Virtual Yankees Win First World Series Title

A rocky start for the Highlanders to kick off the decade

1910

Preseason prediction

The Highlanders are expected to finish .500 on the season — after a decade of mediocrity, they begin the next one in the same place. Players of note include outfielder Birdie Cree who exploded onto the scene in 1909, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. ‘Slow’ Joe Doyle was the other player OOTP highlighted in its preseason report. In reality, good ol’ Joe’s career would end in 1909.

The Highlanders did end Spring Training in first place. For what it’s worth.

Regular season

Well, the Highlanders quickly found themselves out of the playoff picture thanks to a brutal showing from their pitching staff. New York was second-to-last in team ERA (3.68) and walks allowed (539) and dead last in opponents’ batting average (.272).

New York’s offense was middle of the road, but without any star pitchers, New York continues to falter in the American League. This marks the third straight season the Highlanders finished under .500.

In reality, New York finished second in the AL, albeit 14.5 games behind the 102-win Philadelphia Athletics.

Final record: 70-84

Performances of note

At the plate, Cree yet again carried New York. He led the team in OPS (.870), RBI (78) and WAR (7.5). Hal Chase also had a bounce-back season. After mustering a .225 average in 1909, he posted a .295/.341/.378 slash line. Leading New York with a whopping five home runs (love the Deadball Era).

On the mount, Russ Ford was New York’s best pitcher, although virtual Ford was way worse than real-life Ford, who went 26-6 with a 1.65 ERA. In our OOTP sim, Ford posted a 3+ERA and led the team in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.

1911

1910: 70-84

Preseason Prediction

OOTP expects New York to finally right the ship with an 81-73 record and a second-place finish. Again, this era of “Yankees” history isn’t one most fans will discuss, as the organization doesn’t turn into a juggernaut until the 1920s, but this would be one of the organization’s best seasons to date.

Veteran third baseman Frank LaPorte, outfielder Birdie Kree and pitcher Russ Ford were the players of note prior to the 1911 campaign.

Regular season

Another brutal season for New York. There’s no team aspect to necessarily highlight in a 65-win season. One player was able to make history, however.

Final record: 65-89

Performances of note

Birdie Cree was able to take home the first AL Batting Title in Highlanders (Yankees) history! He hit an otherworldly .388 and led the league in on-base percentage (.472). Cree fell behind Doc Miller of the Boston Braves, who took the MLB crown with a .395 average. Cree ended in the top three of MVP voting.

1912

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

Preseason prediction

This decade has gone horribly wrong for New York thus far and OOTP’s preseason prediction report sees another brutal season for the Highlanders, with a 66-88 record. To no one’s surprise, Cree was the only player of note.

Regular season

The New York Highlanders were the worst team in Major League Baseball in 1913.

Final record: 51-103

Performances of note

I have standards. No players deserve recognition after this season. That was rough.

The Yankees take one step forward and two steps back

1913

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

Preseason prediction

Expectations remain low for the newly-named New York Yankees. Yes! After a decade as the Highlanders, New York officially changed the team name to the Yankees in 1913. Hopefully, it can help change the fortunes of the struggling franchise.

OOTP expects another 60-win season, and the only player of note is scrappy outfielder Birdie Cree. He looks to be the first star Yankee to be stuck on bad teams. Fun fact: in reality, Cree took a fastball to the head from Walter Johnson — he would be knocked unconscious but would suit up the next day.

Regular season

The Yankees had a 29-win improvement from the previous season. Frankly, it was a major surprise considering how the team has performed in recent years. Cree was yet again one of the best offensive players in the American League. He drove in 94 runs, the fourth-best mark in the AL.

Final record: 80-74

Performances of note

Aside from Cree, no other Yankees hitter was very effective. No players who reached the qualified plate appearances threshold hit above .270.

The pitching staff was led by Al Schulz, a 24-year-old who made his big league debut in 1912. Schulz posted an 18-14 record with a 2.89 ERA. He also led the team with 311.1 innings pitched. Solid starter Russ Ford also made his presence felt during the year.

Although managers handled pitchers completely differently than they do today, Yankees reliever Red Hoff won the “Reliever of the Year Award.”

In reality, Hoff only threw 83 career innings, so this performance was out of left field to say the least.

