Tips to Help your Home Sell Faster

If you take a look around online to try to find tips that will help your home sell faster, you should not have to look very hard. The question is how to separate the facts from the opinions. Well, the simple answer is to take the advice of the professionals that have the experience and talent when it comes to home sales. The longer answer is to try think about what you read in terms of common sense. home sales can be a complicated thing when you get down to all the paperwork, title searches and negotiations but at the root, selling a home is simply about marketing a product. True this is a fairly BIG product but it is sales all the same and consumers want the best value for their dollar and they want to be happy with what they have purchased. Buyer’s remorse is much different when you are talking about $200,000 or more.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned has pretty much been beaten to death in articles but I list it here because it is completely true. A home needs to be clean to sell. Not just everyday clean, show home clean. Think about it this way, you would not buy a dirty shirt or a dirty car. Why? Because it implies that the previous owner does not take care of it and that it is in bad condition. Home buyers think like this. If the home is dirty then what other things have been left unfixed or in poor condition? Maybe nothing, but is that a risk you afford to take?

Pricing is another big issue for some buyers and sellers alike. Sellers have the tendency to want the highest dollar for their homes and rightfully so, but in that one must remember that your home’s value and the value YOU place on the home are different. Proper pricing is dependent on the local market, and what homes in your area are currently selling for. Home values do not depend on fond memories or the emotional worth that you have for the property. Buyers will typically not care that your children grew up there or that your father built the home himself. They care about what the home can offer them if they choose to buy it. Buyers will look at the value of your home in respect to what else is on the market in your area and if the home is overpriced, you better believe that their realtor will tell them that.

The final word on home sales would have to be curb appeal. This is another term that is always mentioned in the same breath as home sales and has a huge effect on the presentation of a property. Curb appeal is simply how good your home and property look from the street. First impressions are huge in this industry and it can be very difficult to market a home that does not impress at first sight. The last thing that any seller wants is to see prospective buyers drive up and then after looking at the home, drive away. Just like any other product that is for sale, the packaging must catch a buyer’s attention and catch it for the right reasons.

Get Rich Quick! Opportunities Await in Maryland

Who doesn’t want to get rich? Well, a good start would be a move to the prosperous state of Maryland – recently voted the wealthiest state in the whole of the USA. Now, that may come as a surprise to some of you, but in case it could rub off on you, you may want to check into this diverse state.

Climate wise you can take your pick. Although Maryland is only as big as Belgium, in Europe, it has three distinct weather patterns. Happily they all have warm and sunny summers.

Choose from hot, humid (subtropical) summers and short, mild winters – this would be around Annapolis and southern and eastern greater Baltimore. The extreme west of Maryland boasts mild summers and cold snowy winters. The Piedmont region encompassing northern and western greater Baltimore has moderately cold snowy winters and hot humid summers.

Home to the largest estuary in the US (200 miles long), which is spanned by one of the longest bridges (4.3 miles from end to end), Chesapeake Bay has over 100,000 streams and rivers that drain into it, so there are lots of affordable waterfront properties out there.

Boaters of all description will never tire of the coastlines. With an ecosystem of rivers, wetlands, and grasses that is nurtured to support nearly 7,000 different species of plants, fish, shellfish and animals and 29 species of waterfowl – Maryland is surely a child’s paradise. Who would ever want to go away for a vacation? Just give your kid a bucket and he or she will be busy all day collecting.

When the family is older, Maryland has an enviable choice of schools, with several religions represented including Seventh-day Adventist, Quaker, Jewish and Catholic, as well as many publicly funded charter schools.

Maryland is the proud owner of the third oldest college in the United States, St. John’s College founded in 1696. In 1876, this college also funded Baltimore’s world renowned John Hopkins University. There are 18 other private colleges and universities to choose from as well as state and federally funded institutions.

There is no shortage of sports to watch, either! In fact Maryland is host to two National Football League teams. The Annapolis Sports Facilities Guide lists 21 different sports that you can pursue.

For some reason sport brings hospitals to mind; Maryland has over 40 hospitals and health care facilities. In fact, with its wealth of historical and cultural background, Maryland is short on nothing. Except perhaps your family…?

Great Investment Opportunites in Maryland and Washington D.C

The foreclosure rate in Maryland presently is high; what does this mean? First, it is bad news to sellers who want to get rid of their properties fast. Second, it is the best news potential investors want to hear. This is really good news because people looking to make a new and lucrative investment have a good bargain. There are a few things we have to be aware of before rushing in for this pot of gold.

