Minneapolis Millers - Compiled by Stew Thornley
1928 - American Association, 97-71-1,  2nd place - Standings, statistics, and notes follow game-by-game results
Manager: Mike Kelley
Date Opponent Outcome Record Notes
Tu 4/10 at Indianapolis Indians L 4-5 (13) 0-1 Wilbur Hubbell loses.  Spencer Harris (2 hits) and Zack Wheat (pinch-hitter) make Millers debuts.  Frank Emmer breaks his ankle.
W 4/11 at Indianapolis L 4-6 0-2 Bernie DeViveiros homers.
Th 4/12 at Indianapolis L 2-8 0-3 Leo Cotter homers.
F 4/13 at Indianapolis, rain
Sa 4/14 at Louisville Colonels W 15-4 1-3 9-hitter by Leo Moon.  Eddie Kenna gets 4 hits.  Spencer Harris homers.  Johnny Rawlings released to Toledo.
Su 4/15 at Louisville L 0-5 1-4
M 4/16 at Louisville W 3-1 (11) 2-4 9-hitter by John "Lefty" Brillheart.
Tu 4/17 at Louisville, rain
W 4/18 at Toledo Mud Hens L 2-6 2-5
Th 4/19 at Toledo L 4-5 2-6
F 4/20 at Toledo W 8-4 3-6 8-hitter by Brillheart.  Ernie Orsatti hits 2 triples.
Sa 4/21 at Toledo, rain Millers to get pitcher Paul McCullough from Toledo in exchange for Rawlings.
Su 4/22 at Columbus Senators L 4-8 (8, rain) 3-7 Harris gets 4 hits, including a home run, and fields sensationally.
M 4/23 at Columbus W 4-3 4-7 10-hitter by Rube Benton.  Orsatti and Homer Ezzell homer, Ezzell's breaking a tie in the 9th.  Ezzell entered the game in the 5th when Sammy Bohne was ejected for going into the stands after an abusive fan.  Columbus fans cheered Bohne as he left the field.
Tu 4/24 at Columbus L 3-4 4-8 Harris homers.
W 4/25 at Columbus W 5-4 5-8 McCullough wins.  Bohne's 2 doubles account for 3 runs.
Bohne is suspended for three days by American Association president Thomas Hickey.
F 4/27 Indianapolis L 3-9 5-9
Sa 4/28 Indianapolis, suspended
In the top of the 3rd of the April 28 game, Wilbur Hubbell argued after a pitch to Wid Matthews.  Hubbell and coach Charley Hall were ejected.  They changed into street clothes and watched the game from the chief of police's box down the right-field line, in violation of a new rule forbidding players from sitting in the stands after being ejected.  During a 7-run third by the Millers, which put them ahead  13-3, umpire Powell spotted Hubbell and Hall and ordered Mike Kelley to have them leave.  Kelley sent Harris down to tell them to leave.  As Harris was on his way, Powell awarded a 9-0 forfeit victory to Indianapolis.  The Millers lodged a protest.  The next day Hickey upheld the protest, overruled Powell, and ordered the game to be resumed at the point of the forfeit/protest.  Harris and Orsatti homered for the Millers before the suspension.
Su 4/29 Indianapolis L 2-9 5-10
M 4/30 Louisville W 3-2 6-10 7-hitter by McCullough.  Earl Smith hits first home run of the season, a 3-run homer in the sixth to put the Millers ahead 3-2.
Kelley suspended 3 days and Hubbell 5 days for argument with Powell Saturday.
Tu 5/1 Louisville W 2-1 (10) 7-10 9-hitter by Benton.  Orsatti draws bases-loaded walk off Ben Tincup to drive in the winning run in the 10th.
Millers get third-baseman Elmer Yoter from the Cubs as the final payment in the deal that sent Pat Malone to Chicago in 1927.
W 5/2 Louisville W 7-3 8-10 Moon wins and homers.  Harris hits 2 homers.
