1921 Detroit Tigers season
The 1921 Detroit Tigers finished in sixth place in the American League, 27 games behind the Yankees, with a record of 71–82.
He was considered the best catcher in baseball from 1921 to 1925, finishing in the top seven in the American League MVP voting three straight years: 6th in 1922, 7th in 1923, and 5th in 1924.
Baseball historian Bill James wrote that, "if his major league career wasn't so short he would rank among the top 20 catchers of all time.
In 1571 games at first base, Blue had 15,644 putouts and a career range factor of 10.60 – almost 3.00 full points above the league average of 7.64 for first basemen in his era.
After Bush was released, Ira Flagstead and Herm Merritt played shortstop for Detroit during the balance of the 1921 season.
Despite batting .370 in his rookie season, Merritt did not make the team in 1922 and never played another major league game.
Left fielder Harry Heilmann won the first of his four American League batting crowns in 1921, hitting .394.
As of the end of the 2009 season, Heilmann's career batting average of .342 is the 12th highest in major league history.
[2] In 1921, the Tigers' owner, Frank Navin, signed center fielder Ty Cobb to take over for Hughie Jennings as the team's manager.
Universally disliked (even by the members of his own team) but a legendary player, Cobb's management style left a lot to be desired.
Cobb believed that Veach, who came to bat with a smile and engaged in friendly conversation with umpires and opposing pitchers, was too easygoing.
Detroit Tigers historian, Fred Lieb, described Veach as a "happy-go-lucky guy, not too brilliant above the ears", who "was as friendly as a Newfoundland pup with opponents as well as teammates.
The tactic may have worked, as Veach had career-highs in RBIs (126) and home runs (16), and his batting average jumped from .308 to .338.
In the next at bat, Cobb dragged a bunt down the first base line and ran directly at Leonard who was covering the bag.
[9] In 1926, Leonard sought his revenge, accusing Cobb of being involved in fixing games with Tris Speaker.
To corroborate his story, Leonard produced letters (including one written by Cobb) that obliquely referred to gambling or game fixing.
However, Leonard declined to appear and testify at a hearing called by Judge Landis, saying he feared a physical attack from "that wild man."
Hooks Dauss played his entire fifteen-year career with the Tigers and is the team's all time wins leader.
On August 8, 1920, Ehmke shut out the Yankees 1–0 in one of the shortest games in AL history, lasting only 1 hour‚ 13 minutes.
In 1923, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he won 20 games and set the AL record (still standing) for allowing the fewest hits (one) in two consecutive starts.
Shortly after an interview in which new manager Ty Cobb told a reporter that "his aim was to use tact and diplomacy" in dealing with players, Cobb publicly embarrassed Oldham, as he called time-out from his position in center field, "ran in, wrested the ball from Oldham's hand, and gave him a dressing-down before calling in a reliever.
In a game against the Yankees, Babe Ruth reportedly hit a 3–0 pitch off Sutherland into the upper deck.
Though he had the best record on the pitching staff, Cobb never forgave Sutherland for giving up a mammoth blast to the Babe.
The Tigers also amassed 1724 hits in 1921—the highest single season total by any team in American League history.
Despite having one of the best batting lineups in baseball history, the 1921 Tigers finished in sixth place with a losing record.