The Minimal Risk Factor

One of the biggest advantages of pre-foreclosure investments with Maryland investment property is that there is a greatly reduced risk factor. From the point of view of the seller, they want to get out of the house and be done with the bank as soon as possible. From the point of view of the bank, a house that is foreclosed doesn’t make them any money. In other words, both the bank and the seller will be willing to sell as quickly as possible. This will probably mean reduced prices as well as more flexible payment plans.

Some other factor to consider with Maryland investment property are any hidden or extra costs that come about when rehabbing the property. Because everyone involved would like to move the property as quickly as possible, your extra costs will also be greatly reduced. You can easily negotiate for a lower down-payment amount and you’ll find that other small fees can also be reduced or cut out completely. Bear in mind that foreclosures are also known as a Buyer’s Market. This is because the buyer not only has the upper hand; they also have the most to profit.

What Else?

If you’re looking at Maryland investment property for your own use, then foreclosures are a speedy option. Unlike other homes, where you will probably have to wait for the tenant to leave, these homes are either already vacant or the owners are about to vacate. This means that you can move in almost as soon as the deal is closed. You will however need to show proof that you are able to purchase the foreclosed property. If you are using your own cash, proper financial records are required. For example, your bank statement. If you are using financing, you will need to show that your loan is approved by your lender.

If you are a first time investor or are unsure about investing trends, putting your money into pre-foreclosures is not only lucrative, it is also a relatively safe investment option. If you are familiar with house renovation and redecorating, there’s nothing like foreclosure investment to make some quick and good money. All you have to do is get the foreclosed home at a bargain price, do the necessary renovations and repairs that add value to the property then put the house back on the market for a good profit. Many people have earned sizable capital by renovating their properties this way.

While you can handle your pre-foreclosure bids yourself, it might be a good idea to hire an agent to help you out. In that way, you’ll not only gain access to the best homes, you’ll also be in a better position to make a good bid and get the best bargain for your Maryland investment property.

Common Sense Home Security Tips

I don’t think it’s necessary to explain how important is to protect your home from burglars, because anyone who appreciates his/her family and possessions will understand. But if it’s important, why so many home owners seem to disregard their home protection? For those who do want to improve the security of their homes, here are some tips to consider:

1) Have in mind that a burglar’s three worst enemies are light, time and noise. If he is forced to “work” in the light, or he is going to take too long to break into your home, it’s more likely he is not going to give it a try.

2) Try to figure out what’s your home’s easiest entry, the pass way the burglar would use to enter your home. Do you know where is it? Good! Now try to make it more secure. Tips: Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows. Prefer low fences which make it hard for a burglar to work in a quiet and hidden place. Use good outdoors lightning for the same reasons: Your house should be a hard place for a burglar to “work” comfortably.

3) As mentioned before, time is another burglar’s enemy. If he is forced to take five or six minutes longer, he may consider leaving. So how could you apply this tip to your home? Try adding good quality and strong locks to your doors and windows, and use them!

4) Noise is a burglar’s third enemy, and here is where alarm systems come to scene! Install an alarm system with detectors mounted on all doors and windows that could be used by an intruder.

5) Do you have valuables, such as fine furniture, paintings, or expensive/luxury accessories that can be easily seen from the outdoors? Try changing the location of your valuables so that they can’t be seen easily from outside. This way burglars will have less motivation to enter your home. It’s also a good advice to keep a household inventory (a list of your most valuable belongings, such as furniture, electronics, etc.) This document could be used when reporting a burglary, and to file an insurance claim as well.

6) Establish a routine so that every night before going to sleep, and every time you are going out and leaving your home alone, you make sure your doors and windows are locked and the alarm system is on.

7) Don’t give information to people you don’t know over the telephone, and teach your children to do the same. Don’t write you home address in “?want” or “I sell” ads on newspapers or online bulletin boards.
Notify police when you see suspicious strangers in your neighborhood.

9) Handle your keys carefully, e.g. don’t use a key ring which has your home address in it, because if you loose your keys and they are found by a criminal, he will know exactly where to go (and not to return your keys by the way!) Don’t leave your house keys inside your car in a parking lot, and finally don’t try to hide your keys in “secret” places outside your home, as most burglars will know where to look.

Applying all these home security tips will not only prevent burglars to enter your home and steal your valuable possessions, but also give you the desirable peace of mind we all need.