Th 5/3 Louisville W 13-3 9-10 Harris has 4 hits, including 2 home runs.  Pat Duncan also homers.
F 5/4 Toledo W 13-12 10-10 Toledo scores 9 runs in the 9th for a 12-10 lead.  Player-manager Casey Stengel, who used 20 players in the game, had a pinch-single and scored a run in the 9th.  In the last of the 9th, Wheat tied the game with a two-run, pinch-hit home run.  Benton then singled and was forced out on a sacrifice attempt.  Cliff Brady doubled, his 4th hit of the game, and Harris scored the winning run when center-fielder Otis Carter fumbled the ball.  Harris had homered, his 4th in 3 days and 7th for the season (since his April 28 home run won't count until the suspended game is completed).
Sa 5/5 Toledo W 7-5 11-10 Harris homers for the 4th straight game.  Wheat hits a pinch-homer for the 2nd game in a row.  Orsatti also homers.
Su 5/6 Toledo L 1-5 11-11 Rosy Ryan stops the Millers' 6-game winning streak with a 7-hitter.  DeViveiros homers.
M 5/7 Columbus W 13-7 12-11 Joe Stripp hits 3 consecutive home runs for Columbus.  Kenna hits a grand slam.  Hubbell wins and homers.  Harris makes a great catch.
Tu 5/8 Columbus W 6-4 13-11 Kenna homers.  Harris "thrills fans with another sensational catch," according to a newspaper report.
W 5/9 Columbus W 11-10 14-11 Millers score 5 in the last of the 9th.  Harris and Orsatti homer.  Yoter debuts.
Th 5/10 Columbus W 4-1 15-11 11-hitter by Ad Liska in his first start of the season.  (Liska is a submarine hurler.)  DeViveiros homers.
F 5/11 at St. Paul Saints L 3-5 15-12 Kenna homers.  
Sa 5/12 St. Paul W 11-5 16-12 McCullough wins and hits a grand slam in a 7-run 7th.
Su 5/13 St. Paul W 8-4 17-12 8-hitter by Liska before a record crowd of 14,000,  Harris homers, his 10th, on the first pitch of the last of the 1st.  Bohne also homers.
Tu 5/15 Kansas City Blues W 9-3 18-12 6-hitter by Hubbell.  Harris hits grand slam.  Smith homers.
W 5/16 Kansas City, rain DeViveiros sold to Shreveport (Texas League), which needs a shortstop.  Kelley felt an obligation to Shreveport because of the deal that brought Harris to the Millers.
Th 5/17 Kansas City L 2-4 18-13
F 5/18 Milwaukee Brewers L 2-3 18-14
Sa 5/19 Milwaukee L 4-8 18-15
Su 5/20 Milwaukee W 6-4 19-15 8-hitter by Brillheart.  Wheat plays his first full game (had started the season being used only as a pinch hitter because of a bruised heel) and hits a 3-run homer.
M 5/21 at Kansas City W 5-1 20-15
Tu 5/22 at Kansas City W 4-2 21-15 Down 2-0, the Millers score 4 in the 8th.
W 5/23 at Kansas City L 3-4 (11) 21-16 Millers lose when Liska makes a wild heave after fielding Bill Wambsganss's bunt in the 11th.
Th 5/24 at Kansas City L 0-11 21-17 Long Tom Sheehan shuts out the Millers on 6 hits.
F 5/25 at Milwaukee W 5-2 22-17 6-hitter by Benton.
Sa 5/26 at Milwaukee L 5-6 22-18 Kenna homers.
Su 5/27 at Milwaukee L 3-7 22-19
M 5/28 St. Paul W 7-3 23-19 7-hitter by Liska.  Cotter, Bill Black, and Wheat homer.
Tu 5/29 at St. Paul L 1-8 23-20
W 5/30 a.m. St. Paul W 9-7 24-20 Millers score 6 in last of the 9th, capped by Bill Warwick's 3-run homer with no out.  Orsatti also homers.
W 5/30 p.m. at St. Paul L 4-15 24-21 Harris hits 12th homer of the season.
