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jdw · 03-15-2005, 03:07 PM

> Laszlo's story is, alas, one of how a fine
> young man fell prey to the visions of fame
> (indeed, a "right" to fame) put into his
> mind by the overheated sports press.

Not at all.

He was a top prospect - #1-1 pick back when nearly all went onto strong careers. You *really* don't want the Press researching that one for this thread.

He also was a kidwho busted his ass when he was young as evidenced by his strong ST in his first two years before.

> But look at other first baseman laboring in
> A ball the same year, 1940:
> Lonny Arrendale
> 1939, A: .301 with OPS of .815
> 1940, A: .397 with OPS of .900

*snip*

Lonny was the #1-7 pick in 1939. He was 20 when drafted, and 21 in 1940.

You're comparing him with a 17 year old #1-1 pick?

The Phils also traded for Lonny on the specific request of legendary manager Bop Vacha. This is another old tale, part of the building of the Great Phils Dynasty of the 40s and the decline of the A's to the bottom part of the AL...

Bop was one of the best judges of talent in TWB history. It's forgotten now that he threatened to quit after the William Suggs for Goza & Weston & Grillati at the deadline in 1939. That trade only happened because Phills Hall of Fame GM Mark Krosser was taking a short leave of absense due to health issues, leaving the opperations in the hands of one of the sons of the owner. Vacha went balistic when Goza was traded, as he was a player Bop scouted when making him the Phils #1 pick in 1939. It took all the calming skills of Krosser (who flew back from Hot Springs in great pain) to keep Bop from walking. The owner's son was shuttled off to head the Community Relations Department and stay out of the way of master builders Krosser and Vacha.

Almost instantly you could see the results. Not entirely happy with Suggs as the long term solution at 1B, Krosser and Vacha on 05/07/40 fleeced the Indians out of Lonny Arrendale for Raymond Combs. Later Indians front office personel still curse that trade.

On 06/25/41, the other corner of the infield was traded when the Phils traded Willard Carte to the White Sox for Maurice Misisca, who Vacha quickly turned around the career of. If not for the Suggs deal, Vacha would have had three quarters of his future infield, and as he would later tell the story, he already had his eye on exactly who he wanted to make the fourth piece.

But Krosser and Vacha had an issue - Suggs was the Phils top hitter, and the team overpaid for him in that brutal deal. The team had to someway get value back for him. Bop was very clear with young Lonny that the 1B job would be his when they could move the then 32 year old 1B William Suggs and get something back. Lonny took it to heart, because if there's anything that can be said about Bop and his dealings with his players it was that he always was a straight shooter. Unlike his successor Whit Sard, or of course the other manager in town at the time.

So Vacha showcased Suggs, and laid the seeds for the deal he wanted. It took several year to strike, in part because the Browns were leary of dealing with the wiley Krosser and Vacha. After that, the A's refused to deal with their cross-league rivals. Then, in a moment of poetis justice (in this whole interlocking series of stories), Sal Rossi selfish and obsessive clinging to the A's 1B job bite his team in the ass again.

With Richardson safely over seas at War, and poor Laszlo Szabo-Nagy in a drunken stupor in the minors, Sal Rossi had hoped to come back at the age of 40 and play another season. Only the direct (though quietly behind the sense) intervention of the Commissioner of Baseball was it told to the A's that it would be best for the game if the embarassment of Sal's continuing career would come to the end with the 1943 season... thankfully.

But this left the A's without a 1B for 1944. As mentioned in an earlier article, Rossi had convinced the front office to sign the useless Frank McDevitt to play his caddy. Rossi then actually had the stones to go into 1944 with McDevitt as his starting 1B. .188/.240/.311/.551. The joke around the press boxes for the first four months of the year was the Rossi was starting such a wretched 1B in the hopes that the fans would forget the wretched 1B who started there in 1943.

Krosser saw his chance, consulted with Vacha who supported it, and the Phils dangled 36 year old William Suggs infront of Rossi and the A's.

Scruggs was coming off one of his better years in 1943 (remeber this was the soft ball and the war ERA where offense was down), leading the NL in RBI. His vaule was at it highest, but Vacha also was already going with Arrendale at 1B in 1944.

Rossi was overjoyed to jump at adding year another older vet to the team.

What did the A's give up in return? Just the man Vacha had his eyes on for the past five years:

The Greatest Fielding Shortstop Of All-Time, Ted Stuart.

The first full season that Stuart, Moe and Lonny played together on the IF, the Phils won the World Title.

They did it again the second year.

And the fourth year.

Scruggs and Rossi?

Scruggs had a high average 1945, but suddenly found at the age of 37 that his power was gone. He played his way out of the game in 1946 when the real players came back.

Rossi would lead the A's to 6th, 7th and 7th in the first three years of the Live Era before being "allowed" to retire.

Lonny got the job with the Phils right when Vacha promised, and the Phils were able fleece the A's out of Ted Stewart in return for Scruggs. Vacha and Krosser were masters of developing talent, and also cashing it in.