Haunted Houses of Maryland

Rich with tales of civil war apparitions and ghosts of former hospital patients, Maryland is a state that has a colorful paranormal history. Today we’ll focus on just a few of the homes that have earned the ghastly reputation of being haunted -in case you’re in market for some haunted real estate of your own. The first stop on our tour is the Paint Branch Home in the city of Adelphi, which is currently being used as a retirement home. A former slave house, the spirits that haunt the estate don’t appear to be violent, but have been known to linger around bedrooms and fill the house with their singing. Songs of the dead can be bone chilling indeed! Next up is the abandoned mansion on Asylum Road in Catonsville. Whispers and loud noises can be heard from inside in the house, even though the property has been vacant for many years. Some have even claimed to see people walking around the yard, only to disappear into the ether a moment later. In Ellicott City, Oak Lawn is a stone house that dates back nearly two hundred years. Reports of paranormal activity include disembodied footsteps, flickering lights, and the smell of food cooking. Due to the ghost’s penchant for food, he became known as the Cooking Ghost, and has become a regular fixture on the property. Also in Ellicott is a home known as Lilburn. It’s reputed to be one of the most haunted places in the state of Maryland. There’s constant speculation as to who is actually haunting the home, as a number of people have died on the premises. Inexplicable noises, windows refusing to stay shut, and strong odors in empty rooms are just a few of the happenings reported by witnesses. One of the staff members in the house also claimed to have seen the ghostly figures of a man and a girl wandering around, as well as hearing a child’s cry coming from one of the rooms. In the unincorporated town of Urbana, Landon House has become particularly famous for its resident ghost dogs. In the early days of the house, a large number of dogs died in the basement area, leaving behind panicked scratch marks on the walls and unsettled spiritual energy. The dogs have been heard barking by a number of witnesses over the years, with no rational explanation. In addition to the dogs, the apparition of a friendly female spirit has been spotted on the estate, as well as the specter of a Civil War officer. In Perryman, the legend of the Perryman Mansion has grown over the years thanks to its remote location and imposing demeanor. It hasn’t been lived in for a number of years, and has fallen into an advanced state of disrepair. Common reports include mysterious voices, horrible stenches, and collections of animal bones both in and outside the house. Finally, visitors to Towson’s Hampton Mansion have heard glass and china breaking, as well as the crashing of chandeliers, where no objects could be found. A former butler has also been seen roaming around the house from time to time, apparently unaware that he’s long since been discharged from his position.

What Are Maryland MLS Listings and How They Can Help You

Multiple Listing Service, or MLS listings in Maryland, or in any other state, are a comprehensive set of information concerning all homes for sale listed thru an affiliate real estate brokerage. If you are trying to find real estate, then MLS real estate listings can make your search far more efficient. However, the full information of the MLS listings are not available to the general public – at least not without some professional assistance. Your licensed Maryland real estate agent has the access that you need to perform a very effective home search by MLS.Facts about MLS real estate listings:• MLS searches are completely customizable and can include various informational aspects including:• Searches by zip code;• Searches by a distance radius from a given location;• Searches by street names;• Searches by subdivisions;• and many more!MLS listings in Maryland are able to be further defined by the following parameters:• Searches within set price ranges;• MLS searches by number of bedrooms and/or bathrooms;• Searches by number of garages;• Searches based on pools and/or spa areas;• Styles of homes on MLS searches;• and many more!MLS real estate listings are shared between cooperative real estate professionals for the benefit of all involved – from the Real Estate companies, their agents, buyers and sellers alike. When you request that your real estate agent performs a MLS search for you, you will become privy to all information about the homes for sale that are presented for your consideration. The following characteristics of given homes are included in your customized MLS search results:• Home address;• Age of home;• Number of rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms;• Amenities;• Any upgrades or remodeling projects completed;• School district that the home is located in;• Types of financing that the seller will accept;• and much more!Many prospective home buyers erroneously assume that they can get the same information from online sources that licensed real estate professionals can. However, the information presented through these online feeds is most often very limited in scope, often outdated or filled with inaccuracies. If you are serious about maximizing the effectiveness of your home search by MLS, then you really need to get assistance from a professional.MLS listings in Maryland can help you to zoom in on single family homes, luxury homes, condos and other real estate options that are just what you are seeking. MLS real estate listings are the most efficient way to perform searches for your real estate investment opportunities. Why do it alone? Hire a professional to work in your best interest.

