1921 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team

1921 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball
SIAA Champions
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1921 record 20–5 (14–4 SIAA)
Head coach Byrd Douglas
Captain Julian Thomas
Home stadium Curry Field

The 1921 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represented the Vanderbilt Commodores of Vanderbilt University, winning the SIAA championship.[1] By May 29, the team had hit over .225 for the season, garnering 27 home runs, 17 triples, 26 doubles, 107 singles, and a total of 138 hits for 326 bases with 54 stolen bases.[2]

The Commodores were coached by Byrd Douglas, Vanderbilt alumnus, and later star catcher of the Princeton baseball team. The yearbook claimed the season's success was "due almost entirely to one man," namely Douglas.[1][3]

The 1921 Vanderbilt Commodores football team also won an SIAA title. Frank Godchaux, Doc Kuhn, Tot McCullough, and Jess Neely were also members of the football team.

Regular season

Vanderbilt's yearbook The Commodore states that in a 1921 game against Southwestern Presbyterian University, the team achieved a world record in scoring 13 runs in one inning, after two men were out. The Tennessean recalls the event: "Neely singled as did Kuhn; Neil fanned but Thomas got his third straight hit and both tallied. Big Tot got hit by a pitched ball and Smith was safe on a fielder's choice with one out. Woodruf flied out to right. Tyner slammed one to center which Jetty juggled and everybody advanced a pair of sacks. Ryan was safe on another error and two runs came over. Neely beat out his second hit of the inning and Kuhn walked. Neil walked. Thomas was safe on an error and Big Tot McCullough picked one over the right field fence, clearing the sacks--but oh, what's the use? Why continue?"[1] Joe Smith hit a grand slam as well, and Manning Brown got a homer.[4]

In the game against Camp Benning (GA), Neill netted a home run with a fly ball to left field, which bounced off the outfielder's knee for a home run.[5]

The Kentucky game on May 17 and the Princeton game both went into extra innings.

From June 6 to June 15 the Commodores had an Eastern trip carrying them through Kentucky, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.[3][6]

Schedule/Results

1921 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball game log

Roster

Coaches

Name Position
Byrd Douglas Head Coach
Strat Foster Manager

Players

Name Position
A. Bell 2B
Bell 3B
B. Brown OF
Manning Brown OF
Buckner C
Coston RHP
Slim Embry RHP
Frank Godchaux C
Joe Hatcher C
Hawkins C
Hi Hightower C
Huckaby OF
Doc Kuhn SS
Lewis 2B
Bunny Luton OF
Tot McCullough 1B/OF/LHP
McDonald OF
McDonnell SS
McGinnis OF
Bob McNeilly RHP
Jess Neely OF
Scotty Neill SS/2B/INF
Boots Richardson LHP
Riley RHP
Rudolph RHP
Tom Ryan RHP
Sherrod RHP
Joe Smith OF
Paul Stumb RHP
Julian Thomas 1B
Mims Tyner C
Williams OF
Fish Wilson 2B/INF
Wooden 3B
Tobe Woodruf 3B

Statistical Leaders

Wins
Slim Embry 9
Boots Richardson 5
Tot McCullough 4
Home Runs
Scotty Neill 13

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bill Traughber. "The Historic 1921 VU Baseball Team".
  2. ↑ "Sport Chat". Lexington Herald. May 29, 1921.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vanderbilt University (1922). The Commodore. pp. 135–137.
  4. ↑ "Wildcats Don't Let it Happen Here". Lexington Herald. April 15, 1921.
  5. ↑ "Benning Loses To Vanderbilt". Columbus Ledger. May 20, 1921.
  6. ↑ Byrd Douglas (1922). The Science of Baseball: A Text-book of "inside" Baseball Completely Covering Every Department and Phase of Baseball--how to Play and Coach the Game. p. 173.