John

03-15-2005, 03:07 PM	#4095
jdw All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,161	> Laszlo's story is, alas, one of how a fine > young man fell prey to the visions of fame > (indeed, a "right" to fame) put into his > mind by the overheated sports press. Not at all. He was a top prospect - #1-1 pick back when nearly all went onto strong careers. You really don't want the Press researching that one for this thread. He also was a kidwho busted his ass when he was young as evidenced by his strong ST in his first two years before. > But look at other first baseman laboring in > A ball the same year, 1940: > Lonny Arrendale > 1939, A: .301 with OPS of .815 > 1940, A: .397 with OPS of .900 snip Lonny was the #1-7 pick in 1939. He was 20 when drafted, and 21 in 1940. You're comparing him with a 17 year old #1-1 pick? The Phils also traded for Lonny on the specific request of legendary manager Bop Vacha. This is another old tale, part of the building of the Great Phils Dynasty of the 40s and the decline of the A's to the bottom part of the AL... Bop was one of the best judges of talent in TWB history. It's forgotten now that he threatened to quit after the William Suggs for Goza & Weston & Grillati at the deadline in 1939. That trade only happened because Phills Hall of Fame GM Mark Krosser was taking a short leave of absense due to health issues, leaving the opperations in the hands of one of the sons of the owner. Vacha went balistic when Goza was traded, as he was a player Bop scouted when making him the Phils #1 pick in 1939. It took all the calming skills of Krosser (who flew back from Hot Springs in great pain) to keep Bop from walking. The owner's son was shuttled off to head the Community Relations Department and stay out of the way of master builders Krosser and Vacha. Almost instantly you could see the results. Not entirely happy with Suggs as the long term solution at 1B, Krosser and Vacha on 05/07/40 fleeced the Indians out of Lonny Arrendale for Raymond Combs. Later Indians front office personel still curse that trade. On 06/25/41, the other corner of the infield was traded when the Phils traded Willard Carte to the White Sox for Maurice Misisca, who Vacha quickly turned around the career of. If not for the Suggs deal, Vacha would have had three quarters of his future infield, and as he would later tell the story, he already had his eye on exactly who he wanted to make the fourth piece. But Krosser and Vacha had an issue - Suggs was the Phils top hitter, and the team overpaid for him in that brutal deal. The team had to someway get value back for him. Bop was very clear with young Lonny that the 1B job would be his when they could move the then 32 year old 1B William Suggs and get something back. Lonny took it to heart, because if there's anything that can be said about Bop and his dealings with his players it was that he always was a straight shooter. Unlike his successor Whit Sard, or of course the other manager in town at the time. So Vacha showcased Suggs, and laid the seeds for the deal he wanted. It took several year to strike, in part because the Browns were leary of dealing with the wiley Krosser and Vacha. After that, the A's refused to deal with their cross-league rivals. Then, in a moment of poetis justice (in this whole interlocking series of stories), Sal Rossi selfish and obsessive clinging to the A's 1B job bite his team in the ass again. With Richardson safely over seas at War, and poor Laszlo Szabo-Nagy in a drunken stupor in the minors, Sal Rossi had hoped to come back at the age of 40 and play another season. Only the direct (though quietly behind the sense) intervention of the Commissioner of Baseball was it told to the A's that it would be best for the game if the embarassment of Sal's continuing career would come to the end with the 1943 season... thankfully. But this left the A's without a 1B for 1944. As mentioned in an earlier article, Rossi had convinced the front office to sign the useless Frank McDevitt to play his caddy. Rossi then actually had the stones to go into 1944 with McDevitt as his starting 1B. .188/.240/.311/.551. The joke around the press boxes for the first four months of the year was the Rossi was starting such a wretched 1B in the hopes that the fans would forget the wretched 1B who started there in 1943. Krosser saw his chance, consulted with Vacha who supported it, and the Phils dangled 36 year old William Suggs infront of Rossi and the A's. Scruggs was coming off one of his better years in 1943 (remeber this was the soft ball and the war ERA where offense was down), leading the NL in RBI. His vaule was at it highest, but Vacha also was already going with Arrendale at 1B in 1944. Rossi was overjoyed to jump at adding year another older vet to the team. What did the A's give up in return? Just the man Vacha had his eyes on for the past five years: The Greatest Fielding Shortstop Of All-Time, Ted Stuart. The first full season that Stuart, Moe and Lonny played together on the IF, the Phils won the World Title. They did it again the second year. And the fourth year. Scruggs and Rossi? Scruggs had a high average 1945, but suddenly found at the age of 37 that his power was gone. He played his way out of the game in 1946 when the real players came back. Rossi would lead the A's to 6th, 7th and 7th in the first three years of the Live Era before being "allowed" to retire. Lonny got the job with the Phils right when Vacha promised, and the Phils were able fleece the A's out of Ted Stewart in return for Scruggs. Vacha and Krosser were masters of developing talent, and also cashing it in. John Last edited by jdw; 03-15-2005 at 03:27 PM.