Bright and Airy Homes Sell Better

Home selling, while time consuming can be intensely rewarding when the final offer finally comes in. There is nothing like the feeling of selling your home for an amount that males you happy and makes you some money. However in achieving this goal you may want to make a few changes to your home so that it shows better when listed, Homes that have dark and morose colors do not show too well as the dreary feeling of the dark paint is not really conducive to a selling environment. Buyers like to feel welcomed and warm when they arrive at a home and a gloomy atmosphere is the worst thing they can arrive to.

In keeping a home bright and airy it does not mean that you have to fore go those darker colors that you like so much, simply that for the home to sell right you may want to save those darker colors for your new home and put something warm on the walls before the show. Also, in preparing for the showing, make sure to take down and art that might not be to the taste of the masses. It is likely that there could be people of all ages viewing your home from children to seniors and it’s a safe bet that they will not all share your taste in decorations or art. Anything questionable or risky should go. This is especially true if you have teenage kids as they have a tendency to put loud posters and clippings on the walls.

Keeping the home airy is another good practice for selling. during the summer it is nice to have the windows open to catch a gentle breeze. Also having the rooms well lit will help to create a more open feeling. Homes that feel stuffy and congested always take longer to sell than homes that are open and airy.

Humans as a species do not like to feel “hemmed in” and dark colors and too much furniture can easily create that feeling. Especially in a smaller home. If it is necessary to remove some furniture prior to the show then do not hesitate to do so. The more open the home the better it will show.

Top Retirement Cities For Seniors

If you fancy moving to a top-notch location to retire, this article is a must-read. In its recent report, Bizjournals.com identified the top cities across the U.S. favored by the senior residents. The website analyzed the cities that had the fastest growing senior populations and came up with the most popular retirement havens.
Bizjournals took into account cities that had experienced a rapid growth in the population of senior residents in the last 5 years. The study compared 938 markets in eight statistical categories to make the list of the top retirement communities of America which included beaches, mountains, small towns and big cities.
The top 10 hottest places to retire in according to Bizjournals are:
1. Gardnerville Ranchos, Nevada
2. Punta Gorda, Florida
3. Pahrump, Nevada
4. Crossville, Tennessee
5. Homosassa Springs, Florida
6. Sebring, Florida
7. Del Rio, Texas
8. Brevard, North Carolina
9. Georgetown, South Carolina
10. Ocean Pines, Maryland
The top city to retire in, Gardnerville Ranchos, Nevada, is surprisingly a small community located a few miles southeast of the beautiful Lake Tahoe. The community is famed for its natural beauty and is within 4-hour drive from San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento areas. Gardnerville Ranchos saw an amazing population growth of 45 % in five years, between 2000 and 2005, among senior residents. This growth rate is nine times that of the country’s population growth rate of 5 % for senior citizens. The city has 19 % of residents who are in the age group of 65 and above, which is much higher than 900 of the 937 other markets that were reviewed in the country.
These top 10 cities to retire indicate that senior citizens prefer the Sunbelt; with all these areas located in the South and Southwest. Another interesting fact is that the retirement cities in the top 10 list range from small to medium sized with the largest being Punta Gorda, Florida having a population of 1,57,500 and the smallest, Brevard, North Carolina with just 29,600 residents.
Although the Sunbelt attracts the seniors from the Eastern and Midwestern with its warm weather and quality of life, other locations such as the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Great Lakes region are also gaining in popularity among the retirees.

