of the Month today. The young man from New York deserved the honor, batting .390 with no home runs and 17 runs batted in. Is the month of April a harbinger of things to come or just a fluke? We'll find out someday, but for now, we'll just let Ellis enjoy the limelight.

Cincinnati Starter Named NL's Best Pitcher
Saturday, May 1st, 1909: Veteran Bill Dineen put together quite a successful stretch in April for the Cincinnati Redlegs, earning himself the National League Pitcher of the Month award.

Dineen racked up a 5-0 record in 7 starts, posting a 2.72 ERA over 49.2 innings and striking out 22.

STANDINGS AS OF MAY 1, 1909

Good start boys. Keep it up!

STANDINGS AS OF JUNE 1, 1909

NL Rookie Vote Goes to Becker
Thursday, July 1st, 1909: Beals Becker is still a bit shy, but then, who could blame the newest National League Rookie of the Month honoree? He hasn't been around the league long enough to fully know the ropes yet, despite the fact that he's putting up veteran-like numbers.

In June the St. Louis hitter tagged opposing pitching for a .362 average with 34 hits, 2 home runs and 21 RBIs.

This year Becker is batting .389 with 6 home runs and 59 RBIs. In 78 games he has scored 48 times.
Red-Hot Chicago Rookie Rated AL's Best
Thursday, July 1st, 1909: Ward Miller's eyes seem to light up whenever he sees the baseball. The young Chicago left fielder has been hitting everything in sight for the better part of a month.

In June he was voted the Rookie of the Month Award.

During the month he hit .380 with 7 doubles, 3 triples and no home runs. Miller also scored 25 times and drove in 20 runs.

Miller is presently hitting at a .334 pace with no home runs, 50 RBIs and has scored 51 times.
Giants Chesbro Named NL's Best Pitcher
Thursday, July 1st, 1909: Jack Chesbro took home the National League Pitcher of the Month honors in June. After all these years playing ball, the 35-year-old veteran still enjoys the game as though he'd just broken camp for the first time a month ago. He's a bit older now with a few more aches and pains, but the old man has reason to celebrate, having gone 7-0 for New York last month and claiming the Pitcher of the Month award.

He tacked up a 3.13 ERA in his 7 starts, tossing 54.2 innings and striking out 21.

In 22 starts this season Chesbro has compiled a 16-2 record and a 3.56 ERA.

STANDINGS AS OF JULY 1, 1909

FOOL-H News: The All-Star Game Rosters Have Been Announced
Thursday, July 1st, 1909: The All-Star Classic is here again! -- the 1909 FOOL-Historical All-Star Game! This is a game for the fans. They choose the players that are the best at their positions. Then these fan favorites take on one another to determine which league is best. Who will be top league this season? -- the American or the National? We'll get the answer soon.

The American All-Stars have these fine performers on their roster:


SP E. Walsh (CHA)
SP F. Glade (PHA)
SP A. Joss (BAL)
SP C. Robitaille (CHA)
SP H. Vaughn (BAL)
CL T. Hughes (CHA)
MR D. Deegan (PHA)
SP H. Camnitz (BAL)
CL L. Moren (BOS)
MR R. Kroh (PHA)
MR L. Leroy (DET)
CL J. Mendez (DET)
RF J. Jackson (CHA)
SS H. Wagner (CHA)
CF T. Speaker (CHA)
1B F. Luderus (DET)
LF G. Beaumont (NYY)
2B E. Collins (DET)
3B B. Louden (LOU)
C J. Kling (CHA)
CF F. Snodgrass (BAL)
CF E. Heidrick (WAS)
RF H. Lumley (NYY)
RF M. Donlin (BAL)
LF R. Bresnahan (WAS)
3B B. Sweeney (CHA)
2B M. Huggins (LOU)
1B T. Jordan (WAS)


While the National All-Stars will be represented by these talented players:


