Boston Beaneaters and Frank Selee finish fifth (1895)

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1895, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, July 3, July 8, June 11

Frank Selee was in his 6th year as manager. He clearly was on a slide in 1895 having finished 1st in 1893, 3rd in 1894 and now 5th in 1895. The Beaneaters ended up 16 and 1/2 games out of 1st place with a 71-60 record. Ouch!

This is the first year that the team would have spring training in the south. While not in Florida yet, Columbia, South Carolina was the spring home. The team left SC feeling they could win the pennant again. Misplaced optimism for sure.

The first half of the season did see them in contention. They actually moved past Pittsburgh and into 1st by beating Louisville on June 11 by a score of 11-0. They then dropped out of the lead on July 3. That was a pretty important time.  The race was a toss up between Boston, Baltimore, Chicago and Pittsburgh. As of July 8, only one game separated the four teams.

A lot would go downhill from there.

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

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Frank Selee is the class of the league (1892)

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1892, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, Harry Stanly, Jack Stivvetts, John Clarkson, Kid Nichols

Frank Selee moved into his third season in 1892. Great things were ahead for him. The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had an amazing 102-48 record, finishing first, 8 1/2 games ahead. This may have been the greatest season in franchise history.

Kid Nichols

The National League expanded to 12 teams that year. They also adopted a split-season 154 game format. This played to the Beaneaters formidable strengths. The team was so good, it could release the pitching great, John Clarkson, at mid season.

With Kid Nichols, Harry Stanly, and a newcomer, Jack Stivvetts (picked up from the defunct American Association), the pitching staff rocked the league. They combined for 92 victories, 35 apiece for Stivetts and Nichols.

Johnny Evers is MVP for the 1914 World Series Champions

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1881, 1914, 1946, 1947, Frank Selee, Hall of Fame, Johnny Evers, July 21, March 28, MVP, Troy NY

Johnny Evers

John Joseph Evers was born on July 21, 1881 and was a second baseman and manager. He played from 1902 through 1917 for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies. He also appeared in one game apiece for the Chicago White Sox and Braves while coaching them in 1922 and 1929, respectively.

Evers was born in Troy, New York. After playing for the local minor league baseball team for one season, Frank Selee, manager of the Cubs, purchased Evers’s contract and soon made him his starting second baseman. Evers helped lead the Cubs to four National League pennants, including two World Series championships. The Cubs traded Evers to the Braves in 1914. That season, Evers led the Braves to victory in the World Series, and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Evers continued to play for the Braves and Phillies through 1917. He then became a coach, scout, manager, and general manager in his later career.

Known as one of the smartest ballplayers in MLB, Evers also had a surly temper that he took out on umpires. Evers was a part of a great double-play combination with Joe Tinker and Frank Chance, which was immortalized as “Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance” in the poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon”. Evers was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946.

Evers passed away on March 28, 1947.

 

Good enough (1898)

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1892, 1898, 1993, Bobby Cox, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee with the Boston Beaneaters – 1898

Being good enough in baseball is what it is about some days. The 1898 Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) weren’t as good as they were in the previous season percentage wise. They ended up 6 games ahead to win the pennant. Frank Selee continuted to be a mastermind as the manager. Their record was 102-47.

So, they were good enough. They won 9 more games than the year before. Their winning percentage was .685 and a little lower than the year before.

Part of this is about statistics. This was the year that the National League expanded to the 154 game schedule. 102 wins was VERY good. It tied the 1892 pennant winners for a record. It stood until Bobby Cox and the Braves won 104 (of 162) in 1993.

Frank in his second year (1891)

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1891, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

In 1891 during Frank Selee’s second year as manager, the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) won the pennant. They finished first with a record of 87-51 and 3 1/2 games ahead. This would begin a decade of amazing achievements for them. It was unequaled by very few teams over the years.

