Читать книгу No Money, No Beer, No Pennants. The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Great Depression онлайн

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George Burns fit the category of an aging veteran, but still had his moments on the field. Burns was the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1926. His statistics that year were amazing, batting .358, with 216 hits, a league leading sixty-four doubles, and 115 RBIs. As the reigning MVP, Burns received a salary boost to $12,000 a year, but the following season his numbers dropped considerably. At age thirty-four, Burns could still hit, but he was on the inevitable decline. Billy Evans had a decision to ponder at first base.

George Uhle, born and raised in Cleveland, was the ace of the Indians pitching staff. He had won over twenty games three times, the most recent being twenty-seven wins in 1926. Uhle was one of the few pitchers in the American League that Babe Ruth did not terrorize. Though Ruth hit over .300 against George, his home runs were few and far between. That in itself was quite an accomplishment.

Luke Sewell was a fine complement to his older brother Joe. Though he generally hit around .250, he always got his bat on the ball. The Sewell brother just did not strike out. Luke was an exceptional defensive catcher, several times leading the American League in assists. His percentage in throwing out base runners was well above average. For some years he sat on the bench behind Steve O’Neill and Glenn Myatt, but he grabbed playing time when the Indians traded O’Neill to Boston. Luke was a durable catcher, playing over 120 games a year. This was one position manager Peckinpaugh did not have to concern himself with.