DMB-Blog
1921 Deluxe Past Season with transactions and lineups available now!
1921: What a Babe!
by Steve Ehresman
The Yanks had gone “over there” and come home victorious. Warren G. Harding was sworn in as the 29th President of the United States. Former President William Howard Taft became Chief Justice of the United States. Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with polio while on vacation. In football’s “upset of the century,” Centre College defeated Harvard University 6-0, snapping the Crimson’s five-year winning streak. Popular literature included Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan the Terrible and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s collection of short stories Flappers and Philosophers. A White Castle hamburger restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas, forming the nation’s first fast-food chain. Charlie Chaplin wrote, produced, and directed the full-length silent comedy-drama film The Kid, featuring his Little Tramp character. The first radio baseball game was broadcast with Harold Arlin calling the Phillies-Pirates game from Forbes Field.
As Prohibition dried-out America, Al Capone grew his criminal empire in Chicago, and the Twenties began to roar, Babe Ruth enjoyed a season for the ages, leading the Pinstripes to their first American League pennant. Only the St. Louis Browns and the Washington Senators had never hoisted a championship flag. The Babe slammed 59 home runs to break his own year-old record of 54 long balls. In addition, Ruth scored 177 runs, collected 171 RBI, and produced 457 total bases—all of which were new MLB records. Along the way, Ruth swatted his 137th career home run (eclipsing Roger Connor’s record mark of 136), legged out 16 triples, walked 144 times, stole 17 bases, batted .378, and slugged .846. Despite the fact that the 1920s are considered a Golden Age in American sports, no one measured up to The Colossus of Clout, known to his teammates simply as “Jedge.”
Ruth’s other-worldly numbers overshadowed superb contributions by his teammate Bob Meusel, who was tied for runner-up in home runs with 24 and third in RBI with 135. Further, Meusel smashed 40 doubles and--like Ruth--recorded 16 triples and 17 stolen bases. First-sacker Wally Pipp was a superb hitter in the clutch, driving in 97 runs and swiping 17 bases, while hitting .296. Amid this explosion of offense, the unheralded Yankee pitching staff performed remarkably. Leading the way were Carl Mays (49 G, 38 GS, 30 CG, 337 IP, 27-9, 3.04), along with newly-acquired stars Waite Hoyt (44 G, 32 GS, 21 CG, 282 IP, 19-13, 3.10), and Bob Shawkey (38 G, 31 GS, 21 CG, 245 IP, 18-12, 4.08).
Despite their prowess, the Yankees had difficulty shaking the defending World Champion Cleveland Indians, who finally ran out of gas in September, succumbing by only 4.5 games. Tris Speaker (52 2B, 14 3B, .362), Larry Gardner (115 RBI, .319), and Stan Coveleski (43 G, 40 GS, 29 CG, 316 IP, 23-13, 3.36) kept Cleveland competitive in their season-long duel with New York.
Although St. Louis finished a distant 3rd, the Browns were putting together a team that was primed to make noise in the near future. Leading the way at the plate were George Sisler (38 2B, 16 3B, 104 RBI, 35 SB, .371), William “Baby Doll” Jacobson (34 2B, 14 3B, .352), Ken Williams (31 2B, 24 HR, 117 RBI, 20 SB, .347) and Jack Tobin (31 2B, 18 3B, .352). Sisler (216), Jacobson (211), and Tobin (236) all collected more than 200 hits. Urban Shocker starred on the mound (47 G, 39 GS, 31 CG, 327 IP, 27-12, 3.55).
Buried deep in the standings was the stellar outfield of the Detroit Tigers, featuring batting champion Harry Heilmann (43 2B, 14 3B, 19 HR, 139 RBI, .394), Bobby Veach (43 2B, 13 3B, 16 HR, 128 RBI, 14 SB, .338), and “The Georgia Peach” Ty Cobb (37 2B, 16 3B, 101 RBI, 22 SB, .389). As a team, the Tigers batted .316. Relegated to second-tier teams, Walter “Big Train” Johnson of the Washington Senators (35 G, 32 GS, 25 CG, 264 IP, 143 K, 17-14, 3.51), “Sad Sam” Jones of the Boston Red Sox (40 G, 38 GS, 25 CG, 299 IP, 23-16, 3.22) and earned run leader Urban “Red” Faber of the Chicago White Sox (43 G, 39 GS, 32 CG, 331 IP, 25-15, 2.48) supplied pitching heroics.
