July 25, 1904 – by Ronald Schmidt In 1902, the Brooklyn Whales became the second team to win three Legacy Cups but the first to defend the Cup twice. Smart managing in the background formed a legacy that was out for a fourth title. After 72 wins in 1902 – another record – nobody looked…
Author: Martin Pitsch
A Close Finish
July 17, 1904 – by Ronald Schmidt On July 9, the impossible happened: the Richmond Rifles caught up to Philadelphia. It resulted from a mediocre June in which the Brewers only won half of their games while the Rifles won 18 out of 28. Richmond continued the good run and won seven out of their…
Whitey’s 300th
It was a partly cloudy day in Philadelphia on April 29th, 1904, when Stephen Millington picked up the ball on the mount of Boeselager Stadium. For most, it was the 25th game of the season. So far, it was a good season. Sixteen wins and eight losses ensured the division lead. The offense was explosive,…
1904 Philadelphia Brewers Season Preview
“You damned island monkey! I hope you catch a disease on the way back!” The door to the dining room of Sir Patrick William Downing’s mansion slammed shut. An awkward silence filled the room. The Boeselager brothers looked at each other before looking at their host. “Maybe you should have reduced this to your birthday…
1903 Philadelphia Brewers Season Review
1903 saw three different division champions compared to the previous season. Unfortunately, the Eastern League Liberty Division crowned a king, too. The Richmond Rifles reclaimed the throne and crushed the Philadelphia Brewers’ season goals of defending the title. New players As soon as the Brewers played their final game in 1902, Kirby Hocking was on…
Miss Annie’s Last Sour Balls
Germantown, Philadelphia – Christmas Eve 1902. Kirby Hocking and Martin Pitsch walked around the Christmas Market organized by the Germantown Cricket Club. It was noon, falling snow covered the streets, and the first stands closed down. After four days, most sold their goods and wanted to go home. Unlike the typical American, most German-Americans stick…
1903 Philadelphia Brewers Season Preview
The Philadelphia Brewers bounced back from a subpar 1901 season and surprised the league by winning the division easily. Then, in the League Cup, the Brooklyn Whales ended the Brewers’ dream of another title since 1898. Martin Pitsch, Philadelphia Brewers GM, and Kirby Hocking, the organization’s player oracle, met to discuss the upcoming season in…
1902 Philadelphia Brewers Season Review
After a horrendous 1901 season, the Brewers weren’t on anyone’s list for a postseason appearance. The team came in third with the worst franchise record, and there was a lot of work for the club leadership. Although Philadelphia bounced back successfully, the gap to the defending champions was scaringly big. New additions The Brewers fired…
The Journey of Mr Hocking
In 1901, shortly after the offseason began in the LBL, Philadelphia Brewers General Manager Martin Pitsch went on a crusade to significantly improve the roster and the staff. Pitsch sacked Jeff Asher, who acted as the Scouting Director since 1895, and attempted to hire Frank Letwin. The Rifles snagged him with a $10,000 contract, but…
A game of Skat or What went wrong in 1901?
It was a bitter Fourth of July in Philadelphia. The Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in the hometown of the Philadelphia Brewers precisely 125 years ago, and the Brewers wanted to deliver a title on such an anniversary. The Boeselager brothers, Karl and Walt, sat down with their General Manager, Martin Pitsch. The…