Lynch: The Cubs, the Phillies, and their comic opera of 1922

From SABR member Mike Lynch at The National Pastime Museum on November 2, 2015:

Going into their game against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 25, 1922, the Chicago Cubs were still within sniffing distance of first place, sitting only six games behind the front-running New York Giants and a game and a half behind the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. At the close of play on August 24, the Cubs ranked fourth in the National League with 595 runs and averaged 4.9 a game, but only the Phillies and Boston Braves allowed more runs than Chicago’s 596.

At 66–53, the Cubs were either incredibly lucky or playing over their heads. The Phillies were neither, having scored just 512 runs while allowing a league-worst 652, an average of 5.8 per game. Needless to say their seventh-place standing and 28-game deficit on the strength of a 40–71 record surprised no one.

Phillies skipper Kaiser Wilhelm sent Jimmy Ring to the hill for the first of a three-game set at Cubs Park. Ring was Philly’s ace by virtue of leading the team in wins (12), innings (249 1/3), and starts (33); unfortunately he also paced the senior circuit in walks (103), wild pitches (11), and home runs allowed with 19. And he was coming off a stint in which he tossed 13 1/3 innings in a 3–2 loss to the Cardinals on August 18.

Read the full article here: http://www.thenationalpastimemuseum.com/article/cubs-phils-and-their-comic-opera-1922



Originally published: November 2, 2015. Last Updated: November 2, 2015.