It began with one of the most hotly disputed pennants in baseball history in 1891. It wasn’t formally decided until Thanksgiving. In September and October, the Beaneaters won 23 of 30 games. This included 18 in a row. This allowed them to take the pennant from Chicago.

Frank Selee clearly had a command on how to win.

Chaos in Boston (1904)

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1904, Al Buckenberger, Arthur Soden, Bill Dinneen, Boston Beaneaters, Complete Games, Frank Selee, James Billings, William Conant

Al Buckenberger

Things were in chaos in 1904 for the Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves). They brought Al Buckenberger back for a 3rd season as manager after Frank Selee left. This was the worst season in its 29 year history. They finished seventh, 51 games the leader with a 55-98 record. Pretty miserable for sure. One of the owners, James Billings sold out to Arthur Soden and William Conant.

The Beaneaters were made to look even worse (hard to imagine) in Boston because the American League Pilgrams repeated as champions. A former star from the Beaneaters, Bill Dinneen, pitched an amazing record setting 37 consecutive complete games. Imagine that. He also became a hero by putting out a hotel fire.

The slip and a tragedy for Charlie Bennett (1894)

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1894, Boston Beaneaters, Charlie Bennett, Frank Selee, January 9, South End Grounds

The slip began. It wasn’t a huge slide, but the Boston Beaneaters (now known as the Atlanta Braves) dropped to third in 1894. They had won the pennant the year before. They ended up 83-49 and eight games behind under Frank Selee as the manager that year. Frank Selee served as manager from 1890 to 1901.

Charlie Bennett

They had been favored to win in 1894. Not in the cards at all though. It ended up being a very tragic season. It started out with a stunning accident to Charlie Bennett. He was a very good catcher.

He lost both legs on January 9th when he fell under the wheels of a train in Kansas. The loss set the tone for a very bad year for the Braves. Bennett returned each year to his home in Detroit for the off-season, and also traveled with his dog to Williamsburg, Kansas, for extended hunting trips. In 1894, Bennett was joined on his annual hunting trip by pitcher John Clarkson. On January 10, 1894, Bennett’s legs were crushed by a Santa Fe Railroad passenger train in Wellsville, Kansas, while traveling from Kansas City to Williamsburg.

Bennett stepped off the train to talk to an old friend who lived in Kansas and whom Bennett had arranged to greet when the train stopped at Wellsville. It was raining, and the platform was wet. When the train started moving, Bennett “swung around to catch the railing,” but his foot slipped, and his left foot went over the rail. Bennett pushed his right leg against the rail to push himself back, but it also slipped and went over the track. The train’s wheels ran over his left foot and right leg at the knee.

That evening, doctors at the North Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa, Kansas, amputated Bennett’s left leg just above the ankle and his right leg just above the knee. In June 1894, he was fitted with artificial limbs, but his baseball career was over. In August 1894, a benefit to raise money for Bennett was held at Boston’s South End Grounds; the event included a baseball game between the Boston team and a team of collegiate players as well as foot races and other attractions. The boxing champion Gentleman Jim Corbett attended and briefly played in left field with the Boston team. The benefit was attended by nearly 9,000 people and raised $6,000 for Bennett. Bennett walked to home plate during the event, aided by crutches and artificial limbs, and bowed to the crowd “until the grounds fairly shook with cheers.”

Amazing year for Frank Selee with a .705 record (1897)

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1897, 1993, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

Finally!! In Frank Selee‘s 8th season (1897) as manager, the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) had the best record in the franchise history at that time. They finished first, 93-39 and 2 games ahead. Frank was able to get the best out of them like he did earlier in his career.

How good would this record be in the modern era? A team today would have to win 115 games out of the current 162 game schedule. It was a .705 percentage record.

In 1993, the Braves had a .642 record which brought them 104 wins.

This was an amazing year for sure!!

Was it the name? (1896)

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1896, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

Maybe it was the name. The Beaneaters. It was a disappointing year for the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) in 1896. The finished fourth with a 74-57 overall record. They were 17 games behind. They had an infusion of talent that would help them over the next few years but not in 1896 though. Frank Selee, the manager, would certainly experience it all during his tenure.

