Week 1 Recap

The Seattle Indians finished up the first week of the season on Sunday, April 13, 1924. In spite of outscoring the Los Angeles Angels 42-34, they left for Salt Lake City and its Bees on Monday, April 14th with a 2-5 record. Of course, the only reason they had that scoring advantage was a remarkable 20-1 win to finish up their first double header of the season. When they got to SLC it was raining, and it stayed that way for both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Seattle club had spring training in Southern California, starting at Lake Elsinore (it's along the 15, if you hate taking the 5 from LA to Sandy Eggo, you've passed it) and finishing up the spring in Los Angeles. The season started on Tuesday, April 8, with a 5-1 loss. They lost on Wednesday 6-5 and then on Thursday the 10th by a score of 8-3. The Indians were able to get into the win column finally on Friday, April 11th with a 9-5 win. Saturday saw the Indians again lose, this time 5-3. Finally on Sunday, it seemed as if the Angels tired of scoring at least five runs a game. The Angels took the opening contest 4-1, but Seattle came back with an offensive explosion in the closing game of the series, the 20-1 mentioned above.

The top of the lineup was pretty consistent:
1- Billy Lane, CF, started all 7 games going 7 for 25 with 4 runs
2- Cliff Brady, 2B, started all 7 games going 7 for 28 with 4 runs
3- Captain Sam Crane, SS, started 5 games, missing #s 2 and 3 with an injury, 7 for 22, 1 run
3- Jimmy Welsh, 3B, pinch hit twice going 1-2, started twice finishing the week 2 of 10, 1 run
4- Brick Eldred, RF, started all 7 games, going 8 for 23, scoring 5 runs
5- Elmer Bowman, 1B, started all 7 games, going 8 for 27 with 6 runs
6- Ray Rohwer, LF, hit 7th in the 6th game, went 7 for 26 with 7 runs
Frank Emmer hit 7th in the first 3 games, starting at 3B in the opener and SS in #s 2 and 3, went 2 for 10 with run. Henry 'Ted' Baldwin missed the first three games with an injury sustained finishing up spring training in Los Angeles. He came back for game 4, batting 7th, but hit 6th in game 6, going back to the 7 hole for game 7. He hit 7 for 18 and scored 4 runs.
Earl Baldwin, catcher, hit 8th for five games, and Frank Tobin, the backup catcher, did the same in games 4 and 7. Earl was 4 for 17 with 2 runs and Tobin went 5 for 8 with 5 runs.
The bottom of the lineup saw the pitchers go 3 for 29, with Bill Plummer collecting 1 hit and Suds Sutherland 3 for 7 with 2 runs.

Regarding the pitching, 39-year old MLB veteran Vean Gregg started what would be a very good season for himself (playing himself back into the majors with 1924 World Series winners the Washington Senators) by going 0-2, losing on opening day on Tuesday, and then in the front side of the double-header on Sunday. Suds Sutherland, a 30 year old pitcher and Coast League veteran who'd got one shot at the MLB in 1921 but caught the ire of Ty Cobb in spite of going 6-2 that year, lost game 2, but was the winner in game 7. Wheezer Dell, MLB veteran at the age of 38, picked up the loss in game 3. 22 year old Bill Plummer picked up one of his few career wins in game 4. Another MLB veteran, Jim Bagby, picked up a loss in game 5. Frank Osborn, who came to camp as a reserve outfielder along with George Bogart, pitched in relief 4 times that first week. Percy Jones, Carl Williams, George Steuland, and Victor Pigg also some time in relief. George Bogart would have the shortest career. The former standout at UC Davis, and 27-year old PCL rookie, would get one pinch running appearance in the ninth inning of the third game of the year and was released following the next game on Friday. The reason given by Wade Killefer was, that at the age of 27, Bogart did not appear to have much room to develop.

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.