Detroit Tigers Win Series Over Nationals

It has been a while since we talked about baseball here on the blog, so I thought today, with not much in the news today, we would take a quick look at what is going on in the majors starting with the Washington Nationals.  The Detroit Tigers brought their star outfielder Ty Cobb and their first place record in the American League into town for a four game series, of which the Tigers won three, though on Friday, the Nationals brought the bats to win 14-7.  Yesterday though, the Tigers blew out the Washington 5-1 thanks to a stingy performance by Tigers pitchers Ed Lafitte who gave up only six hits, of which five were hit in the first three innings.  Ty Cobb finished the game three for four with an RBI off a single in the first as well as a stolen base when National pitcher Bob Groom tried to pick him at first, but the throw went wild and Cobb was able to reach third.

With the loss, the Nationals continue to dwell near the cellar of the American League and are only a 1.5 games ahead of the last place St. Louis Browns.  The winning team, Detroit, continues its dominance of the league, now with a 35-12 record and 6.5 games on top of the Philadelphia Athletics.  The National League pennant race is much closer, with three teams (the New York Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies) within a half game of first place.

Next up for the Washington Nationals are the Cleveland Naps, who are in sixth place and had a poor showing against the Athletics over the weekend.  It is possible that veteran Naps pitcher, Cy Young, may throw in one of the four games, though he just starting to get over an illness that has had him confined to his room for much of the season thus far.

Link: Final Game of the Series Goes to the Tigers [The Washington Herald]

Baseball's Opening Day Celebrated in Seven Cities

The bats are finally swinging and balls flying as the 1911 Major League baseball season finally got underway yesterday. At newly renovated National Park in Washington, President Taft threw out the first ball from his box in the grandstands to Nationals opening day pitcher "Dolly" Gray, the second consecutive year the chief executive has done that. Opening day brought a record crowd to the new steel-and-concrete stadium constructed in the three weeks since a fire destroyed the old, wooden grandstands on March 17. The Washington Herald noted the "grand principle of equality demonstrated by the mixture of statesmen, millionaires, social favorites with the humble citizen and ne'er-do-well." While the official attendance number around 16,000, thousands more were perched on nearby rooftops to join in the holiday atmosphere. Among the many baseball at the stadium was American League president Ban Johnson, who had come to see the new concrete grandstands.

The Washington Nationals overcame a 4-0 deficit against the visiting Boston Red Sox after four innings to rally with six run sixth inning and win 8-5.

A major cause of excitement for Washington baseball fans was Walter Johnson, who was in uniform for the Nationals but is not expected for several days in order to recover from his train ride from Kansas. Johnson, who had held out for more money in contract negotiations with the team, agreed after the game to a three-year contract worth $7,000 per year, $500 more than the previous offer made by club management. This is the highest salary currently paid out to an American League pitcher. Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox currently earns $6,000 per year and is the next highest paid pitcher. The highest paid player in the American League is Ty Cobb, earning $9,000 per year.

Elsewhere around the American League on Opening Day: the New York Yankees defeated the defending World Series champion Athletics in Philadelphia 2-1 and the St. Louis Browns pounded the Cleveland Naps with 16 hits and won 12-3. The game scheduled in Detroit between the Tigers and the Chicago White Sox was rained out, delay opening day for the best player in baseball, Ty Cobb. Over in the National League, the Boston Terriers won their opener 2-1 against the visiting Brooklyn Superbas, the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals played to a 3-3 tie after 11 innings in the Windy City, the New York Giants were defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 at the Polo Grounds, and the Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Cincinnati Reds 14-0.

Link: Baseball Season Opens in Seven Cities with One Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand on Hand [The New York Tribune]
Link: Thousands see Opening Day Game and Victory [The Washington Herald]

Walter Johnson Heads Back to Washington; With Contract?

Washington Nationals star pitcher, Walter Johnson, is now headed back to the nation's capital today after leaving his Coffeyville, Kansas home last night. He was in St. Louis this morning according to the Washington Times after manager Jimmy McAleer offered him a three-year contract worth $21,000. At $7,000 per year, that is $500 more than McAleer's previous offer that sent Johnson packing.

Johnson told the Times that Coffeyville residents supported him in his row with Nationals management, believing that his services were worth at least that much. "When I went down to the Market square in Coffeyville, yesterday," Johnson told reporters, "I met a Coffeyville fan, who told me that if Ty Cobb is worth $9,000 a year in right field, I am certainly worth $7,500 in the pivotal position of the game."

From the Nationals camp, McAleer told the Washington Times that the contract Johnson would be signing was the same deal they offered him at training camp: $6,500 for one year, all but ensuring that there will be renewed fight next year based on the experience the Detroit Tigers have had with Ty Cobb.

When Johnson departed at 9 o'clock this morning for Washington, it was still not known whether Johnson would accept McAleer's contract offer. Even if he does, he is not likely to start tomorrow's opening day game against the Boston Red Sox. The pitcher will require at least two days' rest after his long train journey from Kansas. "Dolly" Gray is expected to get the opening day start, despite his absymal record last season. In 1910, Gray went 8-19, the second highest loss total in the majors. He also had an ERA of 2.63. By comparison, Johnson had a great season on an otherwise lackluster Nationals team, going 25-17 with an ERA of 1.36. Johnson is expected to arrive in Washington tomorrow at noon, leaving only three hours before the game starts.

