Books and articles about Ossie Vitt

Image provided by Matthew Fulling

SHOPPING » Look for Ossie Vitt books at BN.com » Look for Ossie Vitt books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Around the Web » Ossie Vitt from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Detroit's regular third baseman from 1915 through 1917, Vitt was a marginal ballplayer who never batted higher than .254. But he was a smart, scrappy baseball man who became a minor league manager and earned a reputation for leading aggressive teams to pennants. He was hired by the Indians to instill new life into the team in 1938 and finished third in 1938 and 1939, but his tactics were resisted by the Cleveland players. They petitioned for his removal in 1940, becoming known as The Crybabies, and lost the pennant they had been expected to win, finishing a game behind the first-place Tigers. Vitt was replaced by Roger Peckinpaugh for 1941. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 10, 1915: In Washington, Detroit 3B Ossie Vitt is hit by a Walter Johnson fastball and, after being knocked out for five minutes, leaves the game with a concussion. A rattled Johnson then allows four runs in the first inning, two runs on a 2-run homer by George Burns, and another four through the 6th inning to lose (he will be 17–2 at home this year). Ty Cobb, observing Johnson's fear of hitting a batter, will begin crowd the plate on the Washington ace from here on. Cobb will average .435 for the rest of his career against Walter, after topping .222 only once in the previous eight years. » August 22, 1915: In the 2nd inning of Game One of a doubleheader versus Detroit, the crowd sees the Senators score a run with no times at bat., the only time its ever happened. Chick Gandil and Merito Acosta walk; Buff Williams sacrifices, and George McBride hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Gandil, and the Tigers catch Acosta off 2B when OF Bobby Veach throws to Ossie Vitt. Washington's Walter Johnson goes on to win, 8–1, and snap the Tigers' 9-game win streak. » September 30, 1916: In his 153rd game, Tiger 3B Ossie Vitt raises his season total chances to 615, a mark that will stand for 21 years. » July 30, 1917: The Tigers Ty Cobb, Bobby Veach, and Ossie Vitt follow each other in the lineup, each going 5-for-5 in a 16–4 win over Washington. Having three players collect five hits ties the major-league record for the century. Cobb also scores five times. » May 13, 1923: Playing for Salt Lake City (PCL), teammates Oscar Vitt and Paul Strand each connect for two homers in the same inning. » October 20, 1937: Ossie Vitt, the highly successful manager of the Newark Bears (IL), becomes the new manager of the Cleveland Indians, replacing Steve O'Neil. » June 7, 1938: At Fenway, umpire Bill McGowan -- who had tossed Johnny Allen on Opening Day -- orders the Cleveland pitcher to cut off part of a shirt sleeve which is dangling as he pitches, distracting the batter. Allen refuses and walks off the mound. He is fined $250 by Cleveland manager Oscar Vitt, who makes a pitching change to avoid a forfeit. The Indians win the game, 7–5. Tribe owner Alva Bradley hurries to Boston and buys the shirt for $250; the shirt is then displayed at Higbee's Department Store, owned by Bradley's brother. The shirt later makes its way to the Hall of Fame museum in Cooperstown, NY. » June 11, 1940: In Boston, the Indians chase Bob Feller, 9–2, on homers by Ted Williams and Joe Cronin. Williams adds a triple, while Finney has four hits including a pair of doubles. During the game, Tribe manager Oscar Vitt openly criticizes Feller, saying "Look at him. He's supposed to be my ace. How am I supposed to win a pennant with that kind of pitching." The Boston win keeps the Sox a game ahead of Detroit and Cleveland. » June 12, 1940: The first place Red Sox club veteran Indians' P Mel Harder for a 9–5 win, handing the Tribe their eight loss in 13 games. Cleveland's Ossie Vitt, in lifting Harder, snarls, "It's about time you won one, the money you're making." The criticism, plus the same type of remarks made earlier about Feller, will prompt Harder to request a meeting with Cleveland owner Alva Bradley tomorrow morning in Cleveland. » June 13, 1940: The Cleveland players petition owner Alva Bradley to remove Oscar Vitt as manager. "Sometimes it seems he'll drive us all nuts," says Bob Feller. "Maybe it's just his nervousness." Bradley declines, stating that the club is just two games behind Boston. The Indians tip the Tigers, 3–2, in 11 innings, winning on Charlie Gehringer's throwing error. Cleveland has their best month of the year, settling into first place, which they will hold until the final two weeks of the season. » June 14, 1940: Gordon Cobbledick breaks the story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the players' mutiny against Oscar Vitt. Vitt meets with owner Bradley but declines to comment on the mutiny. He will stay on and today the players hand him a 8–0 win over Detroit. Johnny Allen tosses a two-hitter. » June 16, 1940: Cleveland fans cheer manager Oscar Vitt and boo the "crybaby's," Hal Trosky and Bob Feller. Feller answers with a 3-hit win over the A's, striking out 12 in the 4–2 game. Al Milnar takes the nitecap by the same score. » November 12, 1940: Alva Bradley wouldn't fire Oscar Vitt on his players' demand during the season, but he does now. Today he hires Roger Peckinpaugh to become Cleveland boss, the 2nd hitch for Peck.