The Boston Braves drop from fifth place to seventh place, 22 games behind the leader (1926)

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1926, Art Devlin, Babe Pinelli, Boston Braves, Dave Bancroft, Jimmy Welsh, Val Picinich

It is Dave Bancroft’s 3rd year as manager. In 1926, the team is not heading in the right direction. The Boston Braves drop from fifth place to seventh place, 22 games behind the leader with a 66-86 record. Yikes! My oh my!

While they only lost 3 more games in 1926 than 1925, they managed to drop two places.

The Reds blasted the Braves pitching on July 22. They hit 11 runs in the second in a 13-3 game. And then 3 days later on the 25th, Cincinnati third baseman Babe Pinelli brushed up against Braves coach Art Devlin, who had been harassing him. Devlin took a swing at Pinelli and the benches cleared. The police get called in. Now that wasn’t a good thing. They ended up arresting the Braves outfielder Frank Wilson. Cops don’t appreciate getting punched.

It didn’t end there. The next inning Braves Jimmy Welsh collided with the Cincinnati catcher. Val Picinich took a swing at Welsh and got ejected. The benches cleared again. At least the Braves knew how to brawl.

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Not a club to belong to (1924)

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1907, 1924, Bill Cunningham, Billy Southworth, Brooklyn Robins, Casey Stengel, Dave Bancroft, Fred Tenney, Joe Oescher, New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

Is there a club for managers who loose 100 games? Probably not and if there is, you don’t hear a lot about it.

Loosing 100 games as a manager is devastating. Doing it twice in row is inviting disaster. Somehow Fred Tenney did it as the Boston manager in 1907. Fred Mitchell, however, couldn’t do it after 1922 – 23.

So, in came Dave Bancroft in 1924. How did he do? Lost 100!! Yep, he was 53-100 finishing eight and 40 games behind. Go figure.

Dave was known for being a pretty bright guy. He came to us from the Giants. Who did he bring with him? Well, a pretty eccentric outfielder. Casey Stengel was the man. Bill Cunningham came with Casey. Out went Billy Southworth and Joe Oeschger.

Nicknamed “Beauty” for his penchant for calling good pitches “beauties”, he played from 1915 to 1930, for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Robins.

Dave Bancroft proves a great player may not make a good manager (1924-1927)

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1891, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, April 20, Casey Stengel, Dave Bancroft, Hall of Fame

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

Dave Bancroft was a shortstop with the Braves (then in Boston) from 1924 – 27. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa on April 20, 1891. He was a righty in all ways.

Dave helped shape a theory that “great players don’t make good managers”. He was an amazing shortstop. He could also hit very well with 2004 career hits.

But no matter what, the Hall of Famer couldn’t make it as a manager in his four year run as a player/manager.  But we probably ought to be fair. The two managers before him couldn’t do it either for seven years. Nor could a host of managers after him for 20 years including Casey Stengel.

Dave Bancroft breaks a leg (May 4, 1919)

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1919, Dave Bancroft, May 4, New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies

The Giants play their first legal Sunday game at home on May 4, 1919‚ before 35‚000 fans‚ losing to the Phils 4-3.

More than 25‚000 turn out in Brooklyn the same day. By early June‚ the Giants will outdraw their 1918 attendance.

The Phillies’ Dave Bancroft (a Brave during the 1924-27 seasons)‚ 28‚ is carried off the field after breaking his right ankle while sliding into a base. He will be out of action until July 1‚ and next year he’ll be traded to the Giants‚ with whom he will have his best seasons en route to the Hall of Fame.

Dave Bancroft scores a go ahead run in the 13th (1920)

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Casey Stengel, Dave Bancroft, Philadelphia Phillies, Zack Wheat

In Brooklyn‚ the Phillies win in 13 innings on May 2, 1920‚ 4-3. Zack Wheat’s homer in the 9th ties the match‚ and Dave Bancroft (a Brave from 1924-27) scores the go ahead run in the 13th.

Casey Stengel’s sensational catch of Mitchell’s long fly prevents another tie.

Manager Dave Bancroft is knocked out (1927)

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1927, Boston Braves, Dave Bancroft, Earl Smith, June 18, Pittsburgh Pirates

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

Dave Bancroft was managing for his 4th season in 1927. It would be his last as a Brave. It was plenty rough with the Braves finishing in seventh place. They were 34 games behind with a 60-94 record.

It got so rough that in one game on June 18, he was knocked out by Pittsburgh catcher Earl Smith. They exchanged words. Who knows what Dave said to Earl but he decked him with a right to the jaw.

What started out as a stroll by home plate ended with Dave being carried off the field.

