Game 4, Friday, April 11, 1924

Reported in the Seattle Daily Times, Saturday, April 12, 1924

The Seattle Indians picked up their first win of the 1924 season, beating the Angels 9-5 thanks to the hitting of "Henry" known as Ted "Baldy" Baldwin and the pitching of Bill Plummer. I'm sure he'll end up with more nick-names as the season moves along. Plummer, father of a Johnny Bench backup and one-time Mariner manager, had two full seasons of PCL ball in 1924 and 1925, both marred by a consistently sore arm. Otherwise records indicate he played for either Portland in 1921, or Seattle, 1923-27, from the ages of 17 to 25. Apparently, Plummer would marry the sister of Indian teammate Red Baldwin, who would be the uncle of the future Piniella predecessor. Bill Plummer would pitch his last game on August 16, 1927, being pulled in the sixth inning for a tired arm against the San Francisco Seals. 1927 would also be the year Ted Baldwin got his cup of coffee with the Phillies, the highlight of an athletic career that saw him start by playing college baseball at Swarthmore and end up playing baseball for Portland of the New England League. Red Baldwin never got a cup of coffee. His career consisted of spending at least15 years catching in the minors. One of the things I've found when researching old-time players is that they often played semi-pro ball or some type of amateur organized baseball into their 40s. Especially those who were capable of playing in the high minors to major league levels. This often missing history is usually hinted at in small press papers or community records, with notifications of games played at summer festivals or in some local league that lasts maybe a year.

Supply Laundry leads Semi Pro League

 

The photo above is from the Special Collections at the University of Washington. It lists the photo as undated. More research needed, but Tommy Sullivan might be the same Tom Sullivan who played with Seattle in 1928. Bud Davis was 21 years old in 1924, and had two partial seasons in the PCL. Louis and Elmer Tesreau both starred in football at the University of Washington. Louis lettered in 1925-26-27, Elmer in 1923-24-25. Louis was an all-American fullback in 1927. Most interesting is Tiny Leonard. I think this may be the same E. E. 'Tiny' Leonard who played for the Portland Beavers in 1915. There was also an E. E. 'Tiny' Leonard who moved to Seaside, Oregon in 1923 and set up a taffy shop. I believe that is the same one who played for the Beavers. Floyd Borderude did play with the Longview Cannibals but I can find no actual information he was on the Chicago Cubs. Monroe Dean kept going and ended playing 8 years in the minors.

Game 3, Thursday, April 10, 1924

The Los Angeles Angels picked up their third straight win to start the 1924 season, beating the Seattle nine, well twelve including two pinch hitters and a reliever, 8-3. Wheezer Dell started for the Indians, opposed by Charley "Chinski" Root. Root would win 312 professional games, 201 for the Chicago Cubs to go with 40 career saves, in a playing career that lasted 27 years. Wheezer Dell had a lifetime major league ERA of 2.55, and was playing for Seattle in 1924 alongside George Cutshaw. Both were teammates on the 1916 Brooklyn Robins team that lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox. The Robins couldn't compete with the brilliant pitching of Babe Ruth, Ernie Shore, Dutch Leonard and Carl Mays, even though they had a lineup of dead ball names like Casey Stengel, Hi Myers, Zack Wheat, Rube Marquard, Jeff Pfeffer, and Fred Merkle. Dell had also played with the 1913 and 1914 Seattle Giants of the Northwest League.

First Pictures of Opening Day

"The first pictures of the opening day scenes at the Los Angeles ball park Tuesday were received this morning. The picture at the top shows a part of the opening day ceremony prior to the start of the game. Left to right, the figures are: Bruce Guerin, Los Angeles mascot; Marty Krug, Angel manager; Jack Dempsey, world's heavyweight champion; "Red" Killefer, Seattle pilot; Sherrif Traeger of Los Angeles; Mayor Cryer of Los Angeles; Agnes Ayres, motion picture star, who was honorary umpire. The lower view shows Cliff Brady, Seattle second baseman, being tagged off first base in the third inning. George Cutshaw is on the coaching line. Old Doc Crandall is the pitcher who has just heaved the ball to Golvin." Seattle Daily Times, reported Friday, April 11, 1924. Game was on Tuesday.

Spring is Here

Game 2, April 9, 1924

The Indians continued the opening series of 1924 against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, April 9. The Tuesday start was typical of a Pacific Coast League schedule at that time. Teams would generally play a series starting on Tuesday, playing through Sunday to conclude with a double header to finish a 7-game road trip. The work week for a ball club ended or started, depending on your point of view, with either a day off or a travel day on a Monday.
In game 2, the Angels manager Marty Krug slapped out a couple of hits, 2 of 2050 he hit in a 16-year minor league career. He had two stints in the majors as well, a cup of coffee with the 1912 Boston Red Sox (where he played in a brand new Fenway Park, which opened that year on Adolph Hitler's 23rd birthday, just five days after the Titanic sank) and most of the 1922 season with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were managed at that time by Bill Killefer, brother of Seattle Indians manager Wade Killefer. Krug, one of 27 major league players to have been born in Germany (nearly all played before 1920), got his start at the age of 20 in the Class D Blue Grass League with the 1909 Richmond Pioneers. Reported in the April 10 edition of the Seattle Daily Times Sports Section, Robert W. Boyce, Editor.

Seattle Game 1, April 8, 1924

In the 1924 Pacific Coast League season, the Seattle Indians and the Los Angeles Angels faced off in a thrilling game at Washington Park. The Indians had just wrapped up their spring training in Los Angeles and were ready to take on the Angels on their home ground. Washington Park, nestled next to Chutes Park on Main Street between Washington and 21st, was a bustling sports venue. It was the home ground for the Angels before they made their move to LA’s Wrigley Field in 1925.

The Seattle Daily Times covered the game in detail in its April 9, 1924 issue. Fans in Seattle had the opportunity to follow the game ‘live’ through an automatic ‘player’ displayed outside the Times’ offices in Seattle’s Times Square, facing 5th Avenue at Stewart.

The game was a duel between two seasoned pitchers, Vean Gregg for Seattle and Otis Crandall for Los Angeles. Both pitchers showcased their skills in a beautifully pitched ball game. The Angels emerged victorious with a score of 5 to 1, a victory witnessed by a crowd of 10,364 spectators.

Crandall’s victory came when Gregg’s defense faltered once. Frank Emmer, who was substituting for the injured Ted Baldwin at third base for the Indians, misjudged a hit from Flea McAuley. This allowed two runs to score and set the stage for a double steal that brought in a third run.

Despite this setback, the Seattle team managed to get eleven hits off the Angel veteran, while the Angels got nine off Gregg and Bill Plummer, who relieved the southpaw. Each team had one walk, so honors were virtually even.

The pitchers’ battle was a sight to behold. They appeared to be in midseason form, working the corners of the plate with balls not too good to hit, and mixing their curves, fast ones, and change of pace in pretty shape. They were best in the pinches, easing along when there were no men on bases, and slowing their work when men got on.

Seattle set the stage for a score early when Brady singled sharply to left. However, the Indians didn’t quit after the Angels’ scoring spree. Brady and Crane opened the sixth with singles, but the necessary hit in the pinch was missing. Despite the loss, the game was a testament to the skill and determination of both teams. It was a memorable start to the 1924 Pacific Coast League season.