Murderer's Row

This year marks the 80th anniversary of arguably the greatest team in baseball history. The 1927 Yankees led by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig slugged their way to a then record 110 wins. The Philadelphia A's finished a distant 19 games back with 91 victories. Lead by Ruth's 60 home runs, which was more than any team total, the Yankee's 158 home runs was more than a third of the league total of 439 (The A's had the next highest total with just 56). Yankee's opponents managed only 42 home runs.





These two made Manny and Big Papi look like little leaguers




Gehrig drove in 175 runs, which amazingly would only be the 2nd highest total of his career. He and Ruth provided an unparalleled 1-2 punch. The Iron Horse's 47 home runs were more than 4 other teams and he and Ruth combined for 339 RBI. They didn't do too poorly hitting for average either as Gehrig hit a torrid .373 and Ruth a not-too-shabby, .356 (Harry Heilmann lead the lead at .398). They both walked over 100 times as well. They weren't alone though. The lineup also included fellow Hall of Famers Tony Lazzeri (.383-18-102) and Earl Combs (.356).

The team's hitters have always been talked about, but not much attention has been paid to the teams pitchers. The Yankees had a league best 3.20 ERA. There was no Cy Young award in those days, but future Hall of Famer Waite Hoyt certainly could have won it. Hoyt completed 23 of his 32 starts in compiling a 22-7 record with a 2.63 ERA. Urban Shocker (18 and what a great name), Hall of Famer Herb Pennock (19) and Wilcy Moore (19) nearly joined him. Saves were not a category back then, but baseball historians have mined through the stats and determined that Moore had 13 of them in addition to his very good win total and a league best 2.28 ERA.

Mention of course has to be made of the manager as well. Miller Huggins, who was inducted in 1964, took the Yankees to their first 6 World Series. If today's media existed back then, he probably would have fallen into the same trap as Joe Torre. "All he has to do is fill out the lineup card". If only it were that simple. Huggins' died less than a month after the conclusion of the 1929 season. He was just 51.

Needless to say the World Series was no contest. The Yankees swept a Pittsburgh Pirates team that was lead by the Lloyd Waner, Paul Waner and Pie Traynor. Ruth slugged the series only 2 home runs and drove in a team high 7 runs. Shortstop Mark Koenig hit .500 (9-18). Moore saved Game 1 and pitched a complete game in the series final game.

Murderer's Row indeed...this team could scare the hell out of anyone.