Tomorrow's opening day game will come only three weeks after a devastating fire that destroyed the grandstands at National Park. While work continues on the new steel-and-concrete stands to replace the destroyed wooden structure, already 13,000 seats will be available for tomorrow's home opener, a capacity 4,000 greater than the earlier structure was capable of holding. Washingtonian D.S. Van Buskirk was the first to buy a ticket at the new stadium. Van Buskirk works for the Interstate Commerce Commission and is a big fan of Walter Johnson.

Link: Fans Joyful Over News that Johnson has Decided to Come Back to the Fold [The Washington Times]
Link: Walter Johnson Leaves Home for Washington [The Washington Herald]

Nationals Star Pitcher Walter Johnson Holds Out; Shipped Home

Washington's star pitcher, Walter Johnson, has been shipped from the National's training camp in Atlanta after failing to come to terms with team management on a new contract.  The pitcher won 25 games last season with a 1.36 ERA, making him far and above the best player, let alone pitcher, in what is otherwise a rather lackluster team that finished with a 66-85 record last year and finished next-to-last in the American League.  With hopes dimming that the two sides can come to an agreement before the start of the season and Johnson headed back home to Coffeyville, Kansas, it is unlikely that the Nationals will improve on last year's record.

The news that Nationals manager Jimmy McAleer had sent Johnson home came as a surprise to Nationals team president Thomas Noyes.  He told the Washington Herald that he had not spoken with McAleer about the Johnson situation and that he was confident that Johnson would accept the team's offer as it is the best in the American League.  McAleer believes that Johnson was encouraged by other players in the league to reject the Nationals offer.  Said McAleer at the team's spring training camp in Atlanta:

I have ordered Johnson to quit my club at once.  I do not want him around.  I have tried to reason with him about signing his contract, but he absolutely refuses to come down to the terms the club has offered.  I have never been held up by a ball player in my life, and do not propose to start in now.  The salary we have agreed to pay him--$6,500--is greater than that of any pitcher in the American League.  The club cannot afford to pay more, and Johnson has been plainly told so.  I gave him one more chance this afternoon, and he continued his dogged determination to hold out.  I will make no more advances.  Johnson will have to come to me if he wants to continue in organized baseball.

According to the Herald, while the club has offered a contract of $6,500 for one year, Johnson has demanded $7,500 for one year and has told Team President Noyes that next year he will ask for a three-year, $27,000 contract.  This is the same salary that the best player in baseball, Ty Cobb is currently earning with the Detroit Tigers.  Johnson told the Herald that he "considered his services worth more than the club saw fit to pay."

The Washington Times canvassed fans in Washington about their feelings about the Johnson hold out.  Fans are standing with management in this case:

The news of this action by McAleer startled Washington fandom this morning, and then if the friends of the ball player expected an outburst of sympathy they were sorely disappointed.  Almost to a man the baseball enthusiasts of the city denounced Johnson for his stubborn attempt to get more money, and the management of the team was applauded for the stand it has taken.

Opening day for the Nationals is April 12 when they play at home against the Boston Red Sox.  Walter Johnson was expected to be the opening day pitcher, though that is obviously up in the air now with the pitcher making his way back home to Kansas.  The game will hopefully be played at the new steel-enforced National Park.  The wooden stands at the stadium were destroyed in a fire on March 17.

Link: Nationals Star Pitcher Ordered to Leave Club [The Washington Herald]
Link: Johnson Blamed by Fans for Row Over his Salary [The Washington Times]

National Park, Home of Baseball's Washington Nationals, Destroyed in Fire

The home of the American League's Washington Nationals, National Park, was destroyed in a fire yesterday morning.  The fire started at 11:30 am local, reducing the grand stands and other associated building to debris and ashes and spreading to a nearby lumber yard owned by the Eisinger Bros. company.  The fire comes just three weeks before the Nationals are expected to start their season at home against the Boston Red Sox.  The cost of the damage to the two properties is estimated at $25,000.

A few hours after the disaster, Thomas Noyes, the president of the Washington Nationals, announced that a new, steel structures would be constructed as soon as possible to replace the destroyed, wooden bleachers.  "Without a moment's delay, we formulated a course of action," Noyes told the Washington Herald.  "Speed was imperative, for, with a game for April 12 [opening day against Boston], and with Washington fandom depending upon us, we realized that not a moment was to be lost."

The team has hired a crew to begin work this morning to clear out the debris left by the fire.  A group of structural steel engineers from the Osborn Steel Company of Cleveland, Ohio will begin working on plans today for building new, steel grandstands and bleachers.  Actual construction work should begin within two weeks.  By opening day on April 12, it is hoped that the construction will be far enough along that temporary seats can be put in place to allow spectators to see their Washington Nationals take on the Red Sox.  American League president Ban Johnson is expected in Washington tomorrow to discuss the team's plans to quickly replace the damaged stadium.  When completed, the new stadium should be able to seat 15,000 spectators, twice the capacity of the old, wooden stadium.

While construction is underway, the Nationals, after returning from training camp in Atlanta, will likely play their exhibition games at either Union League Park, Fifteenth and H Streets northeast, or on the White Lot.  Nationals Manager Jimmy McAleer told reporters at Nationals training camp in Atlanta that he would be opposed to playing at Union League Park if the new National Park is not ready by opening day.  Instead, he would support changing the team's home games in April to road games, start the season at Boston.  He then suggested starting home games in June.  We will certainly have to see if the new stadium can be constructed in time.

Link: Steel Stands to be Erected at Ball Park [The Washington Herald]
Link: Grandstands and Bleachers Go in Mysterious Fire at Ball Grounds [The Washington Times]
Link: Big Fire at Baseball Park is Talk of Nationals' Training Camp [The Washington Herald]