Things Really Aren't Different---Or Are They?
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by user Harold Friend
There were some fascinating sidebars to the 1923 World Series. In today's game, pitching coaches and scoreboard operators keep track of every pitch throw by every pitcher every game. Once a starting pitcher makes 100 pitches, his time left on the mound is severely limited. Pitch count has been hailed as an innovation in the modern game that has allowed pitchers to avoid injury and extend their careers. Those who discount pitch count are looked upon as dinosaurs, but just wait a second.
The New York Times reported that in Game 5 of the 1923 World Series, a total of 248 pitches were made by Yankees and Giants hurlers. Bullet Joe Bush threw 107 pitches in a 3 hit, complete game victory, while four Giants made a total of 141 pitches. The 248 pitches were 51 fewer than were made in the previous day's game.
The Times goes on to state that 97 of the 248 pitches were taken for balls, 59 were called strikes, 22 were foul strikes, 10 were fouled off, 28 went for infield outs, 15 were outfield flies that were caught, 2 resulted in infield errors, and 17 were hits. Remember, this was 1923. There were no calculators. There were no computers. There was no SABR. There was only detailed data.
There was one thing that was really different about the 1923 World Series compared to today. The players' shares were a little different. Each Yankees' share for winning the 1923 World Series was $6,143.49 and each Giants' share was $4,112.88. In 2005, each White Sox' player's share for winning the World Series was $324,532.72 and each Astros' player's share was $191,985.45.
Yearly salary information for baseball's early days is difficult to obtain, but in 1922, Home Run Baker, a veteran star, made $16,000. The 1919 pennant winning White Sox salaries were unbelievable. Star right hander Eddie Cicotte, who won 29 games, made $6,000. Joe Jackson made $6,000. Hall of Fame second baseman Eddie Colllins was the team's highest salaried player at $15,000.
Winning the World Series in 1923 meant more to a player than it does today, at least financially. Using Home Run Baker's $16,000 salary, a winning World Series share was about 38% of the yearly salary. Today, winning the World Series meant an additional $325,000 for Paul Konerko, whose salary was almost $9 million. You get the picture. While Konerko is one of the hardest players in the game today, other players might harbor the belief that adding a "mere" $325,000 to a multi-million dollar salary, especially when taxes are taken into account, is not that important. The fact that most individuals would be ecstatic to have a salary of $325,000 is besides the point.
A few days after the Yankees became World Champions, Babe Ruth formed an All-Star team to play exhibitions against teams in various cities. It is well known that crowd control has become a major issue at public events in the modern era, but it's not new.
The Babe's All-Stars had just completed a 2-1 win over a Scranton, Pa. team when the most famous of all Americans strode to home plate to hit out a few. Suddenly, thousands of kids ran directly to Ruth in an attempt to get a close up view or actually shake his hand. He was completely surrounded and completely unafraid.
Ruth tried to get to the outfield where there was more space, trying to make sure that he didn't step on any child since he was wearing spikes. As he stepped along gingerly, he fell to the ground. The boys thought Ruth was fooling around and piled on top of him. Four policepersons stepped in and calmly separated the Babe from the pile of fans. The Babe rose and wanted to throw some balls with the kids, but the police told him that discretion was the better part of participation and they led him to a waiting automobile. As he was leaving, Babe yelled to the kids, "I'm sorry kiddies." There was no violence or police brutality.
Finally, on October 30, 1923, the Yankees announced that they had drafted Adolfo Arguijo for $1,000 from the Corsicana club of the Texas Association. Arguijo, if he made the Yankees, would become the first "pure-blooded" Mexican to ever play in the major leagues. Scout Bob Connery, said that Arguijo is a six foot right hander who has a blazing fastball and a sharp breaking curve. He was born in Mexico and drifted to Texas. Hello, Fernando Valenzuela. (Note: He never made the major leagues).
References:
"Bush Pitched 107 Balls; Yankee Hurler Served Up 34 Less Than Four Giant Twirlers." New York Times. 15 October 1923, p.11.
"Mob of Boys Rolls Babe Ruth in Dust; Scranton Police Rescue Home-Run Hitter When Cheering Admirers Pile on Him." New York Times. 26 October 1923, p.9.
"Yanks Sign Pitcher Arguijo, Pure-Blooded Mexican Player." New York Times. 30 October 1923, p.13.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wsshares.shtml
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1922&t=NYA
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1919&t=CHA
Date
Thu 07/27/06, 7:23 am EST