SP J. Chesbro (NYG)
SP J. Scott (STL)
SP J. St. Vrain (CIN)
SP C. Mathewson (BSN)
SP H. Krause (CHN)
MR M. Manuel (PHI)
MR J. Frill (NYG)
CL H. Suter (PIT)
MR F. Winchell (PHI)
MR R. Vowinkel (BSN)
MR W. Moser (CIN)
MR M. Cunningham (BRO)
2B N. Lajoie (STL)
CF T. Cobb (NYG)
3B E. Lennox (BSN)
1B F. Merkle (PHI)
C A. Wilson (PHI)
RF B. Becker (STL)
C B. Carrigan (NYG)
LF Z. Wheat (PHI)
SS P. Lloyd (CHN)
RF E. Flick (CIN)
3B H. Baker (CIN)
CF H. Myers (CIN)
3B H. Lobert (CIN)
CF B. Cree (CHN)
1B D. Johnston (CIN)
RF F. Schulte (BRO)

STANDINGS OF AUGUST 1, 1909

Rookie Reaps Reward This Month
Sunday, August 1st, 1909: St. Louis's Beals Becker created quite a buzz around town today when he was presented July's National League Rookie of the Month trophy.

The standout rookie right fielder took the award by connecting for 34 hits in 87 at-bats for a .391 batting average. During the month he collected 2 home runs, drove in 21 runs and scored 18 times.

For the season Becker has produced 151 hits in 388 at-bats for a .389 average with 8 home runs and gotten on base at a .429 clip.
Baltimore Starting Pitcher Rated Best Rookie
Sunday, August 1st, 1909: Though he's only 25, Jack Warhop really put together a spectacular July to capture the American League Rookie of the Month honor.

The Baltimore starter spun 5 wins and 1 loss as he posted a 3.63 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 52 innings.

Warhop has made 28 starts this season, posting 11 wins and 9 losses. Opposing clubs are batting .308 against him and he has 46 strikeouts in 195.1 innings with a 4.56 ERA.
National League Selects #1 Starter in July
Sunday, August 1st, 1909: Whether Vic Willis stays in Brooklyn beyond this season remains to be seen, but while he's here he's making the most of it. In July the 33-year-old certainly pulled out all the stops by winning the National League Pitcher of the Month award.

He put up some fancy numbers with a 5-0 record and and an ERA of 1.97. In 50.1 innings he struck out 13, surrendered 61 hits, 12 walks and proved to be a solid performer in 6 starts last month.

This year Willis has recorded a 14-8 mark. In 27 starts he has fanned 58 batters in 184 innings with a 3.67 ERA.

Pittsburgh Rookie Star Sparkles
Wednesday, September 1st, 1909: Pittsburgh's Spottswood Poles collected 40 hits to snare the National League Rookie of the Month for August.

He batted .417 with no home runs, 20 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

The 21-year-old is barely old enough to shave, but he could definitely contend for Rookie of the Year if he keeps up this pace.

This season Poles has banged out 152 hits in 447 at-bats for a .340 average with 5 home runs. He is getting on base at a .398 pace and his totals also include 83 RBIs and 62 runs scored.
Rookie Swinger Scores Big in August
Wednesday, September 1st, 1909: In August, Ward Miller had an exceptional month at the plate and hit his way to the American League Rookie of the Month award.

Last month the 25-year-old Chicago left fielder played in 29 games and hit .355 with 5 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run. Miller also scored 13 times and drove in 20 runs.

Miller is hitting .321 in 1909 with 83 RBIs and 1 home run.
August's Best Starter Named in NL
Wednesday, September 1st, 1909: Which National League hurler dominated in the month of August?
According to the voters who decide the National League Pitcher of the Month award, it was Christy Mathewson of the Boston Beaneaters.

He put together a record of 5-3 with an ERA of 3.38 in 9 starting assignments. In addition, he struck out 29 in 72 innings.

In 45 starts this season Mathewson has gathered 20 wins while suffering 19 losses. He has pitched 353.1 innings, allowed 361 hits, struck out 150 and has a 3.64 ERA.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1909 STATS

STANDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1909

The wins record is 107 from the Yankees in 1906.

STANDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 1909

AL Wild Card Standings
Philadelphia -- (M #15)
Baltimore 1 GB
Boston 1.5 GB
Washington 4 GB
Detroit 5.5 GB

(Chicago clinched the regular season title)

NL Wild Card Standings
Cincinnati -- (M #16)
Pittsburgh .5 GB
St. Louis 6 GB

New York's M # for the league regular season title is 13

Wow...having two .400 hitters is pretty sweet. :popcorn:

Lennox Week's Top Player
Monday, September 20th, 1909: Ed Lennox must have thought he died and went to heaven this week. First he went on a remarkable batting rampage, hammering the ball at a .500 clip, then the Boston third baseman finds outs he has been voted the league's top performer and gets the NL Player of the Week Award.

