Virtual Yankees Win First World Series Title

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.