I picked New York because I thought this geographical area had the most talent during this tie frame, even after account for four people drafting against each other. I was disappointed to find out I drew the 4th pick, especially when I saw that Christy Mathewson went 3rd. With apologies to Ruth and Gehrig, I would've taken Christy first.
Since I have a double pick, I will give my comments for each two rounds.
Rounds #1-2
Ruth, Gehrig, Mathewson are off the board. As valuable as Schupp and Toney are, I cannot justify taking them this early. I take the best SP available, Russ Ford, and the best hitter available, Rogers Hornsby. I realize that there will be mostly deadball pitchers in this league, so I am avoiding hitters who hit a ton of homeruns. Hornsby only hit 26 HRs in 1927, and that is my team high.
Rounds #3-4
Five of the next 6 picks are pitchers, including Hubbell, Schupp, Toney, Keefe, Hubbell. Joltin' Joe was the only hitter taken. This worked out perfectly, as I was holding my breath to get Roger Connor. A high-average switch-hitter with A+++ range at 1B, Connor is one of my all-time favorite SIM players. I also went with big-inning SP Jack Chesbro,
Rounds #5-6
Mike Donlin, Mickey Welch, Spud Chandler, Whit Wyatt, Willie Mays and Bill Dickey are off the board. je3rd already has Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mays. Over/under for total HRs hit by those three = 61.5. At least they all hit for a high average and are excellent fielders. Once again, the two guys I was targeting made it back to me. Let's get my two long-reliever types, Art Nehf & Jim Hearn. As you know, bullpens were not typically manned by great pitchers, so you need a great short-inning SP to use out of the pen.
Rounds #7-8
Six hitters went, including Bill Terry, Jackie Robinson, Babe Herman, Frankie Frisch, Duke Snider & Freddy Lindstrom. All solid choices. The only player in this group I was considering was Lindstrom (I already have 1B, 2B covered). I grab two more high-average non-power hitters that can field. Another favorite of mine, switch-hitting shortstop, George Davis. I though about getting cute and grabbing Dave Bancroft and using Davis' great hitting terrible fielding 3B season. I also grabbed my first outfielder, Benny Kauff. This seems way too easy, as I am getting everybody I want.
Rounds #9-10
For the first time in this draft, some players I was eyeing got taken. I almost took Tiny Bonham instead of Kauff, and mllama54 took him right after me. I was also looking at Ray Caldwell as my third SP. But j3rd grabbed him next. Other players that got taken include Lefty Gomez, Bill George, John Shaffer and Snuffy Stirnweiss. I love Snuffy but once I had Hornsby, I had no need for him. Instead, I went with another OF, Pete Reiser, who will probably be my CF with his A++ range. I also needed to get a pitcher, so with the pick of Joe McGinnity, I now have 915 innings of two 1904 pitchers. Watch the errors pile up.
Rounds #11-12
Six hitters get taken: Lefty O'Doul, Alvin Dark, Mel Ott, Roger Bresnahan, Red Rolfe, Earle Combs. I still don't have a third baseman yet, so the picks of Ott and Rolfe hurt, but I had a guy in mind that I can get a bit later. This round, let's grab some of the top RPs left, well, short-inning SPs that I am using out of the pen, Red Ruffing and Cy Falkenberg. Combined these two guys with Nehf and Hearn, and my bullpen looks pretty decent.
Rounds #13-14
OK - my pitching is pretty much set. But I still need a third OF and a 3B. So I grab Jimmy Sheckard (A range at 3B) and Zack Wheat. These two guys can rake with batting averages of .354 and .375. Wheat is currently tied for 2nd on my team with 14 HRs. The lowest AVG so far among my seven starting batters is .342 (Kauff).
Rounds #15-16
When Roy Campanella and Chief Meyers were taken in round 14, I knew I could wait a little longer for my starting catcher. I grab the last decent LHP, Hooks Wiltse. And although I didn't need this guy, I kind of wanted him. My three OFs have 620, 633, 657 PA, so I will need more. I just can't pass up Mickey Mantle here, even though his stats are just ok, for him (.311, .394, .530).
Rounds #17-18
OK, it's time to get part of my catching platoon before somebody else grabs then. Buck Ewing is the guy. I can't believe this guys is still left. I don't really need him but his numbers are too good to pass up, Casey Stengel. He'll get some starts in the OF.
Rounds #19-20
Another favorite part-time player I use a lot is Roy Cullenbine. His can spell Sheckard at 3B and is an upgrade offensive and defensively. I still need another catcher, so how about a guy who hit .397... Lew McCarty is the guy.
Rounds #21-22
Thanks for redcped for posting my proxy here. I get my third catcher, Earl Smith, and a short-inning reliever that's a bit HR-prone, but you can't argue with a 0.75 whip, George Spencer. Ironically, Spencer played on the same '50 Giants team that had Jim Hearn. Spencer, Hearn and Ruffing are the only pitchers on my roster that played after 1919.
Rounds #23-24-25
At this point, I don't really need anything. I wanted a tenth pitcher, and Jeff Tesreau was the best available. A guy with 327 innings, with a 1.01 whip and 0.12 HR/9 available this late just shows how much talent New York has. I grabbed Phil Rizzuto because he is an A fielder and can be used as a defensive replacement for George Davis (C fielding). And Fred Sington is strictly a pinch hitter with his .358, .493, .623 slash.
I really like this team, but that is solely based on getting most of the guys I wanted. So who really knows. My deadball pitching will certainly surpress HRs, but the other teams that drafted high-average low-HR guys will be able to hit this team, and also get on due to my high-propensity for making errors.
Will post the individual player stats later.
Batting Totals: .348, .422, .528
Pitching Totals: 2023 ips, .201 oav, 0.94 whip, 2.0 bb/9, 0.18 hr/9