1914

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

Preseason prediction

OOTP thinks 1913 was a fluke as the Yankees are expected to…yup, you guessed it, finish well below .500. New York had no notable position players or pitchers. Also, New York hasn’t had a notable prospect in a while, something the franchise had plenty of in the previous decade.

Regular season

Once again, OOTP’s preseason prediction was right on the money. The lowly Yankees finished with the third-worst record in the entire league. Name an offensive category and the Yankees were likely last in the American League. The team’s pitching wasn’t much better. At this point, the franchise is just awaiting the arrival of Babe Ruth.

Final record: 56-98

Performances of note

With a team as dreadful as the 1914 OOTP Yankees, the only performance of note is catcher Jeff Sweeney, who broke the MLB record for most strikeouts in a season (160) and hit a putrid .156 batting average in 124 games. Hard to believe that even in 1914 there wasn’t a better option on the roster. That may go down as one of the worst seasons in the history of baseball.

1915

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

1914: 56-98

Preseason prediction

Another 60-win season incoming if OOTP predicts correctly again. Also, it’s been two years since a Yankee was highlighted. Frankly, this virtual world has been brutal to see play out so far.

Regular season

By the end of May, New York was eight games over .500 and sat atop the American League. Unfortunately, the team would fade as the season wore on and finished a few games under .500. Still, this is a positive season for the franchise. New York just needs to find its groove. Let’s dive into some of the performances of the year.

Final record: 73-80

Performances of note

Birdie Cree is probably the best player in franchise history to this point. He posted another .300 season and his career numbers are pretty impressive. This will be Cree’s last season in pinstripes, but in eight seasons with the Yankees, he tallied 1103 hits and a .325/.381/.410 slash line. However, a new star emerged: Wally Pipp. While in reality his fame is well-documented for allowing Lou Gehrig to hold down first base, he could hold off the Iron Horse if health is on his side.

In his first big league season, Pipp drove in 89 runs with a .282 batting average at first base.

On the mound, Ray Fisher posted his third straight season with a sub-3 ERA. Fishers’ OOTP numbers look pretty similar to reality as well. Fisher was a reliable arm during the 1910s for New York.

The Yankees finally broke through and it may be the start of something special.

1916

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

1914: 56-98

1915: 73-80

Preseason prediction

OOTP sees the Yankees with a finish just above .500, but again still well behind the elite teams of the American League. And, for some reason, 39-year-old relief pitcher Bill Donovan was the sole Yankees player of note.

Regular season

The Yankees were a damn good baseball team in 1916. They finished tied for second in the American League, but the Chicago White Sox were on another level, winning 111 games on the year. The organization has finally found success on the mound. No Yankees starting pitcher had an ERA over 3.00 and helped carry a mediocre-at-best offense.

Final record: 88-66

Performances of note

The highlights of the season revolve around the mound. In his first full season in New York, Bob Shawkey posted a 2.64 ERA with a 21-12 record. Shawkey played a key role throughout the next two decades for New York in real life.

Urban Shocker, who spent a handful of years in the beginning and end of his career with the Yankees, was also tremendous to end the season. In 13 starts he posted a 1.91 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP.

Former Yankees outfielder Willie Keeler was the first Yankee to enter the Hall of Fame, and his No. 62 was also retired (I don’t believe Keeler wore a number in his pro career in reality). Keeler managed 3070 hits during his career and held a .338 lifetime average.

1917

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

1914: 56-98

1915: 73-80

1916: 88-66

Preseason prediction

OOTP predicted New York to finish just above .500. In his second season in pinstripes, former MVP second baseman Frank Baker was a player of note alongside pitcher Ray Fisher, trying to make it five seasons in a row with a sub-3.00 ERA.

Regular season

The Yankees win the pennant! The Yankees win the pennant! For the first time in franchise history, New York will head to the World Series. The team finished with a 98-56 record and will face the Rogers Hornsby-led St. Louis Cardinals. What a stunning season! The virtual Yankees are way ahead of their time, as in reality, New York won its first pennant in 1921

Final record: 98-56

World Series

Game 1

A fabulous pitchers’ duel between Neal Brady (who pitched just four games for New York in real-life) and Bill Doak would see the game tied at zeros entering the ninth inning.

On the first pitch of the ninth, Jack Smith clobbered a home run to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, which felt insurmountable for the cold New York bats.

However, New York would come back to tie it up at one after a leadoff single from long-time infielder Roger Peckinpaugh who would be singled home by New York’s first postseason hero, Wally Pipp.