As a whole, the American League batted .292 with Red Faber’s 2.48 the only earned run average below 3.00 and Walter Johnson’s 143 K leading all of Major League Baseball. Whereas the livelier ball was a boon to hitters in the Junior Circuit, pitchers sang a different song. Perhaps their own version of the blues. It should be noted, however, that both Urban Shocker and Red Faber were among the 17 legal spit-ball pitchers that Major League Ball allowed to practice their craft in 1921. Perhaps most amazing of all, All Sothoron (29 G, 22 GS, 11 CG, 178.1 IP, 13-8, 3.89), pitching for the St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox, did not yield a home run for the entire season.
Over in the National League, the New York Giants topped the Senior Circuit for the 7th time in John McGraw’s 19-year tenure at the helm. Whereas the Yankees captured the American League pennant by smashing 134 home runs, the Giants stole the National League pennant by swiping 137 bases.
Pre-eminent among the thieves, Frankie “The Fordham Flash” Frisch stole 49 bases to lead both Major Leagues. In addition, Frisch socked 31 doubles, 17 triples, and collected 100 RBI, en route to a .341 batting average. George “High Pockets” Kelly (42 2B, 23 HR, 123 RBI, .308) and Ross Youngs (24 2B, 16 3B, 102 RBI, 21 SB, .327) supplied additional firepower for the Giants. Art Nehf (41 G, 34 GS, 18 CG, 261 IP, 20-10, 3.62) led the pitching staff.
Just as the Yankees had difficulty shaking the Indians in the American League, the Giants dueled the dogged Pittsburgh Pirates, overtaking the slumping Steel City crew in September to claim the National League crown by 4 games. Relying on extra-base power, the Pirates legged-out 104 triples, with Charlie “Jolly Cholly” Grimm (21 2B, 17 3B) and Carson Bigbee (23 2B, 17 3B, 21 SB, .323) leading the way. In addition, the Pirates, true to their name, stole 134 bases, second only to the 137 recorded by the Giants. Perennial stolen base threat Max Carey (34 2B, 37 SB, .309) and Walter “Rabbit” Maranville (25 2B, 12 3B, 25 SB, .294) were the ring-leaders for Pittsburgh. On the mound, Wilbur Cooper (38 G, 38 GS, 29 CG, 327 IP, 22-14, 3.25) gave the Pirates a reliable ace.
The big story for the St. Louis Cardinals was Rogers Hornsby, making an emphatic case that he was baseball’s best right-handed hitter. Playing primarily second base, Hornsby hit 22 doubles, 18 triples, and 21 home runs, while driving in 126 runs, stealing 13 bases, and batting .397. Further, “The Rajah” led the National League in runs (131), hits (235), total bases (378), OBP (.458), and slugging (.639). Despite this excellence, Hornsby was not a one-man wrecking crew, as Jack Fournier (27 2B, 16 HR, >20 SB, .343) and Austin McHenry (37 2B, 17 HR, 102 RBI, .350) also inflicted damage on pitching staffs. One of the legal spit-ballers in 1921, “Spittin’ Bill” Doak (32 G, 29 GS, 13 CG, 209 IP, 18-12, 2.58) won the National League ERA title for the Cardinals, while issuing only 37 bases on balls.
Around the National League, another of legal spit-ballers, Burleigh Grimes of the Brooklyn Dodgers (37 G, 35 GS, 30 CG, 302 IP, 2.84), tied Pittsburgh’s Wilbur Cooper for wins at 22-13 and struck out a league-leading 136 batters. Joe Oeschger enjoyed a championship season for the mediocre Boston Braves (46 G, 36 GS, 19 CG, 299 IP, 20-14, 3.52), and Eppa Rixey of the Cincinnati Reds (40 G, 36 GS, 21 CG, 301 IP, 19-18, 2.78) yielded only one home, while the Red’s staff registered a record-low 308 strikeouts.
