By Drew Visscher
RICHMOND RIFLES: 1903 SEASON REVIEW
Following a dramatic nine-game series against the Saint Louis Beavers, the Rifles of Richmond secured their first Legacy Cup at home with an excellent Game 9 performance from hometown hero Ivy “Iron Horse” Maw.
A surprise contender for the 1903 title, the seasoned Richmond roster enjoyed an explosive offensive season with career performances by 3B Mike Thompson and 2B Ezra Fisher. Catcher Celestin The Machine Robley claimed his sixth Golden Bat, and 1B Grit Dixon provided another electric season.
Rebounding from a 3rd Place finish in 1902, GM Preston Kirby spent the 1902 offseason reorganizing the franchise, firing popular Manager Frank Selee and hiring the little-known Josh Denault from Boston.
Last season, Richmond removed themselves from Free Agency after a lackluster season by eating the contract of Ralph Bennett ($48k through 1904) in exchange for the infamous Marion Chattaway, who is owed another $91,000 through 1908. The deal saddled any hopes of competing on the Free Agent Market, but significantly reduced the length of debt and brought Bennett, an explosive offensive producer, to Libby Hill.
What followed the Bennett trade was a flurry of Reserve Roster maneuvers and player trades. Eric Carter was re-acquired from Twin Cities for a First Round draft pick. Pittsburgh hero Donald Henwood was dealt to Richmond for 1B Adam Rodenbaugh and 26-year old 2B Benny Bell. 37-Year-Old 2B Merrill Robinson was signed for $900. Doves Catcher Celestin “The Machine” Robley was shipped to the Rifles for 23-year-old LF Howard Robbins.
When the dust settled, Richmond coalesced into an aggressive and popular ballclub, not without their flaws, and certainly not favorited to win the Division—let alone the Eastern or Legacy Cup.
EARLY INNINGS
Richmond began 1903 with an underwhelming 5-8 stretch, splitting a series with longtime rival Brooklyn and losing series to a rejuvenated Providence club and the old Philadelphia leviathan. At the close of week 2, most Richmond fans were feeling the same 3rd-Place oppression that plagued 1902.
However, the two remaining weeks of April bore 10 wins in 11 matches. New acquisition Celestin Robley led an absolute barnstorm of the EL, with Grit Dixon managing 14 RBIs in the opening month. 38-year-old Donald Henwood scorched a 1.38 ERA in 4 Starts and 32 Innings Pitched. William Kynaston was close behind with 41 Strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA in 8 starts. Richmond surpassed Philadelphia on April 19th for the Division lead and never looked back.
MID-SEASON
In May, Richmond struggled to find consistency and fell behind Brooklyn and Providence in offensive production. Preston Kirby’s so-called “lefty-buster” offense failed to find potency against the South Paw-packed rotations of Brooklyn and Providence. Only Philadelphia seemed to have left-handed pitching figured out in May, batting .356 while no other team in the Eastern League could summon above .240. Somehow, Richmond scored the second-most runs in the EL in June with an unimpressive .239 Batting Average.
Richmond pitching was excellent in June. Ivy Maw recovered from a lackluster April and May, pitching 2.41 across 86 innings—his busiest month of the season. He looked like his old self when summer began, amassing 36 Strikeouts in 86 Innings. SP William “The Kid” Kynaston scorched earth across the EL in June, allowing just 6 Earned runs across 51 Innings. Donald Henwood posted a 1.96 ERA across 8 starts. It was a dazzling month of unhittable arm-work. Only the deadly arsenal of Brooklyn enjoyed better pitching numbers that month. 2B Ezra Fisher, LF Eric Carter, 3B Mike Thompson, and C Celestin Robley led an offensive charge, amassing a combined 42 RBIs and 37 Runs in June.
The Home Stretch
Well behind Brooklyn and Providence in Run Differential, Richmond fought an imperfect but respectable battle in July, winning 12 of 18. Despite losing 9 games of 16 to Philadelphia in 1903, the Richmond strategy to improve offense against left-handed pitching proved a crucial determining factor in their claim of the Liberty Division; that—and a great deal of luck. Some of that luck is captured in the player highlights below.
CF CELESTIN “THE MACHINE” ROBLEY
Likely the #1 contributor to Richmond success in 1903, newly acquired Robley dazzled fans at Libby Hill with his aggressive swing and superior defensive skills behind the plate. The 6-Time Golden Bat did not disappoint, posting a .338 AVG with 21 walks and 38 RBIs. He managed 16 Hits in the postseason, batting .320.
1B WILLIAM “GRIT” DIXON
Returning from a Greenhorn Cup performance in 1902, Dixon drove in 41 in 1903 and drew 42 walks. He tied the LBL-high 5 HR record for the season and posted 102 hits. Moving to First Base in 1903, Dixon lacks defensive prowess but proves a useful tool in Richmond’s exploits against South Paws. Dixon was #6 in On Base Percentage in the LBL and #5 in Walks and Runs Scored. 29-year-old Dixon is likely to man First Base for some time, posting the most plate appearances in the Eastern League (423).
3B MIKE THOMPSON
One of the few remaining original ’95 Rifles, Mike Thompson emerged from the depths of mediocrity and soared to a career season. Driving in 43 with 25 Walks, Thompson enjoyed a .414 On Base Percentage and proved one of the most efficient defensive Third Baseman in the league.
