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5 December, 1923 |
The Hampshire Hawks concluded the season in grand fashion -- they won the Home Nations Baseball Association World Test. They nailed it down at Rose Bowl by whipping the Northamptonshire Steelbacks 3-2 to win it all. They took the series 4-2.
Their motto for the season was "Win or Die Trying".
"They never let up and they never stopped trying the whole season," the Hawks manager proudly told reporters. "They hustled and fought the whole season and it continued in the playoffs. They are a very special bunch of guys."
To get their 2nd World Test, the Hawks finished up the regular season in the Celtic Cornish Division with a 103-59 record, ending up in second place in the division standings.
Feeling the heat to settle on a new GM, the Lurgan Setters tapped Michael Quinn as the new head man.
""We've taken our time in finding what we hope is an excellent, far-seeing general manager. I don't think you'll have to worry about Quinn suffering from myopia. He presented a clear, concise, and realistic assessment of our club in every interview we held, and just seemed to grasp what we're looking for," noted an official close to negotiations.
The British League test match will feature the powerful Northamptonshire Steelbacks squad against the newcomer Surrey Brown Caps.
In the Celtic League, it will be a rematch of last year's league test pitting current title holders, the Hampshire Hawks, against the Gloucestershire Gladiators.
This year's test matches have three veteran sides and only one newcomer with the rest of the draw having experience in the challenge of the Test.
Defending World Test holder, the Hampshire Hawks are able to defend. Sir William's squad led the Cornish Division most of the campaign, but felled by injuies in the last half, finshed runner up again to the Clontarf Bulls. The Bulls have been top of the Cornish table in three of the four campaigns, but unlike the Hawks have no visits to the World Test. Both clubs have competed in all three previous test matches.
The Celtic Divisional Tests will feature the Bulls against Cornish rival the Gloucestershire Gladiators. The Gladiators have experienced test matches twice previously and come in playing at a high quality. The other contest features Cumbria winner Lancashire Lightning against the title holders. The Lighning blitzed thur their competiton in the last 10 days to secure the final spot.
The British divisional matches are highlighted by perenial participant the Steelbacks of Northamptonshire. The two-time title holders were thwarted last year from reaching the World Test, but Eddie Paxil's side are set to make a serious challenge this year. Their opponent wil be the Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Dominant winners of the Midlands are looking to pass the Divisional Test for the first time.
The other match features the Kent Spitfires, runner up in the World test last year against first-time test participant the Surrey Brown Caps. The Brown Caps are winners of the Coastal Division, yet lack the experience gained by the Spitfires in last year's matches.
The punters have handicapped the matches as follows. Based upon season form, Northamptonshire and Kent have been tagged as favorites in the British. Season form provides no advantage in the Celtic, but injuries are viewed as key as Lancashire has been tapped to edge the Hawks. The Bulls best record in the HNBA has never proved to be an advantage and the punters don't see that changing in tipping the Gladiators.
In a brilliant performance at Castle Grounds, Clontarf pitcher Ben Harris entered an elite group today by tossing a no-hitter against the Buckie Whalers. Hurling a complete game he fanned 8 and walked 1 in the 7-0 victory.
In the clubhouse, Harris said, "I was getting my offspeed stuff over so they couldn't sit on the fastball. My guys made some nice plays behind me, too, and cut off several hits."
When asked if this might be a turning point for the club, spurring a dash for the pennant, the Clontarf manager responded, "Now come on, guys. You know one game doesn't make a season. Baseball's a funny game, but if we stay healthy we should be right there."
Over the season Harris has thrown 99 innings and dished out 61 strikeouts with a 6-3 mark and a 1.73 ERA.
Brett Hudson met with reporters as he began his tenure as Derbyshire Phantoms general manager.
"To be frank," he admitted, "I expect a tough haul these first few months. I've got to assess this club from the ground up--the whole organization. Until I do that, this club is very vulnerable."
Hudson urged the media to have restraint, saying that it will take time to implement his strategy and develop a perennial winner.
Excitement reigned at the ballyard today as Warwickshire hurler Claude Osteen tossed a baseball rarity -- a no-hitter.
After whitewashing the Yorkshire Phoenix at Edgbaston 8-0 he was swamped by reporters in the clubhouse for postgame comments. "I'm just glad to be here. I want to help the club any way I can. Today I just went right at the Yorkshire as hard as I could, as long as I could."
Osteen chalked up 8 strikeouts and allowed 1 walk in his superb performance.
The Yorkshire manager had his own analysis of the ballgame: "I don't think we could have hit him with a howitzer today."
When asked for a comment on how this might bolster the club's race for the pennant, the Warwickshire manager said, "We're going to take the season one game at a time, guys."
Home Nations Baseball Association officials are confident that their Opening Day schedule will draw in baseball-hungry fans from all walks of life.
