Hopes were high for an improved Commodore baseball squad for 1914 coming off an 8-10-2 record the previous year. Guided by coach Herbert Sanborn for two previous seasons, 1913 infielder Dick Lyle was tabbed to take the Vanderbilt reins.
Sanborn, an associate professor of Philosophy and Psychology at the school[1], stepped down due to his health[2] with a 20-17-2 record during his tenure, but his ballclub won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association baseball championship in 1912. He would form Vanderbilt’s fencing team in later years.[3]
Against cross-state rival Tennessee, Sanborn was 6-1-1 in two seasons.[4]
Lyle was a law student at Vanderbilt, but with no eligibility remaining, it was a significant choice to become the coach. A previous member of the Commodore team, Lyle held down the second base position, and capably, according to Nashville Tennessean sportswriter Jack Nye:
“Never an exceptionally hard hitter, was one of the classiest infielders among the southern colleges and unusually well versed on “inside” baseball. He is ineligible to play this year but is still attending law school. The announcement that he will direct the destinies of the team has brough unanimous satisfaction, and every effort will be made to turn out another championship nine on Dudley Field.”[5]
The team’s first workout was held on March 2 and equipment manager Joe Holman handed out 30 uniforms to perspective candidates.[6]
Tryouts continued for two weeks, and Lyle had not decided on his pitching corps from 11 candidates.[7] Meanwhile, praises rang out for Lyle’s leadership in guiding the Commodores:
“If there is anything in having the old-time pep and ginger, Dick Lyle ought to be the best coach Vanderbilt ever had.”[8]
By the end of March, the team was rounding out with a chance to be the best Commodore baseball squad ever, led by outfielder Johnny Evers, pitcher Ammie Sykes, catcher Nuck Brown, and third baseman Peck Turner.[9]
1914 season results:
March 18 & 21 – Dates set aside for possible games with Nashville Volunteers, cancelled due to rain or snow[10][11]
March 28 – Away – Middle Tennessee Normal 1, Vanderbilt 0 (Called after five innings due to rain) [12]
April 3 – Away – Tennessee 5 Vanderbilt 4 (Volunteers’ opening game of the season)[13]
April 4 – Away – Vanderbilt 9, Tennessee 8[14]
April 9 – Nashville Volunteers, game rained out[15]
April 10 – Home – Michigan 10, Vanderbilt 10 (Future Hall of Fame member George Sisler was a pitcher-outfielder for the Michigan Wolverine.)[16]
April 11 – Home – Michigan 7, Vanderbilt 5 (Called after five innings due to rain; second game was cancelled)[17]
April 15 – Away – Georgia 8, Vanderbilt 3[18]
April 16 – Away – Georgia 8, Vanderbilt 2[19]
April 17 – Away – Vanderbilt 11, Georgia Tech 3[20]
April 18 – Away – Georgia Tech 18, Vanderbilt 6 (The Commodores committed 13 errors)[21]
April 20 – Away – Georgia Tech 10, Vanderbilt 6[22]
April 24 – Home – Vanderbilt 9, Cumberland 2[23]
April 25 – Home – Vanderbilt 10, Cumberland 1 (Commodores with 15 hits, four by star left fielder Johnny Evers)[24]
April 30 – Home – Vanderbilt 5, Sewanee 4[25]
May 1 – Home – Vanderbilt 5, Sewanee 1[26]
May 2 – Home – Vanderbilt 12, Sewanee 0[27]
May 8 – Home – Vanderbilt 7, Tennessee 0[28]
May 9 – Home – Vanderbilt 7, Tennessee 4[29]
May 18 – Home – Vanderbilt 11, Chinese Team of Hawai’i 11 (tie)[30]
May 19 – Home – Chinese Team of Hawaii 4, Vanderbilt 1[31]
May 26 – Away – Vanderbilt 8, Mississippi A & M 4
May 26 – Away – Vanderbilt 9, Mississippi A & M 3[32]
May 27 – Away – Vanderbilt 3, Mississippi A & M 3 (tie)[33]
The Commodores finished the season with a 12-9-2 record. It appears reporting on the disbursement of players on the 1914 Vanderbilt team ends, although there is an account of Johnny Evers trying out for a City League team[34] and Peck Turner becoming baseball coach at Cumberland for 1915.[35]
Author’s note: The 1914 Vanderbilt Commodores schedule as published in February[36] included “May 27-28 – Open with some out-of-town team” replaced by Mississippi A & M (later to become Mississippi State) as a road series.
