COLUMBUS SENATORS/RED BIRDS
The Columbus entry in the American Association was originally named the “Senators”, a moniker which lasted through the 1930 season when the club officially signed off on Neil Park, their home since 1902 when they joined the American Association. Beginning in 1931, the Columbus squad was known as the “Red Birds” owing to their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals. During the 1931 season the team played at their new home, Red Bird Stadium, where the Columbus Clippers play to this day.
The Columbus Senators team was the first “dynasty” of the American Association, winning three straight league championships from 1905-07 under player-manager Bill Clymer.
During the 1905 season, the Senators won 100 games against 52 losses (.658), the first team in the Association to win 100 games in one season. Their winning percentage of .658 rank 10th in the league overall from 1902-1952. With 100 victories to their credit, Clymer’s Senators also rank 10th in the wins department during the 51-year period of the Association. The Milwaukee Brewers finished the season 8 games in back of the Senators in second place. The team’s top hitter was outfielder Ollie Pickering who was among the team leaders with his .326 batting average in a league leading 612 at-bats. Gus Dorner won a league high 29 games against a mere 8 losses (.784) for the superior Senators.
In 1906, the Columbus crew brought a basket of 91 wins home to Columbus fans while losing 57 contests (.615), again 8 games in front of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Again, pitching was a strong suit as Heinie Berger captured a league leading 28 wins, against only 13 losses (.684). And again, Ollie Pickering led the team in batting with his .317 average in a league leading 633 at-bats, his second straight season leading the Association in at-bats.
The Senators capped their 3-year reign over the American Association with a record of 90 wins and 64 losses (.584) in 1907. Pitcher George Upp led the league with 27 wins while succumbing on only 10 occasions (.731). Newcomer Doc “Brownie” Gessler brought home the batting bacon with his .325 batting average in 470 at-bats as an outfielder. Toledo’s emphatic performance under William Armour landed them a miniscule 2 games behind the Senators in 1907.
The 1907 season was the last of the Senators’ championships in the American Association.
It would be 1933 before the Columbus team would capture first-place, now known as the Red Birds under manager Ray Blades. During that season, the Red Birds won 101 games, the most in Columbus history, against 61 losses. Their winning percentage of .664 was the best ever among Columbus’ American Association teams. With outfielder John Rothrock’s .347 batting average in 498 at-bats and Burgess Whitehead, second-sacker slapping out a .346 average in 347 at-bats, the Red Birds had the offensive core to show some moxie. Paul “Daffy” Dean led the league among Association moundsmen with his 22 wins, 222 strikeouts and 3.15 ERA. Against only seven losses, Dean’s winning percentage of .759 was among the tops in the league. Bill Lee’s 21-9 record (.700) was worth honorable mention, but Clarence Heise’s 17-5 tally brought him the Association’s finest winning percentage of .773 for the 1933 season.
The Red Birds’ final two seasons capturing first-place in the American Association were 1937 and 1941.
In 1937 under manager Burt Shotton, the Red Birds finished ONE game over Fred Haney’s Toledo Mud Hens with a record of 90-64. Leaving the nest against the Newark Bears, their International League counterpart, in the Junior World Series, the Birds won the first three games but lost the final four in a classic showdown among the best of minor league teams. During the regular season, Shotton sported such sluggers as first-baseman Dick “Chief” Siebert who hit .318 in 352 AB’s, outfielder Johnny Rizzo with his .358 in 584 AB’s and the legendary Enos “Country” Slaughter whose 642 at-bats resulted in a league leading 147 runs scored, 245 hits and .382 batting average. Max Macon led Association pitchers with 21 wins. Against 12 losses, Macon’s winning percentage was a formidable .636. Bill McGee’s 2.97 ERA was foremost among league hurlers. He compiled a record of 17-7 (.708) to help his club along.
1941 saw the Red Birds capture first-place, again under Shotton, by a margin of 8 games over Bill Burwell’s Louisville Colonels. The Red Birds’ record of 95-58 was surely substantial. And just to prove a point, they defeated the Montreal Royals in the Junior World Series, four games to two to round out a resoundingly successful season. They were the Minor League Champs! During the regular season, shortstop Lou Klein rang the bell with his .367 batting average in 362 at-bats. Among the other .300 hitter were first-baseman Ray Sanders (.308 in 587 ab’s), third-baseman Bert Haas (.315 in 594 ab’s), outfielder Milo Marshall (.302 in 493 ab’s) and infielder Robert Repass (.317 in 391 ab’s). Marshall and Haas hit 15 and 17 home runs, respectively. From the mound, Murry Dickson led all comers with his 21 wins. Against only 11 losses, Dickson’s winning percentage was an impressive .656. But fellow moundsman John Grodzicki led the league in winning percentage with a muscular .792, which was assembled from his 19-5 record. Harry “The Cat” Brecheen captured 16 wins against 6 losses (.727) to round out the capital Columbus mound corps.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MORE FASCINATING NUANCES OF MINOR LEAGUE HISTORY, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ALMANAC. CONTACT REX HAMANN AT PUREOUT@MSN.COM FOR MORE DETAILS.