Kicking off what promises to be an eventful season are match-ups between:
Warwickshire Bears @ Nottinghamshire
Outlaws
Leicestershire Foxes @ Worcestershire Royals
Derbyshire Phantoms @ Yorkshire Phoenix
Middlesex Crusaders @ Surrey Brown Caps
Sussex Sharks @ Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Lancashire Lightning @ Durham Dynamos
Limavady Greyhounds @ Buckie Whalers
Clontarf Bulls @ Glamorgan Dragons
Gloucestershire Gladiators @ Somerset Sabres
| British Standings | ||||
| Midlands Division | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Nottinghamshire Outlaws | 96 | 66 | .593 | - |
| Leicestershire Foxes | 81 | 81 | .500 | 15.0 |
| Worcestershire Royals | 79 | 83 | .488 | 17.0 |
| Derbyshire Phantoms | 74 | 88 | .457 | 22.0 |
| Yorkshire Phoenix | 74 | 88 | .457 | 22.0 |
| Warwickshire Bears | 71 | 91 | .438 | 25.0 |
| Coastal Division | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Surrey Brown Caps | 99 | 63 | .611 | - |
| Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 96 | 66 | .593 | 3.0 |
| Kent Spitfires | 94 | 68 | .580 | 5.0 |
| Essex Eagles | 80 | 82 | .494 | 19.0 |
| Middlesex Crusaders | 80 | 82 | .494 | 19.0 |
| Sussex Sharks | 48 | 114 | .296 | 51.0 |
It was a season to remember for Jim Gentile. He was one of the most dangerous men in league when he had a bat in his hand and the British announced today that he had won the Batsman of the Year Award for the year 1923.
The Surrey first baseman shellshocked opposing moundsmen with a .283 batting average, 22 doubles, 1 triple, 47 four-balls and 121 RBIs while compiling a .442 on-base percentage and scoring 115 runs.
The annual awards banquet is this weekend. All of the major award winners will be there to be honored for their outstanding achievements this past season.
This year the British spotlight fell on George Ruth of the Northamptonshire Steelbacks. What a 1923 season he had!
A fine 18-9 won-lost record, 2.13 ERA, 30 starts, 262.1 innings and 182 strikeouts -- a season good enough to get him the BL Bowler of the Year Award.
All of the award-winning players will be honored this weekend at the annual awards dinner.
Ruben Sierra, Leicestershire's right fielder, won the British Youth of the Year Award for 1923.
To take the honor he put up some good numbers, including a .302 batting average, 42 four-balls and 122 RBIs.
The Baseball Writers Association will present his trophy to him at the annual gathering this weekend.
Fans may not always be aware of the importance of defence in baseball. A great defensive star isn't always appreciated as much as the flashy slugger. But both have their place in the game.
Solid defense can give a team the edge in close games or close pennant races. That's why the scribes will honor the top defensive players tonight at its annual sports banquet where this year's Defender of the Year Award trophies will be presented. The British will honor its best gloves for this past season:
| Celtic Standings | ||||
| Cumbria Division | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Lancashire Lightning | 84 | 78 | .519 | - |
| Limavady Greyhounds | 82 | 80 | .506 | 2.0 |
| Larne Pirates | 81 | 81 | .500 | 3.0 |
| Durham Dynamos | 77 | 85 | .475 | 7.0 |
| Lurgan Setters | 61 | 101 | .377 | 23.0 |
| Buckie Whalers | 43 | 119 | .265 | 41.0 |
| Cornish Division | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Clontarf Bulls | 104 | 58 | .642 | - |
| Hampshire Hawks | 103 | 59 | .636 | 1.0 |
| Gloucestershire Gladiators | 96 | 66 | .593 | 8.0 |
| Somerset Sabres | 87 | 75 | .537 | 17.0 |
| Pembroke Red Foxes | 84 | 78 | .519 | 20.0 |
| Glamorgan Dragons | 70 | 92 | .432 | 34.0 |
One of the Celtic's most coveted honors is the Batsman of the Year Award. When all the votes were tabulated, the 1923 recipient was the standout first baseman of the Lancashire Lightning, Steve Hertz
He starred this season with a .259 batting average, 147 hits, 43 four-balls, 128 RBIs, .395 OBP and 101 runs scored.
This weekend Hertz will be honored by the Baseball Writers Association at its annual awards dinner.
This weekend all of the stars of the 1923 season will be honored at the Baseball Writers Association annual awards banquet. Hampshire's superb starter, Jack Taylor, will be there to receive his trophy for the Celtic Bowler of the Year Award.
He was the league's premier pitcher this past season with a 27-14 mark. He started 46 games for Durham and Somerset, hurled 363.2 innings, fanned 143 strikeouts and crafted a 2.95 ERA. The 27-year-old Hawks ace held opponents to a .257 batting average.
1923 was a very good year for Jimmy Wood. In his debut season the Hampshire rookie rapped out a .323 batting average with 189 hits in 585 at-bats, 8 four-balls, 70 RBIs, walked 54 times and had a .377 OBP. Numbers healthy enough to haul in the Celtic Youth of the Year Award.
He will pick up his trophy as the league's best rookie this weekend at the annual awards meeting.
Making the play is the mark of great defenders. Spearing a liner, diving in the hole or crashing headlong into the wall makes no difference to these awe-inspiring fielders. Magicians they sometimes appear to be, showing up out of nowhere to rob a batter of a hit and to turn a hit into an out.
Pitchers love 'em, batters curse 'em...and fans are sometimes speechless. These defensive wizards will collect their 1923 Celtic Defender of the Year Awards tonight:
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