12 Wednesday Apr 2017
Posted in Boston Rustlers (1911 - 1911)
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On June 4, 1911, in a 26-3 win over the Braves at Palace of the Fans in Cincinnati, thirteen Reds players cross home plate.
It is the highest number of different players from one team to score in a single game in major league history.
Now that is not something to be known for. Baseball can produce some embarrassing results. It is a long season. Always!
24 Friday Mar 2017
Posted in Boston Rustlers (1911 - 1911)
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The third of five children, Walter James Vincent Maranville (Rabbit) was born on November 11, 1891, in Springfield, Massachusetts. His mother was Irish but his father and the Maranville name were French. Walter (then known as “Stumpy” or “Bunty”) attended the Charles Street and Chestnut Street grammar schools and played catcher during his one year at Technical High.
His father, a police officer, allowed him to leave school if he apprenticed for a trade, so at age 15 he quit to become a pipe fitter and tinsmith. To his father’s dismay, Walter devoted less attention to his apprenticeship than he did to baseball. He was playing shortstop for a semipro team in 1911 when Tommy Dowd, manager of the New Bedford Whalers of the New England League, signed him to a contract for $125 per month.
The 19-year-old shortstop batted .227 and committed 61 errors in 117 games. Not sure if that was worth the $125 a month or not.
04 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present), Boston Beaneaters (1883 - 1906), Boston Bees (1936 - 1940), Boston Braves (1912 - 1935), Boston Braves (1941 - 1952), Boston Doves (1907 - 1910), Boston Red Caps (1876 - 1882), Boston Red Stockings (1871 - 1875), Boston Rustlers (1911 - 1911), Milwaukee Braves (1953 - 1965)
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Andruw Jones, Bobby Lowe, Chipper Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Herman Long, Joe Torre, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn
Atlanta Braves Logo
How would you fill out the all time roster for a team with as much talent as the Braves have had since 1871? Not easy. Recently Nick Selbe gave it a shot.
Here is his list.
Year founded: 1871
1966-present: Atlanta Braves
1953-1965: Milwaukee Braves
1936-1940: Boston Bees
1912-1935, 1941-1952: Boston Braves
1911: Boston Rustlers
1907-1910: Boston Doves
1883-1906: Boston Beaneaters
1876-1882: Boston Red Caps
1871-1875: Boston Red Stockings
Total WAR: 819.9
C: Joe Torre (1960-1968; 33.3)
1B: Dale Murphy (1976-1990; 46.9)
2B: Bobby Lowe (1890-1901; 19.1)
3B: Eddie Mathews (1952-1966; 94.4)
SS: Herman Long (1890-1902; 35.4)
OF: Hank Aaron (1954-1974; 142.1)
OF: Chipper Jones (1993-2012; 85.0)
OF: Andruw Jones (1996-2007; 61.0)
SP: Kid Nichols (1890-1901; 108.5)
SP: Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1964; 92.0)
SP: Phil Niekro (1964-1983, 1987; 90.0)
RP: Craig Kimbrel (2010-2014; 12.2)
Making the all-time roster for MLB’s oldest continually running franchise was no small task. To make room for the three outfielders, we shifted Dale Murphy to first base, despite his primarily playing the outfield. Murphy made 205 appearances at first base in his first two big league seasons.
Though none of them made the final cut, the trio of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine deserve to be mentioned. As teammates from 1993-2002, they combined for a 453-224 record, with 4,616 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA.
09 Thursday Jul 2015
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1911, 1914, 1916, 1923, 1929, 1930, August 24, Boston Braves, Boston Rustlers, George Davis, Hank Gowdy, No Hitter, Tom Hughes
Hank Gowdy
Hank Gowdy came to the Braves in 1911 and played through 1923 and again in 29 to 30. He was a great catcher. Let’s just call him the “other Hank” but he is a stand out all on his own. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 24, 1889. He passed away on August 1, 1966.
What a thrill it had to be for him to play for the Miracle Braves. He was the star of the stunning October sweep of the highly favored Philadelphia Athletics.
Gowdy was the starting catcher for only the 1914 to 1916 seasons. He played with the club in all but 3 of his 17 seasons.
He caught a few no-hitters. A great experience for any catcher. He caught one by George Davis in 1914 (the Miracle year) and for Tom Hughes in 1916.
11 Wednesday Feb 2015
Fred Tenney
One of the partners in the Braves was James Gaffney. He had political ties with the Tammany Hall regime. That was in New York. The Braves were in Boston then. In 1912 they became the Boston Braves. Politicians who were affiliated with Tammany Hall were often referred to as the “braves” because the Tammany Society was actually named after a Deleware Indian chief. That was the year a profile of an Indian chief replaced the old English B on the team’s uniform jerseys.
Fred Tenney, the manager in 1911, still had a year on his contract. In baseball that seems to be an invitation to disaster. The team had a new nickname. The team had new uniforms. Why not get a new manager then? So, Johnny Kling came on the scene. He had been a pretty good man with the tools of ignorance (a catcher). He came to us from the Cubs and was name the replacement for Tenney. He actually was traded to us as a player and then got promoted. Well, results weren’t forthcoming. We eneded up 52-101 and finished eight, 52 games behind.
So, what is in a name huh?
04 Thursday Dec 2014
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I wouldn’t think there would be a controversy on baseball team names. You would think the history would be clear. But amazingly enough, for 1876 to 1882, some still called them the Red Stockings, some called them the Red Caps and others the Braves during those years.
The Braves franchise began in 1876 in Boston, moved to a Milwaukee in 1953, and came to a stop in Atlanta in 1966. Over the course of a century-plus they have seen three cities and many different official names.
So, I will use the following as the “official” reference but I could be wrong. 🙂
02 Thursday Oct 2014
Posted in Boston Rustlers (1911 - 1911)
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When you are President of the club you get to make the decisions. So, William Russell had had enough of Fred Lake and bought out his contract. Fred lasted one year.
His successor would fare no better. Maybe they needed a new President. None the less, Russell went to a familiar name to manage the team in 1911. Fred Tenney was brought on board. The team was also given a new name, the Rustlers. The name lasted just a year as well.
So, how did Fred do? 44-107. Finished eighth. 54 games behind.
But we ought to be fair to Fred. When offered the job, he turned it down. He had a very bad experience doing the same job in 1905-07.
His assessment. The club was “rotten”. And, no one argued. But Russell persuaded him to take the job anyway. He offered him some stock in the team. He also let him make some changes. Not good enough I guess.
30 Tuesday Sep 2014
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1894, 1907, 1911, Frank Selee, Fred Tenney, July 3, November 26
Fred Tenney
Fred Tenney played for the Braves when they were know as the Beaneaters, Doves and Rustlers (1894-1907, 1911).
He was a first baseman, outfielder, catcher and pitcher. Clearly very versatile.
He was born in Georgetown, Massachusetts on November 26, 1871 and passed away on July 3, 1952.
He batted and threw as a lefty.
He was truly one of the pioneers in the early years of the game. He was also an amazing first baseman. The Beaneaters great manager, Frank Selee had already won 3 pennants when he spotted Fred. In that day, he was a pretty rare prospect as a left handed catcher.
But Selee could spot talent and Tenney would help him win two more pennants and a place in history as the greatest team in the 1890’s.