Millers release Moon and Leo Skidmore and trade Kenna to Washington for shortstop Grant Gillis, catcher Hugh McMullen, and pitcher Clayton Van Alstyne.
F 6/1 at Indianapolis W 7-1 25-21 McCullough wins.  Orsatti homers.
Sa 6/2 at Indianapolis L 9-10 25-22 Gillis debuts for Millers with 3 hits.
Su 6/3-1 at Indianapolis W 4-3 26-22 Millers score 2 in 9th.  Smith ties the score with an inside-the-park home run.
Su 6/3-2 at Indianapolis W 3-0 (7) 27-22 10-hitter by Liska beats Emil Yde.  McMullen debuts.
M 6/4 at Louisville T 1-1 (9, rain) 27-22-1
Tu 6/5 at Louisville, rain
W 6/6 at Louisville, rain
Th 6/7-1 at Louisville L 9-10 27-23 Harris gets 4 hits.
Th 6/7-2 at Louisville L 8-9 (6, darkness) 27-24
F 6/8 at Toledo, rain
Sa 6/9-1 at Toledo W 10-2 28-24
Sa 6/9-2 at Toledo L 5-6 28-25
Su 6/10-1 at Toledo L 7-8 28-26 Harris hits 2 homers.  Yoter hits 2 triples.
Su 6/10-2 at Toledo W 10-4 29-26 Liska wins.
M 6/11 at Columbus L 3-11 29-27 Harris homers.  Emmer returns to the lineup as a pinch hitter.
Tu 6/12 at Columbus W 13-3 30-27 Van Alstyne wins.  Smith gets 4 hits, including a homer.
W 6/13 at Columbus W 4-3 31-27 Harris drives in 3 runs with a home run, double, and sacrifice fly.
Th 6/14 at Columbus L 4-6 31-28
Sa 6/16 at Kansas City L 3-5 31-29
Su 6/17 at Kansas City W 4-2 (6, rain) 32-29 3-hitter by Liska for 7th win.
M 6/18 at Kansas City L 5-6 32-30
W 6/20-1 at Milwaukee L 1-2 32-31
W 6/20-2 at Milwaukee W 7-5 33-31 Smith homers.
Th 6/21 at Milwaukee L 3-6 33-32
F 6/22 at Milwaukee, rain
Sa 6/23 Kansas City, wet grounds
Su 6/24-1 Kansas City L 0-7 33-33
Su 6/24-2 Kansas City W 7-2 (7, darkness) 34-33 Liska wins.  Black homers.
M 6/25 Kansas City L 5-13 34-34
Tu 6/26-1 Kansas City L 2-13 34-35
Tu 6/26-2 Kansas City W 8-7 35-35 Brillheart homers.  Liska wins in relief.
W 6/27 Milwaukee W 10-6 36-35 Liska wins in relief again, 10th win of season and 3rd win in 4 days.  Wheat homers.
Th 6/28 Milwaukee W 3-2 37-35 McCullough wins.
F 6/29 Milwaukee L 2-4 37-36 Harris homers.
S 6/30 Milwaukee L 2-12 37-37
Sa 7/1-1 Milwaukee W 9-8 (11) 38-37
Sa 7/1-2 Milwaukee L 1-3 (6, darkness) 38-38
M 7/2 at St. Paul L 2-7 38-39 Pat Malone is placed on the ineligible list to make room for Cotter, who was returned to the Millers after being loaned to Kansas City.
Tu 7/3 St. Paul W 7-3 39-39 11-hitter by Benton.
W 7/4 a.m. at St. Paul L 2-4 39-40
W 7/4 p.m. St. Paul W 11-6 40-40 Harris hits 18th home run.
Th 7/5 St. Paul W 4-3 41-40 Millers score all 4 runs in the 6th, 3 on a home run by Smith.
F 7/6 Columbus W 10-7 42-40 Benton and Cotter homer.  Harris drives in 5 runs.