The 1921 season witnessed a best of nine World Series between Miller Higgins’ New York Yankees and John McGraw’s New York Giants. The “Subway Series” began with back-to-back shutouts by Carl Mays and Waite Hoyt, giving the Yankees a 2-0 advantage. Nevertheless, the Yanks dropped two of the next three games, Ruth went to the bench with an injury, and McGraw’s boys won the next three contests to capture the World Series. Although Ruth managed only one home run for the Series, he was the only Yankee to hit .300. In contrast, five Giants reached that mark.
In 1921, Major League Baseball overcame any lingering effects from the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, as Babe Ruth became the biggest drawing card in sports history. Meanwhile, the White Sox sank to seventh place in the American League with a dismal 62-92 record. Years before the ivy and left field bleachers, chewing gum magnate William Wrigley bought the Chicago Cubs. Our National Pastime was moving beyond its origins and entering an era of long balls, celebrities, and change. Ball players could even wear glasses, as evidence by rookie infielder George “Specs” Torporcer’s taking the field for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Diamond Mind Baseball recreates this memorable season in our nation’s sports annals. Dead ball stars like Ty Cobb were still schooling opponents on our nation’s diamonds; however, lively ball stars like Babe Ruth were pushing their way to the head of the class. Fans flocked to sporting contests as never before, and the brand of baseball they witnessed helped to set the stage for our modern game.
We are still living in The House That Ruth Built.
Presenting the 1921 Deluxe Past Season Database
This fully-featured database provides everything you need to recreate and manage games using teams and players from the 1921 season.
More than just an update to the original Classic Past Season database, this "deluxe" edition has been meticulously reconstructed from scratch as an entirely new database. Using advanced tools and incorporating the most recent statistical data gathered from the most up-to-date online sources.
Database contents:
- basic player facts: names, batting and throwing hands, birthdates
- official batting and pitching statistics, including left/right splits
- fielding statistics by position
- games started at each position against left- and right-handed pitchers
- thousands of player ratings that you can see: injury, bunting, range, running, throwing, and so on
- thousands more player ratings that you can't see: the event tables and pitch-by-pitch ratings that make the game produce accurate results
- opening day rosters for every team, plus 700 real-life transactions
- manager profiles for every team, including starting rotations, bullpen roles, saved lineups, depth charts, manager and player tendencies
- ballpark data, including dimensions, park factors, and weather ratings
- the original (as-scheduled) and as-played schedules for the season
- real-life starting lineups for every game played this season
Compatibility and Pricing:
The 1921 Deluxe Past Season database is available exclusively in version 12 format, priced at $24.95. This means it can only be installed with Diamond Mind Baseball: Version 12 and is not compatible with earlier versions of the game.
Upgrade Discount for the Classic Past Season:
If you've previously purchased the 1921 Classic Past Season database from Diamond Mind, you're eligible for an upgrade discount! To request your discount promotion code, send an email to dmb_info@imaginesports.com.
Quick Links:
1921 Deluxe Past Season Database
How to Install a DMB Season Database
2025 ZiPS Projections Database Now Available!
For 2025, we continue our partnership with Dan Szymborski to bring you our projections database featuring stats and ratings generated by Dan's highly regarded ZiPS projection system.
The 2025 ZiPS Projections database includes updated rosters that incorporate off-season player moves; the new schedule; projected batting and pitching stats for more than 3500 players, including many top prospects; and manager profiles set up with rotations, lineups, and depth charts that represent our assessment of how the players will be used during the season.
The 2025 ZiPS Projections database is priced at $24.95 and is available in version 12 format only. This means it can be installed with Diamond Mind Baseball: Version 12 but cannot be used with any other earlier version of the game.