For the week Lennox batted .500 (16-32) with 1 home run and 8 RBIs.

Lennox is batting .355 this year with 15 home runs, 110 RBIs and 118 runs scored. He has 216 hits in 609 at-bats.
AL Star of the Week Honored
Monday, September 20th, 1909: Tris Speaker of the Whales relied on a sharp eye and a quick bat to outpace all other American League hitters last week and collect the Player of the Week Award.

He hit .563 with 18 hits in 32 at-bats, no home runs and 3 RBIs.

This year Speaker is hitting at a .379 pace with 7 home runs and 84 RBIs. He has played in 153 games and scored 132 times.
Tigers Halt Speaker's Hit Streak
Sunday, September 19th, 1909: Whales center fielder Tris Speaker was one of the hottest hitters in baseball, coming into today's game against Detroit with a 20-game hitting streak. However, the Tigers put a chill in his bat, at least for today, and held him hitless in 4 at-bats during the Detroit 6-0 triumph at Tiger Stadium.

This season Speaker is swinging the bat at a .379 rate with 245 hits in 646 at-bats. To date he has hit 7 home runs, scored 132 runs and driven in 84.

STANDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1909

AL WILD CARD
Philadelphia -- (M: #9)
Baltimore 1 GB
Boston 4 GB
Washington 5 GB
Detroit 6 GB

NL WILD CARD
Cincinnati -- (M: #8)
Pittsburgh 2 GB

STANDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 1909

Cincinnati 90-71
Pittsburgh 90-71

(1 game to go)

New York @ Pittsburgh
Boston @ Cincinnati

Pittsburgh 7, New York 1
Boston 15, Cincinnati 6

Pittsburgh wins the NL Wild Card to make their first-ever FOOL-H playoff appearance!

File is up.

Chicago finishes with the 2nd best record in league history to this point.

1909 FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

New York's Cobb Takes Home NL Batting Honors
Thursday, September 30th, 1909: When the National League regular season came to a close yesterday, Ty Cobb was all alone in the top spot in the batting race with a .394 average. The 22-year-old New York Giants center fielder smacked 267 hits in 678 at-bats and wrapped up the year with 42 doubles, 5 triples and 14 home runs. Cobb appeared in 162 games and had 110 RBIs and 147 runs scored.


Jackson in Select Company, Bats .423
Thursday, September 30th, 1909: Joe Jackson joined a very select group today as he closed out 1909 with a torrid .423 batting average. It was a fantastic year for the Chicago right fielder as he became the newest member of baseball's .400 club.

During the season he stroked 271 hits, including 62 doubles, 9 triples and 12 home runs. Jackson also scored 145 times and drove in 151 runs.

Asked by the media what's the hardest part of hitting .400, he glibly replied, "Getting 4 hits in every 10 at-bats." Then, speaking seriously, Jackson added, "Staying out of slumps is important. You have to be focused in every game and in every at-bat. Don't swing at anything but strikes... and stay away from any pitch you can't hit."

Number 3500 for Davis
Monday, September 27th, 1909: Boston's George S Davis entered the record books today as he collected hit number 3500 at Crosley Field.

"I am proud of this. Not too many player reach this level. You have to be around quite a few years and you have to get a lot of hits," Davis said after the game.

On his milestone day he went 1 for 4 as the Beaneaters won 5-1 over the Cincinnati Redlegs.

For his 2827-game career Davis has hit .304 with 3500 hits, 1760 RBIs, and 120 home runs.

HTML is updating now, it'll be done by the morning.

Thanks DC. That damn song is now stuck in my head!

I thought my Redbirds would be worse than this, and I'm a bit disappointed that they weren't. I need, like everyone else does, a stud pitcher/hitter to put me over the top. Can't get that finishing middle of the pack.

Congrats to the playoff teams.

Thanks DC.

Number one pick last year to barley getting in the playoffs for the first time. WhooHoo!

Climbed our way into the wildcard...

Then fell right back out of it.

#2 pick again...I'm sorry fans...no wonder you hate me!

My record was so bad, DC didn't even put it on the final standings!

lol

It was late.