As the 27 * 61 New York Yankees Replay progresses, it is fascinating to learn about unfamiliar players on some of the older teams featured in the Strat-o-Matic baseball game.
George Mogridge of the 1924 Washington Senators pitched a a pair of games against the 1927 and 1961 New York Yankees.
Mogridge picked up a no decision against the 1927 squad in a wild affair won 10-5 by the Senators in 11 innings.
Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris both tagged the lefthander for homers as Washington fell 5-2 to the 1961 Yankees.
In Real Life: Mogridge was 132-133 in 15 major league seasons from 1911 to 1927.
His best years were with the Senators from 1921 to 1925. He was 68-55 in those five seasons with a dozen shutouts, while winning 18 games in 1921 and 1922. He also pitched for the Chicago White Sox (1911-1912), Yankees (1915-1920), St. Louis Browns (1925) and the Boston Braves (1926-1927).
During the 1924 Senators championship season, Mogridge was 16-11 with an ERA of 3.76.
Mogridge appeared in two games during the 1924 World Series. He was the starter and winning pitcher in the fourth game as the Senators posted 7-4 victory. Firpo Marberry got the last five outs to earn the save.
In the seventh and final affair won by Washington 4-3 in 12 innings, Mogridge came on in relief in the first inning and worked until the fifth in a strategic move by player/manager Bucky Harris to force the New York Giants to start a different lineup.
The No-Hitter
There were six no-hitters during the 1917 season and Mogridge had the second one of the year.
While in his third season in New York, Mogridge tossed the first no-hitter for the Yankees as he beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 on April 24. It was also the first no-hitter against the Red Sox in Fenway Park.
Mogridge walked three and the Yankees added three errors as the Red Sox were able to tie the contest with an unearned run in the seventh. New York scored the game-winner in the top of the ninth. Future Washington teammate Roger Peckinpaugh had two hits that day for the Yankees.
That season, Mogridge finished 9-11 with an ERA of 2.98.
The Home Run
In 1922, Mogridge had his best season as a hitter with the Washington Senators. He batted .244 as he knocked in 10 runs.
On Aug. 3, Mogridge hit the only homer of his career against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.
With the Senators leading 1-0 in the sixth, Mogridge tagged Ted Blankenship to make it 2-0, which would be the final score.
Mogridge limited the White Sox to four hits that day with Harry Hooper collecting two of them.