[Rarebooks] baseball item #9 from the Norman Kane collection (FS)

[Peter B. Howard]

- THE DUROCHER BOYS -
Leo a lousy hitter even then!
(M.L. career, 1925-1945,  B.A. =  .247)

1913-1918       West Springfield High School Baseball Scorebook, 
1913-1918.  Springfield, MA: Printed by Loring-Axtell Co, for the Victor 
Sporting Goods Co. (nd) Oblong format, original maroon cloth, 8 1/4 “ x  11 
½”, covers worn.  Adverts on pastedowns for tennis, golf, football, and the 
Victor League Baseball; Victor Baseball uniforms; Victor PATENT Strap 
Catchers’ mitts; Victor baseball shoes; and Victor baseball masks.   Victor 
had both office and factory in Springfield, and the model description for 
this book is “Victor (The O. P. Caylor System) Baseball Score Book In 
accordance with National League requirements.”  45 games are scored, of 
which WSHS won about 17, the scoring chiefly in pencil, one hand 
predominates.  The Caylor System is explained in the prelims.

         As it happens, Leo Durocher was born in West Springfield, MA on 
July 27, 1905, and here he started his baseball career. His older brother, 
playing left field for West Springfield High School enters the lineup first 
against Palmer, date unrecorded [1914?], but it is definitely after the 
game vs North End played Tuesday, June 17,1913.  Leo would be 8 at this 
time.  Maybe he kept this scorebook!  His brother led off, doubled in four 
at bats and played left field.  WSHS was clobbered (2-12).   His second 
game is April 25, 1914, a league game vs. Amherst, where he went one for 
three, scoring in the first inning. WSHS lost (3-4).  Thereafter:


Monday April 27, 1914 vs Cathedral High.  One for 5, scoring in the first & 
second.  WSHS lost 11-10 (three straight!)


May 6, 1914 vs Springfield.  Three for five.  WSHS again clobbered (7-15).


Date not recorded, vs. Chicopee. Zero for four, but walked and scored to 
open the game.  WSHS wins 13-9.


Thursday, May 14, 1914.  vs. Holyoke.  Zero for five. Clobbered (1-9).


Saturday May 16, 1914.  vs. Wilbraham.  One for five. Beaten (2-5)


Date not recorded vs. Westfield. One for five, 2 strikeouts. Beaten (9-10).


May 22, 1914 vs. Amherst M.A.C.  One for three, a double; two walks. 
Victory (6-3)


May 25, 1914 vs Forest Park. Zero for five. Again clobbered (5-13).


May 27, 1914 vs. South Hadley Falls, Two for five, with a stolen base. 
Victory (12-2).


May 30, 1914 vs. Westfield.  One for three after five innings. Scoring 
ceases (rainout?). Probable loss (2-7)


June 3, 1914 vs. North Springfield at the Union Grounds. One for four. 
Victory (3-0)


June 5, 1914 vs Chicopee at Lincoln Park.  Zero for five. Clobbered (4-10)


June 10, 1914 vs Holyoke H.S.  Zero for four and again his team clobbered 
(4-16). He struck out three times, but (and?) was involved in a double play.

         Leo's brother was 14 for 70 in our scorebook, when he 
disappears.  Leo, meanwhile, coming on behind, was soon in deep trouble in 
school, for slapping a teacher.  He was suspended or expelled, never to 
return.  Rather he took to baseball. In the sandlots.  On May 16, 1918, Leo 
Durocher first appears in our scorebook, likely the earliest surviving 
record of his appearance in a baseball game.   He plays shortstop, his 
life-long natural position.  As a major leaguer, Durocher played 1,509 
games at short, 98 at second (mostly in his first three seasons), and one 
at third base. The game here is between Main Street and Park Avenue, 
pick-up teams may we presume, at the Park Street diamond.   He heads the 
lineup and scores in the first inning, steals a base in the second inning 
after getting on via a fielders choice. Strikes out in the fifth, gets on 
base on an error in the sixth; singles in the eight.  One for five.  He 
would remain a lousy hitter all his life. Like his older brother.  His team 
wins (11-6).  This is the last game scored in this book.  Perhaps Leos 
brother kept the score.

Leo Durocher would join the Yankees briefly at the age of 20.  Thirty-six 
years later he will lead the New York Giants to victory in the World 
Series.  He managed 5 teams to 2008 victories, losing 1709 (.540), and was 
elected as a manager to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 
1994.  He had been also a superb fielder.  Leo Durocher died October 7, 
1991, Palm Springs, California.

In the Kane Collection may be found the following base ball scoring 
systems, usually at the date indicated:

                         1877    A. G. Spalding system (example offered here)
                         1890    Harry Wright system (offered at 1890)
                 1913    O. P. Caylor System (offered here)
                         1919    Frank Johnson Simple System
                 1935    Jack Ryder System
                         1940    Gilbert’s Improved System

$1500.00


Peter B. Howard
Serendipity Books
1201 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
voice: (510) 841-7455
fax: (510) 841-1920
e-mail: pbhoward at serendipitybooks.com
http://www.serendipitybooks.com