Dave Bancroft ruptures his appendix (July 1, 1924)

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1924, Boston Braves, Dave Bancroft, July 1, September 10, Short Stop

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

1924 wasn’t a great year for the Boston Braves (now know as the Atlanta Braves). With a 53-100 record, they would finish 8th in National League.

On July 1, the Braves’ player-manager Dave Bancroft ruptures his appendix. The future Hall of Fame short stop will not play again until September 10.

Some years are just like that. In baseball you can go from bad to worse. All you can do is persevere.

Dave Bancroft argues with his manager (May 20, 1920)

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1920, 1924, Chicago Cubs, Dave Bancroft, May 22, Philadelphia Phillies

English: 1921 Exhibits Baseball Card of Dave Bancroft of the New York Giants (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When Dave Bancroft was at Philadelphia‚ on May 22, 1920, the Cubs outslug the Phils‚ 15-8. Renie Martin pitches the entire game for the Cubs‚ with both teams collecting 16 hits.

Phils manager Gavvy Cravath lifts shortstop Dave Bancroft because of poor playing and the ensuing argument between the two almost comes to blows. Cy Williams has three hits‚ including a double a triple‚ and 4 runs scored.

He would come to the Braves in 1924. We could only hope he wouldn’t repeat this type of play.

Dave Bancroft selected for the Hall of Fame (January 31, 1971)

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1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1971, Boston Braves, Dave Bancroft, January 31

January 31, 1971 was a great day in Atlanta Braves history. The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selected 7 men for enshrinement: former players Jake Beckley‚ Joe Kelley‚ Harry Hooper‚ Rube Marquard‚ Chick Hafey‚ Dave Bancroft‚ and executive George Weiss.

Dave Bancroft was a Brave manager from 1924 to 1927. They finished 8th, 5th, 7th and 7th.

I’m thinking he got into the Hall of Fame for being a player not a manager.

“Bancroft is one of the greatest shortstops in the history of the game. He can go equally well to his right or left, has a great arm, and is a good hitter. In addition, he is pretty fast on his feet. The best hing about Bancroft is, he can think. He uses his brain. He is more than a great mechanical player. A player like Banny at short means everything to a ball club.” – Hughie Jennings

The Braves snag Billy Southworth (1921)

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1921, 1923, Bill Cunningham, Billy Southworth, Boston Braves, Casey Stengel, Dave Bancroft, Rabbit Maranville

Billy Southworth

In January of 1921, the Boston Braves finally snagged Billy Southworth — one of three Pirates traded to Boston, with $15,000, for Rabbit Maranville. Billy wasn’t happy to be moving from a winning team to a loser. But he wound up signing a contract a few days later and was named captain of the team.

Southworth hit .308 for Boston that year. He was limited to 43 games in ’22 due to a dislocated knee, but in 1923 he accumulated a career-high 611 at-bats and hit for a .319 average. After the season, however, he was part of a trade with the Giants. It was a multiplayer deal, with Casey Stengel coming to Boston along with Dave Bancroft and Bill Cunningham in exchange for Southworth and hurler Joe Oeschger.

John McGraw had coveted Southworth since 1921, according to New York Times sportswriter Arthur Daley. But he waited until Billy had demonstrated that he had recovered from his knee injury.

Dave Bancroft breaks his ankle (September 30, 1916)

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1916, Dave Bancroft, Philadelphia Athletics, September 30

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

Dave Bancroft was playing for Philadelphia in 1916. On September 30th, behind Eppa Rixey‚ the Phils take the morning game (yes, a morning game) with Brooklyn‚ 7-2‚ and led  the NL by a half game. Brooklyn took the nitecap‚ 6-1 behind Rube Marquard and they hammer Alexander for 11 hits including a homer by Casey Stengel.

The Phils also lose shortstop Dave Bancroft when he breaks his ankle running to first base. Bancroft had injured the leg earlier in the game while fielding a ball. Hard to imagine breaking an ankle running to first.

Tough break  for Dave. At least the season was almost over.

Manager Dave Bancroft is cold cocked (June 18, 1927)

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1927, Dave Bancroft, Earl Smith, June 18, Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates

Generally Baseball isn’t too violent. There are some notable exceptions. On June 18, 1927, continuing a feud that dates back to Smith’s days with the Braves‚ Pirates Catcher Earl Smith decks Braves manager Dave Bancroft with a right to the jaw after they exchange words in the 7th inning.

Bancroft is carried off the field. Smith draws a $500 fine and 30-day suspension. The Pirates score 3 in the 1st led by Paul Waner’s 2-run triple en route to a 7-4 win. Waner extends his hitting streak to 21 games and 13 straight games with extra base hits. He’ll have a pair of doubles the next day.

So I wonder if Smith thought it was worth it. For someone who loves to play, probably not. On the up side, baseball officials have always been careful to “punish” violence very aggressively. Not like hockey I think.