The 1901 Legacy Baseball League season was yet another exercise in futility for the Pittsburgh Oilers. In all seven years of their existence, the Oilers have failed to achieve a winning record.
The Oilers’ mind-numbing ineptitude that has characterized their franchise since its inception has left many to wonder when there will ever be a change of culture.
The frustration is clearly starting to boil over, as evidenced by the scene in the Oilers’ locker room following the final game of the season. They had just defeated the Athletics, but their minds were elsewhere.
The murmuring of a disgruntled Oilers team seeped into the cold and cruel air of the clubhouse. The irritated stream of voices were occasionally interrupted by outbursts of profanity, and it stayed that way for several minutes. The murmuring gradually descended into silence.
The silence was interrupted by the hollering of one of the Oilers players. “I’m sick and tired of all this bullshit. Same old, same old. Another year and another sorry excuse for a baseball team disgracing the city of Pittsburgh.”
The booming remarks were courtesy of Oilers’ LF Randy Sliger, who captured the attention of everyone in the room at a moment’s notice.
Sliger continued, his tone more gentle this time. “They tell me it’s just a child’s game, and maybe they’re right. But there’s glory to be had in this game.” He paused once again, and grew a bit nervous when he registered how many sets of eyes were latched on to him, and how many sets of ears were clinging to his every word. He cleared his throat and steadied himself. “I’m a competitive man. I don’t like to be bested. And in all my years with this ballclub, losing is all I have been able to experience. The only joy on the field that I have been around is that of our opponents.”
Sliger’s audience exchanged looks with one another, and took well to his speech. Following it, the room was quiet but filled with energy. A newfound sense of motivation and inspiration had seeped into the Oilers ballplayers, and all it took was the passionate words of one of the teams’ leaders.
Randy had one more thing to say.
He worked his way through the crowd of players before finding veteran Donald Henwood and bringing him to the front of the room in front of everyone else. Then Randy spoke:
“If not for me, do it for this man. I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more deserving of experiencing the thrill of winning than this man right here.”
Henwood, the humble man that he is, responded as one would expect.
“I’m flattered by that comment, Randy. But we all deserve it. Each and every one of us.” One thing was certain: when Henwood spoke, the young men would listen. It was apparent that everyone present took Henwood’s words to heart.
A circle was formed in the middle of the room, and all the ballplayers reached their hand to the center. On the count of three, they all raised their hands to the ceiling in cheer.
Sliger concluded by thanking everyone for lending an ear, and then offered the entire team an invitation.
“Champagne at my house. You’re all invited. Except maybe you, John Oxenden. You old enough to drink yet?” Sliger seemed pleased with his tease of Oxenden, as corroborated by the grin that lingered on his face.
Sliger swung his arm around John Oxenden and put him in a headlock.
“Just joshing with you Johnny,” Sliger remarked.
Oxenden rolled his eyes as the pair began heading to Sliger’s residence with the rest of the team.
“I don’t know how I put up with you, Randy. But you sure know how to hit a baseball, so I ‘spose I’ll be putting up with you for a lot longer.”
A reinvigorated sense of camaraderie set in as the sunset fell over Pittsburgh. Arms over one another’s shoulders, the Oilers disappeared into the calm night.
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A week after Sliger’s clubhouse speech took place, a number of gentlemen on the Pittsburgh streets were surveyed regarding their thoughts of the Oilers’ franchise. The results weren’t so rosy.
Some said they didn’t know of the Oilers’ existence, some said they couldn’t name a player, some said they despise baseball – the list goes on. The survey goes to show that the Oilers have been largely unsuccessful in influencing the culture of Western Pennsylvania in any capacity.
Hardly anyone offered an optimistic or encouraging response.
The only optimistic response received was from 22 year old Bruce Stanley, a senior student of the University of Pittsburgh, who claims that he sees light at the end of the tunnel for the Oilers.
“What I see in store is the beginning of something great for our baseball club. We have John Oxenden, and he sure does look to be a gem. He could be a major factor in turning our woes around.”
“I dream one day that Oilers Ballpark will be packed to the brim and that this wonderful sport will extend its influence throughout the nation, especially in Pittsburgh.”
Asked on his thoughts of baseball as a whole, Stanley offered more positivity.
“I think the Legacy Baseball League is just getting started. The sport of baseball, in my estimation, will only gain traction over time. This is the start of something great.”
Bruce Stanley concluded by saying, “I hope the higher-ups in the Oilers’ organization catch wind of this interview. Maybe they’ll let me in for 25 cents instead of 59!”