Sa 7/7 Columbus L 3-12 42-41 Harris homers.
Su 7/8-1 Columbus L 6-7 42-42 Gillis homers.
Su 7/8-2 Columbus W 4-1 43-42 5-hitter by Liska.  Harris hits 2 homers, now has 21.
M 7/9 Toledo L 5-8 43-43 Harris homers.
Tu 7/10 Toledo W 19-6 44-43 Smith hits 2 home runs and drives in 6 runs.  Harris homers.
Brady released to Chattanooga.  Millers acquire Horace "Hod" Lisenbee from Washington and Ray Jacobs from the Chicago Cubs.
W 7/11 Toledo W 13-1 45-43 4-hitter by Lefty Williams.  Harris and Black hit grand slams.  Smith homers.  Second time in 1928 that Harris homered in 4 straight games.
Th 7/12 Toledo W 4-0 46-43 5-hitter by Benton.  Cotter homers.
F 7/13 Louisville W 4-3 47-43 Liska wins 9th straight game (12th for the season.  Millers get Gus Mancuso from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sa 7/14 Louisville W 13-4 48-43
Su 7/15-1 Louisville L 2-9 48-44 Lisenbee and Mancuso make Millers debuts.  Lisenbee hit hard.
Su 7/15-2 Louisville W 7-4 (7) 49-44
M 7/16 Indianapolis W 6-2 50-44 10-hitter by Benton, who also hits 3-run double.  Orsatti hits inside-the-park home run.
Tu 7/17-1 Indianapolis L 6-9 50-45 Orsatti homers.
Tu 7/17* Indianapolis W 17-3 51-45 *Completion of April 28 protested game.  Orsatti and Harris homered before the game was protested.  Harris hits another in the resumed game, has 26 for the season.
W 7/18 Indianapolis L 4-6 51-46 Orsatti and Cotter homer.  Warwick sold to Chattanooga.
Th 7/19 Indianapolis W 4-3 52-46 Millers score all 4 runs in the last three innings.
F 7/20 St. Paul L 5-6 (10) 52-47 Williams loses in relief.  Liska had been on the hook for the loss until Jacobs hit a home run.  Orsatti also homers.
Sa 7/21 at St. Paul W 5-4 (12) 53-47 Orsatti homers.
Su 7/22 at St. Paul L 2-7 53-48 Jacobs homers before 15,000 fans at Lexington Park, who see Fred Heimich win his 17th game of the season for the Saints.
Tu 7/24 at Toledo W 8-4 54-48
W 7/25-1 at Toledo W 12-10 55-48
W 7/25-2 at Toledo W 5-4 (7, darkness) 56-48
Th 7/26 at Toledo W 6-2 57-48 6-hitter by Lisenbee.  Emmer gets 4 hits.
F 7/27 at Toledo L 1-4 57-49
Sa 7/28 at Columbus L 8-9 (10) 57-50 Brillheart and Benton.
Su 7/29-1 at Columbus L 0-3 57-51
Su 7/29-2 at Columbus L 3-6 57-52 Senators stop Liska's 9-game winning streak.
M 7/30 at Columbus W 10-8 58-52 Harris hits grand slam and drives in 5 runs.
W 8/1-1 at Louisville W 9-2 59-52 Smith homers.
W 8/1-2 at Louisville W 6-5 60-52 Liska wins.  Yoter homers.
Th 8/2-1 at Louisville W 5-0 61-52
Th 8/2-2 at Louisville W 7-3 62-52 10-hitter for Liska for his 14th win.
F 8/3-1 at Louisville, wet grounds
F 8/3-2 at Louisville, wet grounds
Sa 8/4-1 at Louisville L 2-6 62-53
Sa 8/4-2 at Louisville W 7-4 63-53
Su 8/5-1 at Indianapolis W 4-3 64-53 9-hitter by Benton.  Orsatti homers.
Su 8/5-2 at Indianapolis W 4-3 (8, darkness) 65-53
M 8/6 at Indianapolis W 12-10 66-53 Millers score 6 in the top of the 9th.
