The fans speak out

Baseball Digest, Oct, 2004

While reading old box scores in Baseball Digest, I noticed that on many occasions there were only three umpires listed.

I'm wondering when the fourth umpire was added for major league games and, also, how the three umpires were positioned in the old days.

Tom Benson

Brooklyn Park, Minn.

By 1912, two umpires were required to cover each game in the American and National Leagues. In 1933, three-man crews were required for the first time during the regular season, and in 1952, four-man crews became standard in both leagues.

When the use of three umpires was standardized in the 1930s, the leagues differed initially in how base umpires rotated around the infield.

In the American League, with a man on first, umpires were stationed at second and third. The National League put umpires at first and second when three-man crews were employed.

The article "Turn Back the Clock--1943" by Jerome Holtzman in the August issue of Baseball Digest answered some questions that have been on my mind for 59 years.

In 1945, the United States was fighting in World War II, and baseball players were an important part of our military force.

With so many players serving their country, baseball clubs at all levels had trouble finding enough bodies to field a team. That void gave me my one chance.

Doll Camilli, who was managing Oakland of the Pacific Coast League, offered me a tryout. Glen (Gabby) Stewart, Oakland's second baseman, took me under his wing during my two weeks of glory.

One day, when we were in town before a scheduled night game, we went into a hotel, and Glen introduced me to a gentleman whom he later told me was the former owner of the Phillies during Glen's short time in the majors. He also told me the man had been kicked out of baseball by Judge (Kenesaw) Landis.

That was all I have ever heard about William Cox (the banned owner). For 59 years, I have wondered just what was the story behind Cox getting removed from baseball. Now, through Holtzman's article, I know a little about a man I met for such a short time so many years ago.

Holtzman stated Cox was number 16 on the list of people Landis removed from baseball.

There were the eight Black Sox, of course, but who were the other seven banished from the game?

Bob Brown

Oak Harbor, Wash.

Others banished from the majors included Benny Kauff, Joe Gedeon, Gene Paulette, Claude Hendrix, Phil Douglas, Jimmy O'Connell and coach Cozy Dolan.

In concluding his article on former Phillies owner William Cox in the August issue, author Jerome Holtzman said, "Nobody on the suspended list has yet to be reinstated."

Holtzman forgot Leo (The Lip) Durocher who was suspended by Commissioner Happy Chandler in 1947 for associating with gamblers, but was reinstated in 1948, and later was elected to the Hall of Fame.

John V. Brown

Bear, Del.

You can also include Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle who were banned by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for their involvement with legalized gambling casinos in 1983. Both Hall of Fame players were reinstated by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth on March 18, 1985.

My first exposure to baseball was listening to the broadcast by Graham McNamee of the 1931 World Series between the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals.

I remember the ace pitchers for the clubs were Robert Grove and George Earnshaw for the A's, and Burleigh Grimes and William Hallahan for the Cardinals who prevailed, much to dad's enjoyment.

Can you show the pitching statistics of the A's and Cardinal staffs for the season and for that World Series?

D.M. Christisen

Columbia, Mo.

See the accompanying chart.

Since the inception of major league baseball, are the Milwaukee Brewers the only team to move from one league to another?

Chuck Finkbeiner

Richmond, Va.

No. The National League, founded in 1876, included a number of franchises in its early years that eventually became American League teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Spiders (Indians), Detroit Wolverines (Tigers), St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators.

After returning from Korea 51 years ago, I was stationed at an Army anti-aircraft installation outside Chicago.

The Phillies were coming to town, and the newspaper mentioned that a young, 19year-old shortstop was going to get his chance to start for the Phillies.

Teddy Kazanski, my old buddy from Detroit, was that shortstop.

I rushed down to the Cubs field and saw the game. I don't remember much about the game, other than my pal Kazanski got four hits and drove in a bundle of runs. What a start!

Kazanski never did much after that great start. His lifetime average was .217. After the game, Ted introduced me to his skipper. I believe it was Steve O'Neill, and they took me back downtown on the team bus. It was a real thrill.

I sure would like to see a box score of that game.

Billy Rodgere

Palm City, Fla.

Kazanski made his major league debut on June 25, 1953 in a game won by the Phillies, 13-2, at Wrigley Field.

An account of the game stated "the Phillies $100,000 bonus shortstop, Ted Kazanski, struck out the first time at bat on three pitches, but in five succeeding appearances, out two doubles and a single, driving in four runs. Kazanski also sparkled afield, participating in two double plays."