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jdw · 03-15-2005, 03:09 PM

> Bobby Johnson
> 1940, A: .308 with OPS of .879
> 1941, A: .328 with OPS of .983

Bob Johnson was the #1-2 pick of the Phils in 1940. He was drafted *before* the Phils fleeced the Indians out of Lonny Arrendale. Krosser and Vacha weren't totally sold on Johnson even when drafting him, and thought he had a flaw that might keep him from being the all around hitter they liked at 1B. But after the terrible Scruggs deal by the Owner's Son, they needed a future plan at 1B. Johnson was there in the draft.

The future plan quickly changed when Krosser and Vacha saw Arrendale on the market, and at fleecing prices. From that moment on, Arrendale was always the Phils future 1B, and Johnson was trade bait.

Of course part of the brillance of Krosser was that he knew the value of a former #1-2 pick, and he was in no hurry to offload him. Johnson going off to war in 1944-45 took some of the presure off dealing him, but after a strong year in the minors in 1946, it was time to look to cash in Johnson.

They did it by trading him to the Red Sox for defensive wizard Pokey Dorsey in 1947. Pokey was old, Johnson was young. But Johnson was also excess, while Pokey filled the 2B hole for the team. While disappointing in 1947, Pokey and Stuart formed the greatest defensive double play combo in TWB history in 1948, and Pokey would win another World Title in 1949 as an exceptional jack-of-all trade utility man, ala Junior Gilliam, Gil McDougal and Tony Phillips.

Johnson of course had a fine career with the Red Sox and now is with the Cubs.

Lonny Arrendale ranks with Ken Chaucer as the best 1B of his generation, so it's clear Vacha and Krosser were right on their talent judgement.

Whereas Rossi got fleeced on Scruggs. Which is fitting, as we all know that if he hadn't set out to crush the talent and spirit of Laszlo Szabo-Nagy, he would have already had his first base star in the majors.

Of course that would have cost Rossi a few hundred hits off his career record, and we all know that Rossi cared more about that than his team or his players.

John

03-15-2005, 03:09 PM	#4096
jdw All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,161	> Bobby Johnson > 1940, A: .308 with OPS of .879 > 1941, A: .328 with OPS of .983 Bob Johnson was the #1-2 pick of the Phils in 1940. He was drafted before the Phils fleeced the Indians out of Lonny Arrendale. Krosser and Vacha weren't totally sold on Johnson even when drafting him, and thought he had a flaw that might keep him from being the all around hitter they liked at 1B. But after the terrible Scruggs deal by the Owner's Son, they needed a future plan at 1B. Johnson was there in the draft. The future plan quickly changed when Krosser and Vacha saw Arrendale on the market, and at fleecing prices. From that moment on, Arrendale was always the Phils future 1B, and Johnson was trade bait. Of course part of the brillance of Krosser was that he knew the value of a former #1-2 pick, and he was in no hurry to offload him. Johnson going off to war in 1944-45 took some of the presure off dealing him, but after a strong year in the minors in 1946, it was time to look to cash in Johnson. They did it by trading him to the Red Sox for defensive wizard Pokey Dorsey in 1947. Pokey was old, Johnson was young. But Johnson was also excess, while Pokey filled the 2B hole for the team. While disappointing in 1947, Pokey and Stuart formed the greatest defensive double play combo in TWB history in 1948, and Pokey would win another World Title in 1949 as an exceptional jack-of-all trade utility man, ala Junior Gilliam, Gil McDougal and Tony Phillips. Johnson of course had a fine career with the Red Sox and now is with the Cubs. Lonny Arrendale ranks with Ken Chaucer as the best 1B of his generation, so it's clear Vacha and Krosser were right on their talent judgement. Whereas Rossi got fleeced on Scruggs. Which is fitting, as we all know that if he hadn't set out to crush the talent and spirit of Laszlo Szabo-Nagy, he would have already had his first base star in the majors. Of course that would have cost Rossi a few hundred hits off his career record, and we all know that Rossi cared more about that than his team or his players. John