Tu 8/7 at Indianapolis W 4-2 67-53 Millers pull to within 1 game of first-place Indianapolis.
W 8/8 at Indianapolis L 4-5 67-54 Liska loses.  Orsatti homers.
F 8/10 at St. Paul W 10-0 68-54 2-hitter by McCullough.
Sa 8/11 St. Paul W 9-2 69-54 8-hitter by Benton before 8,000 fans.  Orsatti homers.
Su 8/12 St. Paul W 9-8 70-54 Liska wins in relief as the Millers score 2 in the last of the 9th before 13,000 fans.  Harris homers. 
M 8/13 at St. Paul L 1-4 70-55
Tu 8/14 Louisville L 4-5 70-56 Harris hits 29th home run.
W 8/15-1 Louisville L 2-3 70-57
W 8/15-2 Louisville W 6-3 71-57 Smith homers.
Th 8/16 Louisville W 11-7 72-57 Jack Hayes hits 2 home runs.  Orsatti to be recalled by the Cardinals.
F 8/17 Louisville W 6-3 73-57 Liska wins 16th.  Orsatti, in his final game with the Millers, singles and doubles to run his hitting streak to 23 games.
Sa 8/18 Indianapolis W 4-3 74-57 Harris hits 30th home run.
Su 8/19 Indianapolis W 5-2 75-57 6-hitter by Benton.  Millers trail first-place Indianapolis by 1/2 game.
M 8/20 Indianapolis L 2-8 75-58 Joe Pate debuts.  Mancuso homers.
Tu 8/21 Indianapolis L 8-10 75-59 Indianapolis scores 3 in the oth.  Harris, Cotter, and Hayes homer.
W 8/22 Indianapolis W 8-7 (11) 76-59 8-hitter by Brillheart.  Yoter homers.
Th 8/23 Toledo, rain Millers get Carl East from Washington.  East had recently been reinstated by Commissioner Landis after playing in an outlaw league and being barred from organized baseball.
F 8/24-1 Toledo L 0-2 76-60
F 8/24-2 Toledo L 3-5 76-61
Sa 8/25 Toledo W 6-3 77-61 McCullough pitches 7-hitter, strikes out 9, and homers.
Su 8/26-1 Toledo L 3-5 77-62 East debuts.
Su 8/26-2 Toledo L 1-4 77-63
M 8/27 Columbus W 6-5 78-63 Hack Millers debuts for the Millers and gets 2 hits.
Tu 8/28 Columbus W 10-3 79-63 Hayes homers and drives in 4 runs.
W 8/29 Columbus, rain
Th 8/30-1 Columbus W 3-2 80-63
Th 8/30-1 Columbus W 3-1 81-63 Miller and Cotter homer, and Millers move into first place by 1 game.
F 8/31 St. Paul L 3-7 81-64 Cotter homers.
Sa 9/1 at St. Paul W 7-6 82-64 East homers.
Su 9/2 at St. Paul W 8-5 83-64 Miller and Hays homer.
M 9/3 a.m. St. Paul W 6-4 84-64 Smith homers.
M 9/3 p.m. at St. Paul W 6-5 85-64 Miller homers.  Millers obtain former Minneapolis pitcher Charley Robertson.
W 9/5 Kansas City W 10-6 86-64 Miller homers.
Th 9/6 Kansas City W 8-1 87-64 9-hitter by Liska for 17th win.  Harris (32), Smith, and McMullen homer.
F 9/7 Kansas City W 7-6 88-64 Millers in first by 2-1/2 games over Indianapolis.
Sa 9/8 Kansas City W 2-1 (13) 89-64 Robertson pitches 12 innings and wins in first game back with Millers.
Su 9/9 Kansas City W 4-2 90-64 Millers win 9th straight.
M 9/10 Milwaukee L 6-7 90-65 Milwaukee scores 2 in the 9th.
Tu 9/11 Milwaukee W 4-3 (10) 91-65 Liska wins 18th.  Doubles by Yoter and Harris bring in the winning run in the 10th.
