After an exciting 1929 season where the Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series over the Chicago Cubs, both teams are looking to be back in the pennant hunt in 1930. But there are other teams that want to get in on that World Series money, so let's do a pre-season preview of the 1930 season.
American League
Boston Red Sox (Manager: Heinie Wagner) 1929: 58-96 8th Place
The 1920's were a rough decade for the Red Sox and it doesn't look like 1930 is going to be much better. The 1929 pitching staff did feature Red Ruffing, Milt Gaston, and Danny MacFayden at the top, but it faded pretty quickly from there. The offense didn't pack much punch either, and there doesn't appear to be much immediate hope in the pipeline. The Red Sox are hoping to make some trades to bolster their roster and to see what minor leaguers might help as well in 1930
Chicago White Sox (Manager: Donie Bush) 1929: 59-93 7th Place
Similar to the Red Sox, the 1920's were not a good decade for Chicago either. The 1929 Sox did feature three top-line starters - Ted Lyons, Tommy Thomas, and 41-year-old Red Faber, and Carl Reynolds provided some pop in the outfield. In 1930 Bill Cissell will move from short to second, and Ernie Smith will get the nod at SS on Opening Day. Another new face is an old face, Smead Jolley, after several productive years in the minors, will be in the outfield on Opening Day as well. The 1930 White Sox may be better than the Red Sox, but that's about it.
Cleveland Indians (Manager: Roger Peckinpaugh) 1929: 81-71 3rd Place
The Indians finished third in 1929, but they knew they had a ways to go yet if they wanted to climb past the Yankees and the A's. The team batted .293 in 1929 with several outstanding hitting performances, with Lew Fonseca's .369 leading the way. The rotation was anchored by Wes Ferrell, Willis Hudlin, and Jake Miller, plus the Indians are hoping youngsters like Milt Shoffner and Mel Harder can help out in 1930 as well. The Indians will need every break they can get if they want to overtake the Yankees and the A's.
Detroit Tigers (Manager: Bucky Harris) 1929: 70-84 6th Place
1929 was a rough year for the Tigers. Dale Alexander and Charlie Gehringer provided the pop on the offense and will be back in 1930, but Harry Heilmann has moved on to Cincinnati. His spot in the lineup will be taken by John Stone, who the Tigers have high hopes for. George Uhle, Earl Whitehill, and Vic Sorrell were the primary starting pitchers, and in 1930 the Tigers are hoping Chief Hogsett and Whit Wyatt can contribute to the rotation. Regardless, the Tigers seem to be stuck somewhere in the middle, not good enough to move up, but still better than the two Sox teams below them.
New York Yankees (Manager: Bob Shawkey) 1929: 88-66 2nd Place
The Yankees were looking to be competitive in 1929, and while they did finish in second place, they were a full 16 games behind the powerful Philadelphia A's. Still, any team that had Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the middle of their lineup was going to be in the pennant chase, especially when the offense also included Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, and Bill Dickey. The question for the Yankees in 1930 will be their pitching. George Pipgras, Waite Hoyt, Ed Wells, and 36-year-old Herb Pennock will lead the starters, but who else will fill in the remaining slots? Can the Yankees pull off a miracle trade like they have done in the past and find themselves back on top?
Everyone knew the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics were going to be good, but finishing with a 104-46 record and a World Series victory really gave Connie Mack the opportunity to put his mark on 1929 baseball. Lefty Grove remained the best pitcher of his ERA, and with Rube Walberg and George Earnshaw may be the best threesome in the game. The offense featured Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, and Al Simmons, plus the A's played a tight defense. The A's may be favored to repeat for the 1930 AL pennant, but they know it won’t be easy
St. Louis Browns (Manager: Bill Killefer) 1929: 79-73 4th Place
Similar to Cleveland, the Browns were a good team in 1929, but just not in the same class as the Yankees and A's. The infield was solid but not spectacular, and Heinie Manush led the outfield with a .355 average, but overall there just wasn't much of an explosive factor in the Browns offense. Rick Ferrell, brother of Wes Ferrell, will get the nod to become the primary backstop for the Browns in 1930. The Browns did feature solid starting pitching in 1929, with General Crowder, George Blaeholder, Sam Gray, and Lefty Stewart leading the way. Looking forward, young Dick Coffman might be able to pick up some of the slack as well. Regardless, even if everything goes right for the Browns, finishing in the top half of the division might be a challenge in 1930.
Washington Nationals (Manager: Walter Johnson) 1929: 71-81 5th Place
The Nationals feature a strong offense with and a tight defense, but Walter Johnson is going to have to do something with that pitching staff if we wants Washington to move into the upper echelon of the American League. Firpo Marberry led the 1929 Washingtonians, but Sad Sam Jones and Bump Hadley will have to do more, and Bobby Burke and Lloyd Brown are youngsters that might be able to help in 1930. Goose Goslin was a force in the outfield, 40-year-old Sam Rice is still a very productive player, and Joe Cronin and Buddy Myer anchor the middle infield. It seems after a down year in 1929 the Nationals will have a better 1930, but they will have to earn it.
