FOOL-H 1906 Draft pool: Historical Review

[Alan T]

Tris "Grey Eagle" Speaker



- nicknamed “Grey Eagle” for his prematurely graying hair
- known as one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in history.
- inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during the second year of voting, 1937.
- In 2008, Speaker's name was brought up by Marvin Miller, who served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1982, as a player who should be removed from the Hall of Fame because of alleged membership in the Ku Klux Klan.
- Most career doubles (792)
- Most career outfield assists (449)
- First player of only two players ever (Craig Biggio in 1998) to reach 50 stolen bases and 50 doubles in a season in 1912.


Nick Maddox



- one of the few pitchers who threw a no-hitter in his rookie season, one week after pitching a shutout in his major league debut.


"Big Ed" Konetchy



- While he was considered an above-average hitter (he batted over .300 four times) he was more known around the league for his supreme consistency, his never-faltering speed, and his high degree of defensive skill at first base.
- led the rescue effort during a 1911 train crash that the St.Louis Cardinals were involved in, carrying many passengers to safety, some of whom may have died.
- Broke up four no-hitters over the course of his career
- Picked up hits in 10 consecutive at bats in 1919, tying a record which would later be broken
- Holds an MLB record with 4 consecutive seasons with 20 or more triples (1909-1912)



Walter "Big Train" Johnson



- One of the most celebrated players in baseball history, Johnson established several pitching records, some of which remained unbroken for more than a half-century.
- Johnson won renown as the premier power pitcher of his era.
- Ty Cobb on Walter Johnson, "The first time I faced him, I watched him take that easy windup. And then something went past me that made me flinch. The thing just hissed with danger. We couldn't touch him... every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park."
- Yankees outfielder Birdie Cree said the only way to time Johnson's fastball was "when you see the arm start forward, swing."
- Johnson's record total of 3,508 strikeouts stood for more than 55 years
- Walter Johnson won 417 games, the second most by any pitcher in history
- Three times, Johnson won the triple crown for pitchers
- Johnson twice won the American League Most Valuable Player Award (1913, 1924), a feat accomplished since by only two other pitchers
- Johnson was the first American League pitcher to strike out four batters in one inning
- In 1999, he ranked number 4 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, the highest-ranked pitcher
- Johnson's gentle nature was legendary, and to this day he is held up as an example of good sportsmanship while his name has become synonymous with friendly competition.


Heinie Zimmerman



- Zimmerman was #98 on the "Top 100 Cubs of All Time" list as compiled by the web site Bleed Cubbie Blue.
- Zimmerman was suspended from the New York Giants in 1919, along with his friend Hal Chase for allegedly attempting to convince other players to fix games
- Zimmerman and Chase were both indicted for bribery. Zimmerman denied McGraw's accusations, and neither he nor Chase was ever proven to be directly connected to the Black Sox, but based on a long-term pattern of corruption both were permanently banned from baseball by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis,



"Laughing Larry" Doyle



- The National League's outstanding second baseman during the 1910s, he was awarded the 1912 Chalmers Award as the league's best player, and won the 1915 batting title with a .320 average.
- his .408 career slugging average was the top mark by an NL second baseman when he retired, as were his career totals in hits (1887), doubles (299), triples (123), total bases (2654) and extra base hits (496).



Fred Merkle





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On Wednesday, September 23, 1908, while playing for the New York Giants in a game against the Chicago Cubs, while he was 19 years old (the youngest player in the NL), Merkle committed a base running error that later became known as "Merkle's Boner" and earned Merkle the nickname of "Bonehead."
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Merkle came to bat with two outs, and the score tied 1-1. At the time, Moose McCormick was on first base. Merkle singled and McCormick advanced to third. Al Bridwell, the next batter, followed with a single of his own. McCormick advanced to home plate, apparently scoring the winning run. The fans in attendance, under the impression that the game was over, ran onto the field to celebrate.
Meanwhile, Merkle, thinking the game was over, ran to the Giants' clubhouse without touching second base. Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers noticed this, and after retrieving a ball and touching second base he appealed to umpire Hank O'Day, who would later manage the Cubs, to call Merkle out. Since Merkle had not touched the base, the umpire called him out on a force play, meaning that McCormick's run did not count.
The run was therefore nullified, the Giants' victory erased, and the score of the game remained tied. Unfortunately, the thousands of fans on the field (as well as the growing darkness in the days before large electric light rigs made night games possible) prevented resumption of the game, and the game was declared a tie. The Giants and the Cubs would end the season tied for first place and would have a rematch at the Polo Grounds, on October 8. The Cubs won this makeup game, 4-2, and thus the National League pennant.

[buckinbranco]

Great stuff here Alan. I especially liked the story about "Merkle's Boner." I had never heard that before.

[Young Drachma]

Wow, the Walter Johnson draft. Man, the fun continues.

[muns]

I dont play in either of the other 2 leagues, but its just as fun to read whats going on with them. Nice job again Alan.

[ekcut]

Tough call here...
Walter Friekin Johnson or Tris Friekin Speaker...
Talk about a win-win scenario!