LF ERIC CARTER
A longtime outfielder who has worn 5 LBL uniforms in 9 years, the Arizona native enjoyed a .341 AVG in 1903. Starting in only half of the games in 1903, Carter emerged as the clear Left Field starter for Richmond by summertime.
SS RALPH BENNETT
The $48,000 man—Ralph Bennett drove in 45 and walked 35 times in the season. His .281 AVG was well below his usual mark—concerning, considering his unworldly price tag—but fans must not forget that Bennett’s true value is in the fact that his contract—unlike the traded Marion Chattaway’s—is up for arbitration next season. Given the 1903 results, it is difficult to argue that the gambit was not successful. Most suspect his numbers will increase in 1904.
SP IVY “IRON HORSE”MAW
While not comparable to his dominant era, Ivy Maw did improve at the mound in 1903, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and winning a season-high 24 games. His precision continued into the year, finishing sixth in K/BB. However, his high home run numbers proved troublesome once more, dragging his numbers down considerably. Many still wonder if Old Iron Horse, 34, still has the spark to produce pre-1902 numbers, where he dominated the Eastern League for five years. 1904 will be a key indicator if this downturn in production is permanent, or if Iron Horse can once again claim his two-time EL pitching crown.
SP DONALD HENWOOD
A pleasant surprise to all Richmond rooters, SP Donald Henwood, 38, went on a career run in his first (and only) year with the Richmond Rifles. The longtime Oiler and Pittsburgh native broke more than one heart when he came south to Virginia, where he put up top-5 numbers. Henwood blazed across his maiden year in the East, producing a 2.29 ERA across 251 IP. His BB/9 was the lowest in the EL at 0.8, and he posted a career-high 1.01 Walks + Hits per Innings Pitched. It was a splendid season for the old champion of the Steel City. As recent reports confirm that Donald is shipped back west for the great Matthew Holiday, his memory at Libby Hill will remain as the old sage who helped lead Richmond to their first Legacy Cup.
SP WILLIAM “KID” KYNASTON
The prodigy of the Richmond rotation, 28-year-old Kynaston provided another top performance at the mound. Earning a 2.21 ERA in 325 IP, what the Kid lacks in stamina he makes up for in consistent quality pitches. His earned runs reduced drastically in 1903, as Donald Henwood provided some much-needed breathing room for the high-movement, low-stamina pitcher. If Kynaston can continue to improve on his placement, his top-5 ERA will continue to make Richmond a successful pitching dynasty.
2B EZRA FISHER
Most fans were shocked to see the popular, longtime Richmond 2B relegated to platoon duties in 1903. Fisher, 30, is the last original Rifle on the current roster. Ezra posted an unreal .371 AVG in his platoon duties against lefties, driving in a season-high (tie) 5 Home Runs, driving in 22, and walking 10 times in just 105 at-bats. He also stole 15 bases and finished the regular season with a .424 On Base Percentage. Fisher, who first donned the Richmond maroon at 21 years old, has seen a great deal of change at Libby Hill. Just he and Mike Thompson, the two remaining original Rifles in 1903, witnessed Richmond’s rise from the worst to best team in baseball. If anyone can mark a 20-year career in the Virginia Maroon, it is old reliable Ezra.
CF ROBBIE SALMON
Fans and experts alike are agape at the collapse of longtime hero Robbie Salmon in 1903, who sunk to a shell of his former offense. Salmon, 33, fell from a .329 AVG in 1902 to just .234 in 1903. While new offensive producers mitigated the damage, Salmons near-inability to hit left-handed pitching was a serious detriment against the Whales and Angels. However, the longtime Center Fielder still managed 26 walks and 40 RBIs—more than he drove in in 1902. Fans are confident that Salmon will return to a version of his old self in 1904. If not, there are desperately few Center Field options available to Richmond.
C JOSH HOLMES
Taking 23 of the 98 starts in 1903, Holmes surrendered full-time dish duties to Celestin Robley. However, the Galloway, PA native still managed a .310 average at the near-bottom of the order and did not strike out a single time. 10 of his 31 hits were for extra bases. Holmes is likely to reduce in playtime even further in 1904 as his defense wanes—and 31-year-old Robley continued to dominate behind the plate both as a batter and backstop. However, he is a comfortable backup at the plate for any Manager.
Looking Forward
With a recent blockbuster trade sending pitching legend Matt Holiday to Richmond in exchange for 3B Mike Thompson, SS Clyde Berrow, and other pieces, Richmond is clearly looking to stay competitive in the 1904 season. Hamstringed for another year by the costly Bennett contract, Richmond looks to boast one of the best rotations in baseball, with potent offensive producers like Ralph Bennett and Grit Dixon ready to face a dangerous Providence, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia lineup. Much of Richmond’s fate will lie in the ability to produce runs and improve defense in 1904. With precious little room to maneuver, 1904 will largely be left up to fate.
It is no secret that the old gents of Libby Hill are getting on in age—while other franchises move toward models of young, high-strikeout and left-handed pitchers, the stubborn Rifles refuse to maneuver from the high-accuracy, long-inning pitching and contact hitting. Richmond steals few bases, but they also enjoy the best stolen base percentage in the LBL. It is a restrained and gentlemanly team—nearly unrecognizable from the rowdy, aggressive Cotton-Ballers who formed this club nearly a decade ago. They are focused and judgmental, much like the upper society that lines the rows of Libby Hill each game day. Will Preston Kirby’s no-nonsense, traditional format continue to yield results, or are the glory days of Richmond concluded with this unlikely, glorious victory in 1903?