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Years the League Operated 1915
1916
1917
1918
1920
Standings and League Leaders |
Class D, Blue Ridge League
- Chapter 9
Original Photo by Clowes Studio, Martinsburg, WV. Courtesy of
Aaron Z. Snyder of Chesnut Hill, MA
1924 League Champions – Martinsburg Blue
Sox
From Left to Right – Front Row, - Nicolai, ss; Carlin, 1b; Kline, c-1b;
Woodring, c;
Middle Row – Sherling, of; Balis, p; Bill Curtis, mgr/of; Dave Black, 2b; Back Row – Dave Sothern, of; Adamson, p; Willis, p; George “Reggie” Rawlings, of; Andrews, p. Not pictured – “Hank” Hulvey, p-3b-of.
The 1924 Class D, Blue Ridge League
season proved to be an exciting exhibition of baseball, as the defending
champion, Martinsburg Blue Sox, successfully retained their league title
by the closest margin of victory in league history. Martinsburg,
managed by Bill Curtis, finished the season with 59 wins and 38 losses,
good for a .608 winning percentage. The Blue Sox closest rival, the
Hagerstown Hubs, managed by former league player, James Kieffer “Bugs”
Snyder, won 60 games, but lost 39 contests, finishing with a .606 win
percentage, just two-one hundredths of a percent behind the Blue Sox.
Hagerstown had led the league standings for most of the season, before
Martinsburg caught them the final days of the season to take the title
away from them.
Martinsburg was led by veteran
outfielder, George “Reggie” Rawlings, who led the league with a .379
batting average, 31 doubles, 21 home runs, and 152 hits. Outfielder
Dave Sothern and 2nd Baseman Dave Black were among the key
players on the Blue Sox pennant winning club.
The Hagerstown club was led by a trio
of hitters, first baseman Bill Satterlee, who batted .353, outfielder
George Thomas (.348), and catcher Strickler (.347). Snyder batted .307,
and 2nd baseman Luke Kaunas, shortstop Boyle, and 3rd
baseman Joe Conti anchored one of the best infields in the league. The
Hubs also brought in former Frederick ace pitcher, Bill King, to finish
out the season, but to no avail.
The remaining four clubs finished
below .500. Chambersburg finished a distant third place finishing 47-52
(.479 win pct.), while Hanover was fourth (44-53, .454 pct). Frederick
was a distant fifth (44-56, .440 pct), and Waynesboro rounded out the
standing at 40-56 (.417 pct).
Among the future Major
Leaguers sprinkled around the league that season included Frederick
outfielder Chick Fullis, who finished second behind Rawlings with a .353
batting average, and pitcher/outfielder “Hank” Hulvey. Al Kendricks,
who pitched six games for Hagerstown, also made cup of coffee in the
show.
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End Chapter Nine
Newspaper clippings credited to
www.newspaperarchives.com and
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