It was the summer before the great stock market crash but Lincoln already was feeling the pinch of a poor farm economy and shaky financials in local banks. Helen Wills was making headlines in women's tennis as the California girl played in Berlin and at Wimbledon bare legged. Yes bare legged. A Lincoln minister called it a sign of the immodesty of the times and the paper wondered in print whether the women would eventually play in the buff. |
The team started with a number of veterans from the 1928 season and club president Bob Robinson and early season manager Bob Browne were playing a nearly pat hand for the season. Bob Browne played short for the Links in 1928 and was named manager for 1929. While a number of players were allowed to try out during the official six days of practice before the season started, the final roster looked a lot like the ending roster of 1928.
Lincoln was a first division club in 1929 but fell short in their bid for the pennant. They led the league in fielding with a .961 fielding percentage. They were sixth in batting at .278 average. They did not have a top ten pitcher based on ERA.
On June 11th, three Lincoln players were injured in a car accident in which a McCook outfielder was killed. Krenk, Irvin and Taylor were injured in an accident. George Bauer was the driver.
Roster:
First base for the Links in 1929 was held down by Herman Cholcher
. He was a late arrival to the team as he was attending
college in St. Louis. The Deshler Nebraska native and younger brother of
the Links catchere arrived in early June and led the team with a
.331 average.
In the dirt at second base was Les Nunamaker. The forty year old, born in Malcom and raised in Aurora had a .326 average.
John Gabler was a regular at short in 1929. He played in 116 games and averaged .321.
The hot corner was held by Harold Davison. The Lincoln glove artist averaged .226.
Wearing the mask for Lincoln in 1929 was Otto Cholcher. He averaged a straight .300 for the year. His backup was Lavertus Lippold.
Outfield:
Ed "Buck"/"Bus" Taylor was a regular in the garden for
the
Links
in 1929. The veteran started on the season on fire for the
Links. The Independence Kansas native had four triples in the
first week of the season and averaged .439 for the week. He averaged .308
for the season. He was one of the players injured in a car accident in
June. His injuries were minor and he was soon back in the lineup.
Ernie Baltzell was another 100 game player for Lincoln in the outfield. The Lincolnite regular in right field for both the 1928 and 1929 seasons played in 118 games and averaged .228.
Louis Griffiths played both for Lincoln and Grand Island in 1929 and averaged .259.
Pitchers:
Clifford "The Sheriff" Spickerman was 12-9 in 29
appearances with 102
k's.
Jim McKendrick , from St. Paul Minnesota, was 15-10 in 33 games. The left handed pitcher was an ironman in the early part of the season, appearing in five of the first eight games, including two nine inning stints and three appearances in relief.
Bob Pickering was 12-6 in 28 games and had 116 k's. The lefty from Syracuse Nebraska was a regular starter for the Links.
Christiansen was 8-9 in 28 games.
H. J. Irvin returned for the 1929 season. The Franklin Nebraska native had a 10-5 record in 19 games.
Donald Riley was 9-6 in 21 appearances. Don was an outfielder in 1928 with the Links but spent the offseason working in his hometown of Princeton Nebraska on his "slant" in order to try pitching in 1929.
Ernest Krenk , from Dwight Nebraska, was not able to repeat his 20 win season of 1928. He was 2-6 in 12 games. He missed a lot of the season after suffering multiple fractures in a car accident in June.
Nebraska Minor League Baseball Home