The Boston Braves won both the pennant and World Series this year. They were called the "Miracle Braves", for they had spent much of the past decade in last place. Just three years earlier, the Braves had had the worst pitching staff ever known to Humankind. But they won, easily beating a powerful Giants team and a pitching-rich Cardinals team. In the World Series, they swept Connie Mack's great Philadelphia Athletics.
        The Miracle didn't last for long. The Braves had a couple more good seasons, but could not win another pennant. They then proceeded to spend roughly the next 30 years in last place.

         The biggest reason for the Braves' success was the enormous improvement in their pitching staff. Manager George Stallings was hired in 1913, and immediately began to acquire good pitchers. The best was Bill James, nicknamed "Seattle Bill", though he was actually born in Iowa Hill, California. James was 22 years old this year; he debuted as a rookie in 1913, and pitched pretty well. This year he exploded on the scene, and looked like he might be among the best pitchers in the league for the next 20 years. He was also a star in the World Series, where he won 2 games and threw a shutout.
        James was just a kid getting his first break. Dick Rudolph, on the other hand, was 27 years old, and was already nicknamed "Baldy". A few years earlier, Rudolph pitched in four games for the Giants, who promptly returned him to the minor leagues. Stallings rescued Rudolph in 1913, and Dick responded with a string of very good seasons for the Braves. He won two games in the World Series, allowing only two runs in 18 innings of work.
        There were other reasons for the Braves' success. Their pitchers were aided a great deal by the presence of a 22-year-old shortstop named Rabbit Maranville, who sucked up ground balls like a vacuum cleaner. But their glory days were brief; after his great season, James hurt his arm, and only threw 73 more innings the rest of his career. The Braves never recovered from James' injury, and by the end of the decade, Rudolph was finished as well. George Stallings was fired, and never managed in the big leagues again.
        Jeff Pfeffer had his first of three outstanding seasons for Brooklyn. Pfeffer was a pretty good pitcher, and is not to be confused with his brother, who also happened to be called Jeff Pfeffer, except that he was "Big Jeff Pfeffer" (though oddly enough, Jeff Pfeffer was taller and heavier than "Big" Jeff Pfeffer). Actually, Jeff Pfeffer's real name was Edward, and Big Jeff Pfeffer's real name was Francis, so I don't know who was trying to fool who.
        This was Bill Doak's best season. Doak pitched for 16 seasons, and was usually a good pitcher, winning 169 games in his career. "Spittin' Bill" lacked consistency, but he twice led the NL in ERA, and he won more games than he lost.