Fascinating 1922 Tidbits

Fascinating 1922 Tibits

Here are some interesting happenings from the 1922 season:

PERFECT GAME…for the first time since 1908, a perfect game was hurled when Charles Robertson of the Chicago White Sox did so against the Detroit Tigers on April 30.

ST. LOUIS IS HAPPY…to the city of St. Louis goes the distinction of having the best player in each League. Sisler’s .420 batting average tied the American League record set by Ty Cobb in 1911. Sisler also led the League in stolen bases, runs scored and hits. Hornsby hit over .400, the first time this feat occurred in the National League since 1899. Hornsby won the NL honors in hits, total bases and RBI’s. Most importantly, his 42 home runs was best among all 1922 hitters.

NEW AWARD…the American League created a new award in 1922 to honor the League’s Most Valuable Player. George Sisler won over second place finisher pitcher Eddie Rommell. The award criteria included the phrase “...the baseball player who is of the greatest all-around service to his club.” Interestingly, this nod to upstanding character would prevent Babe Ruth from winning the award, except once, until this criteria was dropped in 1929.

THE OLD UMP…After 32 years in the National League, umpire Bob Emslie was appointed special advisor and was only used in emergency cases. Emslie started as a pitcher in 1882, blew out his arm in 1887, converted to an umpire in the International League, and graduated to the National League in 1890.

GONE, GONE AND GONE AGAIN…is the fate of Washington Senators pitcher George Mogridge who gave up 3 consecutive home runs in one inning to Walker, Perkins and Miller of the Athletics after two were out on May 2. This had only happened in the American League twice before dating back to 1894.

CLUTCH HITTER…Pat Collins, St. Louis Browns catcher, hit a home run while asked to pinch hit on two occasions.

FUMBLE FINGERS…Harvey McClellan, Chi-Sox shortstop, made 3 errors in the 8th inning of the June 14 game against the Athletics.

THE AL WOULD HAVE SET AN NL RECORD…American League teams made 7 triple plays, which although not a record in their own league, would have set an All-Time Season Record for the National League.

WHERE DID THE STRIKE OUTS GO…at Boston on June 30, neither Robbins pitcher Cadore or Braves pitcher Fillingim recorded a strikeout or issued a base on balls in their 9-inning complete games.

RUNS FOR THE RECORD BOOKS…when the Cubs beat the Phillies 26-23 on August 25 it was the biggest score in a baseball game of modern times.

FIRST WORLD SERIES RING...The Giants defeated the NY Yankees 4-0-1 and Giants players received first-ever World Series rings consisting of a large clear center stone and gold sides with champion lettering, crossed bats, ball and glove.

HE TRIPLED A TRIPLE…William “Baby Doll” Jacobson of the Browns made three triples in one game on September 9.