Quick Links:
2025 ZiPS Projections Database
How to Install a DMB Season Database
1945 Deluxe Past Season with transactions and lineups available now!
A Look Back at the 1945 MLB Season
The 1945 Major League Baseball season was a wild ride, shaped by the ongoing effects of World War II. With many big-league sluggers still in the service, the door was wide open for lesser-known players and seasoned veterans to step up to the plate. Despite the roster shake-ups, fans were still treated to a season full of clutch performances and thrilling pennant races.
Regular Season Highlights With some of the game's biggest bats and arms still on the bench due to the war, teams had to dig deep into their farm systems. The Chicago Cubs came out swinging, capturing the National League crown with a 98-56 record. Phil Cavarretta had a season for the ages, hitting .355 en route to the NL MVP award, while ace Hank Wyse kept hitters guessing on the mound. In the American League, the Detroit Tigers scratched and clawed their way to the pennant with an 88-65 record, thanks in large part to the lights-out pitching of Hal Newhouser, who bagged his second straight AL MVP award. The shortage of players famously gave Pete Gray, a one-armed minor league outfielder, an opportunity to play with the St. Louis Browns in 1945, showcasing incredible determination and athleticism.
The 1945 World Series The Fall Classic was a real nail-biter, with the Cubs and Tigers trading blows in a seven-game showdown. In the end, Detroit came up clutch, sealing the deal in Game 7 behind a masterful complete-game performance from Newhouser. This series also gave birth to the infamous "Billy Goat Curse," after a Chicago tavern owner and his pet goat were booted from Wrigley Field, supposedly putting a hex on the Cubs. It would be the Cubs' last appearance in a World Series until 2016. An absence of 71 years.
Impact of War and Return of Stars As World War II neared its end, baseball was on deck for a dramatic transformation. With the conflict winding down, the game eagerly welcomed back its wartime heroes, signaling a long-awaited return to normalcy. Among them was Hank Greenberg, who had been in military service since May 1941. In a storybook comeback, he homered in his first game back with the Tigers on July 1, instantly reigniting Detroit’s offense. Another returning star, Bob Feller, who had been serving in the Navy since December 1941, wasted no time making an impact. On August 24, he took the mound for the Cleveland Indians and fanned 12 batters in a dominant 4-2 victory over the Tigers, proving he hadn’t lost his touch. The return of more star players loomed on the horizon, promising to restore the game's prewar brilliance. Meanwhile, a game-changing moment took place when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers’ minor league affiliate, setting the stage for baseball to break new ground.
Though it was a season played under unique circumstances, 1945 proved that baseball still had plenty of magic left in its bat. The Tigers took home the hardware, and with the sport poised for a new era, the best was yet to come.
Presenting the 1945 Deluxe Past Season Database
Revisit baseball’s Wartime Era with the 1945 Deluxe Past Season database. This fully-featured database provides everything you need to recreate and manage games using teams and players from the 1945 season.
More than just an update to the original Classic Past Season database, this "deluxe" edition has been meticulously reconstructed from scratch as an entirely new database. Using advanced tools and incorporating the most recent statistical data gathered from the most up-to-date online sources.
Database contents:
- basic player facts: names, batting and throwing hands, birthdates
- official batting and pitching statistics, including left/right splits
- fielding statistics by position
- games started at each position against left- and right-handed pitchers
- thousands of player ratings that you can see: injury, bunting, range, running, throwing, and so on
- thousands more player ratings that you can't see: the event tables and pitch-by-pitch ratings that make the game produce accurate results
- opening day rosters for every team, plus more than 850 real-life transactions
- manager profiles for every team, including starting rotations, bullpen roles, saved lineups, depth charts, manager and player tendencies
- ballpark data, including dimensions, park factors, and weather ratings
- the original (as-scheduled) and as-played schedules for the season
- real-life starting lineups for every game played this season
Compatibility and Pricing:
The 1945 Deluxe Past Season database is available exclusively in version 12 format, priced at $24.95. This means it can only be installed with Diamond Mind Baseball: Version 12 and is not compatible with earlier versions of the game.
Upgrade Discount for the Classic Past Season:
If you've previously purchased the 1945 Classic Past Season database from Diamond Mind, you're eligible for an upgrade discount! To request your discount promotion code, send an email to dmb_info@imaginesports.com.
Quick Links:
1945 Deluxe Past Season Database
How to Install a DMB Season Database
All-Time Greatest Teams #9 Now Available!
Diamond Mind Baseball proudly presents All-Time Greatest Teams Volume 9, the latest installment in our popular series celebrating the most legendary teams in baseball history! This new collection expands on our tradition of bringing the greatest teams of all time to life, allowing you to manage, strategize, and relive history in the most immersive way possible.
With 24 more iconic teams, this set continues our mission of ensuring that every league champion from 1919 onward is represented while also spotlighting exceptional squads that left an indelible mark on the game. Whether they dominated their era or captured the hearts of fans with thrilling performances, these teams are now at your fingertips!
As always, this set comes with a fully organized fictional league and schedule, so you can start playing right away. Will you guide these historic powerhouses to new heights or rewrite history with your own managerial genius?
Don’t miss your chance to own All-Time Greatest Teams Volume 9 – order now and step into the dugout with some of baseball’s all-time best!
Compatibility and Pricing:
The All-Time Greatest Teams #9 database is available exclusively in version 12 format, priced at $19.95. This means it can only be installed with Diamond Mind Baseball: Version 12 and is not compatible with earlier versions of the game.
Special Bundle Price! Buy any two All-time Greatest Teams databases and get the third for free! Add three All-time Greatest Teams databases (including Worst of the Worst Teams) to your cart and use shopping code AGTBUN to apply the discount at checkout.
Quick Links:
All-Time Greatest Teams #9 Database
1958 Deluxe Past Season with transactions and lineups available now!
The 1958 MLB season was a year of transformation and drama, highlighted by the league's westward expansion as the Dodgers and Giants made historic moves to California. The New York Yankees, led by stars like Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra, cemented their dynasty with a thrilling comeback victory over the Milwaukee Braves in the World Series. Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Willie Mays dazzled fans with their stellar performances, while Bob Turley claimed the Cy Young Award. This season marked a pivotal moment in baseball history, blending legendary feats with the dawn of a new era.
Presenting the 1958 Deluxe Past Season Database
Experience the excitement of the 1958 baseball season with the 1958 Deluxe Past Season database, now available for Diamond Mind Baseball. This comprehensive database provides everything you need to recreate and manage games using teams and players from the 1955 season.
Not merely an update to the original Classic Past Season database, this "deluxe" edition has been meticulously reconstructed from scratch as an entirely new database. Utilizing advanced tools and incorporating the most recent statistical data gathered from the most up-to-date online sources.
Database contents:
- basic player facts: names, batting and throwing hands, birthdates
- official batting and pitching statistics, including left/right splits
- fielding statistics by position
- games started at each position against left- and right-handed pitchers
- thousands of player ratings that you can see: injury, bunting, range, running, throwing, and so on
- thousands more player ratings that you can't see: the event tables and pitch-by-pitch ratings that make the game produce accurate results
- opening day rosters for every team, plus nearly 900 real-life transactions
- manager profiles for every team, including starting rotations, bullpen roles, saved lineups, depth charts, manager and player tendencies
- ballpark data, including dimensions, park factors, and weather ratings
- the original (as-scheduled) and as-played schedules for the season
- real-life starting lineups for every game played this season
Compatibility and Pricing:
The 1958 Deluxe Past Season database is available exclusively in version 12 format, priced at $24.95. This means it can only be installed with Diamond Mind Baseball: Version 12 and is not compatible with earlier versions of the game.
Upgrade Discount for the 1958 Classic Past Season:
If you've previously purchased the 1958 Classic Past Season database from Diamond Mind, you're eligible for an upgrade discount! You can buy the 1958 Deluxe Past Season database for a discounted price of $10. To request your discount promotion code, simply send an email to dmb_info@imaginesports.com.
Quick Links:
1958 Deluxe Past Season Database
How to Install a DMB Season Database
