As June faded to July, the Colonels started playing at a level approaching what the Falls City faithful hoped at the start of the season. Lack of talent at some positions as well as a wretched start doomed any chances Louisville had to contend for a winning season, much less the pennant, but the club played better as June went on.
Louisville opened the month on July 1 at home against the Baltimore Orioles and lost the first game 6-1. Ramsey, 20 pounds lighter as a result of his recent illness, pitched well, but the old bugaboo of poor defense bedeviled the Colonels again. At the bat, Louisville stranded nine runners and at the end of the day the Derby City throng of 3,500 went home disappointed.
In other news, the Courier-Journal stated the owners of Association clubs desired to meet to discuss reconsidering the $.50 fee for admittance to their games. Crowds dwindled at Association games, as the doubling of admission fees turned many potential spectators away. For clubs like Louisville, a poor record, combined with the increased price killed them at the turnstiles.
The next day saw Louisville pound Baltimore 13-6. Ice Box Chamberlain pitched well, not walking a single batter, which stood in stark contrast to the Orioles' John Smith, who walked nine Colonels.
This bright result on the scoreboard also contrasted with the dark tidings in the Courier-Journal. The Colonels finally released infielder Will White, White had recently been benched for "indifferent play," but he'd never really enjoyed playing in Louisville and the dissatisfaction on both sides culminated to this decision to let him go.
Other teams offered Louisville money for White, but he requested part of the sale price to any of these clubs. Owner Mordecai Davidson refused, so after ten days he cleared waivers and could sign with any club he chose.
In addition, an unnamed western paper (probably from St. Louis or Kansas City, but I cannot corroborate this) stated there was a conspiracy among Toad Ramsey, Guy Hecker, and John Kerins to throw games. The allegation offered no proof, but with past accusations swirling around the club, especially with Hecker, it couldn't have been comforting for Louisville fans.
On July 3, both Louisville and Baltimore crossed the Ohio and went to New Albany for an exhibition. Scott Stratton pitched well for the Colonels, but they lost 4-3.
The next day, Independence Day featured a twin bill between the Colonels and Orioles. The holiday promised to feature big crowds, and more baseball meant more spectators.
The first game saw Baltimore down Louisville 9-3 in front of 4,000. Second and third base let the Colonels down as Reddy Mack and Joe Werrick contributed the bulk of Louisville's ghastly 12 errors.
Baltimore on the other hand fielded flawlessly and first baseman Tommy Tucker hit the first over the fence home run at Eclipse Park all season. To the modern fan, this may sound strange, but over-the-fence home runs didn't occur often in the pre-live ball era (1920 on). The outfield dimensions of most parks tended to be much bigger in this era, and the balls weren't as lively off the bat as they were later. If one saw a home run, it would've been an inside the park home run.
The second game of the July 4 doubleheader proved a complete turnaround from the morning. Toad Ramsey "as lively as a lark," started for the Colonels and proved "almost invincible in the box." Louisville played a perfect game in the field, which "could hardly be expected after the miserable showing of the forenoon game," winning 4-1.
Baltimore's Bert Cunningham's curveball beguiled the Falls City nine, but the heart of the Louisville order managed to carry the day as Chicken Wolf and Pete Browning carried the day for the offense.
After a brief respite, Louisville welcomed Cleveland to Eclipse Park for a four game series starting on July 7 during a fierce heatwave in the Ohio Valley.
Louisville vanquished Cleveland 6-3 in the first game as a crowd of 800 sweltered. Chamberlain started for the Colonels and though wild, "pitched a winning game."
Both teams hit hard, but ran poorly, leaving 18 runners total on base.
Louisville continued its winning ways the next day, winning 9-0 behind Toad Ramsey's "invincible as ever" pitching. Ramsey struck out seven as Louisville threw its first shutout of the season.
Louisville whitewashed Cleveland again the next day, 3-0 in front of 3,000. John Ewing, Louisville's recent addition pitched brilliantly and hit a triple. Chicken Wolf also hit a triple as the Colonels played an all-around solid game.
Louisville won five of the last six games. They did so without the services of Pete Browning, who'd been missing in action again (possibly due to alcohol). The Courier-Journal hinted if "The Gladiator" didn't change his ways, he'd be permanently replaced. Luckily for Louisville, pitcher Scott Stratton could also play an excellent centerfield (a 19th Century Shohei Ohtani).
The Colonels swept Cleveland the next day, winning 7-4. Browning miraculously returned and made several defensive plays in center.
In other news, the St. Louis Browns signed Will White, he went from one of the worst teams in the Association to one of the best.
Louisville continued its homestand as the Philadelphia Athletics came to town next and promptly won 4-1. Toad Ramsey started for Louisville and walked six batters, at one point loading the bases with three straight walks. Louisville native Gus Weyhing started for the Athletics and had the Colonels at his will the whole of the contest.
Louisville evened the series the next day 14-4. The Colonels rapped out 19 hits and stole 13 bases as they batted around Mike Mattimore freely. Reserve first baseman Wally Andrews starred offensively for the Colonels, going 4-6 on the day.
Louisville won again the next day, 5-1 as Guy Hecker made his return from an injury suffered in St. Louis the month prior. He didn't strike out a single batter, but his pitching continually induced bad contact.
Poor Colonel baserunning and sparkling Philadelphia defense kept the game close. Louisville "ran the bases like a lot of plow horses."
Browning went 3-5 but the superb Athletic defense robbed him of a home run.
After the game, team captain John Kerins stated he'd invert his middle infielders, moving Reddy Mack to shortstop and Hub Collins to second.
The Athletics split the series the next day, winning 11-5. The recent success of the Colonels induced 4,500 to come out to on a Sunday, and their attitude could hardly be considered appropriate for the Sabbath. The throng proved loud and obnoxious, with the Philadelphia Times stating umpires ejected at least a dozen spectators. The cacophonous crowd delayed the game at times as the players could not hear the umpire.
Ice Box Chamberlain started for Louisville and got hit hard. He had poor control of his pitches and emotions, walking off the field in the sixth after hitting a batter. Scott Stratton came in to mop up, but little could be done as Gus Weyhing once again had the Colonels in his thrall.
Lave Cross caught for Louisville and had a rough day as he made multiple errors.
Though the first half of the month ended in a loss, the Colonels played much better. In spite of the usual issues with Pete Browning and rumors of throwing games (admittedly vastly unsubstantiated), things looked better.
Once again, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Times, newspapers.com, and baseball-reference.com made this post possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment