In a way, it’s easy to tell the stories of MLB’s worst seasons. They carry a humor that is somewhat timeless despite its superficial crudeness. Lessons can be learned, and championships can be born from these horrendous campaigns. However, things are a little more complicated when the team that’s being spoken of happens to be the preferred team of the writer in question. Case in point: the Atlanta Braves, a franchise that’s experienced more ups and downs than the average roller coaster. While this writer adores the team, its backlog of bad seasons could fill many thick, hardcover books. Today, we will discuss the worst of them all.
MLB’s Worst Seasons: 1935 Boston Braves
The Middle of a Drought
In 1914, the Boston Braves won their first World Series. It would take them just a tad over three more decades to return to the Fall Classic. During this time of disappointment, they posted one of MLB’s worst seasons. Yes, the 1935 Braves won an embarrassing 38 games while losing 115. Now, there have been some truly unbearable seasons in big league history. However, this was one of those seasons where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The stat lines for this team read more like a newspaper clipping from some desolate abyss than anything resembling competent baseball. However, there was one bright spot…
Wally Berger: A Light in the Darkness
Wally Berger was an Austin Riley…if Riley played on a categorically bad team. In 1935, Berger led the league in homers (34) and RBI (130). He also made his third consecutive All-Star appearance and finished sixth in MVP voting. While his teammates scuffled, Berger soared, creating an inescapable light in this cavernous darkness. Some other examples of his dominance, even over his team, include his OPS+ (148) and slugging (.548). To put that in perspective, the next closest OPS+ mark on the team was 97. So, yes, Berger was the only above-average bat in one of the worst lineups ever.
The Rest of The Offense
Offenses should try to be as inoffensive as possible. However, when discussing MLB’s worst seasons, one must consider how bad a group of bats can be. The 1935 Braves lacked in every facet of hitting prowess. They finished last in team average, slugging, on-base percentage, and OPS. Their combined hits, runs scored, and doubles brought them up the rear. However, there were some somewhat commendable efforts. Outfielder Hal Lee hit .303 with 128 hits, while third baseman Pinky Whitney had 125 hits in 126 games. These Braves had nothing to chop about outside of this and Berger’s performance above.
A Rotten Rotation
If you thought the hitting on this team was bad, then the pitching might give you cause to question the entire baseball game. Nobody in the rotation finished with an ERA+ above 100. The lowest ERA was 4.61, posted by Ben Cantwell. Cantwell lost 25 contests, putting up a win percentage of .138. Staff “ace” Fred Frankhouse went 11-15 with a 4.76 ERA, striking out a team-best 64 hitters. Ed Brandt and Danny MacFayden combined for 10 wins, and Bob Brown went 1-8 with an ugly 6.37 ERA. Closer Bob Smith lost 18 games but did manage one of the only staff ERA marks below four. Meanwhile, Huck Betts and Larry Benton finished the bullpen with ERAs of 5.47 and 6.88, respectively. Frankly, this might be the worst pitching staff ever assembled.
Two Hall of Famers’ Final Moments
One truly baffling, yet interesting, tidbit about Braves history is that Babe Ruth was a Brave. Unfortunately, it was during the dreaded 1935 campaign. The 40-year-old Ruth played alongside fellow Hall of Famer Rabbit Maranville. Maranville was 43. Neither one contributed much, though Ruth hit his final six home runs. Outside of this, both hit well below the Mendoza line. They combined to produce 16 runs scored and 23 hits. Despite this, the fact that they had their final big league moments on the same team is truly fascinating. It’s just a shame that it had to come during one of MLB’s worst seasons.
Main Photo Credits: Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