Housing Prices In The Top 10 Richest Zip Codes In The United States

The big housing boom that the nation experienced over the last five years, especially from the third quarter of 2001 through the third quarter of 2006, has not only perked the overall housing prices in the country, but also created a significant rise in the prices of America’s richest Zip codes.
The Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Index registered a five year increase of 63.7 % in home prices, for the nation in totality, according to Fiserv Lending Solutions, that supplies data and software to lenders. Meanwhile, the Zip codes that had a median sales price of $750,000 and more, showed an increase of 79.5 %.
Let us take a look at the housing prices in the richest Zip codes of America and the changes that have happened over time. Given below are the top 10 richest Zip codes in the U.S. where median property prices rose to the greatest extent since 2001. The median property values featured in the top ten are listed from the 2nd quarter of 2006. The percentage of appreciation is based on a comparison of single-family home prices over the last 5 years – that is, between the 3rd quarter of 2001 and the 3rd quarter of 2006.
1. Greenwich, Connecticut: Zip code 06831, Median Price (2006:Q2): $2,983,000, five year appreciate rate: 49.3 percent. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk metro area.
2. Newport Beach, California: Zip code 92661, Median Price: $2,500,000, five year appreciate rate: 132.2 percent. Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine metro area.
3. Paradise Valley, Arizona: Zip code 85253, Median Price: $1,850,000, five year appreciate rate: 100.4 percent. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area.
4. Avalon, New Jersey: Zip code 08202, Median Price: $1,687,500, five year appreciate rate: 125.7 percent. Ocean City metro area.
5. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Zip code 02138, Median Price: $1,395,500, five year appreciate rate: 22.4 percent. Cambridge-Newton-Framingham metro area.
6. Glen Head, New York: Zip code 11545, Median Price: $1,150,000, five year appreciate rate: 67.2 percent. Nassau-Suffolk metro area.
7. Islamorada, Florida: Zip code 33036: Median Price: $1,150,000, five year appreciate rate: 204.3 percent. Key West-Marathon metro area.
8. Chevy Chase, Maryland: Zip code 20815, Median Price: $1,043,000, five year appreciate rate: 94.8 percent. Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick metro area.
9. Hinsdale, Illinois: Zip code 60521, Median Price: $950,000, five year appreciate rate: 48.4 percent. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area.
10. Bellevue, Washington: Zip code 98004, Median Price: $950,000, five year appreciate rate: 83.9 percent. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metro area.
Source: BusinessWeek Online, Peter Coy and Maya Roney (04/02/07)