National League
Boston Braves (Manager: Bill McKechnie) 1929: 56-98 8th Place
Given that the Braves had the worst record in baseball in 1929 there was nowhere to go but up. Bill McKechnie was brought in as their new manager and he will have his hands full trying to get the Braves out of the cellar. George Sisler and Rabbit Maranville were aging keys for the Braves struggling offense, and they are hoping young Wally Berger can maybe provide a youthful invigoration to their offense. The Braves will require Bob Smith and Socks Seibold to have better performances but will need additional help to shore up the pitching staff. Don't be surprised if both Boston's bring up the rear in 1930
Brooklyn Robins (Manager: Wilbert Robinson) 1929: 70-83 6th Place
The Robins weren't a good team in 1929, only escaping the cellar because Cincinnati and Boston were worse. Still, there is hope in Brooklyn. Babe Herman is still a terror with the bat, Glenn Wright will replace 39 year-old Dave Bancroft at short, and Wally Gilbert and Johnny Frederick are expected to provide some offensive spark. A young Al Lopez is being considered for the catcher's position. The Robins will need more than just Dazzy Vance and Watty Clark to pitch their games though, so Robinson will be plenty busy sorting out the rotation and the bullpen in 1930. The Dodgers should improve in 1930, we'll just have to see how much though.
Chicago Cubs (Manager: Joe McCarthy) 1929: 98-54 1st Place and World Series Runner-Up
The Cubs were a confident bunch heading into the 1929 World Series before they ran into the buzz saw that was the Athletics. That same confidence remains as they head into 1930, and why not? Hack Wilson, Kiki Cuyler, and Riggs Stephenson may be the best outfield trio in the game, Rogers Hornsby and Woody English anchor the infield, and Gabby Hartnett intends to return to form in 1930 after missing much of 1929 with an arm injury. Charlie Root, Guy Bush and Pat Malone had outstanding seasons in 1929 and look to repeat that success in 1930. Can the Cubs repeat in 1930? They might be the favorite.
Cincinnati Reds (Manager: Dan Howley) 1929: 66-88 7th Place
The Reds featured several pretty good players in 1929, but no real standouts. George "High Pockets" Kelly had a good year a first base, but not outstanding. Hughie Critz and Hod Ford anchored the middle infield, and it looks like Jersey Joe Stripp will get an opportunity to take third base in 1930 over Chuck Dressen. Red Lucas and Eppa Rixey were reliable starters, but they will need Benny Frey and Si Johnson to take a step forward to keep from finishing in last place in 1930.
New York Giants (Manager: John McGraw) 1929: 84-67 3rd Place
The John McGraw Giants on 1929 hit .294 as a team and led the league with a 3.97 ERA, but still finished in a distant third behind the Pirates and the Cubs. Starters Carl Hubbell, Larry Benton, Freddie Fitzsimmons and Bill Walker all had good seasons in 1929 and fully expect to be at the forefront in 1930 as well. Bill Terry and Mel Ott lead a potent offense, and the Giants look to fill in a hole at second by bringing up Doc Marshall. There is no reason to think the Giants won’t be in the thick of the pennant race right until the end.
Philadelphia Phillies (Manager: Burt Shotton) 1929: 71-82 5th Place
With some pitching help, the Phillies could have been right in the middle of the 1929 pennant race. Lefty O'Doul and Chuck Klein provided the power, and the infield was solid but not spectacular. Les Sweetland and Bill Willoughby will be back in the Phillies rotation in 1930, but Burt Shotton is going to have to work some miracles to keep the Phillies from finishing in 5th place (or worse) in 1930.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Manager: Jewel Ens) 1929: 88-65 2nd Place
The Pirates put together a great 1929 and look forward to a strong 1930 season. Paul and Lloyd Waner and Pie Traynor drove the offense, but Adam Comorosky and George Grantham contributed also. Can young shortstop Dick Bartell repeat his good 1929 season? Burleigh Grimes will be gone from the 1930 squad, but Erv Brame, Ray Kremer, and Larry French should keep the Pirates in contention in 1930.
St. Louis Cardinals (Manager: Gabby Street) 1929: 79-74 4th Place
The Cardinals were a solid hitting bunch in 1929, but pitching woes left them in a distant fourth. Frankie Frisch and Jim Bottomley provided the punch in the infield, and outfielders Chick Hafey, Ernie Orsatti, and Taylor Douthit all hit in the .330's in 1929. The Cardinal starting pitching started to show their age in 1929, but Gabby Street thinks Bill Sherdel, Bill Hallahan, and 36-year-old Jesse Haines can keep the Cardinals in contention in 1930.
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