Friday, May 25, 2007

April 16th, 1934 - Profile


Commissioner Landis

Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was in his 15th season as Commissioner (he would serve 25) in 1934. His unusual name comes from the Civil War battle in which his father was wounded. Landis was a federal judge who presided over several important cases, most notably one of the earliest involving baseball's status under federal antitrust laws, when the Federal League sued the Major Leagues for blocking access to MLB players. More notoriously, Landis presided over the trial of the African American boxer Jack Johnson - a shameful ordeal beyond the purview of this blog (see here for more on this episode).

Appointed as baseball's first sole commissioner by the owners after the "Black Sox" scandal of 1919 to restore integrity to baseball, Landis did them one better, ruling imperiously over the game in a manner never seen before or since. Approached by the owners to head what they proposed as a multi-member commission to oversee the game, Landis informed them that he would only accept on the condition that he be the sole member and given absolute control of all aspects of the game. It is a sign of the dire straights the game was in at that point that the owners accepted his terms.

Landis dealt harshly with both players and owners whose conduct he deemed "not in the best interests" of baseball. For example, although he barred eight of the 1919 White Sox from baseball for their role in fixing the World Series, he also forced White Sox owner Charlie Comiskey to clean up the pecuniary practices that indirectly led to the scandal by severely underpaying his players.

Landis used his power in ways that helped the game by cleaning up the gambling, brawling, drinking and other unsavory practices that plagued baseball in the first quarter of the century. He was also, however, principally responsible for maintaining baseball's color barrier, which fell soon after he left office.

Interestingly, Landis championed the minor leagues, and opposed Major League owners' efforts to control them via the "farm system." At the same time, however, he opposed efforts of minor leagues, such as the Pacific Coast League, to reposition themselves as new major leagues in addition to the AL and NL. These positions can arguably be reconciled by Landis's strong sense of integrity of the game of baseball and his innate conservatism.

Landis's contributions to the game are significant. Baseball historian Bill James credits Landis rather than Ruth with saving baseball after the Black Sox scandal ('Baseball in 1920 was not threatened by a lack of popularity. Baseball in 1920 was threatened by a lack of honesty. The man who saved baseball from that threat was not Ruth, but...Landis"). He came into baseball at a time when its existence was precarious and left it indisputably as America's past time. The judgment in his Wikidpedia entry that Landis was the right person at the right time for the job, but who stayed too long, seems about right.

www.dickperez.com

April 15th, 1934 - The 1934 St. Louis Browns

Before they left St. Louis to become the Baltimore Orioles, the Browns competed with the Washington Senators for the cellar in the American League. In 1934, St. Louis finished 6th, edging out the Senators by only a single game, with a record of 67-85. They were managed by former Cardinal great Roger Hornsby, who would also get to bat 23 times in the season. At 38, Hornsby was arguably still the best player on the team. Only Sam West (of) had a better than average year among St. Louis hitters. The Browns are saved only by a starting pitching rotation consistently better than average, with Bobo Newsom the best. The bullpen is solid, if unspectacular. This is the first of Hornsby's four seasons at the helm. It's also his best. The Browns will alternate between 7th and 8th place for the rest of the decade.

April 14th, 1934 - The 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates


The 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates finished just under .500 at 74-76, in fifth place. Paul Waner (of) and Arky Vaughan (ss) were the team's best hitters that year. Larry French is a strong starter and Waite Hoyt is among the best relief pitchers in the game. Third baseman Pie Traynor will take over as manager during the season and continue to manage the Pirates for the rest of the decade, during which they'll improve and make a run at the pennant in 1938, falling just two games back of the Cubs.

April 13th, 1934 - Transaction

Dodgers Deal McManus to Braves
Boston (NL) has purchased the contract of third baseman Marty McManus from the Brooklyn Dodgers for an undisclosed sum. McManus never actually played for Brooklyn, having been signed as a free agent by them in January. Last season McManus played for the Red Sox, where he hit .284 in 106 games. McManus has previously played for St. Louis (AL) and Detroit.