Frank Selee served as manager from 1890 to 1901.

It was also the year that Republican William McKinley would defeat William Jennings Bryan for President. He was the last veteran of the War Between the States to be elected for President.

Only second with a 95-57 record? (1899)

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1899, Bill Dinneen, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, Kid Nichols, Vic Willis

The Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters) finished second in 1899. Hard to imagine with a 95-57 record. Sure enough though, they were 8 games behind Brooklyn in Frank Selee’s 10th year as manager.

If they had won, it would have been three consecutive years as champions. They had the best pitching that season. They also led the league in defense.

Kid Nichols, the star pitcher, began to show some wear and tear. He went 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA. He got help that season though from Vic Willis who was 10-17 (4.19 ERA). Bill Dinneen led the pack with a 20-14 season and a 3.12 ERA.

Brooklyn had a very strong team though. Baltimore owner Harry B. Von der Horst had bought control of the team. He transferred many of his best players to Brooklyn.

Things didn’t start well for the Beaneaters (1900)

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1900, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, January 19, Marty Bergen

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had seen some pretty good days under Manager Frank Selee but 1900 brought a continued decline under his leadership. They ended up 66-72, 17 games behind in fourth place. Closer to last than third.

They year started out on a bad note. In 1899, several players didn’t like how moody catcher Marty Bergen was. So much so, they said they wouldn’t play with him next year. I guess no one really knew how troubled he was. On January 19, Marty’s father discovered how bad it was. Bergen used a razor and ax to kill his wife, three year old son, new born daughter and himself.

Things did not start well and did not finish well.

Not always as it seems (1890)

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1890, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) finished fifth in 1890, 12 games behind with a 76-57 record.

The year before they had finished second. It was clearly a disappointing year for first year manager Frank Selee.

It was however, a prelude to one of the most prosperous periods in the franchise history.

It was a  year of  “labor” problems. The players got very upset with the owners. . They started their own league. Imagine that happening today. Hard to imagine for sure. As a result, the Beaneaters were decimated.

But, things are not always as it first appears. Success was just right around the corner.

New Management for the Beaneaters (1902)

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1902, Al Buckenberger, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee

Al Buckenberger

After 12 seasons as coach of the Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee was out. Al Buckenberger was the new man. In his first year, 1902, he had a 73-64 record finishing third. Only 29 games behind the leader. It was an improvement however.

Frank’s departure was not popular at all. Many felt he was the scapegoat for the team’s owners. Sound familiar?

Al had managed both in Pittsburgh and St. Louis but had been in the minors before getting the call. He was 41 but had been managing since he was 23. A new era began.

Fred Tenney (1894-1907, 1911)

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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.

Wasn’t that lovely? (1901)

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1901, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Somersets, Frank Selee

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

1901 was Frank Selee’s 12th and last year as manager. This also marked what has become known as the modern era of baseball. The American League came onto the scene. Of course, all was not friendly. It did however provide the basic structure of baseball as we know it today.

The Boston Beaneaters (the Braves) finished fifth that year. Their record was an even 69-69. They were 20 1/2 games behind.

This year they also had some competition for Boston fans. The cities new American League team was the Somersets. Wasn’t that lovely? Beaneaters and Somersets.

Things didn’t start well (1900)

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1899, 1900, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, January 19, Marty Bergen

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had seen some pretty good days under Manager Frank Selee but 1900 brought a continued decline under his leadership. They ended up 66-72, 17 games behind in fourth place. Closer to last than third.

They year started out on a bad note. In 1899, several players didn’t like how moody catcher Marty Bergen was. So much so, they said they wouldn’t play with him next year. I guess no one really knew how troubled he was. On January 19, Marty’s father discovered how bad it was. Bergen used a razor and ax to kill his wife, three year old son, new born daughter and himself.

Things did not start well and did not finish well.