After both pitchers escaped jams in the 10th inning, the Cards finally broke Brady after 10.2 innings of 1-run ball. A single from Hornsby followed by a double from Walton Cruise and another hit by Dots Miller gave St. Louis a two-run lead.

The Yankees would drop the first game at home, 3-1. (STL 1-0)

Game 2

St. Louis would jump on Yankees starter Urban Shocker early (3.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER), but Ray Fisher shut the door in four innings of relief as the Yankees offense clawed back to tie the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning. We were in for another classic ballgame.

Unfortunately, New York’s bats went cold and reliever George Mogridge gave up a pair of runs in the 10th and New York would lose in extras on back-to-back nights. Absolutely brutal.

Final score: 7-5. (STL 2-0)

Game 3

This World Series is turning into a sick joke for the Yankees. New York came out hot, scoring two runs in the top of the first and holding a 5-1 leading in the eighth inning.

In the ninth inning, with the Yankees trailing 5-3, Yankees manager Frank Selee inexplicably kept starting pitcher Slim Love (what a fantastic name) in the game. Love would allow three runs to cross the plate.

New York would lose its third straight game in walk-off fashion.

Final score 6-5. (STL 3-0)

Game 4

The Cardinals put the Yankees out of their misery, ending the series in a four-game sweep. New York’s Neal Brady wouldn’t be able to recreate his Game 1 magic as St. Louis managed a four-run fifth inning. The Yankees kept fighting, and would get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but would fall just short.

Final score: 6-4. (STL 4-0)

Performances of note

The Game 1 starter for the Yankees Neal Brady pitched in one game during the regular season. Yes. One freakin’ game. This is when OOTP’s algorithm can lead to a few laughs.

Still, Brady was fantastic in the opening contest. He gave up three runs in 10.2 innings, and if New York provided even a semblance of run support, Brady could have walked away with a victory.

At the plate, Hugh High was New York’s best bat. He hit  .375 with four RBI in 16 at-bats in the series. Veteran second baseman Frank Baker also came through with four RBI during the series.

New York Yankees: One-time World Series Champions.

1918

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

1914: 56-98

1915: 73-80

1916: 88-66

1917: 98-56

Preseason prediction

Expectations for New York remain high but not at the elite level. The program expects the Yanks to finish 10 games above .500 but well out of the pennant race. No players of note were listed, so it will take a complete team effort to climb the mountain again.

Regular season

The Yankees had the second-best record in the Major Leagues but ended up two games behind the Cleveland Indians for the AL Pennant. Another great season for Yankees had them end up just short of back-to-back World Series appearances. 1918 marks the best regular-season record in franchise history.

Final record: 102-52

Performances of note

On the mound, Slim Love took home the Cy Young Award in 1918, the first in franchise history. He led the league with 30 wins and pitched to a strong 2.10 ERA.

Hank Thormahlen was also phenomenal before an injury ended his season in late July. In 25 starts he went 19-6 with a 1.80 ERA, helping New York climb into first place.

Veteran second baseman Del Pratt impressed in his first season in pinstripes. He led the team in batting average (.322), home runs (four) and was atop the league in doubles (46).

1919

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

1914: 56-98

1915: 73-80

1916: 88-66 (2nd Place finish)

1917: 98-56 AL Pennant (Lost WS, 4-0)

1918: 102-52 (2nd Place finish)

Preseason prediction

New York is expected to push for the pennant for the fourth straight season. Former MVP Frank Baker was the only hitter of note, but the pitching trio of Bob Shawkey, Hank Thormahlen and Dazzy Vance are all players to watch.

Regular season

Another pennant! New York was in a tense battle with the Ty Cobb-led Detroit Tigers all season long, but the Yankees swept them in a late September series to clinch the pennant.

Now, New York will look to get revenge over the St. Louis Cardinals, who swept them in the 1917 World Series.

Hopefully, we don’t have a Black Sox scandal on our hands in OOTP.

Final record: 88-52

World Series

*Note: The 1919 World Series was a best of nine series.*

Game 1

St. Louis pitcher Bill Doak continued to give Yankees batters fits, until New York finally broke through in the sixth inning. A leadoff single from Wally Pipp, a Frank Baker walk and a double from rookie outfielder Bob Meusel gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

Starter Pete Schneider went the distance, allowing just one run on eight hits to give the Yankees Game 1.