W 9/12 Milwaukee, rain
Th 9/13 Milwaukee L 1-3 91-66 Tied for first with Indianapolis.
F 9/14 at Kansas City W 5-4 92-66 Millers lead Indians by 1 game as Robertson wins.
Sa 9/15 at Kansas City L 2-3 (10) 92-67
Su 9/16 at Kansas City L 2-7 92-68 Millers drop to second.
M 9/17 at Kansas City L 0-2 92-69
Tu 9/18 at Kansas City W 3-1 (11) 93-69 Liska wins.
W 9/19-1 Milwaukee W 7-3 94-69 Miller and Cotter homer.
W 9/19-2 Milwaukee W 6-4 95-69 Smith hits 2 homers.  Millers trail Indianapolis by 1/2 game.
Th 9/20 Milwaukee W 6-3 96-69 Liska wins 20th game of the season.
F 9/21 Milwaukee W 12-5 97-69 8-hitter by Benton.  Millers get 18 hits, including 5 by Harris, trail by 1/2 game.
Sa 9/22 Milwaukee L 3-6 97-70
Su 9/23 Milwaukee L 4-5 97-70-1
W L Manager
Indianapolis 99 68 Bruno Betzel
Minneapolis 97 71 Mike Kelley
Milwaukee 90 78 Jack Lelivelt
St. Paul 88 80 Nick Allen
Kansas City 88 80 Dutch Zwilling
Toledo 79 88 Casey Stengel
Columbus 68 100 Harry Leibold
Louisville 62 106 Billy Meyer
Statistics
Player Games Batting Average Home Runs Runs Batted In Position
Carlton East 15 .406 1 rf
Ernie Orsatti 123 .381 15 84 1b-of
Pat Duncan 60 .343 2 27 lf
Ray Jacobs* 40 .333 4 2b-ss
Minter “Jack” Hayes 57 .332 5 32 2b
Spencer Harris 169 .327 32 127 cf
Elmer Yoter 143 .322 2 45 3b-ss
Hugh McMullen 76 .313 1 c
Charles “Hack” Miller 28 .311 4 lf
Zack Wheat 82 .309 5 30 of
Bernie DeViveiros 27 .305 3 ss
Grant Gillis 120 .303 1 41 ss-2b
Leo Cotter* 140 .298 10 65 1b
Eddie Kenna 41 .296 4 c
Gus Mancuso 48 .295 1 c
Frank Emmer 64 .294 0 ss
Sammy Bohne 101 .294 2 3b
Johnny Rawlings* 141 .293 6 63 2b-ss
Bill “Jigger” Black 47 .282 3 2b
Earl Smith 163 .280 16 103 rf
Homer Ezzell 9 .273 1 2 3b
Cliff Brady 61 .269 0 2b
Bill Warwick 49 .228 1 c
Jim Oglesby 5 .000 0 1 1b
Ernie Krueger 3 .000 0 0 c
Pitcher G IP W L ERA
Guy “Lefty” Williams 39 133 6 7 3.38
Rube Benton 41 250 15 13 3.46
Ad Liska 46 225 20 4 3.68
John "Lefty" Brillheart 58 221 15 9 4.11
Leo Skidmore 9 30 2 1 4.20
Paul McCullough* 44 221 13 16 4.32
Horace “Hod” Lisenbee 26 122 8 6 4.64
Clayton Van Alstyne 25 119 7 7 4.69
Wilbur Hubbell 27 85 5 5 5.40
Leo Moon 12 40 2 2 6.30
Herb Brett 4 13 0 0 6.39
Ad Stemig 1 1 0 1 54.00
Joe Pate 14 18 2 0
Charley Robertson 4 28 2 1
*Jacobs's, Rawlings’s, and McCullough’s statistics include games played with Toledo in 1928, and Cotter’s statistics include games with Kansas City.
Spencer Harris led the American Association with 32 home runs and 133 runs scored.