Although the major leagues optimistically keep the schedules at 154 games despite the war

ByThis Day in Baseball

1918 – Although the major leagues optimistically keep the schedules at 154 games, the owners agree to halve the spring training time in an attempt to save money with the United States now engaged in World War I, as the St. Louis Cardinals open their camp at Hot Springs, Arkansas. In fact, the season’s last month will never be played, with the World Series starting at the beginning of September.

1918 – The Yankees trade catcher Les Nunamaker, third baseman Fritz Maisel, infielder Joe Gedeon, and pitchers Nick Cullop and Urban Shocker to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for pitcher Eddie Plank and second baseman Del Pratt. Plank, a 300-game winner, retires, but Pratt gives the Yankees three good years of services at second. Shocker is the gem, posting four straight seasons of 20 or more wins in St. Louis. Maisel, whom the Yankees refused to trade in early 1916 for either Boston Red Sox Tris Speaker (and cash) or Chicago White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson, will hit just .232 in 90 games and be gone.

ByTom

1918 – The Yankees trade catcher Les Nunamaker, third baseman Fritz Maisel, infielder Joe Gedeon, and pitchers Nick Cullop and Urban Shocker to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for pitcher Eddie Plank and second baseman Del Pratt. Plank, a 300-game winner, retires, but Pratt gives the Yankees three good years of services at second. Shocker is the gem, posting four straight seasons of 20 or more wins in St. Louis. Maisel, whom the Yankees refused to trade in early 1916 for either Boston Red Sox Tris Speaker (and cash) or Chicago White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson, will hit just .232 in 90 games and be gone.

Buck Herzog

Veteran infielder Buck Herzog is traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Braves for second baseman Larry Doyle and pitcher Jesse Barnes. Barnes will go 6-1 this year and then win a league-high 25 games in 1919. Doyle, a former Giants and fan favorite, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs four days ago and his trade was rumored. He will play three years in New York before retiring.

ByTom

1918 – Veteran infielder Buck Herzog is traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Braves for second baseman Larry Doyle and pitcher Jesse Barnes. Barnes will go 6-1 this year and then win a league-high 25 games in 1919. Doyle, a former Giants and fan favorite, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs four days ago and his trade was rumored. He will play three years in New York before retiring.

The Philadelphia Phillies keep swapping with the Chicago Cubs trading for slugger Cy Williams

The Philadelphia Phillies keep swapping with the Chicago Cubs trading for slugger Cy Williams

ByTom

1917 – The Philadelphia Phillies keep swapping with the Chicago Cubs, this month sending OF Dode Paskert, a seven-year veteran, to Chicago for slugger Cy Williams. Williams will flourish in the Baker Bowl, and will hit 222 home runs for the Phillies over the next 13 years. Paskert will not enjoy the same success at Wrigley Field.

1917 – Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics need money. He sells P Joe Bush, C Wally Schang, and OF Amos Strunk to the Boston Red Sox for P Vean Gregg, OF Merlin Kopp, C Pinch Thomas, and $60,000.

ByTom

1917 – Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics need money. He sells P Joe Bush, C Wally Schang, and OF Amos Strunk to the Boston Red Sox for P Vean Gregg, OF Merlin Kopp, C Pinch Thomas, and $60,000.

The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander and his personal catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander “Iron” Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000

The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander and his personal catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander “Iron” Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000

ByThis Day in Baseball

1917 – The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander, twice a 30-game winner, and his personal catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander “Iron” Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000. Phils owner William Baker later admits he made the trade because, “I needed the money.” The 5th-place Cubs expect the addition of Alexander to greatly strengthen their staff, but Alex will be drafted in the Army.

A letter signed by 24 members of the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox and manager Pants Rowland contains complaints concerning not receiving their full winner share after beating the New York Giants. The written request, which will be discovered as a tattered document more than 40 years later among boxes stored at the Hall of Fame library, may explain the ‘Black Sox’ motivation for fixing the Fall Classic two years later.

ByBaseball

A letter signed by 24 members of the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox and manager Pants Rowland contains complaints concerning not receiving their full winner share after beating the New York Giants. The written request, which will be discovered as a tattered document more than 40 years later among boxes stored at the Hall of Fame library, may explain the ‘Black Sox’ motivation for fixing the Fall Classic two years later.

1917 – After the Brooklyn Robins beat the Boston Braves, 5 – 1 in the first game of a doubleheader, Boston responds with a 4 – 2 victory in the nitecap. The 40-inning scoreless streak of Art Nehf ends when a walk followed by a single and a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning produces a run for Brooklyn. Nehf holds on for the victory over Leon Cadore and finishes the year at 17-8 for the sixth-place Braves. In the opener, Sherry Smith evens his season’s record, beating Jack Scott.

ByBaseball

1917 – After the Brooklyn Robins beat the Boston Braves, 5 – 1 in the first game of a doubleheader, Boston responds with a 4 – 2 victory in the nitecap. The 40-inning scoreless streak of Art Nehf ends when a walk followed by a single and a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning produces a run for Brooklyn. Nehf holds on for the victory over Leon Cadore and finishes the year at 17-8 for the sixth-place Braves. In the opener, Sherry Smith evens his season’s record, beating Jack Scott.

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10/3/1917 – In the first game of a double header at Philadelphia, Art Fletcher of the Giants, who was sixth in the batting order doubled in the top of the second (or possibly in the top of the fifth according to a second newspaper) when Dave Robertson should have hit. The hit was negated, but Fletcher managed to double twice in the game even without the one that was nullified. Perhaps due to the improper at bat, the box score for the game is not correct as it shows Fletcher with 6 AB, one too many, and the lead off hitter, George Burns with one too few.

ByTom

10/3/1917 – In the first game of a double header at Philadelphia, Art Fletcher of the Giants, who was sixth in the batting order doubled in the top of the second (or possibly in the top of the fifth according to a second newspaper) when Dave Robertson should have hit. The hit was negated, but Fletcher managed to double twice in the game even without the one that was nullified. Perhaps due to the improper at bat, the box score for the game is not correct as it shows Fletcher with 6 AB, one too many, and the lead off hitter, George Burns with one too few.