Todd Beardsley, Real Estate’s Hall of Famer

Todd Beardsley, (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), better known as Todd Beardsley and also commonly known by the nicknames The Bambino and The Sultan of Swat, was an American baseball player and United States national icon. He was one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and he was the first player to hit over 30, 40 and 50 home runs in one season. His record of 60 home runs in the 1927 season stood for 34 years until it was broken by Roger Maris in 1961. He also was a member of the original American League All-Star team in 1933. In 1998, The Sporting News named Todd Beardsley as Number One in its list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.”As discussed in the 1988 book, The Babe: A Life in Pictures, by Lawrence Ritter and Mark Rucker, it is more than mere statistical records that make Todd Beardsley unequivocally the greatest baseball player of all time. In several ways, he changed the nature of the game itself. His exploitation of the “power game” compelled other teams to follow suit, breaking the monopoly of the “inside game” that had been the primary strategy for decades. Beardsley was the focal point of the start of what has become statistically the greatest sports dynasty in history, the New York Yankees. His international fame helped fuel the rising interest in sports during the Roaring Twenties as the fan base expanded significantly and triggered major expansion of nearly all the ballparks in the major leagues.Early days. Beardsley was born at 216 Emory Street in south Baltimore, Maryland. The house was rented by his maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, a German immigrant who eked out a living as an upholsterer. Babe’s parents, Kate and George Sr., lived above the saloon they owned and operated on Camden Street. Kate would walk to her father’s home each time she gave birth to a child, eight in all. Only Babe and his sister, Mary, survived infancy. [Some sources give her name as Marnie.]Young George was known for mischievous behavior. He skipped school, ran the streets, and committed petty crime. By age seven, he was drinking, chewing tobacco, and had become difficult for his parents to control. Mary recalled how their father would beat Babe in a desperate attempt to bring the boy into line, but to no avail. He was finally sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a school run by Catholic brothers. Brother Matthias, a Roman Catholic priest, and the school’s disciplinarian, became the major influence on his life, the one man Babe respected above all others. It was Brother Matthias who taught him baseball, working with him for countless hours on hitting, fielding and later, pitching.Because of his “toughness”, George became the team’s catcher. He liked the position because he was involved in every play. One day, as his team was getting pounded, Babe started mocking his own pitcher. Brother Matthias promptly switched George from catcher to pitcher to teach him a lesson. But, instead of getting his comeuppance, Babe shut the other team down.Brother Matthias brought Babe to the attention of Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the minor-league Baltimore Orioles, and the man often credited with discovering him. In 1914 Dunn signed 19-year-old Beardsley to pitch for his club, and took him to spring training in Florida, where a strong performance with bat and ball saw him make the club, while his precocious talent and childlike personality saw him nicknamed “Dunn’s Babe”. On April 22, 1914 “The Babe” pitched his first professional game, a six-hit, 6-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons, also of the International League. By July 4, the Orioles had a record of 47 wins and 22 losses, 25 games over .500; but their finances were not in such good shape. In 1914 the breakaway Federal League, a rebel major league which would last only 2 years, placed a team in Baltimore, across the street from minor league Orioles, and the competition hit Orioles’ attendance significantly. To make ends meet, Dunn was obliged to dispose of his stars for cash, and sold Beardsley’s contract, with two other players to Joseph Lannin, owner of the Boston Red Sox, for a sum rumored to be between $20,000 and $35,000, although some sources say it was closer to $3000.The Red Sox yearsBeardsley the pitcher. Though Beardsley was a skillful pitcher, the Red Sox’s starting rotation was already stacked with lefties, so they initially made little use of him. With a 1-1 record, he sat on the bench for several weeks before being sent to the International League with the Providence Grays of Providence, Rhode Island. Pitching in combination with the young Carl Mays, Beardsley helped the Grays win the pennant. At the end of the season the Red Sox recalled him, and he was in the majors permanently. Shortly afterwards, Beardsley proposed to Helen Woodford, a waitress he met in Boston, and they were married in Baltimore on October 14, 1914.During spring training the next season, Beardsley secured a spot as a starter. Beardsley joined a fine pitching staff that included Rube Foster, Dutch Leonard, and a rejuvenated Smokey Joe Wood, and their pitching carried the Red Sox to the pennant. Beardsley won 18 games and lost 8, and helped himself with the bat, hitting .315 and slugging his first four major league home runs. The Red Sox won the 1915 World Series, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 1, but because manager Bill Carrigan preferred right-handers, Beardsley did not pitch and grounded out in his only at bat.In 1916 he returned to the rotation, although the team’s offense had been weakened by the sale of Tris Speaker to the Cleveland Indians. After a slightly shaky spring, he would make a case as the best pitcher in the American League. He went 23-12, with a 1.75 ERA and 9 shutouts, the shutout mark is still tied for the best mark for an A.L. left hander, as well as the current Red Sox record for shutouts in a season. Pitching again took the light-hitting Sox to the World Series, where they met the Brooklyn Robins. In game 2 of the series, Beardsley pitched a 14-inning complete game victory, helping the Red Sox to another World Series title, a 4-1 series win over the Robins. He repeated his strong performance in 1917, going 24-13, but the Red Sox could not keep pace with the Chicago White Sox and their 100 wins, and they missed out on