Final score: 3-1. (NYY 1-0)

Game 2

The demons from the first World Series were finally exorcised, as New York beat St. Louis in walk-off fashion the second game.

Pitcher Bob Shawkey looked strong after nine innings of two-run ball, but with the game tied in the bottom of the ninth with a man on third and two outs following a Roger Peckinpaugh triple, it was probably time to pull him out of the game.

Shawkey stayed in the game to bat, though, and after a slow-rolling grounder to third, Doc Lavan airmailed the throw to first and New York walked it off. What a fluke.

Final score: 3-2. (NYY 2-0)

Game 3

Although it was a close finish, Hank Thormahlen held St. Louis bats under control, pitching a complete game with one earned run. New York would put up a pair of errors but hold on after a two-run eighth from the Cards.

The Yankees are in total control. Just two wins away…

Final score: 4-3. (NYY 3-0)

Game 4

Yankees starter Carl Mays put up an eight-spot in the fourth inning. St. Louis ran away with this one.

Final score: 13-3. (NYY 3-1)

Game 5

Oh boy. After sitting pretty entering the top of the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead, New York left starting pitcher Pete Schneider on the mound to give up the lead and allow St. Louis to walk it off.

Momentum has shifted.

Final score: 5-4 (NYY 3-2)

Game 6

Bob Shawkey held strong in a critical Game 6 for the Yankees. He went the distance and held off a Cardinals offense that refuses to go away.

At the plate, Del Pratt went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and outfielder Duffy Lewis followed up with a three-hit performance.

One game away…

Final score: 6-4. (NYY 4-2)

Game 7

The Yankees were on the cusp. Cruising to their first World Series in virtual franchise history. Down 6-1 in the sixth inning, St. Louis put up a six-spot and took a 7-6 lead. New York’s offense was shut down for the remainder of the game.

Final score: 7-6. (NYY 4-3)

Game 8

This World Series had to end in a walk-off. It was just destiny. After a back and forth game, the clubs were deadlocked at four heading into the bottom of the 11th. New York was able to load the bases with no out and was in the perfect position to take home their first World Series title.

After a groundout by Wally Pipp, former MVP Frank Baker laced a one-out single to drive home the winning run and lead the Yankees to their first World Series title.

Final score: 5-4. (NYY take the series)

In the end, the struggles of the Yankees during the 1910s were worth it.

The first half of the 1910s were a disaster for the New York Yankees. The team finished above .500 once from ’10-’15 and were nowhere near contenders. However, the second half of the decade would be the best stretch in franchise history, with a pair of trips to the World Series and the first title in franchise history.

New York’s record in the first six years of the decade was 395-528, a .427 winning percentage. The Yankees were the laughing stock of the league, getting trampled year after year.

Then, the switch flipped, and New York quickly found themselves in the pennant race for the remainder of the decade. The Yankees posted a record 376-226 (.609) from 1916-1919.

The franchise was able to obtain its first World Series in 1919, a year before the Great Bambino is set to join the Yankees. In reality, New York would win its first championship four years later, but the head start by the virtual squad bodes well for the success New York could enjoy in the next decade.

The grueling nine-game set allowed the Yankees to take revenge on the St. Louis Cardinals who swept them two years earlier, with three wins coming in walk-off fashion.

From a hardware perspective, Frank ‘Home Run’ Baker won his second MVP Award in 1919, adding to his laundry list of accolades. The 33-year-old has four championships, winning his first three with Philadelphia before adding a fourth ring alongside his MVP season with New York. Baker finished with a .349 average with six homers (love the Home Run moniker in the Dead Ball Era) in the regular season.

However, Baker was at his best during the World Series, taking home Series MVP honors. Baker posted a .429/.459/.600 line with seven RBI in the best of nine series. He topped it all off with the walk-off single to bring the title home to the Bronx for the first time.

1910: 70-84

1911: 65-89

1912: 51-103

1913: 80-74

1914: 56-98

1915: 73-80

1916: 88-66 (2nd Place finish)

1917: 98-56 AL Pennant (Lost WS, 4-0)

1918: 102-52 (2nd Place finish)

1919: 88-52 (World Series Champions)

Check back soon as we prepare for the arrival of the Great Bambino. And hopefully, more virtual rings. We are Yankees fans, after all!