Notes
[1] Shook, John R., ed. (2005). The Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers. Bristol, England: Thoemmes Continuum. pp. 2115–2117.
[2] Jack Nye, “Commodores Will Practice Monday,” Nashville Tennessean, February28, 1914: 10.
[3] Stearns, Richard G. (January 2, 2013). “Fencing Team’s Glory Years”. Vanderbilt Magazine. Nashville, Tennessee. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
[4] “Baseball History vs Vanderbilt University from May 10, 1897 – May 12, 2024, “https://utsports.com/sports/baseball/opponent-history/vanderbilt/80. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
[5] Nye.
[6] “Suits Given to Commodores, No Practice,” Nashville Tennessean, March 3, 1914: 10.
[7] Claude Horn. “Bright Prospects for Commodores,” Nashville Tennessean, March 14, 1914: 10.
[8] “Sportanic Eruptions,” Nashville Tennessean, March 15, 1914: 26.
[9] “Strong Line-up at Vanderbilt,” Nashville Banner, March 30, 1914: 7.
[10] Bob Pigue, “Snow Prevents Workout To-Day, Nashville Banner, March 19, 1914: 8.
[11] “Cancel the Game with Commodores,” Nashville Tennessean, March 21, 1914: 10.
[12] “Commod’res Lose to State Normal,” Nashville Tennessean, March 29, 1914: 54.
[13] “Volunteers Victorious,” Knoxville Journal and Tribune, April 4, 1914: 4.
[14] “Commodores Turn Tables, Knoxville Journal and Tribune, April 5, 1914: 28.
[15] Pigue, “No Vol-Vandy Game To-Day, Nashville Banner, April 9, 1914: 10.
[16] “Costly Errors Defeat Vandy,” Nashville Banner, April 11, 1914: 7.
[17] “Commodores Again Play Badly, Michigan Winning,” Nashville Tennessean, April 12, 1914: 41.
[18] “Georgia Trims Vandy in First,” Atlanta Journal, April 16, 1914: 16.
[19] “Hitchcock Holds Commodores Safe,” Atlanta Constitution, April 17, 1914: 8.
[20] “Two Big Rounds Won for Vandy Over the Jackets,” Atlanta Journal, April 18: 6.
[21] Hal Reynolds, “Jackets Smother the Commodores in Tiresome Game,” Atlanta Constitution, April 19, 1914: 7.
[22] “Commodores Get Trimmed Again,” Nashville Banner, April 20, 1914: 15.
[23] Nye, “Slaughter Cumberland in the Opening Game,” Nashville Tennessean, April 25, 1914: 12.
[24] “Vandy Makes Sweep of Cumberland Series,” Nashville Tennessean, April 26, 1914: 19.
[25] Nye, “Vandy Grabs the Opener from Sewanee 5 to 4,” Nashville Tennessean, May 1, 1914: 12.
[26] Nye, “Home Runs Beat the Tigers; Sewanee Player Breaks Leg,” Nashville Tennessean, May 2, 1914: 10.
[27] “Commodores Make Clean Sweep of Sewanee Series, Score 12 to 10,” Nashville Tennessean, May 3, 1914: 42.
[28] “Vandy Shuts Out Tennessee, 7-0,” Nashville Banner, May 9, 1914: 5.
[29] “Commodores Win Last Game from University of Tennessee,” Nashville Tennessean, May 10, 1914: 30.
[30] “Commodores and Chinese in Draw,” Nashville Banner, May 19, 1914: 15.
[31] Nye,” Home Run by Foster Wins Game for ******” Nashville Tennessean, May 20, 1914: 12. (Note: The article title has been redacted due to the use of a derogatory term by today’s standards.)
[32] “Vandy Takes Double Bill from Miss. A & M,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, May 27, 1914: 10.
[33] Nye, “This is Grantland Rice Day; Boland to Oppose the Gulls,” Nashville Tennessean, May 29, 1914: 12
[34] J. J. Spain. “City League Notes,” Nashville Banner, June 16, 1914: 7.
[35] “Hard Games for Vanderbilt,” Nashville Banner, February 4, 1915: 9, 11.
[36] “Vandy Baseball Schedule Out,” Nashville Tennessean, February 17, 1914: 10.
© 2024 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.