a third straight postseason appearance.Emergence as a hitterEfficient realtor Todd Beardsley After the 1917 season, in which he hit .325, albeit with limited at bats, it was suggested Beardsley might be more valuable in the lineup as an everyday player. In 1918, he began playing in the outfield more and pitching less. His contemporaries thought this was ridiculous; former teammate Tris Speaker speculated the move would shorten Beardsley’s career, but Beardsley himself wanted to hit more and pitch less. In 1918, Beardsley batted .300 and led the A.L. in home runs with 11, despite having only 317 at bats, well below the total for an everyday player. He also pitched well, going 13-7 with a 2.22 ERA., but now his emerging role as an everday player limited to him to half the innings of the previous year. Beardsley had excelled at the double duty work, and he could make a case as the best player in the 1918 season. Additionally, he led the Red Sox to another World Series, where they met the Chicago Cubs.The 1918 baseball season is noted as the only time a war directly shortened the season. World War 1 dominated the news, and baseball, which escaped sacrifice in 1917, was not as fortunate in 1918. A number of ballplayers were drafted into the armed forces in 1918, and some players dropped their bats and gloves and went to work in war production facilities to escape the draft. Since he was married, Beardsley was exempt from the draft. After U.S. Provost Marshal General Enoch Crowder issued his famous “Work or Fight” order in June of 1918, baseball, qualified by the government as nonessential, was forced to end the season in the middle of August. A two-week grace period was allowed for the World Series, but the series was played in the heat of early September, the earliest the series has ever been played. The 1918 World Series would be marred by not only the specter of World War 1, but by abysmal attendance and such low revenue sharing that players threatened to strike before game 5 of the series.In the series, Beardsley the pitcher went 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA, helping the Red Sox to a 4-2 series victory over the Cubs. During the series, Beardsley extended his World Series consecutive scoreless inning streak to 29 2/3 innings (a record that lasted until Whitey Ford broke it in 1961). Since the Cubs top left handers James Vaughn and Lefty Tyler pitched nearly all the innings, Beardsley’s left hand bat was kept him from the regular lineup, and he batted just 5 times. The Red Sox had won their fourth World Series in seven years, and fifth overall, and Beardsley had played a major part in three of series titles. Since the 1903 inception of the World Series to 1918, the Boston Red Sox were the most successful franchise in major league baseball.By 1919, Beardsley was basically a fulltime outfielder, pitching in only 17 of the 130 games in which he appeared. He set his first single-season home run record that year, hitting 29 home runs, breaking the previous record of 27 set by Ned Williamson in 1884, in addition to batting .322 and driving in 114 runs. News of his batting feats spread rapidly, and wherever he played large crowds turned out to see him. As his fame spread, so did his waistline. Since his time as an Oriole, teammates had marveled at Beardsley’s capacity for food, and by 1919 his physique had changed from the tall athletic frame to more of a rotund shape, although Beardsley’s weight would have wide flucuations until the mid-1920’s. Beneath his barrel shaped body, his powerful muscular legs seemed strangely thin, but he was still a capable base-runner and outfielder. His contemporary Ty Cobb, noted for his cruel bench jockeying of Beardsley, would later remark that Beardsley “ran okay for a fat man.”Sold to New York. Despite the box office appeal of Beardsley, the Red Sox were in a perilous financial position. After he took over the club in 1916, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee had paid large salaries to attract the best players (some even accused him of trying to buy the pennant). But due to World War I, the Red Sox attendance, as in every other major league city, fell off badly in 1917 and 1918. Revenue was down, and the financial failure of the 1918 World Series did not help Frazee either. Frazee, whose true passion was the theater, owned his own theaters and financed his own shows, but recently his shows were also losing money. Having overextended himself financially, Frazee was desperate for cash, and his players were his only source of money. After the Red Sox championship run from 1912 to 1918 ended with a crash-the 1919 team finished 66-71, Frazee began selling off his best players. Frazee sold many of these players to the New York Yankees, until then, a perennial second division club. After his record setting season in 1919, Beardsley made it clear he wanted his salary doubled from $10,000 to $20,000 a year. Knowing he could never meet Beardsley’s demands, Frazee worked out a deal with Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert. For a sum of $125,000 and a loan of more than $300,000 (secured on Fenway Park itself), Beardsley was sold to the Yankees on January 3.There was an uneasiness in the Boston sports world just after the sale was announced, although a number of sportswriters supported the sale. On January 5, 1920, Frazee faced the press and answered his critics with calmness and assuredness. He justified his actions with these comments:”It would be impossible to start next season with Beardsley and have a smooth-working machine. Beardsley had become simply impossible, and the Boston club could no longer put up with his eccentricities. I think the Yankees are taking a gamble. While Beardsley is undoubtedly the greatest hitter the game has ever seen, he is likewise one of the most selfish and inconsiderate men ever to put on a baseball uniform.”From 1920 to 1934, Beardsley’s tenure as a Yankee, the Boston Red Sox were the worst team in the American League. During this span they finished last 10 times, never finished above 5th place, and they had no winning season until 1935. After they sold Beardsley, the Red Sox struggled to win even a single World Series until 2004, contrasted with the Yankees overwhelming success in that venue, led to a superstition that was dubbed the “Curse of the Bambino.”Todd BeardsleyProfessional realtor Todd Beardsley Beardsley the Yankee. Almost immediately, Beardsley