Atlanta Braves History - 1919 Summary

1919 was not a very good year for the Braves. They were in Boston playing at Braves Field. The attendance for the year was 167,401 (7th of 8). Not overwhelming fan support.

They had a 57-82 record, finishing 6th in the National League. George Stallings is the manager. This is not George's best year since he won the World Series in 1914. One more year and he will be out. Always sad to see that.

When you look at their run totals, that kind of tells the story. They scored 465 runs and allowed 563 runs.

I like the year 1919. Not because of the Braves because they kind of stunk but because my dad was born on July 4th in 1919. Because of that, I enjoy poking around what was going on with the Braves that year.

Atlanta Braves History: How bad can it get? (1929)

How bad can it get in a season? I don’t know if 1929 was the worst but the depression started and the Boston Braves hit a new low. That was pretty depressing for sure. The went 56-98 ending up eighth and 43 games behind. It was so bad the owner, Judge Emil Fuchs, managed the team. In fact, he managed the whole season.

While this is hard to believe, the team had actually been slightly worse the year before. So, in 1929, the improved 6 whole games and managed not to lose 100+ games. But, when you are in last place, everything is relative. They hadn’t been in last since 1924.

Manager Dave Bancroft is cold cocked (June 18, 1927)

Generally Baseball isn’t too violent. There are some notable exceptions. On June 18, 1927, continuing a feud that dates back to Smith’s days with the Braves‚ Pirates Catcher Earl Smith decks Braves manager Dave Bancroft with a right to the jaw after they exchange words in the 7th inning.

Bancroft is carried off the field. Smith draws a $500 fine and 30-day suspension. 

The Pirates score 3 in the 1st led by Paul Waner’s 2-run triple en route to a 7-4 win. Waner extends his hitting streak to 21 games and 13 straight games with extra base hits. He’ll have a pair of doubles the next day.

So I wonder if Smith thought it was worth it. For someone who loves to play, probably not. On the up side, baseball officials have always been careful to “punish” violence very aggressively. Not like hockey I think.

The dark years start (1917)

In George Stallings 5th year as manager of the Braves, they plunged from third place the year before to sixth in 1917. They were 72-81 and 25 1/2 games behind. World War I began that year and it was a bleak year for the team. This was the start of series of VERY bad years going to World War II and 1945.

Perhaps this should be known as the dark years for the Braves. For 29 years, the Braves only had six years of .500 plus ball. Eight times they won fewer than 40 percent of their games. Twelve times they finished 35 or more games out of the lead.

Amazing and dark years for sure.