Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 112

under .500, their best record since 1903, and Stengel finished with a .316 batting average, fifth best in the league. His on-base percentage led the league at .404. With the Federal League still active, Stengel was rewarded with a two year contract at $6,000 per year.

Stengel reported to spring training ill and thin. He was unable to work out for much of the time the Dodgers spent in Florida, and the team stated that he had typhoid fever, still common in 1915. He batted .237 for the season, the worst full season percentage of his major league career.

Soon after the 1916 season started, it became clear that the Dodgers were one of the better teams in the league. Robinson managed to squeeze one more year of productivity out of some

older veterans such as Chief Meyers, who said of Stengel; "It was Casey who kept us on our toes. He was the life of the party and just kept all us old timers pepped up all season." Stengel, mostly playing right field, hit .279 with eight home runs, one less than the team leader in that category, Wheat. Stengel's home run off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, who won 33 games that year, in the second game of a doubleheader on September 30, provided the margin of victory as

the Dodgers went into first place to stay, qualifying for their first World Series, against the Boston Red Sox. Despite getting