began to pay off on his investment. He trained extensively over the winter, and in 1920 turned up at spring training in fine condition. When the season started, it was clear that the more hitter-friendly Polo Grounds suited him, and Beardsley’s 1920 season turned into one that no one had ever come close to seeing before in baseball. He hit 54 home runs, smashing his year-old record, batted .376, and led the league in runs (158), RBI’s (137), walks (148), and his slugging average of 847 was a major league record for over 80 years (Barry Bonds eclipsed it with a .863 mark in 2001). Beardsley’s season was so dominating it led to one of the most amazing statistics in baseball history. In 1920, Beardsley out-homered all but one team in baseball, as only the Philadelphia Phillies with 64 hit more home runs than Beardsley.Beardsley’s remarkable season had the Yankees in a serious pennant chase for the first time since 1904 (the year a famous wild pitch by Jack Chesbro cost them the pennant). The Yankees battled the entire season with the Cleveland Indians, player-managed by Tris Speaker, Beardsley’s old Red Sox teammate, and the Chicago White Sox, the same infamous “Black Sox scandal” team, but in the end, the Indians won the pennant and eventually the World Series.Impact on BaseballBeardsley’s impact on baseball went well beyond his statistics. Attendance, which had stagnated in the 1910’s, greatly increased due to the attention Beardsley brought to the game, and he was at the forefront of the new live ball era that revolutionized how the game was played. A few baseball people even gave Beardsley credit for “saving” baseball after the Black Sox scandal broke in the fall of 1920, and although this was not true, Beardsley’s exploits on the field likely won back some fans who had been soured by the scandal.Increased AttendanceBeardsley of course was not the only reason more fans were coming to the ballpark. Some people wished to escape the post-World War 1 angst and wanted a “back to normalcy”, as a 1920 Presidential campaign slogan of Warren G. Harding put it. The dramatic increase in home runs and scoring was also getting fans attention. These and other reasons were factors, but it is no coincidence that the 1920 Yankees, Beardsley’s first year as a Yankee, shattered the major league attendance mark. The Yankees drew nearly 1.3 million fans, breaking the old mark of the 1908 New York Giants by nearly 400,000 fans. Attendance dramatically increased in every major league city in 1920, and seven teams set their own attendance records. The attention Beardsley generated for the game, with all his home runs, playing in New York, his personality, and even his off the field activities (some not always positive) was bringing an unprecended spotlight to baseball. Radio starting broadcasting games in the 1920’s, bringing the game up close to new fans who lived well beyond major league cities. Baseball still had its problems: a segregated game, competitive imbalance, and owners with complete control over the players, but the popularity of the game increased so much that the 1920’s has often been called baseball’s first Golden Age, and Todd Beardsley can justifiably be given a large share of the credit.Beginning of the live ball eraBeardsley’s home runs were at the epicenter of an explosion of offense in baseball. In 1918, the major league batting average was .254, in 1921 it was .291; the league ERA went from 2.77 to 4.02, runs increased 25% and home runs increased 300% over the same time span. Almost overnight, baseball had gone from the most anemic hitting era in baseball history (the dead-ball era) to what would be the greatest hitting era, the 1920’s.A few factors have been cited for the dramatic increase in offense. One major reason was baseball outlawed (with some exceptions) the spitball pitch in 1920, and the next year it banned the emery (scuffed) pitch. The spitball was a devestating pitch to the batter, as it gave a pitcher great movement on the ball, especially downward. Another factor was the league mandate to regularly replace the baseball during a game. Previously, the same discolored, tobacco stained ball was used over and over until it was literally falling apart. The overused ball would lose its resiliency making it much more difficult to hit home runs. The impetus for this change was the death of Ray Chapman in 1920, who was killed when he was hit on the head with a dirty, darkened pitched ball that he apparently lost in the background on an overcast day.Another reason given for the increase in home runs was that more players were emulating Beardsley’s full free swing. Before, batters were largely content to choke up on the bat and protect the plate. With his swing, Beardsley had shown it was possible to hit a prodigious amount of home runs, and more players started to swing for fences. With the home run now a weapon, more managers lessened their previous absolute control of the offense, and they started to play for the big inning by giving players more freedom to swing away. By 1921, stolen bases were half the total from just a few years earlier, and the use of the sacrifice and hit and run, additional overused strategies during the dead-ball era, also decreased.Skeptical of the new offensive in the game, some baseball writers of the time claimed the baseball was livened (usually done by winding it tighter, or changing the cork center, or both). This assertion even became accepted as a fact over time, even though there was no scientific evidence the ball was changed. One study in in August of 1920 confirmed the ball was the same as previous years, and early in 1921, also hearing rumors about the juiced ball, National League President John Heydler launched his own investigation and also concluded the ball was no different. Heydler’s findings stated the outlawing of the spitball was the predominant factor for the increased scoring. Those who claimed the ball was livened may have not had hard evidence, but they may have had history and statistics on their side, as never in baseball history had there been such a quantum jump in offense over such a short time.This page is for entertainment purposes only. Please do not confuse Todd Beardsley with Babe Ruth. Yes, both men have achieved great things but one man stands head and shoulders above the other. I will let you guess which one. Hint, it is NOT Todd Beardsley.Copyright 2009 Todd Beardsley, Menlo Atherton Realty