1930 Brooklyn Robins

1930 Brooklyn Robins / Franchise: Los Angeles Dodgers / BR Team Page

Record: 86-68, Finished 4th in National League (1930 NL)

Managed by Wilbert Robinson

Coaches: Otto Miller and Ivy Olson

Ballpark: Ebbets Field

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1930 Brooklyn Robins had a roller coaster ride, often sitting atop the standings of the National League before finishing in fourth place. They were in first place during 78 days of the season. The team played poorly at the start, spending much of April in 7th or 8th place. However they started to recover in May, and on May 18th they came to first place for the first time. Thereafter, they stayed in first or second place all the way until August 19th. They fell as far as fourth place in early September, recovered to take back first place from September 13-16 but then collapsed with seven losses in a row. After winning two out of their last three games from the Boston Braves, they ended up in fourth place with a record of 86-68.

Their attendance was second-best in the league and their manager was veteran Wilbert Robinson, in his 17th year with the team (1931 would be his last year as a manager, at age 67).

1930 was a big-hitting year, so the numbers have a lot of air in them, but some players stood out. Babe Herman, at age 27, put up a batting line of .393/.455/.678, finishing second in the league in batting average, second in OBP and third in slugging. First baseman Del Bissonette, at age 30, hit .336 and slugged .523. Outfielder Johnny Frederick at age 28 hit .334 and slugged .524, very close to Bissonette's numbers. Shortstop Glenn Wright at age 29 hit .321 with a .541 slugging percentage. The team's overall batting average of .304 was fifth in the league, as was their SLG of .454. They were sixth in the league in runs scored.

Ebbetts Field that year was not a pitcher's park, but the pitching staff was #1 in the league with a 4.03 ERA. All five starters had at least 10 victories, with the top dog being Dazzy Vance, at age 39, with a record of 17-15 and an ERA of 2.61. Dolf Luque, who went 14-8, was also 39 years old. Sloppy Thurston was a very effective spot starter, starting 11 games and relieving in 13, with an ERA of 3.40.

The youngest player on the team was 21-year-old catcher Al Lopez, who would go on to a long playing and managing career.

The Robins would go on the next season to finish fourth again with many of the same key players. However, they would not be in first place on any day of the 1931 season.